by Jen Doyle
What? he wanted to ask. What was running through that lovely mind of hers and was there any chance at all she might someday allow him back in?
He waited for her to say something, but the silence hung there heavily.
Maybe he should just come out and say it. Tell her he was here because of the power she held over him and his family. That he’d give her more money than she’d ever had—ten times the amount he was spending on this house—but he just needed her assurance she wouldn’t go after his family’s properties or the bulk of the fortune they needed to maintain them.
Except he liked being with her here, like this. And the second he brought up that discussion, everything would change. Or, more likely, revert back to what it had been like for the last nine years.
Because the fact of the matter was he hadn’t come back. Nor had he attempted to contact her again after those first few months. He’d bought into his mother’s words; allowed his friends and family to convince him there was no way he could have truly fallen in love in such a short amount of time. And he’d known for his whole life that one day he’d have to meet the expectations of his birth, even if it didn’t come along with the title his mother still talked about as if there were some hope of reclaiming it.
But the part of him that would like nothing better than to rationally explain the situation was going to have to join the part of him that just wanted to stay here and stare at her until she told him he needed to go away. Because after her gaze dropped down for a brief, tantalizing moment, she jerked her head up and pulled back against the car door. “Let’s go spend some of that money of yours and commission some tiles.”
Just as they were getting out of the car, Jeremy pulled up behind them, again muttering about Simon’s driving. Well, sod him. It was rare Simon had the time to drive around in a jaunty little car and he was sure as hell taking advantage of it. Rather than wait for Jeremy to join them, however, Nicki said, “Do you mind if I make a quick call?” Not waiting for his answer, she began walking backwards towards the house. “And I’ll just check to make sure Alejandro is ready for us.”
He wanted to go with her. To not have her out of reach for even a second more. But, frankly, Simon needed a bit of distance to allow his head to catch up to where his heart was. Because somewhere in the very recent past he’d begun to shift from this wasn’t possible to maybe this could work. But he wasn’t sure it was actually true.
Simon leaned against the car and forced himself not to watch her walk away by deliberately turning to Jeremy instead. Jeremy, who was, in fact, watching Nicki as he came alongside Simon.
From the way he stood there, Simon knew something was coming. He was even ready when Jeremy quietly said, “What exactly are we doing here?” And by ‘here,’ it was clear he meant in a more general sense rather than just standing in a driveway. “Have you even told her why you came back?”
Simon closed his eyes and tipped his head back, wishing Nicki’s car was tall enough for him to knock his head against it.
“You are so screwed,” Jeremy muttered.
The car shifted a bit, and Simon turned to see that Jeremy was now leaning against it, too. Thoughtfully, he said, “Maybe I should put in my request now for a letter of reference. You might not be able to afford me after all this is said and done.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded towards Nicki. “Or maybe I can go work for her after she takes all your money. I think she likes me better now.”
“Bastard,” Simon muttered, earning a chuckle from his friend. “And it wouldn’t be all of it,” he added, although with less confidence than he would have liked. Now it was his turn to go the jamming-his-hands-in-his-pockets route. “I have half a mind to let her have it.”
He couldn’t entirely believe he’d said that last part out loud, and he was damn lucky Jeremy was the only one around to hear it. But he also almost didn’t care as he watched Nicki shut off her phone and turn to greet a man coming around the side of the house. Simon could practically feel Jeremy’s smile. “Jesus. I almost don’t even want to tell you that they’re just friends. Entirely platonic,” the bugger said. “Might make you think I’m a little worried about you.”
Now it was Simon’s turn to laugh. Yes. Things were in a sad state, indeed.
But the relief Simon felt was enormous. And he was glad he’d had a specific reason to have Jeremy dig into her romantic entanglements. It was one of the few things he could thank his mother for, although it ran purely along the lines of counterintelligence after a conversation they’d had right before he left the UK.
Just in case your efforts fail, she had said, I’m sure we can find someone who’d be happy to help us. She’d practically sniffed at the air. She sells men tickets to see her body; I highly doubt her standards are exceptionally high.
You do realize you’re insulting Simon as well, Mum, don’t you? Gemma had said. But his mother had only reached to pour herself more tea, making clear it had not been an oversight.
Platonic relationship or not, however, nothing about Simon was calm as he stood there and watched her hug Mr. Alejandro Garcia. And by the way Garcia’s eyes narrowed as he glared at Simon over Nicki’s head, it was clear he had as much interest in a commission as Nicki had in Simon’s check.
“Well, I suppose we should get to it,” Jeremy said, pushing away from the car and walking toward Nicki and her friend.
Simon sighed and grimly marched off to his fate and joined them.
13
Help.
That was the only thing running through Nicki’s head as she walked towards the house and got as far away from Simon as she could. She was shaking. Nearly vibrating. Since the moment he told her she was the only woman he’d ever loved, Nicki had known she was in serious trouble.
He hadn’t earned her forgiveness yet, though; that was what she told herself. He’d still gone and left her, never to return again. Except, as she’d begun to realize, that was merely the tip of a very large iceberg. And he had returned. He was here now, wasn’t he? He even seemed to mean every single word he said.
