They sat at the kitchen table, staring at each other.
Nicole broke the silence first. “The last thing I want to do is fight with Sam, but I can’t believe he kept me in the dark.” They’d spent an entire weekend getting closer and all along he knew what her future held.
“Umm, same?” Macy sighed, propping her head in her hands. “Was he even going to tell me he was back in town?”
Nicole looked at her friend. “Honestly? He was probably going to wait until this nightmare was over. I mean, why get you involved in something potentially dangerous? If he cares about you, then he wouldn’t want you hurt.”
Macy grinned, and Nicole narrowed her gaze. “What’s that smile for?”
“Oh, I’m just finding it amusing that you can justify Tyler’s reasons for not telling me things, but you’re furious at Sam for doing the same to you. For the same reasons.”
Nicole shot her a dirty look. “Fine. Be like that.” She glanced down at her hands, knowing Macy was right. “I’m not apologizing for being angry, though. Sam has to know he can’t do that stuff to me no matter how good his reasons.” Her parents thought they could control her life and decisions. She didn’t want anyone trying to pull that on her again.
“So tell him. Talk. Then at least you two can have good makeup sex. I don’t know what Tyler wants from me.”
Nicole rose from her seat. “Then I suggest you find out.”
“Good idea.” Macy stood too, her expression lighter than before. “But not until whatever this situation is, is resolved. I want him free. From the past and from you. No offense intended.”
“None taken.” Nicole understood how her friend felt. She headed back into the other room to find Sam and Tyler sitting in uncomfortable silence. “We’re back.”
Tyler jumped up first. “Macy, can we please go somewhere and talk?”
She shook her head. “Not now,” she said sadly, and Nicole’s heart hurt for her. “Come to me when you’re free—of everything. Then we can talk.” Macy turned and walked away.
“But—”
“Let her go,” Nicole said quietly, placing her hand on his arm. She waited until Macy had disappeared out the door before meeting Tyler’s gaze. “She has her pride, and this situation is screwed up. She doesn’t deserve it. When you’re free of your family mess and yeah, of me, then you go to her. And see if you two can start from scratch. Get to know each other and see what happens.”
He groaned and nodded. “You’re right. Which means this fucking mess has to end.”
She blinked, surprised at his choice of words. Tyler Stanton never cursed. “I agree. Sam?”
“On it. I’ll go talk to Mike. See if he can make some calls and find out why the feds are stalling on making a move on your old man.”
Tyler paled but nodded.
Sam grasped her hand and pulled her through the house and into her bedroom. “I’m not leaving with you angry.”
She sighed. “I don’t want to fight with you either.”
“Is that what this is? Our first fight?” he asked with an endearing grin.
“Yeah. Because you decided what I should know and when.”
He shook his head. “It won’t happen again.”
“Promise?”
“I’ll do the best I can.”
She rolled her eyes. “That’s such a male answer.”
“Hey, I’m a man and a cop. I just want you safe. What do you expect?” he asked in a gruff voice.
Having already decided she’d made her point, she leaned in close and kissed his cheek. “Great makeup sex?” she asked, deliberately light, letting him know it was, in fact, finished.
Unless he pulled crap like that again.
His eyes darkened at the suggestion. “As soon as I get home.”
This time it was she who reacted, her nipples pulling into tight points. “Hurry back.”
He pulled her against him for a hard kiss. He didn’t keep it short, slipping his tongue between her parted lips and giving her a preview of what he intended later on.
A little while later, Sam had left, leaving Nicole alone with Tyler. They stared at one another, the silence stretching between them, merely waiting to be broken.
Tyler walked to the bay window, staring outside onto the street. Nicole used the time to study the man she’d almost married. No doubt he was good looking . . . in a more refined way than Sam’s gruff, sexy appearance. And no question he was a good guy. She should never have doubted him. But he wasn’t the man for her.
Still, they had history and now they shared something more—the pain of discovering that their fathers weren’t the people they thought they were. For Nicole, she’d always known her father wasn’t a man she looked up to. He’d never been there for her, not as a little girl, and not as an adult. But did his behavior cross from uninterested, uncaring parent to criminal behavior?
If forced to choose, she didn’t think so. At least, she didn’t believe he’d let anything terrible happen to her.
Tyler, on the other hand, was first coming to the realization about his parent now. And the knowledge that his father was involved in illegal activity and was willing to go to desperate lengths to keep it secret? That had to be a huge blow.
“Ty?” she said, using her old nickname for him as she walked over and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry about everything.”
He turned to face her. “I don’t blame you for ending things between us. It hurt, but I realize now that you were right. There was no . . . spark. We were comfortable. Good friends. But we wouldn’t have been happy.”
She was glad he finally understood. “I don’t suppose Macy has anything to do with that realization?”
He smiled, but it was grim. “She has everything to do with it, and you know it.”
“I do. And I’m glad. You deserve someone to make you happy.”
He cleared his throat. “So do you. It’s tough to say, but Marsden’s a good guy.”
Nicole laughed at his reluctance to admit it. “He’s the best.” The words slipped out before she could think them through. “I mean—”
“I know what you mean. If I said Macy was the best, would you take offense?”
