11. A Thief, a Crook
CHAPTER 11
A Thief, a Crook
Nikki
I squinted at the open balcony door. The rain had stopped, and a bright light blanketed the room. Reaching across the mattress, I grabbed my phone off the nightstand. No response from Dom yet. Last night he’d promised to look into the longshot lead Henry and I had come up with to find Tessa.
Round and round we went. Meanwhile, Lisa was running out of time. Her parole hearing was scheduled for the end of the month. If we didn’t come up with something concrete to get her out, she’d stay in jail for another fifteen years. I couldn’t stand the thought of her in jail even for one more day, let alone years. She was innocent. She should be here with me, with her family.
Letting my head fall back on the pillow, I squeezed my eyes shut and cradled the phone to my chest. I should get up, but I couldn’t move. I felt tired, drained. Just needed to sleep some more. I lay on my side and cleared my mind. A few moments later, I drifted off to sleep.
I was in the dark, musty tunnel again. A beam of light at the end flashed in my face, and I was blinded. When I opened my eyes, everything was black again.
A knock on the door woke me. I pressed my face against the pillow with a hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. Why couldn’t I remember what we’d seen that day?
Henry knocked again, pushed the door open, and poked his head in, eyes closed. “Are you decent?”
“I’m sleeping. Go away.” I pulled the covers over my head.
The bed shifted as warmth spread along my side. Henry removed the sheet with a quick yank. “Get up. I’m taking you to breakfast.”
I peeked at him, at his wet hair and puffy eyes. He was dressed in his usual jeans and T-shirt and smelled of shaving cream and spearmint. “Not hungry.” I took the covers back and turned on my side.
He let out a laugh. “I could help you work up an appetite.” He scooted closer and spooned me. My eyes snapped open. All kinds of bad ideas flooded my mind as his hand snaked around my waist and down to my hip.
Without meaning to, I wiggled closer to him, taking in his scent. It’d been so long since I had to sort out my feelings about someone. I honestly didn’t know where to start with Henry. I wanted him. That much I knew for sure. What would our lives look like together? What would happen if we gave in to this? We weren’t fifteen anymore. Love was for fools. I’d learned that the hard way a long time ago.
He kissed my neck while his full body pressed against me. Damn, he felt good. My tight nipples begged for his touch, for a bit of relief.
“Breakfast sounds like a good idea.” I jumped to my feet.
With a low groan, Henry fell back on the pillow. “I’ll see you downstairs in forty-five minutes.” When I didn’t move, he threw a leg over the side of the bed and stood. “Hurry. I’m starving.”
I rushed to the shower and ran the water. Wait. Had he just tricked me into going on a date with him? No, this was just breakfast. This was the very reason why I never got involved with anyone. This constant worry of whether a guy loved me, or felt the way I did, or if we were on a date or not. Henry wanted me as much as I wanted him, but for how long? I stood under the cool spray and let it diffuse whatever ideas my body had gotten about him.
When I finished cleaning up, I got dressed in a simple Sunday dress. This wasn’t a date, but I took the time to blow-dry my hair, apply makeup, and even throw on some diamond earrings for good measure. With the bubbles in my chest threatening to bust out, I headed downstairs, where Henry waited patiently for me, sitting on the only piece of furniture we had in the place. We? I rolled my eyes. We were not a “we.”
His mouth fell open a little when he saw me. I smiled. “I see you,” he’d said to me the first day I came back to Paradise Creek. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had seen through Nikki Swift, seen the real me. No cons, no tricks. Just me.
“You’re nervous.” He grinned. “Why?”
“No. Just hungry.” I met his gaze, and he offered me his arm.
This felt so much like a date.
We crossed the threshold, and I froze when I saw the newly paved street. “How long was I asleep?”
He chuckled. “You’ve been cooped up in your room for two weeks. My guys and I have been working day and night to get the old downtown ready for Founders’ Day. What do you think?”
“It looks great.” I smiled. The big hole in front of the hotel had been repaired days ago, but I hadn’t noticed how they had also cleaned and restored the entire street. Some stores were even open for business. “So you’re like a real architect, huh?”
“Something like that.” He laughed, wrapping his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.
