Reese swallowed back his hatred for the man before him. He hated him for no other reason than from now until death, he would be the one who kissed Nina. He would be the one she climbed into bed with each night, and he got to make love to her. She would kiss his shoulders when he was up late working and be the mother of his children. Be his partner, his confidante, his friend.
Andy snickered as he backed away. “Have a nice life.”
He left Reese standing there, immobile after the door had closed, and he was all alone.
With a low growl, he punched the wall hard, imagining it was Andy’s face. Cracks appeared in the sheetrock, but it didn’t break. He slammed his fist two more times in the same space, and his fist cracked through on the third blow. He pulled his hand back and stared at the tiny cuts and his red knuckles.
Andy’s words banged in his head like a relentless gong.
She’s mine for the rest of our lives.
Chapter 30
Nina needed a break. Hands on her hips, she stretched her back and shoulder muscles to loosen the tightening caused by hours of work. Her assistant Craig continued to work diligently, sorting papers and files into five different boxes. Despite his tall, bulky frame, he moved quickly. Beads of perspiration dotted his brown skin, but he wouldn’t slow down. Craig only knew two speeds—fast and faster.
Nina took a good look around her father’s old study. His favorite sweatshirt from his alma mater—Howard University—hung over the back of the leather sofa, and there were albums filled with photos—mostly of her—because Tyrus Winthrop had considered himself an amateur photographer. What better subject than his own daughter to capture on film?
Now that she was the CEO of The Winthrop Hotel Group, she needed a decent home office and decided to take over this space, since Andy planned to give up his apartment and move into hers. She and her assistant spent the morning going over ideas for the redesign and then started on the papers in the desk and file cabinet.
Her father had been an avid reader, mostly thrillers and mysteries. The bookshelves lining the walls were filled with his favorite authors in the genre. Some days, he sat in here, feet propped on the desk, body angled to the small window that looked out over the rooftops of nearby buildings as he indulged in his favorite pastime for an hour or two.
She intended to donate many of the books but keep the special editions and signed copies. In the empty spaces, she intended to place knickknacks and mementos from her travels, surrounding herself with positive energy and great memories.
Nina turned in a circle, already envisioning the changes that would transform this into a space she could call her own. She smiled slightly at an album she’d left open on the desk the last time she’d been in here. She gazed down at her father’s smiling face. She was about nine in the photo, standing in front of him, holding up a certificate for winning the class spelling bee. His hand rested on her shoulder, and he beamed proudly as if she’d received the Nobel Prize for Literature.
She should enlarge the image and hang it on the wall in a nice frame. It was one of her favorites of her and her dad.
“Miss you, Daddy,” Nina whispered. In a few days, she was getting married, and he wouldn’t be there to walk her down the aisle. She would walk herself down the aisle, a decision she made that annoyed her mother, but Nina refused to budge. If her father couldn’t escort her down the aisle, she didn’t want anyone else.
“This looks valuable. Found it in the back of that closet.” Craig showed her an opened jewelry box. The only thing inside was an envelope and a necklace with a large ruby pendant with diamond pieces designed to cover one half of the huge stone.
Choking on a sudden flood of emotion, Nina took the box. “This was a college graduation gift.”
“From your dad?”
She swallowed. “No. From Reese. The necklace belonged to his grandmother,” she whispered.
The first time she saw the necklace had been one night when they were lying next to each other on his bed, and she watched him scroll through photos and tell her about his most recent trip to Brazil, where his paternal grandmother was from. That’s when she saw the enormous stone in the middle of Reese’s palm. He showed it off to the camera. His grandmother had left it for him when she passed.
Nina had fallen in love with it right away.
“It’s vintage,” Reese explained. “Her mother gave it to her, and she wore it on her wedding day when she married my grandfather.”
“It’s gorgeous.” Nina traced a hand over the photo as if she could touch it.
“You like it?”
“I love it, but I like old jewelry.” She shrugged, unable to take her eyes from the photo.
“I’ll give it to you.”
She looked at him in shock. “What? No.”
“I mean it. It’s yours if you want it.”
“Really?” she asked, breathless with anticipation.
“Not right now. You can get it as a graduation present when we finish college. Assuming you’re good and stay with me.”
“Reese, that’s four years away!”
“You want the necklace or not?” he asked.
“Ooh, you make me sick!” She playfully pouted. “You promise you’ll give it to me?”
“Promise.”
“Fine. I’ll stay with you then.”
He gave an evil villain laugh. “My devilish plan has worked.”
“Only because I want that necklace.”
He turned onto his side, giving her his undivided attention. “That’s the only reason?”
“No,” she said softly.
Reese pulled her on top of him. “Then, why?”
“You know why.” She lowered her gaze and pressed her finger to the pulse at the base of his throat.
“Tell me,” he prodded gently.
“You’re going to make me say it?” she asked shyly. Expressing her feelings for him was still so new.
“You know I like to hear it.”
She sighed dramatically. “Because I love you.”
“Because what?” Reese cupped one ear.
