Free The Trouble with Valentine’s by Kelly Hunter

day!’
    ‘You could always try trusting me.’ Nick’s voice was dry, very dry, as he reached where she stood, bent his head and touched his lips to hers in the merest whisper of a kiss.
    They were in a public place. They were making a point for Jasmine’s benefit. Role playing, that was all. But the quiet intensity in his gaze made her heart race and her body want more. Had she really been married to this man she’d want him in her bedroom now. So he could show her with his body and with his eyes just how much he loved her. Not the pretty little flirt on the flight today, not any one of the women who’d tried to engage his interest, but
her
. She was hot, she was sticky, she was well and truly aroused, and dammit she was blushing, her worldliness stripped from her too easily.
    She let go of Jasmine’s arm, hoping that the reassuring smile she sent the younger woman would suffice. ‘Um, I don’t suppose there’s somewhere I can freshen up?’ she asked.
    ‘Of course,’ said Jasmine. ‘Come, I’ll show you to your suite. I also have refreshments prepared for you if you’d care to join us on the terrace a little later. I wasn’t sure how hungry you’d be so there’s a bit of everything.’
    ‘That sounds lovely.’
    More reassurance, because Jasmine Tey still looked like she desperately needed it.
    Nick’s wide palm rested on the small of her back as they followed Jasmine to their suite, the warmth of his touch searing into her through the thin silk of her top. By the time they reached the room, his touch was a feather-light caress between her shoulder blades and her body was awash in sensation. ‘Right, then. Thank you,’ she said to Jasmine. ‘We’ll meet you on the terrace in, um—’
    ‘Half an hour,’ murmured Nick in
that
voice, and quietly shut the door.
    ‘Phew.’ Hallie blew out a breath and headed for the window, more to put some distance between herself and Nick than to admire the view. It was a magnificent view though, now that she looked at it. The Teys’ three-car garage and manicured terraced gardens were spread out directly below them and beyond their walls stood more luxury housing that only the extremely wealthy could afford. Down slope, the villas and the apartment blocks graduallymorphed into the towering skyscrapers and neon madness of Hong Kong Island’s central business district. Beyond that lay the glittering waters of Victoria Harbour and beyond that , more skyscrapers; the skyscrapers of Kowloon. ‘Wow,’ she said softly.
    ‘Breathtaking, isn’t it,’ said Nick, crossing the room to stand beside her. ‘How do you think it went with Jasmine?’
    ‘She got the point.’
    ‘You don’t think it was too subtle?’ he asked.
    ‘We women are subtle creatures.’
    Nick didn’t seem entirely convinced. ‘I think we need more.’
    ‘More what? More jealousy? Look, I’m trying to be supportive here but in my professional opinion Jasmine’s not going to come anywhere near you ever again. She’s an innocent girl, Nick. You never mentioned that. And you should have. I was all set to play the over-possessive fruitcake. I don’t
need
to play the over-possessive fruitcake. I doubt I even need to be here.’
    ‘You’re wrong. I know Jasmine’s an innocent, Hallie. That doesn’t make her without wiles. You do need to be here. And there definitely needs to be more touching.’
    ‘Touching?’
    He slid an arm around her waist and drew her gently towards him. ‘Like this.’
    This
was enough to set every bone in her body to melting. Hallie put her hands to his chest, striving for some distance, even as the lower half of her body betrayed her and settled snugly against him. ‘Kai’s watching us,’ she muttered. He was opening the driver’s side door of the Mercedes; maybe he was off to put the car away. But he was looking up at them.
    ‘I know.’ Nick was hardening against her as they spoke and making no secret of his affliction as his hands slid from her waist to