She laughed again. “No. I guess, it’s just, this is awkward.”
“But we’re going to have to get used to it. Get used to each other being with other people.”
“Because you’re sticking around?” she asked, curious how he planned to have a relationship with Macy while she was here in Serendipity.
He shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks. “I’ll figure that out when I see what’s left of the investment firm in Manhattan when all this is over.”
“It’ll get easier. But I’m not just sorry about us. I’m sorry about your father. I know it has to be a huge blow and I want you to know, if you need to talk about it to someone who understands, I’m here.”
“Thanks.” He reached out and squeezed her hand. “I appreciate the offer, but I think you and I have other people to confide in these days.”
“Yeah. If I can convince Sam that love exists and relationship isn’t a bad word.”
Tyler raised an eyebrow in surprise. “You deserve someone who is certain and sure. Someone who will stick.”
Nicole raised her chin. “Yeah, I do. And I plan on doing everything I can to make sure I get it.”
Tyler shook his head and laughed. “The guy won’t know what hit him.”
She grinned. “That’s what I’m hoping for. But if not? I’m doing everything I can to have the best life possible. With or without Sam Marsden in it.” She just did her best not to contemplate the without alternative.
Sam strode into the station and found his brother by the coffee machine in the small break room. Mike poured a cup of coffee, the bright orange top of the carafe capturing Sam’s attention.
“What’s up with the decaf?” Sam asked. Mike was a hard-core coffee drinker.
“What are you doing here on your day off?” Mike
asked, ignoring the question.
Sam waited until Mike had added some milk to his coffee before following his brother back into his office.
Mike slammed the door behind him. “Cara said if she has to give up caffeine, so do I,” he muttered, and Sam burst out laughing.
“So it’s definite?” Sam asked, bringing the question dogging him out into the open. “Cara’s pregnant?”
Mike placed his coffee on the desk and looked up to meet Sam’s gaze, his brother’s eyes wide with wonder, the grin on his face huge. “Thanks for persuading her to talk to me.”
Sam strode over and pulled his brother into a big hug, slapping him on the back hard. “I am so damned happy for you.”
“I’m in shock. I don’t know how—okay, obviously I know how. It just wasn’t planned.”
“Yeah. I got that much from Cara.”
“I can’t believe she was afraid of my reaction.” Mike shook his head and lowered himself into his oversized chair.
Sam blew out a long breath and settled on the corner of the desk. “Okay, well, you gave her a good run for her money before coming around, but that said—” Mike started to speak, but Sam held up a hand. “That said,” Sam continued, “her childhood, her mother remaining in an abusive situation, her having to cut off her emotions in order to protect herself, she was just doing that now. Protecting herself.”
“From me?” Mike asked in disbelief.
“From her own fears. Anyway, it’s over. She came to you, right? It’s all good?”
He nodded. “Yeah. It really is.”
Sam chuckled at the goofy grin on his brother’s face. “Just keep doing what you’re doing. She knows you love her. She just needs to be reminded, that’s all.”
“Yeah.” Mike tapped a pen against the desk. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you and Nicole?”
“We’re having fun together. Well, we would be if everything in her life weren’t so screwed up,” Sam muttered.
Mike raised an eyebrow. “Fun.”
“Yeah. She’s fun. We have a good time.”
“And that’s all.”
“Can we not do this?” Sam asked.
“Like I didn’t want to do it when you went after me about Cara? What are you doing, man? I’ve never seen you so protective over a woman. From the first minute you laid eyes on her, you were different.”
Sam pushed himself off the desk and paced the floor. “She gets to me.”
“So let it happen. What’s the worst result?”
“I get my heart ripped to shreds. Again. I’m humiliated. Again. I’ve already been the laughingstock of this town once. Everyone looked at me with pity for years after Jenna left me at the altar. Do you think I’m looking to revisit those days?”
Shit. He’d never admitted that out loud. He barely admitted it to himself. But the humiliation of that time had stuck with him.
“Ah, so it’s not just about you not being able to trust your judgment. It’s about time you admitted as much,” Mike said, using his I’m the older brother and I know best tone.
“I came here to talk about the wire. Nicole wants this thing over with, and I tend to agree. The sooner she’s safe, the sooner everyone can move on with their lives.”
Mike stared at him for a long moment, letting Sam know he wasn’t happy with the subject change. Sam just waited him out. He had nothing more to say.
“Fine. I’ll see what I can find out about why they want to wait and try to move up the timetable. Will it be Stanton or Nicole wearing the wire?”
Sam thought back to the scene earlier. “Still up for debate, but I’m thinking—hell, I’m going to insist on Stanton.”
“Yeah, I’d do the same—if it were the woman I loved.”
“Mike,” Sam said on a low, warning rumble.
“Coming to dinner this week?” Mike asked, wisely changing the subject. “Cara and I are going to tell Mom and Dad the big news.”
With the conversation back on Mike, Sam relaxed. “Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Are you bringing Nicole?”
Sam nodded. “Except for work, I’m not letting her out of my sight until those bastards are behind bars.”