She giggled. “Because I love you.”
She kissed him then because she couldn’t help herself. He was adorable and sweet, and she felt like the luckiest person in the world. He didn’t have to bribe her. She would stay with him as long as he wanted her.
“Love you, too, baby. Love you so damn much.” He rolled her onto her back.
With a heavy heart, Nina pulled the handwritten note from the envelope. Reese had terrible penmanship, and she used to tease him and say he could write prescriptions. Nonetheless, she understood every word he wrote.
I remember how much you loved the necklace, and I promised it to you. It’s not your fault we’re not together. Enjoy it.
She couldn’t believe he’d remembered that she’d liked it and intended to keep his promise, even though they were no longer a couple. She tried to give it back and included a note of thanks, but he returned everything to her by courier.
Exasperated, she went to see him in person and thrust the jewelry box at him. “I can’t accept this.”
Reese stood there, with his arms folded, glaring at her as if she were trying to steal the necklace instead of giving it back.
“I’m not taking it back.”
“Then I’ll ship it to you.”
“And I’ll ship it right back.”
“Why are you—”
“Nina, just take it. I want you to have it. I need to know you have it.”
They both looked at each other for a spell, their shared pain laid open and exposed for each other to see.
She ducked her head to hide the tears that sprang to her eyes. He probably saw them, but she kept her eyes trained on the ground anyway, hiding how much it had hurt to let him go.
“Okay. Thank you.”
She couldn’t hide the thickened, trembling tone of her voice. She quickly turned and left.
They never spoke about the necklace again.
> Reese ignored the ringing phone.
He didn’t want to talk to anyone. Matter of fact, he seriously considered going somewhere alone for a few days so he wouldn’t have to speak to a soul or answer questions about how he was feeling because he and Nina had split. He knew his family meant well, but they were driving him crazy with their concern. The way they acted, you’d think he was a terminal cancer patient.
He pressed the button on the remote continuously. The screen flickered as he mindlessly ran through the channels, searching for a movie or show to hold his interest.
Pounding on the door made him jump. Who the heck could that be? After Andy’s visit last week, he wasn’t in the mood for any more unexpected visitors.
The knocking stopped, then started seconds later. Stopped and then started right back up again. Irritated, Reese pressed the power button, and the television screen went black.
He jumped up from the sofa and marched over to the door. Through the peephole, he saw his brother standing outside. Shit.
Stephan brought his eye close to the hole. “Open the door, Reese. I know you’re in there.”
Sighing, he reluctantly swung open the door and walked away.
Stephan followed him into the living room and watched as Reese collapsed onto the sofa and dropped his head back.
“You look like shit.”
“Yeah, well, I feel like it, too. So I guess my appearance matches how I feel. What are you doing here? Unless you brought some weed, I don’t need you in my apartment.” He’d asked Stephan before, but his brother had refused. Today was the day—Nina’s wedding day—and he didn’t want to feel anything.
“You don’t smoke weed. You smoked one time and hated it,” Stephan reminded him.
“I want some. Are you going to get me some or not?”
“Not. I don’t smoke anymore.”
“Fine. I’ll find someone who can get me what I want.” Reese staggered up, but Stephan shoved him back down.
“Get off me, man!”
“That isn’t the answer.”
“Yes, it is! I don’t want to feel anything.” His voice cracked. Embarrassed, he buried his face in his hands. He shouldn’t have opened the door. “Get the fuck out.”
“There’ll be someone else.”
“I only want her.”
Stephan dropped onto the cushion beside him. Two minutes passed before he spoke. “I’m not going to the wedding.”
Reese lifted his head. “Why not? She’s your friend.”
“Mother told us not to, but even if she hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gone.”
“You have no reason not to go. She didn’t do anything to you.”
Stephan shifted his eyes to Reese. “I can’t go to that church and celebrate her marriage to a man who’s not my brother, knowing how you feel about her. It wouldn’t be right. My loyalty is to you.”
Reese stared out the window. The gray, overcast sky fit his somber mood. “What about Ella and Simone?”
“They’re not going, either. None of us are. Well, except Malik, because he’s Lindsay’s date.”
He appreciated his family’s support, but it still saddened him.
“You should go get her,” Stephan said.
“Like it’s that easy.”
“It could be.”
“So I should just forget the part where she’s getting married today? Pretend she didn’t choose Andy over me?” Reese shot his brother a questioning but irate look.
Stephan fell silent. After a while, he looked at Reese as if he’d just cracked the code to happiness. “Look, if you love Nina even half as much as I love Roselle, it’s not too late. If you love her like you say you do, then do whatever you can to win her back. Climb mountains. Walk on hot coals. Run through fire, if you have to. The way I look at it, until she says ‘I do,’ you still have a shot.”
Long after Stephan left, Reese pondered his brother’s words.
Since he couldn’t dull his senses with drugs, he worked his way through a collector’s edition of Patrón that he should have saved for a special occasion. There were only five hundred in the world, and after finishing the first one earlier this week, he was on his second bottle.
