Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée (11 page)

“Lamentably for you, that's right. My dad knows he can get what he wants.” Nick rolled over, holding her tightly and keeping her with him as they squeezed together on her sofa.

“Next time we find a bed,” he said.

“I have two bedrooms. One is empty now.”

“That sounds promising. Can that be an invitation for me to stay?”

She smiled, tracing his lips with her fingers. “I suppose it is since you asked. Nick, I want to talk to my attorney about this.”

“Fine. I had a prenup drawn up. It's in the car, so I'll get it before I leave. You can look at it and make changes, but everything you'll get is in the document.”

“You're so sure of yourself, it's revolting,” she said. “You already have the prenup. Your arrogance has always been obvious.”

“But adorable,” he said in fun. “I'm sure of myself because
this is a good deal. Grace, I don't give up my bachelor freedom lightly. I've thought about this.”

“You want your inheritance as badly as your father wants Michael. Neither of you is accustomed to losing.”

“You've managed to resist both of us pretty well so far. Frankly, I'd say you're the winner in this battle.”

“Maybe I am,” she said, winding her fingers in his chest hair and thinking about their lovemaking. “You're a sexy fellow.”

He shifted to look down at her. “I'm glad you think so because you burn me to cinders.”

“Ah, the result I intend,” she said smugly, wishing with her whole heart she did. “Maybe I'll marry you and make you fall in love with me, you who are so sure of yourself.”

He chuckled. “Do that. I'm not protesting. Let's go find your bed before one of us falls on the floor.” When he stood and picked her up, she pointed in the direction of one of the open doors.

“I have a baby monitor in there and I can hear Michael anyway, although he rarely wakes in the night any longer.”

“And which direction is the bathroom?”

“The door to the right,” she said.

He placed her on the bed and brushed a light kiss on her mouth. “I'll be right back,” he said, and left.

She stood, turned back the covers on the bed and climbed in, pulling a sheet over her. In minutes he returned, aroused and ready. He slipped in beside her and pulled her into his arms.

“Come here, sexy woman,” he said, kissing her. His hand drifted down her back and over her bottom, rekindling desire.

 

It was dawn when she fell asleep in his arms. She had no idea how long she slept, but she stirred and looked at Nick, who had his arms wrapped around her as he held her close.

The past two days had been unforgettable, tonight's proposition, a shock. She would call her attorney to make sure the sham marriage would be as big a protection of Michael as Nick had said. She suspected it would because she couldn't imagine that it wouldn't completely satisfy Eli and return Nick's inheritance to him.

The risk was falling in love—inevitable with Nick. Would he ever really fall in love with any one woman? Or would he be in and out of marriages and relationships like his father?

One million dollars. Plus Michael taken care of financially for the rest of his life. Plus an allowance. She could not possibly refuse him. With her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she looked at Nick, seeing his handsome features, the thick midnight hair tumbling on his forehead, black lashes feathered over his cheeks.

Their lovemaking had been one more argument on Nick's side. The passion was fantastic, beyond anything she had dreamed possible. She studied Nick's straight nose and prominent cheekbones, his firm jaw. If Nick stayed in her life, she would fall in love—it was absolutely unavoidable. Yet heartbreak was a risk worth taking for everything else Nick promised. She just had to remember to not expect any long-term relationship. A temporary marriage with myriad benefits.

On any given day there were people walking around who were survivors of a broken heart. She would also pull through. He had a prenuptial agreement already drawn up, which was a clear indication of his confidence.

Her life was about to be turned topsy-turvy by the man holding her close. He was still a stranger in many ways, yet she was becoming friends with Nick, getting to know his father and learning some of the family history.

While she gazed at him and thought about their lovemaking, desire returned. Soon he had to be going, but they could make
love one more time. She raised slightly to trace the curves of his ear with her tongue.

Almost instantly his arm tightened around her and his eyes opened. She gazed into his dark eyes and felt his arousal as he pulled her closer to kiss her and they loved once again.

It was the first graying of morning when she watched Nick dash to his car and return with a manila envelope. Once he closed the door he handed the envelope to her. “Look it over and give it to your attorney. I'll see you later today. Do you work or stay home?”

“Parties start up today and I'm working tonight. You can come by my office Monday at four and we can talk there.”

They stood looking at each other. His warm brown eyes made it obvious he wanted to make love again. “You need to go, Nick. I have to get things done.”

He stepped forward to embrace and kiss her. She hugged him tightly until finally she looked up. “You're a lusty one.”

“You drive me to lust,” he said, caressing her throat. “A few more minutes and we'll be back in bed. All right. I'll be at your office at four.” He walked to his car and was gone. She closed and locked the door and went to look at Michael, studying the sleeping baby and thinking about how his life had changed.

She picked up the manila envelope to read the agreement, receiving more surprises with Nick's generosity, because she would get more than he had told her. Michael would have a trust that would assure him a college education and a comfortable life not counting contributions from her. She would be given a generous allowance, one million to be paid, half when they married and half when they separated. She paused at that one, certain that if she married Nick she wouldn't want it to end. She would do everything in her power to make him love her in return.

Michael's cries interrupted her reverie. She slipped the
agreement back into the envelope and it was midmorning before she had a chance to talk to her attorney. She drove to his office for an early afternoon appointment that was brief because he urged her to accept Nick's offer if she got along with Nick and thought she could live with him.

She drove back to the office and told Jada that she didn't want to be disturbed for the next hour while she sat in her office mulling over what she was about to do.

Nick arrived promptly at four. Jada, bubbling as ever around him, showed him back to Grace's office. She hadn't told Jada or anyone else except her attorney about Nick's proposal. This was something she wanted to make up her mind about without other influences except a legal opinion.

