Page 59 of An Accidental Love Affair

The color drained from his face. “I didn’t mean it that way.”

She snorted in derision. “Of course you did. You, the great and wonderful Reece Collins, couldn’t have cared less about a lowly commoner from the States.” Her eyes narrowed at him. “If you wanted a whore, Reece, you should’ve left money on the bedside table. That would’ve been more honest.”

His nostrils flared in affront. “I have never treated you like a whore.”

“Yeah, you did. I was just too naïve to see it.”

“Nicole, I . . .”

“I’m not interested in your denials. It’s over and done. I came home. I cleaned up the mess as best as I could, moving on from it. And you’ve done the same. I understand congratulations are in order.”

He turned away from her, seething. “Congratulations for what?”

“I hear you’re engaged to your co-star. I’m glad the two of you were able to patch up the misunderstanding about us.” She tapped her forehead. “What am I saying? There was never an ‘us.’ There was you and the American hussy you picked up on a plane.”

He shot to his feet. “You are not a hussy, Nicole. You happen to be the woman I’m in love with.”

She clapped her hands in mock awe. “Bravo! Well done, Mr. Collins. Thank you for that Oscar-worthy performance. If I had roses, I’d throw them at your feet.”

He stood over her, his chest expanding in an aggressive manner. “I’m not putting on a performance. I’m telling you I’m in love with you.”

She put her hands on his chest, shoving him backward. “I’m not interested, Mr. Collins.”

He reached for her. “I’m Colin, Nicole. When I’m with you, Reece Collins doesn’t exist.”

She spun away. “Yes, he does. He’s with you twenty-four-seven.”

He gripped her shoulders, turning her back to him. “I’ll stop being Reece Collins if that’s what it takes to prove I mean what I say.”

Her entire body jolted at his confession, and her gaze shot upward in disbelief. “You would give up being a movie star for me?”

He snapped his fingers. “I’d do it in an instant.”

She bit her lip, staring into his eyes and feeling the fight draining out of her. “I don’t want you to do that. Reece Collins is a part of you—a part you can’t live without.”

His voice lowered. “I will, if it means I can be with you.”

“What about your fiancée?”

“I’m not engaged to Melanie Daniels. I don’t even like her.”

“But the magazines . . .”

“You of all people should know better than to believe what a magazine prints,” he said, incredulity in his tone.

She had the grace to blush. “Okay, you got me there.”

Reece cupped her cheek tenderly. “I haven’t wanted anyone else since the day you hobbled into first class with a black eye and twisted ankle. My God, girl, I love you.”

Nicole wanted to believe him, but it was hard. “It’s too much, Reece.” When he frowned down at her, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Colin,” she said. “My Colin,” she whispered, standing on the tips of her toes to kiss him. “Can we take it slow? I don’t want to get overwhelmed again.”

He nodded, lifting her off the floor, her feet and legs

dangling. “You have yourself a deal, Miss DeLancey.”

~ ~ ~

They spent the next few days holed up at the beach house, making love and basically getting to know each other again. They snuggled on the couch, watching old romantic movies. They took turns reading their favorite romance novels to each other. They walked Tugger on the beach in the evenings and watched the sunrise from the roof deck in the mornings.

---