Married By Midnight

“I didn’t recognize you,” he said. “You don’t look as I remember…but I don’t see how I could have forgotten.”

Amanda gave him a half smile and wiggled her finger at him. “Actually, what you’ve forgotten is your trousers.”

She turned briskly and walked out of the room.

Nick looked down at himself, then slapped his palm against his forehead. “Oh, my God…”

Chapter Four

Amanda pushed her bedroom door shut and fell back against it. Heat swept through her, flushing her cheeks and threatening to burn her from the inside out.

Then she giggled. A silly, schoolgirl giggle.

Since agreeing to come to the Hastings home she’d worried and wondered what would happen when she saw Nick again. Would she be so overwhelmed by the sight of him that she’d stutter and stammer? Trip over something? Faint dead away? Would she make a fool of herself by his mere presence?

None of that had happened. Instead, the first time she saw him he’d been in his underwear.

“What happened?” Dolly asked, turning away from the closet. “Why was Miss Cecilia crying?”

They’d heard her sobs on their way to the bathroom down the hall. Dolly had returned to Amanda’s room, leaving her to see what the problem was.

“Everything’s fine with Cecilia. Just last-minute nerves,” Amanda said.

Dolly’s eyes narrowed. “Then what’s so all-fired funny? I can see that smile on your face, plain as day.”

“Nothing,” Amanda insisted, trying again to swallow her grin. “It’s nothing.”

A knock sounded on the door. Amanda’s heart lurched. Was it Nick?

She admonished herself for having the thought. More than likely it was Constance, coming to thank her for helping. Or Cecilia wanting to talk.

She opened the door and her heart thundered in her chest. Heat flooded her cheeks again.

It was Nick.

In the ten years that had passed since she’d last seen him his features had hardened, become more angular. A straight nose, square jaw, dark full brows…the face of a man looked down at her.

He’d grown larger, too. His shoulders were wide and straight, his chest full and muscular. Her nose barely reached his chin.

His dark hair was damp, hanging over his forehead. The white shirt she’d seen him in moments ago was buttoned now, but the tail hung loose and the collar stood open. She glimpsed the fabric of his white cotton undershirt and his coarse, black chest hair curling over the top.

He also wore trousers.

He must have hopped into them and hurried after her, because even now he was pulling up his suspenders.

A moment passed while he just looked at her, as if he’d forgotten what he wanted to say, or perhaps couldn’t bring himself to say it. Amanda didn’t know which. All she knew for certain was that her mouth had grown so dry she couldn’t have answered had he asked her anything.

Then he smiled. It pulled at the corners of his mouth, lifting them ever so slightly.

Amanda fought back her own answering grin and wagged her finger at his legs. “I see you found your trousers.”

Behind her, she heard Dolly approach, and sensed her craning her neck for a better view.

Nick’s smile widened and he glanced down at himself. “Sorry about that. I didn’t realize…”

Amanda crossed her arms in front of her. “You didn’t realize? Is that because you routinely have so many women in your bedchamber?”

“Only ones I’m related to.” His grin turned devilish. “Unfortunately.”

The heat inside Amanda increased, spread through her, weakening her knees. The mere presence of this man two feet away called to her, urged her to move closer, as if he somehow held a power over her she could not resist.

And didn’t want to resist.

She took a step backward. She could have sworn he leaned forward, but maybe it was her imagination.

“So, anyway,” Nick said, “I came to apologize for my state of dress just now.”

“The lack of it, you mean?”

He grinned again. “Yes. I hope you weren’t offended.”

“Traumatized beyond recovery,” Amanda declared, hoping the sarcasm in her voice could somehow take the edge off her churning emotions. “I’ll probably have to spend the rest of the day in bed.”

His grin blossomed devilishly and his gaze dipped to her toes, then rose to her face once more in a swift, hot sweep. Amanda’s cheeks burned as his eyes caressed her.

“Well, if there’s any way I can assist you in that, please let me know.” Nick gave her a nod and headed back down the hall.

Amanda just stood there for a moment, watching him walk away. Long legs, straight back, muscular—

“Oh, gracious.” What was she doing? She slammed the door, fanning her face with her hand.

“That was him, wasn’t it?” Dolly asked, her eyes bulging. “That was Mr. Nick?”

All Amanda could manage was a nod.

“Did you see that man’s feet?” Dolly asked, more an announcement than a question. “Land sakes, he has the biggest feet I’ve ever laid eyes on. And you know what that means.”

Amanda’s face flushed anew.

“Help me, Lord,” Dolly beseeched, turning her face upward and clutching her hands to her chest. “I am in love.”

“Only twenty minutes ago you said you didn’t like Nick.”

Dolly turned to her as if she’d lost her mind. “Did you see that man?”

Amanda reined in her own runaway thoughts, forcing herself to regain her composure. “He was pleasant looking.”

“Pleasant looking? Lordy, Miz Amanda, that ain’t the half of it.” Dolly nodded her head wisely. “He was giving you the look.”