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  Nigel had gotten comfortable talking to Amelie. It was nice to ask questions and actually get answers. From what she said, he knew he had to continue pursuing the possibility of getting the property back for them. More than ever, he wanted to be of help to Regina.

  “Hey,” she called to him, making him stir from his place against the counter. “If you want to catch Regina, you’d better get a move on.”

  “Okay.”

  “She left a little early to get ready for a hot date—finally. That one needs a life more than anyone I know.”

  “A date?” Nigel stiffened.

  “Yeah.”

  “Is it that tall guy?”

  “Hah. Not on your life,” said Amelie. Then she laughed. He didn’t get the joke. “No, this is a real date. You better run along to catch her.”

  “I’ll do that. It was nice to meet you, Ms. Richards.”

  He had intended to talk to Regina about getting the property back, but now that his temper was piqued by the prospect of Regina going out on a date, he knew he should just go home. He could see her another time, talk to her another time.

  Ignoring his better judgment, he headed up the back steps, taking two at a time, and rang her buzzer.

  She opened the door with her back to him and one hand coiled around her hair, letting in, presumably, her date.

  “I’ll be ready in one minute. Sit down for a sec.”

  Nigel hesitated in the doorway. As she walked away, he could see that she had on a blue dress that flared around her bottom. She also had on heels, showing off her beautiful calves.

  Seeing her look so beautiful made his manhood swell. Knowing that she looked so beautiful for another man spiked his temper even more. He should have turned to go right then, but he told himself that he was only there to talk to her about the property. Dinner would be out of the question now, but maybe they could set up another date. A date. The irony wasn’t lost on him.

  He didn’t get the full effect until she came back, and he saw that her hair was wrapped upward and spilling over the top of her head and around the soft curves of her face. The blue dress didn’t reveal a great deal, but it seemed to cling to the shape of her body. With her hair pulled up, he could see that she had on a pair of Amelie’s beaded earrings, ones that dangled down to her collarbones and accented the shape of her neck. She was beautiful, ready to go out for the evening, and it made Nigel even angrier.

  She was surprised to see him.

  “I didn’t know I let you in.”

  “You should glance through the peephole before you open the door,” he said and came to stand in her dining room. “You look beautiful. Where are we going tonight?”

  She seemed excited about a night on the town, and she wasn’t even angry at his sudden appearance.

  “I’m afraid we’re not going anywhere. I’m going out. So there.”

  He raised his eyebrows at her unusually good mood, and she chuckled.

  “Wait, let me explain. I’m in an odd mood tonight. I’ve been letting things get me down recently, and I’ve decided that I’m going to try not to do that any longer. And when do I ever get out for a night on the town? So tonight is a night off from my problems. I won’t speak of them. And since I’m not talking about my problems, and you being one of my problems, you should leave.”

  She pointed him to the door, giving him an impish smile.

  He had only intended to talk to her, but the grin on her face inflamed him. He narrowed his eyes and stepped closer to her, wondering if she would be so devilish in his arms. Before he knew he would do it, he had wrapped her in them, had lowered his face to hers and had started to kiss her.

  She laughed in his mouth, and her hand came up between them, but it wasn’t really a struggle. She must have expected him to let her go, but he didn’t, not until her lips had softened and her palm had come to rest upon his chest.

  Then he pulled his head up, but she didn’t back out of the circle his arms formed around her body.

  “I’m sorry, Reggie. I couldn’t resist with you smiling that way.”

  He expected her to get all fiery, like usual, but apparently she was in a playful mood that wasn’t dampened by his audacity.

  “Stop now. I have someone coming.”

  She tapped on his chest with her hand, a signal for him to let her go.

  “Are you sure you want me to let you go? You look so sexy in your high heels.”

  “Thank you, but yes.”

  “I’m not convinced.”

  He had only intended to talk to her, but now that she was in his arms, he wanted so much more than to talk. He leaned toward her again, taking her hand from his chest and wrapping it around his neck. She let out a startled chirp as his mouth covered hers again—this time for real, this time claiming hers for him and no one else.

  He parted her lips with his own and used his tongue to find hers. With her impeding arm now around his neck, he pressed her body close to his until her chest came to rest against his blazer. He stepped even closer, until her thighs were settled against his legs. With his tongue moving deeper into her mouth, he ran his hand up and down her back, pressing her body against his.

  Finally, he heard her murmur, and the sound was triumph to his ears.

  He came up for air, pressing his forehead to hers and smiling. She must have seen the victory in his eyes because she swatted his arm and laughed.

  “There’s something between us, Reggie.”

  “I admit you can have an effect on me.” She stepped back. “But I think that’s all it is—a lingering effect from the past. Now you have to be going.”

  He stepped toward her again, bringing his forehead down to touch hers. He had only intended to talk to her, so maybe he should have taken her cue, but he didn’t want to let go of her.

