The Night that Changed Everything by Anne McAllister Read Free Book Online Page A

was thinking about—her. About Edie.
    He tried to think about her as someone’s wife. He wondered what had happened, didn’t feel as if he could ask.
    She wasn’t that close to him. Three feet, maybe even four. But even without looking he could feel her presence. There seemed to be a hum of awareness between them. Or maybe it only went one way. However it went, Nick felt a connection. He wanted to soothe away her pain, make her forget.
    But he knew better than anyone that you didn’t forget.
    Now he heard her move, step away from the side of the table and he turned to face her again. She was smiling, but it was a faint smile. Sad, he thought. And why not? She had reason to be sad.
    “I should go,” she said now. “I’ve intruded on you enough.”
    But as she moved past him toward the door, he caught her arm. “Don’t,” he said. And when she looked up into his eyes, he said, “Stay.”
    Just one word. Low, rough, but laced with an urgency that surprised him. The very word surprised him. The request. The command.
    He didn’t know what to call it. Only knew he didn’t want her to leave.
    Edie looked surprised, too. Her lips parted, but for a moment no words passed through them. She seemed to be weighing her answer, deciding how to respond. Finally she said lightly, “You’re not done with the tour yet?”
    The question allowed them both to back off. Nick nodded. “You haven’t seen the tower.”
    “The tower?” she echoed.
    “I’ve been redoing the stairway up to the parapet, rebuilding the tower and the battlements. There’s a fantastic view. You should see it.” But he said wryly, “You’re not exactly dressed for it.” She was, of course, still in her stocking feet.
    “I’ll risk it,” she said promptly.
    “I’d carry you, but the passage is too narrow.”
    “It’s all right. I can climb.”
    “The stones are too rough. Hang on. I’ll get you something to wear on your feet.”
    He strode down to his own room and came back moments later with a pair of his flip-flops. He grimaced. “They’re too big. But if you really want to do it, they’re better than nothing.”
    “I really want to do it.”
    So did he. He crouched down to put the flip-flops on her, then realized at the same time she did that she would have to shed her stockings first.
    There was a moment’s pause. Edie’s toes curled, then a second or two later slowly straightened again. Nick’s mouth felt suddenly dry.
    “Let me help you,” he offered, lifting his gaze to her face.
    It was shadowed. Her expression was hard to read, but he saw her touch her tongue to her lips. Then she bit down on the lower one and, looking down at him, held perfectly still.
    He took that for agreement. “Hang on,” he instructed her, and hoped to God he could do the same.
    It was hardly the height of intimacy, sliding his fingers up beneath her dress to find the tops of her stockings or panty hose or whatever she was wearing.
    On the other hand, it was pretty damned erotic. The stockings felt like real silk, smooth and warm against her legs, so fine that he was afraid his callused fingers would snag them.
    So he proceeded slowly, trying to be careful, to move lightly. But the hint of firm flesh beneath that silken barrier was enticing. He loved to touch. He wanted to stroke as his hands snaked over her calves, past her knees, up her thighs. He could feel her legs tremble.
    Fingers suddenly clutched his head, gripping his hair. He sucked in a breath. “S-sorry,” she muttered. Her fingers loosened their grip, then as his continued their journey, hers tightened again. They sent a shiver down his spine.
    But that sensation was nothing compared to the shaft of desire that shot straight to his groin as the silk beneath his fingers turned to lace and then, an inch later, to warm bare skin.
    Nick sucked air, then tried to steady his breathing, to be matter-of-fact. This wasn’t a seduction—unless he was the one being seduced.
    Now he hooked his