Jarrod paused for several minutes, then said softly, "You may be right. It might have stopped her. But I don’t think so. She’s gotten on everyone’s nerves ever since Steve brought her around several weeks ago. For some reason, she took an instant dislike to you and you got the brunt of it."
He paused again and ran his fingers through his hair. "I really am sorry. It seems like you’ve had nothing but grief since you met us McKays. It was supposed to be a nice, peaceful day. You were supposed to relax and enjoy yourself. I wanted you to get to know the rest of my family."
He sighed heavily and continued, "I wanted you to get comfortable with me so maybe we could see if a relationship would be possible. Instead you get some weird female," the way he said the innocuous word was an insult, "who slapped your face while a bunch of idiots stood around with their mouths open and stared. You were a guest. You should have been treated better than this.
"Come on. I’ll take you home. No doubt you’ll tell me that you never want to see me again. And I won’t blame you." He scrubbed his hands over his face and started to stand.
Nikki’s hand on his arm made him stop and he turned to face her. "I don’t want to go home," she said, so softly he had to lean closer to hear her.
He looked at her in disbelief. "You’re kidding, right?"
She smiled as he repeated her words of a few minutes before. "Why should I be angry with you or never want to see you again?"
His jaw dropped in surprise. She smiled again and turned his logic back on him. "Did you know what would happen?" He shook his head no. "Did you do or say something to make her fly off the handle?" He shook his head again.
"Then I repeat, why should I be angry with you or never want to see you again?"
Jarrod gazed at her. He couldn’t believe it! He finally closed his mouth and swallowed. He opened it again, but couldn’t find any words to say. He shut his mouth again and then, slowly, to give her time to pull away, put his hands on either side of her head. He lowered his head slowly, to give her a chance to pull back.
His lips finally touched hers. Softly brushed against them, then at her enthusiastic response, pressed more firmly. He could feel her heart pound against his chest as the kiss increased in intensity. Jarrod pulled back from the kiss when he heard clapping and shouts of approval as people poured out of the house.
"I didn’t mean for our first kiss to be witnessed by both of the families," Jarrod said softly, stroked one soft cheek with his long fingers. I knew her kiss would feel like that. I knew it would feel like no other kiss I’ve ever shared with any other woman. "Next time I’ll try to pick a better place and time."
He ran his fingers lightly over her lips and she smiled, at the thought of what the other kisses would be like. If they’re anything like that one we could start a forest fire!
Briana was the first to reach them. She flung herself into Nikki’s arms, buried her head in Nikki’s chest, and wrapped her arms tightly around her neck. Nikki grunted as the small body hit hers. She wrapped her arms around the little girl and kissed her tousled curls.
"Don’t leave, Nikki, I love you, please stay." Briana’s teary face looked up into hers.
Nikki felt her heart lurch at the little girl’s words. She knew that she’d passed the point of no return and possible heartbreak when she whispered, "I love you too," in Briana’s ear. "I’m not going anywhere." She wiped the tears from the chubby cheeks and smiled at her.
Briana looked at her with the same disbelief her father had. "But Auntie Tasha said . . ."
Tasha walked up and stroked Briana’s soft hair. "Auntie Tasha didn’t know a certain little girl eavesdropped when she said she hoped Nikki wouldn’t want to leave. I’m sorry, I wouldn’t have said it if I had known she could hear."
"‘S okay." Briana scrubbed her cheeks with her fists. She had released her tight grip from Nikki’s neck, but showed no desire to leave her lap.
Tasha took a deep breath and turned to face Nikki. She had just opened her mouth to speak when Nikki held up a hand to stop her.
"If you’re going to apologize, don’t. If that’s what you were going to do, please just turn around and play with your boys or something."
Tasha looked at her, surprised, and blinked. "Um, sure, whatever you want."
Nikki added softly, "You shouldn’t have to apologize for something you had no control over. Let’s not let her ruin the rest of the day. Go play with your sons."
"Okay." She smiled at Nikki. "I’m glad you decided to stay." Then she turned toward the pool to find her sons and husband. Everyone crowded around Tasha when she reached the side of the pool to find out what had happened.
