He cursed again as they ascended the building, he’d been hoping to offer another apology in the privacy of the elevator ride but instead, contented himself with glaring at the buttons, ignoring the couple sharing the ride with them. Once the doors slid open on their floor, Erin marched along the wide corridor and Ethan found his eyes drawn to the unconsciously seductive sway of her hips, that he slowed his pace, just to enjoy the stunning view. At the door, she stopped and swung around to face him so suddenly that he almost crashed into her, one arm whipped out to grab her waist while he steadied them from toppling to the ground.
“Ooomph!” She gasped, the breath knocked out of her as she found herself pressed against his hard length. Instinctively, her hand wrapped around his neck and Ethan damned near forgot to breathe, as his mind spun out of control.
He let Erin go, forcing his mind back to the present.
“You were going to say something?” He reminded her brusquely.
Ethan could see her struggling to get control back. At least, he wasn’t the only one affected with this madness, he thought wryly.
“Why were you walking so close?” Erin asked, in a stage whisper, shooting him a murderous look through narrowed lids. She held up a hand before he could answer.
“Wait. Don’t tell me. Ok, look,” she took a deep breath, “Nicky’s still in a bad way cause of the breakup with Ryan, so there’s a very good chance she won’t behave rationally if you barge in with guns blazing.”
“No.” Ethan folded his arms across his chest and gave her a stony stare.
“I haven’t even finished!” Erin protested, her voice rising a notch.
“Don’t need you to finish, I know you’re going to suggest I wait out in this damned hallway while you go in and try to coddle cousin dearest. The answer’s no.”
“And why the hell not?” Arms planted on her hips, she aimed a freezing glare at him.
He smirked, infuriating her even more.
“I’m a firm believer in shock therapy, Sweetcheeks. Nicky will be less inclined to lie when she’s taken unawares. Now, shall we?” He raised an eyebrow and she scowled and muttered an insult under her breath but turned to open the door, letting them into a dim foyer.
Motioning for him to precede her into the living room, she shut the door, turning on the lights.
Ethan glanced around, taking in the lilac wallpaper, complimented by pristine white and blue antique furnishings. Erin moved about, opening blinds, revealing a stunning view of the river.
“Nicky’s probably asleep.” Erin said, motioning for him to take a seat. He eyed a fragile looking chaise, doubtful it would hold his weight and shook his head, earning him another frown. “I’ll go wake her.”
Ethan nodded and crossed to the floor length windows, his professional instincts intrigued. Erin left the room, but in the silence, he could hear her calling Nicky, the murmur of soft female voices too indistinct to hear them clearly, but a few minutes later, Erin came back into the room, with her cousin trailing behind her, looking haggard and worn in pajamas and red-rimmed eyes.
“Why can’t we talk in the bedroom?” Nicky was complaining as she let Erin pull her to the sofa where she promptly curled up, clutching a throw pillow to her chest. “I’m tired and I want to go to back to sleep.”
She still hadn’t seen him yet, so Ethan took the time to study her. She’d lost a lot of weight since he’d last set eyes on her, her cheeks were hollow, with eyes far too large for her face, giving her a waif-like appearance, that he found rather unattractive. Jesus! The woman looked little like the elegant woman he’d met a few weeks ago…though he supposed a broken engagement would do that to any sane person. His eyes strayed to Erin, standing by the sofa, a stark contrast with those generous curves and full lips that filled his head with ideas he’d rather not focus on at the moment.
“….. to talk, it’s really important.” Erin was saying, her gaze lifting from her cousin to his. Ethan took a step closer to the sofa and cleared his throat.
“Hello, Nicola,” He spoke softly, watching as she started then bolted to her feet, eyes widening as she registered his presence. “You look like hell.”
“Ethan!” Erin exclaimed, aiming a scowl at him, eyes flashing a warning to behave. He merely shrugged off the warning, his gaze fixed on Nicky who’d gone white with shock.
“What are you doing here?” Nicky rasped, taking a step back as though afraid he would jump her. She shot an accusing look at Erin, quickly recovering from shock to anger. “Why did you bring him here?”
“Can’t I pay my ex a friendly visit?” Ethan forced a light tone, shoving both hands into his pants pockets. “To offer my condolences for your loss, so to speak.” He could feel Erin’s gaze burning daggers through him, but ignored her again, moving closer to Nicky, until he could grasp one hand, bringing it to his lips. Beneath his lips, her skin was soft but wispy, like fragile paper.
Nicky gasped, her breath speeding up at the touch. “Don’t do that.” She whispered hoarsely but made no move to free her hand. Ethan sighed and dropped her hand, feeling his patience wearing thin.
“Sit down, Nicola.” He ordered softly, turning away from her in Erin’s direction. “You may sit too, if you like, because I imagine Nicky has a lot of explaining to do, this might take a while.”
Erin’s chin lifted in defiance, though he caught a hint of apprehension lurking there. “Don’t order us around Ethan, and you’d better behave or I won’t think twice about throwing your ass out the door.”
Ethan chuckled in wry amusement. “I’m tempted to misbehave just to see how you intend to accomplish that remarkable feat.” His amusement faded as quickly as it came and he pinned Nicky with a warning glare.
“Lillian Putney, who is she?”
Nicky paled at the abrupt question and her already wide eyes expanded even more, mouth opening and closing like a fish in shock. She looked to Erin, but at her closed expression, she turned back to Ethan, miraculously schooling her features to hide her discomfiture.
