Promised Gifts

by Elena Aitken

  “No.”

  Nick tried not to look visibly relieved. He hadn’t seen her for eight years, but he was pretty sure she wasn’t going to be any happier to see him. Sharing space with her would only make things more awkward.

  “Not a room,” Jake said. “A suite. You’ll each have your own rooms. It’s not a big deal, is it? Because you guys are practically related, so it shouldn’t be weird or anything.”

  Of course it shouldn’t be weird.

  Maybe if Jake knew that his little sister had kissed him seconds after declaring her feelings for him, he’d feel differently.

  But he didn’t.

  Just like he didn’t know that Nick had broken her heart all those years ago in the cruelest way he knew how to do.

  Just like he didn’t know that the reason Nick had been such an asshole to her was because he, too, had feelings, and they scared the hell out of him.

  Just like he didn’t know that Nick had thought about Marissa every day for eight years and wondered what could have been different.

  Chapter Two

  Marissa and Jenny were later getting out of the city than they’d planned and of course, traffic never cooperated when you were in a hurry. So by the time they got to the Lodge, a full two hours after they were scheduled to arrive, and approximately a mere twenty minutes before the family dinner was scheduled to start, Jenny was a frazzled mess.

  “It’s all good.” Marissa tried in vain to calm her down. “You can’t get so worked up this early in the weekend. I mean, way bigger things are going to—”

  Marissa stopped talking when Jenny’s eyes grew wide. Maybe her approach wasn’t really the best one.

  She tried again. “How about you go to your room and freshen up and I’ll go make sure everything is organized for the dinner?”

  “You’d do that?”

  “Of course I will.” What Marissa really wanted to do was go find her own room and freshen up herself, but sacrifices had to be made, and after all, that’s what she was there for. “I’m the maid of honor, Jenny. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure your wedding is as beautiful as you. That’s a promise.”

  The smile on her sister-in-law to-be’s face was totally worth it, so Marissa left her bags with the bellhop, saw Jenny off in the direction of the exclusive chalets where Jake had secured them a special suite, and went in search of the restaurant where the dinner was to be hosted.

  Marissa’s mom and dad were already at the restaurant, just as she knew they would be. Her parents were always early. In fact, they’d already been at the Lodge for three days early, to have a little bit of a holiday before the wedding started.

  “Marissa!” Her mom jumped up and gave her a hug as soon as she walked in. “You look tired, dear. Did you just get here?”

  “We did.” She finished hugging her mom and moved in to greet her dad.

  “You look great, kiddo.” He kissed her on the forehead and winked at her before releasing her.

  Marissa knew she probably did look tired. She was tired.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” her mother protested and smacked her husband’s arm playfully when she saw his grin. She waved him away and focused her attention on her daughter. “Where’s Jenny? Jake said you were coming up together after a final dress fitting.”

  “Oh yes.” She shook her head. “The dress fitting.”

  “It went well?”

  “Let’s just say, I’ll have some words for my brother dearest. But Jenny’s happy with it all, so that’s all that matters.”

  Her mother gave her a strange look but didn’t push any further.

  “We’re running late, so Jenny just went back to the room to freshen up quickly before dinner. I’m supposed to make sure everything is on track with the dinner. I should probably go find the hostess to make sure everything’s good. Can you do me a favor and make sure the place cards are set out properly?”

  “Of course, dear. Whatever you need.”

  “Thanks.” She gave her mom a quick squeeze. They’d always been a close family and it was nice to know her mom had her back. Marissa handed her mom the packet Jenny had given her that had the name cards and the seating plan. The woman was so organized, Marissa couldn’t imagine what she could possibly be stressed about, but then again, Marissa wasn’t the one getting married.

  She found the hostess by the bar, introduced herself and for the next few minutes chatted about the menu and wine selections. Again, Jenny had taken care of all the details and there really wasn’t much for Marissa to worry about. She made sure the woman knew what the bride and groom looked like so they’d be well taken care of. Satisfied that everything would go smoothly, she popped into the restroom to touch up her makeup as best as she could. She ran her fingers through her hair and applied a bit of lip gloss in an effort to look slightly less as though she’d just hopped out of the car before she returned to the table where her mom had done her job.

  “It’ll be so nice to see Nick again, won’t it?” her mom said to her when she walked up. “It’s been so long. He’s just been so busy with that job of his. When was the last time you saw him, Marissa?”

  She didn’t want to tell her mom that it had been almost eight years since she’d laid eyes on Nick Slater, because she fully knew what her mother’s reaction would be. She would be horrified. As far as everyone in their family was concerned, Nick was like another son, another older brother to Marissa. Everyone felt that way, except for Marissa. She’d never hear the end of it.

  Marissa shrugged. “I don’t know,” she said. “It’s been awhile, for sure. We’ve just all been busy and I’m sure he has his own life, too.” What she didn’t say was that she was sure he must have a girlfriend or be busy dating or otherwise keeping himself entertained.

