“Ahh, just like I thought. Root cause? Heather Blythe. Why in the hell was she at your place?”
I sighed and told him about the problems with Heather and what I had done to resolve it.
“Do me a favor, Grey.”
“What’s that?”
“The next time anything resembling Heather or attached to her, or has her name slightly affiliated with it comes up, run like hell.”
I laughed, and he shook his head.
“What are you going to do to get this Nicole back?”
I inhaled and rested my head against the headrest. “I don’t know. But I’ve got to figure out something soon. If I don’t, I just might lose her.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it bad, Greyson.”
I laughed. “You think? But I’m not the only one in a boatload of crap,” I said with a wink.
We both scowled and became lost in our individual thoughts.
CHAPTER 18 – NICOLE & GREYSON (Three Days Later)
“Nicole, what’s wrong, sweetie? You’ve been moping around since you got here three days ago,” my mother asked.
We were cooped up in Zion and Zoe’s family room watching some Hallmark movie. I for the life of me couldn’t recall what it was about. I just know these were the things my mother and I used to do, and I cherished it. But she could tell that I was no more into this movie than I was in the abandoned bucket of popcorn that sat on the table between us.
“Oh, I’m fine, mom,” I said, glancing over at her as her brown eyes bored into mine.
Rolling her eyes and twisting her lips, she replied, “You always were a horrible liar.”
I chuckled. Hearing little Chloe’s cry on the monitor, I made a move to head to her nursery. Zoe and Zion had gone out with my father to do some grocery shopping and left mom and me at home with Chloe. Xavier was still at the neighbor’s house playing with his little friend.
“I’ll go get her,” I said as I stood and stretched.
“No, you sit right here. I’ll be back with her,” my mom said, patting me on the shoulder and walking past.
In the last three days, since I had arrived at my brother’s house, I had not heard a peep out of Greyson, and it bothered me. I told him that I needed space, and now that he was giving it to me, I wasn’t certain that I wanted it at all.
I flushed, thinking about how much of a schoolgirl I was behaving like. I wanted him to run behind me while I spurned his advances. Playing these immature games was so unlike me, it wasn’t funny.
My mom returned with little Chloe whimpering. Those slanted eyes of her were still sleep-ridden when she looked at me and grinned.
I smiled back at my niece and reached for her as she opened and closed her chubby fists.
“Hey, precious girl. Auntie’s baby is finally awake,” I said, nuzzling her underneath her neck. She giggled and babbled some words that weren’t completely intelligible.
“That looks good on you. When are you finally going to settle down with a good man, Nicole, and stop making that business your life?”
I sighed and plopped down on the recliner next to the one my mother had just sat in. This was an ongoing conversation. “Mom, let’s not.”
“No, Nic, let’s. I mean, I thought that Greyson was a good guy for you. He’s the first one that you’ve ever introduced formally to your father and me, you know? And inviting him for dinner that night was out of the norm for you. So, I thought maybe you were finally stepping beyond your comfort zone. Not to mention, your father and I both noticed how you crept off with him that night.”
I blushed, thinking about that night. Oh, my goodness, the things that man had done to me. I was glad my mother could not read my expressions and that my copper coloring was just a rich enough, deep enough brown to cover any reddening of my skin.
“He’s been a great friend outside of business partner.”
“Nicole,” my mom said in that firm voice that told me to look at her. I did, and what I saw there was the truth. This woman was no fool, and no matter how hard I might try, I wasn’t pulling the wool over her eyes.
“Now, I’m not telling you to go out and put yourself out there any kind of way. What I am saying is that anything worth having takes work. It doesn’t come easy. The way you and that man were looking at each other that night suggested he’s more to you than a casual date. When a man looks at you the way Greyson looked at you that night, he wants you, mind, body, soul, and spirit. Don’t take that lightly or for granted. I presume he’s a good catch, and it won’t be long before someone else comes and snatches him up. Don’t let your pride and presumptions keep you from a good thing, okay?”
What else could I say?
“Yes, mom,” I replied, before peppering Chloe’s smooth, satiny caramel brown cheeks with kisses.
“All right. Keep playing here?”
Looking up at my mom, I replied, “I’m not playing, Mom. I heard you.”
“Then when are you going to pick up the phone and call that man? He’s been all that’s on your mind since we’ve been here. The storms are clearing up, and soon we should be able to return home. Get your affairs in order before you return. I’m sure when you both head back home there will be so much clean up to do in Chatham, you won’t have time to focus on personal issues. So, make it right now. Turn this into a miniature vacation you deserve, and spend some quality time with that man.”
“What about Dad? He was so glad to see me here, he’s been by my side since my arrival. He’s going to feel some type of way.”
My mother waved away my concern. “Honey, please. That man will always feel some type of way about any man that pays attention to his daughters. You and Mady are his world, and no one will ever be good enough for you.”
“I get the impression he’s not too fond of Greyson.”
