“Thanks for throwing me under the bus.” Victoria took her remote and moved to the edge of the couch. She was the only one she knew who loved to bowl on the Wii sitting down.
“She usually is the one with the lowest points.” Lucia grinned. “Here, Helena. Are you going to play?”
“No. I’m going upstairs to read.” Helena crossed her arms over her chest.
“Why don’t you want to play, sweetie?” Victoria stood and placed her hands on Helena’s shoulders. Helena stepped back from her, letting Victoria’s arms fall to her sides.
“I don’t want to play with him.” Helena glared over at Nick. “He’s not my dad.”
That was it. Victoria was tired of Helena’s attitude. “You’re right, he’s not and he’s not trying to be. But he is an adult and you’ll treat him with respect.”
“I won’t.” Helena sneered, and Victoria hated to see that she looked just like her dad when she did that. Her daughter stormed off, running up the stairs. A second later, the door to her room slammed.
Victoria went to go upstairs, but Nick placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “Let her calm down. I know it’s a big adjustment, and I don’t want to force me being here on her. If you want, I can leave.”
“No, it’s okay,” Victoria told him. “Stay, play with me and Lucia. Helena’s going to have to learn that she can’t throw a fit just because I’m dating someone. Hell, she throws a fit over everything these days. It’s gotten out of hand.”
“If you’re sure,” Nick said. “I don’t want to come between the two of you.”
“You won’t.” Lucia started the bowling game. “She’s just being rude because she wants to live with dad, and he won’t let her.”
Victoria knew that comment shouldn’t have knocked the breath from her lungs, but it did anyway. Lucia was oblivious to the hurt it caused, already leaning in to bowl. She forced herself to let it go.
Even though Helena stayed in her room, Nick and Lucia both coaxed laughter out of Victoria. She even enjoyed losing to them and watched as they entered their “tournament round.” Nick picked up his game when he realized Lucia was an ace at it.
Victoria ended up in tears, laughing at the both of them. Lucia fairly glowed under the attention Nick showed her, and it warmed Victoria’s heart.
“I’m going to go upstairs with Helena. Try to get her out of her bad mood.” Lucia waved at them.
Nick sank onto the couch beside Victoria. “That girl is really good at that game.”
“She plays all the time.” Victoria intertwined their fingers. She liked having him there, with the girls, next to her on the couch. His body heat scorched her right side, and she started to think about dragging him to her room. “You held back until you figured that out.”
“I was going to be nice until I realized she was going to annihilate me.” Nick turned his head to look at her. “I’m sorry about Roger and Helena.”
“It’s not your fault. I’ve tried to be easy with Helena, but she’s going overboard. I understand why she doesn’t want me to date, but she’s going to have to face the fact that Roger left me. I didn’t make him go.” Victoria let go of the pain of that horrible moment. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m much happier now. But Helena still sees me as the bad guy.”
Nick tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I can understand that, and I can understand why Helena is upset. I’m sure she’ll see it eventually.”
“I think she’s getting bullied at school. Emotionally. I’m not sure exactly what I do with that. She hasn’t told me anything about it; I’ve only overheard the stuff when she and Lucia were fighting.”
“I could always teach her some moves. She could put an end to that real quick.”
“No.” Victoria shook her head firmly. “I don’t want her resorting to physical violence unless it’s self-defense.”
“I got that. But like mentoring with the boys, we’re not teaching them how to hurt someone. We’re teaching them self-discipline and respect. Boosting their self-esteem. Maybe one day I can help with that.” Nick brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
The fact that he wanted to help her daughter, even when she’d been so rude to him, only strengthened Victoria’s faith in him.
Chapter Twenty-Three
VICTORIA MET HER CLIENT, Rachel, at a quaint beach house Thursday morning. Rachel was putting it on the market next week, and she wanted Victoria to look it over.
“Thank you so much for coming on such short notice.” Rachel pulled Victoria into the house. “The owners put it on the market and want it sold as soon as possible. It’s a big family drama, and I’d like to get it off my hands. The quicker the better.”
The house was small but cute. Victoria walked through the small living room and kitchen, into the back to the master bedroom, single bath, and bunk room. It would be a great rental, enough room for a family to have a week of fun on the beach. In the living room, French doors opened onto a small deck that faced the beach. People sitting in the living room would be able to see the ocean at night, and that would be a huge inspiration for her design.
“I’ve got a lot of stuff I could use. It’s all in the shed at my dad’s.” Victoria took a last glance around the living room. “The coral walls are a great backdrop for the beach, so that will help us out a lot.”
Rachel hugged Victoria. “Thank you! I wasn’t sure you’d have time to do it. I know you’ve been busy.”
“I need an assistant,” Victoria said. Her office would be opening soon, and she didn’t want to spend every waking moment on the things she could source out. “I was going to wait until Nick finished the office, but I’m about to lose my mind. I think an assistant would help me stay organized.”
“I can find someone else to do this,” Rachel said.
“Oh no, the girls are going to their dad’s for the weekend. I can come up here this weekend and set it up.”
“Then let me help, at least.” Rachel held up a hand when Victoria started to protest. “You’re going out of your way to get this done for me. It’ll go faster if you let me help.”