  It surprised her how, even after eight years, the idea of Nick with another woman hurt. Marissa took a breath and pulled herself together. She couldn’t afford to be all weird tonight. She was going to see Nick and she needed to just act as if nothing had happened. It was the only way she would be able to get through the wedding weekend. And really, nothing had happened. She was being ridiculous and they were both completely different people, so it shouldn’t matter.

  “Well, you’ll be able to catch up tonight,” her mother said. “You’re sitting next to each other.”

  “What?”

  Her mom pointed to the table and the name cards that were laid out perfectly. “I put them out just like Jenny’s seating chart said. You’re both over there.”

  Oh no. That was not going to happen. It was bad enough that she had to pretend to be okay when her insides felt as though they were made completely of Jell-O, but there was no way she was going to torture herself by sitting next to him all night. It was too much, too soon.

  Marissa didn’t bother excusing herself before she made her way over to the end of the table where her mom had pointed. She grabbed her name card and was just about to swap it with someone on the other end of the room when a familiar voice froze her in place.

  “Missy.”

  * * *

  She looked good.

  Nick spotted her the moment he walked into the restaurant. She wore simple black pants and a bright-blue silky top. It was simple, but somehow Marissa made it look dressed up.

  Had she always been so sexy?

  No. She’d been his best friend’s little sister. Always around, cute, freckle-faced, but not sexy. At least, not until that’s exactly what she was. Nick remembered the first time when he’d first noticed Missy as a woman and not as a little sister. She’d been fifteen; he was sixteen and somehow overnight she’d completely changed from a little girl into a woman. That was the beginning of the end, as far as Nick was concerned.

  Every day after that had been an exercise in self-control.

  And the wedding weekend was clearly not going to be an exception.

  He took a deep breath and in that instant, almost as if she sensed him, Missy looked up. She was frowning at a piece of paper she
held in her hands, but when her eyes met his, the frown fell away. Her lips formed a little O. She glanced down quickly at the paper in her hand and then back to Nick.

  He smiled because how could he not when he saw her? Despite the awkwardness between them, there was also so much more. A lifetime of history. And it was good to see her. So very good.

  “Missy.”

  Her mouth twitched at the use of her nickname and she shook her head slightly. But she smiled.

  Nick crossed the room to her and moved to give her a hug, but he stopped himself. It was still weird. Which was crazy, because all he wanted to do was have her in his arms. Instead, he crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s good to see you.”

  “You, too,” she said. “I didn’t think you were coming. Something about a meeting overseas.”

  “There’s no way I could miss Jake’s wedding. Disappointed?”

  “That you’re here?”

  He challenged her with his eyes, needing to get a read on how she felt about things with them. It had been eight years, after all; there was no way she could still have feelings for him or be upset in any way about that night. But he couldn’t read anything in her eyes.

  “No,” she said. “I know it means a lot to Jake that you’re here.”

  “And you?”

  Nick didn’t know what he expected her to say to such a bold question, but he couldn’t help himself. But she didn’t answer. Instead, she glanced again at the paper in her hands and held it up. “Looks like we’re sitting next to each other.”

  Before he could say anything to that, Patrice’s voice cut through. A moment later, he was embraced in the woman’s hug. “Nick. It’s been way too long,” she said. “You’ve just been working way too hard. Your dad must think he’s won the lottery having you at his side.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that,” he said good-naturedly. “But you are right about one thing—it’s been way too long since I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with the Duncan family.” He turned to include Missy in the statement but she was gone. He felt the immediate sense of loss, which was ridiculous because this time, unlike the last time he saw her, he knew she couldn’t have gone far.

  Nick spent the next forty-five minutes catching up with Mr. and Mrs. Duncan, meeting and charming Jenny’s family members, and of course joking with the bride and groom when they arrived. Missy was absent for the first half of the cocktail hour, and when she did make her appearance, it was clear, at least to Nick, that she was purposely talking to people who were on the opposite side of the room from him.

  When the waitress appeared to announce that dinner was about to be served, he took his seat and glanced at the name tag at the place setting next to him. She wouldn’t be able to avoid him for long.

  Sure enough, moments before the salads were placed in front of them, Missy slid into her seat and fluffed the napkin over her lap.

  “Avoiding me?”

  Her head snapped over and she glared at him for an instant. “Why would I do that? I’m simply being a good hostess and fulfilling my maid of honor duties.”

  “Is that all it was?” He couldn’t help but poke at her. It was so easy to fall into the old habits of teasing her. Even if everything was different now. “Because I could have sworn you were avoiding me.”

  “Nick, could you tell us all about what China is like?” Patrice asked him from across the table, once again distracting him from the woman he really wanted to talk to. “I think Jenny’s father has been there, isn’t that right, Bruce?” She gestured to Jenny’s dad to bring him into the discussion and they fell into easy conversation about China and Nick’s other travels. Missy was notably quiet, but despite her silence, Nick was very much aware of her nearness. The urge to reach his hand over to hers was strong and completely unreasonable as he had no right to touch her.

  They didn’t have that kind of relationship.

