Love Script (10 page)

Captain Howle turned to Laney and held out his hand. “And you are?”

She offered her hand. “Laney Parks.” Laney

seemed

to

realize

her

blunder

immediately. The Zelmans looked at her oddly; Cooper grinned and Heidi muffled a laugh.

Nick reacted quickly. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Honey, it’s been an entire year. I’d think you would have gotten used to your married name by now.” He grinned up at the captain and shook his hand. “Nicolas Sinclair. And this beautiful woman is my wife
Mrs.
Laney
Sinclair
.” Everyone must have thought him charming, because the table laughed col ectively at his response while Laney blushed with embarrassment.

Nick winked at the Zelmans playful y, but he was inwardly annoyed by Laney’s careless mistake.

“Alas,” Captain Howle said sadly, “I am outdone again. Are there no beautiful women aboard my ship who aren’t married?” The table, now entertained by the captain’s presence, laughed loudly. Nick was more reserved. Captain Howle might be able to easily inflate his ego by flirting harmlessly with older women like Vivian Zelman, but when he’d looked down at Laney, there had been a flicker of real attraction. Nick hadn’t caught him in the act, but he was quite certain Laney’s ample breasts hadn’t gone unnoticed by the captain.

It was now Heidi’s turn to be showered with praises from the captain. He was every bit as smooth with her as he had been with Laney and Vivian. Cooper smiled broadly, pleased to receive compliments for his companion’s beauty. Checking his watch, an old fashioned pocket watch which hung from a gold chain, Captain Howle admonished himself for ignoring his other guests. Before turning to leave, he said, “Gentlemen, it was a pleasure meeting you and your lovely wives. If it isn’t too much to ask, might I have the pleasure of asking your dear wives for a dance later this evening?” The men nodded their agreement, and the captain turned his attentions to the next table, introducing

himself

to

everyone,

answering

questions about the ship and, of course, flirting with the ladies. As soon as he was out of ear shot, Wil iam Zelman shook a finger at his wife.

“You can get that sparkle out of your eye,” he muttered. “Howle is gone now.”

Vivian rol ed her eyes and laughed. “I think it’s the uniform. There’s something about a man in uniform.” Wil iam Zelman gave Nick and Cooper an exasperated look. “Can you believe this? I run a multimil ion dol ar company and she’s ready to ditch me for the cabin boy!”

The table erupted into laughter when Vivian consoled her husband by patting his knee and politely correcting him. “He’s a captain, not a cabin boy. Give me a little credit.”

Dinner flowed quite smoothly from there. As the company mel owed and the staff refil ed everyone’s empty wine glasses, the couples got a little cozier.

Wil iam Zelman rubbed his wife’s arm affectionately and Cooper’s wife, Heidi, leaned into his side intimately. Laney, however, remained rigid in her seat. Nick made no move to touch her, because he feared she would run out of the bal room.

As the staff began clearing away the dishes, the music kicked into a jazzy tune. Couples throughout the room made their way to the dance floor. Wil iam Zelman asked Nick for permission to dance with Laney. Nick agreed only if Wil iam gave him permission to dance with Vivian. The couples joined the growing throng of dancers in the center of the room, but Nick kept a protective eye on Laney while he danced with Mrs. Zelman. Wil iam Zelman joked with Laney, and her bubbly laughter could be heard over the crowd.

Nick saw Captain Howle nearly break his neck to get to Laney to cut in for a dance. She graciously accepted his company. A line of strangers fol owed the captain. Nick was not fooled. They al wanted to get close enough to Laney to look down her dress.

That damn dress seemed to be the highlight of the night for the male species in attendance.

Several attractive women asked to dance with Nick and he obliged them. He was amazed to discover even though they believed him to be married, they boldly suggested a desire to be intimate with him. Perhaps if they were back in San Francisco and he was free to explore his options, he might have considered their offers, but Laney’s presence was inescapable. He could not tear his eyes away from her. She was spel binding. Her smile lit the entire room. It annoyed him to hear her carefree laughter with another man. They dipped her far more times than was necessary and if she released another squeal of mirth when a stranger spun her around, Nick swore he would rip the man apart.

