Promised Gifts

by Elena Aitken

  He knew he’d hurt her.

  He hated it. He’d never do it again.

  He just had to make her hear him.

  Alan was saying something else, but Nick didn’t hear it, because all the noise in the room faded away as he looked at Missy and the first few notes of the song he’d requested started to play. “Missy? Would you dance with me?” He held out a hand and hoped she wouldn’t see the way it shook.

  “We already danced.” It was an immediate response, but Nick could see the exact moment she realized what song was playing. “Hungry Eyes,” the second most iconic song from the movie Dirty Dancing. And Missy’s actual favorite. She shook her head and tried to look away, but his words stopped her.

  “This one is for us, Missy.”

  She turned back and looked straight into his eyes. Nick could see the confusion and indecision warring on her beautiful face. It may only have taken a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity before she finally nodded and took his hand. “Okay.”

  He was vaguely aware of her family watching them as he led her to the dance floor and immediately spun her into his arms, but he didn’t care because he would risk everything if it meant having a chance to finally realize the love he’d felt for so long.

  Missy allowed him to move her easily around the dance floor for a few beats before she said, “You requested this song?”

  “Of course.”

  Her gorgeous eyes filled with tears and it broke his heart. “Why?” she asked. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because it’s your favorite.”

  She looked up at him as a tear rolled down her cheek.

  “I know Jake thought he was being funny with his song choice for our dance, but I know this was your favorite song from that movie. I remembered.”

  “You did. Why?”

  He pulled her close and turned them gently in time to the music. “Because I’ve remembered everything, Missy.” She looked down, but he tilted her chin up with two fingers. “Everything.”

  “Nick, don’t do this.”

  “I have to.”

  She shook her head and tried to pull away, but Nick held her tighter. “I do,” he said. “Because I should have done it years ago.”

  “Nick, I can’t do this again.”

  The look on her face was almost too much for him. Was it too late? Had he really missed his chance with her? He refused to believe it.

  “I’m just starting to—”

  “No.” He stopped moving and with one hand still on her waist, he moved the other to her cheek. “Whatever it is you don’t want to do again, don’t worry. Please. I’m not going to hurt you, Missy.”

  “But you are.” Her voice was somewhere between a laugh and a cry. “You said it yourself. You’re like family. We’re family. My brother thinks of you like a brother. My mom and dad think of you like a son, and—”

  “And you?”

  “What?”

  “How do you think of me?”

  “Nick.”

  He knew how he thought of her. He’d known since he was sixteen. And it had only been concreted the moment she kissed him and he’d made the biggest mistake of his life. It wouldn’t happen again.

  “Missy.” He lifted both hands and cupped her face right there in the middle of the dance floor because it didn’t matter who saw them. It no longer mattered whether anyone was paying attention to them or had any opinion of what they were doing. Because the only thing that mattered was the amazing woman in front of him and the realization that he would do anything to keep her from getting away from him again. “You want to know how I think of you?”

  She nodded and Nick didn’t hesitate.

  “I think of you first thing in the morning. Before my eyes even open and I haven’t yet had a chance to realize I’m awake. I think of you while I sip my coffee, wondering if you’re having some too. With just a splash of water in the first cup, just the way you like it. I think of you all through the day, sometimes so much so that I can’t get my work done because all I can think about is what you’re doing. I think about you right before I fall asleep, wishing you were with me, laying in my arms. I think of you in my dreams. Every single night. All night.” He used his thumb to wipe a stray tear that had slipped down her cheek. “Marissa Duncan, I can’t even put into words what I think of you because you’re all I think about. And you’re all I think about, because I’m desperately, madly in love with you.”

  She didn’t say anything, and she probably would have tried to take a step back if Nick hadn’t been holding her firmly. She shook her head. Just a little. But Nick noticed.

  “No,” he said. “Don’t do that. Don’t dismiss this. I meant every word I said.”

  “You...you called me Marissa.”

  * * *

  He’d called her Marissa. That was the one thing out of everything he’d said that she could focus on.

  It seemed the safest.

  But he’d said other things too.

  He’d said he loved her.

  He’d said he loved her.

  He loved her.

  Her head spun and she couldn’t focus on anything. For a moment, she thought she might fall over, but Nick’s arms were there, holding her up. Nick. He was there.

  And he loved her.

  She looked up at him. “You called me Marissa,” she said again.

  Nick laughed. “It seemed like the right time.” His hand cupped her cheek and she leaned into the touch. “Did you hear everything else I said?”

  She nodded.

  “I mean it. I love you.”

  The words hit her in the heart and finally they registered.

  “You love me.”

  “I always have,” he said. “I was too young, stupid, and scared eight years ago to tell you then and I lived with the regret of that every day since. I thought I’d one day get over it and get over you, but I never did. Not really. And when I saw you in the restaurant the other night, I finally realized what my heart had always known.”