  Heck, he didn’t know what kind of relationship they had. The easiness between them that they shared as kids was gone. It would likely never be back. And judging by how it made him feel just to see her again, Nick was pretty sure he didn’t want that brother/sister relationship back again. The feelings he’d had eight years ago, the ones he thought he’d squashed, were still very much there.

  Chapter Three

  It was pretty much torture to have to sit so close to Nick Slater for the entire evening. Sure, the most humiliating night of her life had been a long time ago, but that didn’t change how she felt about him.

  It should have.

  Time and distance should have changed everything.

  But the minute Nick walked into that restaurant and called her by that annoying nickname he had for her, it all came back. Every single feeling she’d ever had crashed back so hard she’d almost fallen over.

  If it hadn’t been for the table to support her, she might have done just that.

  How was it possible to still have feelings for the man? They’d been kids the last time she saw him. He’d humiliated her. Broken her heart. Crushed her.

  She should hate him.

  But she didn’t.

  Marissa spent the evening listening to his easy conversation, the way he made everyone feel special and included in the conversation, and the casual ease he carried himself with. Marissa realized that not only did she not hate Nick, she actually really liked him. A lot.

  Probably too much.

  Repeatedly through the night, she forced herself to take deep breaths and stay calm. Things had changed over the years. She wasn’t a child anymore. She was a successful real estate agent with a flourishing career, her own house and an active social life. There was no reason for her to be insecure or in any way intimidated by Nick or their past.

  She just needed to get through the weekend and she’d be fine. She could go back to living her life and never having to see him again.

  “Marissa, did you and Nick have a chance to go over the itinerary?”

  She shook her head and blinked hard at Jenny, who had moved so she sat next to Marissa. “The what?”

  “The itinerary? For the weekend? Remember, I sent it to you last week so you could familiarize yourself with it.”

  “Oh.” Marissa did vaguely remember reading the email and glancing through the list of activities and events Jenny had planned. But she’d assumed she could just go with the flow when the time came. “I looked at it.”

  “Oh good,” Jenny said. “So you and Nick will have a chance to organize the games for tomorrow. You’re team captains, after all.”

  “Right.” She had no idea what Jenny was talking about, but Marissa had the distinct feeling that if she admitted that, Jenny might burst into tears. She’d been so strong and put together up until the car ride up to the Lodge. Now, she seemed like a typical, overstressed, completely nervous bride and Marissa was not going to be the one responsible for causing her to have a breakdown. Besides, she had the capability of digging up the email to figure out what Jenny was talking about. “We’re definitely going to take care of it.” Nick looked over in her direction, and she did her best to give him a look that indicated she needed full agreement. “Aren’t we, Nick?”

  To his credit, it only took Nick a second to figure out what was going on. Or at least that Marissa needed agreement. He quickly nodded and wrapped his arm around Marissa’s shoulders, giving them a squeeze. “Absolutely,” he said. “Missy and I have this totally under control.”

  She tried to breathe and to not go completely stiff, but the fact that Nick Slater had his arm around her was almost paralyzing. He smelled so good; the weight of his arm felt safe in a way that didn’t even make sense and when he squeezed her close, her stomach did a little flip.

  Marissa swallowed hard.

  “I just love the way he calls you Missy.” Jenny grinned. “Jake said you all were like siblings growing up and I can see just how much you care about each other.” She pulled them into a quick group hug. “I’m so glad you both are standing up for us. I can’t th
ink of two people more perfect for the job. And you’ll have time to work on your dance since you’re sharing a room. I’m so sorry about that situation.” Jenny kept talking, as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb. “But my cousins can be so ridiculous sometimes. Best friends one minute and archenemies the next. You would think they could sort themselves out before my—”

  “What did you say?” Marissa interrupted her. Nick’s arm was still wrapped around her, but the weight of it no longer felt safe. It felt...dangerous. In a way that meant her heart may be completely at risk if she wasn’t careful. “About sharing a room?”

  Jenny looked quickly between them. “Nick didn’t tell you?”

  “Haven’t had a chance.” Nick shrugged and Marissa would’ve smacked him if she could have freed her arm in time. “Don’t worry, Jenny. I’ll fill Missy in on all the details.”

  Yes. She was definitely going to punch him.

  “Thank you.” Jenny looked visibly relieved so Marissa made a mental note not to punch anyone in the bride’s presence. Even Nick.

  And then just like that, she was gone.

  The minute they were alone, Marissa wiggled away from him and spun to face Nick. “What do you mean we’re sharing a room?”

  “It’s not really like we’re sharing a room. It’s a two-bedroom suite. You still have your own bed. Don’t worry.”

  She opened her mouth but no words came out.

  “And besides, it will give us time to work on this dance Jenny was talking about. Jake did say something about how they wanted the dances to look good. So maybe we should practice?”

  Marissa opened and shut her mouth, but still no words came out. It was bad enough being in the same hotel as Nick—how on earth was she going to survive sharing a room with him?

  “Missy, watch your face.” Nick winked at her. “You look a bit like a guppy out of water right now.”