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

Beth moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, very aware of the loud pounding of her heart, of the wild flutter of excitement she felt in her chest just being near Nick like this.

Being honest with Nick would mean admitting how being with him made her feel. How much Beth wanted to be with him. How much she wanted to have him touch her and be able to touch him in return.

Honesty to herself meant admitting all of those things—and something else. Something that even now Beth shied away from admitting even to herself.

She drew herself up determinedly. ‘Will you just think about what you’re saying, Nick?’ she reasoned heavily. ‘I’m your daughter’s teacher. Even if I wanted to I can’t just have an affair with the father of one of my pupils!’

‘I’m only interested in whether or not it is what you want.’

Did she want to have a relationship with this ruggedly handsome and exciting man? An affair no doubt brief, but for the time it lasted also intensely passionate?

Nick reached out and held the tops of Beth’s arms as he stared down at her intently. ‘We’re the only two that matter now, Beth,’ he insisted persuasively.

Beth stared up at him, knowing by his tension, by the fierce glitter of those grey eyes, that Nick was perfectly serious. That at this moment he wanted her—in his life and in his bed.

Flattering as it was to realise the depth of his desire, it wasn’t enough…

She gave a pained frown. ‘For how long, Nick? A few days? A week? Perhaps even a month? Or do you think one night would be enough? That once you’ve made love to me you would lose all interest?’

His mouth tightened. ‘Isn’t that a risk all couples take when they first get together?’

‘We aren’t a couple, Nick, and we never will be,’ Beth murmured regretfully.

He shook her slightly. ‘Your responses tell me that you want me just as much as I want you…’

‘I’m not denying it,’ she said softly; how could she deny something that must be obvious every time Nick so much as touched her? ‘It just isn’t enough for me, Nick.’

He put her away from him to thrust his hands into his pockets. ‘What more do you want from me, Beth? Hearts and flowers? Declarations of undying love? Promises of for ever?’ He gave a rueful shake of his head. ‘I’ve already told you that I’m not the man who can give you any of that.’

Beth had spent all of last night and most of today thinking about her earlier conversation with Nick, about what it was she wanted for her life.

It had been two years since Ben died. Two years. And without Beth even realising it she had begun to heal. To want more in her life than she had now.

Since leaving Nick yesterday Beth had realised exactly what she wanted for her future. She wanted what she’d had with Ben. Nothing less, and perhaps more.

She and Ben had grown up together, become young adults starting out on life together, and had intended growing old together. They had been best friends as well as husband and wife and lovers.

Anything less than that was unacceptable.

But meeting Nick this past week had shown Beth that she now wanted more than that. That she wanted excitement too. The pulse-racing and heady thrill of a certain man’s presence. The pleasure of just looking at him. The tingling arousal to be felt in his touch.

All of the things she had found in just being with Nick…

Tears misted her vision as she reached up to lay her fingers gently against the rigid hardness of his cheek. ‘I’m sorry I can’t give you what you want, either, Nick.’

Nick didn’t want her pity, damn it! ‘You intend to just continue living the sterile and lonely life you have now?’

‘No,’ she answered huskily. ‘I’m hoping…Yesterday, seeing what it was like to be part of a family again, was painful for me. Talking to you about those feelings even more so. But it also helped me to realise that the only reason it was so painful is because I want those things again!’ Her eyes glowed deeply blue. ‘I want to fall in love again. To have someone love me. To have a husband and a family of my own.’

Great, Nick thought. Being with him and Bekka had helped Beth to know what she wanted out of life—and it sure as hell wasn’t him!

Accept it, Nick, and move on, he told himself.

That had always been Nick’s way in the past when things hadn’t gone as he’d wanted them to—in personal relationships and business. There had always been another woman, another business deal, to claim his interest. There would be this time, too.

In time…

He gave a disgusted shake of his head. ‘You do know you’re searching for an impossible dream?’

She eyed him ruefully. ‘I found it once, so why not again?’

‘Because you were twenty-one years old at the time and didn’t know any better!’ he reasoned in frustration.

Beth smiled. ‘I’m twenty-six years old now—and I’m glad I still don’t know any better!’ She laughed softly at his disgusted expression. ‘You’re a good man, Nick. I hope that one day—’

‘Please don’t wish love on me!’ He scowled darkly.

Her eyes glowed teasingly. ‘’Tis the season…’

‘Love is a myth, Beth!’ Nick rasped.

She gave a shake of her head. ‘That isn’t true. And, knowing that, I have to be true to myself rather than settle for less than I deserve.’

Less than she deserved…

Was that really how Beth saw him? As offering her less than she deserved?

If so, then she was right to turn him down!

Nick grimaced. ‘This is goodbye, then…?’

‘We’ll probably see each other at school occasionally…’

But not like this, Nick realised heavily. Beth would never allow them to be together like this again.

He sighed. ‘I hope you realise that our dopey dog is so besotted with you that he’s been moping around the house looking for you ever since you left yesterday?’