But it wasn’t until she’d posed that question—or, rather, when he’d answered it—that she came to the understanding of what had really happened. Having his assistant call and sending someone other than himself to come find her weren’t because he hadn’t really cared very much, but because it had been his only way of getting to her at the time. He’d needed to believe as badly as she had. Maybe even more so. And hearing the pain in his voice—realizing he truly hadn’t known if she married him because of his money—had that final piece dropping into place.
She could no longer deny that she wanted him desperately. She was almost 100% certain he wanted her just as badly, no matter what the consequences might be. It scared her more than anything in her entire life. But she knew without a doubt she’d be stepping right up to that line, regardless of how frightening it was.
Thank, God, this was the only stop of the day. She couldn’t handle one more minute of being that close to him in such a small space. Just the sight of his hands on the steering wheel alone had nearly killed her. She’d been reliving the things those hands had done to her since the moment they’d been back on her the other day.
She lifted her phone to her ear, although she couldn’t for the life of her remember who she’d intended to call until the voicemail kicked in. Lynda. Nicki’s former stage manager and mom-substitute, who was no doubt getting ready for tonight’s show. Just as Nicki was hanging up, Alejandro came around the side of the house, allowing her at least another minute or two of respite.
Alejandro Garcia was one of Nicki’s favorite people in Santa Christa. To be truthful, other than Russel, he was also the only other person she’d known here when she’d made the decision to move. She’d met him the summer after her senior year of college, a time during which she’d been freely exploring all available options. Russel had gotten her a job in the office of the company he was working for and Alejandro had been one of the other guys. He’d
also been the only guy other than Russel who didn’t try to make a pass or just prove himself to be a general jerk. She couldn’t say she knew him well, and certainly not well enough to cling to him in such an enthusiastic hug upon seeing him, but she was so relieved to see someone without any strings attached that she couldn’t help it.
“Nicki!” he’d said as his arms enveloped her. “I’m so glad this worked out.”
“Me, too.” She smiled. She still wasn’t quite sure she believed Simon had just randomly stumbled upon Santa Christa and, well, her, but he seemed totally genuine about seeing this house through so she was totally genuine about spreading the money around to the people who deserved it.
“That’s the guy, isn’t it?”
“What?” Nicki looked up to see Alejandro staring over her head at Simon and Jeremy behind her.
God. She couldn’t even look back. That’s how badly Simon got to her.
“Russel told me he’s your ex. Are you sure this is all okay?” Then he put his hands on her shoulders and gazed down at her. “You know Brock would be fine if you sent him directly home. Brock cares about the sale but he cares about you more.”
It still amazed Nicki to have that be true, but she’d come to believe it after Russel and Dana had repeated it several times over the past few weeks.
It amazed her no less that she could say with complete assurance, “I’m good.” She even found herself smiling radiantly, although that may have been because of Alejandro’s unexpected kindness. She’d been on her own for a long time and wasn’t used to having so many people looking out for her. To have gained two big brothers in the course of this last month was nothing short of wonderful. “But feel free to sell him the most expensive design you can think of.”
Well, what could she say? Simon was throwing $500,000 checks around. He clearly wasn’t hurting for money.
Just as Alejandro returned her smile, she could hear Simon and Jeremy coming up behind her. When she turned, however, she was surprised to see that Jeremy had taken the lead and was now reaching out his hand to introduce himself. Simon was just a few steps behind, and once those formalities had taken place, Alejandro brought them to the terrace where the design he’d created for his own home was more than enough to sell Simon on one of his own. But it was Jeremy who did most of the talking while Simon hung back, unusually quiet.
He seemed to be more focused on Alejandro, in fact, than on what Alejandro was saying about his designs. It took her almost the entire meeting to realize it was because he thought Alejandro was the competition. Giddiness bubbled up inside her even though she wasn’t truly sure if she wanted anything to really come of this. Even more so as Simon put aside whatever issues he was having, and, clearly impressed by Alejandro’s designs, committed to spending nearly twice the amount she’d hoped for.
Just as they were getting ready to leave, they heard the sound of a car pulling up the drive. Alejandro couldn’t hide his smile as he stood up and looked back into the house. “That’s Maggie.”
Nicki stood up abruptly as she checked her watch. “Oh, goodness. I’m so sorry.” She hadn’t realized it had gotten so late and had no intention of intruding on their dinner. But then Maggie came out and seemed truly happy to meet them all, especially when she learned Nicki had known Alejandro way back when.
“You know,” she said, “my brother and his girlfriend are coming over for a drink. We’d love to have you join us.”
Nicki hesitated. Her inclination was to say yes, but she wasn’t sure how Simon would feel about that. It seemed almost like a date—like they were being asked as a couple. A couple complete with bodyguard, but still. Maybe she was getting just a little too ahead of herself here.
Except then she looked at him just as he turned to her, his gaze nearly as intense as Alejandro’s when he looked at his bride. He smiled and Nicki was suddenly concerned about her ability to stand. He turned to Maggie and, just as if they had been a couple for all this time, said, “We’d love to.”
