CHASING TROUBLE

Nicholas felt cramped, unrested and decidedly bad-tempered when he woke up. The fact that Caroline had got up some time during the night to cover him with a second blanket did very little to lighten his mood. So it was as well that she had already left the bedroom, probably in search of breakfast. Or possibly a way out of here! Nicholas very much doubted that she would relish the idea of staying on, sharing this bedroom with him, for a second night.

One glance out of the window showed him that she was out of luck. Yet more snow seemed to have fallen during the night. At least nine or ten inches of it covered the ground around the Range Rover, with drifts two or three feet deep in places. He glanced back at the empty bed. The fact that it was now neatly remade did not detract from his memories of lying there with Caroline the previous night. Of kissing her. Touching her.

She had the sexiest mouth he had ever kissed, so soft and yielding, her lips full and sensual. As for that curvaceous body… Nicholas gave a low groan as his body stirred just thinking about how good she had felt when he’d pulled her close against him, her curves full and luscious to the touch. If he intended for her to continue working for him, then he should stop these thoughts right now! And he had to stop kissing her too.

Nicholas eyed Caroline warily as he came into the large kitchen where she lingered over her second cup of coffee. The single slice of toast she had eaten for her breakfast seemed to have settled the butterflies in her stomach.

Or, at least, it had until she was once again face to face with Nicholas.

Jennie, the landlady, had excused herself a few minutes ago to go and light the fire in the bar while Jim cleared the snow from the front doorway. It didn’t help that Nicholas was looking particularly ruggedly attractive in a sweater and black denims.

“Coffee?” she offered him briskly.

“Thanks.” He nodded before moving to sit in the chair opposite hers at the table.

Caroline got up to get another mug and bring the pot of steaming coffee to the table. “Milk and sugar?” She kept her tone deliberately light as she poured the coffee.

Nicholas gave her a scowling glance. “In the little time you’ve worked with me at the office, have I ever taken either?”

“Well…no.” Caroline felt the warmth of color entering her cheeks. “I was just being polite, Nicholas,” she added, exasperated as he remained unimpressed.

So it was going to be like that, was it? Nicholas accepted it as he took a welcome sip of his black, unsweetened coffee before leaning back in his chair to look across at Caroline with narrowed, assessing eyes. The no-nonsense style of her hair, secured in a band at her nape, should have told him how things stood between them today.

“Is politeness to be the order of the day?” he taunted.

Caroline stiffened as she heard his obvious mockery. “I trust that I am always polite, Nicholas,”

“You weren’t very polite last night,” he challenged. He raised dark brows. “And, as I remember, you implied that I lack the attributes of a gentleman.”

Caroline shook her head, her efforts at politeness obviously completely wasted when he was in this provoking mood. “I didn’t imply it at all, Nicholas,”

Nicholas’ eyes narrowed to slits. “You also implied Glen Asher would have behaved differently in the same circumstances.”

His voice was deceptively soft. Nevertheless Caroline heard that slight edge of contempt that crept into his tone. “I never said that,”

“That doesn’t answer my question,”

“Glen, I am sure, would have slept in the chair without complaint. In fact, I doubt he would have insisted on sharing the bedroom with me at all. He would probably have offered to sleep downstairs in one of the chairs in the bar,” she added.

“Then he hardly sounds like a man!” Nicholas muttered disgustedly.

Caroline bristled resentfully. “How dare you-?”

“I’m merely commenting on the lack of red blood in the man’s veins.” Nicholas shrugged dismissively.

“You were insulting a man who isn’t here to defend himself.” She glared at him.

There were several things Nicholas would have liked to say to Glen Asher if he had him alone in a room right now. Not least that the man didn’t deserve to have a woman as sexy and as loyal as Caroline as far as he was concerned, but the question was, did he?

“I find your attitude distasteful.” said Caroline.

“I’m beginning to think you find everything about me distasteful!” Nicholas rasped as he stood up. “Which makes me wonder why you came here with me in the first place.”

“As I recall, you didn’t give me much choice in the matter!” Caroline’s cheeks were very pale, her eyes huge, blue wells of emotion in that pallor.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

A nerve pulsed in Nicholas’ tightly clenched jaw. “Would you like me to give you the choice now?”

Caroline frowned, knowing-as no doubt Nicholas did too-she didn’t really have that choice. Not only did she need her job, but she liked it too… Well, until Nicholas had shown up. “I don’t think this is the appropriate time to discuss this, Nicholas,”

“Perhaps you’ll let me know when you think it is the appropriate time,” he bit out before turning sharply on his heel and striding forcefully across the room.

Caroline watched him dazedly. “Where are you going?” His eyes blazed as he glanced back at her. “To help Jim clear some of the snow away, of course. With any luck, we’ll be able to dig ourselves out of here some time later today!” The door closed forcefully behind him.

Caroline breathed shakily as she slumped back in her chair, totally bewildered by their conversation. By the anger boiling beneath the surface in both of them. She knew the reason for her own anger. It was not towards Nicholas, but towards herself-for dropping her guard so badly last night that she could see no way back to a relationship of employer and employee.

The reason for Nicholas’ anger, however, was a complete mystery to her. Except she knew that it was there. Forceful. Harsh.

Dangerous…