“I try to write all my books that way.”
“And you’re getting closer every time, but this one will be the one to put you over the edge.” She handed the phone back to Lindsey. “Do this picture justice.”
Nicole glanced down at the image, knowing it was time to add her heart to the story and to write about the man she still adored.
~ ~ ~
Nicole arrived in Raleigh shortly after four in the afternoon. Her brother was waiting at baggage claim. As soon as he grabbed her luggage, they headed out the exit.
“Why didn’t Mom and Dad come to get me?”
Thad looked left as he merged into traffic on I-40. “Dad’s busy at the store, and Mom’s visiting Aunt Mary in the hospital.”
Nicole’s head turned quickly toward her brother. “Aunt Mary’s in the hospital again? Is it serious?”
Thad nodded. “She had another heart attack, but the doctors say her prognosis is good. Mom’s going to stay with her for a few days after she’s released and back on her feet.”
“What’s Dad going to do in the meantime?”
“He’s going to spend a couple nights at my house. Deb’s already got the guest bedroom set up.”
Nicole’s eyebrows rose. “Does that mean I have the entire DeLancey house to myself?”
Thad cut his eyes to her, his gaze pensive. “Actually, we have a favor to ask of you.”
She sighed. “What is it?”
“We need you to go down to the beach and check on the house. There’s been a few storms touching the coast lately. Dad wants to make sure things are secure before the season kicks into full swing.”
“Can’t you do it?”
He snorted. “I wish. I’m overloaded at work as it is, and I’ve been helping Dad at the store on the weekends.”
Nicole glanced out the window. “So, he wants me to do what exactly?”
“He wants you to go down and stay for a couple weeks. Check for leaks, cracks, or anything else that needs fixing. Let him know if you find anything.”
She put her feet on the dash. “You know that if I go down there, I’m going to be hanging out on the beach and getting a good tan.”
He snorted again. “If I know you, you’ll be sitting in the shade with your face in a book.”
She laughed. “You know me well, big brother.”
He reached over, patting her leg. “Go. Relax. Catch some rays and try to enjoy the peace and quiet. Maybe you can get some writing done.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got a few ideas I’ve been batting around.”
“So it’s all set. I’ll let Dad know.”
“Okay,” she said, focusing her gaze out the window at the passing scenery.
Thad glanced over at her. “I’m glad things are working out for you, Sis. It must be a huge relief to have Mom and Dad off your back.”
She dropped her feet back to the floor. “They’re still pushing for me to get a regular job, but they’ve eased up a lot since I paid them back for the plane tickets.” She grinned over at him. “I think they were surprised when I received my first royalty check.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, Dad’s eyes were huge when he counted all the zeros.”
She laughed with him, watching the road and the other cars fly by.
~ ~ ~
Nicole sat on the deck, watching the waves crashing against the beach. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and she was enjoying it. Her legs were glistening with suntan lotion, and her toenails were painted a flirty blue, the color of the North Carolina sky. There was a slight breeze blowing, ruffling the hair around her face.
She smiled as she breathed in the sea air, perusing the book in her lap: an advanced reader’s copy of her newest work of fiction. Audrey sent it to her, along with notes on her current work in progress. She also wanted an update on the Reece Collins story.
Nicole grimaced as she thought of it. The manuscript was nearly done. All that was needed was the happily ever after, but she was having trouble picturing it. Her mind was drawing a blank.
Like Reece, her hero said all the right words and did all the right things to keep her heroine in his thrall, but Nicole couldn’t seem to find the want to end the story. There had to be something more.
She stood up, stretching her arms above her head and beginning her afternoon walk toward the dunes. Since her arrival a week ago, she’d gotten into the habit of getting up early in the morning to take a run down the beach, passed the pier, and back again. She’d then shower, eat breakfast, and sit in front of the computer to tap the day away. She was getting a lot of work done as the ideas flowed from her head to the computer like wine into a glass.
She’d then putter away the afternoon, reading or walking the beach, and sometimes going for a swim if the water wasn’t too rough. She’d end the day with a sedate walk to the dunes and back, searching for shells along the way.
She heard something coming up behind her but wasn’t worried. Tugger, her English bulldog, had decided to tag along.
“Hello, Tug, did you think I forgot about you?” He snorted, huffed, and panted alongside her. “I’ll fix us something to eat when we get back. How does that sound?” He replied with a grunt and shuffle, grunt and shuffle.
Nicole kept walking, even when Tugger would stop every ten steps for a rest. Bulldogs were awesome creatures with big personalities, but they were lazy as hell. They weren’t the most energetic of breeds, but they were loyal and constant with bad attitudes. She and Tugger had gone toe to toe quite a few times.
“Hey, Nicole, how are you?”
She turned to her nearest neighbor, waving. “I’m good, Mrs. Campbell. How are you?”
“We’re all well. How’re your folks?”
“They’re keeping busy.”
“Will they be coming down to join you?”
