Page 58 of An Accidental Love Affair

She ran down the stairs, entering the kitchen and nearly barreling into Reece as he was coming out. She moved left; he countered. She moved to the right, and he moved as well. Was he doing it on purpose?

“I need coffee, or you’re going to get hurt. I go left, and you go left on the count of three.” When she moved, he again blocked her way. She gritted her teeth. “I’m not kidding, Mr. Collins. I’m a psycho bitch from hell if I don’t get my morning jolt of caffeine.” He continued to block her, smirking. Her hand shot out, her fingers wrapping around his package, squeezing hard.

He jumped two feet off the floor, quickly movin

g out of her reach. “What the bloody hell was that?” he asked, his hand covering his offended member.

“That was basic elusive strategy number one. Go on the offensive and make him defensive.” She moved to the coffee pot, pouring herself a large mug of hot coffee. “I did warn you.”

“I didn’t think you’d actually hurt something that gave you pleasure.” He shifted to get comfortable.

She shrugged. “Consider it a casualty of war.” She took a huge gulp of liquid, letting it scorch her throat as it burned all the way down to her stomach. She turned back to him, leaning her butt against the counter. “I thought you’d be gone by now. I piddled around extra-long in the shower, so you could escape with no problem. How did you get here anyway?”

He frowned. “I used a car service,” he said, bracing his hands on his hips. “Why would I want to leave?”

“Who knows you’re here? Were you followed? I don’t need to be fodder for the morning papers again.”

He was still waiting for an answer to his previous question. “I just arrived, Nicole. Why would I want to leave?”

“You got what you came for,” she replied glibly as she moved toward her desk, noticing her computer already booted up and open on her latest story. “You’ve been reading my stuff?”

He watched her, confusion etched on his face. “You never minded me doing it before.”

“I mind it now,” she snapped as she closed out of the program, slamming her laptop closed and keeping her hands braced on the desktop as she breathed deep.

Reece was stunned at the abrupt change in her demeanor. What happened between going to get her shower and now? Better yet, what happened between England and now for her to be acting this way? It felt like she hated him. Was she still angry about the pictures? That was over a year ago. She seemed to have recovered well enough.

“Are you going to stay mad at me forever?”

She stiffened, standing up straight and glaring at him with her mouth twisted. “No, not forever, but the day after that is looking pretty good.”

He rolled his eyes, his temper flaring. Why was she acting this way? What did she have to be angry about? “If I’ve done something wrong, I wish you would tell me.”

She shook her head. “You haven’t done anything wrong. I’m going to treat this little interlude as it is and not see it with romantic eyes. I’m your convenient piece of ass to pass the time with until your next movie role comes along.” He was facing her, gaping in astonishment. “Close your mouth, you’re catching flies,” she snapped, surprised when he did it. “I mean, isn’t that what you told your brother when he asked you about me?”

Reece stumbled backward. What in the hell was she talking about?

“How is your slime-ball manager by the way? I’d like to tell him where he can shove his hush money.” She promised his mother she wouldn’t say anything, but she was so mad, she couldn’t help it.

“His hush money?”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You didn’t know about the hefty check he sent to my publisher? It included instructions to keep my mouth shut.” She waved her hand. “You must’ve known. The check had your signature.”

Reece gripped the back of a kitchen chair. “Wait . . . what?” This was all news to him.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay, you want to pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about? Fine, I’ll start at the beginning to remind you.”

“Please do.”

She nodded to the chair. “Have a seat. This may take a while.” He turned the chair, sitting on it backward. She took a deep breath. “I was in the library that day, Reece.”

“Colin, remember?”

Her eyes narrowed at the interruption. “As I was saying, Reece,” she stressed the name, “I was in the library when you and Marcus came in, arguing over the photos. I didn’t want to interfere, causing any more tension between you. I scooted up the spiral staircase to exit out the gallery door when I heard my name. I paused to listen.” She shook her head. “It’s true when they say eavesdroppers never hear anything good about themselves.”

“What did you hear, Nicole?” He couldn’t remember the entire conversation but had a feeling it was going to be damaging to him.

She tapped her chin, examining the ceiling tiles. “Let me see, what did you say exactly?” She snapped her fingers. “That’s right. You said you were just killing time with me until your next role came along. You fed me all the right lines. You gave me all the right looks, and I was putty in your hands.”

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