He returned a challenge of his own. ‘Then make a choice I can respect, Serena. Give us a chance.’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
THE warm tingling glide of fingertips trailing down the curve of her waist and hip drew Serena out of sleep and put a smile on her lips as she rolled onto her back and opened her eyes.
Nic was propped up on one elbow, a happy glow in his eyes. ‘Good morning,’ he said with a smile that transmitted he couldn’t imagine a better one.
‘Hi to you, too,’ she replied, loving his unshakable confidence in the rightness of their being together like this.
If it was just the two of them in a world of their own, Serena knew she would have no problem with it, either. Last night Nic had been intent on carrying all before him and she’d been persuaded to let their relationship run on, to give it a chance.
It was impossible to regret that decision now. He was a fantastic lover. While sex wasn’t the answer to everything, Serena knew she’d passed the point where she might have brought herself to give up this wonderful intimacy with him. Nic was right. It was too good to let go.
‘A new day has begun,’ he sang, then laughed and leaned over to kiss her. ‘Our day, Serena,’ he murmured against her lips. ‘Call Michelle and tell her you’re spending it with me.’
‘You’re getting to be a bossy-boots, Nic Moretti.’
‘Oh, I’m sure you’ll pull me back into line, Ms. Fleming.’
She wound her arms around his neck and shuffled her body closer to his. ‘What about this line?’ she teased, loving the feel of him, the scent of him, the taste of him. He was so beautiful, and sexy, and… Serena gave up on thinking as she once again revelled in the sensations Nic aroused.
Much later they let Cleo out of the mud room, Serena called Michelle to let her sister know she wouldn’t be coming home today, and Nic set about cooking breakfast. He really was quite domesticated, Serena thought appreciatively, liking that in a man.
It recalled what he’d told her about his family last night. His father was a dyed in the wool empire builder outside his home—a bull of a man—but inside it, his mother ruled the roost, her husband indulging her every wish like a lamb, even to cooking Italian feasts for the family.
She fancied Nic was in the same mould as his father. He certainly had the strength of mind to pursue whatever his heart was set on. She wondered what it might be like to be his wife, then clamped down on that train of thought, wary of wanting too much from him.
She fed Cleo the meaty ring biscuits she liked, making a game of it by tossing each ring on the floor for her to chase and pounce on before chewing it up. Nic laughed at the little terrier’s antics, commenting that he’d never thought of making a game of the breakfast food like that.
‘You’ve taught me a lot, Serena,’ he warmly added.
‘Me?’ She gave him a look of quizzical surprise.
He nodded. ‘Forced me into reassessing quite a bit of my life. You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.’
She flushed with pleasure. ‘That’s really nice of you to say.’
‘It’s the truth.’
Nice guy…nice guy… Michelle was right. Serena resolved to keep trusting her instincts with Nic and shut out all the doubts that could spoil her pleasure in him.
He grinned at her, his eyes dancing with wicked mischief. ‘You look very fetching in that sarong.’
He’d given her one from a pile kept for the Giffords’ house guests. He was wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and she deliberately ran her gaze over his magnificent physique as she replied, ‘Best we keep some distance. You’re cooking.’
‘Mmm…I do have a couple of burning memories.’
They laughed and bantered on over breakfast which they ate at the table on the patio. It was a brilliant summer day. It was easy to relax and browse through the Saturday Morning Herald, swapping comments on what they read. Serena pointed out a photo of a model on the social pages.
‘I used to do her hair. Whoever’s taken over from me is on a personal art trip,’ she said in disgust. ‘That style doesn’t suit her at all.’
‘You’re right,’ Nic agreed, then looked at her seriously. ‘Are you sure that walking away from it is right for you, Serena?’
‘No question,’ she answered without hesitation. ‘You’ve got to be full of hype to keep riding that scene and I’m done with pandering to people, day in, day out.’
‘Do you have some other direction planned?’
‘Not exactly. I thought I’d do some courses at the local TAFE college while helping out Michelle. Get myself some other qualifications that could help me move forward.’
‘There’s no particular ambition burning in you?’
‘Not at the moment. No.’
‘No dream career you want to pursue?’
She shrugged. ‘I know it’s unfashionable to have this attitude these days, but work has only ever been a means to an end for me. What I want most…’
‘Yes?’
She grimaced, realising he could read too much into her dearest dream.
‘Please…’ he urged, sharp interest in his eyes. ‘I’d like to know.’
‘Well, don’t take this personally,’ she warned, frowning at the possibility that he might. ‘What I want most is to be…a mother. And have a whole houseful of kids. Somewhere in my future.’
He gave her a wry smile. ‘I guess that played a big part in why you agreed to marry Lyall Duncan.’
She returned a rueful look. ‘It would have been a bad mistake. A marriage should be about loving each other.’
‘That it should,’ Nic agreed. He dispelled the awkward moment by going on to tell her about his sister’s marriage, how Angelina and Ward couldn’t have children but they were still very happy making a life together. ‘And Cleo, of course, makes three a delight for them, not a nuisance,’ he finished, making Serena laugh again.
They moved down to the pool and were enjoying a lazy and highly sensual swim together when they heard a car zoom up the driveway on the other side of the house. The alien sound intruded harshly on their private intimacy, triggering a nervous flutter in Serena’s heart. Up until this moment, Nic had seemed totally absorbed in her, giving her a growing confidence in the relationship being forged. Now he was distracted, his mind dragged elsewhere.
‘Are you expecting someone?’ she asked anxiously, not wanting what they had been sharing broken by anyone.