In the kitchen, he made another batanga with extra tequila and dragged himself into the living room. He felt a buzz coming on, which was perfect. Maybe he would be passed out soon and sleep through the afternoon.
He’d done his best not to think about her and their last argument, but with her wedding taking place in less than an hour, he couldn’t do anything but think about her and their angry words to each other. He remembered the good times, too, like the cute way she put her foot down and protected him because of his allergy to strawberries. Or the way she lured him in with her sexy dancing at the club, and the rushed, hungry way they made love in the back of his Mercedes after so many years.
“Nina,” he whispered, dropping his head back and closing his eyes. If Gloria hadn’t had him followed and shown Nina those photos, she’d be wearing his ring now and planning to marry him. Then they’d be making plans to start a family and—
Wait a minute…
Reese’s eyes flew open. There were two very definitive things he knew about Nina. She wanted to save the world, and she wanted to get married and have kids.
He sat up. Was that it?
He told her that he loved her but never said he wanted to get married and have children. Was that what she meant when she said Andy wanted the same life she did? Reese wanted all of those things, too—because of her. With her.
He scrambled to his feet. He needed to shower and change.
He had a wedding to stop.
Chapter 31
Alone in the dressing room, Nina added a little more pomade to the left side of her hair, which she had decided not to straighten as Andy had requested.
Something old.
Something new.
Something borrowed.
Something blue.
She removed Reese’s grandmother’s pendant from its chain and slipped it between her ample breasts. Her something old. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She still felt nauseous, but the glass of ginger ale calmed the queasiness. Wedding day jitters, her mother had said.
Raised voices came from inside the main suite, and Nina recognized the voices of her mother and sister. She rushed into the room. “What is going on? Could you two be nice to each other for one freaking day?”
If Lindsay’s hazel-eyed glare could pierce their mother’s flesh, she would do it. “Are you going to tell her, or should I?” Lindsay asked.
“Lindsay, don’t do this.” Gloria appeared angry, but a bit of fear manifested in her eyes and the tremor of her voice.
“Tell her.”
“Tell me what?” Nina looked between them. What could possibly be so terrible that her mother wouldn’t want to tell her, and Lindsay would insist that she should?
“All right, since you won’t tell her, I will. Our mother has entered into an arrangement with Corbin von Trapp. I overheard her talking to him. In exchange for convincing you to marry Andy, she gets a nice signing bonus of five million dollars and a regular allowance. Essentially, you’re about to enter into an arranged marriage but didn’t know it, orchestrated by Corbin and Gloria to merge the two businesses—The Winthrop Hotel Group and Von Trapp & Morrison, Inc.”
Appalled, Nina looked at her mother. “Is that true?” She didn’t need a reply, because her mother’s expression answered the question.
“Yes,” Gloria said.
“Does Andy know?”
“No. The…financial arrangement was strictly between me and his father.”
“How could you do this to me? When is enough, enough for you?” Nina asked.
“Honey, I love you and want the best for you. I just happened to get a little something in the process.”
“You are unbelievable,” Lindsay said.
“You love yourself, Mom. You love money.”
Lindsay had warned her pl
enty of times, but Nina ignored her sister’s words because their relationship had been strained for years, and she assumed that the animosity between them skewed Lindsay’s opinion of Gloria.
“What are you going to do?” Gloria actually looked frightened, probably because she feared losing out on the deal she’d made with Corbin. “Nina…”
“Don’t talk to me right now,” Nina snapped. “I need you to leave.”
Gloria straightened as if someone had shoved a steel rod up her spine. “I will, but allow me to say one last thing. There are a lot of people out there on those pews—important people who came to see this wedding. Some of them have come from a very long way. Lots of money was spent, so to back out now because of a private arrangement that really should not change your decision to marry Andy would be foolhardy. Think about what you’re doing. Who you are. Who you are marrying. Don’t make a hasty, emotional decision. You can have a very happy life with Andy. Everything I’ve ever told you remains the same. Love is a fallacy. I’m not wrong.”
“What are you talking about?” Lindsay interjected.
“You can have security. Respect. You’ll have all of that with Andy. Those are the bricks to build your relationship on. Not passion. It’s fleeting. It doesn’t last. When you’re old and gray, you won’t feel that, but you’ll have the security and respect of your partner. Andy is a good man, and he loves you. And more than anything, your father would have approved of him.”
“How. Dare. You. Don’t mention my father in your ridiculous effort to coerce me into doing what you want, Mom.” This entire ordeal had stressed her out. “I want you to leave now, please.”
“Make the right decision, Nina.” After a murderous glance at Lindsay, Gloria walked out.
“Unbelievable.” Lindsay rested a hand on her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
Nina let out a shaky laugh. “No.”
“I’m sorry this happened to you.”
“Two hundred people are waiting out there for us,” Nina said quietly.
“Let them wait. Take your time and make the decision that’s right for you.” That advice sounded similar to the advice she’d received from Sylvie Johnson.
Deeper Than Love (Brooks Family Book 6) Page 19