She’d had all these fantasies about her and Reese raising a family together and growing old together, which had been tossed out the window when he told her, frankly but gently, that he didn’t want to get married and didn’t want kids.
“So, what are your plans for The Winthrop Hotel Group?”
“Honestly?”
“Yes, honestly.”
“Remember my volunteerism idea I told you about? It’s called The Winthrop Helping Hands Program, and the results after one year of testing came back very positive. Employee morale improved, productivity improved, and customer service scores increased across the board.” She explained the details of the program to him and finished by saying, “It’s a radical idea, but it worked, and we’re going to roll out the program to the entire company.”
“That’s great, but why don’t you look more excited?” He dipped into his ice cream and ate a spoonful of vanilla.
“Because if it’s successful, that’s wonderful, but once we tweak the program and have someone to oversee it, what will I do? Do I go to work at the company?”
“You could. Why couldn’t you?” He looked genuinely perplexed.
“I don’t have any hotel management experience. Andy…” Reese stiffened at the mention of her fiancé’s name, but if they were going to be friends, he’d have to get used to hearing his name. “Andy thinks I should leave hotel management to the people who do the work day in and day out.”
“It’s your company.”
“But I don’t have any experience, and running a multimillion-dollar company takes intelligence and hard work, and knowledge about the field.”
“No one is born knowing how to run a business. But you’re smart, and you work hard, and you care about people. That will more than make up for your lack of knowledge. You should absolutely be more involved in the running of your company.”
“They’re doing fine without me.” She swirled her spoon through the softened ice cream, blending the two flavors so that chocolate chunks cozied up to caramel swirls.
“Maybe they are doing fine without you, but that doesn’t mean they can’t do better.”
Nina cradled the cup in her hand. “I really do want to do more. I could give it a try,” she said hesitantly.
“You should,” Reese said in a firm voice. He was so confident in his abilities and knew exactly what he wanted to do. He didn’t care about running his mother’s company—all he cared about was those darn computers and making sure the network ran like a well-greased machine.
Reese could spend hours working, and she used to love watching him do it. He wouldn’t move to eat or get a drink. She hated to disturb him, but her selfish self would go to him anyway, in need of a kiss or a snuggle. His focused face looked so sexy as he sat hunched over the computer, working on code or whatever.
Sometimes he’d be so engrossed he wouldn’t hear her enter the room, which meant she’d have a minute or two to watch him undetected before he finally noticed her presence. Then he’d invite her in and spend the next few minutes explaining the current project, and she’d sit on his lap, basking in his attention and the inclusion in his work, comfortable in his embrace and—
Don’t do this. Don’t reminisce.
“You’re focusing on the volunteer aspect of the business because that’s where you’re comfortable, and you think that’s all you can manage, but I don’t believe that,” Reese said.
“If I step into a leadership role, I have to know what I’m doing. I don’t want to fall flat on my face. We have thousands of employees around the globe, and I can’t look bad.”
“They work for you. They have to impress you, not the other way around.”
“It’s not that simple, Reese, and you know it.”
“Do you believe your father was a smart man?”
“Of course. He was brilliant.”
“Would a smart man leave his entire fortune to someone who couldn’t handle it? If he thought you couldn’t, he would have split up the business or found another way to take care of you while making sure someone else is in charge. He left you in charge. You own everything. He believed in you. Isn’t it time you believe in yourself?”
She’d never thought of it that way.
“You’re right. Besides, I have two consultants to help me. I need to put them to work on helping me with a plan to take over the company.”
“Good. And you shouldn’t let anyone make you feel like you can’t handle the work.”
Nina stiffened. She regretted mentioning Andy’s comment. “It’s not a big deal.”
Reese angrily scraped the bottom of the paper cup. “You know what Ella went through with her ex. He stifled her. She hid her intelligence and gave up her career for that guy, and we—her family—had to watch from the sidelines as she contorted herself into someone else to make him happy, and he still wasn’t happy. And she sure as hell wasn’t.”
“My relationship with Andy isn’t like that,” Nina insisted.
“Not now, but it could be.”
“I’m not changing for him, but marriage is about compromise.”
“What is he compromising about?” Reese demanded.
“I didn’t agree to spend time with you so you could badmouth my boyfriend.”
“I just asked a question,” Reese said.
“Don’t ask questions about him because your questions aren’t innocent.” Fuming, Nina set the cup beside her. The ice cream pooled in the bottom, a thin soupy liquid that no longer looked appetizing. “You have no right to talk about him.”
“I can talk about whomever I damn well please. It’s my goddamn tongue. He’s busy going back and forth to New York although you thought he’d be spending more time with you here—and don’t deny it, because I know I’m right. You expect me to believe this is the man for you?” Reese snorted in disgust. “You won’t be satisfied with an absentee boyfriend. You like having your man near, spending time with him, going out. Sharing laughs.”
“You know me so well,” Nina said sarcastically.
Nina didn’t know what else to say because Reese had accurately summed up her desires in a partner.
