From Boardroom to Bedroom

Roslyn rolled her eyes and gave a half grin.

“That’s better,” he murmured with a smile. “But, seriously, having a fear is nothing to be ashamed of. Why didn’t you ask me to sit with you and hold your hand?”

“I’ve never asked anyone to hold my hand when I’ve been afraid,” she countered. “Talk about humiliating.”

“Everybody is afraid of something.”

She quirked her brow and leveled his gaze. “And tell me what your fear is? Besides your grandmother.”

Nigel laughed, but she wasn’t far from the mark. He’d never discussed his true anxieties or insecurities with anyone before.

“Failing my family,” he finally admitted. “They were all stunned when I wanted to move to New York and start my own brand and work in television. I need this show to continue to succeed not just for me but for them. And then there’s my personal side. Settling down, marrying, and starting the next generation of little Townshends is actually expected of me and I know my family is disappointed that I’ve waited this long. I could always find a woman and start a family, but that’s not what I want. My parents were married a long time before my mother passed from a stroke. I want love. I’m just not sure when it will find me. I’m just so swamped with work and growing the brand.”

Nigel stopped himself before he went on too much. He already sounded like a fool for believing in love. Roslyn had already said she wasn’t sure the emotion truly existed and he wasn’t so sure there was someone out there for him, either.

woman he’d want to be the mother of his children? Did he actually have to love her in a way old romances said a husband should love a

that much to

words

“That’s why I’m going to all this trouble to bring

sparkle. “And here I thought it was because you

closer, settling his hands on either side of her hips until she had her back pressed

he slid his mouth over

his hair. Just the simplicity of her touch had his arousal pumping through him. He had to remind himself that she was still innocent,

his hands beneath the hem of her silky

head back, his name coming out on a whisper from her

me what you

to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with, but he wanted her more than he wanted his next breath...and they certainly

look for any hesitation that

met his and she smiled...and his body responded. There was nothing in her eyes but hunger,