Chapter 23

Chapter Twenty-Three

N ick entered the marquee, his gaze immediately drawn to the stunning woman in a white dress chatting to the richest guy in the state.

Britt looked incredible, a soft, clingy Grecian-style dress fastened on one shoulder with a silver clip, leaving her other deliciously bare, her hair piled up with soft golden streaks falling softly around her face, and subtle makeup to enhance her beauty.

Hell. Just looking at her from a distance made him crazy. What hope did he have up close?

She looked like a supermodel tonight but he couldn't erase the image of her clad in those cotton pyjamas on their wedding night.

He'd lied about those PJs being contraception on legs. The minute he'd caught his first glimpse of her, framed in the bathroom doorway with vulnerability all over her face, he'd wanted to cross the room, haul her into his arms, and never let go.

That had been one hell of a night.

Not for the reason he might've anticipated, considering she fired his libido as no other woman ever had or probably ever would. He'd lain awake for hours, listening to her soft breathing, wishing things could've turned out differently between them, silently chastising himself for being a fool.

He'd thought by getting her to talk about the past she might relax and learn to trust him again. Instead, she'd fed him some lame excuse about why she'd run away and he'd been the stupid one to blurt out he still cared. Go figure?

Thankfully, the last two weeks had passed in a frenetic blur with finalising details for the new Caribbean hotel and, apart from that slight aberration yesterday when he'd almost made a pathetic declaration of how much he liked having her around, they'd managed to maintain a polite distance.

All business, and he assumed that's why she'd agreed to accompany him to the Bachelor and Spinsters Ball tonight. A ball the FantaSea chain sponsored, a ball where every billionaire in Australasia would be in attendance, a ball where he'd learn how far his plan to marry Britt had got him.

Since he'd married, hotel occupancy had gone up fifty percent and phone calls from potential investors tripled. Maybe the old tycoons had finally recognised him as a successful, wealthy businessman with one thing on his mind: making his hotels the best in the world.

Tonight would prove how far he'd come. Reaching out by calling him for potential meetings was one thing, accepting him as one of their own in public another.

Britt glanced up at that moment and their gazes locked, hot and intense, and he strode across the harvesting shed that had been transformed into a cross between a country-and-western saloon and a high-school disco.

It would be his sugar plantation's final hurrah. Once Britt completed her work here he'd sell the place, severing ties to his past once and for all.

He'd prevaricated long enough, plagued by guilt the last twelve months. This place had been Pa's pride and joy, built from the ground up with grit, sweat, and determination. It had been the only place Nick had ever called home but, more than that, it had been a refuge after his mum abandoned them.

The old farmhouse should've repulsed him, should've been a constant reminded of what happened when he loved a woman too much. But he'd deliberately blocked out the few memories of his mother, had filled his head and his heart with new ones, mostly centred on a wizened Italian man with a penchant for ripe tomatoes, coarse wine, and sugar in his veins.

Pa had been more than a parent, he'd been Nick's idol. The thought of bringing shame to the family name had stopped Nick from taking his rebel image too far, Pa's steadfast support a constant reminder he could be anybody he chose to be.

But that was the problem. As long as he held onto the plantation, people would be reminded of his humble beginnings, would still harbour doubts about his ability to mix it with the big boys in the hotelier business.

It would kill him to sell, would tear him clean in two, but nothing could erase memories of a father who'd helped mould him into the man he was today.

Pa would understand, would've encouraged him to move forward, and that was exactly what Nick would do, despite the nagging in his gut that he was turning his back on family.

When he reached Britt, who happened to be standing next to Bram Rutger, the most influential businessman in the district, he clamped down on the urge to drag her close and whisper ‘let's get out of here' in her ear.

‘If it isn't the man of the moment. Glad you finally showed up at your own shindig, Mancini.'

To his amazement, Bram stuck his hand out, something he'd never done despite the many times they'd crossed paths at similar functions in Sydney or Singapore the last few years.

Nick shook it, vindicated his plan had worked yet despising himself for caring what this pompous old fool thought of him.

He forced a smile. ‘Busy with business, you know how it is.'

'That I do, my boy. Something we'll discuss more of when you return my phone calls.' Bram's bushy eyebrows wriggled like a caterpillar crawling across his forehead. ‘I'm looking to expand my investment portfolio and I think we should talk.'

