Paladin's Woman Part 6

She balked, refusing to budge another inch. "Stop shoving me around and stop giving me orders. What's gotten into you?"

"I want you to walk out into the foyer."

"Why?"

"I told you. I want to show you something."

"This is my house. What could you possibly show me that I haven't seen a hundred times?" she asked, trying to pull away from him. He held her shoulder firmly.

"You have two choices," Nick said. "Either you march your little f.a.n.n.y out into the foyer or I'll carry you."

"You wouldn't dare." She eyed his cane.

"Try me."

She didn't bother to turn around and face Nick. She didn't have to see the look on his face to know he was serious. She could hear the determination in his voice. She knew that if he had to carry her, he would, even if walking unaided by his cane might be painful for him.

"Oh, all right." The day had been almost more than she could bear. Accepting Nick as a live-in bodyguard despite her desire to remain free. Finding out that the man who'd attempted to kidnap her last night had met a deadly fate at the hands of some unknown person or persons still intent on harming her. Realizing that, for the first time in her life, she was s.e.xually attracted to a man. Strongly, irrationally attracted to a man she had begun to think of as her personal champion.

She simply wasn't up to any more emotional upheaval. She didn't have the strength to fight Nick. Not right now.

With his hand firmly planted on her shoulder, Nick guided her out into the foyer. Momentarily releasing her, he flipped the switch that turned on the chandelier. Light, glittering off the cut crystal, flooded the entrance hall.

Nick led her to the enormous gilt-framed mirror that hung on a side wall. He set his cane aside. Confusion filled Addy's mind and heart when Nick, standing behind her, his big, dark hands draping her shoulders like bronze claws, positioned her directly in front of the rectangular looking gla.s.s.

She tried to avert her eyes, as if afraid of what her reflection would reveal. When she gazed down at her feet, Nick released one shoulder, taking her chin in his hand and tilting her face upward. She closed her eyes. Whatever he was trying to do, she wanted no part of it. She wasn't going to let him make her see something she didn't want to see.

With his lips close to her ear, he whispered, "Open your eyes, Addy, and tell me what you see."

He ran his hand down her neck, caressing her throat. Then he reached out and encircled her waist with his arm, pulling her back against him. She felt his hard arousal against her b.u.t.tocks. Inadvertently she cried out.

"Open your eyes."

"No." The word escaped from her throat on a tormented breath.

"If you're afraid to take a good look at yourself and tell me what you see, then just listen and I'll tell you what I see."

"Please, Nicka"don't."

He splayed his hand across her stomach. She jerked, an instinctive reaction that could have been fear or pa.s.sion. Nick knew enough about women to understand that Addy was afraid. More of herself than of him.

"I see a woman, Addy. A woman. Not a girl and not even a lady, though I know that you are a lady in every sense of the word."

She squirmed against him, trying to pull away, wis.h.i.+ng she could escape before he said anymore. "I hate you."

"No, you don't." His voice was deep and dark and incredibly sensuous. "You hate yourself, don't you, Addy? I'm making you feel like a woman and that frightens you."

"Why are you doing this to me?" She struggled against him. He held her tightly.

"G.o.d, Red, stop that! You've already got me so hot I'm about to lose it."

She stopped moving and stood perfectly still. His words seeped into her consciousness. Her body stiffened with denial, not wanting to admit that she was every bit as aroused as he was.

He ran his fingers through her hair, lifting it and watching the t.i.tian strands fall back to her shoulders as he released them. "You have beautiful hair. It's like fiery silk. Thick, wavy flames."

When he pulled her closer and closer against him, she didn't resist. He was weaving a spell with his words, words that she warned herself didn't mean a thing. Nick was a practiced lover, a Latin Romeo with the ability to charm any woman. She couldn't let him charm her. She didn't dare.

"Your skin," he said, caressing her neck, pus.h.i.+ng aside her silk robe to fondle her shoulder. "Your skin is soft and smooth. All of your little freckles intrigue me. I'd like to kiss every one of them, and somedaya"someday soona"I will."

Addy drew in deep breaths trying to calm her raging senses. Don't listen to him, she told herself. He doesn't mean what he's saying.

He moved his hand downward, over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, barely grazing her tight nipples. She closed her mouth, biting off a cry of excitement. Both of his hands spanned her waist. "Your body is sleek and slender and infinitely fascinating. When I first saw you, I thought you were flat-chested. I was wrong." He covered her small b.r.e.a.s.t.s with his hands, lifting their delicate weight, brus.h.i.+ng her nipples with his thumbs. "They're high and firm and fill my hands. And I love the way your nipples hardened at my touch. You're a very responsive woman, Addy. Did you know that?"

