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Authors: Karen Toller Whittenburg
Tags: Contemporary Romance
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puzzled line, as if he was startled by the sudden change in her manner. “There isn’t any hurry. It’s too beautiful a night to spend indoors working. Why don’t we stay here and enjoy the company of that beautiful moon? We can relax and watch the stars play hide and seek with the wind.”
The courtly charm of his words irritated Kylie unreasonably. It was too late now for Nick to notice the moon and the aura of romance around them, she thought. If he’d just had the good sense to steer clear of personal questions.
“Nick,” she snapped, more out of frustration than anything else, “I’m here to give a six-week seminar which you have cut to three weeks. I don’t have time to waste on romantic drivel!” Kylie pressed her lips together and walked toward the house, knowing that the last thing she wanted to do was work on the seminar. With an exasperated sigh she pulled open the door and went inside.
Nick frowned as the door closed behind her. Romantic drivel. The words chafed his male vanity and he had to wonder why she fascinated him. He’d known plenty of women as physically attractive, and not one of them had been so volatile.
Kylie was argumentative, illogical, fiercely independent, and totally frustrating. Nick shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and stared at the silhouette of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Frustrating or not, he couldn’t deny that Kylie captivated him; some elusive quality that he glimpsed at odd moments behind the challenge of her dark eyes. He sensed a softness, a vulnerability in her, and he knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d discovered the secret of her appeal. He thought of her fiancé and all that Kylie had left unsaid. She had been deeply hurt by that broken engagement, and Nick wished he could tell the man to his face what an inconsiderate fool he’d been. Recognizing the intensity of his feelings, Nick stopped and distanced himself from the emotion. Analytically he examined his sudden violent dislike for the unknown Colin and had to admit there was no logic involved. Just as there was no logical reason for wishing he’d known Kylie then, when he might have been able to protect her from the hurt.
Nick ran restless fingers through his hair. He must be out of his mind! She didn’t need any man’s protection, especially not his. She’d resent any attempt to step between her and her fierce independence, and he had little doubt she’d tell him so, too, without a minute’s hesitation.
Gazing thoughtfully at the house, he made a decision that had been forming in his mind since she had calmly and defiantly challenged him in the restaurant. Kylie was going to be his, no matter how assertive she was. He’d bide his time, but he would master that streak of defiance in her. Even if he had to give her the extra three weeks for her ridiculous seminar.
* * * *
Stifling a yawn, Kylie tried to concentrate on the scribbled notes in her hand. It was impossible to decipher the last few lines, she decided with a surreptitious glance at Nick. He wasn’t watching her, and she took a minute to notice how the blue of his polo shirt changed the color of his eyes. His lashes were dark and thick, but utterly masculine. But, then, everything about Nick was forcefully male. Even the lazy way he was sitting. With his arms stretched along the back of the sofa and his feet propped on the coffee table, he looked disgustingly at ease.
Kylie flexed her legs cautiously and tried to find a more comfortable position on the carpeted floor. Her fingers ached from taking down the pages of notes Nick had dictated, information he was certain she’d need.
If he hadn’t been so polite ever since they’d come inside the house, she might have called it a day more than an hour ago. But as long as he stopped every now and then to ask her in a patient and considerate tone whether she needed him to repeat something, she was determined to match him in endurance if nothing else.
With a
The courtly charm of his words irritated Kylie unreasonably. It was too late now for Nick to notice the moon and the aura of romance around them, she thought. If he’d just had the good sense to steer clear of personal questions.
“Nick,” she snapped, more out of frustration than anything else, “I’m here to give a six-week seminar which you have cut to three weeks. I don’t have time to waste on romantic drivel!” Kylie pressed her lips together and walked toward the house, knowing that the last thing she wanted to do was work on the seminar. With an exasperated sigh she pulled open the door and went inside.
Nick frowned as the door closed behind her. Romantic drivel. The words chafed his male vanity and he had to wonder why she fascinated him. He’d known plenty of women as physically attractive, and not one of them had been so volatile.
Kylie was argumentative, illogical, fiercely independent, and totally frustrating. Nick shoved his hands into the back pockets of his jeans and stared at the silhouette of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Frustrating or not, he couldn’t deny that Kylie captivated him; some elusive quality that he glimpsed at odd moments behind the challenge of her dark eyes. He sensed a softness, a vulnerability in her, and he knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until he’d discovered the secret of her appeal. He thought of her fiancé and all that Kylie had left unsaid. She had been deeply hurt by that broken engagement, and Nick wished he could tell the man to his face what an inconsiderate fool he’d been. Recognizing the intensity of his feelings, Nick stopped and distanced himself from the emotion. Analytically he examined his sudden violent dislike for the unknown Colin and had to admit there was no logic involved. Just as there was no logical reason for wishing he’d known Kylie then, when he might have been able to protect her from the hurt.
Nick ran restless fingers through his hair. He must be out of his mind! She didn’t need any man’s protection, especially not his. She’d resent any attempt to step between her and her fierce independence, and he had little doubt she’d tell him so, too, without a minute’s hesitation.
Gazing thoughtfully at the house, he made a decision that had been forming in his mind since she had calmly and defiantly challenged him in the restaurant. Kylie was going to be his, no matter how assertive she was. He’d bide his time, but he would master that streak of defiance in her. Even if he had to give her the extra three weeks for her ridiculous seminar.
* * * *
Stifling a yawn, Kylie tried to concentrate on the scribbled notes in her hand. It was impossible to decipher the last few lines, she decided with a surreptitious glance at Nick. He wasn’t watching her, and she took a minute to notice how the blue of his polo shirt changed the color of his eyes. His lashes were dark and thick, but utterly masculine. But, then, everything about Nick was forcefully male. Even the lazy way he was sitting. With his arms stretched along the back of the sofa and his feet propped on the coffee table, he looked disgustingly at ease.
Kylie flexed her legs cautiously and tried to find a more comfortable position on the carpeted floor. Her fingers ached from taking down the pages of notes Nick had dictated, information he was certain she’d need.
If he hadn’t been so polite ever since they’d come inside the house, she might have called it a day more than an hour ago. But as long as he stopped every now and then to ask her in a patient and considerate tone whether she needed him to repeat something, she was determined to match him in endurance if nothing else.
With a
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