“I guess.”
Her father put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. “Don’t let your fears keep you from living your life. You deserve to be happy again.” He smiled and waved goodbye.
Her father’s words floated through her head the rest of the afternoon. Was she overcompensating with her need to be on her own? She couldn’t deny that whenever thoughts of Brad surfaced, she was filled with a powerful need to show the world she wasn’t that person anymore.
Her dad had raised another issue, as well. What exactly was the relationship between her and Ethan? She like being with Ethan. She liked talking to him, sharing Sadie’s little milestones. Their celebration in the park the other night had filled her with a sense of completeness. Part of her wanted to explore a relationship with Ethan, to see where it would lead. But a part of her still craved a life away from her small hometown.
What did Ethan want? He’d said he’d come to Dover to decide on his future, but she doubted that included a woman with a child. Yet he adored Sadie and she knew he cared for her. But how much did he care?
He’d given her compliments, supported her at every turn, but he’d never kissed her. Was that why he kept pulling away at those moments? Had her fierce need to leave Dover prevented him from moving forward? The memory of his strength and comfort the night Sadie had gotten sick washed through her. He’d held her together when she was breaking into pieces. She’d needed him then and she was afraid she needed him now. He was always in her thoughts and her dreams. Pulling out her desk chair, she sat down.
A few months ago she’d had a clearly defined goal, but Sadie had changed everything, and Ethan had added another obstacle in her path. She’d thought she wanted a life free of restrictions, but lately she’d started to think about the importance of friends, family and heritage.
But she also had to be practical. She needed a job, and the prospects in Dover were slim. Obtaining a settlement from Brad’s estate could take years. It was time to start sending out her résumés. She’d been waiting for the right moment. Well, it was here.
Her finger pressed the send button on her last résumé mailing right before the phone rang. When she hung up a few minutes later, her stomach churned, and a sob worked its way up her throat. Nicki scraped her hands through her hair. Just when she thought she had a handle on things, another obstacle popped up. Eyes burning with weariness, Nicki buried her face in her hands, praying fervently that this latest disaster wouldn’t spell the end of Latimer’s Office Supply.
“Nicki. Are you all right?”
The sound of Ethan’s deep voice washed over her with warm comfort. Having someone to turn to when things got messy was a blessing she’d never expected to appreciate. Meeting Ethan’s dark gaze, she was overcome with a deep need to step into his arms.
“The Hollis Company has canceled their account with us. They’re going to do business with Office Mart from now on.”
Ethan hunkered down beside her office chair, resting one hand over hers. “Did they say why?”
She nodded, as tears slid down her cheeks. Ethan’s kindness was her undoing. “They can offer better prices than we can. But we can’t make it without them—their account covers our basic operating expenses. The rent and all the utilities.”
Ethan squeezed her hand. “But with business picking up, maybe it won’t be too big of a blow.”
“No, it changes everything. Without Hollis, we’re right back to where we were when you first came here. The increased business will keep us treading water, but it won’t put the store back on its feet. If we lose any more accounts, we won’t survive.”
Ethan stood and took her hand, urging her to her feet. She knew she should remain professional, but she really needed a hug. Ethan pulled her close, wrapping her in strength and warmth and providing a solid anchor.
“We’ll work this out. I know it’s a blow, but don’t give up.”
“I can’t let my dad lose his business. Maybe I was a fool to think a little reworking could make a difference. We need a huge infusion of cash, and even that might not work. I can’t possibly offer the amount of merchandise and discounts the chain stores can. All I’m doing now is postponing the inevitable.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I could offer reward cards or self-checkout.”
Ethan tilted her face upward. “Those are good ideas, but I think you’d be smart to concentrate on what Latimer’s does best. Customer service. Every day I hear how much the customers appreciate the one-on-one attention they receive here. Isn’t that the bottom line of marketing, after all?”
She nodded. “I suppose.”
“Don’t give up yet. We’ll get our heads together and come up with something.”
“We?” Was he going to stand by her through this, too? “This isn’t your problem, Ethan. I’m grateful for all you’ve done, but without the Hollis account, I might have to let you go.”
Ethan pulled her closer. “That might not be so easy.”
The intimate look in Ethan’s eyes muddled her thoughts. “I can’t ask you to stay.”
He tilted his head. “I’d stay anyway. I promised you that I would be here for you. Nothing has happened to change that. I have a lot invested in this store. I’d like to see it back on its feet again.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because the owner’s daughter is an amazing, determined, beautiful, caring woman and I like working alongside her.” Ethan shifted slightly, his palms cradling her face, and his thumbs gently brushed over her damp cheeks. He lowered his head. Nicki held her breath, anticipating the moment she’d thought about for weeks.
His kiss was gentle, questioning, as if gauging her response. She melted into him, giving herself over to the sensation. He deepened the kiss, stealing the strength from her knees. She held on to his shoulders, grateful for his arm around her waist, the only thing holding her upright.
He pulled her closer, his heart beating fiercely against hers. He ended the kiss, taking her shoulders in his hands. She heard him mutter something, but couldn’t make sense of it.
