“Nicolette.” Her very pregnant sister voiced her name in reprimand. The look Rachelle gave Bryant was not at all as friendly as when she’d been introduced to him in passing earlier. His hand went to Nicolette’s back in silent support.
She elbowed his side. “Escape while you can, Bryant. The judgment train is pulling in.”
“I’m fine,” he said. Rachelle might be her sister, but Bryant wasn’t about to walk away until he was sure Nicolette was with someone who would take care of her.
Rachelle leaned in for a closer look at Nicolette. “Are you drunk?”
“Noooooo,” Nicolette said but revealed her state with that one simple word. “Okay, a little.” She pinched the air. “This much.”
“What are you doing, Nicolette?” Rachelle looked pointedly at Bryant. “Do you even know who he is?”
Nicolette smiled up at Bryant and gave his chest a hearty pat. “That’s my new friend Bryant. Isn’t he beautiful?”
Rachelle sighed. “Sure. Come on, Nicolette, time to get you out of here. You can come home with me and Magnus.”
“Afraid I’ll embarrass the family?” Nicolette asked with a rawness that cut through Bryant.
“Too late for that,” Rachelle said, then seemed to instantly regret it.
Nicolette stepped back as if struck. “Wow, my sister really is gone. Long live Her Royal Highness Princess Rachelle.”
Rachelle’s face crumpled. “That’s not fair.”
“Don’t talk to me about what’s fair.” Nicolette shook beneath Bryant’s hand even as she growled the words. “You belong here.”
Rachelle threw her hands up in the air. “I’m not having this conversation with you at Eric’s wedding. And I’m definitely not having it while you’re drunk. I get that you don’t want to be here. We all get it. If you stop feeling sorry for yourself long enough, you might see that today wasn’t actually about you.”
“Stop. If you’re trying to make me feel bad, don’t bother. I don’t feel anything right now, and it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.” Nicolette swayed and stumbled as she went to step away. Bryant righted her.
Chin high, Nicolette said, “I’m leaving, but not with you and your prince.”
She turned those big, tortured brown eyes of hers on Bryant, and he was temporarily at a loss as to what to do, especially when he saw similar desperation on her sister’s face.
Shit. I can’t, little one.
“Fine. I don’t need either of you.” With a dismissive wave of her hand, Nicolette walked back into the house.
Bryant said, “Someone needs to make sure she gets home safely.”
Rachelle gripped his forearm. “I handled that badly, but that someone won’t be you.”
Part of him couldn’t blame her. He’d lost his head a little when Nicolette had kissed him. It probably was better to end their night there and then. Still, he needed to make sure she was okay. He glanced at the door Nicolette had disappeared through.
Placing her other hand on her rounded stomach, Rachelle said, “Walk away, Mr. Taunton. I don’t know why Alessandro wanted you here, but he was wrong to. You’ll only make things worse.”
“Because I’m a Taunton?”
She released his arm. “Please. I don’t want to threaten you. Stay away from Nicolette because it’s the right thing to do.”
She walked away without saying more.
A moment later, Bryant reentered the great hall and scanned the room. He spotted Rachelle with her husband, but not Nicolette. She wasn’t anywhere he could see. Had she already left? Who would have taken her? As far as he could tell, the rest of her family was still there.
Rubbing his chin, he went over everything she’d said, and a possibility came to him that he decided was worth looking into. He’d find her, make sure she was okay, then do what her sister asked—at least until tomorrow.
Chapter Two
Nicolette was grateful the bathroom she’d found had a locking door. As she hovered near the toilet feeling queasy, she decided bathrooms were unsung heroes. Really, they didn’t get enough respect. Not only did they provide a place to relieve oneself, but they were blissfully private.
Her stomach settled a little, so Nicolette put down the cover of the toilet and sat on it, smiling as she did. I could stay here all night. Just me and this gold-plated wallpaper. I bet that is real gold.
