She sighed. She was being irrational. This was business. They had to spend tomorrow brokering the deal, so she should at least remain polite to him, despite what he might still think of her.
They sat again, but Nick hadn't let go of her hand. He held it across the table and his thumb rubbed gently along hers. The movement was sensual.
Their wine arrived and the waiter took their order. Nick let go, somewhat reluctantly it seemed, and sat back in his chair. He watched her through black eyes that were as hot as coals.
"Congratulations," he finally said.
Abbey looked up at him sharply. "What for?"
"The promotion. Tarken must've been surprised."
She grinned. "Angry more like it. I had threatening phone calls for a week afterwards."
Nick frowned and sat forwards. "He didn't try anything did he?"
"No. He's all hot air and no action. Anyway, he got another job the following week and I haven't heard from him since."
"Good. I'd hate to think he was bothering you. There's nothing worse than having a psycho ex boyfriend on your hands."
"Speaking from experience?"
Nick grinned. "Not about the boyfriend."
Abbey had forgotten how great that smile could be, how infectious. She couldn't help smiling with him.
"Melinda also found another job," Abbey said. "She suddenly felt uncomfortable with me as her boss."
He chuckled. "I don't blame her. I think you'd make a scary boss."
"Scary! I'm the nicest boss around. Unlike you, I imagine. I hear they call you The Machine."
Nick frowned. "Who told you that?"
She shrugged and pretended to admire the view.
"The Machine?" he said, half to himself. "I wonder what that's supposed to mean? That I work long hours?"
The look on his face was priceless. All of a sudden he seemed utterly concerned that his staff didn't like him.
"I think it means that you're, well, heartless."
"Heartless! I've got a big heart. Especially when it comes to my staff." He shook his head, frowning. "I can't believe they think I'm heartless."
She grinned. "I also heard that you've change in the last month. Changed for the better."
He raised an eyebrow. "Changed? How so?"
She shrugged. "Just nicer I guess."
"Nicer. Hmmm."
"So what happened a month ago to change you so drastically?"
Nick's eyes flew to hers then quickly skittered away. Abbey leaned forward and touched his hand. To hell with talking about business. She wanted an answer to this one and she wasn't letting him go until she had it, whether it was what she wanted to hear or not.
"Well?"
He glanced at her then up at the approaching waiter who took their orders and disappeared.
"Well?" she prompted again.
"Abbey, don't." He looked pained.
"Why?"
"This isn't fair."
"Nothing about this was ever fair, Nick. Let's face it, I wasn't fair to you and you weren't fair to me. There's been a lot of water under the bridge between us, and I just want to start hearing the truth from you. I'm tired of lies."
He stiffened. His face had gone rigid, all hard angles. "Do you want me to tell you I've hated every minute of the last month because I can't get you out of my head? Or would you prefer I tell you that we were just one of those things that burns brightly and dies just as quickly? Well, which is it to be, Abbey?"
His words stung. "The truth, Nick."
He sat back, glancing out at the Harbor. "I'm not ready for the truth."
Abbey bit the inside of her bottom lip to stop it from quivering. So which version had been the real one? She thought there was probably an element of truth in both scenarios for him-that he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her and yet there was nothing between them except great sex. Problem was, as far as she was concerned, the emotion she'd felt for Nick hadn't gone away. It had only intensified.
Had it for him?
Their meals arrived and they fell silent, the topic too painful to resurrect.
"I think we'd better stick to safe conversation tonight," Nick said at last.
"Like business?"
He shook his head. "Tell me about you, Abbey. You never really did let me see who you really were."
She blinked. "I'm so boring."
Nick's lips twitched into a smile. "You're the least boring person I've ever met-after Lucy that is."
Abbey chuckled. Then she frowned and tried to think of something interesting to say about her life.
"Tell me where you were born," he prompted. "And then tell me where you grew up. I want to know about your parents, brothers and sisters, whether you liked school and what sort of dress you wore to the school dance. Things like that."