PALADIN'S WOMAN Page 8

  It was the most difficult thing he'd ever done, and he knew he would probably hate himself in the morning. But he couldn't take advantage of Addy. He realized that all he had to do was lead her to the nearest bed, and she'd let him make love to her all night. But tomorrow, she'd hate him and hate herself. He didn't want Addy McConnell's hate.

  Releasing her mouth, he ran his hands up and down her arms. "We've got to stop, Red, or we won't be able to."

  "Nick, I … please—"

  He caressed her cheek with the tip of his finger. "I wanted you to see what a beautiful woman you are. Don't ever doubt that you're desirable. I want you, but I can't take you now when you're so vulnerable." The sad, puzzled look in her eyes told him that she was hurting, and it was his fault. Dammit all, the last thing on earth he wanted to do was cause this woman any more pain than she'd already suffered. "Do you understand what I'm saying and why?"

  She stepped away from him, deliberately avoiding any eye contact with the mirror. "You're good, Nick Romero, damned good. A Latin lover and a Southern gentleman all rolled into one. A deadly combination. No wonder women can't resist you."

  "Addy—"

  She held up a hand to warn him off, then backed away slowly. "From now on, don't try to teach me anything else about myself, okay? Just do your job as my bodyguard and keep me safe. I—I'm not ready for a man as lethal as you … and I'm not sure I ever will be."

  He watched her walk up the stairs. Her shoulders were erect, her head held high. He had no idea what was going on inside her, but he knew one thing for sure. Addy McConnell would never forget how beautiful and desirable she'd looked tonight. Unfortunately, neither would he.

  * * *

  Chapter 5

  « ^ »

  Nick wondered if Addy felt as if she were inside an armed camp. M.A.C. already had its own security force, but Rusty McConnell had ordered some highly trained professionals from Sam Dundee. The four men and two women who'd flown in from Atlanta the day before were on the job that morning when Nick and Addy arrived at the M.A.C. day-care center. Giving credit to Sam Dundee's superb training, Nick admitted that the six extra workers were as unobtrusive as possible, seeming to fit in as if they were long-time employees. But Addy McConnell could do little more than breathe without constant surveillance. Nick felt a little redundant and had told Rusty so when the two had shared an eight o'clock cup of coffee in the executives' office building. Rusty's long-time secretary Ginger Kimbrew had served them. The luscious brunette hadn't tried to hide her interest in Nick, and any other time he might have accepted her unspoken invitation, but, right now, the only woman who interested Nick was in an adjacent building trying her best to avoid any direct contact with him. Besides, Nick figured that Rusty and Ginger shared more than a business relationship, one that she wasn't quite ready to dissolve despite Rusty's engagement.

  After fending off Ginger's blatant advances, Nick convinced Rusty that the hours Addy spent at M.A.C. would be the best time for him to play detective, using D.B. McConnell's money and power and his own government contacts.

  Nick had decided that he'd make spot-checks on Addy during the day. His brain told him that it was part of his job. His male libido told him that he wanted to be near the desirable woman he'd held in his arms Saturday night. His heart refused to take part in the discussion.

  A florist delivery boy accidentally bumped into Nick when they both reached out at the same time to open the door leading to the M.A.C. day-care center.

  "Sorry, sir," the youth said.

  Nick held the door open for him. "No problem. Go ahead. It looks like you've got your hands full." The overpowering sweet aroma of roses filled Nick's nostrils as he gazed down at the huge floral arrangement the boy held.

  "Yeah, some guy must have it bad, huh? Two dozen red roses on a Monday morning."

  The room they entered was a beehive of activity. Children of various ages, sizes, sexes and races were engaged in supervised play and work, while one select group of what Nick judged to be three-year-olds were lining up for midmorning break. Janice Dixon handed out individual apple juice cartons while her helper gave each child a napkin and straw.

  Nick saw Addy. Even though she only vaguely resembled the sexy woman from Saturday night, his body recognized the sensual beauty that lay behind the mask of baggy navy cotton slacks and oversized green T-shirt. He'd bet his silver Jag that underneath those nondescript casual clothes, Addy wore some skimpy pieces of lace and silk. Nick imagined her wearing emerald green bikini panties and matching bra, both the color of her incredible eyes.

