Bedding The Billionaire(28)

On the other hand, maybe he realized he couldn't have her because he already had too many women in his life. Maybe he was one of those men who actually fell in love with all his mistresses to some degree. She'd read about them. They fall in love with women, all women, and end up sleeping around, thinking they're in love with each of them. Until the next woman comes along and they fall in love all over again. In reality they're just men unable to maintain a commitment to one single woman.

That sounded like Damien Vane, the man in the profile in Lucy's filing cabinet.

It didn't sound like the man she'd just made love to. But what did she know? She'd met him only two days ago, on the day she learned that her long-term boyfriend had cheated on her. When it came to instincts, Abbey's had led her a merry dance. She couldn't trust them.

"I see," he said again, moving aside to let her pass. She swam until her feet touched the sandy bottom and hooked up her bra and buttoned her dress. Then she waded to where Lucy waited. She wasn't alone. A large, muscular gorilla-like man slickly oiled from head to toe, lay beside her.

"You two back already?" Lucy asked, one hand on the gorilla's forearm. "I was hoping you'd take longer."

"I want to go," said Abbey quickly.

"Well, I was thinking of hanging around a bit."

"Yeah," said the gorilla.

"Why don't you two go get yourselves a drink and I'll meet you somewhere later," Lucy suggested.

"Yeah," said the gorilla.

"Why not?" said Damien. "I saw a nice bar-"

"No!" Abbey stormed off. Hadn't he worked it out yet? Did she have to spell it out to him? This couldn't go any further. It was wrong.

A small arm snaked around her. Lucy was by her side, squeezing her waist.

"Sorry, Abbey Girl, I got a bit carried away. Wherever you want to go, we'll go there."

Abbey suddenly felt very tired. "I want to go home."

"Sure thing. I'm sorry. I thought you and Vane were getting on fine. It looked like it from where I was sitting. I started getting antsy while I watched so when that guy came over I thought I'd fill in some time talking to him. Well," she giggled, "not really talking. The guy can't string two words together."

Abbey giggled despite herself. She turned, looked over her shoulder, telling herself she was having another look at Lucy's gorilla. But her eyes were drawn only to Damien, who stood semi-naked, dripping wet, and staring after her.



Nick half expected -hoped -Abbey would be at the hotel when the taxi dropped him off. But she wasn't. She wasn't in the foyer and she wasn't in his suite.

It was frustrating. She was frustrating. He didn't understand her. One minute she wanted him, the next she was shrugging him off.

He turned on the shower and stood under the running water. It was cleansing, washing away the salt, the sand, Abbey.

But it didn't wash away the image of her face, her cheeky grin and her pouting, kissable lips.

What had happened in the water today? She'd been so keen, then so cold. He could almost see her mind ticking over, weighing something up, digesting.

Did she not believe him when he said he was sorry? Did she think that he still thought she was a hooker?

Nick placed his hands against the cool blue tiles and bent his head forward. The water rushed down his neck, his spine, soothing, much like Abbey's fingers had done on the first night she'd entered his room.

Or was she just concerned that this was going too far? That a one night-stand should be just that-one night.

In truth, it was beginning to worry him now too. CEO's don't fall for loose women in strange cities. They date nice, respectable women with moneyed backgrounds and amenable personalities. Not wild-haired, impudent women who wear skimpy outfits, and claim to be masseurs.




 

 

But if Abbey was concerned that this was going too far and too fast, why had she agreed to make love to him in the water today?

Why had he for that matter?

The answer to that was too easy but opened up a whole new can of worms-because he wanted to.

Nick sighed deeply and turned off the taps. He dried himself, dressed in a light, casual shirt and trousers and opened the door. He stepped into the corridor, pressed the elevator button and waited.

In the foyer, he strode to the reception desk and waited impatiently for the dark-haired woman on duty to finish checking in another guest.

"May I help you, Mr. Vane?" she asked.

"Yes." Nick paused. This could quite possibly be the most humiliating experience of his life. But it would help him discover the truth about Abbey. Right now, that was more important than his dignity. He swallowed. He never thought anything could be that important. But it was.

"Yes," he said again, straightening. "There's a girl who, um, may or may not work here."