Dating the Enemy

скачать книгу бесплатно


The elder Thornton looked up. “Ah, Nick. We were just talking about how you let the Natural Goddess launch slip through your fingers.”

Nick pulled out a chair and sat down, his face a polite mask. “Really? Did you also happen to tell her that I’ve only just returned from our London office? And that Goddess Cosmetics has only been mine for two and a half months? Or were you about to place the blame for three years of failure at my door?”

“There’s no blame being placed here, Nick. Only the foundation for a new partnership.”

As the two men eyed each other Jessie found herself becoming more and more uncomfortable.

“Well, it seems as if you two could use a little time alone to work things out. If you’ll excuse me …?” she said, rising to go.

Nick’s hand clamped around her wrist. “Don’t leave. I was just about to ask you to dance.”

Well, that was a switch. “You were?”

“Yes. Will you?”

Despite the alarm bells ringing in her brain, Jessie nodded. “Of course. We’re presenting a solid front, right?”

“Right.”

“It was nice to meet you, Brad,” she said, ignoring the pressure Nick was placing on her hand.

“Likewise. I look forward to having many more conversations with you.”

She nodded and let Nick lead her on to the dance floor.

Nick led Jessie into the center of the dancing throng before pulling her into his arms. The band had begun a slow waltz and his body automatically began to move to the music, even though his temper was raging. If it hadn’t been for his father’s inability to keep up with the times they wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.

“What was that about?” Jessie asked.

Nick looked down at the gorgeous redhead in his arms and tried to think of an answer that wouldn’t give anything away. The last thing he needed was for her to get wind of the company’s financial troubles. If Phyllis heard about it she’d have even less faith in their abilities.

“Nick?”

He blinked. Oh. Right. She was waiting for an answer.

“I’m sorry—what was the question again?”

She rolled her eyes. “What was that thing with your father all about? For a minute there I thought you might punch him.”

“Oh, just the usual family drama. My father brings out the best in me, if you know what I mean,” he said, trying to keep the snarl out of his voice.

“And my existence brings out the best in you both, apparently?”

Nick managed a smile. “Neither one of us is used to being bested—especially not by someone as sexy as you. It stings the pride a bit.”

“Ah, so you’re admitting to being beaten?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“We lost a battle, but I’m confident we’ll win the war.”

Jessie took a deep breath and he could see the temper sparking in her eyes. But instead of rising to the bait she shook her head and smiled.

“I think we’d better change the subject before our cover is blown, don’t you?”

“You’re right.”

For a moment they were silent as they twirled around the room.

“You’re quite the dancer—even when you’re angry,” Jessie finally said.

Looking down at her, he felt something shift inside. His anger dissipated, only to be replaced by a different kind of heat. God, but she was gorgeous. And fun. If circumstances were different they could have a seriously good time together.

“If you’re going to do something there’s no sense in half-assing it.”

He spun her out for a twirl, pulled her back in and swept her down into a dip, just as he had at Becky’s wedding.

With his face inches from hers, he said, “I pride myself on doing things right.”

Jessie’s face flushed and he could see the desire he was feeling reflected back in her eyes.

“I’ll just bet you do.”

Nick became all too aware of how well her lithe body fit in his arms, and of the silk-clad thigh currently locked between his legs.

Quickly, he set her on her feet. “Man, it’s hot in here. I’m going to get some air,” he said, motioning toward the doors open to the rooftop deck.

“That sounds like a fabulous idea.”

Moments later they were standing in the chilly night air, looking over the deck’s railing, the lights of the city sparkling below and around them.

The tension Nick hadn’t even known he was feeling evaporated into the night. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of the way New York looks at night.”

“Me neither. The first time I came here my mom took me up to the top of the Empire State Building at night and said, ‘See those lights? Fairies live in every sparkle. There are millions of them, all around us. New York is the most magical city in the world.’”

“Fairies, huh? I never thought of that.”

Jessie looked at him with a sad smile. “Most people wouldn’t. But my mom saw things other people didn’t.”

“Past tense?”

“Yeah. She died when I was sixteen,” Jessie said, hunching in on herself.

She looked so vulnerable Nick wished he could put his arm around her. “I’m sorry,” he said instead. “That’s a rough age to lose a parent.”

“Yes. It is. But it taught me an important lesson.”

“What’s that?”

She spread her arms wide. “To live. Really live—not just go through the motions. I don’t want to be on my deathbed thinking about all the things I wish I’d done, you know? That’s a terrible way to spend your last days.”

“Well, from the little I know of you, I’d say you’re doing a pretty good job so far.”

She turned away from the railing and looked up at him, her eyes searching his.

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you really living?”

“I’d like to think so.”

She waved her hands toward the crowded ballroom. “Does this make you happy?”

“I thought I’d made my position on charity balls pretty clear? They’re a giant bore. This side of New York life is not my thing.”

“Then let’s get out of here,” she said, grabbing his arm and tugging. “I’ll show you how much more fun my New York is.”

Nick blinked. That was a switch. “Together? But I thought you couldn’t stand me?”

“I can’t stand Nicholas Thornton, advertising bigwig. But Nick the guy is growing on me. How about we forget about our real lives and pretend to be two regular people out on a Saturday night for a few hours?”

The suspicious part of him wondered if she was playing some sort of game—trying to get a competitive advantage. But he decided to play it cool. “That’s definitely a change in attitude. Are you always this impulsive?”

She shrugged her shoulders. “Usually. It makes life way more exciting when you go with your gut. So what do you say?”

Nick was silent for a minute. Rationally, he knew he should say no and head back inside to network and flatter. But he really wanted to get to know this fascinating woman better. Besides, if they spent more time together he might discover something that would help him get the Goddess account back.

“All right. Let’s go. Where are we going?”

“I don’t know …” She shrugged. “Somewhere.”

“Somewhere it is,” he said, and gave her his hand. “Lead the way!”

Jessie hummed as she weaved down the familiar set of backstreets and alleyways, still holding Nick’s hand. The evening had become pretty surreal. One minute she’d been trying to think of a graceful way to make an exit. The next she’d heard herself inviting him to come with her.

It was the conversation about her mom that had done it. Whenever she let herself remember how abruptly her mom had died she found herself doing something reckless. Something that made her feel alive. Something she usually regretted later.

“Are we there yet?” Nick asked, breaking into her reverie.

Jessie blinked and looked around her. Then she nodded and pointed at the faded sign ahead. “Yep. Welcome to the first stop on your tour of Jessie’s New York.”

“Tina’s Thrift Shop?”

“Yep. We have to change before we head to our next venue.”

Nick stopped cold. “You’re kidding?”

“Nope. What are you? Chicken?”

Nick’s expression heated as he played with a tendril of her hair. “Of course not. But you didn’t have to drag me all the way down here to get me out of my clothes. You could’ve just asked. I would have happily obliged.”

Jessie ignored the tingles his words set off in her thighs. “Well, I do plan on getting you hot and sweaty tonight. But I have no interest in what you’re hiding beneath that monkey suit.”