Nick slid into the chair across from her and watched in silence as she scarfed down her breakfast. Leaning back in his chair, he picked at a piece of bacon. “Hungry?” he asked in amusement.
“Famished,” she said around her drink.
Nick’s eyes crinkled in laughter as he watched her. Shaking his head, he chewed on his strip of bacon. “I’ve arranged for a cab to pick you up shortly,” he said conversationally. “It’s already been paid for, so don’t worry about the fee.” Thoughtfully, he added, “Hopefully your clothes will be done before it gets here.”
“Eh,” Nixie said, waving his comment off. “I enjoy giving cabbies cheap thrills.”
Nick coughed around his juice. He pounded his fist against his chest, trying to clear his windpipe. “I…I, uh, see.” It took him a moment to recognize the teasing expression on her face. Quickly recovering, he added, “Well, I must object. I think you’ve given enough cheap thrills for one day.”
Nixie raised her eyebrows at him, pretending to be offended.
“Besides,” Nick continued, completely ignoring the expression, “you know what an overprivileged, spoiled rich boy I am. I don’t like sharing and I refuse to.”
Her lip quirked. “What are you going to do, lock me away so no one else can have me?”
“If I must,” Nick said in mock seriousness. “If it wasn’t for this damn meeting, I’d already have you locked up in my highest tower where I would repeatedly take liberties at my slightest whim.”
Nixie laughed in delight as she bit into a piece of sausage. “You live in a castle now, do you?” She swallowed before adding. “You well-to-do people and your showboating.” Taking another nibble, she added, “Speaking of your meeting…I would like to bring up a very important issue. My mother would kill me if I didn’t.”
* * *
Nick stared at her in surprise, a link of sausage frozen halfway to his mouth. She wanted to discuss his work? Work had always been a taboo area with Sarah. Nothing had put her to sleep quicker than a topic that hadn’t involved her. “Go ahead,” he encouraged.
“You need to stop killing dolphins,” Nixie said very seriously. “Every time we see one of those oil spill stories on the news, my mother practically has a stroke. Sure, we need oil, but we need dolphins, too.”
Nick stared at her for a moment, trying to decide if she was screwing with him or if she was in fact serious. After a full minute of her looking at him very earnestly, he burst out laughing.
Nixie’s mouth curved into the prettiest frown he’d ever seen in his life.
Not wanting her to get too upset with him, Nick gave her an apologetic look, trying to stop his laughter. When he finally managed to get it under control, he said, “Nix, darling, we are in central Texas, not on the coast. I promise you, I’ve never killed any dolphins.”
Nick climbed to his feet and took their empty plates to the sink. On his return to the table, he noticed her cheeks were lit with an adorable blush. Stopping in front of her chair, he leaned down and kissed each one of them in turn before putting his mouth inches from hers. “Though I find it very noble of you to stand up for the dolphins.”
“Someone has to,” she whispered, her breath hot against his lips.
Before she could say anything else, Nick crushed his mouth against her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to her feet, never breaking contact. “Something…about you…just…drives me crazy.” He spoke between kisses. “You…are just…so…honest…and good.”
“You’re good, too,” she mumbled into his mouth. “Very, very good.”
Nick gripped her hips, lifted her onto the kitchen table, and stepped in between her legs. He growled in pleasure as her hands, which had somehow gotten inside his robe, traveled up his back, gripping at his shoulder blades. He pressed his body fully against hers, contemplating lowering her to the table and making love to her right there.
“Nicholas!” a voice cried in admonition. “Not at the table.”
Nick slid slowly away from Nixie and let his gaze move to his housekeeper Hula. “As you wish,” he said lazily and backed away from Nixie.
Nixie squeaked and hopped off the table, hiding behind him. She gripped at the sleeve of his robe with both of her hands, and he could sense that she was completely mortified at being caught making out on a kitchen table.
“There is a cab outside,” Hula continued in a slight Mexican accent. “I’d assume it is for your lady friend.”