Jarrod shook his head and sighed. Nikki looked at him and they both grinned. He draped an arm over the back of her chair and trailed his fingers down her upper arm. She shivered slightly at the light touch and raised her own hand to intertwine her fingers with his.
She leaned back in her chair and smiled contentedly. Briana moved with her so she could stay close and smiled too.
Nikki looked at Jarrod and said softly, "How did everyone wind up in the house anyway? Was she that loud? I know I tried to keep my voice down."
He sighed heavily and his hand tightened slightly on hers. "Erika saw her follow you into the house. When neither of you came back out within a few minutes she got worried. She’d noticed that Gina acted horribly toward you and she didn’t want her to do anything to bother you.
"Erika opened the door and heard Gina screaming at you. She ran back to get Steve and me. Everyone else followed."
"Are Steve and Gina still here?" Nikki asked softly.
"No. They screamed and yelled at each other, then he drug her out of the bedroom by her hand, grabbed her things, and hustled her out of here. She was in tears and he was as mad as I’ve ever seen him."
Nikki’s heart sank. Steve was undoubtedly angry with her because she caused problems with his girlfriend. After he listened to Gina’s version of the story, Nikki would no doubt be the troublemaker who instigated the argument.
Jarrod didn’t notice her preoccupation, "Erika is the one who is the most upset." Nikki’s turned her head sharply to look at him in surprise. "Gina was someone Erika went to college with. They weren’t friends, but they had a class together. Gina always tried to get Erika’s notes for all the classes she missed, always tried to copy off Erika’s paper when they had tests.
"Of course, Erika never gave her the notes or let her copy her tests. Gina was up to her usual routine one day when Steve picked Erika up from school because her car was in the shop. The rest is history. Erika tried to tell Steve what Gina was really like but he was too much in lust to listen. I think he might have finally taken off the blinders. I certainly hope so."
Nikki smiled slightly. "After he introduced Gina as his latest girlfriend, I think he’d already begun to see the light."
Jarrod whistled softly. "I didn’t hear that. He must have begun to see the real Gina if he said that. I’ve never heard him say something like that about a woman he’s dating."
"Excuse me." Neither of them had heard Erika walk up. "I don’t mean to interrupt, but could I please talk to you for a minute, Nikki. In private."
Jarrod squeezed her hand lightly. "Briana, Auntie Erika wants to talk to Nikki. Why don’t we go play in the pool for a while."
Briana shook her head and grabbed onto Nikki; who bent down to whisper in her ear, "Auntie Erika and I are going to sit right here. I promise I won’t leave without you and your dad. Okay?"
"You promise? Cross your heart and hope to die?" Briana’s solemn face gazed up into hers.
"Yes, I promise. And I never break a promise. Now, go have some fun with your dad." She set the child on the ground and gave her a pat on the bottom. "Go on. I’ll stay right here and watch you."
Jarrod took Briana’s hand and led her off toward the pool. He glanced back and gave Nikki a wink and a smile, Briana pouted and dragged her feet. Nikki smiled at both of them and waved. Jarrod wa
ved back and nudged Briana to get her to do the same. After she waved, he picked her up and headed to where his parents were sat.
Nikki looked up to find Erika watching her assessingly. She smiled at the younger woman and gestured toward the chair Jarrod had vacated. "Please, sit down." After Erika sat down Nikki continued, "What is it you wanted to talk about?"
"I wanted to apologize. It’s all my fault Steve ever met Gina . . ." Erika poured out the whole story with her unsteady hands clenched together.
"Do you think it’s Jarrod’s fault that Briana got abducted?" Nikki asked when Erika had paused for a breath.
Erika blinked in surprise. "Of course not! How could anyone think that? That was that horrible man’s fault! How could you even ask that?"
"Do you think it’s either Jarrod’s or Briana’s fault that my car got wrecked and I got injured?"
"No. Absolutely not." Erika was firm. "That would be ridiculous to think otherwise."
"Good. Then you can’t feel guilty over Steve and Gina."
Erika blinked in confusion. "I don’t understand."