Her eyes followed the children running through the water. Some of the parents paid attention. Some snapped photos. Some talked on the phone and didn’t pay attention nearly as closely as they should. But they were all parents, and she wanted that life. She wanted the husband and the children. She wanted to come home to someone. She wanted to cuddle with her husband after the kids were tucked into bed. She wanted stability, normalcy, love. Sometimes you had to sacrifice to get what you want.
Looking off into the distance, she finally found the words. “You know what my mom told me after you and I broke up? She said I needed to find a happy place, like she did after my dad left her. One place where I can go to recharge. Regroup. A place that brings me peace…and happiness. It could be a favorite resort or simply a favorite restaurant where the food is good, and though you sit in the corner, everybody knows your name and makes you feel welcomed. My mother loves our Newport cottage on the beach. If she could go there all the time, she would.
“I never took her advice back then. I wallowed in self-pity and, eventually, I didn’t hurt anymore.” She swallowed. “When my dad died, I felt lost for a long time, and then I remembered what my mother said. ‘Find your happy place.’ I still haven’t found it, but I found something close. I loved traveling, and I loved the work I did helping people. That’s how I met Andy, and we share the same beliefs and want the same things out of life.
“So maybe our ideas don’t always line up perfectly, but I won’t let you badmouth him.” She finally became brave enough to look at Reese. Like his mother, he hid his emotions, and she couldn’t decipher his thoughts. “He’s not perfect, but he loves me. And you don’t have to like him, because he’s not your boyfriend. He’s mine.”
Reese stood up abruptly. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”
They walked back to the SUV in silence and only said a
few words to each other on the way to her apartment. When he pulled up in front of the hotel, she didn’t wait for him to come around and open the door.
She hopped down from the vehicle and rushed inside.
Chapter 9
Another friend getting hitched, which meant another event he had to attend. Reese sighed as he handed the valet his keys and headed toward the back of the stately manor where a garden party was taking place.
He straightened the lapels on his tan blazer as he strolled across the grass, smiling and nodding at acquaintances. Pockets of guests hovered near the refreshments while others congregated in groups, standing around or sitting at the tables set up all over the huge back yard. A cheer went up from the group of men playing bocce ball, while a few feet away four guests were having an intense political debate that included raised voices and plenty of rolled eyes.
The man and woman of the hour appeared before him and Reese came to a stop.
“Reese! My man.”
Richard flung an arm around his shoulders. Both his parents ran hedge funds, and he was one of only a few Black students Reese went to school with. His future wife was short, blonde, and hailed from Sweden, though she’d lived in the country since she was five years old and didn’t have an accent.
“Richard, what’s up? Hi, Ingela,” Reese said.
“Hello, Reese. It’s good to see you.”
He bent to give her a quick air-kiss, but she planted a real one at the corner of his mouth, on the side away from Richard. Reese stiffened and then quickly recovered, stepping back from her lingering lips. He’d always been uncomfortable in her presence, and that little stunt took him by surprise.
“Help yourself to anything you want,” Ingela said. Because she stood in front of Richard, he couldn’t see the way she eyed Reese with her suggestive comment.
“Your brother’s over there.” Richard pointed to where Stephan stood in the middle of a semi-circle, telling a story that had everyone laughing openly.
“Thanks.”
Reese escaped and went over to where his brother held court. He tapped him on the shoulder, and Stephan stopped mid-sentence. When he saw Reese, his light brown eyes, which matched their mother’s, widened. “Hey, look who’s here. My little bro.”
He knew that Reese hated when he said that but did it anyway. He finished telling the story and of course, everyone fell out laughing. Stephan had a good sense of humor and enjoyed being the life of the party. After Reese exchanged a few words with the rest of the group, the two brothers wandered away to talk privately.
“Where’s Roselle?” Reese asked.
“She decided to skip this event. I can’t blame her because I’m probably going to get out of here within a half-hour.” He glanced at his watch, already counting down the time.
“I don’t think I’m going to stay long, either. I just wanted to show my face.”
“So, I heard you’re still going to make a play for Nina?”
“Who told you that? Big-mouth Ella?”
Stephan chuckled. “Be nice. She saved our asses again with Mother. So, was she right?”
“Yeah. I’m making a play for Nina, boyfriend or no boyfriend.” Though he’d screwed that up a little bit the last time they saw each other. Seemed every time he took one step forward with her, he took two steps back.
“You talked to Nina since the two of you had brunch on Sunday?”
Reese shook his head. “I called and left a message a couple of days ago to see if she was free any time this weekend, but I haven’t heard back.”
“Do you think—well, speak of the devil,” Stephan murmured. He took a sip of punch and directed his gaze over Reese’s right shoulder.
Following his brother’s line of sight, Reese turned and saw Nina at one of two beverage tables set up in the yard. She wore a yellow and white horizontally striped dress that hugged her hips before the high-low hemline floated around her knees and the back of her calves. The sleeveless bodice showed off bare arms, and a wrist adorned with gold bangles.