  Suddenly Nick noticed that Addy was deep in conversation with a slender dark-haired man in a three-piece business suit. Nick didn't like the way the man looked at Addy, as if he had some type of claim on her. And he hated the way Addy smiled and then laughed at something the guy said. She'd never smiled at him that way, and he realized that he wanted to hear her laugh—with him, and not another man. While Nick stood back watching and brooding, the delivery boy approached Addy. "I'm looking for Addy McConnell."

  "I'm Addy McConnell."

  The boy handed Addy the huge green vase of red roses. "These are for you, ma'am."

  Addy accepted the floral gift. Nick noted the surprised look on her face. Obviously it wasn't her birthday or any other special occasion. She turned toward her office, motioning for her companion to follow. Nick took several tentative steps forward, stopping just outside her open office door.

  She set the flowers on her desk, then removed the attached card. Her smile widened. Her green eyes brightened. Nick wanted to know who'd sent the flowers that gave Addy such pleasure.

  He marched into her office. "Morning." He looked directly at Addy, then shifted his gaze first to the flowers and then to the man standing beside her. "Just checking in. If you have a few minutes, we need to talk."

  "All right. Come on in, Nick, and have a seat." Addy sensed Nick's displeasure, but couldn't quite figure out what was bothering him. Did he feel as awkward about Saturday night as she did? Neither of them had spoken about the incident in front of the mirror. All day yesterday they had walked on eggshells around each other. "I'd like you to meet Jim Hester, a friend of mine who just happens to be one of M.A.C.'s top engineers. Jim, this is Nick Romero, the man Daddy's hired as my personal bodyguard."

  What was it with her? Nick wondered. Did she have a thing for engineers, or just engineers who worked for her father? And who was this guy, really, in whom Addy had confided about the attempted kidnapping? "Hester." Nodding to the other man, Nick held out his hand.

  Jim Hester shook hands with a firm, forceful grip that surprised Nick. The guy looked like a typical desk jockey with his pale complexion, thinning brown hair and slender build. "I'm certainly glad to know that Addy's in such good hands, Mr. Romero. She's a special lady and we wouldn't want anything to happen to her. Tiffany and I are both very fond of her."

  "Tiffany?" Nick asked

  "My daughter. She's one of the three-year-olds taking a juice break right now. So, if you two will excuse me, I'll go join her while y'all talk business." Jim headed for the door, then stopped and turned around. "You never did say who sent the roses."

  Nick didn't realize that he was holding his breath until Addy read the name on the card. "Brett Windsor."

  "What the hell is Windsor doing sending you flowers?" Nick's outburst seemed to have startled Jim and angered Addy, both of them turning to stare at him.

  "Brett Windsor? I thought you'd convinced him months ago that you weren't interested," Jim said, smiling.

  "I did, but Brett occasionally still sends me flowers." Addy glared at Nick. "Gentlemen do that sort of thing, you know. They treat you with respect and consideration. Things that Latin lovers obviously bypass on their way to seducing women into their beds."

  Jim Hester cleared his throat. Addy's face flushed. Nick badly wanted to hit something.

  "I'll stop back in and say goodbye before I return to work. If you two will excuse me, I'll see if Jani
ce has an extra apple juice." Jim made his way out the door as quickly as possible.

  Nick slammed closed the door to Addy's office. "So little Plain-Jane McConnell has two men in her life, huh?"

  "It's not what you think." She didn't know why she was trying to explain to Nick about her relationships with Jim and Brett. Neither man loved her or desired her physically. One was only a friend and the other—

  "Brett Windsor is good-looking and charming." Nick flung his arm out in a gesture of disgust as he pointed toward the roses. "He knows all the right things to say and do to impress a lady, but you know as well as I do that he's far more interested in Rusty's millions than he is in you."

  "You don't think that I'm attractive enough to interest a man like Brett?" She threw out the challenge, daring Nick to reply. Smiling she leaned over and smelled the roses.