Nick walked in, his navy jacket unbuttoned and open. He closed her office door and crossed the room to kiss her, a light kiss that turned into a passionate one.

“Nick, we're in my office,” she said finally, trying to catch her breath.

“With the door closed. It's private and you're delectable.”

They studied each other and he raised one black eyebrow. “Did you talk to your attorney?”

“Yes. He gave me the go-ahead from a legal standpoint.”

“Terrific. Now it's whether you want to live with me and take my offer or not.” He embraced her lightly. “Will you marry me, Grace?” he asked, and she wondered if the day would come when she would wish those words had been said in love.

“Yes, Nick, I will. And I want the prenuptial agreement.”

“Ah, Grace.” He let out his breath and pulled her up to kiss her hard, an exuberant, triumphant kiss that started fires and made her want to be alone with him. He wrapped his arms around her to kiss her thoroughly, holding her close. She was committed now and her life had just changed forever.

He released her. “We need to get together to make our
plans. One thing—let's wed as soon as possible. I'll help you in every way I can and I'll pay for the wedding so spend what you want.”

“Nick, slow down,” she said, laughing as his words spilled out.

“I'm excited about this. When can you go with me to tell my dad?”

“Nick, won't he see right through this and know it's a sham marriage?”

“Not at all. He proposed to my third stepmother after knowing her a week. I've been in touch with him and he knows I see you. He'll accept it because it's what he wants. Michael will legally be his grandson. When can you get away to see him? Can you give me time tomorrow afternoon?”

“I have a wedding tomorrow night, but I'll turn things over to Jada and if you'll be here promptly at five, we can go then.”

“I'll tell him today. I'll break the news so it's not too much of an emotional upheaval. He'll want to see you.”

“I won't be able to stay long.”

“That's fine. It shouldn't take long. He'll probably want a party sometime if the doctor allows it. We can do that after the wedding. So how soon can we get married?”

“I haven't thought ahead about this because I've spent my time trying to decide whether my answer would be yes or no. I don't have to have a big wedding. I just have Jada and another close friend, my two sisters, and my aunt.”

“You know a lot of people because of your business and I imagine you have some clients you've gotten to be friends with. My dad is going to want the world to know about Michael. Between Dad's friends and mine, we'll have a big guest list.”

“Why didn't this family feel that way about Michael when Alicia was alive?” Grace couldn't keep from saying, thinking
what a sad turn of events to have them want Michael now after Alicia was gone.

“That was Bart's doing and I've told you, Dad's illness has changed his values. I'm giving you carte blanche to hire people and get everything pulled together quickly.”

“How quickly? I want Aunt Clara to be a part of all this and she won't be back for two more weeks.”

“Look at the calendar. Mid-January.”

“You don't adopt Michael until we're married and I have the first half of my money,” she stated firmly. “I've written that in the prenuptial agreement.”

Amusement flashed in Nick's eyes. “Fine. Get your calendar. Friday is the last day of December. Let's have a wedding two weeks from that—it would be mid-January, actually almost three weeks away from today. Your aunt will have returned by then.”

“Nick, this makes my head spin. Two weeks from this Saturday and a big wedding. My sisters may be in Timbuktu. We are so scattered.”

“You contact them and let's get started. When can I have an evening with you?” he asked, his tone changing. Her pulse skipped and she wriggled away to look at her calendar. “Thursday is a rehearsal dinner that Jada can manage. I'll go out with you on Thursday.”

“Great. Here,” he said, handing her a credit card. “Use this. I'll have my secretary text the names of florists I've used a lot. If you trust me and will tell me what kind of music you like, I can get the musicians.”

“Nick, we're doing this and we know so little about each other.”

“We know what's important,” he said, his expression changing. “I've thought about you all day long,” he said. “I couldn't wait to see you,” he added, and leaned close to kiss her again.

Wedding plans were forgotten, along with the tingly excitement she felt over her new life.

Desire overwhelmed her and she kissed him, letting go plans and worries. As their kisses heated and longing intensified, she wanted so much more. Reluctantly, she stopped.

“Nick, there's something else. I'd like to wait until we marry to have sex again. Last night was impulsive. I couldn't resist you and your seductive lovemaking. I don't rush into things and I'm charging headfirst into this marriage, definitely the physical relationship. Can we postpone sex until the wedding?”

“I'm not going to like waiting. What's the point?”

“A relationship now and getting ready for a crash wedding. These things will complicate my life at a time of the year when I'm really busy with my business. Plus if I stop working and stay home with Michael—which I will be able to do—I'll be busy getting the catering business taken care of,” she said, thinking she was capitulating too fast to everything Nick wanted. He could wait for a physical relationship until the wedding. She didn't want to wait herself, but she wasn't going to be that easy for Nick.

“Whatever you want,” he said. “Won't be agreeable, but if it's what you want, we wait.”

“Thanks.”

“No complaints over last night, are there?” he asked, studying her.

“What do you think?” she asked, running her hand along his thigh. He inhaled deeply and pulled her close.

“When you do that, I'm not keeping hands off,” he said before he kissed her. Again, she responded, kissing him with abandon for a few more minutes, wondering whether she could resist him until they said vows. She intended for him to really desire her and she hoped above all, to avoid having him tire of making love before they became man and wife. Last night
had been spectacular, fireworks and dizzying sex for her, but she didn't know if he had been as dazzled as she.

Now she poured herself into her kiss, on fire with longing, erotic images of Nick's virile body taunting her.

When she ended their kisses, she caught her breath. “I'm going to have to leave the office shortly for a party we're catering tonight. This is a large, important party and Glenda is keeping Michael for me.”

“All right, I'll go. I'm going to miss you.”

“Good. I want you to miss me,” she said softly, tapping his chest and leaning closer to him. “I want you to miss me and think about me and count the minutes until we're together again.”