CHAPTER 9 #2
Blake looked Nick up and down. “Who the hell are you?”
“You already know who I am. Her new fuckboy. Now, get the hell out.”
Blake opened his mouth, then seemed to think better of it as recognition dawned on his face.
He snapped his fingers and pointed. “You’re that guy. From the convention.”
“Very good. I am.” He motioned with his chin toward the door. “See yourself out. Bother her again, and you will deal with me.”
Blake glared at Jannie. He might be fit, but he knew he was no match for Nick and didn’t hide his resentment.
She glared right back, making a note to call a locksmith as soon as possible. “You need to go now, Blake.”
Blake slanted a dirty look at Nick, who stared right back at him, dark eyes blazing. “You heard her.”
A muscle twitched in Blake’s jaw, and for the first time ever, he locked eyes with her in such a hateful way that her stomach felt like ice.
Without another word, he turned, the heels of his oxfords clicking on the marble as he marched away, yanked open the door, and slammed it shut behind him.
Jannie stood unmoving, swallowing hard as the door vibrated, the sound ricocheting off the high ceilings. She caught a glimpse of Blake through the lights as he stormed away, then heard the thud of a car door and the roar of an engine starting.
He still has the house key.
Nick gave her a little squeeze, his arm warm and secure around her, and to Jannie’s horror, her eyelids began to burn.
Do not cry; do NOT cry.
Before she knew it, Nick turned her to face him, and she found herself in his embrace.
She should have wanted to pull back, to push him away.
Instead, she leaned into his warmth, bracing both palms against his chest and burying her face in the crook of his neck.
He felt solid, strong, and protective, and Jannie inhaled his scent, her heart pounding, from the stress of the past few minutes or Nick’s closeness, she couldn’t tell.
She squeezed her eyelids tightly, managing to halt the tears, soaking in Nick’s warmth and his scent. It calmed her. She thought she felt his lips brush the top of her head.
“You OK?” he murmured against her hair.
“No,” she admitted.
“You will be,” he said with conviction.
His hand moved up her back, stroking between her shoulder blades, and then his fingers threaded up into her hair, gently massaging her scalp, keeping her face pressed to his throat.
It was the first time in forever that she felt a modicum of peace, and Jannie relaxed against him, exhaling slowly. He didn’t say anything about what he had surely heard, and for that, she was grateful.
“Thank you for going all white knight for me,” she said.
“Anytime.”
She lingered in his arms for a moment longer. He exhaled, his breath warm on her cheek, and she smelled mint.
Her eyes widened. Her breath must be foul. She drew away and didn’t miss the confusion in his eyes as she put a good amount of space between them.
“I need to brush my teeth,” she said sheepishly.
His lips twitched. “Oh, OK. Thought it was me.”
“No, you … you’re …” The way he looked at her made butterflies flit in her chest. Her gaze dipped to his collarbone, and she forced herself to only look there, though what she really wanted was to ogle that unbelievably fit chest. Maybe touch it too.
A car turned into the driveway, and Rolf immediately went off.
“OK!” she said, and the dog stopped barking. “Can you get that? I’ll be right back.”
Nick nodded, his gaze shifting to Rolf. “Is he all right if I open the door?”
“Of course he is. He knows better than to run outside without permission.”
“Amazing. You’ve trained him so well.”
She smiled and patted her thigh. “Let’s go.”
Rolf positioned himself close to her leg and trotted alongside her. All the way to the bathroom, Jannie distinctly felt Nick’s gaze on her back.
·
Jannie
Jannie shook her head. “Did you order the entire menu?” Even after they’d made a serious dent in it, the bountiful breakfast buffet Nick had set up in the summer kitchen looked mostly untouched.
He speared a piece of pancake and dipped it in maple syrup. “I didn’t know what you’d like, so I ordered everything.”
“You might just spoil me.”
He caught her gaze, his dark eyes intense. “I’d like to.”
She watched the morsel disappear into his mouth, noticing the sheen on his lower lip from the syrup. Her brothers would rather be tortured than consume that many carbs. Apparently, Nick had no such problem.
