Love Me Tender (Seven Brides, Seven Brothers)

by Calhoune, Belle

  No one had ever figured out that Layla had been his inspiration. Not even his family. It had been his little secret. Every time he'd gone out on his boat, he'd thought of Layla. And dreamed a little. And brooded. And wondered.

  “You do realize that this is more than a boat,” Layla said with wide eyes as she walked onto his deck. “I thought you were talking about a little sailboat, not something this grand.”

  “I got a great deal on it at an estate sale. I'd always dreamed of owning a boat, so it was my chance to make it happen.” Nick watched as Layla looked around the deck, her expression one of amazement.

  “And I've never regretted it for a single moment. When I'm out here on the water, everything else fades away.”

  “How big is this thing?” Layla's voice was tinged with wonder.

  “Forty feet.”

  Layla shook her head. He wasn't sure if her expression was one of dismay or amazement.

  “Hey. Don't get caught up in the size of Funny Face.”

  “It's just—” She fumbled for words.

  He reached out and anchored her chin so she had no choice but to look at him. “What's wrong? I don't like that look of doubt on your face.”

  She let out a sigh. “I suppose it's all hitting me at once. Your restaurant. Your amazing house. The fancy car you drive. Now the boat.” She shook her head as if in disbelief. “Ten years ago we were both at the same stage in life. We were both just venturing out into the world hoping to make all our dreams come true. Now, it just seems as if we live in different worlds. We're not on equal footing.”

  Nick felt his spirits sink. Her words shocked him to his core. How could she think that monetary things trumped the connection they had? None of that mattered one little bit to him.

  “Layla, of course we're equal. I would never think any differently of you based on what you have or don't have in your bank account. And I pray that you don't view me any differently now than you did ten years ago. I'm still the Nick you met all those years ago. Do you think God favors me any more because I have money?”

  Layla looked dismayed. “Oh, Nick. I'm not saying you're different or that God favors me any less. I'm just realizing how different our situations are. It humbles me.” She stared off across the water. “Ending up with nothing in the divorce has been difficult.”

  “You ended up with nothing?” Surprise registered in his voice. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could Layla's divorce attorney have allowed such a thing to happen? It was so unfair.

  She met his gaze. “My husband came from wealth. I chose my freedom over a financial settlement. Taking money from him would have tied us together for years. I didn't want that.” Her voice was crisp and to the point.

  Whoa. She'd wanted so badly to sever her ties with her ex-husband that she'd decided to walk away with nothing. Although her voice was flat and unemotional, he could see the turmoil under the surface. Perhaps with time she might divulge whatever she was holding onto.

  She flashed him a smile. “But I didn't end up with nothing. I'd stashed away all the money I'd earned dancing with the ballet. That, along with the money Aunt Trudy left me is going to allow me to live my dreams.”

  A secret bank account? That didn't speak well of her marriage that she'd felt compelled to have her own secret monies hidden away. It raised a red flag with him. On the bright side, he was happy that she would be able to open her dance studio. He could easily picture it in his mind's eyes. Layla's Dance Spot. The community of Breeze Point would be incredibly open to a fun, innovative dance studio.

  “I'm happy for you, Layla. And excited to see your dance studio take off like crazy.”

  “Thanks, Nick,” Layla said, her expression more relaxed now.

  “What do you say we take off and head out across Cape Cod Bay?”

  “Yes! Yes! Let's do this!” Layla said in an excited voice. Making Layla happy was suddenly crucial to his own happiness. Giving her a carefree afternoon on the water was his number one priority. Seeing Layla smile at him made him realize that for so long he'd focused solely on his business goals. He hadn't been focused on loving or being loved. His mother had reminded him on many occasions of the fact that people were placed on this Earth to love one another.

  As he revved the boat's engine and headed out across Breezy Harbor and across the Bay, he couldn't help but wonder if his heart had been waiting all this time for Layla.

