The Billionaire's Second Chance (11 page)

Trying unsuccessfully to focus on the fact that she’d be home soon, she found herself instead staring mutely at his one hand where it rested against his thigh when they stopped for long moments at a stop light.  Two things entered her mind as she took in every detail of how that hand looked resting against the dark jeans. 

The first; that she’d never quite noticed before how huge his hands were.  Of course the man was six foot four inches and looked like he’d been hewn from stone. Okay, maybe not stone, that was too ordinary a description for someone
who exuded a powerful sexuality
fro
m his every pore.
A much more apt description
she decided was precious marble. Something
hand rubbed to a gorgeous glow
  the image of
which brought a small soft smile of female appreciation to her expression before returning to the original thought that everything about him was huge, and not just his hands. 

His manner was huge and naturally filled whatever space he occupied. The way he held himself, the way people seemed to immediately snap to attention and do his bidding with absolute acquiescence; it was all huge in her mind. 

And two, that never before had she ever felt as female as she did sitting there engulfed by his physical size and powerful presence.  Good lord, she inwardly groaned, I’m in way over my head. She should be building walls against this man’s reappearance and intrusion into her life not entertaining an ever increasing erotic tableau of desires over which in her present state she apparently had no control.

There was something about the way that she tried so hard to keep from looking at him that made Nick feel guilt-ridden as hell.  She didn’t trust him, didn’t like that he was here with her, didn’t want to talk to him at all and in fact apparently didn’t even want to acknowledge that they were on the same planet by even so much as looking at him.  Yet, the telltale pulse that he could see so clearly on her exposed neck was telling him a different story. 
That s
he was not immune to
him
was plain to see.  That she was trying desperately to build a wall around herself was also very plain to see.

Returning his attention to the moving traffic, Nick realized he had a lot of work ahead and set his thoughts awhirl in what actions he should take next.

CHAPTER
SEVEN

The late afternoon shadows filtering through the trees made the drive into the canyon above Los Angeles where Shannon’s home was located exceptionally beautiful. Nick liked that she was living away from the congestion of the city, especially after all the thoughts he’d recently had about spending way too much time in urban sprawl; he was glad she was up in the canyons where life felt more natural and connected with the environment.

H
e was
completely
charmed by what he saw when, after following the navigation system’s directions, he pulled his large SUV into a driveway tucked behind a stand of trees which opened up to reveal an amazing, fully restored craftsman style house tucked away in the Hollywood Hills.

Glancing over at Shannon he realized that he was seeing a part of
her world
that he had never been party to before. She was letting him into her personal life, not e
xactly
because she wanted to but rather because she’d been forced to by circumstances.  Hey, he’d take it however he got it.

Nodding in appreciation he turned toward Shannon. “Your home is lovely Shannon. The craftsman style suits you so well,” he said reaching down and unhooking the seat belt while smiling warmly into her carefully masked expression.

His words thrilled Shannon and she was instantly delighted that he appreciated how unique and wonderful her little home was. After her
successful
Hollywood
movie premiere
debut the staggering amount of money she’d been paid for her next few events allowed her to purchase what at the time had been a woefully run down craftsman fixer-upper.  She’d spent the next sixteen months living in an extended construction zone as the entire house had been renovated and restored to her specific vision. She’d added a few touches here and there that were stylistically all hers. The kitchen in particular, although keeping its craftsman style, was completely modern and kitted out with all the necessary equipment.

Nick came around the front of the vehicle and opened the door to assist her out.  As she carefully swung her legs down she looked at him with the smallest of smiles evident on her adorable little bow tie lips and acknowledged his complement about her home with a very shy
,
“I love this house, thank you for seeing how special it is, Nick”

Wait a second. Did his heart just burst in his chest at the sight of her smile and the sound of her sweetly shy words? Taking a deep breath to ensure that he was indeed still alive and breathing
, the elation that burst inside
Nick was enough to light up a million light bulbs.

In order to reach around Shannon to grab her bag and the discarded boot from the back seat, Nick had to stretch his entire torso across hers. Shannon was momentarily overcome with the desire to lean into him and put
her lips on his exposed neck.
He was so close and smelled so good that she was pretty sure she was going to do something stupid in the next second. Luckily he retrieved the two objects fairly quickly and placed them in her lap so he could put an arm underneath her butt and behind her shoulders as he effortlessly lifted her out of the car.

Kicking the door shut he strode up the path to three large wooden steps leading up to the wide open porch on the front of her home. Realizing as he approached the entrance to the house that he’d have to put her down to open the door and give her time to fetch the key
,
Nick was frustrated
.  Luckily for him
she had anticipated this and was fishing through
her bag to find the house keys
which she located immediately
,
holding them
up in front of him
as they waved back and forth saying, “I
f you just swing open the screen door. I can reach the key into the door knob”

So
they were working as a team again was what he thought as he did just as she instructed by yanking open the screen door and slightly leaning down so she had easy access to the door knob from her secure place in his arms.

Unlocking the door she gave a push and the beautiful craftsman door with the stained-glass windows on top swung open and in he stepped to what until this second had been her private sanctuary.