When she opened her eyes, he was gone. Sinking into her desk chair, she tried to sort out her tangled emotions. The kiss had satisfied her curiosity and ripped the cover off her feelings. She was in love with Ethan Stone. For the first time, she found herself wondering what staying in town might offer.
* * *
Nicki dusted the electronics display, wiped the devices free of fingerprints, then stood back to scan the aisle. She liked keeping things neat and tidy. She liked even better that restocking the shelves had become a frequent task. The sidewalk sale had infused new life into Latimer’s. Unfortunately, the departure of Hollis had plunged the store back into survival mode. The store could limp along for a while, but she didn’t want to hand a struggling business back to her father when he returned to work.
But Latimer’s wasn’t the main thing on her mind now. Her love for Ethan was. What to do about it had kept her restless all night. The jingling doorbell drew her to the end of the aisle to greet her customer. Maybe they were here to look at the new electronics display. She’d been encouraged by the number of sales so far. Cassidy had spread the word about the cute cell-phone covers and Nicki had reordered three times.
The smile on her face faded a bit when she saw a woman she didn’t recognize. Tall and slender, her willowy frame was sheathed in a perfectly tailored navy dress that screamed business yet somehow reminded everyone she was a woman. She wore her dark hair short and slightly spiky on top. It was a style no one in Dover would ever adopt. Her high heels sounded an unfamiliar tattoo as she walked across the old wood floors.
Nicki was suddenly aware of her five-foot-four height, the baby weight she’d yet to shed and the plain tan slacks and simple pink blouse she wore. Scolding herself for making comparisons, she forced her smile u
p a notch. “Welcome to Latimer’s. Can I help you?”
The woman’s dark eyes scanned the store and Nicki could read the disdain in her posture. “I need to speak to the manager.”
“That would be me. Nicki Latimer. How can I help?”
The woman made a quick and dismissive assessment of her before lifting her chin. “I need to see Ethan Stone.”
A cold chill seeped into Nicki’s veins. “He’s not here at the moment. If you’d like to leave a message, I’ll tell him you’re in town.”
“No. I don’t think so. It’s important that I see him. Where does he live?”
“He has an apartment above the store,” Nicki said, immediately regretting she’d shared that fact with this stranger.
The woman scanned her again. “Convenient. I’ll wait for him there.”
“I couldn’t let you into his apartment without his permission.” The woman’s attitude scrubbed the warmth from her tone.
The woman took a step closer. “Oh, he won’t mind. I’m Karen Holt. We’re good friends.”
Her implication was clear. Was she an old girlfriend? Wife? Ethan hadn’t talked about anyone, certainly not a spouse. Nicki fought to keep a smile on her face. “I think I’d better call him. I’m his landlord as well as his employer, and I have a responsibility to protect his privacy.” She slid her phone from her pocket and dialed. It went to voice mail. Now what? The store would be closing in a few minutes. If this woman was someone important to Ethan and she turned her away, he might be upset. Nicki glanced at the clock. He should be back in fifteen minutes or so. He’d run to Durrant’s Hardware for lightbulbs. What could happen in that length of time?
She met the woman’s gaze as she saw triumph in her eyes. Nicki didn’t like feeling defeated. It was too reminiscent of the life she’d escaped. But she didn’t want to upset Ethan either. She faced the woman again. “Well, if you’ll give me a few moments to close up, I’ll take you upstairs.”
Nicki locked the front door and flipped the sign to Closed. She would close out the register when she came back downstairs. Lifting Sadie from her crib, Nicki grabbed the keys and stepped out into the store again. “Follow me please, and I’ll let you into his place.”
Waves of disdain washed from the unpleasant woman as Nicki led the way up the exterior stairs to the second floor. At the door to Ethan’s apartment, the woman huffed. “Quaint.”
Nicki pursed her lips. She’d like nothing better right now than to pinch the nose right off the woman’s perfectly-made-up face. She unlocked the door and stepped back. Karen stepped inside Ethan’s small apartment, keeping her arms close to her sides as if afraid to touch anything.
Nicki slipped the key into her pocket. “I’ll keep trying to reach him.”
“You do that.”
Downstairs, Nicki secured Sadie in her carrier and took her out to the front counter so they could visit while she counted the till and prepared the bank slip.
“I don’t know who she thinks she is, but I do not like her.” But what if Ethan did? Was this the kind of woman he preferred? Polished, sophisticated? What did it matter? But the thought of Ethan and that woman left her cold and oddly hurting inside.
Karen Holt knew things about Ethan Nicki didn’t. Like his past. Nicki no longer worried about the blanks on Ethan’s application. He’d filled in most of them for her. But there was still a lot she didn’t know and she wanted to know everything.
“It’s none of our business, is it, sweetie?” Gathering up Sadie, Nicki secured the store and started up the outside stairs. She was turning the lock in the exterior door when Ethan pulled up. He waved and hurried to join her. His gaze caressed her face, then slid to Sadie.
“All closed up for the night?”
She nodded and stepped into the hallway. Ethan reached out for Sadie, holding her securely against his chest and smiling. The sight created a warm rush in her chest. The tenderness this big man displayed gently holding the tiny baby touched her heart in a way she’d never felt before.
