She swept a shaky hand through the air around her, motioning to the room’s décor. “It’s rumored that your coffers have doubled in the past few months. Now tell me, Mr. Lee, is it just a coincidence that this happened around the same time as the thefts?”
Words caught in his throat. She was accusing him of stealing from his own train? Unbelievable! Why would she even think that? Unless it was to take the focus off her. Well, he wouldn’t let her win. He’d keep the focus on her any way he could. And why had she reverted back to using Mr. Lee instead of his given name?
Slowly, he grinned and moved closer, not stopping until he was mere inches away from her. The bulk of her gown rubbed against the material of his trousers. Her flowery scent disturbed him in the worst way, just as it always had, but this time he’d not let it make him turn into a blubbering, love-stricken fool.
He lowered the pistol to his side as he stared into her eyes. Even now, in her upset state, she was very lovely. “Nicole,” he said in a husky tone, “are you seriously accusing me of thievery?”
“I’m not accusing you of anything, Mr. Lee. I’m merely pointing out the similarities. Money was stolen, and suddenly, you have acquired quite a bit.”
“Didn’t I ask you to call me Ashton?” he asked deeply.
“Uh, yes.”
“Then why aren’t you?”
“Because I thought...well, you see...I just don’t think—”
Heaven help him, but he enjoyed seeing her this way. It reminded him of when he thought she was innocent and sweet. “Nicole, do you know how lovely you are when flustered?” He caressed her cheek with his free hand.
She shivered beneath his touch, which empowered him. Why did she still have the ability to make him feel like a man?
“You think I’m flustered?” she asked, her voice cracking.
He widened his grin. “Aren’t you?” He moved his touch from her cheek to her bottom lip and rubbed the pad of his thumb over her rosebud lips. “Since we first met at the masked ball, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you stumble over your words. In all this time, you have been a confident woman. You say what’s on your mind. So, to answer your question, yes, I do think you’re flustered.” He paused and then added without thinking, “And I find it adorable.”
He didn’t know how, but being this close to her brought back the stirring feelings he wished would leave his body for good. Yet if he didn’t act on them, he would go insane. Slowly, he dipped his head closer as his hand dropped to her shoulder. Her breathing quickened, and she grasped his waistcoat with both of her hands.
As he covered his mouth over hers, she sighed deeply and leaned into him. Her response surprised him, yet delighted him even more. Even though they were in a bad situation now, he was still able to stir desire inside this woman just as she was doing to him.
He wrapped her tightly against his body and deepened the kiss. Her hands slipped between their bodies to hook around his neck as she pressed herself against him more intimately. Suddenly, the kiss turned wild, and she responded, just as eager to please him, slanting her head from side to side.
This woman had always brought him pleasure, and right now was no different. She knew how to stroke his neck, how to sigh into his mouth, and he couldn’t stop his heart from softening. No other woman had created such havoc inside him, and no other woman would be able to accomplish this again once she was out of his life.
His heart twisted painfully. Indeed, he had to end their relationship. How could he fall in love with a criminal? Yet the thought only brought more heartache and agony.
Slowly, he softened the kiss until they merely nibbled at each other’s mouths in pure enjoyment. Even though she was a thief, she couldn’t mask the fact that she cared deeply for him. No woman was that good of an actress.
When he finally broke the kiss, he had difficulty breathing, as did she. He stared into her mesmerizing eyes and wondered what he could possibly say to explain himself or his actions just now. But he had to say something. He couldn’t allow her to think she’d won because she hadn’t.
Anger built inside him once more. Indeed, something was not right about her. He scowled. “You kiss too well for an innocent woman. Just as I had suspected, you are not whom you proclaim to be.” He released her and stepped several feet away, pointing the pistol toward her once more. Perhaps if he threatened her, she would confess her true identity. “Such a shame I have to shoot you. We could have been good for each other.” He shook his head. “Believe me, Nicole, I wish things would have turned out differently.”
Tears swam thick in her eyes. “No, Ashton—”
Suddenly, the room exploded with the fire of a pistol, and within seconds, she collapsed on the floor in a motionless heap.
Chapter Thirteen
Shock vibrated through Ashton as he stared at Nicole. Her body lay on the floor, still as death. Blood soaked the bodice of her gown as well as her left shoulder. Fear immobilized him for several seconds.
What had just happened? Had he really shot the woman he loved? If so, why wasn’t there smoke coming from the end of the pistol barrel?
His mind scrambled to comprehend what was going on. He hadn’t meant to pull the trigger, even though he had threatened to shoot her, but when the pistol fired, the sound came from somewhere in back of him. Prickles of awareness danced over him, hinting that he wasn’t the only person in this room with a pistol.
He swung around, aiming his weapon at the unknown stranger. Glynn Nickerson stood in the doorway. He held the still-smoking pistol as his wide-eyed gaze rested on Nicole.
Ashton gasped. “What have you done?”
“I...I stopped her, that’s what I’ve done.” Glynn took one more step into the room. “Is she dead? I don’t see her chest moving.”