He clenched his jaw when he saw Cooper sweep Laney into his arms. She smiled up at him, but he noticed her laughter stopped. Cooper whispered something in her ear and she nodded her reply.

Were they making arrangements to hook up later tonight? Ridiculous jealousy raged inside him. Nick’s hands fel away from his latest dance partner without explanation. He walked up to the couple and slapped a firm hand on Cooper’s shoulder.

“Coop, I’m stepping in.”

Cooper shot him a curious look but offered Laney’s hand to Nick, then grinned. “Enjoy.” Nick pul ed Laney close to him, leaving no space between their bodies. He wanted her next to him.

The feel of her curves was overwhelming. She stiffened over such intimacy. He leaned down to press his face against hers. “May I have this dance,
Mrs. Sinclair
?”

She winced at the reminder of her blurting her real name. “About that…I’m so sorry about what happened at the table. I promise it wil never happen again.”

“We made a deal,” he whispered in her ear.

“You agreed to play the part of my wife for the next ten days.”

She leaned up on her toes. “I know, Nick.” He smiled down at her. “Then I should warn you I’ve made an interesting discovery.”

“What?”

“I’m a very jealous husband.” He watched her nibble on her lower lip nervously. “What did Cooper ask you, Laney?”

She looked straight into his chest to avoid making eye contact with him. Nick lifted her chin with the tip of his finger and pinned her with his gaze.

“Tel me, Laney.”

“He asked me how I knew you.”

“And you said?” he pressed.

“I told him to ask you.”

“Then what?”

She hesitated. “He asked if I lived in ’Cisco.”

“And?”

“I said yes.”

“Is that al ?”

She sighed. “He asked me out.”

He pressed her closer. “What did you say?”

“I said I would have to think about it.”

“I saw you nod your head when you were talking to him.”

She eyed him thoughtful y. “He asked me to think about it.” She shrugged. “I promised I would.”

Nick knew he had no right to question Laney outside of their “marriage,” but that didn’t stop him from wanting to kick Cooper in the face for asking her out, and cursing Laney for considering the offer.

“Nick, you’re holding me too tight.” He ignored her as he maneuvered them off the dance floor to a secluded corner. The dancing couples kept them out of eyesight from the Zelmans.

Nick pressed her up against the wal , placing a hand next to her head to discourage escape. “You’re being a complete ice queen toward me.”

“I am not.”

“Yes, you are. You freeze up every time I touch you.”

She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I’m trying the best I can, Nick. This is just a little weird for me.

You’re my boss.”

“For the remainder of this cruise, I’m your husband.” He stepped closer. “Kiss me.”

“Wh—no!”

“Laney, you’re going to have to show some level of affection toward me sooner or later.”

“I don’t think PDA is real y necessary, Mr.

Sinclair.”

“Yes, it is, and cal me Nick.”

“
Nick,
I’m real y trying to be flexible, but you need to be patient with me.”

“Fine, I’l give you an option. You can either get it over with here, or you can wait until we’re back in the room. You decide.”

“What is the point? The Zelmans aren’t even around. What would it prove to kiss you now?”

“You need to learn to be comfortable being intimate with me in public.”

“And I wil …eventual y.”

“That’s not good enough, Laney.”

“Nick, you just propositioned me this morning.

What am I supposed to do?”

“Do your job. Do I have to remind you your promotion is riding on this?” There it was. He’d played his trump card. “You decide, Laney. Here or in the room. Either way, it’s going to happen. I’m not going to give Zelman the impression that we’re having intimacy problems. While Cooper and Bambi can’t keep their hands off each other, you haven’t welcomed any of my advances. So what’s it going to be?”

Laney did not like her options. Kissing Nick would muddle her brain for the rest of the evening.