She was beyond speaking, so she nodded. He buried his face against her neck, his mouth opening, his tongue lavis.h.i.+ng seductive moisture on her heated flesh.

She leaned backward against him, unable to stop herself from succ.u.mbing to the enchantment of his words and the lure of his big hard body. Releasing her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, he slid his hands farther down her slender frame, stopping to grasp her hips, then gently kneading her b.u.t.tocks. "Full and firm and tight." His hands skimmed the sides of her thighs. "Legs like a thoroughbred. Long and trim. Do you have any idea how much I want those long legs of yours wrapped around me?"

She groaned when he eased both hands across the front of her legs, delving between them, easing the silky fabric of her gown up against the hot moistness she could not hide.

"Open your eyes, Addy, and take a look at a beautiful, sensuous woman a a woman I want desperately."

She opened her eyes, took one look at herself in the mirror and squeezed her eyes shut. "No, no a no."

"You dress yourself in plain, unattractive clothes trying to disguise the beautiful woman you are, but you sleep in frothy negligees. I'll bet all your lingerie is utterly s.e.xy and feminine, isn't it?"

She didn't respond. His hands still rested between her thighs. He lifted up, pressing his fingers against her. Thras.h.i.+ng her head from side to side, she moaned.

"I want to make love to you. To you, Addy. I don't give a d.a.m.n about Rusty's millions and I don't care what your ex-husband says. With me a with us a s.e.x would be different. Open your eyes, Red. Take a look at us and tell me that you know what I'm saying is true."

Addy opened her eyes slowly, forcing herself to look in the mirror. G.o.d, was that her? The woman she saw staring back at her was beautiful. She was filled with a beauty born of pa.s.sion, her face flushed with desire, her body taut with longing. And Nick stood behind her, his big body hard against her, his maleness pounding demandingly. He moved his hands over her as she watched.

"What do you see, Addy? Tell me."

"It's not me," she said, her voice hoa.r.s.e with mounting desire. "You've turned me into someone I don't know."

"It is you, Addy. The real you. The real woman who wants and needs. You're on fire. You're on fire for me."

"Nick?"

He turned her around, taking her in his arms. The image of the wanton woman in the mirror burned brightly in Addy's mind. Nick Romero was a sorcerer, a wizard, a magician. He possessed the power to drive her wild with desire, to make her look and act like a beautiful, desirable woman.

He was her defender a her champion a her paladin. And she longed to be his woman.

He nibbled at her lips, teasing them apart. She sighed, opening for his possession. He took her with a force that shook them both. He deepened the kiss. She clung to him, running her hands over his bare shoulders and back, pressing herself against him, hot and ready and desperate.

It was the most difficult thing he'd ever done, and he knew he would probably hate himself in the morning. But he couldn't take advantage of Addy. He realized that all he had to do was lead her to the nearest bed, and she'd let him make love to her all night. But tomorrow, she'd hate him and hate herself. He didn't want Addy McConnell's hate.

Releasing her mouth, he ran his hands up and down her arms. "We've got to stop, Red, or we won't be able to."

"Nick, I a pleasea""

He caressed her cheek with the tip of his finger. "I wanted you to see what a beautiful woman you are. Don't ever doubt that you're desirable. I want you, but I can't take you now when you're so vulnerable." The sad, puzzled look in her eyes told him that she was hurting, and it was his fault. Dammit all, the last thing on earth he wanted to do was cause this woman any more pain than she'd already suffered. "Do you understand what I'm saying and why?"

She stepped away from him, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with the mirror. "You're good, Nick Romero, d.a.m.ned good. A Latin lover and a Southern gentleman all rolled into one. A deadly combination. No wonder women can't resist you."

"Addya""

She held up a hand to warn him off, then backed away slowly. "From now on, don't try to teach me anything else about myself, okay? Just do your job as my bodyguard and keep me safe. Ia"I'm not ready for a man as lethal as you a and I'm not sure I ever will be."

He watched her walk up the stairs. Her shoulders were erect, her head held high. He had no idea what was going on inside her, but he knew one thing for sure. Addy McConnell would never forget how beautiful and desirable she'd looked tonight. Unfortunately, neither would he.

Chapter 5.