  *

  Being out on the open seas was tantamount to being free. There was nothing holding her back or pulling her down at the moment. Her troubles seemed to evaporate like light mist. She stood on the deck and opened her arms, embracing the feel of the sun on her skin and the salty spray from the ocean that splashed across her face. The horizon stretched out before them, vast and beautiful. The ocean looked almost midnight blue as the water churned alongside the boat. White foam waves crashed against the sides.

  As Nick steered the boat from Breezy Harbor, out across Cape Cod Bay and towards Hyannis, Layla soaked in all the sights. She called out to Nick as they passed a beautiful red and white lighthouse. Beautiful houses lined the shore. As they drew closer to Hyannis, Nick called her over to steer them towards shore. He stood behind her with his arms on either side of her as her hands guided the boat. His near proximity made her feel safe and in charge of the situation. She knew without a doubt that Nick would keep them safe from harm. Nick swiftly changed places with her as they neared the marina.

  She felt a smile twitching on her lips as she thought of how empowering it had been to steer Nick's boat across the Bay. Grant would never have trusted her to do something where she was in control and he wasn't. Once they landed at the marina and Nick tethered the boat to the pier, Layla grabbed her picnic basket and exited the boat with Nick. There was a quite a crowd at the marina. A big ferry sat at the dock with passengers streaming on board. Destination Martha's Vineyard, she imagined. Rows of boats sat lined up next to the pier, one more colorful and grand than the next. Personally, she thought the Funny Face was the nicest boat of all, despite seeing some that were twice her size.

  Nick took the picnic basket off her hands and led the way to the public garden. Along the way, several passersby smiled and nodded at them, exhibiting a friendliness Layla had always noticed in Cape Codders. They picked an ideal picnic spot, right next to a grand ole Oak tree with plenty of shade to protect themselves from the hot summer sun.

  Layla opened up the picnic basket and began laying out the plates and utensils. She then took out the sandwiches, pickles, strawberries, pretzels, shortbread cookies and grapes. She'd managed to fit in a bottle of sparkling cider and two small plastic cups.

  “Aha! You remembered,” Nick said as he grabbed the bag of sourdough pretzels and ripped them open. He made a large crunching sound as he bit into one. Closing his eyes, Nick let out a moan of culinary satisfaction. Layla smiled at the sight of him. This was pure Nick. She'd been silly to even dwell on the fact that he was now well-off financially. Clearly, he still appreciated the simple things like sourdough pretzels and the company of an old friend.

  She placed the turkey and cheddar cheese sandwiches on two small plates, then put a pickle and some fruit beside it. They both dug in, neither one feeling the need to fill the silence with meaningless chitchat. It felt nice to just unwind and enjoy the multitude of flowers and trees in the garden.

  “This has been a great treat for me. Tomorrow I'm going to have to finish fixing up the cottage and scouting out locations to lease for my studio.” All too soon this lovely day would come to an end and she would be back at the drawing board.

  Nick leaned back on his elbows, his legs stretched out in leisurely fashion on the blanket. He looked completely at ease, miles and miles away from the hectic duties of a restaurant owner. Something told her he didn't do this often. He hadn't accomplished as much as he had at such a young age by resting on his laurels.

  “If you don't mind, I'll ask around for you. Not too long ago Blue bought a space for h
is new media company. And Mac is setting up his shop downtown also.”

  “Thanks, Nick. I'll take any leads I can get, and I'm grateful for suggestions,” Layla said as a feeling of excitement bubbled up to the surface. Once she found a spot to lease she could make it her own and take the first steps towards business ownership. Even though she'd believed not that long ago that all her dreams had crashed and burned, she now felt the promise of a new day. Hope burned brightly inside of her. A small part of it was due to Nick.

  “Whatever I can do to help. I don't want to overstep, but I know lots of contractors and realtors in town. Whatever you need.” The expression on Nick's face radiated sincerity.