The man was so handsome he bordered on beautiful. If she al owed him to kiss her now, she would embarrass herself by being a bumbling idiot.

But kissing him in the privacy of their room was a frightening thought. She wasn’t quite sure she could tolerate sleeping in the same room with him.

She was almost certain Nick was not attracted to her, but that didn’t stop her from being attracted to him. It was slow torture sitting next to him during dinner and not being able to stare at him. He oozed cool confidence. He knew exactly what to say at the appropriate time. And, as if a mirror were stationed in front of him, he could make a facial expression that caused every woman at the table to melt. She absolutely did not want to kiss him. Not here or anywhere else.

“Nick, I think the easiest way to keep things professional between us is to not get too familiar.”

“It’s not your choice to decide what we do but where we do it. Here or the room?”

“I—”

“Yoo-hoo, Laney Sinclair!” Vivian Zelman made a direct line toward their corner. “Laney, I need your help. Wil is being ridiculous again. You must tel him I’m right.” She completely ignored Nick’s predatory position over Laney as she grabbed her hand. “I need you desperately.”

Laney welcomed Vivian’s intrusion. She had no desire to answer Nick’s chal enge. He was too overwhelming for her to handle. Fleeing with Vivian was fate final y working in her favor.

Vivian waved over her shoulder to Nick. “You’re such a dear, Nick. I’l bring her back shortly.” Nick gave a forced smile. “Not a problem. Laney, sweetie, we’l finish this in the room.” Laney groaned, but Vivian, who paid no attention to Nick, didn’t hear his comment. She caught Laney up to date on her recent debate with her husband. By the time they returned to their table, Cooper, Wil and a few other men were in united disagreement with Vivian. Laney forced herself to focus on the discussion at hand, but it was a difficult task when her mind kept running back to Nick. Her apprehension of retreating to their room together set her nerves on edge.

Forcing herself to pay attention, Laney threw herself into the conversation at hand. Vivian Zelman did enjoy arguing, but she managed it with such elegance that one could only be entertained by her.

She was aggressively persuasive yet effortlessly thoughtful of others’ opinions. To be in her presence was to welcome conversation. Cooper’s wife, Heidi, being the quieter member of their original party, had already been dismissed by Vivian; however, you would not have noticed her absence of personality, because Cooper was impressive al by himself.

Laney’s nervousness vanished as she became drawn into the group. The only time her mind drifted was when she caught glimpses of Nick chatting with another woman across the room. It would seem Nick chose his timing wisely, as he didn’t reappear until the debate had simmered to casual laughter. When he joined the group, Heidi Wright was hanging on his arm. It was early, but the group agreed it was time to retire for the night. Most of them had flown into Fort Lauderdale early that morning and were now feeling the effects of jet lag.

The Sinclairs waved goodnight to the Zelmans as they entered their suite. Laney headed straight for the bathroom. Nick slipped out of his suit jacket and loosened his tie before hooking up his laptop and checking his e-mail while he waited for Laney. He was amazed to see she had strategical y planned her showering process. When she final y emerged, nearly an hour later, she was wrapped in a heavy terrycloth robe that had the cruise line logo embroidered in the lapel. She smel ed like fresh soap and toothpaste. She said nothing, didn’t even look at him as she unpacked her luggage.

Nick was preparing to take his shower when he heard her groan. “What?”

She rummaged through her bag. “I can’t believe this…you’ve got to be kidding me,” she said to herself.

“What is it?”

Laney’s head popped up, her face horror-stricken. “I have a problem.”

“
What?
” He was now getting annoyed.

“I didn’t plan on spending my vacation with you.” Nick rol ed his eyes. “Tel me something new.”

“No, you don’t understand. I planned to be on a romantic cruise with Rob…my boyfriend.” She shook her head. “I mean—my ex,” she corrected. “I packed expecting to be with him the entire time.” Nick dragged his hand through his hair. “Is there a point to this?”

“I don’t have any…sleeping attire…suitable to be in the same room with you.”