‘I’m not saying I haven’t had plenty of boyfriends,’ she went on hurriedly.
‘I wouldn’t expect anything different,’ he returned. ‘A girl as lovely as you. But maybe it’s time you had a boyfriend who thinks you’re great in bed,’ he added with a smile.
‘You … you want to be my boyfriend?’
‘You’re not keen on the idea?’
‘I was planning on going back overseas soon,’ she said.
He was truly taken aback. She’d mentioned some plan to her mother over the phone. He’d thought that plan might be him. It had sounded as if she was short of money. Clearly, not so, on both counts. Daddy must still be supporting her, he realised bitterly.
The thought of her escaping overseas the way Power had, produced a rush of anger which Russell had difficulty controlling, and hiding.
But he managed. Somehow.
‘Where are you going?’ he asked a bit abruptly.
‘Thailand. That’s where I was when Mum told me to come home and collect my things.’
‘Why on earth would you want to go back to Thailand at this time of the year? It’s stinking hot over there.’
‘You get used to it.’
‘You have friends there, is that it?’
‘Yes. Good friends.’
‘Not a boyfriend, though.’
‘No.’
‘Why are you being so secretive?’
She sighed. ‘I’m not deliberately being secretive. It’s a rather long story.’
‘One which you’re going to tell me over breakfast,’ he said firmly.
Their eyes clashed, hers flashing with that stubbornness he’d glimpsed the first day they’d met. ‘You won’t change my mind, you know.’
Whilst Russell rather admired her spirit, he wasn’t about to lose her without a fight. He could be a right ruthless bastard when he wanted something. And he wanted her here, with him. He didn’t want her flying off to Thailand!
‘We’ll see, madam,’ he said determinedly as he stood up. ‘We’ll see. Now, in deference to your morning attack of shyness, I’ll wait for you downstairs. But do try to be quick. Forget the make-up and the hair. Just put it up the way you did the first day we met. Now hop to it,’ he said as he walked briskly towards the door. ‘If you don’t make an appearance in ten minutes, I’ll be coming into that bathroom and eating you for breakfast!’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
NICOLE’S first thought as she climbed into Russell’s dark green Aston Martin was that it was a rich man’s car.
No, a rich playboy’s car, she amended once he’d started the powerful engine and zoomed off in the direction of the city.
No doubt his apartment at McMahon’s Point would be a rich playboy’s pad, with all the accessories necessary for such a leisurely existence. Nicole pictured lots of leather furniture, a Jacuzzi and home-entertainment system.
He had to be taking her there not just for breakfast but also for more fun and games.
A shiver ran down her spine at this last thought. Was she being foolish, going there with him? Clearly, besides feeding her, he was going to try to change her mind about going to Thailand.
Did she have the strength to keep saying no to his wishes? She’d already gone to mush upstairs when he’d said he believed that she’d never acted like that with any other man. When he’d offered himself as her boyfriend, she’d almost said ‘yes please’ straight away.
Even now, she could feel herself weakening.
She could put her return trip to the orphanage on hold till the New Year, she supposed. Once she sold her jewellery, she could send Julie some money to buy Christmas presents for the kids. She didn’t have to go there personally right now.
But Nicole knew if she did that, she’d probably never go. She’d get sucked into the hedonistic world which she’d turned her back on, but which was extremely seductive, especially if it meant more nights with Russell like the last one.
Nicole suppressed a groan, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as she battled temptation, plus the tidal wave of desire which just thinking about last night sent crashing through her body.
The car’s sudden braking and slewing to one side snapped her eyes back open to discover a tree in the middle of the road right in front of them. Nicole grabbed the sides of her seat, but Russell managed to just miss it, grinding to a neck-whipping halt with his bumper bar against the leaves.
‘That was close,’ he said with an apologetic glance her way. ‘Sorry if I gave you a fright. I was going too fast for the conditions.’
She exhaled a long and slightly shaky breath. ‘That’s all right. A miss is as good as a mile.’
‘I’ll take it easier from now on,’ he reassured her as he backed up. ‘And stick to the main roads instead of trying to find short cuts. If it was a smaller tree I’d get out and try and move the darned thing, but I haven’t got a hope. Aah, there’s the SES now,’ he said, pointing to some men in fluorescent yellow vests coming down the road. ‘They’ll cut it up and get rid of it.’
‘I hope so. It’s very dangerous.’
A couple of minutes later they were on their way again after being directed around the tree via the footpath.
Once Nicole’s attention was back on her surroundings rather than on the man next to her, she saw evidence of last night’s storm everywhere, with lots of leaves and branches on the road and pools of water at the bottom of hills where the drains had been blocked up. A few of the traffic lights were still out as well.
Finally they reached the city-centre outskirts, where the power was still on and the traffic was flowing more smoothly. Despite being early on a Sunday morning, there were lots of cars on the road.
They’d just made it onto the harbour bridge when the bag in her lap started vibrating, the ring-tone on her phone following a split second later.
‘That’ll be Kara,’ she said as she opened the bag.
‘It might be your mother again.’
‘Oh, I hope not. Hello?’
‘Nickie, it’s me. Are you still blacked out at your place?’
‘Yes.’
‘Thought you might be, since we’re only a few streets away. Look, Dad’s started up the gas barbeque so we can have some breakfast. You and your gladiator are welcome.’
‘Actually, Kara, Russell is taking me over to his apartment at McMahon’s Point for breakfast. We’re already on the bridge, but thanks for the offer.’
‘Now, how come I’m not surprised? Must have got a clue when you didn’t call this morning.’ There was no sarcasm in this remark. Just mischievous pleasure.
‘Sorry. How did the rest of the reception go last night?’
‘Great. Megan had a gorgeous going-away outfit. I gather she and James were spending the night at a hotel in the city, then flying out somewhere romantic this morning. Couldn’t find out where, it was a secret. But enough of that. How was your night? Obviously pretty good.’
No way was Nicole going to give Kara a postmortem on her performance, or Russell’s.
‘The storm was bad, wasn’t it?’ she