Nick was tired of it. Usually he wouldn't allow anyone in his employ to treat their work and colleagues with such disrespect, but Vane was good and came with a wealth of experience. But Nick couldn't put up with his behavior anymore. Enough was enough. Skipping out just before a major seminar where he was supposed to give demonstrations to potential clients was more than he could put up with.
Nick strolled up King Street toward Collins Street and his hotel, laptop case slung over his shoulder, suit jacket over his arm. He'd taken it off and rolled up his shirt sleeves when he left the air conditioned Crown Complex where the seminar was being held. He'd been inside all day and the heat hit him like a force field.
He blew out a breath and kept walking, the heat prickling his skin, engulfing him like a blanket. It was already five o'clock but the sun still burned fiercely.
A typical hot summer's day. The sort of day he'd have spent down at the beach in his youth, catching some waves, lying in the sun with a gorgeous girl next to him. Not anymore. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone to the beach. In fact, he couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this hot. Usually he drove everywhere in his air conditioned BMW, or sat in his air conditioned office or North Shore house.
It was actually kind of liberating—sweating, feeling the sun on his bare arms, wanting to drink a beer, wanting to feel a soft woman in his arms...
Nick swallowed. He hadn't thought of Abbey all day, thank God, but now her image was returning to haunt him thick and fast. He wanted nothing more right now than to lie with her, naked, surrounded by sand and the crashing waves. He would take her, slide over her hot body, enter her slowly, tease her a little before plunging deeply until she called his name...
He cleared his throat and moved his jacket in front of him, covering his painful erection. He glanced around but everyone was bustling home after a day at the office, not taking any notice of him. He drew in a deep breath and blew it out again.
He forced himself to slow down. She wasn't coming back, and even if she did, he would send her packing this time. He, Nick Delaware, investor and multi-millionaire, didn't go in for that sort of thing. And not with that sort of woman.
No, Nick would have to settle for a cool shower, a cold beer and an air conditioned bar. He had more demonstrations to prepare for tomorrow and he wanted to brush up on the potential clients he'd scheduled into the day.
As soon as he got back into work mode the better, so he could stop thinking about Abbey.
"Going somewhere, Big Boy?"
The familiar voice jolted him from his thoughts. His head, and another part of his anatomy, jerked up. "Abbey?"
He stared back at the woman who appeared in front of him, suddenly not sure what he should say to her.
What do you say to a hooker after an incredible night of passion?
CHAPTER 3
Nick cleared his throat. "It is Abbey isn't it?"
Abbey wore her hair long. A few strands fluttered around her face and Nick resisted the urge to catch them and tuck them behind her ear. She wore sunglasses so he couldn't see her eyes, which was a pity because he liked her eyes—bright blue and piercing.
Abbey nodded and smiled. She had a pretty smile. Probably because she had such soft, luscious lips—lips that would look great wrapped around...
"What are you doing here?" he asked gruffly, silently thanking the powers-that-be for his jacket.
She shrugged a bare shoulder. She wore an even skimpier top today. This one was strapless and defined her full br**sts perfectly beneath the thin fabric. She looked like she was wearing a bra today, also strapless. Nick wondered how quickly he could make the ni**les peak through the fabric of both bra and top. Could he do it without even touching her?
She wore a flighty, thin skirt again, almost to her knees. It had a dangerously high split up one side that displayed the soft flesh of thigh and hip. Her legs looked silky smooth, almost glossy. Nick had an overwhelming urge to run his hand up them to her thigh, her hip, her ass...
"Thought I'd drop past and say hello."
He frowned. "Why?" Then he realized—he hadn't paid her. It was a harsh reminder of who he was dealing with. Or rather, what he was dealing with. "Oh, right. Come upstairs and we'll sort it out."
Abbey flushed pink. Had he shocked her with his suggestion? Maybe discussing money in the street was taboo for these sort of women.
Since when did hookers blush?
She glanced around, biting her lip. Suddenly she looked less like the confident girl-about-town and more like a young woman out of her depth.
She was really green. Not like she'd been last night. Last night she knew exactly what she was doing.
"Actually, uh, I thought we could have a drink first. Then maybe something to eat." She checked her watch. "Then maybe come back here about ten. That okay?"
He hesitated. So she didn't just want to be paid—she wanted to do it again. Which meant he would owe her twice as much. That wasn't a big deal—he could afford whatever price she named—it's just that he didn't want to continue with this. It was wrong and it wasn't his style. Although it had felt damned good last night.
Maybe just once more, then he'd call it quits. He'd take her out to dinner, somewhere nice that she wasn't used to going to. He'd tell her that this was definitely the last time. Then, after an hour or two of passion back at the hotel, he'd pay her for both nights.
That's if someone else hadn't already paid her. The thought that one of Vane's bizarre friends was pulling the strings and had perhaps paid her already was still a possibility, although to do it twice was a little odd. Once, as a joke or gift, he could understand, but twice?
Or maybe Vane had prepaid her before he'd decided to skip out to wherever he'd gone for the week. Well, if that were the case, Nick might as well enjoy it. He could find out about the arrangement later. He might as well relieve some more stress. As long as he kept the situation under his control this time there was nothing really wrong with it. He knew what he was doing. He always did.
"Sure," Nick said. I spotted a nice bar over there." He pointed to where a few people sat at outdoor tables up the road. "Let me go upstairs, have a quick shower and change. I'll meet you there."
"You like to take charge don't you, Damien."
Nick balked at the name. He hated anyone thinking he was Vane but it was necessary. Anyway, what did it matter who she thought he was? She expected Vane, and that's who she was going to get.
Nick glared at her.
"I know what I want and I don't waste time getting it. I've found that's the best way to be in my line of work." He turned to go inside the hotel but stopped. "I don't expect you to understand."