Nick wondered if Addy felt as if she were inside an armed camp. M.A.C. already had its own security force, but Rusty McConnell had ordered some highly trained professionals from Sam Dundee. The four men and two women who'd flown in from Atlanta the day before were on the job that morning when Nick and Addy arrived at the M.A.C. day-care center. Giving credit to Sam Dundee's superb training, Nick admitted that the six extra workers were as un.o.btrusive as possible, seeming to fit in as if they were long-time employees. But Addy McConnell could do little more than breathe without constant surveillance. Nick felt a little redundant and had told Rusty so when the two had shared an eight o'clock cup of coffee in the executives' office building. Rusty's long-time secretary Ginger Kimbrew had served them. The luscious brunette hadn't tried to hide her interest in Nick, and any other time he might have accepted her unspoken invitation, but, right now, the only woman who interested Nick was in an adjacent building trying her best to avoid any direct contact with him. Besides, Nick figured that Rusty and Ginger shared more than a business relations.h.i.+p, one that she wasn't quite ready to dissolve despite Rusty's engagement.

After fending off Ginger's blatant advances, Nick convinced Rusty that the hours Addy spent at M.A.C. would be the best time for him to play detective, using D.B. McConnell's money and power and his own government contacts.

Nick had decided that he'd make spot-checks on Addy during the day. His brain told him that it was part of his job. His male libido told him that he wanted to be near the desirable woman he'd held in his arms Sat.u.r.day night. His heart refused to take part in the discussion.

A florist delivery boy accidentally b.u.mped into Nick when they both reached out at the same time to open the door leading to the M.A.C. day-care center.

"Sorry, sir," the youth said.

Nick held the door open for him. "No problem. Go ahead. It looks like you've got your hands full." The overpowering sweet aroma of roses filled Nick's nostrils as he gazed down at the huge floral arrangement the boy held.

"Yeah, some guy must have it bad, huh? Two dozen red roses on a Monday morning."

The room they entered was a beehive of activity. Children of various ages, sizes, s.e.xes and races were engaged in supervised play and work, while one select group of what Nick judged to be three-year-olds were lining up for midmorning break. Janice Dixon handed out individual apple juice cartons while her helper gave each child a napkin and straw.

Nick saw Addy. Even though she only vaguely resembled the s.e.xy woman from Sat.u.r.day night, his body recognized the sensual beauty that lay behind the mask of baggy navy cotton slacks and oversized green T-s.h.i.+rt. He'd bet his silver Jag that underneath those nondescript casual clothes, Addy wore some skimpy pieces of lace and silk. Nick imagined her wearing emerald green bikini panties and matching bra, both the color of her incredible eyes.

Suddenly Nick noticed that Addy was deep in conversation with a slender dark-haired man in a three-piece business suit. Nick didn't like the way the man looked at Addy, as if he had some type of claim on her. And he hated the way Addy smiled and then laughed at something the guy said. She'd never smiled at him that way, and he realized that he wanted to hear her laugha"with him, and not another man. While Nick stood back watching and brooding, the delivery boy approached Addy. "I'm looking for Addy McConnell."

"I'm Addy McConnell."

The boy handed Addy the huge green vase of red roses. "These are for you, ma'am."

Addy accepted the floral gift. Nick noted the surprised look on her face. Obviously it wasn't her birthday or any other special occasion. She turned toward her office, motioning for her companion to follow. Nick took several tentative steps forward, stopping just outside her open office door.

She set the flowers on her desk, then removed the attached card. Her smile widened. Her green eyes brightened. Nick wanted to know who'd sent the flowers that gave Addy such pleasure.

He marched into her office. "Morning." He looked directly at Addy, then s.h.i.+fted his gaze first to the flowers and then to the man standing beside her. "Just checking in. If you have a few minutes, we need to talk."

"All right. Come on in, Nick, and have a seat." Addy sensed Nick's displeasure, but couldn't quite figure out what was bothering him. Did he feel as awkward about Sat.u.r.day night as she did? Neither of them had spoken about the incident in front of the mirror. All day yesterday they had walked on eggsh.e.l.ls around each other. "I'd like you to meet Jim Hester, a friend of mine who just happens to be one of M.A.C.'s top engineers. Jim, this is Nick Romero, the man Daddy's hired as my personal bodyguard."

What was it with her? Nick wondered. Did she have a thing for engineers, or just engineers who worked for her father? And who was this guy, really, in whom Addy had confided about the attempted kidnapping? "Hester." Nodding to the other man, Nick held out his hand.

