Welcome to Lake Ventures (New Haven Book 2)

by Dawn Doyle

  E: I’m fine. I just needed to go.

  N: You could’ve told me first.

  E: I didn’t want to interrupt you.

  N: You should have. I leave for LA and Vegas in the morning and I wanted to make sure you were ok before I left.

  Emily lay down on her bed. Suddenly exhausted even though it was only nine o’clock. She closed her eyes for a second before replying.

  E: You just did. I’m fine. Thank you, by the way, for breaking his nose. I’m sure that was difficult for you to stop there.

  N: What’s that supposed to mean?

  E: Riss told me you used to fight and that you could’ve easily killed him. Thank you for not doing that. I’d hate to see you go to prison.

  N: Why?

  E: Because, you’re my bitch, not anybody else’s.

  N: Really? I’m your bitch?

  E: Yes.

  N: Well, why don’t you come here and make me your bitch?

  Emily sat up and blinked her eyes. Looking down at her phone she checked the screen.

  N: You should have. I leave for LA and Vegas in the morning and I wanted to make sure you were ok before I left.’

  Oh thank God!

  She’d fallen asleep and had dreamt the last few texts.

  E: I’m fine, honestly.

  Emily cringed thinking about what she had just dreamt.

  I seriously need help!

  Her feelings were becoming clear. Well, clearer than they were before. All of the times she’d told herself ‘no’ she wanted to correct herself with a big fat ‘yes’. Even the day she met Nick, the sight of him had sent shivers down her spine. Nothing she’d ever felt before in her life.

  She’d filled herself with so much anger and resentment over the way Jeff had treated her, she couldn’t handle the new feelings she had for Nick, and had reacted badly to it.

  Emily knew she had to admit it to herself. To admit that what she felt for Nick, she had never felt for anybody before. Knowing now, what that was, was causing her eyes to well up.

  She was in love with him.

  Emily was glad that Nick would be in LA and Vegas for a couple of days because she wouldn’t be able to handle her emotions around him if she saw him straight away. He would see right through it and she was worried that he would laugh.

  *****

  Nick’s flight was over before he knew it. The whole time he was in the air, and in the airport, the drive to the airport… Ok, the whole time since Emily had left the party, he’d been thinking about her.

  He kept getting flashbacks of the party, when Jeff had turned up, and his blood would boil all over again. When he lost his temper, he had to hold himself back a hell of a lot but he’d still managed to break the asshole’s nose.

  He knew Emily had heard him calling her ‘My Emmy’. The others had too but they’d been clever enough not to mention it afterwards.

  When he’d gone after her… his chest ached as he saw the tears rolling down her cheeks. Holding her waist, to lift her onto the counter, she’d felt natural in his hands. He couldn’t stop himself from stroking his thumb across her cheek and when she opened her eyes, he moved forward without even thinking about it.

  Then Holly walked in.

  Glancing to Emily, he saw the confused look in her eyes as if she was wondering what the hell had just happened.

  He was too.

  But he also wondered if he had kissed her, would she have slapped him or reciprocated?

  In such a short time Emily had managed to get under his skin and stir emotions that he thought were long dead and some new ones he’d never felt before.

  He felt alive around her. He liked to annoy her just to see her mad. She looked so cute when her nose crinkled as she got angry. She looked different when she got angry at Jeff, though. Then she looked dangerous. Just her snarl could have a black bear cowering in its fur.

  Being with her, even though it was just work, was what Nick looked forward to. He didn’t like leaving town anymore, when before he used to wish his days away until he could. Craig never went away with him, mainly to make sure the office was looked after whilst he was gone, but he liked to be alone. It gave him time by himself and, not forgetting, his appointments with his doctor.

  He was missing Emily

  He snorted a laugh remembering when he told her that he did. He’d meant the message to look like he was being sarcastic, but he was actually telling the truth.

  Thinking further back to the day they met, Nick smiled when he thought how Emily looked when she saw him. Annoyed and surprised at the same time. He hadn’t expected his own reaction though and what he’d said to her. He couldn’t believe the words that fell from his mouth.

  Ryan had quizzed him about it afterwards and he’d just said he was pissed at what she’d said about Ryan and that he was just getting her back for it.

  Ryan hadn’t been convinced.

  Neither had he.

  Getting to his hotel, Nick lay down on his bed for a while. He had an appointment for that afternoon and he wanted to go in with a clear head.

  It didn’t help much. He could still feel her waist between his hands, the tingles still hadn’t left. He was going to be in so much trouble if Emily realized how he felt about her. She didn’t like him at the best of times, so knowing that he cared about her, more than he should, could drive her away and that was the last thing he wanted.

  Unrequited love. What a bitch. Hang on… love? Damn.

  Nick came out of the doctor’s office feeling pretty good. Hopefully he wouldn’t have many more appointments before he could stop altogether.