  "Whether or not Windsor finds you attractive has nothing to do with this. The man is a user. He's been living off Dina for years." Propping his cane against the desk, Nick reached out, grabbing Addy by the shoulders. "Don't you realize that Brett Windsor is just as capable of a kidnapping scheme as your ex-husband? Encouraging him, for whatever reason, is a mistake."

  "I have done nothing but discourage Brett. I'm not a total fool. Besides, I think you're overreacting because you're jealous of Brett's relationship with Dina."

  "Dammit, Red, you say such stupid things! Dina is nothing more to me than a friend. I found out at an early age that she's poison to any man who cares about her." Nick pulled Addy close, so close that her breasts crushed into his chest. "Windsor is on my list of suspects. Stay away from him."

  Addy twisted and turned in Nick's arm, trying to free herself. She hated the way he made her feel—all hot and damp and eager. "You're only my bodyguard. That doesn't give you the right to interfere in my personal life. The next thing I know you'll be telling me that Jim is on your list of suspects so I shouldn't see him anymore."

  "Jim Hester isn't a suspect. Not yet." Nick lowered his head until his eyes met Addy's and his lips hovered over hers. "What's this Jim got that interests you so? He looks like a pretty ordinary guy. Is he divorced or widowed?"

  Addy swallowed. She was hot. Nick was too close. She couldn't think. "Widowed. Why?"

  "I just wondered … because of his daughter. She doesn't have a mother, then, does she?"

  "No." Addy slipped her hands between her body and Nick's, giving him a shove. He held fast.

  "I take it that you're very fond of Tiffany Hester."

  "Stop questioning me like this. I don't like it." She struggled against him. "And I don't like your manhandling me whenever the notion strikes you. I may be your responsibility, but I'm not your personal property."

  "That's a matter of opinion." Nick had never felt so possessive, so proprietary about a woman. He hated the thought that Addy might actually be interested in Brett Windsor or Jim Hester. Neither man was right for her. If either of them had been able to stir Addy's passions, she wouldn't turn into a smoldering flame every time he touched her. He, Nick Romero, was the right man to teach Addy what a sensuous woman she really was. No other man could do it. No other man would be allowed to even try. Hell, he was the only man who was ever going to touch her.

  "When you interrupted Jim and me you said that you needed to talk to me, so say whatever you came here to say and leave. This place is crawling with security. I don't need you here and I certainly don't want you."

  Nick glared at her, his black eyes boring into her. "How upset is Ginger Kimbrew that Rusty is marrying Dina?" Releasing Addy, Nick picked up his cane and stepped away, turning his back toward the wide expanse of windows that covered the back wall of Addy's femininely decorated office.

  Addy sat down behind her white desk. "Ginger was Daddy's mistress for a number of years. She probably had high hopes of becoming the second Mrs. D.B. McConnell."

  "How do the two of you get along?" Nick glanced around the room, taking note, for the first time, of the dainty lavender-flowered wallpaper, the matching gingham checked curtains at the windows and cushions on all the chairs. Ferns and green plants in various sizes filled every available space where sunlight could touch them.

  "Ginger and I have never been close, but we've always been friendly. Why do you ask?"

  Nick saw the realization dawn in Addy's eyes. "A woman scorned is capable of almost anything, right? What I'm wondering is if Ginger wants revenge against Rusty enough to plot the kidnapping of his only child."

  "Oh, Lord, I'd never considered Ginger."

  "Consider her. It won't pay to overlook any possible suspect and every conceivable motive."

  "You don't think the motive is money?"

  "I don't know. Hate and revenge are often as powerful as greed." Nick turned to her, wishing that he could give her the answers to all the questions he saw in her eyes. "Just don't trust anyone. Except your father and me."

  "I hate living like this. I despise having to suddenly distrust people I know and like. But most of all I hate having you in charge of my life." Swinging around in her swivel rocker, Addy stared up at Nick. "Get out of here and leave me alone. Okay?"

  He hated the pleading sound in her voice, knowing how difficult it had been for her to gain her independence and what a struggle it was for her to keep Rusty from controlling her life. "I'll check back in around lunchtime. Maybe we could go out for a bite."