  “I thought we could talk about getting this place back for you. Come to dinner with me.”

  “I can’t. I have a date. And I’ve already looked into...”

  She paused when he placed a soft kiss on her temple.

  “...all of that.”

  He was right there, and he loved her. But she still insisted on going out with someone else. Jealousy flared in him again, reviving his temper. If he’d taken her cue, he’d have been on his way to his car by then. Instead, he was on his way to letting his temper get the best of him.

  “So how many boyfriends do you have?”

  He regretted the words as they flew out of his mouth, and he felt her stiffen in his embrace and begin to push off. He opened his arms to let her go.

  “There’s the tall guy who came to get his son the first night I was here. And now this is a different one.”

  He shouldn’t have said it, but his anger spurred him on, and it was out before he could check himself. “Are any of them serious?”

  “Don’t you dare talk to me that way.”

  The fire was back in her eyes, and her shoulders were pulled back again.

  “You don’t know anything about my life.”

  “No, I guess I don’t.” He couldn’t hold back the sarcasm, even as he wondered how things had gotten so far from his original intention.

  “You’re right about that. Now, it’s time for you to go. I have a date.”

  “Well, I’ll leave you to it, then.”

  “You’re good at that. And while you’re at it, do me a favor and leave me alone for good.”

  He knew he shouldn’t, but he turned back one more time, unable to resist a final barb.

  “So you really want me to leave you alone? Not like the first time when I was supposed to read your mind?”

  She had gotten a light silk wrap, and she now flung it over her shoulders angrily.

  “Yes. Hell, yes. Leave.”

  He turned and headed out the do
or just in time to hear another car pull up out back. Now, as he got to the bottom step, he angrily butted his shoulder against that of the guy on his way up—the date.

  He was average-looking, average height, nothing special—nothing to get worked up over. Except that he had a date with Regina.

  Nigel banged his car door shut, started the engine and tore a path from the studio. The high and low of the evening had him thinking that loving someone shouldn’t feel like being on a carnival ride all the time. But that was the problem. He did love this woman, and he was jealous enough to prove it. He had taken her good mood and turned it into ire. He had just intended to talk to her about the property, but now they were as antagonistic as ever. All of this gnawed at his mind while his body still wanted to hold her.

  Chapter 7

  She’d had enough.

  She caught sight of Nigel’s antics on the bottom step and slammed the door. One moment, she was entertaining the idea of a night out on the town. The next moment, he was ruining the highest spirits she’d had since they’d gotten the devastating news about the studio.

  She had just wanted a night in which she didn’t have to think about all of it. And she hadn’t been out with anyone in years. In fact, it was with some hesitation that she had accepted the invitation from the package carrier who made deliveries at the architectural firm where she worked in the mornings. He’d asked her out several times and seemed sweet enough. There weren’t sparks, but he seemed nice enough to have a dinner with.

  She’d just wanted to get out and not worry about...everything. It felt good to be dressing up and going somewhere, not with friends but with someone new, someone who suggested at least the possibility of a relationship in her life.

  Even the sight of Nigel in the doorway hadn’t put a damper on her humor. She shouldn’t have given in to his kiss, but being dressed up made it feel like a thrill to be held. And he did always have that effect on her. Then he’d had the nerve to ask her how many boyfriends she had. She wanted to give him one swift cuff.

  * * *

  Regina’s buzzer rang, and she wasn’t sure what to do. She didn’t really feel like going out anymore.

  Her date seemed sweet enough, but she couldn’t imagine explaining to him about this other person who’d bumped shoulders with him on her steps. In fact, she couldn’t imagine telling him about her past at all. That meant she probably didn’t need to go out with him. And that was probably why she hadn’t been going out in general.

  She was just starting to think that maybe she could start seeing someone again, but now she just wanted to curl up and sleep.

  She opened the door to her date.

  “Hey, there’s been a bit of a hiccup.”

  “A hiccup?”

  He had on a pair of dark slacks and a white shirt, with a vest that had phrases embroidered on it. It reminded her that she’d only seen Nigel in two- or three-piece business suits since he’d reappeared. It was nice for a change, but not nice enough to alter her decision about the evening.

  “Would you mind terribly if we cancel for tonight?”

  “You’re all dressed. You look wonderful. Is something wrong?”

  She didn’t want to lie to him, but she didn’t feel like getting into the real story either. She hoped something vague would suffice.

  “I’ve just had a real letdown. I can’t go out for fun tonight. I’ll be heading over to a friend’s place in a few minutes. Perhaps another time.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?” He seemed genuinely concerned.

  “No. I don’t. I’m sorry to send you away when we had plans, but please understand.”

  “I can’t say I’m not disappointed.”

  “I was looking forward to a night out, as well.” She walked him back toward the door. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’ll let me know when we can go out again?”