“Okay.” Victoria gave in. “Meet me here at ten Saturday morning, and we’ll start.”
“I’ll bring my niece. She’s looking for a job, just graduated from college, and can’t find anything. Maybe you’ll like her.”
Victoria smiled. “I probably will, if she’s anything like you.”
“Thanks so much, Victoria. I don’t know what I’d do without you.” Rachel led the way outside. “I’ll see you Saturday.”
Victoria started her SUV and headed just out of town to meet with a long-time client who wanted to redo her living room. Mae did this about every two years to help deal with the grief of losing her husband of fifty-five years. Victoria couldn’t even imagine being married to someone that long. Or sharing those life-changing moments, the happy and the sad, and then missing them so much when they passed. Her parents seemed to be heading that way, and she wished so much that she’d have that in her life one day.
The six-bedroom estate sat in the middle of twenty acres of land. Mae’s husband had been an acclaimed director years ago, and she’d been a playwright. It was how they met, and Victoria listened to the story every time she came. She didn’t have the heart to tell Mae she’d heard it a thousand times before.
Mae answered the door with a flourish, wrapping Victoria in a flowery scented hug. “Thank goodness you’re here. I was going crazy thinking of what to do in there.”
Victoria held on, letting Mae draw the hug out. The poor women was all alone now, her two children living overseas. “Well, let’s see what we can do.” They crossed the marble foyer and went to the left of the grand staircase.
The “living room” was as big as Victoria’s house. Three steps down and she entered the sunken room. She remembered how long it had taken her to match all the pieces she fo
und to the exact colors Mae had wanted.
“What do you have in mind?” Victoria shook her head when Mae offered her a drink. The woman was fond of whiskey and drank it constantly, although Victoria had never seen her the least bit tipsy.
“Darling,” Mae sank onto one of the pale blue couches, drink in hand. “I want to do more of a modern-looking area. Sharp edges, bright red and white, maybe some black to darken it up a bit. Lots of glass and chrome.”
“When do you want it finished?” Victoria started to imagine what Mae wanted. She didn’t have anything on hand, but she could take a trip out of town. There was a modern furniture and accessories store two towns over. She’d have to look online to make sure.
“I know you’re probably busy, so two months? You can do it around all the stuff going on with your new office.” Mae pulled out a long cigarette and lit it. She took a drag, then released the smoke in a puff. “How is your new office going?”
“Great. My dad’s gotten a hand in it.”
Mae’s raspy cackle warmed with humor. “Did you doubt he would?”
“No.” Victoria laughed with her.
“I heard the handsome young man who’s working on your office has his eye on you.”
“How did you hear that?” Victoria asked. She willed herself not to blush, and failed.
“Aha. It seems you’ve got your eye on him, too.” Mae tapped her cigarette against a crystal ashtray. “Is he good to you?”
“Yes. And to my girls. But he’s afraid of relationships and children because of his dad. I’m trying to prove him wrong about it.”
Mae nodded, eyes bright. “I remember his rascal of a father. Such a shame. His mother was such a pretty young thing, and sweet as anything. She helped around here, did some cleaning for me after the man left her with two kids. I always paid her generously. How is she doing?”
“She came to our Mother’s Day barbeque, and she looked great. Very healthy,” Victoria told her.
“Good. That woman deserves some happiness.” Mae nodded. She put the cigarette out. “Now show yourself out dear. I’m going to go lay down.” Mae stood slowly, bones creaking. “I’m just not sleeping like I used to.”
Victoria left after telling Mae that she’d get a concept folder ready for her to approve. Her heart felt heavy for a number of reasons. She hated that Mae was lonely and desperately wanted a love like the one she’d had in her life. When she was younger, Victoria had just known that she’d have a love like her parents. Her children would grow up in a house with both parents still around, surrounded by love and laughter. It had taken her a long time to realize that wasn’t how her life was going to be, and that when Roger had left, it had actually been a good thing.
Her errand out to Mae’s hadn’t taken as long as she thought it would, so she called Addie to let her know that she could pick the girls up.
The girls hopped into the car, Lucia brimming with excitement. “Mom, I found out when cheer practice starts next year. And I got to try on my cheer uniform so they knew what size to order for the new ones.”
“That’s amazing. I can’t wait to see them. Helena, how was your day?”
“It was okay.” Helena glanced up Victoria, then back to her lap.
Victoria sighed. “Have you found out when your mathelete club starts? Are any of your friends in it?”
“One. Julie.” Helena gave up grudgingly.
“That’s great.” Victoria made a mental note to find out who Julie’s mom was and see about Julie going to the math camp, too. Maybe Helena would enjoy it more. “Can you get her mom’s number for me?”
“Why?” Helena snapped.
Victoria raised an eyebrow and looked in the rearview mirror so she could see Helena. “I want to put you in a math and science camp this summer, but if you want to act like this, you obviously don’t want to go.”
Helena’s head jerked up and she glared.
Victoria shrugged. “Well, I’ll forget about talking to Julia’s mom about it, too.” When Helena remained silent, Victoria wondered if it was a small victory on her side or her daughter’s.
