"Until the day I was to be released, that is. He came to visit me in the hospital for the first time. He admitted that he’d deliberately messed up the timing of his part of the stunt, which is what caused the wreck. He then asked me if I was ready to stay at home and be a nice little wife. I threw a bouquet of flowers at him, even though it hurt like hell, and hit him in the shoulder with the vase. I told him that if I ever saw him again I would kill him with my bare hands."
She looked Steve straight in the eye and continued, "He must have believed me because I haven’t seen him since that day. And I haven’t been involved in a serious relationship since. So you see, you’re not the only one to screw up your life. I was ready to marry my worst mistake and my mistake almost ended my life."
After a slight pause she continued slowly, "I don’t think he actually intended to kill me. I think he just wanted to prove that I wasn’t good enough to drive with ‘the boys.’ I think he wanted to get me hurt or scared bad enough so I would give up the business."
Steve looked at her in shock. He cleared his throat. "You’re not serious." She looked him straight in the eye and nodded her head slowly.
"Whew. If that was supposed to make me feel better, it worked." He paused. "By the way, how are your ribs? They still look pretty painful."
Nikki looked at her exposed bruises and grimaced. "I meant to wear a shirt when I swam. Or at least put a shirt back on after I got through with my swim. Yeah, they’re still a little sore, but they’re okay. I mean, they weren’t broken this time so I had something worse to compare it to."
She grinned saucily at Steve and he grinned back. "You’re quite a woman. Too bad Jarrod saw you first." She felt her cheeks turn pink and his grin widened. "Do you have a sister or a cousin or something?"
She shook her head and smiled. "Sorry."
He snapped his fingers and leaned back in his chair. "Shucks. Just my luck. What kind of a car did you drove when you got Briana back? It looked like a ‘Cuda from the pictures they showed on TV and the newspapers."
Nikki replied with a smile, "Right on the nose." They went on to discuss what a wonderful car it was and how hard it was to find parts for it. Hard because they didn’t make some of the replacement parts and there were a very limited number of cars made to get used parts from. Nikki had just promised to take him for a ride after she got the car back when a shadow fell over their table.
"Have you got everything straightened out or do you need some more time alone?" Jarrod’s voice was sarcastic and angry. He’d watched their conversation go from serious and upset to happy and full of smiles and he hadn’t liked it one bit. Steve’s teasing and Nikki’s blush had sent him over there at a near run.
"Mom wants to see you," he said shortly, with a hard look at Steve.
Steve looked at Nikki and winked. "Sure she does. Thanks, Nikki. Let me know when we can go for that ride." He stood up, winked again, and turned around to face his brother. "You finally got a good one." He clapped Jarrod on the shoulder. "See if you can keep her." With a wide grin, he whistled softly under his breath as he walked away.
Nikki looked away from Steve and into Jarrod’s face. She blinked when she saw the anger and jealousy in his eyes. "Why are you so upset?" she asked gently.
He sat down in the empty chair and glared at her. "You get along better with my younger, more handsome, full-of-charm brother than you do with me, and you want to know why I’m so upset." He snorted disdainfully.
"You’re right." Jarrod looked at her in surprise and trepidation. "He is younger, more handsome, and full of charm. I’m more comfortable around him and I like him a lot." Jarrod stiffened at her words, his eyes narrowed in anger.
"What you have to realize is that I don’t feel the same about him as I do about you." He looked away then slowly brought his gaze up to meet hers, disbelief paramount in his eyes.
"I’m more comfortable around him because there’s no possibility of a relationship, other than just friends. He’s nice and easy to get along with, but he doesn’t make my heart race. He doesn’t make my mouth go dry and my hands sweat. He doesn’t make me impatient to see him again, to wonder if or when he’s going to call again." She paused to take a breath.
"In short, there’s no electricity, no sparks between Steve and I. I don’t know whether the sparks between you and I are just a flash in the pan or if they’re going to last. But I do know it’s not worth messing up to be with someone I know it won’t work out with. Besides." She grinned at him. "He’s too young for me. You push the limit of age yourself. I usually go out with older men."