Things got even better after the doorbell rang and Nicki discovered that Maggie’s brother was none other than Drew Barnes, Russel’s attorney, and that Drew’s girlfriend, Beth, was the cashier at the Christa Café.
Nicki loved these people.
She loved this place.
And she was pretty sure she still loved Simon.
Oh, crap.
This was madness; Simon knew he shouldn’t have said yes. But Nicki just looked so happy—so hopeful. And he couldn’t bear to take that away. Not yet at least. And not when he felt a taste of it himself as well. It wasn’t often he could just sit somewhere and breathe. In England, there was too much history. Literally. He’d felt the weight of the title since he was a boy, even though it had ceased to exist centuries before he was born. Even when he’d gotten old enough to realize his mother was delusional at best, evil at worst, and that he’d never be duke of anything, it was still as if she expected him to be. Which was downright insane.
His friends, royals and non-, lived a life he only straddled, although it was well known he could outspend nearly every one of them. Happiness was often based on the quality of the drugs they were doing and love was as irrelevant now as it had been centuries ago. No one actually expected it—not in marriage, at least. They had sex often and, in Simon’s experience, unfulfillingly. But as long as everyone looked good for the pictures, no one seemed to care.
Sitting here right now, however, with Nicki so close he could reach out and take her hand in his, the thoughts that had been swirling around in his head for the last two weeks came together with unwavering clarity. He wanted this. He wanted Nicki. He might even give up everything he had for the privilege of it.
He might actually have to.
And, unfortunately, as the evening went on and they settled into the flow of conversation, he knew his time was running short. If nothing else, Drew Barnes’s presence was a stark reminder of that fact. Drew was someone Simon knew, of course, as he’d been the one to oversee the details of the house sale, even going so far as saying, “Isn’t there anything you want to negotiate?” So it wasn’t a surprise that the other man had chuckled upon being introduced in person.
Perhaps Simon shouldn’t have taken Beth’s—Drew’s girlfriend—hand and brought it to his lips in the formal greeting that he’d been taught as a child. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what he did and he hadn’t been overly upset to see Drew’s smile widen as a result. Not in friendliness, of course, although all outward appearances indicated as such. Simon was fairly certain it meant Drew possessed the ability to be both cutthroat and calculating, which for some might not have been the best character endorsement, but as far as Simon was concerned was brilliant. It not only made Drew ever so much more interesting, it also gave Simon hope Nicki would have someone to help provide enough armor to defend her should Simon’s mother ever go into full attack mode.
It wasn’t until they’d all been sitting for about twenty minutes that Beth’s eyes widened as Maggie said something to her and she threw a glance in Simon’s direction. “That’s who he is?”
It was unclear whether she was referring to ‘Simon Grenville,’ who had spent too many years on the front page of too many tabloids, or just to ‘Simon,’ who was here to buy a house that cost far too much. What was clear, however, was that she’d intended the question to come out much more quietly, and she hadn’t foreseen the lull of silence into which she’d exclaimed.
Covering up her embarrassment, Drew held out the bottle of wine and offered Simon some more. “What exactly is it that made you decide on Santa Christa?” he asked as he poured. As if he’d already heard the answer but didn’t quite believe it.
Smart man.
But Simon wasn’t about to deviate from the story he’d first given and the one he’d been sticking to since that day. “My business requires me to entertain, and this seems like an excellent place from which to do it.”
Across from Simon, Alejandro said, “I didn’t realize Russel had al
ready begun to market the properties.”
“Right place at the right time, I guess.” As in, ‘the investigators who tracked Nicki down were able to determine not only who she’d just begun working for but also what he was doing.’ Not that Simon was even going to hint at that. He ignored Nicki’s questioning look, turning to say something to his hostess when Drew sat forward with a thunk of the bottle as he placed it back on the table.
Drew was the kind of man Simon generally enjoyed sparring with. He didn’t seem to be easily thrown. His eyes were sharp, however, and Simon knew his mind was as well. Simon didn’t go into any meeting without the proper background knowledge, and he’d known exactly who would be handling the paperwork for the official purchase of the house. Simon’s own solicitor, in fact, after doing her thorough check into the principles, had indicated Drew might actually be someone Simon should consider employing for their business in the area.
“So you and Nicki go way back,” the man said, his eyes never leaving Simon’s.
And although Simon felt Nicki go still beside him, he didn’t let his gaze waver, either. “We do.”
He did turn to her, however, as she leaned forward and said, “Not really.”
“We’ve known each other for nine years.” That, at least, was a fact.
With a tight smile, she shook her head. “We knew each other for one month, nine years ago. I don’t call that ‘going way back.’”
Again, just to keep the facts straight... “We were married.”
“‘Were’ being the operative word,” she said. Which, unfortunately, might not actually be true, but he wasn’t about to share that news in this crowd. Except she looked away from him and announced to everyone else, “The marriage was annulled so I’m not even sure I’m even allowed to call him my ex-husband since it’s supposed to be like the whole thing didn’t exist, right?”
“It did exist. We were married.” Simon had no idea why he was so bothered about it when the whole reason he was here in the first place was to make this go away.