Робин Грейди – Australia: Wicked Mistresses: Fired Waitress, Hired Mistress / His Mistress for a Million / Friday Night Mistress (страница 19)

But then he sucked back a breath and shoved to his feet. Glaring at the dark rolling sea, he drove a hand through his hair, then set his fists low on his hips. “None of that makes any difference.”

“Any difference to what?”

He faced her. “Nina, you can’t stay.”

Air seeped from her lungs. The present and its challenges rose up again and she slumped.

“You’re sacking me.” Not a question. Rather a flat-line statement.

What had she expected? A reunion with balloons and a rendition of “Auld Lang Syne”? Bottom line: no matter what vow she’d made to improve, she was a less than competent waitress, and those who didn’t perform must be eliminated.

Regardless of the way they’d made love last night, this evening it was Goodbye, Nina.

Gabriel turned back to face the ocean, wringing his hands on the rail.

He’d had the scenario worked out. Announce that he knew her identity, then slap her with the final slam-dunk details of his own. Nina had deceived him. Dorset must have thought him a fool to fall for her act. No one manipulated him the way she had and got away with it—particularly when this Nina was the obnoxious teen who years ago had rattled his cage any chance she’d got.

And yet—

Dropping his chin, Gabriel clenched the rail and let out a quiet groan.

After speaking about Anthony, he could practically hear his best mate demanding he do something to help his little sister, and do it now. No matter how much he might want to, he couldn’t and wouldn’t ignore it. Anthony had been too good a friend. God knew why he’d befriended him, the geek, but Gabriel would never forget it.

But throwing money at Nina didn’t seem right. He’d never taken charity; Anthony wouldn’t have wanted hand-outs either. If Nina was hoping for a signed blank cheque—sorry, not happening.

Keeping her on here was out of the question too. Turning this place around depended on sticking to the narrow but profitable road. Not even Anthony’s memory could influence him to jeopardise that success.

There was only one solution. For Anthony’s sake—for the sake of what he and Nina had shared last night—he would help find her more suitable employment. Somewhere she could shine, find herself again. And if she gave him any cheek about it …

His mind made up, he angled back. “I have contacts in the industry.”

She dragged her gaze from her untouched plate. “What industry?”

“Publishing. I’ll set up an interview or two in Sydney.”

Her eyes widened and she pushed to her feet. Her mouth worked soundlessly before she breathed out, “You’d do that for me?”

She could be near her sister and nephew, earn decent money. Keep her home. All she had to do was take a job which would be created after he pulled a few strings and stay the hell out of his life. His head—his pride—had been messed with enough.

But she was sighing and shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t let you do that.”

His temper spiked. “Why the hell not?”

“I can’t accept a job I haven’t won on my own merit.”

Well, she’d done it before, to get her job here. And sleeping with a rich stranger to get a leg up apparently wasn’t taboo either.

He leaned back against the rail and slid his hands into his trouser pockets. “Off nepotism? That’s very noble.”

“Not noble. I’ve learned my lesson. Next time I move on, it’ll be to something I’ve earned.”

His eyes narrowed on hers. She was playing him again, and, damn, she was good at it.

“Let me put it this way,” he said. “You need a job, a job that you know, and I insist on helping you make that happen.”

Her lips pressed together. “No.”

He withdrew his hands from his pockets. “Not even if it’ll get you back home to your family? I thought you wanted to rediscover yourself—you can’t do that here.”

“You’re right. I can’t. Not completely. But I have to believe that my reputation and credentials will get me the right job at the right time. I don’t know that I’d ever be able to gain the respect of the staff here. I won’t make that mistake twice. I won’t jump the queue and take on something I don’t deserve.”

He stopped less than an arm’s length away, and instantly the space between them crackled with heat. Despite their disagreeable past, and the battlefield they occupied now, the grooves in his mind slotted back into blistering memories of last night and the undeniable force that clawed at him whenever she was near.

He set his jaw. Got a grip. Slapped that mental wall back up.

“Nina, you can’t continue to work here.”

Her slim nostrils flared before she slowly nodded. “I understand. I do.” She glanced over their cold meals. “If it’s all the same with you, I won’t stay for dessert.”

She turned, and even as his throat and chest burned he noticed her limp as she walked through into the main room.

And don’t bother with the lame act to get sympathy either, he wanted to call after her. He wasn’t that much of a sucker.

But when the limp seemed to get worse, the further she walked, Gabriel scrubbed his jaw.

Working all afternoon and half the night, she must have been on her feet the whole time. From Mr Dorset’s account, Nina would know she didn’t have another card up her sleeve; she couldn’t call in sick or beg off early. Had the doctor even checked her out? Gabriel would bet not.

He dragged his hand down his face, tried to come up with another way. Then, cursing under his breath, he strode off to catch her up. This woman would drive him nuts.

“For God’s sake, Nina, come back and sit down.”

The way she was going she’d only cause herself more harm.

When she kept walking Anthony’s shadow breathed down Gabriel’s neck, and the voice in his head—over his shoulder—grew louder.

Stop her. Make her listen. She’s hurt. She’s my sister and she needs your help!

Gabriel put some steel in his voice. “Nina.”

“I’m going.”

“Going where?”

She angled back. “I’m looking forward to finding out.”

She was so stubborn. So annoying, and so … amazingly attractive. As her eyes glistened into his, his heartbeat boomed in his ears and he knew to his soul what had to be done.

The pull—this fierce physical attraction—was too strong to ignore. No matter how many times she walked away, he would have to bring her back because what he’d tried to block from his mind all the long day would happen. He knew it as well as he knew his own name. They would make love again and she’d better prepare herself.

The way he was feeling, last night had only been practice.

CHAPTER NINE

GABRIEL strode over and drew her body hard against his. As his mouth came crashing down upon hers, Nina braced herself not to weaken.

In a way, she’d expected this. This man’s middle name might be “irresistible,” but after that discussion she would rather jump from a plane without a parachute than confirm the terrible, wonderful heat his kiss stirred deep inside her.

He wanted her gone. No problem.

She was going.

Go … ing …

After several breathtaking, ultra-persuasive moments, the kiss softly broke and Gabriel’s hot-lidded gaze brushed over her face. His fingertips traced hair from her brow and he murmured, “Are you listening now?”

She swallowed, but held her chin high. “No.”

He kissed her again, and those defences crumbled more. Her head told her to pull back, to slap his face; who did he think he was, assaulting her like this? Her body, on the other hand, whispered to her heart to press in more.

His kisses only got better.

When his lips left hers a second time, her breathing was tellingly deep. A practised hand skimmed her side before he took a lingering kiss from her temple, her cheek. To stop herself from snaking her arms around his neck, she fisted his shirt in her hands.

Feeling giddy, she groaned, “What do you want from me?”

He cupped her chin. “You have to ask?”

She closed her eyes and prayed. She had to clear her foggy brain. Had to keep smart. Keep strong.