a colleague and friend.”
“Who wanted and still wants more,” Rafe said.
Nicole shrugged. “He may have asked me out a few times, but I didn’t—” She broke off. “It wasn’t good timing.”
“Now?”
“Now, it’s worse,” she said, then frowned. “Why are you asking me this?”
“I think I should know if the mother of my child is involved with another man,” he said.
“Well, I’m not,” she said, laughing. “Not that it’s really any of your business. You’ll notice I haven’t been asking you about women in your life.”
“I’ve already told you I haven’t had any serious involvements.”
She gave a laugh. “Would that kind of response from me satisfy you? I haven’t been involved seriously. Just a few sexual flings.”
Rafe felt his gut take another twist. “Is that the truth?”
She groaned and looked upward. “I was kidding. I don’t think it’s fair for you to grill me when you have your own questionable relationships.”
“Such as?” he asked.
She paused for a moment. “What about Maddie?”
“Maddie?” he echoed. “She’s my assistant.”
“Wasn’t that her on the phone?” she asked and glanced at her watch. “Ten o’clock on a Saturday night?” She broke off and an odd expression crossed her face.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said, sipping her water. “I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding.”
He gave a rough chuckle. “You’re lying again. Go ahead and tell me what’s going on in that brain of yours.”
She hesitated, then shook her head. “It’s none of my business.”
“Nicole,” he said, unable to keep impatience from his tone.
“Do the two of you have a history?” she asked.
He shrugged. “She’s been working for me for years.”
“I mean a romantic history,” she said in a low voice.
Rafe blinked. “Hell, no. Why would I ruin a great business relationship just for sex?”
Nicole lifted her shoulders uncertainly. “Maybe she doesn’t feel the same way. Have you considered that she may wish things were different?”
He rubbed his chin. “Never crossed my mind. I don’t know why it would cross hers.”
Nicole made a little sound of exasperation. “Maybe because you’re extremely good-looking and wealthy. I think she has a crush on you.”
Rafe considered the possibility for a moment and felt a barrage of misgivings. “God, I hope you’re wrong. That would make things sticky as hell.”
He considered the suggestion that Maddie might want a romantic relationship, then dismissed it. If Maddie had wanted him that way, she would have made her move long before now, and he was thankful she hadn’t because he couldn’t return the interest.
“Maddie is my assistant, nothing more. But my relationship with you is more complicated. You’re the mother of my son. You need to trust me.”
Nicole’s heart hammered against her ribcage at the intensity in his expression. “It’s too soon.” She took a quick breath. “We need more time.”
“Speak for yourself,” he said.
She bit her lip. “I need more time.”
He shrugged and stretched his neck as if he had a kink in it. Her hands itched to touch him. Maybe more. His muscles were seductive. His strength, nearly irresistible.
Clenching her hands to keep from touching him, she wondered why she was so drawn to him. She’d always been afraid of powerful men.
They rode the rest of the way home in silence. As each mile passed, Nicole became increasingly drowsy. She fought sleep, but it finally overtook her. Awakening as the limo pulled to a stop, she found herself slumped against Rafe, her head on his shoulder.
She lifted her head. “Sorry. I guess I was sleepier than I thought I was.”
“No problem,” he said, his voice a rumbling sexy tone. “You’re not heavy.”
She met his dark gaze and felt an odd weakness invade her. “Thank you for the time on the yacht. It was—” She inhaled as her throat closed up with some sort of strange anticipation or emotion. “Nice,” she said.
“Yeah,” he said and lowered his head as he splayed his fingers behind the nape of her neck. “Very nice.” He pressed his mouth against hers and kissed her.
She should pull away, but he felt so good, so firm, so strong. Clinging to his shoulders, she held on as he took her mouth on a sensual journey of pleasure.
When he finally pulled away, she was gasping for air. “Um,” she whispered.
He pressed his index finger against her lips. “Don’t say anything. I don’t understand what’s happening between you and me. I just know something is. We’ll figure it out. Okay?”
Unable to produce a sound, she nodded slowly. He had such a strange, potent effect on her. She knew she needed to remain in control. She needed to remain rational, but Rafe affected her on a cellular level, far beyond reason.
“Okay,” she murmured and he helped her out of the car and up the stairs.
She turned to face him, feeling the solid door behind her. She needed the sensation of hard wood when her brain and heart felt like mush. “Thank you,” she said.
“You are very welcome, Nicole,” he said and cupped her jaw with a hand, massaging her mouth open. He slid his tongue inside, tasting her, taking her as much as he could, but letting her know that he wanted more, so much more.
Pulling back, he stared into her eyes. “Say the word and I’ll stay with you tonight.”
Her heart leapt into her throat and she couldn’t have formed a sound if her life depended on it. Not even a word. Her breath locked somewhere between her throat and her lungs.
He slid his finger down her throat. “Another time, then,” he said. “Another time and we’ll be together in every possible way.”
He walked away and she leaned against the door, praying her knees would hold her. Catching her breath, she mustered her strength. She pushed open her bedroom door and stumbled to the connecting bathroom. Turning on the light, she
