Oh well. She sighed. The car was repairable and Briana was all right. That was what was really important.
It wound up that she spent so much time at Saul’s, there wasn’t time to drop off the estimate to Jarrod before she headed to her appointment with Jacobs. She admitted to herself that she’d stalled on purpose. She didn’t look forward to a talk with an angry or cold Jarrod McKay. She knew it was her fault that he was angry and cold. He’d been warm, humorous, and attractive before she’d snubbed both he and Briana.
Carl Jacobs turned out to be a short, tubby man who reminded her of illustrations she’d seen of Santa Claus. He was very good humored, as long as you were punctual. He was also very sharp and quick on the uptake. Impressed with Nikki’s research and proposal, he made very few suggestions for change.
At the end of the meeting, Nikki promised to call him as soon as she had the information ready, within a week at the most. She left and knew she should feel more satisfied than she did. She sighed. The meeting had gone well. If things went as they should, she should get several references for more work. So why wasn’t she happy?
Jarrod McKay. That was the reason. She’d tried to deny that he could be an important part of her life, but it hadn’t worked. Even though she’d only seen him once and known him for less than a few days, she wanted to know him better. Even though she knew it wasn’t wise to continue any kind of a relationship with him, she wanted to. She missed both the McKays.
She drove into the parking lot and found a place to park. She searched through her briefcase and found the estimate. Stiffly she got out of the truck and walked toward the building. There was no point in a delay of the inevitable.
Chapter 10
It was a large building and devoted entirely to McKay Construction. Nikki’s lips pursed in a soundless whistle. He must do pretty well for himself. No wonder Jacobs had known who he was. She walked into the spacious lobby and told the receptionist who she was here to see. The only surprise was that she hadn’t known who Jarrod was.
The receptionist, a vivacious brunette, pointed down the hall with a long red nail. "His office is the last one on the right. His secretary can help you."
Nikki thanked the receptionist and walked down the hall. She smoothed her electric blue shirt and white skirt and checked the position of the floral scarf which covered the bruises on her neck as she walked down the hall. She paused in front of the office door, drew a deep breath, and patted her hair, which was pulled back into a wide, gold-tone barrette with faux pearls.
Kayla James, Jarrod’s secretary, was a competent, attractive woman of about forty. Nikki chickened out and held out the estimate to Kayla when asked what she needed. "No, I don’t need to see him. Just give him this please."
Jarrod walked out of his office just as Nikki held out the paper to Kayla. His eyebrows rose in surprise. "Hello, Nicole, what brings you here?"
"I didn’t want to bother you, I just came by to drop off the estimate you asked for." She couldn’t hold Jarrod’s narrow-eyed stare. He looked at least as good in a suit as he did in jeans! She told herself she shouldn’t notice or care about that, repeated to herself that to get involved with Jarrod would be a mistake.
His eyes turned cold just before she looked away. He stepped closer and took the paper from her hand. He looked it over with a frown. "This seems to be too low. Did you take the car to a cut-rate shop?"
The thought of Saul’s reaction to that remark almost made her smile. "No. Saul’s is the best place in town, or this end of the state for that matter. He’s a good friend of mine so he gives me discounts on any body work I need done, and I help him with his computer and advertisements. It works well for both of us."
Jarrod nodded, cynicism written across his face. She thought she knew why. Most people didn’t think that a man and a woman could be just friends. Long ago she’d found out that it did little to no good to try and explain, so she didn’t say anything to Jarrod about his obvious misinterpretation. Nikki swallowed and wondered how soon she could get out of here.
Kayla eyed her intently. She’d most likely watched the news and seen Nikki’s picture. Nikki had avoided all reporters, in person and over the phone. She’d refused all interviews, only said "no comment." The media had already started to thin out. Only a few stubborn ones remained, determined to wait her out for a story. Little did they know that they were never going to get it.
She’d just opened her mouth to mumble an excuse to Jarrod when Briana hurtled into the room. "Nikki!" She threw her small body against Nikki’s legs, grabbed on as if for dear life. Nikki lost her balance, arms windmilled, and would have fallen if Jarrod hadn’t grabbed her arm. He let go as soon as she’d regained her balance as if the touch had burned him.
