by LuAnn McLane
“Okay,” Cam said, even though he was already prepared to pay for her extras himself. “I’ll let him know when I return the credit card.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want him to think I was taking advantage.”
“I understand,” he agreed with a smile.
*
When they finally arrived back at her condo, it took a long time to drag all of her bags inside. After tucking away all of the perishables, she turned to him. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’ve worked up quite an appetite. I might even splurge and eat dessert! Jessica’s bread pudding is supposed to be out of this world. Do you want to go over to Wine and Diner and grab a bite to eat and get the rest of my luggage?”
Cam smiled. “Sure,” he said, telling himself that it was only because Noah had told him to take Mia out to dinner that he was willing to do this. Really, that was the only reason; otherwise, he’d head over to his place, throw something on the grill, and grab an ice-cold beer. Maybe watch some major-league baseball or an action movie.
“I’ll just put on one of the new shorts and tops I bought and get out of this hot suit.”
“Okay.” Cam nodded. “I’ll just grab a beer over at my place and check my mail. I’ll meet you by my SUV in about fifteen minutes or so?”
“Sounds like a plan.” She smiled, but just when he had his hand on the door to leave she said, “Cam?”
He turned around. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for taking me. Shopping was really a lot of fun.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, and he had to admit to himself that it had been entertaining … even the trying-on-shoes part. Cam also knew it had nothing to do with actual shopping, a chore he usually detested, but rather spending time with Mia. He also thought it was refreshing that something as simple as shopping at Wilson’s made her happy. In his recent experience, most of the women he dated wouldn’t have been caught dead shopping in a discount store, much less admitted to having fun doing it. Reminding himself that he needed to keep his distance, he didn’t add that he agreed but nodded briskly. “I’ll see you outside.”
Her smile faltered a little bit, as if she knew he was pulling back. “Okay,” she said softly, lowering her gaze, making him feel like a bit of an ass. “Hey, listen, you don’t have to do this,” she suddenly said, catching him off guard. He wanted to reassure her somehow, and for what he wasn’t even sure … Damn, this was venturing into dangerous territory. After an uncomfortable moment of silence, she added, “You’ve done enough already.”
Go. This is your chance, his voice of reason demanded. “I thought you were hungry.” His voice of reason could take a flying leap.
“There’s plenty of food here. I’ll be fine.” She waved that hand again.
“But what about your luggage?”
“I’ll ask Bella to bring it to me. Really, I’m sure you have better things to do.”
Cam thought about arguing, but this really was his out. He didn’t need the complication of a woman in his life. He was struggling to get back on track, and she could definitely be trouble in so many ways. He stood there for a moment while good reason warred with his libido. In the end he compromised. “Hey, what about this? I’ll get your luggage and bring you some takeout from Wine and Diner.”
“Thanks, but that’s okay.”
“No, there really isn’t any decent dinner in the basic stuff we bought,” he insisted, giving her another small smile. “And I’ll even bring the dessert you so deserve.”
“Yeah, but—” When it appeared as if she was going to argue, he opened the door and left without giving her a chance to protest. He would do this one last thing and then stay out of her life. It was the best for them both.
But as Cam headed for his SUV, he spotted a man in a black sedan sitting across the parking lot. He wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but he could have sworn he’d spotted the same car earlier. The hair on the back of his neck stood up, warning him that something wasn’t right. He was about to march over there and confront the dude, but he must have felt Cam’s stare because the car suddenly pulled away. That, in and of itself, was unsettling.
On the way to his car, Cam tried to reason the weird incident away, telling himself that the guy could have been there for any number of reasons that had nothing to do with Mia. And if the dude did have some connection to her, it was all the more reason to stay the hell away. Still, he wondered if she was being followed. Stalked? Running away from something? None of the answers to those questions were good.