You can tell if a diamond is real because it cuts glass.
How can you tell if something is gold? She narrowed her eyes and rubbed her finger across one of the embossed designs.
I have to pee.
I should probably lift the toilet cover again.
A knock on the door startled Nicolette. Crap, they found me. I have to do something. Doing her best impression of an old woman’s voice, Nicolette said, “Occupied.” It was so perfect she laughed, then covered her mouth. Double crap.
“Nicolette? It’s Bryant.”
Oh, Bryant. “Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
She opened the door. “I didn’t throw up.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
His smile was so sweet, she wanted to kiss it again. She held on to the bathroom doorknob for balance. “It was close, though.”
“How do you feel now?”
She gave his question serious consideration. “I have to pee.”
His mouth twisted in another smile she didn’t deserve. “You might want to do something about that.”
Yeah.
She got lost for a moment in those blue-green eyes of his. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“I won’t.”
She swayed a little. “You’re worth coming out of the bathroom for.”
He laughed. “Thanks. Now close the door, and don’t forget to wash your hands.”
She laughed so hard at that her stomach did a little flip. She shut the door quickly and returned to looking down at her porcelain savior.
Her stomach settled.
False alarm.
She hiked up her dress and relieved herself with a happy, audible sigh. “Are you still there, Bryant?”
“Yes.”
She moved to the sink. “Listen.” She turned on the water and used much more soap than necessary to wash her hands. A crazy amount that filled the sink with hilarious suds. After wiping her hands on a small towel, Nicolette threw open the door.
“Thank you,” he said in an amused tone.
He was just as beautiful as she remembered.
“Now let’s go find that family of yours, because it looks like the grappa is really kicking in,” he said.
Disappointment slammed through her. “I thought you liked me. You would toss me to the wolves? You’re heartless.”
He shook his head. “It’s for the best.”
“For who? You? Them? Not me. I have given them enough to be mad at me for one day. I am going back to Kiki’s. I called for a car. You don’t have to help me. You don’t even have to sleep with me. Just don’t tell anyone you saw me. They’re not going to worry. They probably have someone following me anyway.”
“Someone following you? Like security?”
Nicolette looked down the hall one way, then the other, and lowered her voice. “Someone is always watching. It’s kind of creepy, but my opinion doesn’t matter.” She pursed her lips as she realized how very true that was.
“You shouldn’t just leave. Your sister is worried about you.”
“I’ll text her from Kiki’s.” Bryant didn’t look like he agreed with her plan. That was a shame, because it meant she would have to leave him behind as well. “Goodbye, Mr. Taunton. It was nice kissing you.” She stepped out of the bathroom.
He linked an arm with one of hers. “Where does Kiki live?”
Nicolette took out her phone and showed him the address. “It’s not too far. I could almost walk it if I weren’t in these—” She wiggled her toes, then looked down at her feet. “Oh my God, someone took my shoes.”
Bryant chuckled. �
�Damn thieving English.”
Nicolette laughed. “Right?”
“You’re going to have quite a hangover, my friend.”
Nicolette hugged his arm to her. “I don’t care. I feel good, and I haven’t in so long.”
As they walked down the hall, she put the rest of the evening out of her head. It would all be there, waiting for her the next day, but right then she let herself bask in the fact that Bryant had sought her out—and was taking her home.
He texted someone as they waited for his car to be pulled around to the door; then Nicolette sank into what was possibly the most comfortable passenger seat her butt had ever made acquaintance with. The movement of the car wasn’t as pleasant. Her stomach started to churn. She laid her head back and closed her eyes.
Only a moment later, Bryant was telling her they had arrived. She blinked a few times, took his hand, and followed him into an elevator, out of an elevator, and to Kiki’s door.
He knocked.
“She won’t be back tonight,” Nicolette said, remembering what Kiki had said about staying at her boyfriend’s.