“He doesn’t dislike him, though. He’s just casually observing him, trying to determine his intentions for his daughter. Right now, he doesn’t know what to make of him, and he just doesn’t want to see you hurt. I suspect those aren’t Greyson’s intentions at all.”
I played with Chloe a while longer before passing her off to my mom. She was right. I had been missing him like crazy, and I was going insane, trying to pretend anything different. I just had no idea where in the world he might be right now.
WHEN THE CALL CAME, I was approximately one-thousand feet in the air. We were doing a peripheral tour of the hotel and surrounding areas to estimate how much damage had been done. The waters had not completely receded from the city, so there was no true way of knowing.
The only thing I could tell was that the windows on the front side would need to be replaced in the hotel. That would set us back in terms of opening day. I was sure since the windows had been blown out along the front, there would be flooding, and we would have to address any potential molding problems.
This did not put me in the greatest of moods at all. There was always the risk of things like this occurring, and we had plans in place in the instance that it did. Yet, it still did not sit well with me. The only good news that I had was that going over Nicole’s place of business and her home, it seemed everything was intact.
That was not too surprising since her business and place of residence were both inland away from the water. I was sure that my condo may have sustained some damage, too, since it was right on the river. But that was the least of my concerns.
“Grey,” my father’s voice barked on the other end.
“Yes, Dad,” I had adopted the same monotone I always had when dealing with my father. I could tell something had come up that he did not have time to be bothered with, and he was sending me on some errand. I was tired of being his errand boy.
“Your brother, Mitch, needs you.”
“Where is he, Dad?”
“In a jail cell down in Colorado. The boy has—”
“Dad!” I interrupted. There was silence on the line as I had not only never interrupted my father, but I’d never spoken to him in that tone befo
re. I was tired, and the last thing I wanted was to be cleaning up behind my brother again.
“Grey, have you lost your mind?”
“No, Dad, I haven’t. But Mitch isn’t a boy anymore. He’s a grown man at the age of thirty-one. He keeps putting himself in these predicaments because you and I keep getting him out. As long as we’re always there to bail him out and never make him stand on his own, this is going to keep happening. There will come a time when we’re not available. He needs to learn to handle his own problems, and you and mom need to put him in rehab so he can get some help.”
“Grey, that’s your brother. Who’s been there for you when you were in need? That’s what family is for.”
“No, Dad. We don’t have to be there for him in this way. We can’t keep doing this. We need to make a stand and insist he gets help for his drinking and gambling. Running to his side each time he finds himself in trouble isn’t helping him at all.”
My father sighed deeply into the phone.
“Dad, I know you expected a lot of us, and we’ve tried to give it to you. Mitch isn’t like the rest of us. He doesn’t handle that pressure well. If I go this time, Dad, I’m never going again. Either that or get him the help he needs.”
“You know, your mom said you’d react this way. It’s that damned Heather girl again, isn’t it? She’s got your nose wide opened. I’ve warned you about her.”
“Dad, stop! I told you, Heather’s in rehab, and I’m done with her. She’s there, and I paid for the entire stay with funds from my personal account. Now, if you want me to do the same for Mitch, I will, but that’s where it ends.”
I could hear some muffling on the other end of the phone. I knew my father was in New York. That’s where he and my mother flew when they got word of the storm. Whether he was in his office or at their penthouse in Manhattan or home out in Westchester, I wasn’t certain.
“Look, don’t worry. Your mom and I are flying out now. Go ahead and stay where you are. Speaking of...where the hell are you anyway?” he barked.
I let the barest smile cross my lips. “Heading back to Atlanta. I came down to Savannah to survey the damage.”
“All right, son. I’ll talk to you later.”
I did not wait for goodbye. I hurriedly clicked to the other line where Nicole was calling in. I had waited three long days for her to reach out, and now I could wait no longer to be connected to her sweet voice.
CHAPTER 19 - NICOLE
Lazily lying on my back, trailing a finger in the water, I smiled as the sun warmed my face. One leg propped up on the raft, the other hanging languidly my eyes flew open when something jerked my toe.
Sitting up, I looked around and saw nothing. I removed my sunglasses from my eyes and pulled my legs up closer to me. The only thing I spotted were a few other couples who were hanging around the swim-up bar, chatting, and enjoying drinks.
I look around again, and just as I prepared to slide off the raft, it flipped over on me, and I landed in the water, splashing, and spluttering. Water was in my nose, flowing down my hair and over my eyes and face. Arms wrapped around me from behind, and kisses were planted along my neck.
“Hi beautiful,” his dark voice caressed me like silk, but I was pissed.
“Greyyyy!” I whined.
“What, babe?” he asked, turning me around in his arms. His eyes were playful, and a smirk twitched at his lips.
“You never mess up a black woman’s hair. That’s the first rule you have to learn about being with me,” I teased. How could I be angry at this man?
“Okay, consider me educated,” he said through his laughter. “Although I doubt the water’s going to mess up your braids,” he said, tugging at one of my blonde and black micros I had freshly installed just for the trip.
