Lessons in Love (11 page)

At that instant, Emily knew she didn’t have the strength to turn him away. She wanted him far too much. It was more than a physical need – he seemed to satisfy so much of her and in so many ways.

‘I need you too,’ she confessed softly.

With that, she was in his arms and his mouth was upon hers. Surrender was swift and complete. The fire of their passion had been ignited, and within moments they were entwined upon the huge bed.

Emily was so in thrall she hardly heard the sound of Nicholas’s phone buzzing, but his response was instantaneous, and he pulled away from her swiftly, leaving her feeling alone and bereft, and more desperate for his touch than ever.

‘Nicholas?’ she questioned, noticing the frown on his features. He took a deep breath and ran a shaky hand through his tousled hair.

‘I have to go,’ he muttered.

‘What is it?’ Something like alarm filled her at the tone of his voice. He smiled reassuringly.

‘Nothing important. But I have to leave. I’ll see you in the morning?’ She nodded and he bent down to give her a swift kiss on the lips – one that did nothing at all to satiate the hunger within.

Moments later she was alone again. She wanted to scream out loud with frustration but withheld herself. Instead, she flung her body on the bed and scrambled beneath the covers, before realising she’d have to get up to switch off the light.

‘Damn! Damn! And damn again!’ she muttered under her breath. What had made Nicholas pull away so suddenly? The memory of his caresses was still fresh in her mind, and she knew he’d been as under the spell of their passion as she herself had been.

She turned off the light and returned to the bed heavy hearted. It was likely she’d get no sleep at all now!

Nicholas swore softly as he padded along the corridor and back to his own suite. He opened the door to find his well and truly ex-fiancée waiting for him.

‘How on earth did you get in here?’ he demanded angrily, probably more so than the situation actually warranted. But God! He was on fire and there was nothing that could put it out but to make love to Emily, and that clearly wasn’t going to be an option tonight!

‘I persuaded the manager to give me a key.’ She pouted prettily – a sight that had once made his heart pound faster, but now simply irritated him beyond belief.

‘How? The staff here are completely professional. They’d never give out a key without a damn good reason!’

‘Fine. I told them I was your wife. Satisfied? They weren’t to know otherwise.’ Nicholas huffed out his breath and ran a hand through his tousled hair. Why now of all times?

‘I’ll be speaking to the manager about this!’ he snarled. ‘Now shoot. Tell me what’s up and then get out.’

‘I needed to see you, Nicholas. I’ve been having some problems.’ Nicholas sighed heavily and flung himself into one of the suite’s luxurious lounge chairs.

‘Tell me about it,’ he said wearily, knowing there would be a long night ahead of him. Once he’d told Monique that he’d always be there to help her, but unfortunately she’d taken him all too literally, and at the most inopportune times she’d taken him up on his offer.

An hour and a half later he was ready to collapse. He’d hardly been able to concentrate on a word Monique had said. But he’d got the gist of it. Her current husband. Or, should that be, soon-to-be-ex husband, had found himself in some serious financial trouble. And more than that – legal trouble too, apparently. Unfortunately he’d tied Monique’s name to his business dealings and she was now risking not only bankruptcy but possible legal problems, as well.

‘I’m sorry Monique. I really am. But I can’t see what you want me to do.’

‘Please Nicholas! There must be something you can do,’ she pleaded. He was of half a mind to turn her away. She was too good at getting herself into these messes, and by now she was damn well old enough to get herself out of them. But something stayed his hand. The look of need in her eyes was genuine, and although their relationship hadn’t worked out, part of Nicholas still cared for her. A very small part, but a part of him nonetheless.

‘Look. Let me sleep on it and I’ll see what I can come up with in this morning. I’ll need to speak to your lawyer as well…but right now I’m dead beat. Do you have a room in the hotel?’

‘My room’s in the Hilton across town.’ Nicholas scratched his head. He was tempted to call a taxi for her and send her on her way, but it seemed slightly heartless at this late hour. He had to admit that she looked almost as tired as he felt.

