Sweet On You

chapter Twenty



Nico arrived home to the scent of sweetness and the sound of laughter, and it all came from the kitchen.

He eased out of his suit coat and took it to hang in the bedroom. He slipped off his tie, taking a deep breath as he loosened the top buttons of his shirt.

It'd been a long day of meetings and stubborn people. Now he was home. He'd pour himself a hefty shot of whiskey and spar with the stubborn person who'd been on his mind all day: Daniela.

That morning she'd asked if she could hang out in his suite, because she still didn't feel like going home. He'd pictured coming home to her waiting for him. He'd liked the image so much he'd called the concierge and asked him to get Daniela a few items she'd need for her stay. Minus underwear, of course.

He heard her laugh again, and then the low rumble of a male voice. Frowning, he strode out the bedroom and to the kitchen.

She leaned against a counter, a glass of red wine in her hands. She wore one of his shirts, knotted in the front, and a pair of tight jeans the hotel had acquired for her. No bra, which he'd planned but regretted now. Her feet were bare, her face was lit with pleasure, her cheeks flushed, and her lips rosy and moist looking.

Just the same way she looked after making love.

Jason sat at the counter, looking less like a buttoned-up British gentlemen with his shirt collar undone and his tailored jacket off. He had a glass of wine and a large plate of pasta in front of him and stared at Daniela like he was utterly besotted.

Possessiveness flared through Nico, sharp and rigid. Shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from punching his bastard employee, he entered the kitchen.

"There you are," Daniela exclaimed, beaming at him. Her smile slowly faded as she studied his face. "Is something wrong, Nico?"

He glanced at Jason and then back at her. "I didn't realize we were entertaining tonight."

Jason picked up his wine glass. "I stopped by to drop off some paperwork for you. Imagine my surprise when I found a world-famous chef cloistered away in your suite."

He heard the curiosity and accusation in Jason's voice. "It's none of your damn business who I cloister in my apartment."

Daniela made a mocking sound.

Facing her, he glared at her.

She tried to look subdued but the humor was more than evident in her eyes as she sauntered up to him. "Hard day, baby?"

"Yes, damn it."

Rubbing his chest soothingly, she bit her lip, either to keep from laughing or to torture him with her sexiness. "Let me pour you a glass of wine and fetch your slippers."

Jason snorted as he shoveled a forkful of pasta into his mouth.

Shooting a dark look at his interfering minion, he shook his head. "I want whiskey."

"Why don't you sit down and I'll get you some?" She kissed his cheek and winked at Jason as she padded out of the kitchen.

Glaring at his right-hand man, the person who supposedly had his back, Nico joined him at the counter.

The man was seemingly unaffected, eating his food with an enthusiasm his British reserve didn't normally allow him to display. "You're full of surprises, Nico," he said after swallowing a bite. "You didn't tell me you'd hired an in-house chef."

"I haven't."

"The only other conclusion I can draw is that you're shacking up with a woman."

He glared. "You're a bastard sometimes, you know that?"

Dabbing a napkin to his mouth, Jason pushed back from the counter and put his coat back on. "I left the paperwork on the waterfront project in China on your desk. Perhaps when you take a break from playing house, you can look over them."

"Get out, Lethem."

Jason just smirked as he tugged down his cuffs. "Don't bollocks this up, Nico. She's the best thing that's ever happened to you, and that's notwithstanding her scrumptious cake."

Daniela came back into the kitchen, tumbler in hand, frowning when she saw Jason standing. "Are you leaving?"

"Yes, love. The pasta was divine, thank you again." He chastely kissed her cheek. "I will demand your chocolate cake next time."

She smiled in pleasure. "Come by any time."

"Not if you value your life," Nico threatened, taking the glass from her hand and downing a healthy dose.

Daniela shot him a look. "He doesn't mean it."

"Yes, I do."

Jason took her hand and clasped it in both of his. "Nico and I have an understanding, love."

"Understand that I'm going to break your arm if you don't let her go," he growled.

Jason chuckled and lifted her knuckles to his lips, clearly taunting him. But before he could drag her away from his henchman, Jason released her. "Try not to miss me too terribly tonight," he said as he strutted off.

Waiting until she heard the elevator close, Daniela turned to him, hands on her hips. "What was that about?"

"You tell me." He scowled. "I came home to find you half naked, flirting with my employee."

She looked down at myself. "What are you talking about? I'm fully dressed."

"You're wearing my shirt without a bra."

"But I'm wearing pants, which is more than I had on an hour before Jason arrived."

Something inside him roared at the idea of another man seeing what was only his. Not wanting to examine that emotion, he picked her up by the waist, hefted her on top of the counter, and leaned his head against her chest.

She stroked his hair. "Poor baby, feeling cranky."

"You're subverting my employees."

"Just one, and he was already a fan." She kissed the top of his head. "Don't worry. I have a thing for the boss."

"Do you?" he murmured, relaxing for the first time all day.

"Apparently I like overbearing men."

He kissed her skin at the open vee of the shirt. "Lucky for me." And he meant it.