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needed to steer
clear of this topic if he didn't want to reveal his identity. She thought she
was getting Vane — he might as well take advantage of the
misunderstanding. "Abbey, I don't really want to discuss work." He
leaned back in his chair. "Tell me about you."
    She sat up straight and blinked at him. "Um, okay.
What do you want to know?"
    Good question. What did he want to know? Did he want
to know anything about her at all, or would he rather keep a safe, unemotional
distance? Best to keep the conversation polite but friendly.
    "Have you lived in Melbourne all your life?"
    She nodded. "Like it?"
    She shrugged. "It's okay. I'd really like to
travel to Europe though."
    "Anywhere in particular or just Europe in
general?"
    "France."
    "Really? I was there last year."
    Abbey's mouth dropped and her eyes widened. "What's
it like? Is Paris as beautiful as they say?"
    "I don't know who 'they' are or what they say
about Paris, but yes, it's a beautiful city. Very romantic. Well, I was there
for work, but I'm sure it would be romantic if I had female company."
    Nick realized he should have said his wife. Vane was
married. Did she even know Vane was married?
    Abbey grinned. It was spectacular — the
sort of smile that changed a pretty face into an extraordinary one. It was also
highly contagious. He couldn't help but grin back.
    "You should've had a holiday while you were
there," she said. "You know, added another week on the end, after
your business was finished. That's what I would have done if I were ever lucky
enough to go to Paris for work."
    "Easier said than done. I had to fly back to
Sydney. It's difficult to be away from the office for long."
    "Your boss sounds like a task master."
    Nick laughed. "He is. But that's okay, I like
what I do. It's my passion."
    She frowned. "Strange passion. Perhaps if you had
a hobby you'd learn to relax a little more. You could take up yoga or bush
walking."
    Nick crossed his arms in front of him on the table. This
woman was getting a little presumptuous telling him what he should and
shouldn't do. And who said he wasn't relaxed? He was; just enough to keep his
staff happy without allowing them to walk all over him.
    "I have responsibilities to my employees. I can't
just take time off here and there when I feel like it."
    She shrugged. "I don't see why not. All work and
no play makes Damien a very dull man."
    She thought he was dull? "I wasn't always a
workaholic," he said defensively, not really sure why he felt the urge to
alter her perception of him. "I used to be pretty wild when I was
younger."
    "Really? Tell me about it."
    He laughed. "You're nosy, aren't you?"
    She shrugged two deliciously naked shoulders. "I'm
just being friendly."
    Right. Friendly. She was just making small talk with
the man who owed her money. It's what she did, a mechanism to lull him into a
false sense of security, to loosen him up for later. This woman knew exactly
what she was doing and it had nothing to do with being interested in his
childhood. Well, she could forget about trying to make polite small talk with
him. He wasn't about to fall for her tricks.
    "I think we'll drop that topic of
conversation," he said.
    Abbey sat back in her chair, surveying him through
unblinking eyes. "Yes, Sir!"
    Nick flinched at the mocking tone.
    "Let's talk about something you don't mind
talking about then," she said, a smile twitching her plump lips again. Kissable
lips.
    Her smile had an amazing ability to relax him. Nick
Delaware wasn't used to being relaxed. It spread a warm, caressing sensation
over his skin.
    "Like what?"
    "Where else have you been? Other than France, I
mean."
    He shrugged. "You name it, I've probably been
there."
    "Wow. Really?" She leaned forward
conspiratorially. "Either you're incredibly rich or you've got a great
job."
    He laughed. She was sassy, he had to give her that. He
ignored the first part of her question altogether. "The job takes me
places but I never really get to see them. Not the way I