Page 65 of An Accidental Love Affair

“I know that, but did you know what she did with the money? She bought a house in England, a cute little cottage by the sea. The very one that sits on the edge of our parent’s property.”

Nicole mouthed a question to him, but he turned his back on her. “I don’t believe it.”

“I’ve got the bill of sale to prove it.” Marcus’ tone took on a bit of smugness. “So you see, brother, you either come with me or I make public how your sweet little puss extorted a house from you.” The line went dead.

Nicole was at his side the moment he lowered his arm. “Colin, what’s wrong? What did Marcus do now?”

He pressed a button, turning the phone off. “He didn’t do anything except make a few things clear to me. He’ll be here shortly. I need to get my stuff gathered up.”

She was confused. “I don’t understand.” Why was he shutting her out?

He glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t think we should see each other anymore. I won’t be available. I’ll be on location for the movie and . . .” He walked away.

She sat down. “Okay, but I still don’t understand what’s going on. I thought we . . .”

He turned, blasting her with his fury. “Did you buy the cottage, Nicole?”

The blood drained from her face. So, the cat was out of the bag. “I can explain.”

Reece couldn’t believe Marcus was right. He shook his head. “I’m not asking for an explanation. Did you buy it or not?

“Ye-Yes,” she stammered, “but . . .”

“You knew I wanted the cottage. It’s special to me.”

“It holds a special meaning for me too.”

He snorted, stalking across the room to the front window. “Yeah, you spent all of five hours there, Nicole.”

True, but they were five of the most incredible hours of my life. Her chin wobbled, but she refused to cry. If he wanted to believe the worst of her, so be it.

“Why don’t you write my family to make an offer on the ruins too,” he shot at her over his shoulder.

Her eyes narrowed on that broad back. “I could, but one run-down heap of stone is enough money wasted.” She stomped toward the kitchen for a cup of coffee.

She heard the doorbell ring, and then she heard Reece’s voice as he answered. Was Marcus a warlock? How did he get here so fast?

The brothers stood in the living room talking. She swore she wasn’t going to be a party to eavesdropping again.

“Hey, Reece,” she called, “I’m leaving so you and the slime-ball can gather your things and go.”

It was quiet on the other side of the door. She walked out onto the deck, leaving the beach house and the man she loved behind. It was getting to be a habit.

~ ~ ~

Reece collected his clothes from the bedroom, returning to the living room when he noticed his brother scooping a stack of pages into a folder. He assumed it was the movie script.

“Here’s the last of my things. Let’s go.” He didn’t check for Nicole. From the bedroom window, he’d seen her standing at the water’s edge, her stance forlorn.

He shook his head. He thought he knew her, but she’d turned out to be like the rest of them. She wanted something from him, making sure she got it, by the most erotic means necessary.

“Have you finally had your fill?” Marcus asked.

Not nearly enough, but he’d never tell his brother so.

~ ~ ~

Nicole turned back to the house as the car pulled away. He was gone. She wouldn’t be seeing him again. Ever. He wanted to believe she’d steal his dream from him. The opposite was true. As soon as she received the deed to the cottage, she signed it over to him. Even as angry as she had been, she wanted him to have that little piece of Heaven. It was important to him, making it important to her as well.

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