Eligible Bachelors: Wife For A Week Part 16

aThey're in the bathroom. I hadn't forgotten them. I just...' Hadn't had the heart to leave them on. Hadn't been able to bear the pretence any longer. She didn't finish her sentence.

He went into the bathroom, came out with them in his hand.

aYou want me to wear them,' she said, and felt her heart shatter into pieces. Of course he did. They weren't done here yet. Not quite.

aNo. You don't have to wear them if you don't want to,' he said quietly. aThe thing is, I've been thinking about what I'm going to do next too. I have a plan as well.' And with a deep, ragged breath, aI want you to keep the rings.'

aYou're giving them to me?' Fine tremors racked her body as she looked away. aYou know I can't accept them.'

aI'm not giving them to you.' He put his hand on her shoulder and turned her back to face him, and now he could feel her trembling too. His eyes widened, and he stroked his hand down her arm as if to soothe her, but he didn't let her go. Instead, he captured her hand in his and traced the knuckles of her wedding finger with his thumb. aActually, I suppose I am giving them to you, technically speaking, but there's a catch.' His smile was crooked, his eyes uncertain. aYou have to take me too.'

aI...what?'

aI can't let you go,' he said quietly. aI won't. So the way I figure it, you're going to have to marry me for real.'

aI...you want to marry me?'

aThat's the plan,' he said. aOf course, it does depend on you saying yes to the plan. And it would really help my confidence if you stopped shaking.'

aMy brothers are going to kill you,' she said faintly. aWe've only known each other a week.'

aWas that a yes?'

aI'll drive you crazy.' She couldn't think straight, couldn't break free of the blossoming joy that threatened to engulf her. Nick loved her! He wanted to marry her! If anything, her trembling increased.

aWas that a yes?' he wanted to know. aI'm taking that as a yes. But I'm going to need a declaration of love as well. Just to be sure.'

aYou want to hear me say I love you?'

aIt's a crucial part of the plan,' he said gruffly.

aI love you,' she said, bringing her hands up to frame his beautiful, beloved face, laughing when his arms came around her as if he'd never let her go. aYes, I'll marry you. I'm going to be the best corporate wife you've ever seen.'

aNo!' He was half laughing and wholly alarmed as he picked her up in his arms and headed towards the bed. aI don't want a corporate wife.' And with a catch in his voice that pierced her to the core, aAll I want is you.'

Jasmine, John and Kai were on hand to bid them farewell as they left for the airport the following morning. They didn't feel like business a.s.sociates, these lovely, generous people, thought Hallie; they felt like family. aThank you,' she said warmly, holding out her hand to John. aFor your hospitality and your kindness. It was a pleasure meeting you.'

She turned to Jasmine next as Nick shook hands with John and added his thanks to hers. aI'm going to miss you,' she said as she embraced the younger girl. aKeep in touch.'

And then there was Kai, standing by the front door, a little apart from Jasmine and her father as he waited to drive them to the airport. aThanks for keeping me company yesterday. I appreciated it,' she told him with a brush of her lips to his cheek and had the satisfaction of seeing him smile, just a little. aStill leaving for the Mainland?'

aMaybe just for a visit.'

aMaybe you should consider taking a travelling companion.'

Kai's smile grew a fraction wider. aTake care, Hallie Cooper.'

Hallie watched as Nick completed his farewells, an affectionate hug for Jasmine and a simple heartfelt thank-you for Kai. They'd been through so much together-all five of them-that lies and half-truths no longer seemed appropriate. Had never been appropriate, thought Hallie wryly, not really. But she had no wish to upset things just as they were leaving. No wish to watch this comfortable intimacy turn to wariness and suspicion, so she kept her mouth firmly shut on the subject of her fict.i.tious marriage to Nick and comforted herself with the knowledge that next time she saw them she would be married to him.

Nick joined her by the door and Hallie would have turned to leave but for Jasmine, who'd retrieved a bright red parcel from the entrance table and was holding it out towards her. aFor you and Nick,' she said impishly. aFrom my father and I.'

Oh, dear. With all the excitement of the past couple of days she'd completely forgotten to get a parting gift for them. The corporate wife had slipped up again. aI, ah, really wasn't expecting a parting gift,' she said awkwardly.

aOpen it,' urged Jasmine.

So she opened it and stared down in astonishment at the little jade horse she'd so admired the first time she'd met John. aOh, my Lord,' she whispered, looking to Nick for explanation, but he looked as baffled as she was. What kind of parting gift was this? Had they gone nuts? Parting gifts were small, inexpensive mementos of a person's stay. Chopsticks were parting gifts, or a pretty silk scarf...Nothing wrong with a packet of fragrant green tea leaves either, come to think of it, but this...This was crazy. She didn't understand the gesture at all. aI don't know what to say,' she said frankly. aIt's absolutely exquisite. But it's not a parting gift.'

aOf course not.' John Tey's mischievous smile was remarkably like his daughter's. aIt's a wedding present.'

CHAPTER TEN.

FLIGHT 128 from Hong Kong to Heathrow touched down with a screech and a swerve at five p.m. on a grey and bl.u.s.tery afternoon, but neither the weather nor the b.u.mpy landing could dim Hallie's happiness. She was manicured, pedicured, pampered and polished and was corporate wife chic in her lightweight camel-coloured trousers and pink camisole and jacket. Her shoes matched her top, her handbag was Hermes, and Nick was at her side. She was the woman who had it all and it was all she'd ever dreamed of.

