Page 57 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
He blinked and stared into the dark bedroom, pondering his question. It would be so simple to get her back. Tell her he loved her. Which was worse? A real commitment or this empty hell of missing her?
He had feared commitment since he was a kid and had continual upheaval in his life because of his father’s failures, but he didn’t have to repeat his father’s mistakes. Had he cut himself off from the best relationship he could find in his lifetime?
Nick looked at his watch. It was four in the morning. He scrambled around looking for her address. He didn’t want to wait—Michael never hesitated to wake her. And he wasn’t declaring his love on the phone.
He paused. He was taking a giant step. This would make his marriage real and “convenience” would go out the window. He wanted Grace back in his life, so if that was love, he had to admit he had fallen in love with his wife.
The notion was startling, yet it made him feel better to think about loving her and getting her back.
He shaved and dressed, pulling on jeans and a navy sweater. The streets were empty as he followed the directions on the GPS.
At the gate, he fished out the code she had given him when he’d had to pick up Michael once. He drove in, pulled out his cell phone and called his wife.
Eleven
Grace woke to the ring of her cell phone. Instantly, thinking of Michael and Aunt Clara, she sat up in bed and grabbed her phone, becoming fully awake. The minute she answered, a deep male voice startled her.
“Grace, it’s Nick.”
“Nick?” she asked, puzzled, picking up her watch to look at the time. “Are you all right?” Why on earth would Nick call during the night? Had he had a car wreck? Did he need help?
“No, I’m not all right. I’m here at your door. I need to see you.”
“Nick, are you sober?” she asked. She had never known him to drink to excess, but what would cause him to want to talk to her at this hour?
“Cold sober. Come to the door and let me in before a neighbor calls the police.”
“I’m coming,” she said, scrambling out of bed and grabbing her red velvet Christmas robe. She glanced in the mirror at herself. Her hair was tangled and in disarray and she looked sleepy. As she hurried to the front door, she tried to comb her hair slightly with her fingers, gave it up and finally unlocked and opened the front door.
Nick stepped in. He wore a leather jacket and he looked handsome enough to make her weak in the knees.
“What is it, Nick?” she asked. “What’s happened?”
He stepped in, closed the door, then reached for her, pulling her to him to kiss her hard and passionately.
Her heart slammed against her ribs and she couldn’t catch her breath. She had one startled moment and then she was on fire. Desire blazed, a hungry need that tore through her like a raging wildfire. She embraced him, arching her hips against him, kissing him back while her pulse pounded.
In minutes they had peeled away each other’s clothes, trying to get rid of all barriers and finally made love in her entryway with urgency tearing at them as Nick picked her up and she locked her long legs around him.
Later, he let her slide to stand. “Where’s a bed?” he asked.
Picking up her robe to hold it in front of her, she squinted her eyes. “Nick, why are you here?”
He looked down at her and a muscle worked in his jaw. “I want you back. I want you to come home. I love you, Grace.”
Her heart thudded and she wondered if she had heard correctly. “Nick, if you are just saying the words to get me back—”
“I love you. I mean it. I want you in my life. I’m making a commitment right now. Come home.”
She felt as if a crushing burden had been lifted off her heart. “Nick, I love you,” she cried, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him hard.
Epilogue
Grace stood on the verandah, greeting guests while children played on swings on the grassy lawn. She held a sleeping baby in her arms and smiled at Nick as he walked up to her.
“How’s the little princess?” Nick asked, looking at the baby.
“She’s sleeping and might sleep right through the first party she’s ever attended.”