Bram's announcement reinforced that Nick had made a sound business decision marrying Britt, but his satisfaction evaporated when the jackass slipped an arm around Britt's waist.

'And I hear congratulations are in order. You've picked a fine woman here.' Bram squeezed Britt's waist and Nick's hands curled into fists. 'I've known young Brittany since she was in the cradle, so make sure you take good care of her, you hear?'

Nick would take good care of her, starting with punching the supercilious coot on the nose, but he forced a smile and nodded.

'Shall do. Now, if you'll excuse us?' Nick held out a hand, biting back a grin when Britt all but bolted out of Bram's hold.

'Nice seeing you again, Bram.' She wiggled her fingers in a teasing wave and Nick growled under his breath as they walked away.

'You shouldn't tease the old goat. It might give him a heart attack.'

Her cheeky smile lit up her face. ‘His kids will thank me. Apparently he's worth billions these days.'

'You're incorrigible.'

She quirked an eyebrow. 'This, coming from the guy who used to do very poor impersonations of Bram and his cronies?' She shook her head. 'You've changed. Become a snob like them.'

'This, coming from the girl who wouldn't sit down by Jacaranda River unless I'd spread out a blanket first? From the girl who wouldn't hop on the back of my motorbike unless I made sure there wasn't a dot of grease on the seat? From the girl who—'

'Okay, okay, I get your point.' She smoothed his lapel, her innocuous touch enough to fire his blood and set his heart pounding. 'Nice tux, by the way. Very debonair.'

'Glad you noticed.'

Their gazes locked again and this time he didn't look away.

He'd already got what he came for tonight: vindication he'd made it into the big league, recognition he was more than the blue-collar farm boy he'd once been.

Time to get this party really started.

'Come with me.'

'Where?'

'Does it matter?'

She shook her head, the tendrils framing her face swaying gently and beckoning him to reach out and twist one around his finger, draw her close and hold her all night. But there was plenty of time for that. For now, he'd settle for getting her alone and kissing her senseless.

'Come on.' He grabbed her hand and they fought their way through the crowd. The turnout surprised him, with hundreds of well-dressed revellers descending on his property, bringing their own supplies, including tents for camping overnight.

B&S balls were still popular these days despite the online dating boom and, while he liked seeing people having fun, a huge part of him was relieved he was no longer a bachelor.

It wasn't everything it was cracked up to be, especially now he had a fortune. Women who'd once shunned him for having grease on his hands and dust in his hair clambered for a date—or worse, a relationship.

Britt had never been like that. She'd liked him regardless and the thought sent a burst of warmth through him, urging him to pick up the pace.

'Great to see so many here.' With her blue eyes glittering with excitement, she looked like a society hostess basking in the success of an event. ‘The film crew are getting loads of footage I can use in my pitch.'

'That's good, though personally I can't believe there are so many desperadoes out there.'

'Most people are here to party, not pick up.' They caught sight of a couple kissing in the back of a ute simultaneously and Britt chuckled. 'Well, most of them.'

'Get a room,' he muttered, irrationally annoyed by the sight of the amorous couple doing exactly what he'd like to be doing with the gorgeous woman by his side.

'What for? If they're anything like us, a room won't sweeten the mood.' The cheeky smile tugging at the corners of her glossed mouth made him wish they were in a room right this moment.

'The room doesn't matter to us because we have an arrangement. And we're friends.'

Though he planned to change all that, starting tonight.

'So are those two by the look of it. Good friends.' She chuckled and slipped her hand through the crook of his elbow, a casual gesture that shouldn't have sent the blood rushing to his cock. But it did and he could barely focus on anything other than the way she smelt and how she felt tucked into his side.

Having her stand this close to him, her signature vanilla enveloping him in seductive sweetness, was hard enough to tolerate without her smoky midnight eyes sending him signals he knew were all in his head.

‘What did you want to show me?'

'It's in here.' He all but dragged her through the farmhouse's back door into the dimly lit kitchen, knowing this was crazy but unable to stop.

Her soft laughter echoed in the empty room, his favourite in the house. He had a lifetime of family memories here: making ravioli from scratch while his father read the Sunday newspapers, sneaking cannoli fresh from the oven, Britt poking her tongue out at him from across the table as she lobbed a bread roll and feigned innocence.

