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She'd been intrigued by the mention of a Mermaid room, a Roaring Twenties room, and a Princess room, wishing there were pictures to go with the tempting descriptions. Then again, if she played her cards right, maybe she'd get a firsthand look at some of the rooms?
The thought of stepping inside a hotel room with Nick acting as tour guide brought a scorching blush to her cheeks and she pressed her hands against them, desperately trying to cool them before he opened the door and caught her on the back foot again.
The door swung open and she immediately squared her shoulders, ready for battle. She'd left home at eighteen, travelled to the other side of the world, lived in a big city alone, and made a success of her life without using a penny of her father's money.
Making this deal happen with Nick should be a walk in Hyde Park, regardless of the games he seemed determined to play.
'Right on time.'
He stepped aside and gestured her into the room, a huge suite converted into an office, complete with monstrous mahogany desk, leather director's chair, and matching black leather sofas designed to make whoever set foot in the giant room at home.
She ignored the comfy-looking couch and settled for the solitary chair opposite his desk, her back ramrod straight. She wasn't here to get cosy and comfortable, she was here to seal this deal.
Clasping her hands in her lap, she fixed him with a businesslike stare. 'Let's get down to it, shall we? You know what I want. You've had time to study the figures in my presentation. What's your answer?'
To her chagrin, he grinned, a wide, self-assured grin of a fat cat toying with a baby mouse.
'It's killing you, isn't it?'
In an instant she knew what he referred to. He used to tease her about being a nosy busybody all the time, so he'd know how much his bombshell was burning her up with curiosity.
As if she'd give him the satisfaction of knowing it.
Keeping her expression carefully blank, she shrugged. 'You're not the only one who's changed. What you've done in the last ten years, why you chose not to tell me the truth when we were at the farm, is your business.'
She leaned forward and tapped her presentation folder sitting in prime position in the middle of his desk. 'And this is mine, so let's cut to the chase. Are you willing to make this deal or not?'
'That depends on you.'
He sat, leaned back, and clasped his hands behind his head, stretching the fine cotton of his business shirt tight against his chest, drawing her attention, tempting her to stare, to envision what he looked like without it.
Not that she had to try too hard. She'd had an up close and personal look earlier and that bronze chest had burned into her memory bank no matter how many times she hit the mental delete button.
She shook her head to clear it. 'Of course I want this deal to happen. It's why I'm here.'
The only reason I'm here, hung unsaid between them as she matched his steady stare, not blinking, not moving a muscle.
To her surprise, he broke the deadlock first by reaching for the folder and pushing it toward her with one finger.
'I'm not interested in your money.'
That got her attention. 'Pardon?'
He tapped the folder. ‘I’m not interested in the remuneration your company is offering for use of the farm.'
Her hopes sank faster than her first attempt at rowing on the Thames as she struggled to come up with a new twist on her pitch, something, anything, to persuade him to agree to this deal.
'But I do have something else in mind,’ he said, the determined glint in his eyes sparking an urge to match wits with him like they used to.
Though she didn't like the hint of subterfuge in his smoother-than-caramel tone. He was up to something. ‘Like what?'
He pushed away from the desk, came around, and squatted next to her, way too close, way too overpowering, way too much.
'I'll agree to your precious deal if you agree to mine.'
His silky smooth tone sent a shiver of foreboding creeping across the nape of her neck. She had no doubt whatever demands Nick made, she'd be forced to agree.
Hanging onto her cool by a thread, she tossed her hair over her right shoulder and fixed him with her best intimidating glare. 'Go on, then. State your terms.'