Nikki pried the small arms from around her legs and picked up Briana. A smile that rivaled the sun lit up Nikki’s face. She couldn’t believe how much she’d missed that little girl! She was like a breath of fresh air.
Briana talked non-stop. "I told Daddy you’d come to see me. He said not to count on it, but I knew you’d come. How’s Bunc? How’s Lainey? Did you bring me any more cherry pie?"
"Briana," Jarrod’s voice interrupted her flow of words. "I need to talk to Nikki for a minute. Why don’t you show Kayla how good you are at counting since you’ve practiced so much lately."
"But, Daddy . . ." Her lower lip stuck out as she started to pout.
"No buts. We’ll just be a minute." Jarrod gestured toward his office. "After you." He waited until Briana was settled in a chair beside Kayla before he followed Nikki into his office. As he walked in then shut the door he admired her legs. He knew she’d look good in a skirt. Maybe a little shorter. Above the knees would be . . .
He dragged his thoughts back to the matter at hand. What was going on? Wednesday night she’d acted like she never wanted to see either he or Briana again. Yet today, when Briana had grabbed on to her, she’d seemed glad. Yes, happiness had bubbled out of her and her smile had lit up the room. But there was something else in her eyes. He swore it had looked like sadness. Why? It was her choice to not see them.
Jarrod showed Nikki to a chair and then sat on a corner of his desk. "So, why did you give us the bum’s rush the other night and then seem so glad to see Briana today? Is it just me you don’t want to deal with or what?"
Nikki blinked in surprise. She paused then spoke slowly as if she carefully chose her words, "Have you considered that Briana might need to see a therapist?"
It was Jarrod’s turn to be surprised. "As a matter of fact, that’s where we’re going right now. That’s why Briana’s here instead of daycare. What does that have to do with you and your cold shoulder treatment?"
Nikki fumbled with the strap of her purse, and didn’t meet his eyes. "Have you considered that maybe if you continued to see me, it might not be the best thing for her? I mean, maybe she needs to forget what happened. Not be reminded of it every time she sees me."
She gave a heavy sigh, got to her feet, and paced the floor of his office. "Briana’s welfare is what’s most important here."
Jarrod folded his arms across his chest and watched her pace. "I agree. If the therapist says that it’s best for Briana not to see you, then that’s the way it will have to be." He paused and hoped that wouldn’t be the case. "Let’s say the therapist says that to see you wouldn’t be harmful or even be a good thing. What then?"
Nikki stopped abruptly. "I don’t know. I never got that far."
Jarrod stood up and walked toward Nikki. She swallowed heavily, but didn’t step back. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. Their bodies almost touched. He said huskily, lowered his head to hers, "I’ll tell you what I want."
His lips were less than an inch away from hers when a noise at the door made them both take a quick step back. Briana stood in the doorway a puzzled look on her face as she looked from one adult to the other. "Kayla says we’re gonna be late if we don’t go now."
She paused
and said, "I don’t think I want to go, Daddy. I want to stay here and play with Nikki."
"I can’t stay, honey, I have to go get some work done for Mr. Jacobs. Some other time, okay?"
"Okay. When?"
Nikki closed her eyes briefly and opened them again. "How about if your daddy calls me later and we’ll see if we can arrange something." She sounded deliberately vague. Jarrod knew it was because she didn’t want to make any promises they couldn’t keep, and he was grateful for her consideration.
Briana looked closely at her and then at her father. "Okay," she said finally, and sounded like she was unsure about the whole thing.
"We’d better go. I’ll call you later and let you know how it went." Jarrod looked at Nikki meaningfully. "I’ll send Saul a check for the repair tomorrow. Let’s all walk out to the parking lot together."
Jarrod saw Kayla and the receptionist stare as they saw him, one hand around his daughter’s tiny hand and the other hand on the small of Nikki’s back, and knew what they were thinking. Very few women came to visit him at the office. His mother, sister, and sister-in-law were the only women they’d seen more than once. Except for his female business associates, of course. Those he’d open doors for, but he never touched them except to shake hands.
