Rocky Mountain Maverick
Page 22
And as much as the two of them had enjoyed their rides to the outskirts of the property, those had been curtailed until this was behind them. He had undertaken to guard Nicki. Now that he knew Colleen’s inquiries might have provided a link to this location, he wasn’t taking any chances.
“Just to the living room,” he answered, ushering her through the central room with the bar and old Dora’s portrait.
“You are being very mysterious.”
“Old habits die hard.”
“Is this some kind of undercover assignment?” she asked with a laugh.
“You could say that.” He opened the door, stepping back to allow her to precede him into the room.
He knew the exact moment she became aware of the surprise he’d arranged. Her forward progress stopped, and then she glanced at him over her shoulder. Her eyes were bright with tears, but he had no doubt they were tears of joy.
“Mom?” she said, turning back to the woman standing on the other side of the room.
Before the word was out of her mouth she was running into the arms of Terri Carson. Their embrace was almost difficult to watch. Although he was learning, under Nicki’s tutelage, that expressing how he felt was acceptable, he hadn’t yet reached the point of being comfortable with this much emotion. Not even if it was happiness.
He met Colleen’s eyes and nodded his thanks. She was smiling broadly, obviously as pleased as he was.
He wasn’t sure she would be successful in carrying out the favor he’d asked that night at the hospital. Nicki had tried to phone her mother before the attack on the Royal Flush only to discover that her mother’s number had been changed and she was no longer listed with information.
They had speculated that was the result of the relentless press interest in Nicki’s disappearance, but they couldn’t be sure. Colleen had used her contacts to track her down and bring Terri here, all in secret, of course.
“Thank you,” Nicki said, turning to smile at him through her tears.
“Thank Colleen. She’s the one who located your mom.”
Although the tension between the two women had eased since he’d brought Nicki home from the hospital, there had been a residual strain. Nicki put her arm around his sister, squeezing her tightly, although she was still holding on to her mother’s hand. It was as if she couldn’t bear to let her go, not even for a second.
He couldn’t blame her for that. Her life had been ripped away from her through no fault of her own. Just to get back a part of it by being reunited with someone you love—
Someone you love. The words reverberated as he watched the two women in his life embrace, that annoying lump back in his throat.
“Mother, I want you to meet someone,” Nicki said, using the hand she held to bring her mother to where he was standing. “This is Michael Wellesley. Michael, this is my mom, Terri Carson.”
Nicki’s mother extended her hand. As he took it, he realized the very shape of the bones as it rested in his was familiar. Just as her face was a reflection of her daughter’s.
This is what Nicki would look like in twenty years. The elegant bone structure essentially unchanged, the tautness of the skin softened around the eyes and chin. Still beautiful. Still Nicki.
“How do you do,” he said, feeling almost idiotic with the formality.
“Much better now, thanks to you,” Terri said.
He returned her smile, relaxing a little. For the first time he realized how Nicki must have felt being introduced to Colleen.
“It was my absolute pleasure,” he said truthfully.
“Until you have children of your own, you can’t imagine how terrible it is, knowing that one of them is in danger and not being able to do anything about it.”
Children of your own. The words had the same incredible force as the others, especially as he visualized his fingers drifting over the contours of Nicki’s body. Touching the place where she would carry his babies. His babies.
“She’s safe here. I promise you that.”
“As long as she has you to look after her,” Terri said.
“Mom.” Nicki’s protest was soft, but her cheeks had colored becomingly.
“I intended to,” he said. “Just as long as she’ll let me.”
Nicki’s eyes locked on his, searching them. Whatever she saw there must have been what she was looking for.
She released her mother’s hand and put her arms around his neck. Despite the presence of the other two women, Michael responded by enfolding her carefully in his arms, mindful of her injury.
After a moment she pushed far enough away that she could see his face. “If you’re really leaving that up to me,” she said, “you can make it forever.”
He wasn’t a man who made commitments lightly. And once he made them, he wasn’t someone who ever walked away from them. He wouldn’t from this one.
“Then…forever it is,” he said softly, and was rewarded by her smile.
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Gayle Wilson for her contribution to the COLORADO CONFIDENTIAL series.
ISBN: 978-1-4592-4087-2
ROCKY MOUNTAIN MAVERICK
Copyright © 2003 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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