Free A Past Revenge by Carole Mortimer

his cheeks. 'I never promised her forever, he rasped.
    'You never promise any woman that,' she taunted. 'Only here and now, and enjoying yourselves while you can.'
    'And what's wrong with that?'
    'Nothing—for you.'
    His mouth twisted. 'You want a white gown and a gold wedding ring, hmm?' he scorned.
    Her eyes flashed deeply green. 'I want a man I can love and respect, and not necessarily in that order.' She gave him a scathing look. 'Do you think you fit the description?'
    His expression was glacial, 'I know I don't,' he bit out.
    'Then you have your answer,' she shrugged, going into her bedroom, leaving it his decision to leave.
    She may have appeared calm while she was talking.to Nick but this was the least calm she had ever felt, leaning weakly against the door. How could she have once loved such a man so much she had given herself to him at their first meeting? How could she still feel that trembling of awareness where he was concerned?
    She hadn't believed she could feel that way about him after all this time, hadn't felt that way about any man for the last seven years. Certainly no one could accuse her of being promiscuous, she thought hysterically. In all of her twenty-six years she had known only one lover, and he had treated her cruelly enough for her never to want another!
    Then why was she so physically aware of him? All the time she had been talking to him this morning she had been conscious of how ruggedly handsome he was, of how the blue shirt and grey trousers moulded to the lean length of his body, had remembered the beauty of that body and the ecstasy it had once given her, if only briefly.
    A shower made her feel a little better, and she dressed in a cool lime-green sundress with tiny ribbon straps, a fitted bodice, and loose skirt, needing the look of femininity to bolster her sadly flagging self-confidence, her hair fresh and golden, her only make-up a peach lipgloss. She looked young and attractive, showing none of her confusion of a few minutes ago, she dismissed the intimate thoughts from her mind.
    Nick stood up as she entered the lounge, his gaze appreciative on her young loveliness. 'It was worth waiting for,' he murmured softly.
    'I thought you would have gone by now,' she snapped ungraciously, the image of cool confidence at once crumbling, leaving her strangely vulnerable when she wanted to be strong.
    He shrugged unconcernedly. 'I thought I could drive you to your parents' home.'
    And check that she was actually going there! 'I can drive myself,' she picked up her car keys pointedly. 'In fact, I would prefer to do so. That way I have a lift home again.'
    He gave an inclination of his head in acknowledgment of her decision. 'Then I'll walk you to your car.' He took a firm hold of her arm.
    'That isn't necessary,' she snapped, trying to free herself and failing miserably.
    'I'm leaving anyway,' he pointed out reasonably.
    If only she didn't feel so unreasonable when in his company! In fact, she could feel positively violent at times when he was around. Especially times like this, feeling herself guided firmly in the direction of the lift, whether she wanted to go or not.
    'You see, I didn't,' he drawled mockingly as they stepped out into the sunshine.
    She blinked up at him, had been lost in her own thoughts the last few minutes. 'Didn't what?'
    He gave a wolfish smile. 'Ravish you in the lift,' he taunted throatily.
    Her face paled as she vividly remembered a time he had made love to her in a lift.
    'Hey?' all humour left him as he gently clasped her arms, looking down at her concerned. 'What is it?'
    'I—'
    'Look this way, Mr Andracas,' a voice called out cheerfully from behind them.
    They both turned simultaneously, and as they did so a camera clicked, Nick's arm going about her protectively as the camera clicked again.
    'Thanks, Mr Andracas, Miss Smith,' the reporter grinned cheekily, a man in his mid-thirties, weighed down by the trappings of his profession. He turned quickly to get into a