  "I'm sorry, but I'm having lunch with the children today."

  "Then I'll join you and the romper room crowd. It's been years since I've eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwiches."

  Addy's eyes widened. She hadn't expected him to invite himself to join her. "Fine. Be here at noon."

  "You've got a date." Nick smiled all the way out of the office, not once turning around to see the expression on Addy's face.

  Damned obstinate man. Overbearing. Bossy. Of all the men in the world, why was Nick Romero the one who'd come to her defense and rescued her from a kidnapping attempt? And why did her father like and trust him so much that he'd handed her over into Nick's safekeeping? And why, dear Lord, was he the first man since her divorce who made her think about risking her pride, her heart and her body?

  * * *

  Five minutes later, Addy looked up from her desk to find Jim Hester standing in the open doorway. She'd been so lost in her thoughts that she didn't know how long he'd been watching her.

  "Come on in, Jim."

  Closing the door behind him, Jim took a seat across from her desk. "Mr. Romero is a very interesting man."

  "I imagine most people find him interesting." Addy wasn't quite sure where this conversation was going.

  "Women in particular, I guess," Jim said.

  "I understand he has a reputation. Why are you so interested in Nick?"

  "Because you're so interested."

  "I am not… I— Is it that obvious?" Addy couldn't deny her feelings, not to Jim. He was too good a friend, too dear and kind a man.

  "I had hoped that someday you and I— Well, Tiffany and I are both terribly fond of you and—"

  "There's nothing going on between Nick and me. Daddy's hired him as my bodyguard until this kidnapping threat is over. I'm not Nick's type. He isn't interested in a permanent relationship and I can't handle a temporary affair."

  "Then you'd better watch out, Addy. That man wants you. And I'd say he's used to getting what he wants. I'd hate to see you get hurt." Jim stood, then walked over to Addy's side, placing his arm around her shoulders. "I admit that I'd rather not be on the receiving end of Nick Romero's wrath, but if you want to try to use me as a buffer, I'll take my chances."

  Addy laughed, thankful that Jim understood her so well. If only she'd fallen in love with him instead of the idea of being a mother to his child. "Thanks. I—I don't think you'll be in any danger. I doubt if Nick would actually fight over me." Then she remembered Friday night when he'd come to her defense against Gerald at her father's engagement party.

  "Don't sell yourself short, Addy. The
way that man was acting today, I'd say he'd do more than fight for you. I think he'd kill for you."

  "That's what Daddy's hired him to do, if it's necessary. But that's his job. It isn't personal."

  "Don't kid yourself. It's definitely personal with Mr. Romero."

  Janice Dixon rushed into Addy's office. "Sorry to interrupt, but Brittany McKinney has thrown up all over the bathroom and won't let anyone touch her. She's crying for her mother."

  "Go take care of Brittany," Jim said. "I'll see you tomorrow when I stop by for juice with Tiffany."

  "Call Brittany's mother," Addy said. "She works in the secretarial pool. I'll walk Jim out and go see if I can calm Brittany down until her mother gets here."

  * * *

  "Looks a bit out of place, doesn't he?" Janice whispered to Addy while the two women watched Nick Romero, who was sitting between a couple of three-year-old girls.

  Addy's gaze moved over the big man whose very size dwarfed the small stool on which he sat. He had removed his jacket before sitting down to share vegetable soup and grilled cheese sandwiches with the children.

  "He doesn't seem too uncomfortable, but then he has the awed attention of two females." Addy laughed, amazed that Nick could charm even preschoolers. His easy camaraderie with the children had surprised her, considering his background. She couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever thought of becoming a father. For one unguarded moment the thought of giving Nick a little girl of his own flashed through Addy's mind.

  "He's looking this way," Janice said. "What's going on between you two?"

  Addy fixed her gaze on Nick, then smiled and waved at him from her position at the table opposite his. "He's teaching me how to play games."

  "What?" Janice choked on her iced tea.

  Raising her voice, Addy called out, "Are you enjoying your lunch, Mr. Romero?"