“Nick, there’s something else. I’d like to wait until we marry to have sex again. Last night was impulsive. I couldn’t resist you and your seductive lovemaking. I don’t rush into things and I’m charging headfirst into this marriage, definitely the physical relationship. Can we postpone sex until the wedding?”
“I’m not going to like waiting. What’s the point?”
“A relationship now and getting ready for a crash wedding. These things will complicate my life at a time of the year when I’m really busy with my business. Plus if I stop working and stay home with Michael—which I will be able to do—I’ll be busy getting the catering business taken care of,” she said, thinking she was capitulating too fast to everything Nick wanted. He could wait for a physical relationship until the wedding. She didn’t want to wait herself, but she wasn’t going to be that easy for Nick.
“Whatever you want,” he said. “Won’t be agreeable, but if it’s what you want, we wait.”
“Thanks.”
“No complaints over last night, are there?” he asked, studying her.
“What do you think?” she asked, running her hand along his thigh. He inhaled deeply and pulled her close.
“When you do that, I’m not keeping hands off,” he said before he kissed her. Again, she responded, kissing him with abandon for a few more minutes, wondering whether she could resist him until they said vows. She intended for him to really desire her and she hoped above all, to avoid having him tire of making love before they became man and wife. Last night had been spectacular, fireworks and dizzying sex for her, but she didn’t know if he had been as dazzled as she.
Now she poured herself into her kiss, on fire with longing, erotic images of Nick’s virile body taunting her.
When she ended their kisses, she caught her breath. “I’m going to have to leave the office shortly for a party we’re catering tonight. This is a large, important party and Glenda is keeping Michael for me.”
“All right, I’ll go. I’m going to miss you.”
“Good. I want you to miss me,” she said softly, tapping his chest and leaning closer to him. “I want you to miss me and think about me and count the minutes until we’re together again.”
“I think your wish is granted.” He framed her face. “You’ve given me a fortune with your agreement. I’ll make this marriage good for you in return. I just want to let Dad know and I want to have the ceremony as quickly as we can. Then I want to make love to you all night and all day long for at least a two-week honeymoon.”
“Sounds wonderful, Nick,” she said. “In your past relationships, I’m curious, have you always been the one to walk or have you ever had heartbreak?”
“No heartbreak, Grace. Either I’ve been the one or it’s been mutual. Don’t worry about when we part. We haven’t gotten together yet.”
She smiled at him. “You want this to be great and I do, too. Maybe our marriage will work the way we both hope,” she said, wishing again that if she fell in love with him, it would be mutual and he would love her in return.
“What if I ask your father to escort me in place of my dad who’s no longer living? Will that be too difficult for him? I really don’t have anyone to ask. Clara’s sons aren’t close to me—I doubt if they’ll even attend. Alicia’s parents are gone, too. She had fewer relatives than I do, hence I have Michael.”
“I’ll check with Megan, but I doubt if it will be too hard for Dad. He can hang on to you. He will be overcome with delight that you asked him. You’ll see—he will show his gratitude to you in some tangible way for the marriage and for asking him to escort you.”
“I don’t need that,” she replied, and Nick shook his head.
“You’re unique, Grace. Stop resisting accepting something good.”
“You got what you want. I’m going to marry you. Now you go.”
He smiled. “I’ll go, but I’ll be back and I will think about you while we’re apart.”
She walked to the front door with him, stepping outside where a chilly wind buffeted her. “I’ll wait to tell anyone except Aunt Clara and my sisters until we’ve told your dad.”
“Good.”
Nick climbed in his car to drive away and she went to her office to call her aunt.
How would Clara react?
Eight
Nick called his father’s house and let Megan know he was coming to the house to see his dad. The next call was to Jake and one to Tony, arranging to meet them at the club where they could eat. He called Jake’s brother and asked Gabe to join them. With excitement humming in him, Nick drove away, thinking about the wedding. He would have to decide which of his friends he would ask to be in the wedding party. Tony and Jake definitely. Gabe would have to be included, perhaps as an usher. Who would be best man? He might have to flip a coin, but if he decided in such a manner, he would tell Jake and Tony when he was with both of them. The fortune was his. He had won over Grace. He’d lose his bachelor freedom—the minute he thought about the prospect, he remembered making love to Grace and became aroused. He wanted her constantly. He didn’t mind losing his freedom if it meant sex constantly with Grace.
Except no sex until the wedding. Seemed silly to him because she obviously wanted him and she was the sexiest woman he had ever been with. He couldn’t concentrate on work today and too much of the time he had daydreamed about a honeymoon with Grace, something he hadn’t given a thought to until after last night.
At his father’s mansion, he went to the library and found his dad reading. His father looked up from his book. “To what do I owe this visit?” he asked. “You don’t usually appear at this time of day.”