With her clutched securely in his arms Nick made sure the front door was shut and locked before turning to take in the interior of her magnificent home in the hills.  More than a bungalow, the high ceilinged lay-out was beautifully restored with all the wood accents to be expected in a craftsman home. Beautiful hardwood floors, wood beamed ceilings, endless multi-paned windows, and a large stone fireplace dominated the open floor plan.

The décor incorporated soothing earth tones, natural colors, all muted and soft, just like the woman who lived there. Nick was enchanted, mesmer
ized and impressed all at once.
Ever the problem solving, practical minded business man, he was also relieved to see how open everything was because that would certainly make it easier for her to navigate while she was up on crutches.

With her arm firmly around his shoulder as he carried her through the living room, Shannon realized in horror that without thinking she’d been lightly running her fingers back and forth on his neck. Doing so had seemed so natural to her.
She thought back to her reaction when he called her little one; that he did so as if he’d been doing it every day for the last eight y
ears.
When she had stroked his skin it too seemed like she’d done just that only yesterday.
It
felt
as though eight years of separation had simply melted away. The thought was staggeringly seductive to her long starved senses.

Lowering her onto the oversize sofa before settling a small pillow beneath her injured foot to keep it slightly elevated, his brilliant hazel eyes intent with purpose surveyed her with a raw hunger and a genuine concerned appraisal for her comfort. “What do you need Shannon, what can I get for you to make you more comfortable. Would you like something to drink?” he asked in a husky, concerned undertone.

Even though she knew she shouldn’t be, Shannon was stirred by his continued attention. Finding it hard to relax she was reassured
by
being in her own home again after a day which had strained her nerves and tested her resolve to be unmoved by this man’s sudden involvement in her life.

After
a quick sigh that spoke more of comfort than
pain,
her thready little voice
stated
a hesitant
,
“I could really use a drink of water.
If you don’t mind. The kitchen’s behind us.” she said gesturing with her head toward the wood and marble kitchen behind them to the left.

“
There are usually a couple of cold bottles
of water in the fridge if you wouldn’t mind getting one for me.” she said in that breathy little way he remembered so well.

Glad for something to do besides standing there feeling like a dope, Nick sprinted off in the direction of the kitchen to grab them both something to drink. Seemed like a better option than falling to his knees so he could tell her how glad he was to see her again

The kitchen was just as magnificent as the living room with the distinctive beams running across the ceiling highlighting the use wood all throughout the room from the glorious floors to the well-crafted cabinets and the interesting stove hood.  A center island and all the countertops were covered in a beautiful, highly polished dark marble with gold flecks
that
reflect
ed
the lighting from the restored hanging lights
,
giving the entire kitchen a magical feel.

On the end of the island counter was a large stone bowl, deep and long, filled with bananas, apples, and kiwi fruits. Next to that was a piece of paper and a pencil which Nick saw was the start of her shopping list.  It was amusing to see such mundane and everyday items as dish soap, creamer, and a dozen eggs.

On the other side of the sink sat a beautiful potted hibiscus flower with delicate white tinged purple leaves which was in full bloom. The vibrant splash of tropical color against the muted earth tones and dark wood throughout the house touched his heart. It struck him that the flower was just like Shannon in his life; a touch of color in an otherwise bland and
neutral
existence. With his throat suddenly tight
ened
by
emotion, Nick moved swiftly to the refrigerator to grab the water which he now desperately needed.

After grabbing a bottle and taking a quick swig to relive the choking dryness in his throat brought on by a flood of emotions he hadn’t seen coming, Nick hurried back into the living room to hand Shannon the refreshing cool water. Like him, she immediately ripped off the cap and took a long pull of the ice cold fluid.

Not quite knowing what to do but deciding that something was better than nothing, Nick moved over to a chair situated next to the sofa where Shannon rested silently. Sitting down and still drinking from his water bottle Nick surveyed her with intense interest. She seemed relaxed and though everyone was calm he knew that the time was fast approaching for them to speak beyond generalities and inquiries in to her condition.

Shannon beat him to it of course because after all, as a woman, it was her prerogative to shake things up and do the unexpected.

“After the way we parted I never imagined that one day you and I would quite literally stumble upon one another ever again. I’ve known your sister Jules for several years and honestly until this afternoon, I never made the connection. She talked about her brother, but usually in abstract terms, and mostly we talked about Dominic and our work together.”

“Well it’s good to know we can both be surprised” Nick said with a self-deprecating laugh. “Honestly, Shannon, I’ve never been so flummoxed in my whole life, and yes I did just use the word
flummoxed
in a sentence.”

She had to laugh at that even though she knew softening her attitude towards him even an iota was inviting danger, but the simple truth was
this
was the Nick she remembered. Clever, quick witted, funny.  Oh yeah, and seriously good-looking and very, very good for her ego because he watched her with a searing intensity that rocketed happiness to her soul. That much it seemed had not changed for regardless of how they parted he was still the only human being who had ever seen so effortlessly into her most secret thoughts and desires.

It was as if he could read her every word and thought, and while this should probably bother her she knew that instead she found
the
connection, unbroken by time and circumstances, deeply, deeply moving.

“Shannon, why don’t we acknowledge the elephant in the room.” he queried softly. “I can see by the look
o
n your face and the way you’d obviously like me to jump off a cliff that you are none too pleased that we have, in fact, run into each other.”