"It was Davies choice to take Briana. It was my choice to take Briana back and not wear my seat belt. It was Steve and Gina’s choice to be together. Don’t take responsibility for things that aren’t your doing. Your brother’s a big boy. He can be responsible for his own decisions. Gina made her choice to be a witch. She’s responsible for that. You’re not responsible for anyone’s choices but your own."
Erika looked at her in astonishment. "I can’t believe you’re not upset!"
"I never said that," she said firmly with a hint of steel in her voice. "Gina is the only one responsible and the only one to blame. If I ever see her again, she better see me first and get a good head start." Nikki smiled her shark smile.
Erika shuddered slightly as she saw the smile. "I believe you. I hope you never smile at me like that. It sends chills down my spine."
Nikki gave her a genuine smile. "I don’t think you need to worry about that, you’re nothing like her. Oh, by the way, thank you." At Erika’s puzzled glance she added, "For sending in the troops. I really didn’t want to have to hurt her, but it would either be that or let her hurt me. One slap was all I would let her get away with."
"You’re welcome." Erika stood up as if in a daze and looked at Nikki. Then she leaned over to give her a quick hug, then walked toward the pool.
Lainey had glanced her way several times, a question in her eyes. Nikki had smiled in return, to reassure her aunt that she was okay. Lainey would have been by her side in an instant if Nikki had needed her. Sean stuck close to Lainey, as if to make sure nothing would happen to her. It was kind of sweet.
Chapter 14
Everyone knew the instant Steve stepped out into the back yard. Nikki stiffened as he looked in her direction. Hopefully this day wouldn’t get any worse. It had been stressful enough already. She didn’t want any conflict more within the McKay family, especially today and because of her. Maybe she should have asked Jarrod to take her home before Steve had come back.
Jarrod, who had started toward her as soon as Erika left, sensed Nikki’s unease and stepped in front of her to block Steve’s approach.
Steve stopped a scant foot away from his older brother. "Hello, Jarrod."
"Hello, little brother," he answered stiffly, lowered his head and spread his feet aggressively. His arms hung by his sides, hands clenched in loose fists. "What do you want? Didn’t Gina do enough already?"
"I want to talk to Nikki," Steve replied evenly, looked Jarrod straight in the eye and held his gaze.
"Fine. Talk." Jarrod didn’t move an inch or drop his gaze from Steve’s.
"Alone."
"No."
Steve sighed and rubbed his stubbly jaw with one hand. "Look, I don’t want any trouble. I also don’t want a witness when I make a fool of myself. I’ve been humiliated enough for one day."
Jarrod stood motionless. Nikki had put up with enough male posturing between the brothers. She stepped from behind Jarrod and stood beside him. "I’ll talk to him, Jarrod."
He swung his head sharply to look at her. "Nikki . . ."
She put her hand on his forearm and smiled softly. "I’ll be fine. Really."
He looked back at Steve as if he were an insect on a pin. "Jarrod." The soft voice made him turn back to the woman at his side. Her hand still on his arm, she stood on tiptoe to brush his lips lightly with her own.
"We’ll be right over here." She smiled again, squeezed his arm, and walked to the nearest umbrella-covered table.
She sat down and waited for Steve to follow and take a seat. He looked awful. He had thrown a shirt on, but not buttoned it. His swim trunks were still damp and he was barefoot. The look in his eyes made her heart ache. Disillusionment wasn’t a pretty sight and it hurt like hell. She knew that from experience.
Slightly bemused, Jarrod watched Nikki walk away. All she had to do was touch him and give him a little kiss and he turned into mush. The way she looked in that swimsuit was enough to make his mouth go dry, his heart pound, and his body throb. It ought to be illegal to look that good in public. In his bed, however . . .
He sat down in a nearby chair to keep an eye on them. If Steve tried anything, he’d have to deal with his older, larger brother. Jarrod shook his head and sighed in frustration. After all the years he’d known his brother, he knew Steve would never hurt a woman, either with words or physically. Their father would flay them alive if his boys ever hurt a woman. He taught them better than that.
He just didn’t like Nikki alone with his younger, better looking brother. She seemed more comfortable with Steve than with himself. Admittedly, he was jealous. Very jealous. He wanted much more from and for Nikki than a kiss or two.
