Nick was feeling rather pleased with himself. He'd managed the interview well- much better than that in fact. He'd nailed it.

And he'd managed to get a little dig in at Sabrina by implying she'd slept with him. Staring at her in that dress off camera during the commercial had given him the idea.

Never mind that he was starting to desperately wish that it was true. The girl had some sort of hold over him. That never happened. All his prior relationships had been ones of convenience. Hot sex, yes. But mostly he'd just gone with the flow when one gorgeous girl or another fell into his lap.

He’d never pursued a woman in his life. Even back in the day, before the fame and fortune, birds had flocked to him. He’d been the same with all of them. Affectionate and pleasant but not all that interested in anything. Nothing beyond a bit of a rollaround in the sheets.

This was something else entirely.

He'd walk through bloody hell to get this girl in the sack. Flames, pitchforks and all.

"So, have I satisfied your demands?”

Nick smiled at her, expecting a witty reprimand. He liked the way she made him feel like a naughty schoolboy when he misbehaved. He was even starting to enjoy her scolding. But he wasn't prepared for the look in her eyes.

She looked devastated.

Bloody hell.

She covered it well, glancing at her phone. It was buzzing and flashing. He felt guilty suddenly. As if he'd done something wrong.

The host chose that moment to walk by. When he saw Sabrina, he raised his eyebrows appreciatively.

Well done, Nick. You just objectified the girl. On National Television, no less. He always treated women with disinterested respect. But she seemed to bring out the worst in him.

He had no bloody idea why.

Crap. He hadn't just made a joke at her expense. He'd made her sound like his groupie, hadn't he? Or his girlfriend. No, that would have been way better.

He'd made her sound like a whore.

"Let me take you out for a drink. Make it up to you?"

"I don't drink. I'm sorry I- I have to take this call. You did well tonight, Nick."

He had to hand it to her. Even her compliment felt like a stab to his gut. She was perfectly professional even after what he'd just done to her.

Too professional.

He'd have preferred it if she yelled at him. Told him to go to hell. Really taken him to task. If he was honest with himself, that's why he'd done it to begin with. Just to see her reaction.

Nick watched her proudly walk away from him. Her little shoulders seemed so stiff, like she was holding back tears.

Christ, he'd made her cry again, hadn't he?

This wasn’t going to plan at all. How was he ever going to get his hands on her? At this rate, she’d be the ice queen forever. He had to think of a way to make it up to her. She deserved that much. Even if he didn’t get her into his bed.

Marley came running up with a cold beer. He knew Nick was going to need a celebratory drink after that. He took it, tossing back a big gulp.

“Did you see Sabrina leave?”

Marley nodded, giving him a sad look. The reprimand was soft, but still felt a lot worse coming from Marley. The man was a human marshmallow.

"She didn't look happy. You probably shouldn't have said that Nick."

"I bloody well know that!"

"I thought you liked her, anyway?"

"Yeah, I do."

"You didn't bag her though did you?"

"No, Marley! Not yet. Never at this rate.” He ran his hands through his hair. “Christ, what a bloody mess."

"She's not going to forgive you for this. You blew it, mate."

Nick grew thoughtful for a moment. Then a sly smile spread across his face. He wanted her badly. More than any woman he’d ever met, including both of his wives.

He frowned. There had been three, hadn’t there? Well, he wanted this one stodgy bird more than all three of them put together, and that was saying a lot.

There was no use pretending otherwise anymore. She was angry. He didn't bloody care. He would make her want him back, whether she liked it or not.

"What if she doesn't have a choice in the matter?"

"What's that?"

He slapped Marley's shoulder hard.

"Get me Jerry on the phone will you? I have an idea, mate."