“Not your problem,” he mumbled as he slid behind the wheel. He told himself to bring the promised dinner and luggage to her and stay as far away as he could, but then he ran a worried hand down his face. It wasn’t going to be an easy task, since she lived right next door to him! Once again Cam came up with a compromise. He would keep his distance but also keep a discreet eye on her. Nothing more, nothing less. End of story.
17
A Blessing in Disguise
“OH DEAR GOD!” NICOLINA LOOKED AT MITCH AND laughed so hard that her sides actually hurt.
“This will never work.” Mitch adjusted the baseball bill and fluffed the fake hair attached to the cap.
“Yes, it will,” Nicolina assured him. She tried to put on a serious face but took another look at him and burst into another fit of giggles.
“Right, that’s why you can’t stop laughing.”
“Because I know it’s you. The people at the Dairy Bar don’t have a clue that you’re Mitch Monroe. And not that many people actually know me here yet. It’s perfect. We’re going on a date in Cricket Creek.”
“What if we run into Noah or Ty?”
“Even if they figure it out, they won’t blow your cover, Mitch. Besides, in the worn T-shirt and those jorts you’re wearing, I doubt if they will even get the joke.”
“Jorts?”
“Jeans shorts … jorts.”
He looked down. “Oh … jorts … right.” He grinned. “I guess you had fun shopping for this getup, didn’t you?”
“Guilty.”
“Okay, but I refuse to wear the white socks with the sandals.”
She gave him a fake pout.
“I just can’t and keep a straight face.”
“All right …”
“What if we happen to see Mia?”
“Believe me, she’ll never recognize you. It’ll be fun. Come on, don’t be such a weenie.” Nicolina knew Mitch couldn’t stand turning down a challenge of any kind, even one as silly as this one. In the past year she had learned a lot about his personality, and lately he had been opening up to her even more. One thing she knew for certain was that he adored his daughter and that this estrangement was taking its toll on him. She wanted to get him out and have some fun. Being cooped up in her flat was romantic and productive, but they really needed to get out or go stir-crazy. “Hey, do you really think that the Dairy Bar is someplace Mia would likely be hanging out?”
“A week ago, no, but I never thought in a million years that she’d end up working as promotions manager for the Cougars.” He shook his head slowly but then smiled.
“You’re proud of her, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Mitch inhaled deeply as if warding off emotion. “And it’s killing me not to be sharing this experience with her.”
Nicolina brushed the fake hair back and placed her hands on his shoulders. “But maybe you were right and it’s better for her to do this solely on her own.”
“You’re right, but I still want to keep an eye on her for a while.”
“Remember that she is an adult.”
“I know.” Mitch tilted his head to the side, making the hair look even more comical, but his expression turned serious. “But Mia hasn’t lived a normal life. She is an odd combination of sophistication and naïveté in so many ways.” He shoved his hands in his jorts pockets. “It’s my own damned fault that she’s … Well, I’ve called her spoiled, but then again she’s done so much for charity without asking for anythin
g in return. And I have to admit that after thinking about it, she has done a bang-up job at organizing parties and events for my clients. I guess I took her for granted as much as she took me for granted. Ah … Nicolina, there is so much I want to talk to her about.”
“The old saying that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone.”
“Exactly.” He slipped his arms around her waist. “That’s how I feel when I’m away from you too, you know. You’ve added an element to my life that I’ve never had before. Someone to talk to. I really value your opinion. I hope you realize that.”
“I feel the same way,” Nicolina assured him. They were dancing around a declaration of love, but she couldn’t get the words past her lips. It was if she was afraid that if she went that last mile she would jinx herself. It was silly and yet so very true, and so she held back. When he looked as if he was going to head in that direction, Nicolina quickly changed the subject. “Perhaps you should call Mia and just come clean with everything.”
“I’m not so sure I want to do that just yet.”
“Mitch, I don’t want this to blow up in your face. I know that your heart is in the right place, but she may not see it that way.”
He seemed to consider that for a moment. “But I still want her to find her way on her own. I’m going to let it ride, at least for the time being.” He pulled her closer and ran a fingertip over her bottom lip. “Thank you so much.”