That night she helped them with some of their homework and worked on her business plan. Her office would be finished within two weeks, and she needed to make sure everything was ready. All of the furniture was ordered or in her parent’s garage. It was all coming together.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“WHAT DO YOU WANT for dinner?” Nick asked Victoria. Roger had picked the girls up earlier, and Nick wished he’d been there when the bastard was. It would’ve certainly been entertaining.
“I don’t know.” Victoria threw the small square pillows back on the couch. “How do they make such a mess in a few hours?”
Nick watched her. “Luke and I used to tear the house up.”
“God, I can imagine. It’s been all girls for me, and my parents, so usually the bathroom and bedrooms were the rooms that suffered the most.” She stopped cleaning, walked over to him, and put her arms around his neck.
His hands automatically went to her hips to pull her closer. She only came up to his shoulder, and he loved that she had to crane her head back to look up at him. Her body was made for his, and he loved the way it felt pressed up against him.
“What do you want?”
“Hmm.” He nuzzled her neck. “I can think of something.”
She laughed and pushed him away. “Well, I’m starving. For food,” she clarified when he grinned.
“Fine.” Nick pressed a quick kiss to her forehead. “Let’s get groceries, and I’ll make us an actual home-cooked meal.”
“Well, well. Mr. Domestic, all of a sudden?” Victoria grabbed her purse.
“No, I’ll buy them. I’ll cook, too.” Nick watched her struggle with letting him pay for the groceries. “Tori, it’s not a big deal. It’s how my mom raised me, and it’s hard to go against the grain.”
“Let me at least buy the wine?”
He could see that it really mattered to her that he not pay for it all. “Deal.”
“You do know that people will see us together,” Victoria told him as they drove toward the store. “Are you ready for that?”
“Sure. Are you?” Nick asked. “I mean, you’re the one dating the trouble kid who came back home. The one moms hate because he’s slept with all their daughters.”
Victoria’s face fell, and he grit his teeth. Way to go, dumbass. Just rub it in her face that he’d been with more than a few women. “Ah, Tori, that’s not what I meant.”
She refused to look at him. “Sure.”
He’d really fucked that up. “What I meant is that you’re a smart, independent woman. They’re just going to be surprised you’re with me.”
“Why?” Victoria turned that temper on him, eyes shining. “Why is it so hard to believe that I would be with you?”
Nick focused on the road. His stomach knotted, and he suddenly felt ashamed of his past. “You know why.”
“No, Nick, I don’t. That’s why I’m asking. You’re a successful man who owns his own business. You have your own apartment, a shop, and you take care of your mother. On top of that you mentor lost little boys, changing their lives forever.” Her voice firmed. “That doesn’t sound like someone that I’d be ashamed to be with.” She crossed her arms and stared out the window.
Wow. She was insanely hot when she was pissed. He wanted to turn his truck around and drive straight back to her house, forget the food, but he wouldn’t. He didn’t think that was the point of everything she said. “Okay.”
“That’s all I get? Okay?” She glared at him.
“I’m agreeing with you.” Nick took her hand and kissed her palm while keeping his gaze on the road. “You are damn lucky to be with me.” He smiled when she laughed at him.
“You’re insane.”
They picked up groceries, and when t
hey got back to the house, she sat at the bar and watched him cook. He moved with the grace of a fighter, expertly sautéing the steak. Neither spoke, but Victoria felt the bond between them strengthening.
The food smelled delicious, and when he made their plates and joined her at the bar, she told him. “Why didn’t you become a cook?”
“Not enough physical labor, I guess.” He handed her a glass of wine. “I wanted to do something that didn’t involve being indoors constantly, and while I do like to cook, I love construction more.”
“God, this is good.” She bit into her medium-cooked steak and closed her eyes as flavor burst on her tongue. “Don’t tell Dad, but I think your steaks are better than his.”
“I’ll keep that secret between us.” Nick tipped his wineglass to hers.
By the end of the meal, Victoria felt pleasantly full. She put her plate into the sink. “I’ve never had steak like that before.”
“That’s right, boost my ego like a good wench.” He pinched her butt. “Now, leave the dishes for after.”
“After?” She squealed when he threw her over his shoulder. A thrill ran through her at how feminine she felt at being carried by him.
“I need a shower, and I want company.” He smacked her butt.
She gasped, not sure if she wanted to admit that she liked it. He went straight to her bathroom and started stripping off her clothes in efficient maneuvers. She thought she might have a heart attack right there in the bathroom, her heart was beating so fast. He took off his shirt, and her eyes instantly traced the tattoos on his toned muscles. When he lowered his jeans and boxers, her heart stuttered. She’d never thought the male body was attractive, but right now she wanted to eat him up.
He opened the glass door and turned the water on. When the spray was hot enough, he stepped in, turning around so she could get in, too. His blue gaze lit a fire in her abdomen. He looked as desperate as she felt. Her gaze traveled over the muscles of his chest, lower to his abs, then even lower. She wanted to do something for him, show him the pleasure that he’d given her. His eyes narrowed as she went down on her knees, letting the spray rain down her back. She bit her lip, eyeing his cock, ready to do something for him she’d never done to anyone else.
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