Jarrod McKay’s personal life, what little there was of it, he kept totally separate from his professional one. Until now.
Jarrod insisted on being Nikki’s escort out to her truck then helped her inside the high cab. He picked up Briana after he had shut her door and they both waved as she drove off. Jarrod hoped that the therapist’s reaction to Nikki would be a positive one.
* * * * *
Nikki went home and directly to her bedroom to change into shorts and a tank top. She’d just brushed out her hair when there was a knock at the connecting door. She unlocked and opened it to find Lainey and Officer O’Malley on the other side.
O’Malley was dressed in civilian clothes, but looked just as stout and grizzled as she remembered. He stood next to Lainey, a cup of coffee in his hand. Lainey’s face was slightly flushed and she looked happier than she had in a long time. Obviously, she and O’Malley had hit it off.
Nikki smiled. "Officer O’Malley, what a pleasant surprise. Is this business or pleasure?"
"Please, call me Sean. Your place was on my way home, so I thought I’d see how ya were doin’." He gave Lainey a bashful grin. "The sweet lass offered me a cup of coffee to pass the time as we awaited your return."
"Sean, Nikki, why don’t we go sit down. I’ll get you a cold drink, Nikki, and maybe Sean would like another cup of coffee or some more cookies." Lainey turned a little pinker and she lowered her eyes shyly.
Nikki’s eyebrows shot up so far they disappeared under her bangs. Sean? Lainey being a flirt? This was one for the record books. Lainey had dated a few times on and off through the years, but she’d never seemed serious about any of them. She’d never acted like this before. Something was definitely afoot.
Nikki’s father had left scars on both of them. Neither woman was inclined to trust a man much further than they could throw him. Lainey’s current behavior was extraordinary, to say the least.
Once on Lainey’s side of the duplex Lainey handed her a cold soda straight from the fridge. "So, Sean, do you want some more coffee or cookies?" Lainey gazed soulfully into the older man’s eyes.
"Well, lassie, a wee bit more coffee would hit the spot. It’s a far sight better than that swill they serve at the station. Those cookies were the best I ever had too. I wouldn’t mind a few more."
Lainey dimpled charmingly and took the cup from Sean’s hand. They sat at the kitchen table with their cups of coffee and a plate of cookies while Nikki stared, openmouthed, at them.
She shook her head and laughed softly to herself. Had Lainey told Sean who made the cookies? She seriously doubted it. Lainey’s cookies always turned out the consistency of hockey pucks. She was one of the best cooks when it came to main dishes, but there were very few desserts she could make that were edible. Cookies weren’t one of them.
Nikki, on the other hand, specialized in desserts. Even as a child, she’d loved to play in the kitchen and make some new sweet. She had always hated to cook main dishes. Lainey had insisted that she learn, so she’d learned. Nowadays, she either ate Lainey’s meals or frozen dinners. It wasn’t worth the effort to cook for one person and there was no one since Richie who had been worth the effort of standing over a hot stove.
Usually, she would supply the dessert and Lainey would do dinner. Lainey absolutely loved to cook. Sometimes Nikki wondered if Lainey would have been a professional chef if she hadn’t had to raise another woman’s child. Oh well, there was no point to wondering what would or could have been.
Sean’s eyes looked slightly dilated and out of focus. Must be love at first sight. Nikki held back a grin at the thought. Stranger things had happened.
"It was really nice of you to stop by to check up on me. I appreciate it."
He leaned back in his chair. "No trouble ‘t all. As a matter of fact, I like it here. I wouldn’t mind comin’ back again for some more coffee and good company." He gazed adoringly at Lainey who dimpled again and blushed. They chatted until Nikki finished her soda.
Nikki bit back another grin as they gazed soulfully into each other’s eyes and started to plan her exit when she heard the kitten start to meow plaintively. Three, or four if you counted the kitten, was definitely a crowd. She walked over to the fridge and took out Bunc’s bottle. "I’m going to feed Bunc and keep him over with me for a while to play with. I’ve got some work I should get done today."