Serious now, she met his incredulous gaze with her own. "I’m still afraid and I know there are no guarantees with you and I. I’ve been hurt before, but I’m ready to take the risk. Are you?"
He held her gaze for a long moment, then took her hand in his. He kissed the knuckles, turned her hand over and kissed the sensitive palm of her hand. "Yes," he whispered huskily. "Yes. I am."
Nikki smiled at him. The same smile she’d given his daughter that reminded him of the sun. And this time it was just for him.
* * * * *
When they were on their way home with Briana asleep in the back seat, Jarrod asked Nikki how the appointment with the therapist had gone.
Nikki leaned her head back on the seat and stretched. "It went okay. She seemed shocked at the things Davies said. I think she thought I made it all up." She smiled sleepily, as she thought back to the meeting. "She seemed to think that I projected my past into my present."
Jarrod looked at her sharply. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that my father used to scream and yell at both my mother and I. It was a mistake to tell her that. She didn’t take me seriously after she heard about that."
"Hasn’t she watched the news? The few times they’ve got that foul-mouthed jerk on tape for TV they’ve had to bleep out all the swear words. And how about the interview with that gas station attendant, Don."
"Ron," Nikki corrected with a slight smile on her face. "I know, I know. Some people wouldn’t believe the sun was out unless they saw it for themselves."
She yawned hugely, her jaws popped. "I’m tired. I ought to sleep like a log tonight." She glanced in the back seat at Briana, who was already asleep. Her two little cousins had kept her running all day.
She smiled, closed her eyes, and yawned again. Except for Gina, the day had been a lot of fun. Lainey and Sean had left several hours earlier. She smiled again, and wondered if Lainey was finally going to get married.
She was almost asleep when Jarrod pulled the Jeep into her driveway. Her eyes fluttered open as he brought the vehicle to a stop. He left the engine running while he came around to open her door.
He helped her down from the high seat after she’d picked up her purse and empty dessert bowl. He shut the door and pulled her into his arms. She laid her head on his chest and sighed sleepily.
"Hey, don’t go to sleep there." He pulled away slightly and tilted her chin upwards. His lips covered hers and he kissed her thoroughly. She wrapped her arms around his back as much as she could with the bowl and her purse in her hands. By the time they separated, her heart pounded as fast as his.
Jarrod stroked her cheek with the back of one finger and pulled her into his arms again. "Come on." He stepped away from her, took her hand, and led her around the front of the Jeep. "I don’t want to leave Briana in the Jeep alone, otherwise I’d walk you all the way to your door."
"That’s okay." Nikki smiled lazily up at him. "I think I can walk that far by myself."
Jarrod smiled down into her eyes. "Yeah, I’m sure you can. Just don’t tell my dad, he’d think I needed a refresher course in manners."
She leaned toward him. "I think your manners are just fine. Your daughter’s safety and well-being are a little more important than whether you walk me to the door."
Jarrod’s eyes darkened as he wrapped his arms around her again. He kissed her, coaxed her mouth open with his tongue. He moane
d as she opened her mouth and touched her tongue to his.
Nikki finally came to her senses when she felt Jarrod’s aroused body pressed firmly against her own. She pulled her mouth away from his. "Jarrod."
"Mmm?" He started to nuzzle her neck.
"Stop, please. We’re in front of my house and your daughter’s asleep in the Jeep." She moaned as he sucked on an especially sensitive spot on her neck.
Jarrod pulled away, heavily aroused. "You’re right. I’m sorry." He ran an unsteady hand through his hair. "I got a little carried away."
Nikki cleared her throat and looked at her feet. "Yeah, me too." She looked up at him. "Maybe you should take Briana home now. It’s too soon to be this intimate. I’m not ready for that yet."
He leaned down, kissed her lightly on the mouth. "My brain knows that, my body seems to be on a different wavelength. Go inside, then I’ll leave." He stroked her cheek and the curve of her lips with the tip of one finger. "Goodnight, love. I’ll call you tomorrow."
