Untamed Billionaires: Marriage: For Business or Pleasure? / Getting Red-Hot with the Rogue / One Night with the Rebel Billionaire

However, she should’ve known the astute young woman who’d hosted parties for world dignitaries wouldn’t let her off that easily.

‘So, why the glum look? Has that dishy new husband of yours done something to upset you?’

‘No.’

Unless she counted upsetting her equilibrium. ‘Just tired, I guess.’

Frida’s gaze bordered on jealous as it zeroed in on Nick. ‘I’m not surprised, married to someone like that.’

Uncomfortable with the woman’s frank admiration—and shocked by the urge to scratch her eyes out—Brittany aimed for distraction.

‘Your dress is gorgeous. Local designer?’

Thankfully, Frida’s greedy gaze abandoned Nick and focused on her stunning ochre and crimson layered chiffon dress, the bodice hugging her fake boobs until it reached her waist, where it cascaded in a fiery waterfall of riotous colour to her ankles.

‘I designed it myself.’

The thought of the wife of Queensland’s richest man making her own dress almost shocked her as much as Nick’s unexpected kiss earlier.

‘Wow, you’re a talented designer.’

To her horror, Frida’s bottom lip wobbled as she blinked frantically. ‘Pity Bram doesn’t think so.’ She sniffed, plucked at a chiffon layer in her lap. ‘He said it looked like a bottle of orange soda exploded all over me.’

Brittany watched Bram, paunchy and balding and florid-faced, slap Nick on the back, while his beautiful wife fought tears.

Searching for a diplomatic answer, she finally said, ‘Bram’s a great businessman, but maybe his fashion sense isn’t up to par?’

Frida dashed her tears away with an angry swipe, a smile twitching at her mouth.

‘He also said I need liposuction and another facelift.’

Outraged, she abandoned all sense of politeness. ‘Guys are jerks.’

However, when her gaze returned to Nick, drawn by the magnetic power he exuded by just being in a room, she knew her statement wasn’t entirely true. Not all guys…

‘You can say that again.’

‘Guys are jerks.’

Frida chuckled and she joined in, wondering how an attractive young woman could hook up with an overbearing ass like Bram.

It all came down to money and, once again, she thanked her lucky stars she’d escaped that world and all it stood for.

‘Aren’t you the lucky one? Here comes your delicious husband.’Frida jumped up and smoothed her dress, tears forgotten as she batted her eyelashes at Nick. ‘Nice to see you, Nick.’

Nick nodded, his gaze fixed on Brittany rather than the eye-catching figure sashaying away in a fiery dress, earning him more Brownie points than she could count.

He sat beside her, his aftershave teasing her to lean closer, to fill her senses with it, as she had earlier when she’d lost herself in the wonder of his kiss.

‘I don’t like it when women natter in corners. They’re usually planning trouble for us mere males.’

His frown didn’t work when accompanied by a slow, sexy smile that notched up the heat between them in a second.

‘Safety in numbers, I guess.’

Leaning towards her, he crooked his finger. ‘Looks to me like numbers are dwindling, and you know what that means?’

‘What?’

He sent her an exaggerated wink. ‘It means we’ll have to spike the band’s drinks so we get rid of the rest of the revellers pronto.’

She laughed while her heart stopped its jumping around and settled with a resounding thud.

For at that moment, she knew.

His promised ‘soon’had arrived and with his bow tie askew, his dark hair rumpled and light brown eyes blazing with an emotion she daredn’t analyse, she had as much chance of not falling in love with Nick again as flying solo back to London.

And the knowledge he still held that kind of power over her scared her beyond belief.

‘How much longer?’

She needed him to hold her, to erase her thoughts, to banish the yearning to be with him for ever. Surely they would make love tonight, would assuage the tension strumming between them? ‘Soon’ couldn’t come quick enough as far as she was concerned.

Sensing her eagerness, he slid an arm around her waist and cuddled her close.

‘I’ll get the band to announce this is the final number. How’s that?’

‘Perfect.’

‘Don’t move. I’ll be right back.’

Feathering a kiss across her lips, he strode away, leaving her to deal with her newly awakened feelings and how much they terrified her.

The time would come shortly for her to sort them out and she wasn’t looking forward to the wake-up call she knew was inevitable when she had to leave, not one bit.

CHAPTER TEN (#ulink_6e403d4a-cfc5-5ec1-90d5-3812034e8959)

BRITTANY paced the kitchen, waiting for Nick to see the last reveller off the property.

She shouldn’t be this nervous.

It wasn’t as if she’d never made love to him before.

Though as she watched him stride towards the house, broad shoulders squared, long legs eating up the distance, a full moon casting shadows across his face and glinting in his dark hair, she knew the man he was today was a far cry from the boy he’d been ten years earlier.

If she’d loved that Nick unreservedly, unashamedly and unabashedly, what hope did she have of holding back her emotions this time around?

As he neared the door she quickly dropped into the nearest chair and picked up a magazine from a messy stack in the corner, pretending to flip through it without a care in the world.