  Whatever you need. Those three words were comforting and supportive. They meant the world to her. Going it alone was hard. Although she knew it was necessary to see this thing through on her own, she didn't think it would hurt to lean on Nick a little bit. As long as she didn't get too used to him being around. She wasn't going to allow herself to get too wrapped up in thoughts of her and Nick. Even though she'd allowed herself to dream a little about the two of them, she knew it wasn't realistic. He was a well-connected bachelor while she was a divorcee living under an assumed name because she was in fear for her life. Dragging Nick into her troubles wouldn't be fair.

  She dipped her head, not wanting Nick to see the sadness sweeping over her at the thought of pushing him away before things became too complicated.

  “I appreciate that,” she murmured. “I crave independence, but I also want to be part of a community. It's been a long time since I felt the strength of those connections.” One of the last times in fact had been when she'd spent the summer here in Cape Cod, surrounded by Nick, Aunt Trudy, Delilah and the Donahue clan.

  “We all need to be tied somehow to those around us. If we're not, life can get pretty lonely,” Nick said.

  She lifted her head up so she could look at him. Something sounded wistful in his voice, as if he was speaking about his own journey. Perhaps a carry-over from his dysfunctional childhood before he'd been adopted by Maggie and Alec. He'd once opened up to her about what he'd been through as a child. Hearing all the details had been shocking and painful.

  “I can relate to that loneliness.” She pushed the words past her lips, daring herself to be brave in this moment. Loneliness had been such a big part of her life, yet she'd never been honest enough to admit it to a single soul. Picking up the pieces of her life and rebuilding meant making different choices. In this moment with Nick she was choosing to be more open.

  Nick's brows furrowed as he gazed at her. His mouth went slack. “You? Lonely? It doesn't seem possible that someone who shines like the sun could feel that way.”

  “It's been a long time since I felt like that,” she admitted, feeling a burst of happiness as Nick's compliment washed over her.

  “That's how I see you...and I always will,” Nick said as he reached out and traced her lips with his finger.

  When Nick lowered his head and placed his lips over hers she was ready for him. He'd taken her by surprise the other night with the kiss, but this time she'd almost kissed him first. She raised her hand and placed it on Nick's face, running her fingers gently across his cheek. His lips were tender yet insistent. Kissing Nick felt like coming home. Only he was a man now, whereas before he'd been a mature teen-ager on the brink of adulthood. So much time had gone by since those youthful kisses, yet kissing Nick felt so incredibly familiar. As she sank into the kiss, time seemed to stop. Nothing existed in this moment except the two of them. Nick's rugged scent—sandalwood and pine—rose to her nostrils, and she inhaled it deeply. As the kissed ended they both paused for a moment to stare into each other's eyes, the sound of their heavy breathing echoing in the silence.

  “This feels so natural. Effortless.” He reached for a few strands of her hair and pushed them away from her face. “It's never felt effortless with any woman but you, Layla.”

  “Me too. It was always like this between us,” she said, remembering how their friendship had quickly turned into attraction, then a summer romance. Then love. A lot of people didn't believe in whirlwind relationships, but the love they'd shared had blossomed over the course of a summer. And, amazingly enough, she still had powerful feelings for Nick. Those feelings were more potent than she cared to fully examine.

  Over the years she'd questioned God's plans for her. Why had He allowed her to suffer so greatly in her marriage? Why had she been forced to endure so much loneliness and pain? It had made her feel guilty to question God and his wisdom, but it ached to be in so much emotional pain and to feel such loneliness. She'd craved answers to all her questions. But now, it all clicked. All those moments of pain had led her back here—straight into Nick's arms. And even though she didn't want to get her hopes up about a future between them, she couldn't help but feel thankful that he was right here by her side.

  “My past is part of who I am. It's as much a part of me as my brown eyes and my dyslexia. I've held onto it to remind me of everything I don't want to be.”

  Nick Donahue

  Chapter Six

  There was something about being alone in his restaurant that greatly appealed to Nick. It was the quiet before the storm. It gave him time to think and reflect on all his blessings. Right now his thoughts kept going back to Layla. Their afternoon on the open seas had been full of relaxation and laughter. Everything flowed so easily between them. They'd both shaken off any feelings of awkwardness and fallen back into familiar rhythms.