“Is she someone I should know?” Nicky asked, trying to appear unconcerned. she trained her deep, greengaze at him, wide pools of feigned innocence that would have fooled anyone who hadn’t witnessed the shock of a few moments back. “The name doesn’t ring a bell, though I suppose she may be someone I’ve met before, I do meet a lot of people after all. Is she a client of yours?”
The woman was a bloody accomplished liar. Ethan forced a smile and decided to play along for now.
“Perhaps,” he replied, his tone non-committal. “Erin and I just spent a lovely afternoon having a chat with her, wonderful woman. Really…remarkable. Not someone I would be likely to forget mind you.” With every word, Nicky seemed to grow whiter until her skin almost matched the shade of the sofa. “I learned quite a lot actually, but that’s another matter altogether. You see, surprising enough, she mentioned the two of where well acquainted, she even shared a couple of interesting anecdotes about your conversations.”
Nicky had a death grip on the pillow, her posture stiff with tension and fear. “Ethan I….”
“I’m not finished, Sweetheart.” Ethan cut in, with another chuckle. “Lillian was happy to tell us how close you were, to the point of exchanging secrets and information that were none of her business. Information that she felt belonged to the public and even had the good grace to share said information in the tabloids, with pictures too. So, forgive me, but I will ask one more time.”
Ethan hardened his voice, all trace of humor gone. He walked up to the sofa and leaned over Nicky, his gaze icy blue daggers. “Do you know who the fuck Lillian Putney is?”
“Yes!” Nicky gasped, her eyes filling with tears, but Ethan felt no pity. “I’m so sorry…I’m sorry…I swear I didn’t know she was going to….. she came to me and we became friends and I told her about…. I swear Ethan, please…. when the article came out I was so angry and I told her to stop… but she said Erin had done something horrible and she needed to teach her a lesson…. please, please…”
She turned to Erin, who’d gone as pale as her. “She said you took her boyfriend and she was pregnant and…that you were sleeping with Ethan… she showed me the pictures and I felt bad cause I couldn’t believe you could do such a thing…. how could you?”
“You didn’t want him.” Ethan heard Erin whisper over Nicky’s hysterics. Her eyes held unimaginable pain and he longed to hold her close and comfort her, but somehow, he knew she would reject him if he did. Not with Nicky’s accusations hanging over her head like a damned pistol.
Tears flowed freely down Nicky’s cheeks now as she glared at her cousin. “It still didn’t give you the right to screw my boyfriend behind my back.”
“I didn’t mean for it to happen.” Erin jumped to her feet, gesturing wildly. “I was trying to protect you from his crazy vendetta and it just happened. I know it’s not an excuse but shit! You should have come to me and told me how you felt. Instead you go pouring everything to some deranged bitch? For fuck’s sake, Nicky, we were friends and closer than sisters.”
“I asked you and you said there was nothing going on.” Nicky retorted “You lied to my face and you expect me to trust you?”
“There was nothing going on then. We hated each other and we fought all the time. And when it happened, believe me Nicky, I felt horrible. But you told me you didn’t love him so I felt it would be ok…oh god! What am I even saying? It was not ok…. not even then…not now…. I’m sorry.”
Erin pressed her fists against her eyes and heaved a deep breath, before continuing in a much calmer tone.
“Nicky, you know I didn’t have anything to do with your decision to break up with Ethan, but for so long, I’ve kept your secret, even when it threatened to destroy my family, I kept my mouth shut and endured the insults and accusations from Ethan. You brought this on all of us. If you just explained… I’m begging you now, please tell him the truth.”
“You can’t be serious!” Nicky exclaimed in alarm, darting an apprehensive glance at Ethan who stood stock still, watching the drama unfold. “I’m not going to tell him.”
“Like hell you won’t, you stupid idiot.” Ethan finally cut in coldly. “You will tell me the truth or so help me, Nicky Gosling, I’ll wrong the truth out of you.”
“Oh god!” Nicky squeaked, recoiling from the venom in his words.
Erin pushed past him and headed for the door. “I…I need some air, I need to go outside, I can’t stay here.” She was out the door before he could react. With a muffled curse and an order to Nicky to plant her ass on the seat and not move an inch, Ethan went after her.
He caught up with her in the corridor, slipping an arm around her waist, pulling her against his body.
“Stay with me, Erin,” he whispered, his breath fanning the tendrils of hair curled around her ear, his other hand cupped the base of her neck, wanting to offer comfort, but she shook her head, avoiding his eyes. “Okay then, let me come with you now, sod Nicky, I don’t need to hear…”
“No.” Erin cut in, stiffening in his arms, her hands shoved at his chest for freedom. “You need to hear her out, for both our sakes. I’ll be fine, I just need to be alone for a while.”
He sighed, and loosened his grip, but only so he could cup her face in both hands and capturing her mouth with his own, brushing his mouth against hers until with a soft moan, she opened for him, her hands wrapping around him neck, her tongue tangling with his in a dance that had them both breathing hard, straining for more. Ethan’s hands left her face to pull her closer, until every inch of her soft body was plastered against his. With a groan of pure need, he deepened the kiss, his body clamouring for more, till everything faded and all he could feel and touch was her, her sweet mouth and tempting body.
Erin broke the kiss, and stepped back, her eyes filled with pain and regret.
“Goodbye.”
He watched her walk away, his heart doing weird things in his chest and with another loud curse, he turned and walked back to the apartment. He would give her a few days to sort herself out, while he handled this mess, but after that, the game would change.