That didn't mean she was a pushover.

aI still can't believe you didn't tell me you told John we weren't married,' she said as she stared down at the little jade horse in her handbag. What with that and the funeral vase, customs was going to be a real treat.

aI was going to tell you,' said Nick. aRight after I proposed and you accepted, but I figured I'd leave it a few minutes on account of the timing not being quite right. I wanted you to be quite sure I was proposing because I wanted to and not because I'd just blown our cover.'

Ah. It was slightly disconcerting just how well Nick knew her.

aThen, when I was just about to tell you, I got distracted.'

aBy what?'

aYou don't remember?' He sighed heavily but his eyes gleamed with lazy satisfaction. aHow soon a wife forgets.'

Hallie did remember. And blushed at the memory of their fiery lovemaking. aAfter that.'

aAfter that my brain had turned to mush,' said Nick and it was Hallie's turn to sigh. It was almost impossible to stay angry with Nick when he was being charming, which was most of the time, but she didn't want to set a precedent.

aWe're partners,' she said firmly. aI expect you to share these little details with me.'

aAh.' It was a very uncomfortable sounding aAh'. aThere's something else I should probably mention before we go through customs and out into the arrivals terminal,' said Nick.

She stopped, mid-stride, and eyed him narrowly. Nick's mouth twitched as he pulled her into his arms and his mouth descended on hers, regardless of the people streaming past them. By the time the kiss ended, she was dazed, aroused and doubtless dishevelled, but she wasn't distracted. aYou were saying?' she said smoothly.

aClea's meeting us here.'

aSo?' To Hallie's way of thinking that was hardly a problem. aI like your mother.'

aSo do I,' said Nick. aIt's just one of those details I thought might be worth sharing.' Then they tackled customs and stepped through the final set of doors and out into the arrivals area.

aThere she is,' said Nick, and there she was, a vision splendid in magenta and lime chiffon with a leopard-print handbag that matched her shoes.

aI knew it!' said Clea when they reached her. aI knew you'd be perfect together. Mothers can sense these things.'

Hallie snickered as Nick suffered his mother's enthusiastic embrace and then she too found herself enveloped in a fragrant cloud of Clea.

aYou are going to marry him, aren't you, dear? Let me look at you. There, of course you are!'

aDid you tell her?' muttered Nick. aI didn't tell her.'

aApparently mothers can sense these things,' said Hallie.

aWait until you have children of your own. You'll see,' said Clea. aOh, you're going to give me such beautiful grandchildren!'

But Hallie didn't appear to be listening. She was looking past Clea, her startled gaze fixed on a dark-haired man leaning against a column some distance away. He was big and lean and all muscle, his hair was s.h.a.ggy, and he was looking their way, his focus absolute. Nick watched with fatalistic calm as the man dislodged himself from the column to stand and glare at him with amber eyes as fierce and untamed as a mountain cat.

aI think you're about to meet Tristan,' said Hallie.

He'd figured as much. aHe looks a mite put out. Did you leave him a note?'

aRight there beneath the toaster. I swear.'

aI see.'

Tristan had finished taking his measure and was now staring at the hastily re-wrapped funeral vase tucked beneath Nick's arm, his expression grim.

aHe knows about the vase,' she muttered.

aThat's Interpol for you.'

aYou're not taking this seriously enough, Nick.'

aTrust me, I am.'

From what Hallie had told him, her brothers were protective of her. And regardless of him wanting to marry her now, there was no denying he'd carted her off to Hong Kong under false pretences, had his wicked way with her, and allowed her to waltz, practically unprotected, into the lair of the local warlord.

Tristan started towards them.

aYou're going to run, aren't you?' said Hallie morosely. aThey always run.'

aAbsolutely not,' he said, tearing his gaze away from her brother to send her a rea.s.suring smile, and then Tristan reached them, nodding politely enough to Clea before shooting his sister a wrathful, baffled glare that Nick could identify with. Then it was his turn to meet that flat, golden gaze.

aSo...' Tristan let the word trail off ominously. aHow was the trip?'

aStop that!' Hallie stepped forward to stand protectively in front of him, hands on her hips, eyes flas.h.i.+ng. aYou be nice to him!'

Tris's gaze cut to his sister, to the wedding rings already on her finger, and Nick saw a familiar wilfulness there along with no small measure of love. aWhy?'

aBecause he's mine, that's why! Because I love him and I'm going to marry him and we're going to have beautiful babies together, so back off!'

aBabies?' echoed Tristan.

aGorgeous, adorable babies,' said Clea, throwing in a grandmotherly smile for good measure. aSoon.'

aHow soon?' Tristan's searing gaze cut to Clea. Nick rolled his eyes in disbelief.

aNot that soon,' he said firmly. aLater.' He reached out to pull Hallie back until she was once more standing by his side. aPlease,' he said dryly, adon't try to help me.'

aBut-'

aNo.' He silenced any further protest with a warning glance. aI let you call the shots in Hong Kong, but you don't have to rush to my defence here. I don't need your protection,' he said softly. aI don't want your protection. Not this time. You of all people should understand that.'

aFine.' She sent him a glance that held equal measures of self-mockery and frustration. aHe's all yours.'

aHard, isn't it?' Nick leaned down and kissed the generous pout of her mouth because he couldn't resist. aHave a little faith. Maybe we'll bond.'

aTris doesn't bond all that well,' said Hallie, shooting her brother a dark glance.

aDon't push him, Hallie. Your brother loves you. He only wants what's best for you.'

aThat would be you,' she said with quiet certainty.

Nick looked down into Hallie's vibrant, beloved face, a smile on his lips and in his heart. aHold that thought,' he said. And kissed her again.

ISBN: 978-1-4268-0409-0.

WIFE FOR A WEEK.

end.