He opened the door with a key she didn’t remember giving him, and they both stepped inside. She reached out to steady herself by holding on to his arm. He closed the door and looked around. “Do you have everything you need?”
She motioned toward her luggage that was open beside the couch. “Everything I own is right there—so, yeah.”
He looked from her to the tattered bag and the couch that was still covered with the comforter she’d slept beneath the night before. “I’m going to find the kitchen. Are you able to change into something to sleep in?”
“On my own?” She tried to wink at him but gave up as both eyes kept closing. When he didn’t look all hot and bothered by the move, she shrugged, pulled away, and marched over to her bag. “Yeah, I can do that.”
With him and his sexy smile in mind, she started hunting through her clothing for something that would have him looking at her the way he had earlier. Only after she’d emptied the contents of her luggage onto the floor did she remember that she didn’t own lingerie. Shorts and a T-shirt would have to do, as they did every other night.
She hoped he didn’t witness any part of her almost falling on her face while pulling her dress over her head, then almost giving up halfway through getting dressed again. Her stomach told her if she kept moving around, it was about to send her a very nasty reprimand. She flopped facedown onto the bedding on the couch.
Bryant was back. “Sit up, tiger. You should drink some water and take an ibuprofen.”
She shook her head and groaned.
“I found some saltines,” he said in a coaxing tone.
She turned her head. He had placed a glass of water beside a plate and put both on the coffee table a foot from her. It was touching in a way that confused her. She focused on his shiny black shoes. “I messed this up, too, didn’t I?”
His tone was gentle. “Drink some of that water. You’ll feel better tomorrow if you do.”
She raised herself onto her elbows and drank some of it before putting down the glass and rolling onto her side. Although she didn’t know him, she felt safe. He looked like he was waiting to make sure she was okay before he slipped away.
She pulled at the blanket, adjusting it so it both covered her and acted as a pillow beneath her head. I should tell him it’s okay if he leaves. I’ll be fine on my own.
On my own.
“Bryant?”
“Yes.”
“Could you stay until I fall asleep? I don’t want to be alone.”
“Sure.” He sat on an overstuffed chair across from the couch.
Her eyes fluttered. “And can you do me one more favor? Could you forget this ever happened? I’m going to do my best to.”
Bryant rose at the light knock on the door and crossed the room to open it. Looking concerned, Alessandro and his wife stepped inside. Bryant brought a finger to his lips and motioned that Nicolette was sleeping.
“Oh, the poor thing,” Elise said in a hushed tone. She was a short, auburn-haired older woman with naturally elegant taste but a relaxed manner, even in an awkward situation like this. “You were right to call us.” She stepped over Nicolette’s dress, giving Bryant a pointed look as she did.
“Nothing happened,” Bryant said.
Alessandro clapped him on the back. “He’s a good boy, Elise. You know that.”
“I know.” Elise ran a hand over Nicolette’s forehead in a show of motherly concern. “She’s just had such a rough time. It broke my heart to watch her at the reception. I wanted to hug her and tell her that she’ll come out of this stronger.”
“Come out of what?” Bryant asked. “Why did she feel like she didn’t belong at the wedding?”
“It’s a long story.” Alessandro moved to sit in the chair Bryant had vacated earlier. Elise sat on the arm of it. They looked poised even amid the dorm room–like furnishings.
Elise put a hand on his shoulder. “And not really ours to tell.”
“He’s family, Elise,” Alessandro said with his signature shrug that meant he’d already made up his mind on how to proceed.
Bryant looked from Alessandro to Nicolette and back. “You didn’t ask me to the wedding because you wanted us to meet, did you?”
A smile spread across Alessandro’s face. “She’s beautiful, no?”
Elise gasped. “Alessandro. You told me you were done with matchmaking.”
Alessandro shared a look with Bryant, then said lightly, “You told me to be done with it, but look at them. She needs a good man, and he needs a woman without a hundred other men in her playbook. It’s time for you to think about settling down, Bryant.”