  His prescriptions had been reduced again because his nightmares hadn’t been as frequent. He still found sleeping a problem, especially when the dosage was reduced the first time, he would wake up way too early and unable to go back to sleep but the doctor was keen to get him off the pills.

  “Do you want to book you next appointment, Nick?” Tyler, the doctor’s receptionist, asked him

  “Yeah. Um… In a couple of weeks.”

  Tyler told Nick the available appointments and booked him in.

  “Ok, now don’t forget this time.” He chuckled.

  “What?” Nick asked. “What do you mean ‘this time’?” Nick hadn’t forgotten an appointment at all. Not even once.

  “Your assistant called and confirmed your appointment. She said you’d forgotten.”

  Emily.

  Nick’s stomach dropped. Then he felt angry.

  Emily had been checking up on him; prying into his business.

  She knew he was going to see a doctor and hadn’t said anything.

  Nick was pissed at what she’d done and he wanted to have it out with her. She had no right sneaking behind his back.

  Then again, he’d done the same to her when he first found out about Jeff. However, she had looked into him personally.

  He knew why he was angry and wasn’t just because she’d snooped. He would’ve done the same thing to make sure she was ok.

  Is that what she was doing?

  Nick was angry because he thought she would see him as a crazy person; someone that needed pity. Although, the way she acted made him think that she didn’t. He didn’t understand it.

  He would talk to her when he returned. He was only staying for a few days and then he would ask her what she was playing at.

  Nick made his way to the first of his clubs. They were the same type as The FunHouse. This one was called ‘Frisky Business’ and the other was called ‘Fantasy Land’.

  They brought in most of the money for his investments, along with the profits from said investments.

  Darren, the manager of The Funhouse, also visited the other clubs for him when he couldn’t. He was a good guy.

  Nick had a couple of hours to spare and he’d already booked to have his arm finished. It had healed really well and he was looking forward to having it completed.

  *****

  Chapter 10

  Sitting at her desk, E
mily was preparing herself for Nick’s first day back after his trip.

  She’d been worried where he was because he hadn’t replied to any of her emails. Not even her texts. She’d been lying awake thinking that maybe something had happened to him.

  When he’d called Diane telling her was going to be away for another two days, Emily was wondering why he hadn’t contacted her.

  At least he was ok and Emily had some extra time to mentally prepare herself for seeing him, after she’d realised how she felt.

  Holly had asked what was up with her, the next day, but Emily dismissed that anything was wrong. She could still hide her feelings from her family because she’d only come clean to herself.

  If she told anybody else, then there was a good chance that she would act different, worrying that Nick would find out.

  Looking into her empty coffee cup for the fifth time, she resigned to the fact that she had none left.

  Standing to get some more, the lift doors opened and Nick stepped out.

  Emily froze to the spot.

  He walked towards her, the fabric of his black pants pulling against his thighs with every step. His fitted suit jacket hung perfectly on his broad shoulders and the white of his shirt stood out against his skin.

  His silver tie complemented his eyes and his hair was mussed and pushed back, strands falling to the front like he’d run his hands through.

  He looked so perfect, Emily’s knees weakened and her mouth watered.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” He asked when he reached her, his eyes boring in to hers.

  Emily took a sharp breath with his tone.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You called to confirm my appointment. You had no right sticking your nose into my business!” He whisper shouted.

  If it was so Diane couldn’t hear, he was mistaken. She was listening in with avid interest.

  Emily’s stomach turned as she realised what he meant. She’d called his doctors’ office when he said he had food poisoning. She hadn’t been convinced and, she now admitted, was concerned for him.

  “When you told me you saw a doctor for bad food, I knew you were lying. Something was bothering you and I was actually worried.”

  “Why would you be worried? Why would you care?” He said, slightly raising his voice.

  Emily didn’t like the way he was talking to her. Like he was questioning her motives. She’d just said she was worried and now he wanted to know why.

  “Because you looked depressed and as much as I like to be a pain in your arse, I hadn’t done anything.”

  Nick stared at her for what seemed like forever.

  “Why do you go to see a doctor, Nick. Are you sick?” She asked, calming herself from what had the potential of being a huge fight.

  Nick didn’t answer her. Instead, he walked to his office and closed the door behind him.

  The look in his eyes before he turned was something she’d never seen in Nick’s eyes before.

  He was sad.

  *****

  Nick sat on the chair, in his office, resting his elbows on his desk and his head in his hands.

  He knew he had to tell Emily why he was the way he was, but he was scared. He didn’t want her to pity him and he didn’t want her to treat him differently. Most of all, he didn’t want her to look at him in disgust. Especially after the way she looked at him when he came out of the elevator. It had almost stopped him from asking her what she was doing snooping on him.

  For moment he thought her saw her looking at him like she wanted him.

  God, he wished that to be true, but he needed to know what was going on. What she knew, and if she’d told anybody.