“For what?”
“For everything. Listening, caring … and for just being in my life.” He removed the silly hat and then gently tilted her chin up and gazed into her eyes. “You really have become very important to me in so many ways.”
Nicolina felt emotion well up in her throat. Her feelings were growing stronger for Mitch each and every day. He was smart enough to know that she kept steering the conversation away from a declaration of full commitment, and she was probably insane for doing so. Mitch Monroe was everything a woman could want in a man … smart, sensitive, and sexy. Most women would add filthy rich to that list, but it was the one thing that she wished he wasn’t.
“I hope you feel the same way,” he prompted.
“Of course I do.” She admitted that much and closed her eyes, hoping for a kiss. And she got it. Heaven help her, but the man could simply sweep her off her feet at the drop of a hat. His lips were soft but firm, and when his tongue tangled with hers, a thrill of excitement slid down her spine. Even in her youth Nicolina couldn’t recall feeling the kind of smoldering passion that she had with Mitch, and she knew why. Even though Mitch was a very handsome, sexy man, what she felt for him went much deeper than the surface. He kissed her with depth, with meaning, and the combination made her weak in the knees.
A delicious moment later, he slowly pulled his mouth from hers. After a low chuckle, he leaned his forehead against hers and said, “Are you sure you want to go out for ice cream?”
“You know just how to get to me.”
Mitch raised his head and grinned. “You mean that in a good way, I hope.”
“Oh yes.” Nicolina reached up and tweaked his nose. “That was a devious plan, but you’re not going to get out of going out.”
He widened his eyes in mock innocence. “Whatever do you mean?”
“Right …” Nicolina put the hat back on his head and did her best not to laugh. “Come on, let’s go.”
Mitch flicked a glance at his reflection in the dresser mirror and adjusted the bill of the cap. “You do realize that you are the only one who could get me to do something as nuts as this.”
“No, I didn’t, but I like that notion.”
“I’m a pretty conservative guy when it comes to how I look in public.”
“But no one is going to know it’s you.” She tapped his chest and then crooked a finger at him. “It’s going to be dark in a little while, so let’s hightail it out of here. I need a break from all of this business-related stuff anyway.”
“I can relate.”
“Oh, don’t get me wrong. I really can’t wait for my shop to actually open! I love that the whole strip is going to have wedding-related themes. Lots of my jewelry has been for wedding parties. I can tap into that market right away. I met the woman who is going to open the bridal boutique, and Mabel Grammar from Grammar’s Bakery stopped by yesterday. Her shop specializing in nothing but wedding cakes is going to be such fun too! All we need is a florist and a wedding planner and we will have Wedding Row.” When he gave her a funny look, she shook her head. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“No, on the contrary! Nicolina, Wedding Row … I like that concept. I’ll work on adding a florist. There’s a cute one called Flower Power on Main Street. Maybe they would be interested in moving their business down here. The shop owners could all promote each other.”
“A salon would be great as well.”
“You, my dear, are a genius.”
“Pfft.” Nicolina waved him off, but in truth she was pleased that he liked her idea.
“Hey, don’t sell yourself short. You’re smart and talented. And whatever you do, don’t ever be shy about suggesting or saying anything to me. Okay? The last person in the world I ever want to intimidate is you.”
Nicolina nodded. “I’ve learned a lot from you, Mitch.”
“Listen, I’ve made plenty of mistakes over the years. Made money but lost it too. I’ve taken a lot of chances, and not all of them have panned out. And in the end I was trying to prove a point to someone who didn’t deserve my effort. I can’t get back lost years with Mia, but believe me I understand the value of relationships, and they mean a helluva lot more than the almighty dollar. I just wish I had figured that out a long time ago.”
Nicolina knew he was referring to his ex-wife. He rarely spoke of her, and even though they had been divorced for a long time, Nicolina still felt an odd pang of something akin to jealousy. She wanted to ask him if he still loved her but couldn’t find the courage.
