The Bachelor Contract(61)
“I’m used to it.”
“You are not!” She smacked him on the shoulder. “Jerk.”
“There we go…” He laughed and tilted her chin toward him. “Nik?”
“What?”
“Make him grovel.”
She grinned.
Chapter Twenty-Six
You came!” Brant blurted loudly, stupidly.
“Yes.” Nikki laughed. “Why are you shouting?”
“I just—” Great start, Brant. Awesome. “Sorry, I was just…” She likes cheesy, so own the cheesy. “…excited.” And it occurred to him that he really was. It wasn’t anger that was pressing against his chest, making him feel like he couldn’t breathe.
It was excitement. Joy.
Huh. Imagine that.
“So? Can I come in?” She smiled brightly at him, and he wondered what she must think of everything.
“Yes.” He clicked the door shut behind her. “I sent Nadine and Grandfather out to a late dinner and bribed the staff to get them drunk. I locked my side of the suite, so if they wander in…I blame God.”
She barked out a laugh. “Noted.”
“Second.” Hell, he was having trouble concentrating as she wet her lips and blinked up at him. “My brothers are off with their wives enjoying the poolside bar—I told both of them if they stepped foot inside this room I’d kill them. The wives gave me their word that they’d distract them, going as far as to take off their clothes so that the guys don’t get any ideas to interrupt us.”
“And what exactly would they be interrupting?”
Here goes. “Date number one. Well, technically it was date four.”
“I’m confused.”
“I’m re-creating your favorite dates. With you.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I don’t know what to say.”
“‘Yes’ would be good.”
She was quiet. Too quiet. His heart sank.
And then she gave a weak nod. “Yes.”
Thank God. “Just so you know, by saying yes you’re agreeing to spending the night with me.”
She tensed.
“Fully clothed.”
She smiled. “We didn’t sleep together on our fourth date?”
“Hell no. I believe I told you when we first met, I don’t just let anyone in my pants.” Wrong thing to say, since lately that was all he’d been doing. But she didn’t miss a beat, simply rolled her eyes. “What? What’s that look?”
“You’re…different.”
“Bad different?”
She shook her head. “Good different.” A deep frown marred her pretty features. “Why are you doing this?”
“I thought that was completely obvious.”
“I’m blind, so…” She lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. “I can’t really read your expression. All I know is you sound lighter, happier.”
“I am.”
“Good.” She almost looked upset about it.
“Because of you.” Because he was with her. Because she said yes. Because suddenly things felt hopeful.
“How so?”
Brant spread his hands across her bare shoulders and ran them up her neck. “You deserve the chance we never had. I want to give that to you. A chance to go on after the b-baby.” He swallowed the thickness in his throat. “After the fire.”
“And…and how are you going to do that?”
“By reminding you why we were so damn good together. Why we fell in love. Why we stayed that way despite everyone telling us we would never make it.” He pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’m seducing you—and giving us closure at the same time.”
“I don’t understand.” She gripped his wrists, her fingers digging painfully into his skin. “You’re seducing me and giving me closure?”
“I define our relationship as before the accident. Because after? After, we were nothing, we were too broken, too damaged. There was never an after. Only a before. I’m giving us the after. And I’m giving you the choice you never had.”
A tear slid down her cheek, colliding with his hand. “And if I walk away in the end?”
His heart twisted inside his chest. “Then that’s your choice. But now, at least you have one.”
She nodded. “This is pretty heavy for a first date, you know.” Her smile was back, but it was forced.
“Well, you’re the one who asked.” He leaned in to kiss her again, only to have her pull away at the last moment. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but he just wanted to taste her, to make her understand that he wasn’t going anywhere, not unless she wanted him to.
Brant sighed, then pulled away and reached for her hand. “Follow me.”