  Her question about his health… he realised she didn’t know his doctor was a therapist. It hadn’t said so on the invoice but with her call, he hadn’t known if Tyler had mentioned it or Emily had asked.

  His office door opened slowly and he looked up as Emily walked in. He was expecting some backlash for just walking away without answering her.

  He readied himself for an outburst.

  She closed the door and stayed where she was, just looking at him, her head cocked to the side and eyes narrowed slightly as if studying him.

  “Where have you been?” She asked quietly. “We didn’t hear anything and I was actually worried that something had happened to you. You didn’t reply to any of my messages and then you call Diane to say you were staying longer.” Her voice raised in volume the longer she spoke.

  Emily was clearly annoyed with him for not contacting her.

  Nick ran his hands over his face and settled with them cupping over his nose and mouth. He was nervous as hell in case Emily’s reaction was to either laugh, or leave. He didn’t know which would be worse at that moment.

  “Nick. Are you sick?”

  Her big blue eyes, full of concern, looked into him; Into his soul, and he knew he couldn’t keep it from her.

  “I see a therapist.”

  Nick waited for Emily’s response but she stood still, waiting for him to continue.

  “I don’t want to go into specifics but… that’s what my doctor is. He’s my therapist. I’ve been going there for almost a year. Something… happened. I think I’m getting better.”

  Emily slowly walked towards him and he didn’t know what she was going to do. Her expression hadn’t changed and he was anxious for what she’d do next.

  “Do your family know?” She finally asked, so softly it was barely a whisper.

  “No. I don’t want them to know.”

  “It might help if they do.”

  Nick snorted a laugh.

  “You sound like the Doc.” He said with a grim smile, waiting for Emily to laugh or leave. Well, she hadn’t laughed so he waited for the moment she would turn her back on him and walk out the door. He felt nauseated thinking that he’d broken anything that could have possibly happened between them.

  He watched as Emily came round his desk and stood in front of him. He turned his chair to look up at her.

  “Who knows about your appointments?”

  “Just you.” His heart thundered in his ears and he could see the pulse in Emily’s neck pumping fast, seeing she wasn’t unaffected by his admission.

  Emily took a step closer and took Nick by surprise when she wrapped her arms around him. One around his shoulders and the other, his head, hugging him to her chest.

  Nick closed his eyes as she held him to her. He lifted his arms and gently wrapped them around her waist, absorbing her compassion.

  Feeling the warmth of her body next to his, her arms holding him, Nick felt better than he had done a long time.

  Longer than he remembered.

  Too soon, Emily pulled back, releasing him. He reluctantly let her go so she didn’t realize that his feelings for her were more than they should have been between them.

  “Thank you for telling me. I know that must have been difficult for you.”

  “You have no idea, Emmy.” He sighed. Happy that she didn’t react the way he was afraid of.

  Emily turned and Nick watched her as she walked to the door, opening it.

  “Oh and don’t think this gets you off my shit list.” She said with a smile before leaving.

  Nick laughed as he got back to work.

  *****

  He sees a therapist.

  Emily’s mind was elsewhere thinking about what had happened to Nick that made him need to see somebody. It must have been bad though if he was hiding it from his family.

  She felt special that Nick had confided in her. It meant he trusted her. Not just with what happened with Rochelle; everybody would have known about that because of the press, but this was personal. Personal to him and he wanted her to know.

  She had automatically reached out to comfort him, to let him know everything was ok like she always had with Holly. Her arms had wrapped around him before she realised but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings by pulling away, or making him think t
hat she felt differently. She didn’t. But when his arms wrapped around her waist and held her, she melted inside.

  His clean smell and hard body were doing things to her senses she had never felt before. Feeling dizzy and clear all at the same time.

  His arms felt strong around her and even though his head was pressed against her chest, her breasts pressing into his neck, he didn’t make any stupid comments and she knew he was accepting her comfort. She couldn’t let him think it was anything more than that and she wasn’t about to make him think she was going to treat him any differently, assuming he wouldn’t want that either.

  Knowing how she felt about him and what he’d told her, Emily knew that working for him was going to get awkward. Even more than it had been when she was in denial.

  Getting back to her work, she went over the details of the meeting that she and Nick were having that afternoon.

  An English company, hoping to expand their watch making business, was asking for a lot of money. Emily had researched the company and something about it felt familiar.

  Like she’d heard of it before.

  She couldn’t, for the life of her, remember where from so she put it to the back of her mind.

  Mr. Bamber would be arriving within the next hour and she read over the details a couple more times.

  Emily didn’t know why Nick wanted to meet with them. Their product wasn’t the best but with Nick’s magic touch, he’d probably turn it around. Just like he did with the nightclubs and Cafe’s.

  Magic touch. Mmmm I’d like some of that. Wake up Emily!!!