Jim Hester shook hands with a firm, forceful grip that surprised Nick. The guy looked like a typical desk jockey with his pale complexion, thinning brown hair and slender build. "I'm certainly glad to know that Addy's in such good hands, Mr. Romero. She's a special lady and we wouldn't want anything to happen to her. Tiffany and I are both very fond of her."

"Tiffany?" Nick asked "My daughter. She's one of the three-year-olds taking a juice break right now. So, if you two will excuse me, I'll go join her while y'all talk business." Jim headed for the door, then stopped and turned around. "You never did say who sent the roses."

Nick didn't realize that he was holding his breath until Addy read the name on the card. "Brett Windsor."

"What the h.e.l.l is Windsor doing sending you flowers?" Nick's outburst seemed to have startled Jim and angered Addy, both of them turning to stare at him.

"Brett Windsor? I thought you'd convinced him months ago that you weren't interested," Jim said, smiling.

"I did, but Brett occasionally still sends me flowers." Addy glared at Nick. "Gentlemen do that sort of thing, you know. They treat you with respect and consideration. Things that Latin lovers obviously bypa.s.s on their way to seducing women into their beds."

Jim Hester cleared his throat. Addy's face flushed. Nick badly wanted to hit something.

"I'll stop back in and say goodbye before I return to work. If you two will excuse me, I'll see if Janice has an extra apple juice." Jim made his way out the door as quickly as possible.

Nick slammed closed the door to Addy's office. "So little Plain-Jane McConnell has two men in her life, huh?"

"It's not what you think." She didn't know why she was trying to explain to Nick about her relations.h.i.+ps with Jim and Brett. Neither man loved her or desired her physically. One was only a friend and the othera"

"Brett Windsor is good-looking and charming." Nick flung his arm out in a gesture of disgust as he pointed toward the roses. "He knows all the right things to say and do to impress a lady, but you know as well as I do that he's far more interested in Rusty's millions than he is in you."

"You don't think that I'm attractive enough to interest a man like Brett?" She threw out the challenge, daring Nick to reply. Smiling she leaned over and smelled the roses.

"Whether or not Windsor finds you attractive has nothing to do with this. The man is a user. He's been living off Dina for years." Propping his cane against the desk, Nick reached out, grabbing Addy by the shoulders. "Don't you realize that Brett Windsor is just as capable of a kidnapping scheme as your ex-husband? Encouraging him, for whatever reason, is a mistake."

"I have done nothing but discourage Brett. I'm not a total fool. Besides, I think you're overreacting because you're jealous of Brett's relations.h.i.+p with Dina."

"Dammit, Red, you say such stupid things! Dina is nothing more to me than a friend. I found out at an early age that she's poison to any man who cares about her." Nick pulled Addy close, so close that her b.r.e.a.s.t.s crushed into his chest. "Windsor is on my list of suspects. Stay away from him."

Addy twisted and turned in Nick's arm, trying to free herself. She hated the way he made her feela"all hot and damp and eager. "You're only my bodyguard. That doesn't give you the right to interfere in my personal life. The next thing I know you'll be telling me that Jim is on your list of suspects so I shouldn't see him anymore."

"Jim Hester isn't a suspect. Not yet." Nick lowered his head until his eyes met Addy's and his lips hovered over hers. "What's this Jim got that interests you so? He looks like a pretty ordinary guy. Is he divorced or widowed?"

Addy swallowed. She was hot. Nick was too close. She couldn't think. "Widowed. Why?"

"I just wondered a because of his daughter. She doesn't have a mother, then, does she?"

"No." Addy slipped her hands between her body and Nick's, giving him a shove. He held fast.

"I take it that you're very fond of Tiffany Hester."

"Stop questioning me like this. I don't like it." She struggled against him. "And I don't like your manhandling me whenever the notion strikes you. I may be your responsibility, but I'm not your personal property."

"That's a matter of opinion." Nick had never felt so possessive, so proprietary about a woman. He hated the thought that Addy might actually be interested in Brett Windsor or Jim Hester. Neither man was right for her. If either of them had been able to stir Addy's pa.s.sions, she wouldn't turn into a smoldering flame every time he touched her. He, Nick Romero, was the right man to teach Addy what a sensuous woman she really was. No other man could do it. No other man would be allowed to even try. h.e.l.l, he was the only man who was ever going to touch her.