The Return of the Tycoon Read Free

doing this with you. I’m not even dressed! And I didn’t take my apartment keys.”
    “The door is shut, but I grabbed your keys off the dresser. Here,” he said and thrust them in her hand. “As for being dressed, well, I’ll just say… bad planning on your part,” he snorted, straddling the bike, his muscular thighs straining against his designer jeans. Julie reluctantly climbed on the back as Nick started the engine with a roar. He’d just lifted the kickstand, then paused a moment and stripped off the leather jacket before tossing it back to her.
    “Put that on,” he told her, revving the engine. Julie chose to obey him this time by sliding her arms into the oversized sleeves, rolling the ends so her hands could stick out. No sooner had she settled herself than the bike lurched forward. Julie gasped, gripping Nick across the waist for stability. She couldn’t help noticing that he must have taken up weightlifting over the years as her hands slid over the chiseled muscles and fingers interlocked over his thin T-shirt.
    “Nick,” she hollered as they raced toward the freeway at a breakneck pace. “Slow down! You’re not even wearing a helmet.” Nick didn’t answer, but merged into the far-left lane instead. Julie blanched when she saw the odometer read ninety-five miles an hour. She gripped Nick harder, molding her slight frame against his hard contours. As she buried her face in his back, a familiar wave of nostalgia flooded her senses. Nick still smelled like Nick.
    She smiled at the thought. He smelled exactly like the sheets in her dorm room after he’d spent the night. The memory brought a pang of longing, and she gripped him tighter. Briefly, she felt his hand snake over hers. Afraid to loosen her grip to bat him away, she let his big fingers caress hers before he returned them to the handlebars. Julie swallowed the growing lump in her throat and squeezed her eyes shut, the wind whipping against her face as they raced through the dark streets.
    The bike slowed, and Julie opened her eyes as they stopped. Looking around, her mouth dropped open in surprise. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she snapped. Nick put the bike in park and lowered the kickstand before swinging his leg over and hopping off. He reached out to help her to the ground.
    “I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling a bit hungry,” he grinned at her. She felt her heart do a somersault at the familiar boyish expression.
    “Anywhere but here,” she said, willing herself not to look around at the neighborhood she once knew like the back of her hand.
    “This is your favorite pizza place,” he insisted.
    “This was my favorite pizza place. Not anymore.” Julie crossed her arms over her chest, causing the soft leather to bulge. Nick reached under her chin and deftly unclasped the buckle holding the helmet in place.
    “Come on. You used to say it’s the best pepperoni in New York City.” He smiled down at her, slipping the helmet off her head. “Some things never change, Jules ,” he added in a lower tone.

Chapter 3
    Nicholas ushered Julie inside, the aroma of fresh dough and mozzarella making his mouth water. The smell affected his captive date as well, as she stopped fighting him for a moment. He led her to their old booth in the back. Sitting, Julie noticed the vinyl upholstery still hadn’t been repaired. Nick sank low, feeling the worn springs against his tailbone, the table hitting him in his chest.
    “Remember how we used to…” Nicholas started.
    “Nick, this is difficult. I don’t know whether I can do this,” she cut him off. “So many memories, but the overall feeling is not a good one. I think I need to go…”
    “Julie,” he shifted his seat. “Look, just give me a chance here. I know we have things to talk about, but humor me; just play along here. I’m just a person you shared many things with. Can’t we just sit and talk for an evening as we used to?”
    “I don’t know,