‘I suppose you can stay tonight,’ he said reluctantly, and before he could help himself continued with, ‘you can take the bed and I’ll sleep on the sofa. It looks comfortable enough.’ If not a little small for his six foot two inch frame, he amended silently.

‘Thank you Nicholas! You’re a life saver!’ All smiles again, Monique kissed him soundly on the cheek and made her way over to the bed. Nicholas sighed, found a spare blanket and lay down on the sofa, wishing only that he’d had the sense to turn his darn phone off.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! The annoying sound gradually penetrated Emily’s consciousness, and she buried her head beneath both pillow and blankets in a futile attempt to block it out. Time passed and the sound did not abate. She groaned out loud and dragged her weary body into a sitting position, looking first to one side of the bed and then to the other vainly trying to locate the offending article. There! On the far side of the bed. Unfortunately the alarm clock was of an unfamiliar variety and it took several attempts before the alarm ceased. Finally blissful peace reigned, but just for a moment, before a conscious recollection of the previous night’s events filtered its way into her mind. She groaned again and flopped back down upon the bed. Nicholas! Here! How could she have forgotten? And, more to the point, how could he have left her the way he had?

All thoughts of sleep vanished from her mind. She sat up again and despite her body’s protests, flung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up. First a shower and then some strong coffee. Very strong coffee. She’d tossed and turned until the wee hours of the morning and it was only now just gone half past six. She’d have slept in, except that they had to be at the conference centre by eight thirty, and she needed to speak to Nicholas before she could function in any other capacity for the day.

A quick, cool shower and three cups of coffee later, she headed out the door after one final inspection of her appearance. She was aiming for a combination of business-like and sophisticated. A look that spoke of an intelligent business woman, not the boss’s secretary. Satisfied, she picked up the room’s phone and dialled reception.

‘Hello. I’d like the room number for Mr Nicholas Cavanaugh,’ she said pleasantly.

‘I’m sorry, but it’s hotel policy not to give out room numbers.’ Emily frowned in annoyance.

‘How about his phone number, then?’ she inquired, slightly more snappish in tone.

‘Again…I’m sorry.’

‘Thanks anyway.’ She hung up the receiver with a grimace, before realising he’d undoubtedly have his mobile on him. She knew his number off by heart, although she’d never had a reason to dial it before.

‘Hi, it’s Emily,’ she said as he answered, sounding as tired and grumpy as she herself had been on waking.

‘Oh Emily, hi. I’m sorry about last night, but…’ His voice trailed away. ‘Want to meet up for breakfast?’

‘Yeah, great. Oh, what’s your room number? Reception wouldn’t tell me.’

‘Two zero four. But don’t come here! I’ll meet you in the lobby,’ he said, sounding slightly panicked. Emily frowned, staring at the receiver for a moment before continuing.

‘Sure.’

‘I’ll be down in fifteen. Catch you then.’

He’d seemed in an awful hurry to disconnect, she thought, disconcerted, and more than that, he’d also seemed rather anxious for her not to meet him in his room. Curiouser and curiouser. What was Nicholas hiding?

A slightly mischievous thought entered her head and she grinned, before grabbing her bag and briefcase. She made a quick call to Mark, telling him she’d be meeting Nicholas for breakfast – leaving him to make what he would of the situation – before departing the suite and ensuring the door was locked behind her.

Room 204 was just along the corridor from her own room. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to surprise him?

She knocked on the door. ‘Room service!’ she called.

‘Coming.’ Emily’s heart almost skipped a beat. The voice that had answered her was unmistakably female. Wendy? Perhaps his secretary was there. But when the door opened and a gorgeous blonde was standing before her, Emily felt her heart sink into the pit of her stomach.

‘Is Nicholas there?’ she asked, her voice coming out a squeak.

‘Didn’t you say you were room service?’ The blonde raised an eyebrow. Emily shrugged, embarrassed.

‘It was supposed to be a joke. I’m a friend of Nicholas’s.’