“I’m not sure. I never know what they’re doing until they’re doing it.”
Her neighbor laughed. “Tell them I said hello.”
“I will.” She kept trudging along the beach with Tugger at her side.
When they reached the dunes, she stood in the surf, staring out at the ocean before turning back the way they came. She stopped, bending to search for seashells to add to her collection. She couldn’t find any decent ones tonight. She knelt, scooping at the wet sand and watching water instantly fill the hole. She scooped again, watching as the little hermit crabs tried to escape.
In an unexpected burst of energy, Tugger began digging with her. Soon wet sand was flying everywhere.
Just before she gave up for the night, Tugger’s nail pinged on a shell. She pushed him out of the way before he could damage it. It looked like a clam shell or maybe a scallop shell. She couldn’t remember the exact name for it, but it had a beautiful pink and glimmering sheen.
It was still complete; there were no chips in it except for a hole on top with the shape of a heart. It was perfect. She closed her eyes, picturing the end of the story. Her hero and heroine standing on the beach when he gives her this shell with the heart in the middle.
She sprinted back to the house with Tugger chugging along beside her, and fired up her laptop. She spent the next three hours bringing her love story to its conclusion and crying copious tears. She was glad she could give her characters their happily ever after, but she was wishing she hadn’t been denied her own.
~ ~ ~
Reece sat at the table, smiling, chatting, signing autograph after autograph, and having his picture taken with a multitude of his fans.
His hand was cramping from holding the pen for so long, but he wasn’t complaining. These folks were the reason his career was still going strong, despite the bad movies and bad press.
He glanced up at the line in front of him, still filing out the door. It looked like he’d be pu
tting in a little overtime on this one because he never walked away, leaving a fan empty handed.
“Hello,” he said, smiling up at the girl, standing with her mother. “Who should I make it out to?”
On and on it went, more hours passing with the line growing slowly smaller.
A cute little redhead walked up to the table, causing his heart to jump in excitement. Could it be? No, it wasn’t her. This girl was too young to be Nicole, although she did bear an uncanny resemblance. It must be the red hair. He found he was a sucker for redheads.
“Hello,” he said as he pulled a picture toward him. “Who should I make this out to?”
“I don’t want your autograph,” she said, waiting for him to look up. “I actually have a picture for you.” She slid it across the table.
Reece stared at the picture as if in a haze. It had been blown up and was slightly distorted, but it was the snapshot he’d taken with Nicole at the beach. “How did you get this?”
“I stole it off my sister’s phone.”
His eyes widened as he looked back at her, the resemblance even more startling this close. “You’re Lindsey?”
“Yes.” She leaned across the table, planting her hands on opposite sides of the picture. “I don’t know what your side of the story is, but I do know Nicole’s been miserable for a long time now.”
“Where is she?” He glanced around, his gaze hopeful.
“She’s not here. She bolted for home the moment she found out you were in town.”
His shoulders slumped. “I saw her the other day. I wanted to talk to her, but she ran. She’s always running away from me.”
“That’s because you hurt her pretty bad, Mr. Collins.”
“How did I do that? Those pictures weren’t my fault.”
Lindsey shook her head. “It wasn’t about the pictures or the paparazzi. You did something that devastated her. It’s been over a year. She’s just now starting to come back from it.”
Reece’s eyes widened. “I would never hurt her,” he swore. “I lo . . .” he almost shouted, glancing around. “I love her,” he stated in a more level tone.
Lindsey smirked. “I figured as much when I saw this picture.” Her gaze grew serious. “Look, I don’t know what went down the last day she was with you, but something spooked her. She’s been running scared ever since.”
“She has to know I would never intentionally hurt her. I have to find her.” He watched her, his expression tense but hopeful. “You know where she is, don’t you? Help me make this right.”
“I’m here to help you make it right.” She peered over her shoulder for Audrey to join them.
“Hi, I’m Audrey, Nicole’s editor. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” She shook his offered hand. “Nicole’s writing doesn’t do you justice.”
He was surprised to hear it. “Nicole writes about me?”
The woman rolled her eyes, reaching into her bag and handing him three books. “These are ARC’s of Nicole’s stories; the titles were released simultaneously. If you read them, you’ll notice all her heroes have at least one aspect of you: your hair, your eyes, or your body. She writes about you constantly.” She then placed a flash-drive on the table. “This is her latest work in progress. It’s about an aspiring author and a movie star. Does that ring any bells?”
He lifted puzzled eyes to her. “She’s writing about us?”
She shrugged. “To an extent, but unlike real life, this couple will get their happy ending.”
He took the flash-drive, studying it. “Why are you giving this to me?”
She crossed her arms. “Because we love Nicole and have a feeling you do too.”
He nodded, running a shaking hand through his hair. “I do. I’ve been going crazy without her.”
Lindsey snorted in derision. “Yeah, we can tell. Out with a different woman every night, partying, and playing it up.”
