Presents, Passion and Proposals: The Billionaire's Christmas Gift / One Christmas Night in Venice / Snowbound with the Millionaire

‘I’ll reimburse you for the taxi fare when you get here.’

‘I’m quite capable of paying my own taxi fare, thank you.’

‘You’re doing this as a favour to me—’

‘I’m doing it for Mrs Bennett and Bekka,’ she corrected him firmly.

‘We’ll argue that point later,’ Nick dismissed briskly, before ringing off.

Beth didn’t intend doing anything with him later!

Even if she had been wanting—aching!—to see him again, be with him again, for the past four days…

Chapter Six

‘I REALLY appreciate you doing this for me,’ Nick said as he opened the front door before stepping back to invite Beth inside the house.

‘I’m doing it for Mrs Bennett and Bekka, remember?’ Not quite meeting his gaze, she turned away to slip off her duffle coat before handing it to him, knowing she would be warm enough in the centrally heated house.

She didn’t need to look at Nick to know how devastatingly male he looked in another one of those tailored dark business suits. Or to see the dark sheen of his hair to know that it was silky soft. Or to look into the chiselled perfection of his face to be aware of how her pulse was racing just being near him again…

‘Beth…?’

She stared at the perfectly knotted tie at his throat. ‘Yes?’

Nick didn’t at all like the way Beth was once again avoiding even looking at him. ‘Damn it, despite my telling you not to, you’ve been wallowing in guilt for the past four days!’

Irritation was evident in those dark blue eyes as Beth’s gaze flickered briefly up to his face and then away again. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, Nick,’ she snapped scathingly.

Was he? Was Nick mistaken in thinking that he and the kiss the two of them had shared the other evening were the reasons for those dark circles under Beth’s eyes and the paleness of her cheeks?

He frowned darkly. ‘Do you still intend to spend Christmas Day on your own?’

‘I don’t see what that has to do with you…’

Neither did Nick. Except he hated the very idea of Beth—anyone—being alone during the holiday period. But especially Beth…‘What about your parents?’

‘They were killed in the same car crash as Ben,’ she said abruptly.

God…!

Nick had become cynical about love and relationships in general after his marriage to Janet had failed so abysmally. Learning that Janet had cancer, and had been diagnosed as terminal, had at least allowed the two of them time to heal their differences and say goodbye to each other before she died.

Not that Nick believed there had been any rifts between Beth and her husband before he died, or between her and her parents, but sudden death made no allowances for goodbyes, and Christmas was a time that must surely bring that home to her…

He grimaced. ‘We’ll talk again when I get back.’

Beth looked fully into his face for the first time. And then wished she hadn’t as she saw the concern that darkened those grey eyes. Her smile was tight. ‘The subject is at an end as far as I’m concerned.’

‘But—’

‘I thought I had already made it clear that I don’t need or want your charity or your pity!’ Her eyes flashed deeply blue.

His eyes narrowed glacially. ‘Why do you have to be so prickly all the—?’

‘I thought you had to get to the hospital?’ Beth cut in pointedly, her brows raised in challenge.

Nick’s mouth thinned. ‘I do. But—’

‘Will you just go, Nick?’ she said impatiently. ‘The sooner you go then hopefully the sooner you’ll be back. I do have a life of my own, you know,’ she added pointedly. ‘One that doesn’t revolve around Nick Steele’s wants and needs!’

‘And what would you be doing now if you weren’t here?’ he challenged impatiently.

‘None of your business.’

Nick knew she was being deliberately awkward. He simply didn’t have the time right now to argue with her. But when he returned later this evening he intended making sure he found the time…

‘Fine,’ he bit out tersely. ‘Bekka is waiting for you on the sofa in the sitting room, wrapped up warm in front of the fire, with the three cats draped all over her. The dog is in the kitchen, so take care if you have to go in there to get Bekka some more medicine. There are plenty of drinks and food in the fridge—’

‘I believe I’m intelligent enough to work all those things out for myself.’

But not, it seemed, intelligent enough to know when not to prod and poke at a sleeping tiger…!

Nick had found himself thinking of this woman far too much the past four days. Remembering how good Beth had felt when he’d held her in his arms. How responsive her lips had been against his. How aroused he had been by her. How badly he had wanted her!

How badly he still wanted her, Nick acknowledged.

How did this ultra-sensitive and consequently prickly woman still manage to look sexy, with her face bare of make-up, her auburn hair brushed back from her face and secured in a ponytail, and wearing a long and baggy jumper that appeared to be several sizes too big for her?

Nick had absolutely no idea, but somehow Beth Morgan managed to do it!

He nodded abruptly. ‘I should only be a couple of hours.’

‘I’m sure that Bekka and I will manage just fine without you,’ Beth assured him.

Nick’s eyes narrowed in warning. ‘Just carry on the way you’re going, Beth…’

She arched auburn brows. ‘And what?’

His smile was feral. ‘I’ll let you know when I get back.’

She gave him a wry smile. ‘And am I supposed to live in fear until then?’

Nick gave a slow, warning shake of his head. ‘You’re playing with fire, Beth.’

Beth felt a quiver of apprehension run down the length of her spine as she looked up into those narrowed grey eyes. Or could it be expectation…? She was deliberately baiting this man, she knew. Couldn’t seem to help herself. Couldn’t stop herself from forcing a response from him. Any response.

The promise of retribution she could read in those mocking grey eyes warned her that she wasn’t going to like that response if she carried on deliberately baiting him.