“What’s troubling you?” Mitch asked.
“Nothing,” Nicolina scoffed, but she was a bit blown away that he could read her so easily.
“You can’t fool me,” he gently prodded.
“It’s hard to take you seriously in that cap,” she tried to joke, but he wasn’t having it and pulled her close once more. Nicolina chose her words carefully, wanting to get her answer in a roundabout way. “Okay, since you brought it up, do you think she ever regrets what she did?”
“Clarisse?
Nicolina nodded.
“You mean cheating? Leaving me for more money?” A muscle jumped in his jaw, making her suddenly wish she had left the subject alone. And yet she had to be sure that even after all of these years he didn’t still carry a torch for his ex-wife.
“Yes, all of it.”
Mitch lifted one shoulder. “I admit that there was a time when that’s all I thought about. Making her regret what she did,” he replied with a twist of his lips. “I made piles of money and I made sure she knew it.” He laughed without humor. “I always had a woman younger and prettier than her on my arm whenever we were attending the same event. I showered Mia with expensive gifts, thinking that it would make her love me more than her mother.” He shook his head, and there was sadness in his eyes. “Stupid pride.”
“Did you gain full custody of Mia to get back at her as well?”
Mitch sighed. “Maybe a little, but in truth I thought that a woman who could do something so ruthless and wrong shouldn’t be raising and influencing my child.”
“I understand.” Nicolina didn’t really get all of the answers to her questions, but she couldn’t bear to see the hurt lurking in his eyes, so she put her hands on his cheeks and said, “You were right to do so. And I need to stop grilling you about the painful past.”
“Nicolina, you can ask me anything. Don’t ever hesitate.”
“Thank you,” she said and smiled at his offer. “Now, we really do need to get going or the Dairy Bar will close. I don’t know about you, b
ut I could really go for a soft-serve ice cream cone. I might have it dipped in chocolate jimmies.” But then she patted her butt and frowned. “Then again …”
“Hey, stop that! You’re a gorgeous woman. And I love every beautiful inch of you.”
Nicolina knew he was referring to her body, but the expression of love sent her heart racing in spite of her intention to steer clear of that subject. “Good, because there’s lots of me to love.” She was trying for dry humor, but her voice betrayed her by coming out breathy.
“You’re perfect. Don’t change a thing.”
Nicolina was touched by his comment, but she hid her emotion with another soft laugh. She believed him, trusted him, and yet she couldn’t put her heart on the line just yet. Maybe someday, she thought with an inward sigh. Reaching up, she tugged on a fake curl. “Don’t you go changing anything either. I love this mullet, hot stuff. So very sexy,” she cooed and then fanned her face.
“You silly thing.” Mitch laughed and slipped his hand in hers. “Okay, let’s go before I lose my nerve.”
“It will be fun, I promise.”
“You’ve brought fun back into my life, Nicolina. I’ve been way too serious for much too long. It feels great to laugh again. You make me happy doing the simplest of things.”
“I’m glad,” she said, and she meant it. “Bringing happiness to someone is one of life’s greatest gifts.”
“I can only hope I do the same for you.”
“You do, Mitch,” she said, and she was floored by how such a successful man could also be so humble.
“Good,” he said, giving her a firm kiss on the mouth before tugging her toward the door. “Dairy Bar, here we come.”
Not wanting to draw too much attention to themselves, they avoided Main Street and walked along the river before cutting up to the street where the popular ice cream stand was located. From the solid crack of a bat smacking a baseball to the gentle swish of water lapping against the bank of the river, the sounds of summer were everywhere in Cricket Creek. The smoky scent of a charcoal grill wafted their way, and fireflies were just beginning to flit around in the waning light. Music and laughter seemed to drift toward them, bringing the perfect blend of a lazy summer evening their way. A car passed them here and there, but for the most part people were strolling around on foot.