“I’ll keep your schedule light. No reason why we can’t cover you.”
“Thanks,” Sam said, deciding not to argue. The more time he could look after Nicole himself, the better. “Get back to me as soon as you hear from the feds.”
“Will do.”
Sam turned to leave.
“Hey, Sam.”
He paused at the door and turned to look at his brother. “Don’t screw up with Nicole. It’s harder to get trust back than to win it in the first place,” Mike said.
With his brother’s words ringing in his ears, Sam strode out of the station.
Nicole stood across the street from the bakery, staring at the sign above her store. Her store. At the thought, a delightful shiver of excitement ran through her.
The new awning and sign had been delivered and installed. Lulu and Nic’s. Plain and simple. In a small town, everyone would know what products they sold, and all of Serendipity already knew Aunt Lulu from The Family Restaurant. Nicole had no problem giving her top billing.
“Looks amazing,” Sam said, walking up to her.
“Well, this is a surprise!” she said.
They hadn’t seen much of each other during the day this past week, as she and Lulu had decided to try a soft opening before next Monday’s big grand opening. They figured they could test out pastries and desserts, see what people preferred, where the glitches were in service and preparation, all before the advertised open date.
She arrived at the bakery by four a.m. to start baking for the day and often didn’t come home until late at night. There was much more to do than she’d anticipated, but she was operating on adrenaline and excitement and wasn’t the least bit tired. Sam insisted on being with her at night and she wasn’t complaining, even if part of his reasoning was that he wanted to make sure she remained safe.
They fell into a routine whereby they alternated whose place they slept at. He drove her to work in the morning and picked her up when she called him at night. They’d grab dinner in town or one of them would make something light, depending on whose house they ended up in, make love, and fall asleep curled in each other’s arms. So whether or not he wanted to admit his feelings for her, she was forging a place in his life. If he wanted her out when the situation with Tyler’s father and the Russians was resolved, he was going to have to say so.
In the meantime, she enjoyed every day for what it was, hoping she was showing him what could be. “Are you ready to head over to my parents’?” he asked.
She nodded. “But it seems like such an intimate family moment.” Not that she’d know of such a thing. “Maybe you should all be alone when Cara and Mike tell your folks she’s pregnant.”
He immediately shook his head. “Nobody will mind. It’s good news. And I want you there.”
“Are you sure you don’t just want to have an eye on me?” she asked, only half teasing.
He met her gaze. “Don’t overthink. Just go with the flow.”
Apparently he found the flow a lot easier to handle than she did. “Fine,” she said with forced brightness. “Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later, she was welcomed with open arms by Ella Marsden and the yipping dog jumping up and down on his hind legs at her feet.
“I’m so glad you could join us! Sunday family dinners are always more fun when we have company.” She enveloped Nicole in a warm, Jean Naté–scented hug.
Nicole recognized the perfume because she’d complimented Lulu’s fragrance and learned the name. If it were her own mother, she’d be choking on Chanel. This scent warmed her all over.
“I brought you some meringue puffs,” Nicole said, handing Sam’s mother a white bakery box with their new Lulu and Nic’s logo emblazoned in what she hoped would become their royal blue and yellow branding.
“Thank you, t
hat’s so sweet. I can’t wait to hear all about how everything’s going. I already stopped in, as you know.” Ella accepted the box.
“I do, and I appreciate your support.”
Ella smiled and turned to Sam, hugging him and kissing his cheek before letting him go.
“Hi, Mom. You look beautiful as usual.”
She waved off his compliment. “You just want me to send you home with extra meals you can freeze.” She laughed. “Come in. Everyone else is in the living room.”
Nicole joined Sam’s family and accepted their hellos and warm greetings. She was so grateful they welcomed her so easily, even Mike, who she knew had reservations in the beginning, and especially Erin and now Cole. Her heart had led her to this small town and these wonderful people. No matter what happened between her and Sam, she knew she’d made the right decision settling here.
But she couldn’t lie to herself. She didn’t just envy the tight family unit he had, she longed for the same thing for herself. Craved it, in fact. Being here today was like a big tease. A tiny sip of water in the middle of a parched desert, only to know it could be snatched away at any moment. She’d be devastated if she lost this personal connection to his family. She pulled in a shaky breath, mortified when a small, distressed cry escaped.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Sam walked up and placed an arm around her shoulder, pulling her against his warm, hard body.
“I’m great. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Sam eyed her warily. He’d gotten to know Nicole pretty well and although she said the right things, deep inside, something was brewing. He didn’t know what was bothering her, but he didn’t like that she wasn’t perfectly at ease and comfortable here.
“Do you want to leave as soon as Mike makes the announcement?” he asked quietly. “I can make an excuse and we can go.”
She shook her head. “No, of course not. I’m really thrilled to be here.” She stroked his cheek with her hand and in that instant, he wanted to make an excuse and disappear so they could be alone. “It’s just . . .”
“What? Tell me.”
“I’ve never experienced a real family celebration. One where everyone is truly happy for everyone else. No ulterior motives, no faking it for one reason or another. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone’s reactions.”
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