During her ridiculously long everything shower, she’d thought of ways to politely tell him she had things to do so he would take the hint and leave, but over the course of breakfast, her resolve weakened. His presence soothed her and made her feel safe; right now, that was exactly what she needed.
He looked up at the wood plank lanai ceiling. “This is a nice place you have here.”
“It is.” She, too, surveyed the boards.
She had gone to Home Depot and bought four stain colors to test, eventually blending two to achieve the exact shade she envisioned.
While building this house, she’d agonized over every detail, with Blake staying out of it, saying she should choose whatever she liked.
At that time, she thought he was giving her free rein because he loved her and wanted her to be happy.
Now, she wondered if he simply didn’t care.
“What are you thinkin’?” Nick asked.
“Nothing.”
“It doesn’t look like nothing to me. What’s that sad place you went to?”
She gave him a look. “Take a guess.”
“Ah.”
He’d understood immediately. A part of her wasn’t surprised. He seemed uncannily in tune with her, even though they’d barely spent time together.
“Is there a chance he’ll be back?”
“The probability is high.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
“How do I feel?”
No one had ever asked her how she felt. In the Larssen family, you dealt with your problems and sucked it up. Her father’s constant admonition to her brothers to “take it like a man” had also applied to her.
“I don’t know how I feel. I’ve been numb since …” her voice trailed.
“Since you lost the babies.”
She nodded. He wasn’t avoiding the subject. He wasn’t calling them “it.” His candor overwhelmed her, and Jannie was intensely grateful for his hand covering hers, stroking gently.
“I have found,” he said quietly, “that keeping things bottled up inside will eventually wreck you.” He squeezed her fingers. “At the same time, I know it’s hard to talk. So, all I’ll say is that I’m here if and when you’re ready. You’re only human, Jannie. Have you ever let someone else be strong?”
Never.
This was her life, a broken mess, and she would have to somehow pick up the shattered pieces and move on.
The question was how. She looked out over the water. The breeze made the surface look like a blanket of glittering diamonds. How many times had she envisioned being out there on that boat with Blake and a couple of laughing children?
The knot in her throat burned, as did her eyelids, but she was damned if she was going to cry, especially in front of Nick.
She sensed his gaze on her and knew that if she looked, she’d see those dark eyes full of compassion.
Her lower lip trembled, but she clamped down, blinked, and, thank God, managed to stave off the threatening tears.
Nick didn’t say a thing. Wordlessly, he slid out of his barstool and stood, moving to loom in her peripheral vision. He didn’t touch her, just stood there with his arms at his sides, palms out, looking as if he wanted to reach for her.
He didn’t.
She buried her face in her hands.
“Jannie,” he murmured, “let me hold you.”
She hesitated for a moment, fighting to regain control, swallowing salt. And suddenly, she found herself leaning forward.
And into his arms.
Just like before, his solid strength and the way he completely enveloped her made Jannie feel sheltered. For the first time in her life, she felt safe and protected. He held her firmly enough to give support but not so tightly as to make her uncomfortable.
“It’s OK to let it out.” His voice was low and soothing.
She fisted the fabric of his shirt, twisting, burying her face in his broad chest. Holding on to him this way, her heartbeat slowed, and her breathing deepened.
For a while, he held her, and she took in his scent, barely sensing the cologne lingering on yesterday’s shirt. More of him now and less of the cologne. She found his unique smell profoundly comforting, and a calm descended as the mortifying threat of losing control and crying gradually faded.
She unclenched her hands, smoothed her palms over his pecs, and felt creases beneath her fingertips. “I got your shirt all wrinkled.”
He rested his cheek atop her head, nuzzling gently. “It’s fine. Whatever you need.”
Jannie stayed in his embrace for a while longer, listening to the slap of waves hitting the dock as a boat sped across the lake. She felt a vibration at her back and heard a ding. Nick shifted, and she realized he was checking his watch.
He cursed under his breath.
“What is it?”
“The plane is ready.”
He rubbed her back, then released her and stepped away, leaving her feeling cold.
“I need to leave within the hour. The plane has to get back to Vegas, pick up the CEO, and take him to Houston.”
Her heart sank.