“You are going to come and visit me, I hope?”
Angel nodded her agreement slowly, putting a thumb in her mouth.
He kissed her on the cheek. “I love you.”
“I wuv you too, Unca Nick,” she murmured, finally letting him leave through the doorway so he could head to work.
When Nick gave his boss notice an hour later, Max Rumsfeld wasn’t surprised.
“I had a feeling you’d be moving on soon. I’m really going to hate to see you go. But that’s why I’ve been taking on a few new interns,” Max murmured. “You don’t have to stick it out another two weeks Nick, since you’re moving from town.”
“One thing I would like to do?” Nick answered. “Decide who each of my clients would work best with. But I’ll make sure I hand their profiles over to more than one person and try not to show too much favoritism.”
“I was going to ask you to do that anyway.” Max answered. “I know some of our clients are very selective trusting certain individuals.”
Nick worked through the remainder of the week, while packing things up during the evenings. He’d hired a moving van to stop at the townhouse first and pick up some of the furnishings he would leave here for Shauna at the apartment. He wouldn’t be taking too much along with him to Wisconsin besides his bed and leather couches and recliners still at the townhouse.
Also listing the possessions he expected to recover, he’d served papers to Marissa, asking her to be out of the townhouse by January 1st unless she was willing to purchase or pay rent.
She’d sent numerous texts and emails, none of which Nick had responded to. It was as he thought, and apparently, she hadn’t realized he’d never added her name to the property title. He’d heard she had another man living there with her already, so it wouldn’t be difficult for Nick to legally force her out if he had to.
Claiming he needed a good laugh, Jack came along with Nick to the townhouse on Saturday, when they’d scheduled the furniture pickup.
They knocked at the door at eight a.m. sharp, and when Marissa came to the door, wearing a skimpy nightgown, Jack started laughing right away.
Glaring at Jack, she turned away, stomping all the way to the bedroom upstairs and getting dressed.
Jack gave Nick a thoughtful glance when she was out of hearing range. “I think she was planning on seducing you.”
“Yeah, well, that kind of thing isn’t going to work anymore.”
Jack asked softly, “You know she put the moves on Rand a few times?”
Making their way through the living room, Nick stilled. “How come he never mentioned it?”
“What would you have thought if he had?”
Nick rolled his eyes. “I see your point. Even though a few people claimed she was cheating, I had to see it with my own eyes before I actually believed it.”
“Rand was furious with her,” Jack admitted.
Nick heaved a sigh, “I knew the two of you never liked her. I should have listened when you tried to tell me about her after we began dating.”
“You thought you were in love. I know how that goes, and whatever I would have said could have affected our friendship, and that was more important to me,” Jack confessed.
Nick turned his head sharply, studying Jack, who never talked about his love life. Supposedly, he’d been engaged once, but Nick knew little about it.
“I hear the moving truck,” Jack murmured, turning away.
“Why don’t you go let them in? I’ll start tagging the stuff I want to load up.”
And even though Nick didn’t have much use for the dining room table and additional living room furniture, he took everything he’d paid for. He would donate what Shauna wouldn’t use to one of the Christmas charities so something good would come out of something bad. He and Marissa had barely used the furniture, and it was mostly for show. She’d always wanted the best, and Nick had gone along with it since he had the money to provide everything she’d wanted.
He’d let her keep the ring, although he’d thought about confiscating that as well.
“What about that huge diamond engagement ring you gave her that she’s still been flashing around? Didn’t you have it listed with the property?”
Nick answered tersely, “I did.”
“Don’t let her keep it, Nick,” Jack muttered grimly. “I’ll bet she never paid for one damn thing while you two were living together?”
Nick hung his head.
“She deserves nothing. Think about the good the money from that ring would do for one of your charities.”
“Alright.”
“It will be my pleasure to ask her for it,” Jack said, smiling.
Nick laughed suddenly before answering, “Alright. I’ll work with the movers.”
Through the corner of his eye, he could see the worried look on Marissa’s face when she finally climbed down the staircase.
If looks could kill, Jack would be dead, judging by the glare she was giving him now as he approached.
“It’s mine,” she said shrilly after Jack spoke with her softly.
Smiling from ear to ear, Nick approached the basement staircase, with one of the moving men following behind.
* * *
Shauna was waiting inside the apartment when Jack and Nick walked inside.
“Come and pick out what you want from the moving truck,” Nick said, leaving the door open wide. “I’ll drop some of it off to be auctioned and rest will go in storage in Wisconsin.”
“Any trouble?” she asked, looking at Jack.
“Only with getting Marissa to return the engagement ring,” he answered.
Shauna’s eyes went wide, as she covered her mouth with her hand.
She began laughing when she got over her initial shock. “I can’t believe Nick had the nerve to ask for it back.”
“I didn’t,” Nick admitted, grimacing. “Jack made it his mission to talk with her about it instead.”
“I’m so glad you didn’t marry her, Nick,” Shauna murmured, following him into the elevator.
“Me too,” Nick admitted, suddenly feeling lighthearted. After all, a new phase of his life was beginning, and he was looking forward to starting over somewhere new.