Yeah, this room was a definite favourite and he was about to add another treasured memory.

'Okay, apart from this place needing some light, what's the prob—?'

Nick covered her mouth with his, cutting her off, while sliding his arms around her waist, marvelling at how right this felt.

Rather than protest and try to shove him off, Britt groaned and wrapped her arms around his neck, opening her lips beneath his, teasing him to pleasure her, to taste her and come back for more.

More than willing to comply, he deepened the kiss to the point he couldn't breathe, couldn't think, couldn't feel anything beyond this incredible woman in this unforgettable moment.

She hung on tight, her hands stroking his neck, tugging him closer until he could feel the heat of her skin through his dress shirt, the heat urging him to back her up against the table and do what he'd wanted to do for weeks now.

Make love to his beautiful bride.

He must've moved a fraction because she groaned and pushed her breasts against his chest. He slid his hands around her ribcage, filling them with her full breasts, caressing them, skimming the peaks with his palms until she murmured incoherently, almost making him explode on the spot.

Alarm bells clamoured in his head. What happened to just business? What happened to getting her to make the first move this time? Rational thoughts he ignored, allowing himself this one brief taste of pleasure before sanity returned.

Britt sensed his hesitation and broke the kiss, only to snuggle into his neck and playfully nip the sensitive skin there. 'I can see your problem.'

'What is it?' His hands glided over the slinky material of her dress to caress her butt, the heat of her scorching his palms through the thin silk of her dress.

'You've got the hots for me.' She chuckled, the bold laugh of a confident woman who knew exactly what sort of a schmuck she was dealing with.

'It's your fault. You're irresistible.'

He kissed her again, softly, lingering, wondering how he'd ever had the willpower to turn down this amazing woman all those years ago and wondering what the hell he was going to do when she walked out of his life this time around.

She had his libido firing on all cylinders but it was more than that. They'd reconnected on so many levels, their special friendship a thing to be treasured.

But nothing had changed. Career-driven Brittany Lloyd would hightail it out of Noosa without a backward glance, leaving him cursing the day he'd been foolish enough to let her back into his heart, a heart he'd deliberately closed off from ever loving any woman too much.

He might've obliterated memories of his mother but he'd never forgotten the pain of abandonment, the intense loss that had clawed at his insides, the doubts that had plagued him for years that he wasn't good enough to be loved forever.

'How irresistible?' Her brow arched in pure provocation and Nick stopped second guessing.

Now wasn't a time for doubts or deliberating or questioning, so he kissed her again, craving intimacy as the parched outback craved water to sustain life.

The thought of losing her prompted him to do all manner of crazy things, like back her up against the table, wishing he'd had the sense to lock the back door.

Her hands speared his hair, angling his head for better access to his mouth as she wrapped a leg around his waist, bringing him into delicious contact with her heat. Raging need slammed through him to the point of no return.

Out of his mind with lust, he wanted her here, now, but he'd be damned if he took her standing up against a kitchen wall after all this time.

Britt deserved more.

She deserved the universe and then some.

Wrenching his mouth from hers with effort, he exhaled on a long, ragged breath as he broke the full-length body contact he'd been relishing so much.

'Nick?'

'Not now, not here, not like this,' he said through gritted teeth, desperate to rein in his libido as he tried not to focus on her swollen mouth, on the lips he'd tasted, lips he'd savoured, lips he'd kiss all night long if he had his way.

'Then when?'

Confusion clouded her eyes as he balled his hands to stop from hauling her back into his arms, and silently cursed making a hash of this.

Desire pounded through his veins, untamed and undisciplined and uncontrollable, but he'd subdue his ferocious need for now, bide his time. When they gave into this tempestuous passion he would stop at nothing less than pleasuring Britt all night long.

With great restraint, he settled for trailing a fingertip down her cheek and along her jaw, enjoying the instant flare of heat in her sparkling eyes, the coy smile playing about her lips.

He cupped her chin, his gaze not leaving hers. 'Soon, Red. Very soon.'

Something fierce, wild, and altogether terrifying flashed in her gaze before she nodded.

‘Soon can't come quick enough,' she whispered on a sigh, setting his heart pumping with wild anticipation as he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the door before he changed his mind.