Page 35 of Don't Regret Me
He smiled at the ghost of a memory whispering in his mind. “My brother.”
Her expression fell before he could even say the words.
“He died about six years ago.”
She placed a hand on his forearm and skated it up to his bicep, squeezing lightly. Her eyes met his. “I’m so sorry about Stephen.”
Nick couldn’t take his eyes from hers, from the understanding swirling with sympathy in their crystal depths. “How…” He shook his head.
Panic flooded her gaze, and she removed her hand. “Oh, um, the tabloids. It was all over them when he died. I can’t imagine having my pain on display like that.”
She was lying. Yet, he sensed no devious motives in the lie.
His hand lifted almost like it was out of his control as he tucked a wayward strand of blond hair behind her ear. The back of his fingertips grazed her soft cheek, shining pale in the darkness. Starlight lit the shadows, casting them away.
Nick knew this was wrong, that Gulf City wasn’t his future. Yet, he couldn’t help leaning forward, breathing her in. She smelled of garlic and tomatoes after her night at work. Would she taste of them as well?
Being this close to Liz intoxicated him more than any drug they told him he favored ever possibly could. He couldn’t help thinking this was the only feeling he needed for the rest of his life.
Elizabeth stood frozen, not moving an inch. “Nick, I think we should go inside.”
“You think we should,” he breathed, “or you want to?”
She waited a beat to answer. “I don’t want to.”
“Tell me, Elizabeth,” his lips hovered inches from hers, “do you ever just let go?”
“No.”
“Do you want to?”
“Yes.” The word quivered on her lips.
Agonizingly slowly, Nick closed the remaining distance, molding his mouth to hers, teasing the opening of her lips to allow him in. He wanted more. More than he deserved, more than she was prepared to give.
He didn’t touch her, didn’t reach for her hand or pull her closer. Didn’t take what she wasn’t ready for. Instead, he just kissed her, savoring the pain when she bit his lip, the joy in her soft sigh.
Her hands came up, framing his face as she pulled away. “Sometimes, it’s hard to believe you’re right in front of me.”
It wasn’t the first time he’d heard a similar statement, usually from fans. One of the perils of fame. Yet, coming from her lips, he hated it.
“We should go back inside.” He stepped away from her, turning back to the house. The curtains in the front window shifted into place as someone dropped them.
“Nick.” Liz reached for him.
As much as he detested the fame and how it made others treat him, he couldn’t have any ill feelings toward Liz. Turning so quickly he almost lost his footing, he pulled her against him, stealing a bruising kiss before releasing her.
Her look of surprise was so adorable he’d carry it with him when he left. “I’m going to walk away right now. But the next time I see you, I’ll kiss you again. And after that, I won’t stop. Not until you tell me to.”
“Is that a warning?” She leaned against one of the front pillars, watching him take the stairs backward.
“It’s a promise.”
16
ELIZABETH
Liz shut the door behind her as quietly as she could. The only sound in the house was the shower running. It was Evelyn’s night for a shower. They alternated for some reason Liz could only guess at. Maybe they were too impatient to wait for each other, or maybe they wanted to make sure she wasn’t alone for those few minutes when she was home.