We strolled down the street, past a couple of antique shops, a bakery, and a general store. The old downtown was back in full swing. Just as it’d been before my parents were killed, when we were part of this community.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Mrs. Blaine is open for business. She makes the best griddle pancakes.” He held me as if we were boyfriend and girlfriend.
Mr. Paredes waved at him. “Henry. Good morning. I see you worked things out.” He pointed at Henry’s hand on my waist, beaming. I pulled away, but Henry tightened his hold on me.
“We’re getting there.” He winked at me.
“Good morning” was all I could say as Mr. Paredes waved goodbye. What was wrong with me? Where was Nikki Swift? My gaze darted from one smiling face to the next. Everyone loved Henry. They were all glad he was back. They had no clue the Morrow girl was back too.
A couple of blocks down, we reached Mrs. Blaine’s diner. The smell of pancake batter and coffee wafted out the door and down the street. The place was exactly how I remembered it, with wooden floors and a copper-tiled ceiling. As soon as she spotted us, she waddled over to us. Mrs. Blaine was in her late fifties, the town’s gossip, and a huge Cavalier family fan.
“Henry. What a pleasant surprise.” She wiped her hands on her apron and hugged him. She turned to me, eyebrows up while she looked from me to Henry. Back and forth until her curiosity won over. “And who is your lovely friend? ”
“Oh.” Henry faced me, brows furrowed. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t realized he was the only one who remembered me, who could see me. “This is?—”
“Nikki Swift.” I offered her my hand. I was Nikki Swift now. I could handle Mrs. Blaine. “Nice to meet you. I’m Henry’s friend from school.”
Her smile morphed into a grin so big I could see her molars. She placed her hand over her chest. Her eyes darted around the restaurant, taking inventory of who was around to witness our visit to her place. “Ah. From Canada. What an honor.” She shook my hand. “Here. Why don’t you grab this table by the window? You’ll have a great view of our town.” She gestured for us to sit at a wooden booth. We were on display, like trinkets in an antique shop.
When she left, Henry turned those soft and caring brown eyes on me. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think?—”
“Don’t worry about it. I can handle her. Let’s order.” I sat and opened the menu, which hadn’t changed since the last time I was here, and Mrs. Blaine had refused to serve me.
In fifteen minutes flat, our server brought our breakfast and coffee. The two tables next to us had barely gotten their waters and menus, even though they’d been waiting when we walked in. Henry may not have the Cavalier fortune anymore, but he was still one of them. If I hadn’t been good enough for him then, what made me think things could be different now?
“A penny for your thoughts?” He squeezed my hand again.
I gave him my Nikki Swift smile. I needed Nikki right now more than ever. “I thought you could read me.”
“I’d rather hear it from you. I’m such an asshole. All I wanted was to get you out of your room. This was a poor choice. I’m sorry.” He kissed my hand. Mrs. Blaine practically squealed behind the counter .
“She seems to like Nikki from Canada.” I raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled, and then his face blanched, as if he’d seen a ghost. I turned in my seat, and my stomach rolled. His aunt, all decked out like she was on her way to a party, glided through the door and went straight to the counter. This was someone who loved playing the Cavalier card. Mrs. Blaine greeted her and promptly reported Henry was here too, with a date .
“Fuck. She’s coming this way.” Henry squeezed my hand tighter. This time it was more for his own benefit.
“Henry. Honey. How are you?” His aunt touched her cheek to his. He didn’t move a muscle, his face blank, eyes dark and menacing. If his aunt noticed, she didn’t show it. “I hear you’re here with a friend.” She regarded me up and down. Her gaze settled on the two-carat diamond studs on my earlobes. She smiled in approval, and my insides twisted. “I’m Francesca Cavalier, Henry’s aunt.” She offered me her hand.
“Nice to meet you.” I gave her a weak shake, barely touching her fingers. “Henry didn’t tell me he had an aunt.”
She pursed her lips for a second before she plastered on a grin. “Well, that’s Henry for you. But now that we’ve met, my husband, the mayor, and I would love to have you over for this year’s Founders’ celebration at the manor.”