He turned her around and gave her a little push toward her front door. "Go inside before I change my mind."
When she turned to look at him in surprise, he grinned. "Pleasant dreams. I know I’ll have them." She unlocked the door, opened it and turned on the light. He blew her a kiss and walked back to the Jeep.
As he backed down the driveway he blew her another kiss. Nikki smiled and waved; she didn’t go in until the Jeep was out of sight.
She did have pleasant dreams that night. She dreamed of making love with Jarrod McKay.
Chapter 15
It was several days later when she was swamped with work that she thought about the barbecue with Jarrod’s family. Hadn’t Joan said something about Erika and her recent degree in computers and that she hadn’t found a job yet?
With the enthusiastic recommendation Carl Jacobs had given to his business associates, and Jarrod, who told what seemed like everyone he knew about her expertise, she had more work than she could handle.
Would Erika be interested in working with her? Even if it was just part-time to start out with? Even if she would just fill in until she found another job it would be a big help. Would it cause a problem with Jarrod? She couldn’t see how once she explained it to him.
She picked up the phone to call Peter and Tasha’s house. Erika had decided to stay with them for a while, that it was time her parents had time alone without their kids underfoot. Her brother and sister-in-law had been more than happy for her to stay with them in exchange for baby-sitting some of the evenings so they could have some time alone.
Nikki would have to sound her out before she made an offer. She didn’t want to interfere or cause an uncomfortable situation.
Erika answered the phone on the third ring, "McKay residence."
"Hi, Erika, this is Nikki. How are you doing?"
"I’m fine, thanks. And yourself?"
"I’m doing great. Listen, the reason I called was to see if you wanted to do lunch sometime this week."
"Uh, sure." She sounded a little surprised. "What's up?"
"Oh, nothing big. I just wanted to get to know you a little better. I think we could be really good friends."
"Well, sure, I’d like that." Erika sounded a little more cheerful, but still uncertain.
"What day would work for you? I’m free for lunch any day but Thursday."
"Either today or Friday would work for me. The unemployed don’t have a lot to do, you know. Or a lot of money to do it with."
"Yeah, I know. Today would be better for me, if it’s not too short of notice. Why don’t I fix lunch here, that way we can really talk and we won’t fight over whether I pay the check or we split it."
"That’s a deal." Erika laughed. "What time and where do you live?"
Nikki gave her the address and phone number and they agreed that Erika would come over at half past eleven.
After she hung up the phone, she sat back consideringly. Would Jarrod understand that offering his sister a job had nothing to do with him? Would Erika realize that she wanted her expertise, not Jarrod’s favor? All she could do was try.
She shrugged her shoulders and walked to the fridge to see what she could scrounge up for lunch. Jarrod had called every day since Saturday and the three of them had gone out for pizza one night. Even his daily phone calls and visits several times a week weren’t enough. She missed him.
She managed to forget about the nightmares that had woken her up the last few nights. Or at least she tried to convince herself that she’d forgotten them. These weren’t the same as the ones she’d had for years. For starters, the face was different and she wasn’t a little girl anymore. Was it some kind of premonition about her father, Richie, or Davies? Nah. She shook her head.
She’d even gotten paranoid enough to call Captain Edwards and casually ask if Davies was still in jail. He was. But the nightmares hadn’t stopped yet. The thought of a call to check on her father crossed her mind but she shoved it out of her mind as fast as it appeared. That arena was better left untouched. Richie was too much of a wimp to be any kind of a threat, especially after all this time. She decided it was her subconscious that was trying to warn her that things could take a turn for the worse now that they were finally looking up.
Erika arrived just as Nikki had finished setting the table. Both women were dressed casually in shorts and T-shirts, although Erika wore sandals and Nikki was barefoot.
"Hi, Erika, I’m glad you could make it. Come on in." Nikki greeted her with a smile.
"Hi, Nikki. It was nice of you to invite me." Erika looked wary as if she wondered what Nikki was really up to. After Gina, Nikki didn’t really blame her for being cautious.