  “Yes, I will.”

  She shut the door. She could have put on a smile and gone out, but she didn’t want to pretend tonight. She was still too sore to pretend. The nerve of him.

  Regina changed into something more comfortable, got in her car and called Jason on her cell phone. She didn’t want to stay in after getting all dressed up, even if she had changed, and she could use a friend right now. He was more than happy to have her come over.

  * * *

  Regina was greeted at the door by Ellison, who carried a tired Kyle on his shoulder.

  “Hey, sweets.” He bent down and kissed her cheek. “You’re just in time to say good-night to this one.”

  The cranky little one said something groggily.

  “I can tell. Good night, honey bunny,” Regina said and kissed him on the head. “Here, let me take him. I’ll help put him to bed.”

  “Okay,” Ellison said, handing Kyle over to her. “I’ll find Jay.”

  “I’m not lost,” Jason said as he entered the room.

  He bent down to hug Regina and was about to take Kyle.

  “No way. I just got him away from that one. I’ll help put him down.”

  “I’ll go get the bed ready.”

  “Okay, have you eaten?” Jason asked.

  “No, but you have. I’m okay.”

  “Not if you’re staying over.”

  “Am I?”

  “I’ll get you home in the morning. You owe me a powwow,” Jason said. They headed toward Kyle’s room. “Do you mind eating alone? Once we get this little one down, I need to put that little one down.”

  Regina laughed. Ellison was almost six feet. Only Jason could call him a little one.

  “Okay. But don’t leave me alone too long.”

  “I won’t.”

  With the three of them surrounding him, Kyle fell asleep before the story was halfway through, regardless of the fact that the three adults in the room were having a hilarious time trying to do voices for the different characters.

  Ellison went up to change for bed while Jason heated up leftovers for Regina and set her a place in the living room in front of the television.

  When he was satisfied that she was comfortable, Jason pointed up the stairs. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  She blew him a kiss and answered, “I’m sure.”

  “I won’t be too long.”

  “You better not be too short either.”

  They both chuckled.

  Regina felt at home and was able to calm down and let the disappointment of the evening drain out of her as she munched on reheated Chinese food. Being with friends who were so loving and so embracing was like being in a warm bubble bath. It felt relaxing. It felt good. And entertaining little Kyle had made her forget all of her troubles for a while.

  She flipped through the channels but wasn’t in the mood for television, so she put it on mute and curled up on the couch. It felt like home, but it was good to be away from home, too.

  Her eyes were closed when Jason came back out. He had changed into a pair of old sweats.

  “Are you asleep already?”

  “No, just resting. What about the two little ones? Asleep?”

  “Yes, both.”

  Jason pulled her legs up and placed them on his lap. “Elli had to be up before six this morning. Little thing was plumb tuckered out.”

  Regina smiled, but she was already dreading the moment when the spotlight would turn on her, which it did.

  “And you? You’ve been owing me info for weeks. Who was he?”

  Regina let out a breath. She didn’t want to talk about it, but she needed to, and at least she was in a space she could trust.

  “He’s my ex-fiancé.”

  “Fiancé? You were engaged?”

  “For over four years. I broke it off. I was pregnant and needed someone serious or no one at all. I never
told him about the baby, and then I lost it.”

  “I’m so sorry, Regina.” He started to rub her feet. It was soothing. “You’ve been keeping this under wraps, honey. You could have told me.”

  “I know. It’s just something I don’t tell anyone, really.”

  “What happened? Why did it fall through?”

  “I don’t know. I guess we were too young. We were sweethearts in high school our senior year. We decided to go to the same college and to get married right after graduation. Even that seemed too long to wait, but our parents liked it.”

  She was quiet for a moment, remembering the good days, when she was lost in his arms and his touch.

  “So what happened?”

  “By the time I was done with college, we were just in two different places. I knew I had to be serious if I wanted to survive as an artist. My parents wanted me to take a ‘safe’ job—become a lawyer or get a job in the government or something.”

  “Don’t they all? When I said I was going into art history, mine had a fit.”

  “I guess so. By graduation, he was running behind. He had gotten caught up in the party life. He was skipping classes. He would have flunked out if he hadn’t been so smart. He was spending more time with his buddies on the couch or at dorm parties than in school. And his parents kept sending him money. They didn’t know.”

  Regina sat up, pulling her legs from his lap to tuck them under her but missing the soothing comfort of his hands.

  “Sounds like he did have some growing up to do. But you were young, too.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s when the arguments started. I wanted him to take things more seriously so we could start a life together and have a future. He thought I had turned into a bookworm or something, someone who wanted to make him old before his time, someone who didn’t know how to have a good time. After a while, we stopped talking so much.”

  “That must have hurt.”

  He leaned over to rub her hair and run his fingers along her face down the lines where tears threatened to fall. But she wasn’t going to let herself cry.