  “But you...” Her instinct was to turn away and run from what was happening, but that was only because she wasn’t really sure what was happening. She’d dreamed of the moment that Nick would hold her in his arms and finally tell her he loved her. But she wasn’t quite ready to let herself believe it could be true. Not yet....

  “I was an idiot,” he interrupted her. “I pushed you away and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve regretted it every day since.”

  “Then...why?”

  “I was scared.” Nick traced a finger down the side of her face as he looked her straight in the eyes. She couldn’t see anything but honesty and love shining back at her. “Jake, your family—they were everything. All I had. I mean...I had my family, but...”

  “It wasn’t the same,” she finished for him.

  “No,” he agreed. “And then when I started falling for you, I was scared. I didn’t want to ruin everything for something that was just a crush.”

  “But it wasn’t just a crush.” On some level, Marissa was aware the song had ended and had turned to a more upbeat party song, but they didn’t move.

  “No.” He shook his head with a little laugh. “It was definitely not just a crush, but that night when you told me how you felt, I panicked and I did the only thing I could think of.”

  She dropped her gaze, but his next words made her look up again.

  “It was the worst decision of my life.”

  “It was?”

  He nodded. “Marissa, I’ve never stopped loving you. And obviously I’m a slow learner because I almost blew it again all because I was afraid. But you know what?”

  “What?” A smile tickled the edge of her lips, because the reality of what was happening was just starting to set in.

  “You are everything and if you feel about me even a fraction of the way I think about you, then there is absolutely nothing that should be keeping us apart.”

  Marissa nodded. Happiness flooded through every cell in her body. Ni
ck loved her. And more than that, he stood there in front of her family and all of their friends and told her so. They weren’t a secret.

  “Tell me you feel the same way.”

  Her smile threatened to crack her face it was so wide, but Marissa didn’t care. “I do,” she said after a moment. “Nick, I’ve loved you for so long I can’t remember a time when I didn’t.”

  She had so much more she wanted to say to him, but she didn’t have a chance because a moment later, his hand was behind her head, threading through her hair and pulling her close. His lips pressed to hers in a kiss that would go down as the single best kiss she’d ever had because this time as they came together, there were no questions. She wasn’t left wondering about where she stood. She knew everything she needed to know.

  Nick Slater loved her.

  And as they kissed in the middle of the dance floor with everyone’s eyes upon them, that was the only thing that mattered.

  Chapter Twelve

  On some level, Nick knew maybe he should have waited to declare his love until they were alone, but he couldn’t help himself because he’d already waited more than eight years. There was no way he was going to wait even one more second. It was only after he finally managed to break away from kissing Missy that he had a moment to think about what he’d just done.

  Jake was going to kill him.

  Nick could only hope that he waited until the end of his wedding reception. Because if Jake didn’t finish the job, Jenny would.

  Hoping for a quick escape outside, or somewhere else where they could avoid the questions and comments that were sure to come from friends and family, Nick took Missy’s hand and led her off the dance floor. “Do you want to get out of here?” He could see in her eyes that there was nothing she would like more, but he also knew Missy. She wouldn’t shirk her duties as maid of honor, no matter how much she wanted to. “Maybe just for a minute?”

  She smiled, relief on her face. He would never make her choose between her family and him. He would never again do anything that would cause her pain. “I think it would be okay if we escaped for a breath of fresh air before the cake cutting.”

  “Perfect.” He kissed her quickly on the cheek, resisting the urge to pull her into his arms again. “I’ll just go get us a quick refreshment. I’ll be right back, okay, Marissa?”

  She nodded, but grabbed his hand before he could leave. “One more thing.” Nick couldn’t help but feel a small surge of panic, but he listened anyway. “Can you call me Missy again? I kind of like it.”

  He burst out laughing. “Of course.” And then he couldn’t help himself. He pulled her close and gave her a deep kiss. “I’ll call you anything you like as long as I get to call you mine.”

  “You sweet talker, you.” She laughed and it was the sweetest sound. “Now go get me that drink.”

  Nick was happy to do as she requested. He moved as if he were floating. Never in his life had he felt so light and so...in love. He was so distracted as he ordered a bottle of champagne and two glasses, that he didn’t notice as Jake walked up beside him until he leaned on the counter, staring directly at him.

  “So,” Jake said. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

  The feeling of lightness vanished as Nick turned to face his best friend. Jake had always made his feelings about dating his sister very clear. Was he about to lose the family he’d grown to love as his own? He swallowed hard. It was a risk he was willing to take.

  Besides, there was no way he could turn back now.

  Nick swallowed hard, straightened his shoulders and told Jake what he should have told him eight years earlier. “I’m in love with your sister. Unbelievably, irrevocably, and completely in love with her.”

  Jake didn’t respond and for a moment, Nick was afraid he might punch him right there in the middle of his wedding reception. Finally, he said, “I see. And how long has this been going on?”

  His answer was simple. “As long as I can remember.”

  Jake nodded slowly. “I see...no!” He shook his head. “I don’t see at all. What the hell, Nick? What’s going on?”