  And tonight he was doing something he'd once criticized his brothers for doing. He was blowing off the Donahue boys' night out at Sully's Tavern. He'd gotten ticked off on a few occasions when Blue, Ryder and Remy had been so busy with their ladies that they hadn't been able to attend the weekly get-together. Now it was his turn to bail. Of course he wasn't going to tell his brothers he had a date. That would be incredibly foolish considering how he'd grumbled and acted up when Remy had started dating Gabrielle. And he hadn't exactly been warm and fuzzy when Blue and Ryder fell in love with Sarah and Tess. Looking back, he realized he'd been a bit of a downer.

  On some level, his brothers falling in love one by one had made him insecure. For the last twenty years it had been the Donahue boys and their parents. The thought of losing his brothers to their significant others was worrisome. And secretly he'd been a little jealous, knowing he might never have that type of mighty love himself.

  Once his brothers found out that he was dating someone, he'd be teased unmercifully by all six of them. As the youngest of the Donahue boys, it wouldn't be the first time.

  Was he getting ahead of himself with Layla? Some might say yes, but having let her slip out of his life once before, he wasn't taking any chances this time around. He was going to woo her for all he was worth and see where the journey took them.

  Tonight he was taking Layla to the movies. But first he had to get through a mountain of work.

  At the moment he was doing some busy work before the afternoon crew arrived for their shifts. His work was never ending. And he loved every minute of it. When the doors of The Cove opened for business he felt a rush of adrenaline course through his body. His restaurant. His establishment. His customers. It was a dream forged in blood, sweat and tears. It was the gold after the rainbow for every time he'd been called dumb or slow or retarded because of his dyslexia. It was proof that despite his learning disability he was worthy of success. He was good enough.

  And if he lived to be a hundred, he would never take any of it for granted.

  Nick swung his gaze toward the entrance of his restaurant as the heavy thud of a door closing sliced into the silence. Somehow he must have forgotten to lock the door behind him. Nice move, Nick. Now, a customer had entered the restaurant looking for service. A woman wearing a jean jumpsuit and sneakers began walking toward him, her long strides carrying her quickly toward him.

  “Sorry, Ma'am. We're not open for lunch yet. We don't open till noon time.”

 
; The woman didn't respond. She stopped a few feet away from the counter and stood staring at him as he cleaned a few glasses at the bar. Something about the way she was eyeballing him put him on edge.

  “For your trouble I'll treat you to a complimentary appetizer if you come back for lunch.” That should smooth things over and get her out of here.

  “I'm not here for lunch.” The raspy voice, thick with a Boston accent niggled at his consciousness. Chills raced down his arms. He shrugged off the uncomfortable feeling. What was wrong with him today? Why did he feel so on edge all of a sudden?

  “How can I help you?” He gazed straight at her. With her dark hair and olive skin, she was a rather striking woman, despite the fact that time seemed to have taken its toll on her skin. The wrinkles surrounding her eyes and mouth were extensive. The discoloration on her face hinted at sun damage.

  She smiled at him, revealing a gap between her two front teeth. “You turned out real handsome, Nico.”

  Nico. Not Nick. Instead of chills, he began to break out into a cold sweat.

  “We're closed,” he said feebly. “You have to leave. Now.” His brain was working overtime to process what was happening. All of a sudden he felt like a little boy again. One who had no power. One who was defenseless.

  “I know you probably don't remember me. But I'm your mother, Nico. I'm Loretta.”

  His mother. Loretta. The raspy voice. The gap toothed smile. Shadowy images crept into being. The sound of her calling him when he was playing outside with his friends. “Nico, get in here before supper gets cold.”

  Even though his mind protested the notion that she was standing here in his eating establishment after all these years, he knew instinctively this stranger was his biological mother.