At that moment, his mind focused back on that heart stopping kiss he’d shared with Emma Caffrey in Bali.
He might as well admit it. Part of the reason he was looking forward to moving to Crystal Rock was because of her.
* * *
Nearly a week later, Nick had shown up for Sunday dinner, which Mom insisted on hosting every week. Nick usually tried to make an effort to show once a month.
Mom looked surprisingly upset when Nick made his announcement. “Why would you want to live anywhere else? This is your home.”
“I want a fresh start, Mom. I haven’t been happy with my job, and now that Marissa and I aren’t getting married, I feel like there’s nothing left for me here.”
“I still don’t understand why you broke up with her,” Mom muttered, looking disapproving.
Shauna glanced at Nick with a smirk on her face.
“It wasn’t going to work,” Nick answered flatly. “We didn’t have enough in common.”
Nick studied his Mother. She was a pretty woman with light blonde hair, which she would never allow to turn grey, and deep blue eyes.
But he couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen her smile. There was a quiet sadness about her demeanor which made him wonder more about the reasons she was so persistent about pilfering funds for Grandfather Ramsey, who fortunately wasn’t here for dinner tonight. Frankly, there was something about him that always gave Nick the creeps and made everyone uncomfortable when they were sitting at the table.
Nick glanced at Naomi and realized that she was beginning to look a lot like his mother.
He frowned. Why didn’t she have any friends? How come she never dated? What was he missing? It made him guilty to realize he’d never been close to his sisters, even though he and Shauna seemed to be m
aking up for lost time.
When Nick went to leave that evening, Mom approached and gave him a hug. Surprisingly, he couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that.
“You’ll keep in touch?” Mom asked.
“I will,” Nick said. “I probably won’t be home for Christmas.”
“Try and make it to the company party, if you can,” Naomi said suddenly, also giving him an unexpected hug.
He stilled for a moment, looking into Naomi’s eyes when she pulled away. There was a sense of desolation Nick had never noticed before and it had him strangely puzzled, because despite all the years they’d lived together under the same roof, he really didn’t know his mom and his sisters very well.
Chapter Fifteen
Returning to Crystal Rock during the first week of December, Emma decided to check out the salon she ran at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn the night she arrived home to see how supplies were holding up.
It had been strange spending Thanksgiving in Bali, especially dealing with the aftermath of the devastating storms, but it had been the only opportunity for Ciara, Janelle and Emma to vacation together. Emma’s parents were finally taking the long cruise they’d been planning since retiring, so she wouldn’t be spending the holidays with her family this year either.
Suddenly, she was feeling lonely. Work had been her only focus during the past ten years, and not only did she manage the salon, she also worked as a part time stylist for Danielle Reardon Loughlin, a former Grammy winning vocalist and one of the inn owners.
She loved her work, but her experience on Bali had made her realize that life was short, and she needed more than work to make her happy, like a husband and family. Seeing firsthand the miracle of birth had been an incredible experience. But maybe she should do more traveling too, Emma decided, because if she ever did get married, life might be more restrictive.
All of a sudden, she began thinking about Nick Hanover.
And that kiss.
She’d been kissed enough in her life to realize that his kiss had been special.
More than special, actually. She’d wanted to climb all over him from the moment they met, and if he’d wanted it, she probably would have had sex with him right there on the beach in Bali. It was like he’d hypnotized her that night, and there was nothing she could do except follow his lead.
There. She’d finally admitted it.
Emma grimaced. Which was easy to do, since she’d probably never see him again anyway.
She paused, before unlocking the door of the dark salon.
She still had Nick’s number and email. Emma had stuffed the piece of paper into her wallet to keep it safe.
Could she do it—actually call him? She’d never had to chase a guy in her life. Ciara was right, Emma was spoiled, because she’d pretty much dated every decent guy here in town, along with a few of the indecent ones, too, she admitted to herself wryly. She’d never once had to go looking for a date.
But look how that was working out? She hadn’t had a steady boyfriend since she was a teenager. What was she looking for, anyway? Maybe she was too picky? That’s what Mom always claimed, although Dad said it was better to be picky.
She heaved a sighed, walking into the salon and switching on a few lights. Everything looked great. It appeared that her assistant, Tanya, had been doing a great job while she’d been away. Everyone who worked here took pride in their jobs, and it was a fabulous place to work, with healthcare and retirement benefits, since all of them were actually employed by the inn.
Emma was proud at how far she’d come after not being able to afford college. She’d scrimped and saved, working here at the inn doing nails, just so she could go to one of the best schools for cosmetology. What had helped the most was Danielle Loughlin taking an interest in her future, which was something Danielle and her husband, Jake, had always done an awful lot of for others besides Emma. They were two of the most generous and caring individuals Emma had ever known.
She almost hated to go home to an empty house. There wasn’t even a Christmas tree up this year.
Wait a minute, Emma thought, locking up the salon a few minutes later. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, she decided, walking through the breezeway and approaching her friend Kim, who was the nighttime receptionist for the inn.