‘I see.’ The woman frowned quizzically. And Emily shrugged again, suddenly feeling incredibly gauche and immature.

‘Guess I’ll catch him later,’ she muttered and turned to escape, but before she’d had the chance to walk away she heard Nicholas’s voice in the background.

‘Who’s that?’

‘A friend of yours.’ Emily turned back to see Nicholas in the doorway, and the blonde giving him a dark look.

‘I was just leaving,’ Emily said, trying to maintain as much dignity as she could under the humiliating circumstances. She suddenly felt very weak legged, and it was an effort of will to remain standing. The ramifications of what she could see before her were all too obvious.

‘Wait!’ Nicholas pushed past the blonde and grabbed Emily’s arm. ‘We need to talk.’

‘I can see that,’ she snapped. ‘But you’ve obviously got far more important things to do.’

‘What about breakfast?’

‘Forget it. Goodbye Nicholas. I’ll see you at a less inconvenient time.’ And with that she strode away. She expected Nicholas to follow her, and was unaccountably disappointed and disheartened when he didn’t.

It was then that the full impact of what she’d seen hit her. There had been a woman – an incredibly gorgeous blonde woman – in Nicholas’s suite. Nicholas – the man who had run out of her room the night before in a desperate hurry to see someone, someone he hadn’t named.

She stifled a sob, and spun around, hurrying in the direction of her room. She couldn’t see anyone now! The first tears came as she struggled to open her door. ‘Open damn you!’ she cried aloud, biting her lip hard. Suddenly the door opened and she was home free. For a moment she stood still, her heart feeling like it had been crushed in her chest, and then she dropped the briefcase she was carrying and crumpled to the floor after it, finally giving vent to her emotions.

She loved him! How could he do this to her? Her mind whirled while grief gripped her heart like a fist and threatened to overwhelm her. Had there been signs? No! She’d made a dreadful mistake before, imagining Wendy to be something she wasn’t, so maybe…just maybe…

Emily took a deep breath and forced her mind back on an even keel, desperately trying to suppress the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. Finally she stood up. There had to be a rational explanation for what she’d seen. Remembering how Nicholas had pushed the other woman aside to speak to her, she suddenly knew that she’d been all wrong. She stood up and smoothed her skirt and straightened her jacket. Then, with another deep breath, she headed for the bathroom, where she performed some quick repairs to her hair and makeup. There. Able to face the world again she sheepishly walked out of the room, and strode calmly back to Nicholas’s.

But he was no longer there.

‘Damn!’ she swore under her breath. Feeling more foolish than ever, she headed down to the lobby, hoping against hope that he’d decided to wait for her, but the lobby was empty when she entered. ‘Double damn!’ Especially since she’d told Mark to get to the convention centre without her as she’d planned on getting a lift with Nicholas.

Clearly Nicholas was upset with her, and she didn’t blame him. No, wait a minute! She did. The very least he could have done was explain where and who he was going to see last night! How had he expected she’d react when confronted with a gorgeous woman in his suite? Well, she knew the answer to that! He’d known she’d be upset, and for that reason he’d deliberately tried to keep her away from his room.

She bit her lip in agitation as she walked out of the lobby and hailed a taxi. ‘Rowvale Convention Centre, please,’ she said.

‘No problem,’ replied the driver. ‘Lovely day, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, lovely.’ She truly hoped this wasn’t the sort of driver who’d want to engage her in pleasant conversation. Right now she wanted to think – to consider what she’d seen and heard – she didn’t want to engage in inane conversation with a complete stranger.

‘You here for the business seminar?’ Emily repressed the urge to sigh.

‘Yes.’ She knew her answer was blunt and monosyllabic, but couldn’t the guy get the hint?

‘You’re rather young for it, don’t you reckon?’ Emily clenched her teeth together and forced a smile. Clearly he couldn’t.

‘Not really. I look young for my age.’ In desperation she pulled her briefcase onto her lap and opened it, pretending to rummage around for some important document.