Nick nodded. “Yes.” His eyes shifted to Hula’s hands. “You have her clothes?”
Hula held them out silently, a reproachful look on her face.
Nick took them and wasn’t surprised when they were snatched out of his hands by Nixie. He gave Hula a brief nod. “Thank you for informing us about the cab.” He gave her a pointed look, silently telling her to leave.
Fumbling around behind him, Nixie stumbled into her skirt. She tripped and banged her hip against the table, effectively spilling his glass of juice.
Hula watched in agitation as the orange liquid trailed a path along the wooden surface and began trickling off the edge to the floor. “Wonderful,” she grumbled, but swept out of the room, leaving them in peace.
“Shit,” Nixie hissed. “Shit, shit, shit.”
Nick grabbed her arm to steady her when she almost toppled over her chair. “It is just juice. I will have Hula attend to it in a moment.”
“Well, that’s not fair,” she argued. “I was the one to spill it, and…”
Nick silenced her with a kiss. “Darling, my meeting is quickly approaching and I have yet to get dressed. Leave the juice.”
Nixie nodded. “Okay.” She gave it one last weary look before looking down at the shirt of Nick’s that she was wearing. She glanced warily at the kitchen door then at the shirt she’d worn the previous night.
Nick straightened the collar of the dress shirt she was wearing. “Just wear this home.” He planted her with another quick kiss. “You can return it later.” Spinning her around, he practically shoved her out the front door.
Nixie stumbled on the porch, struggling into her shoes as she exited the front door. She got halfway down the steps before hollering up to him. “Call me, okay?”
Nick crossed his arms over his chest, his mouth curving into a grin. “I don’t think that’s possible.”
Nixie staggered and nearly fell the rest of the way down the stairs. “What? Why?” Her gray eyes had widened in horror.
Nick’s grin broadened. “Because you didn’t leave me your number.” His words were a gentle reminder.
“Oh…oh!” Spinning on her heels, Nixie rushed back up the steps.
As soon as she got to him, Nick pulled her into his chest and kissed her greedily. “I miss you already,” he teased.
Nixie moaned and opened her mouth to him, letting his tongue dance along hers. After a moment of pure pleasure, she whispered, “Do you have a pen?”
Nick had nearly forgotten the reason for her return. “Yeah,” he said, pulling regretfully away. He reentered the kitchen and grabbed a ballpoint from the counter. Once back outside, he handed it over to her.
Nixie grinned up at him. “Paper?”
“Shit,” Nick grumbled, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t think of that.”
He spun to leave, but Nixie grabbed his hand and straightened it out. Uncapping the pen with her teeth, she scribbled her number on his palm before handing the pen back.
Nick smiled. “Now I can think of you all meeting long.”
Nixie looked up at him through thick, dark lashes. “Exactly.” Leaning up, she brushed her lips against his.
Nick grabbed the front of her shirt and pulled her against him, trapping her against his body with his long arms. He deepened the kiss, nibbling at her lower lip, his teeth grazing her skin.
A horn blared loudly and Nick pulled back far enough to see the impatient gesture from the cab driver. “As if he’s not getting paid,” he grumbled.
Nixie smiled against his lips. “You’ve got to get to your meeting anyway.” She turned and went to run down the steps when Nick spun her around and yanked her back to his chest.
He lowered his mouth hungrily to hers for one last kiss. “I’ll call you the first opportunity I get,” he promised before releasing her. Nick watched longingly as she rushed down the steps and practically ran to the cab.
“Mr. Morgan,” Hula called out.
“In a minute,” he hollered back, not taking his eyes away from Nixie as she slid into the backseat of the cab.
“Mr. Morgan!” Hula repeated more firmly.
“Hold on!” he cried, staring transfixed as the cab pulled away. He bit his lip to hide a smile as a small wrist shot out the window and Nixie waved to him. He lifted his hand and waved in return.