Nikki did her best to put the younger woman at ease. Pretty soon, the two of them chatted and laughed like long-time friends. The chef salad and diet sodas were consumed amidst much conversation. Conversation which Nikki steered toward Erika, her education, experience, and job goals.
After the dishes were put away in the dishwasher, Nikki took her on a tour of the house, which ended with her office. They sat down and Nikki started to tell Erika about her work.
Erika was extremely intelligent and very quick. She seemed genuinely interested in the different types of work Nikki did. She asked discerning questions and gave her opinion freely.
Nikki finally sighed. "Look, Erika, I have a confession to make." The younger woman looked at her questioningly. "I invited you here under false pretenses."
Erika’s look turned tense and cautious. "Why exactly did you invite me here?"
"I invited you here to see if you’d like a job and work for me."
Erika’s wary look turned to pure shock. Her mouth opened and her lips moved, but she couldn’t seem to say a single word.
"Now, I couldn’t guarantee full-time, especially at first, but it would be good experience and I’d pay you a fair wage. If you found something better, I would understand and write you a good recommendation. I also won’t be upset if you turn me down right now. This doesn’t have to go further than this room."
Erika cleared her throat. "Does Jarrod have anything to do with this?"
"No. He doesn’t know anything about it and he won’t unless you take the job. I’m not trying to make points with Jarrod or his family. I need some help. I’ve been working twelve to fourteen hours a day and I still don’t get everything done. It’s getting to me. You need a job, so I decided to offer you one."
She paused before she continued, "My business is finally getting on its feet and I can’t afford to turn clients away. I need to get an even better reputation and keep it. That’s where you come in. I need someone with flexible hours who will work hard. Are you interested at all or should I just change the subject and thank you for your company at lunch?"
Nikki could see the hope war with fear and disbelief in Erika’s eyes. "Are you sure this doesn’t have anything to do with Jarrod? I mean, he offered to get me a job before, but I wanted to get a job on my own. Because of my skills and
education, not because I’m a McKay."
"The only thing Jarrod has to do with this is that he happened to introduce us and has the same parents as you. Do you want the job? Would it cause problems with Tasha and Peter?"
"No, it wouldn’t. Yes, I want the job! When can I start? Today?" Erika’s eyes were bright with unshed tears and happiness. "I don’t know how I can thank you. I promise I won’t disappoint you. I’ll do a great job!"
Nikki smiled at her. "I know you’ll do a good job, that’s why I offered it to you. That’ll be the reason you keep it too, not because of your last name. Why don’t you come back tomorrow morning about nine and we’ll go pick out a computer set-up for you. Dress casual. I only dress up when I’m going to see a client."
"All right." Erika nodded vigorously. "Nine o’clock on the nose. I’ll be here. You can count on it." She hugged Nikki impulsively. "Can I tell my family, please?"
"Sure. I won’t say anything to anyone until they say something to me. Now, go enjoy your last day as being unemployed. You’ll work pretty hard from now on if I have anything to say about it." Nikki smiled broadly. As long as Jarrod wasn’t mad at her when Erika told him the news, everything would be great!
Erika gave her another hug, thanked her twice more, and finally skipped out to her car. Nikki smiled at her youthful exuberance and started to plan which jobs she’d start her new associate on.
She wandered over to Lainey’s side of the duplex where the older woman ran a sewing and alteration business out of her spare bedroom. Lainey thought Erika as an employee was a great idea and was pleased that Nikki was doing so well she need to hire an employee.
Nikki’s phone rang less than two hours later. It was Jarrod. "My little sister just dropped in to see me."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. Why didn’t you tell me you were going to hire her?" He sounded upset.
"I didn’t know either of us needed your permission. I didn’t want Erika to feel she had to take the job or that you and I had decided what was best for her. This has nothing to do with you. You happen to be related to her, but that’s not why I hired her. If you know me at all, you would know that." Nikki’s voice had gotten increasingly frosty as she spoke. She knew she was overreacting, but she couldn’t seem to stop the defensive mechanism.
Alice Carpenter Page 12