Just three weeks before, we had been on the outs, and his absence from my life had made me realize how desperately I needed him. It had taken him no time at all to come to my side after calling him that afternoon when my mom prompted me to. We had spent the next few days talking about our expectations and wants. We had set out the guidelines for a relationship that we wanted to move forward in, and I knew when looking into his eyes that I could trust him, and I never wanted to go back to the way it had been before.
That evening he had brought me the news that cheered my heart, reassuring me all was well with my business. We had taken a trip to Bora Bora, taking a break from all our hard work. The hotel in Savannah was scheduled to open in one week, and Greyson knew things would get hectic.
He had already begun planning our next project. He was adamant that he wanted me involved in all his future projects. Jocelyn and I had received numerous calls from recommendations he had given out, along with some people who had taken early tours of the hotel.
Jocelyn and I had been having discussions about hiring a contractor. We needed an assistant and a third designer to help us keep up with the demands flowing through. She made me promise we would start interviews as soon as I returned from the trip. I had no choice but to agree because our output reflected our business. The last thing I wanted was to have to turn anyone away because we were overbooked.
“Look, you’ve been out here relaxing for a while now. I’ve missed you and want to spend a little private time with you. Is that all right?”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “Grey, I’ve been with you every moment of this trip. I’ve only been down here for thirty minutes. Why don’t you come and relax in the water with me?” I suggested, pointing at the raft I had been capsized from.
Chuckling, he reached underneath me and lifted me into his arms. “I’d rather not.”
My arms looped tightly around his neck as he began taking long strides to take us back to our villa.
My yellow bikini top with seashell beading for the straps hung from the doorknob, casually opened. Because Greyson owned the resort, he had no worries about anyone approaching without an invitation. My eyes lazily went to the slightly opened doorway and spotted my bikini bottom lying partway in and partway out of the door.
Famished. That’s what he had said he was. And he had been. I lifted my head from the couch, and my eyes met his glittery predatory ones. My mound was completely covered by his mouth, and I could barely see the slight upturn of his lips.
The feel of his tongue inside of me, licking and sucking, was pushing all rational thoughts from my head. My hips lifted from the couch and began gyrating, and I smiled wantonly as his head circled, keeping up with my movements.
This man could never get enough of me, and I never wanted him to. But as he sucked and groaned, I felt myself rising on the waves, and I knew it wouldn’t be much longer. Wrapping my legs tightly around his neck, I feverishly humped, shoving myself into his face. Greyson never pulled his eyes away from me but started nodding his head, slightly encouraging me to let go.
One finger lifted in the air, and Greyson crooked it towards himself, telling me to let go. I closed my eyes and shot forth everything that was inside of me, coating his tongue, eliciting a purr from me and a satisfied groan from him.
As I lay there quivering, I watched Greyson get up and stand above me. I was ready for him, but he had something else in store. He reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me to my feet.
“What’re you doing?” I moaned, not wanting to move from my spot.
“I’ve got something to show you,” he said, pulling me close to him and kissing my lips.
I giggled, tasting myself on him. I opened my mouth, allowing his tongue to tease mine out of hiding.
“Come on, quit trying to distract me,” he said when I wrapped my arms around his neck.
Pulling away, he led me by the hand back outside of our little villa.
“Grey, are you sure no one’s coming up this way?”
“If they do, they’re fired. How about that?”
I wasn’t sure if he was serious or not. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to see what he had to show me.
He led me to our private pool, wher
e big leafy palm trees waved all around. On the border of the pool were beautiful displays of pink hibiscus, and orange, yellow and white plumeria. The aroma was amazing as the wind blew its scented fragrance our way.
“What’s this?”
Greyson led me to the edge of the pool and then moved a section of the floral wreath aside, allowing me to step down into the pool with him.
“Nicole, we went through a little patch of storm together and apart here recently. During that storm, I learned some very valuable things. One is that you cannot force others to do what they don’t want to. We all have free will, and it’s up to us how we choose to live our lives. I learned that not only through my brother and Heather but even through you. I tried to force you to stay with me during the storm, but inevitably you returned to your family. The second thing I learned is that when you release something important, it will always find its way back home. I released your heart and knew that if we were meant to be, we would find a way to come back together again. The third and final lesson I learned is that I never want to be without you by my side.”
I pulled back slightly from his embrace, staring into his eyes. “I don’t understand.”
“Nic, I want you to be my wife. Not only do I want your hand in marriage, but I also want to shout it from the mountaintops. I want everyone to know that you belong to me, and I belong to you.”
I watched as Greyson kneeled in the pool, and for the first time, I saw a brilliant sparkle gleaming from the bottom of the pool. Greyson removed the pear-shaped sapphire platinum ring surrounded by three rows of round, brilliant diamonds.
My eyes teared up as I questioned what was happening here. Was he serious?
“Nicole Analise Cabot, you don’t leave a man standing here in suspense when he asks for your hand in marriage.”
I realized he was still holding the ring, and I was crying like a fool. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized the tears were cascading down my face.
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