Nicki looked into his eyes. “You have company. A woman. Karen Holt.”
Ethan’s dark eyes narrowed, and the muscle in his jaw tightened. “Where is she?”
“In your apartment. She said you were old friends. She asked to wait in your place. I didn’t think you’d mind.”
“We are not friends. Karen is a cold, grasping...” He looked her in the eyes. “She’s not my friend.” She thought he was going to say something else, but he pressed his lips together and took her upper arm in his hand, steering her toward her apartment.
“I’m sorry. I should have made her come back later.”
The anger in Ethan’s eyes faded and they grew tender. “No. You did the right thing.”
Sadie began to fuss and squirm. “I think our little lady must be hungry.” He placed a kiss on Sadie’s temple before handing her back. He smiled at Nicki. “I’d better go deal with Karen.”
She nodded, stepping into her apartment and closing the door. He’d said “our little lady.” A smile spread over her face. She realized she’d like nothing better than to be his. Forever.
Now she only had to convince Ethan that they belonged together.
* * *
Ethan waited until Nicki was inside her apartment before entering his own. Karen was seated at his desk, using his laptop. His blood boiled. He stalked to the desk, slamming the lid closed. “What are you doing here?”
Karen jerked her hands away. “You could have taken off a finger. Hello to you, too.” She spun in the chair and smiled up at him. “You’re looking good, Ethan. I didn’t think small-town life would appeal to you.”
“What do you want?”
“To see you.” She stood. “You’ve been avoiding me. Changing phones. Not returning calls. I get concerned when my people go missing.”
“I told you I was taking a leave of absence. I also remember telling you I’d contact you when I was ready. I’m not ready.”
“But I am. There are places in turmoil, Ethan. Places I need to send you to capture the images of conflict the way only you can.”
Ethan fought the urge to toss her out. “I’m not going back to that. I told you I’m done taking pictures.”
“Oh? Then what are those photos I saw on your laptop scrolling across the screen? Your new employer and her kid. You must have a camera here someplace.”
“Cell phone. It’s not the same thing.”
“The point is, you’re still compelled to take pictures. You can’t help it. It’s in your blood. Canon, Nikon, point-and-shoot or cell, it doesn’t matter. That’s why I want you back. You’ve hidden out in this backwater long enough. Time to come back to Atlanta and go to work.”
“I like it here. I might stay permanently. If you won’t give me the time I need, then I’ll hand in my resignation here and now.”
Karen crossed her arms. “I refuse to accept it.”
“You can’t force me to leave.”
“No. But I can make you want to leave, given a big enough incentive. Like a Pulitzer.”
Ethan rested his hands on his hips. He’d won many awards for his photography. Several prestigious ones in the field. But he’d never considered the Pulitzer Prize. “You’ve lost touch with reality, Karen.”
“What if I told you it’s already been submitted for consideration?”
Ethan narrowed his gaze. The smug look on Karen’s face told him she wasn’t bluffing. “How is that possible? I haven’t even sent you my last photo file.”
Karen’s grin widened. “Well, actually, you did. When you were in the hospital in Atlanta recuperating from your wounds, they called me to come and collect your things. I’m listed as your emergency contact, remember? So I got your camera and processed the files.”
“You had no right.” Nausea pooled in his gut
at the thought of Karen taking his things and the fact that she’d published his photos without his approval.
“Oh, but I do. Check your contract. The network owns your work. Not you.”
Ethan took a step closer to his boss. “There are certain pictures in those files that should never be seen.”
She smiled and opened his laptop again. “You mean like this one?” She tapped the keys and the image of the mother and child filled the screen.
Ethan looked away. He should have deleted the picture. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t. “You can’t publish that.”
“Everyone should see that picture. It’ll put your name on the map. It’ll lift TNZ to the top of the chain.”
Ethan ran his hands through his hair. He couldn’t let her do it. He couldn’t let others see the horror he had. Especially Nicki. What would she think of him after seeing that? “Don’t do this.”
“Why? Are you so smitten with your little store manager and her kid that you’d throw away a chance at a Pulitzer? I don’t think so. You win that and you can do whatever you want with your career.” She turned and tapped a few more keys, bringing up a picture of Nicki and Sadie. His heart skipped a beat. Nicki’s love for her child was evident in her eyes, the glow on her skin and the way she held the baby.
Karen looked back at him. “Even with a cell-phone camera, you can’t help but capture true emotions. Think about it. It’s always been you and your camera. Nothing else fits into your life, Ethan. Nothing else defines you.”
Karen stood, picked up her purse and walked to the door, stopping at the threshold to smile at him. “And what will you do for a living? Work here? Filling shelves for minimum wage? I know you think you’re in love with her, but you know you’re not cut out to be a family man. Raising kids, mowing grass, church on Sunday.”
“Stop.”
“I know you, Ethan. You’re a famous, well-respected photographer. You like nice things. You like good food and fine wine and travel. You won’t last six months in this one-horse town.”
Love Inspired November 2014 #2 Page 35