Chapter 49

• Annabelle glanced over her shoulder and flashed a smile at Haddie, her silent goodbye. She caught the quick thumbs up Haddie flashed her before they exited the front door.
• Nicholas placed his hand on the small of Annabelle's back as he walked her toward the Range Rover, the simple placement of his hand a comfort to her unsettled nerves. Before he reached for the passenger side door handle, he moved his hand from her lower back around to her stomach and pulled her backward into him so that his body ghosted hers. Annabelle held her breath, the unexpected contact with him awakening the smoldering burn he had set fire to.
• He wrapped his other arm around her shoulders and lowered his head to nuzzle his face in the crook of her neck. The warmth of his breath, the sandpaper feel of his shadowed beard, the suggested intimacy of the touch, and the rare glimpse at the affectionate side of Nicholas caused her to close her eyes momentarily to steady herself and quiet the mixture of sensations rioting inside of her.