This wasn’t an invitation. This was a list of her credentials. The mayor’s wife who could make the call on who got invited to Cavalier Manor. All she was to me was the witch who’d made Lisa and me clean the floors over and over until they were exactly how she liked them, who would yell at ten-year-old me for stepping on the expensive rug in the living room.
“Thank you. You’re too kind for thinking of us.” I flashed her a smile.
Across from me, Henry sat back and glared at his aunt. This was the woman living in his house, spending his money. “ Is that it? We’d like to enjoy our breakfast.” He gestured for her to leave.
A small gasp left her lips, and she glanced over her shoulder. Keeping appearances was everything to her. Mrs. Blaine caught her eye and took the opportunity to join the conversation. Great. I sipped my black coffee. It burned my tongue, but I kept drinking as a reminder that I needed to keep my cool.
“Aren’t they a lovely couple?” Mrs. Blaine asked.
I didn’t bother telling her we weren’t together. A part of me liked that Mrs. Blaine thought Nikki Swift was good enough to date the Prince of Paradise.
Francesca nodded. “I’m so happy for you, Henry. The last time you were in town, your choice in friends was, well, terrible. But that’s how those Morrow girls were, bad seeds. I’m glad you were able to get away from all that.”
“What made you think of them?” Henry’s face remained blank as he met my gaze for a moment.
“We celebrate your dad every year during the Founders’ Day Gala. And every year, I pray that Morrow girl is rotting in prison for what she did.” Mrs. Blaine wrung her apron.
She still hated my sister…us. I wished her words didn’t hurt me still after all these years. Lisa was right. The only way to come back home was to prove her innocence.
“We all miss him. Don’t we? But justice was served. Now we must remember James for who he was and not how his life ended.” Francesca moved closer to Henry, a greedy look in her eyes. She placed her hand on his shoulder and surveyed his face.
Henry pushed her hand off him.
“And I agree with you. This entire town agrees with you.” Mrs. Blaine nodded, a star-struck expression on her face. She’d say anything to be included in Francesca’s circle. “That Morrow girl should rot in jail. ”
“I have to go. My dear husband’s waiting for me. Is my order ready? The mayor can’t function without his donuts.”
“Of course.” Mrs. Blaine sprang to action. She snapped her fingers to get the server’s attention, then said, “Fetch Madame Mayor’s order.”
“I hope to see you both this weekend.” Francesca waved and returned to the counter.
“Do they know your uncle is the elected official, not Francesca? It’s not like they’re royalty.” I rolled my eyes.
“Are you okay?” Henry gave me a weak smile.
Our hands were sweaty, but I didn’t dare let go of him. I shook my head. “Lisa’s right.”
“I know.” He drew circles on my palm with his thumb. “Some date, huh?”
“This was a date?” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Well, not anymore. I mean…” He gestured toward the counter. His face relaxed a little, and he smiled. “I’d hoped to come here, have breakfast, and talk about us.”
“What is there to say about us?”
He shrugged. “There’s such a big wall between us, Nikki. I’m part of this town. The same town that hurt you when you were little. The one that chased you away. How do I make it right? I can see it in your eyes. You’re never going to forget all the pain you went through when you were here. You’re never going to forgive me. Are you?”
“None of this was your fault.”
“You keep saying that. But you’re holding something back. What is it?”
What is it? What was stopping me from looking deep inside and sifting through the feelings I had for Henry? Why was I so afraid to look? Was he right? I’d been avoiding him, keeping him at a distance because I hadn’t forgiven him for leaving me, for letting this town treat me the way they did. None of it was his fault. I knew that. But it still hurt. I was still angry. No matter who or what I had become, this town would always remind me what a bad seed I was, just as Mrs. Blaine had said.
“You deserve better than a Morrow girl, Henry.” The words pained me, but they rang true.
He shook his head.
“You know I’m right. Even Nikki Swift isn’t for you. I’m a thief, a crook.” I pointed at myself.
“You think I give a shit about that? I want you. It’s always been you.” His voice sounded strained as he squeezed my fingers.
“We have work to do.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled my hand back before I rose to my feet. “Let’s go find your mom. And forget about all this.”
“Forget about us?” he asked.
“Yes, Henry. When the job is done, I’m gone. That’s how I work.” I stormed out.