She held out her hand to Sean. "I’m glad you stopped by." She gave Lainey a sly grin and a wink. "I imagine I’m going to see you a lot more in the future."
She stopped by Lainey’s spare bedroom to get the kitten, then waved and went back to her side of the duplex, and closed the connecting door firmly. Who would’ve thought that Lainey and Sean would have hit it off. A wide smile spread across her face, she hoped it worked out. Lainey had never married and deserved a special relationship.
She fed Bunc and played with him until he fell asleep. After she put him in his box, she started to work on Carl’s requested changes.
She heard Sean’s car drive away a little after nine. She tried to ignore the fact that Jarrod hadn’t called her. Just because he said he’d call her later didn’t mean later tonight. Maybe it was bad news. Or maybe he didn’t really want to see or talk to her that much. He had sure seemed to want to kiss her earlier this afternoon though.
That wasn’t too uncommon though. She knew she was attractive and had never enjoyed all the men who had tried to get involved with her. They usually wanted only one thing, which, invariably, she didn’t want to give. She sighed heavily and stared blankly at her computer screen.
Maybe she’d have a glass of wine and see if she could get some sleep. Between the aches and pains from the wreck, the nightmares, the stress over the Jacobs account and, of course, Jarrod and Briana, she hadn’t slept well the last few nights.
She almost jumped out of her skin when the phone finally rang. She waited for the phone to ring several more times and tried to get her heart to beat normally again before she picked up the phone. Her heart in her throat, she said, "Hello?"
A deep voice that sent shivers down her spine replied, "Hello, Nikki. This is Jarrod."
"Hi." Nikki was disgusted with her breathless voice. She wasn’t a teenager for goodness sake! She cleared her throat and continued, "How did Briana’s appointment go?"
"Real good. Sue was nice and Briana seemed comfortable with her. We’re supposed to go back twice a week for a few weeks. Sue seems to think that’s all she’ll need. She also said that if Briana wants to see you that it shouldn’t be a problem and we should go ahead. Just play it by ear."
Nikki was amazed that she could be jealous of a woman she’d never met. She had no claim on Jarrod and therefore no right to be jealous of his daughter’s
therapist, even if he did call her by her first name. She concentrated instead on the relief she felt that she’d be seeing Jarrod and Briana again.
"That’s good. I think it will be better for her to get all that she feels and fears out into the open. She shouldn’t have to grow up and feel guilty or be afraid to go places and talk to people." Nikki realized she was blathering and stopped abruptly.
"She wants to talk to you too."
"Who? Sue? Why?" Nikki could tell her voice was slightly higher.
"Well, Briana was a little vague on the things the man said to her. Sue would like you to tell her what he said so she’ll know better how to help Briana." Jarrod paused as he waited for a comment from Nikki.
When she didn’t respond, he continued, "Will that be a problem? I mean, she said you could call her office and make an appointment for whenever is convenient for you. I’ll pay the bill, of course, I wouldn’t ask you to volunteer your time and pay the bill. I can pay for your time too, if you’d like."
Nikki, when she finally spoke, knew she sounded reluctant. "That won’t be necessary. I’ll call her first thing Monday morning. What’s her number?"
"Is that all? If so, I need to go. I have some more work to do." Nikki’s voice was cold.
"Nikki?" Jarrod’s voice was puzzled. "What's wrong? Did I say something to upset you? I didn’t mean to insult you with the offer to pay for your time. If you don’t want to go see the therapist I’ll understand. Just tell me what’s going on."
Nikki sighed heavily. "If it’ll help Briana, I’ll go. I’ll call her Monday. All right."
"What’s wrong, Nikki?" Jarrod’s voice was gentle and flowed over her raw nerves like a warm balm. "Come on, please tell me. I’d really like to know."
She sighed again. "My mother was killed when I was eleven. I had to see therapists for what seemed like forever. It brings back an unhappy time in my life."
Jarrod sucked in a sharp breath. "I’m so sorry. I never would have asked if I had known. I’ll call Sue and tell her you won’t be able come in."
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