“That’s not going to happen anytime soon,” Bryant said with confidence. Nicolette was indeed a beautiful woman, but he liked his life just the way it was. He slid his hands into his pockets. “Don’t tell me anything more than she’d be comfortable with sharing. Something tells me that wouldn’t be much.”
“Her family is worried about her, Bryant. They laid a bombshell at her feet, and she doesn’t know if she can forgive them for it. You know that feeling.”
Bryant rocked back on his heels. When Alessandro spoke, he did so from a good place. If his own father ever had, they might have found a way to reconcile after his mother died. Sadly, his father’s first concern continued to be himself. “I do know that feeling. I also sought escape a few times at the bottom of a bottle.” He looked across at Nicolette again. Her face was peaceful in sleep. “It doesn’t make anything better.”
With a knowing look toward his wife, Alessandro said, “Admit it—perfect for each other. He understands her.”
Elise looked skeptical. “Delinda will never accept him.”
“Let me worry about Dee,” Alessandro said.
Bryant raised his hands. “Whoa. First of all, I can hear you, and although I appreciate the introduction, this has trouble written all over it. I’m not looking for anything serious, and the last thing I want to do is cause problems for her.”
Alessandro rubbed his chin. “Well, that settles it, Elise. He’s not interested. What other single men do we know who are Nicolette’s age? How about Spencer’s friend—what’s his name? Jordan?”
Bryant’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t playing Alessandro’s game. “Elise, are you and Alessandro okay staying for a while? I don’t feel comfortable leaving her alone without her roommate here.”
Elise walked over and touched his cheek in a way that made him miss his mother. “We’ll take care of her. Don’t worry.”
He turned to look at Nicolette again. “She might hate me for calling you, but I didn’t know who else to ask.”
“We’ll leave before she wakes. It’ll be like we were never here,” Alessandro promised, rising to his feet to give Bryant a back-thumping hug. “Now go, we’ve got this.”
“Her family—”
“Knows we’re here,” Elise said softly. “Delinda was beside
herself when she thought Nicolette might have left with you. We told her we drove Nicolette back. A small lie, but the only way to stop the cavalry from descending.”
At the door, Bryant met Alessandro’s gaze. “Don’t you dare set her up with anyone.”
Alessandro shrugged.
Bryant swore and closed the door behind him.
Chapter Three
The next morning Nicolette woke to the sound of knocking on the door. She rolled over and buried her face in a cushion. Whoever it was, they couldn’t be looking for her. Nicolette hadn’t been in London long enough to know anyone.
The knocking started again—louder than before.
“She’s not here,” Nicolette called out. “Try her cell.”
There was no reprieve from the knocking. It echoed through the pillow she held over her head, echoed right through her hungover skull. The building had better be on fire.
How she’d gotten home was still fuzzy. She remembered Bryant walking her to her door. A glance at the coffee table confirmed that he’d stayed long enough to bring her a plate of crackers and water. And ibuprofen that she popped into her mouth and chased with the rest of the water.
She looked down. Her T-shirt was backward, and her shorts were inside out. Memories of struggling to get dressed quickly before he returned from the kitchen came back to her. Well, I’m not naked, so apparently drunk me is not as cute as I thought I was.
The knock at the door continued. She brought a hand to her aching head. She could only imagine how her hair looked. Does it matter? It’s probably just a delivery for Kiki. Nicolette grabbed a few bills for a tip and called out, “I’m coming. I’m coming.”
Before the door was even fully open, she wanted to slam it shut. Standing there dressed in a crisp burnt-orange dress like the queen of England coming for tea, hat and all, was her grandmother. How had she even found her?
“I hope you don’t mind that I dropped by without calling. May I come in?” The steel in her grandmother’s eyes indicated only one response would be accepted.
“Sure,” Nicolette conceded, trying to flatten the hair she felt sticking out of one side of what was left of her updo. “I wasn’t expecting anyone, so . . .”
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