Her normally thick, bouncy Afro was straightened, and her hair parted in the middle to lie in shiny loose waves around her face and on her shoulders. The sight of her elevated his spirits and destroyed his peace of mind at the same time.
Her eyes were perfection. Her nose was perfection. Her cheeks were perfection. She was perfection. No other woman before or after Nina had ever affected him so profoundly.
Suddenly, she laughed and did that cute little thing she always did where she wrinkled her nose in mock disgust. Reese would’ve kept his eyes on her regardless, but he definitely couldn’t stop watching because she hadn’t arrived alone. She came in on the arm of a dark-haired white-passing male. None other than Andy von Trapp. His father was white, his mother Black, but none of his features hinted at his biracial identity.
Reese never expected that seeing them would be this hard and suffered through the pain that arched through him. “Why’d she bring him?”
“He’s her boyfriend, so it makes sense she’d bring him as a date,” Stephan said.
“He shouldn’t be here.” His jaws locked so tight with tension, one would think they were wired shut.
“Says you. Don’t cause a scene.”
“I leave the scene-causing to you. I, on the other hand, am going over there to say hello.”
“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t do it,” Stephan warned.
Reese started toward them.
“Reese…”
He brushed off his brother’s restraining hand and casually strolled to where the couple stood.
“Hi, Nina,” he said.
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Hi, Reese.”
“You get my message?”
“I, um, I did, but I didn’t get a chance to call you back. I’ve been super-busy the past two days.”
Yeah, right.
“Andy.” Reese stuck out his hand.
“Do I know you?” Andy asked with a furrowed brow, shaking his hand.
Taken aback, Reese stared at him. He couldn’t believe this guy was pretending he didn’t know him. They might not be friends, but they went to the same school where Reese was a star athlete, and currently, they at least knew some of the same people.
“Reese Brooks. We went to Westerly Academy at the same time. My mother is Sylvie Johnson, who runs SJ Brands. Any of that ring a bell?”
Andy’s face twisted into deep thought. “No, still doesn’t,” he said slowly.
The muscles in Reese’s forearms bunched with the restraint needed not to slam Andy’s head against the table. Maybe that would jog his memory.
Obviously sensing his annoyance, Nina jumped into the conversation. “Sylvie Johnson is the aunt to the Johnsons out of Seattle. You know, they make the number-one beer in the country at Johnson Brewing Company.”
Reese watched as she gently stroked the other man’s arm and, once again, his muscles tightened as he fought the overwhelming urge to slap away her hand. She should be touching him like that, not Andy.
Awareness sparked in Andy’s eyes. “Oh, of course I know them. So you’re a member of their family?”
“Cousins.”
“Well, that’s nice.”
More than irritated, Reese decided to get under the other man’s skin.
“Speaking of nice, you look great, Nina.” He let his gaze travel over her shapely figure and the tempting cleavage revealed by the low neckline of the dress. He licked his lips. He couldn’t help it. He could almost taste her breasts and the hardened nipples in his mouth, just like he could almost taste that kiss from over three years ago.
Nina’s hand casually covered her chest, and that’s when he realized he’d been staring. Her eyes begged him not to continue, but he ignored the silent plea.
“But you always do, don’t you?” he added, biting his bottom lip.
A frown creased Andy’s forehead and disappeared almost as quickly as it arrived. He rubbed up and down Nina’s back. “Yes, she always looks fabul
ous.”
Reese glared at his hand, then locked eyes with him. “You’re a lucky man, Andy.”
Andy stood a little taller, undoubtedly fully aware now that Reese posed a threat. “Thank you. Don’t I know it.” He glanced between them, his gaze a little troubled. “How do you two know each other?”
“Nina and I met after a football game between Westerly and Springfield. I saw her in the stands and found her after the game, and we dated for a while.”
“About a year and a half. A long time ago, but we’re friends now.” She smiled at Andy.
“I see. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Reed.”
“My name is Reese.”
“Oh, excuse me. I’m terrible with names.”
Was he smirking? This motherfu—
A solid hand landed on Andy’s left shoulder. “Andy, my friend. We need to chat.” Richard glanced at Nina. “Mind if I borrow him for a few minutes?”
“Not at all,” Reese answered.
Nina shot him a look. “That’s fine. Don’t keep him too long.”
“I’ll bring him back right away.”
Andy dropped a soft kiss to her lips, and Reese tensed at the display of intimacy. After Andy walked away with Richard, he met Nina’s eyes.
“Your man is fucking disrespectful.”
“Maybe he was following your lead,” she said tartly. “I’m not in the mood for your macho act. Save it for your groupies.”
“I don’t have groupies.”
She let her silence indict him.
“I don’t,” Reese insisted.
“Whatever. You were being a jerk.” She turned away from him, and though her hair hid most of her face, he could see her jaw settle into hard lines.
“Was I?”
“Andy is a good guy,” she said defensively. “You, however, are not. Are you proud of yourself?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She stepped closer and glanced over her shoulder, confirming that no one paid attention to them. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. That little stunt you pulled, paying me a compliment in front of him.”
Deeper Than Love (Brooks Family Book 6) Page 6