They sat down and started to talk. Jarrod sat in grim silence, as he tried to figure out what they said from their expressions. Too bad he’d never learned to read lips.
"I’m sorry." Steve’s head shot up in surprise at Nikki’s words. "I tried to smooth things over, but she was looking for a fight. Nothing I said defused her anger."
"I’m the one who should apologize to you. I knew things were falling apart with Gina. I just didn’t want to admit that I’d made another wrong choice. I wanted Gina to be the one for me, to get married and live happily ever after." He sighed heavily and lowered his head.
"I knew she didn’t get along with my family and I made excuses. I knew she dropped out of school, couldn’t hold down a job, she even started to do drugs in front of me. I made excuses for all of it. I can’t believe how much she turned out to be just like Chloe, Briana’s mother. At least I made sure she never got pregnant."
He looked up at her and held her gaze with his own. "Jarrod said you had a photographic memory. Is that true?" Nikki nodded warily. She knew what he was going to say next and wished he wouldn’t.
"Tell me what happened. Exactly." Steve continued to hold her gaze. His face was set. That look reminded her a lot of Jarrod.
"Take my word for it. You don’t want to hear it." She dropped her gaze momentarily then looked back up at him. "Please?"
His gaze never wavered as he replied, "I have to. Repeat it word for word. Don’t leave anything out. Promise me that. Don’t try and save my feelings. Tell me what happened from the time you went into the house. Please."
Nikki looked at him. He was serious. He wasn’t going to give up until he heard the entire story. She sighed and ran her fingers along the arm of the patio chair.
"Promise me. Promise that you won’t leave anything out." Steve still stared at her. "Jarrod said your word is as good as gold. You’ll do something you don’t want to do once you’ve given your word."
Nikki met his gaze. There was no way to get out of this one. She sighed. "You’ve got my word. If you decide you’ve heard enough, let me know and I’ll stop. Otherwise you’ll get it all."
Steve nodded shortly. Nikki took a deep breath and began. She started from when she walked out of the bathroom and
ended when she had jumped into the pool.
Steve was silent for several minutes after she’d finished. He finally lifted his head and looked at her. "Thank you." His voice was hoarse and full of pain. "I know you didn’t want to repeat all that, but I needed to hear it. I needed confirmation that I’d done the right thing in my decision to dump her. And not believe her teary explanations. Again."
He sighed. "I didn’t think she could lie quite that well. I was wrong about that too. Have you ever screwed up this bad?"
"Worse." At his look of utter disbelief she continued, "Did Jarrod tell you I drove a stunt car in Hollywood for almost seven years?"
His eyes got round with surprise. "No. He didn’t tell us about that."
"I just mentioned it in passing, I’m not surprised he didn’t tell you. Anyway, I had driven for a couple of different studios for three or four years when I met Richie, another stunt driver."
"He was about my height, very handsome and full of charm. Naturally we both fell in lust and mistook it for love. We got involved and then engaged. Everything was peachy keen until I overheard him with some of his friends. He told them all about how after we were married the little woman would cook and clean then wait for him in bed when he got home from work. This despite the fact that we had decided we weren’t ready for children for quite a long time. I was supposed to sit home and do nothing." She shook her head in disgust as she recalled the relationship.
"My Irish temper didn’t appreciate that, especially since I was a better driver than he was. I told him that if he wanted to stay home and keep house he could, but I sure as hell wasn’t. Push came to shove, literally, he gave me a fat lip and I returned the favor, I gave him a black eye. The engagement was broken.
"Unfortunately, we still had to work together. Several weeks after we’d broken up we had a particularly difficult stunt. The stunt wasn’t timed right and I wrecked. I was in the hospital for a week with three broken ribs, one of which almost punctured my lung." She winced involuntarily as she remembered how painful her injuries had been.
"Lainey had never liked Richie and she tried to convince me that he’d done it on purpose. I didn’t love him any more by then and I certainly didn’t want him back. But I didn’t want to believe that he’d tried to kill me, so I denied the possibility.
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