“That’s not the real me.”
“That’s the only you she’s seeing at the moment.”
He glanced between the two women. “Tell me where she is. I’ll go to her right now.”
Audrey sat her hip on the corner of the table, leaning over. “Tell me one thing, Mr. Collins. Is Nicole worth throwing your career away for?”
He didn’t hesitate. “Nicole is worth any sacrifice I have to make.”
Audrey and Lindsey looked at each other, smiling as Lindsey flipped the photo over. “This is the address of my parent’s beach house. You’ll find her there.”
He scooted his chair backward. “You have no idea what this means to me.”
Audrey laughed. “Yeah, I think we do. Good luck, Mr. Collins. I hope you get the girl.”
The women walked away as Reece called the event coordinator over to tell him of an unforeseen emergency. He apologized profusely, promising to contact the sponsoring organization about scheduling a make-up event. He didn’t stick around to see if they agreed or not.
He had to catch a plane to see a special girl about his broken heart.
Chapter 8
The banging on the sliding glass door woke her up to a darkened living room. She must’ve fallen asleep watching Pride and Prejudice. She glanced over at the DVD player. Yep, the display was black. It had gone into sleep mode.
The banging came again. She hoped a shutter hadn’t broken loose. The wind was howling like a banshee and rain was slashing hard against the windows. She wished it would let up soon. She hated storms, and Tugger was no better. He’d high-tailed it upstairs to her room at the first clash of thunder. The coward.
She then noticed it wasn’t just the living room that was dark; the entire house was without light. Had the power gone out? She reached over her head to flick on the lamp. Nothing happened. Yep, the power was caput.
Great, she thought, I’m in horror story scenario number one. The power is out and there’s a serial killer at the door.
The banging came again, joined by an all-too-familiar voice—a voice she thought she’d only hear in the movies from now on. She must be still asleep. There was no way he was outside in the pouring rain, pounding at her door.
Nicole jumped up, running to the kitchen to unhook the latch on the sliding glass door. She pushed it wide, staring up at the hulking, breathing darkness, bracing her hands on the doorframe.
“Colin, is that you?” Lightning flashed in that moment—her question answered.
He didn’t say a word as he pushed her back into the room, not stopping until he had her pressed against a wall, ignoring the slashing rain blowing in around them. His mouth swooped down, taking hers and leaving no room for more questions.
Suddenly, Nicole didn’t care why he was here. She wanted him to keep kissing her. He bent his knees, lifting her and letting her wrap her legs around his waist as his big hands braced her buttocks.
Their kiss continued forever, and their mouths fused together. They barely came up for air before going back again.
She was sopping wet, literally, as his T-shirt soaked into her pajama bottoms, and the heat of his torso set her center on fire.
“Where is it?” he asked, his tone demanding an answer and his mouth roaming her face.
“Where is what?” she asked incoherently.
“Your bedroom. Where is it?”
“Upstairs.”
He bit the underside of her jaw. “That’s too far away.” Hefting her high in his arms, he blindly steered around obstacles in the dark, carrying her to the living room. He dropped to his knees, laying her down and tugging his T-shirt over his head. It plopped in a soggy heap on the floor.
Nicole scraped her teeth over her bottom lip as she reached for his belt buckle. He pushed her hands away.
“Get undressed,” he demanded. She complied, lifting her hips, shoving the pa
jama bottoms down, and kicking them away.
Reece gave her no time to prepare as he jerked her hips to him, thrusting forward.
“Ahhh,” she moaned, feeling the fullness of him down to her core. “I almost forgot what this felt like.”
“I’ll make sure to leave a permanent mark on you this time,” he swore as he thrust against her. “I’ll make you forget everything but the feel of me inside you.” He rolled them over. “You do remember how to ride, don’t you?”
She grinned. “I have a fair recollection.” And lifted then slid down, as though she were cantering.
“Do it again,” he ordered, moaning as she did so. “I’m going to make you saddle sore.” He thrust up hard as she was coming down.
“Ohhh,” she cried, as his thrusts grew strong and forceful. “Don’t . . . stop . . . now.”
Her body was clasping around him hard. He could feel she was on the brink of climax. He shifted her forward, taking her with his mouth, his tongue flicking at her center and bringing her to completion. She arched back, her hands digging into his thighs as her body convulsed around that magical instrument.
He lightly tongued her inner thighs as she came back down to earth, her scent wafting through the room. “I love the way you smell,” he whispered, positioning her over his shaft again. He pulled her hips down, impaling her as he sat up straight, wrapping her legs around him.
They moved together, their hands roaming over each other. Their mouths fused, clashing their tongues.
Reece held her shoulders down as he thrust up one last time, his body shaking with its release. His arms tightened around her as he laid his head on her chest.
Nicole was kissing the top of his head, combing her fingers through his rain-drenched hair. “I’m so glad you’re not a serial killer.”
An Accidental Love Affair Page 13