  “I love her, Jake. I always have and she loves me. I tried for so long not to feel the way I do, but it’s no use and seeing her again...I won’t let her get away. I’m sorry if that means you don’t want to see me. I’m sorry if that ruins everything between us—I really am. But I have never felt this way about another woman, and I know I never will again. She’s it for me, man. Missy is everything. I can’t pretend anymore that I can live without her, because I can’t.”

  Again, Jake was silent, but there was nothing else Nick could do or say. He’d laid it all out and he’d meant every word.

  “Okay,” Jake said after what felt to Nick like forever. “I’m not going to pretend I’m totally okay with it. I mean, not yet. It’s weird and...she’s my sister. But if you love her that much, that’s all I could ever ask for for my little sister. You’re a good man, Nick. The best there is. If you love her even half as much as you just said, there’s no way I’m going to stand in the way of it. Besides, now you’ll be my brother for real.”

  He couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, man.” But the idea wasn’t so farfetched. There was no doubt in Nick’s mind that he’d slip a ring on Missy’s finger the first chance he could.

  Nick pulled his best friend into a man hug and slapped his back. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For understanding.” He gave Jake one more slap on the back before he pulled back. “I didn’t mean to spring this on you on your wedding day, but it just couldn’t wait.”

  “It’s all good.” Jake laughed.

  “Can you believe it took him so long?” Alan’s voice sounded behind him, and Nick turned to see the man he loved as a father there.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Nick.” Alan laughed. “We saw it years ago.” He shook his head. “We were just waiting for you to figure it out.”

  He shook his head. There was no way they had known about his feelings for Missy. And... “What do you mean, you all saw it? Who are you talking about?”

  “Remember when I told you I was worried there might be something going on?” Jake jumped in. “Mom tried to say something to me about it once, a long time ago, but...” Jake shook his head.

  “He refused to see it,” Alan said. “I think mostly, he just didn’t want to see it.”

  “True.” Jake shrugged.

  “But Patrice and I saw it years ago.”

  Nick’s head spun. “Then why didn’t you say anything?”

  “It had to be you, Nick,” Alan said. “You had to see it.”

  Nick looked at Jake, who shrugged. “I guess you finally saw it.” He squeezed Nick’s shoulder. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my wife. Damn, it feels good to say that.”

  When he was gone, Alan shook his hand. “You have our blessing, son.” He gave him a quick hug before he, too, walked away.

  It took Nick a second to process everything he’d just heard before he grabbed the bottle and glasses from the bar and headed back to where he’d left Missy by the door.

  It may have taken him awhile for his eyes to open completely, but now that they were, he had no intention of ever closing them. And that was a promise he fully intended to make to Missy the second he had the chance.

  * * *

  As much as she never wanted to be out of his arms again, it turned out to be a good thing when Nick excused himself to go get them a drink. After everything that had happened on the dance floor, she needed a minute to catch her breath.

  Had he really just declared his love?

  Yes.

  That’s exactly what he’d done. And she’d done the same and it was going to be okay.

  She didn’t even bother to hide her smile as she looked out over the wedding reception that she stood on the edge of. She’d never been happier in her life. And then she turned to see Nick, Jake, and her dad
talking at the bar. Her heart fell for a moment but then she saw the hug and her brother’s ridiculously huge smile. Relief washed through her. When her dad shook Nick’s hand, she thought her heart might explode with happiness.

  It would be okay.

  It would be more than okay.

  A moment later, her dad walked away, but not before winking in her direction, and then Nick was on his way back to her with a bottle of champagne and two glasses.

  “How about we get some of that fresh air now?” he asked when he reached her.

  “Absolutely.” She pushed the door open and held it as he walked out into the mountain air. Marissa inhaled deeply. There was something about the mountains, or maybe it was just Castle Mountain Lodge. Whatever it was, standing outside in the slightly chilly air made her feel good. Really good.

  But not as good as it felt when Nick put the drinks on a table and wrapped his arms around her again.

  “How are you feeling?” He traced a finger down her cheek and tucked a stray hair behind her ear.

  “Like I’m in a dream.” It was absolutely the truth.

  “I promise.” He kissed her sweetly. “You’re wide awake.”

  And that was the best part.

  The music drifted out through the glass doors and Nick took her hand, leading her in a slow dance, despite the fast beat. When the song finished, he poured them each some champagne and raised a glass to make a toast.

  Marissa raised hers as well, but when Nick didn’t say anything right away, she giggled nervously. “To us?”

  He shook his head. “I was going to toast to us but it seems kind of wrong not to toast to the happy couple, don’t you think?”

  She took a step toward him to close the distance and clinked his glass gently. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong to toasting to all the happy couples.”

  “Agreed.”

  They clinked again and both drank deeply before he once again wrapped his arm around her and prepared to kiss her again. It was as if now that they’d finally confessed their feelings he couldn’t get enough of her, and that was perfectly okay with her.