“Hey, Emma,” Kim murmured, looking up from the computer screen. “I heard you made it back from Bali. What an experience with the tropical storms happening there. How are you?”
“Surprisingly good, Kim,” Emma answered, pursing her lips. “I just had an idea, though, since Mom and Dad are gone. There’s so much going on here at the inn, I thought it might cheer me up if I stayed here instead of home alone. You’re probably booked solid, though?”
“I can’t believe the coincidence,” Kim said enthusiastically. “I just had a cancellation, as a matter of fact. It’s not for a room, though. It’s for one of the cabins. A two-bedroom overlooking the bay.”
“A cabin would be perfect,” Emma answered excitedly. “I could get a tree and decorate, and maybe have all of you over for a little get together before Christmas.”
“I take it you’re not enjoying apartment life?”
“It was only a studio and my landlord was going to raise my rent to a ridiculous amount, so I let it go and moved in with the family last month while I’m looking for another place. I had a crazy neighbor who never turned down the volume of his music, and repairs weren’t getting done by the landlord. Plus he never plowed the parking lot in a timely manner, and I was always having to call someone to give me a ride when it snowed, which was a lot last winter.”
“You can probably afford a much nicer place now too?”
“I can. In fact, I’m thinking about buying a house if I can qualify.”
“That sounds great,” Kim answered, turning back to the screen. “Okay, so I’ll go ahead and reserve the cabin for you. The original reservation was through Christmas and New Year’s.”
“Yes. I’ll take it for the holidays.”
“Okay. Here’s the keycard,” Kim murmured, reaching behind her and pulling out a keycard from one of the slots in the wide antique shelving attached to the wall. “They weren’t supposed to arrive until tomorrow, but the cabin is empty if you want to bring your stuff over there tonight.”
“I might just do that. I took a nap this afternoon once I arrived home, so I probably won’t require much sleep tonight.”
Kim flashed her a smile as Emma started to walk away. “Let me know about your party.”
“No worries. I will,” Emma answered with a grin.
Chapter Sixteen
Another week later, Nick drove into the town of Crystal Rock Wisconsin in his SUV. Jack, who was his passenger, had sold the clunker he drove around Richmond, because Rand had promised him a company vehicle since he would be handling local realty deals and showing homes for sale. When Nick traveled, it would more than likely be long distance, so alternate arrangements would be made as needed.
Nick was surprised at how festive the town appeared. It was like visiting the inside of a snow globe, he thought, making his way along Main Street. Wreaths were hung high on old fashioned streetlight posts which were wrapped by lights, and every business he drove by appeared to take Christmas seriously, judging by the massive amount of decorations visible both inside and outside shop windows.
“I feel almost like we’re visiting the North Pole,” Jack murmured, with definite humor in his voice. “It’s a beautiful little town, Nick. Isn’t it?”
“It is,” Nick answered in agreement. “And according to the instructions, our place of business is coming up here to the left, across from the café.”
“Wow,” Jack muttered. “It’s nice. But the only place without any Christmas lights. We’ll have to do something about that right away.”
Nick could see that the brick, mortar and millwork had either been restored or replaced, glancing at the elegance of the exterior building. “Rand said the offices are all a blank slate. We ca
n order desks, shelving and any kind of storage solutions we would like.”
“There are computers in each office?”
“Yes. Everything is wired and ready to go. Apparently, the computers are set up on some small desks he ordered, which can be used by the secretary or receptionist we hire.”
Nick pulled into a parking lot behind the building which led to a separate entrance belonging to the apartments upstairs. Apparently, there was another entrance inside the office leading up the staircase as well.
“With this ISIS threat hanging over him, I hope Rand doesn’t have to stay incommunicado for too long. I’m just glad that he was safe when we finally got a hold of him,” Nick said, turning into the parking lot, and parking near the back door.
“And the ladies too,” Jack murmured, giving him a side glance. “I was a little worried about all of them. I couldn’t understand why they didn’t evacuate, but it says a lot about each woman, the fact that they wanted to stick around and help with the aftermath.”
“Ciara and Janelle, yes, they’re trained. But not Emma,” Nick growled.
“Quit being so snarky.” Jack smirked. “You and Emma really seemed to click, despite your irritation with her, I could see the sparks. It’s a shame they were just arriving when we were going home.”
Nick grunted, stepping out from behind the wheel, and reaching for one of the bags in the back seat of the SUV after sliding open the back door.
Jack smiled widely, doing the same.
Opening the storm door, Nick pulled the keys from the envelope taped near the bottom, unlocking the door.
“Hmm,” Jack murmured, as they began climbing the staircase. “Nice woodwork for a back staircase.”
“I was thinking the same thing myself,” Nick said as they reached the landing and began walking down a long hallway.
“What are these other doors?” Jack asked.
“Apparently there’s a small apartment where our office contact, Mike, occasionally stays overnight.” Nick stopped near a door in the middle of the hallway. “I’m going to be looking for a house pretty quickly, I’ve already decided. I want the outdoor space for my niece when she comes to visit. So I want you to have the largest apartment Jack.”
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