Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
R achel followed Nick out of the kitchen. On the left side was a formal dining room with a round table that would have done King Arthur proud. The top was inlaid in circles that wound out to about eight inches from the edge and might have been cherry wood. Twelve richly padded chairs ringed the table, with plenty of room between each chair.
She had a friend who spent a fortune on a cherry wood table with a buffet and a china hutch. Hers had seated six, and this one seated twelve. It was huge and the hutch appeared to be full of...china. She’d never thought of Nick as being domestic.
The hall was long, with several doors down it.
Nick stopped at one and opened it. “This is my office. I can usually be found here, in the arena, or in the barn. I love riding, and watching gives me great pleasure.”
The office was bright with lots of windows letting in the sunlight. The room was decorated with dark, heavy furniture. Western artwork by Frederick Remington and Charles Russell graced the walls, and she even saw a bronze that Remington had created. Rachel knew he was the artist because she’d seen a copy of that piece in a store in Cheyenne the one time she and Greg traveled west for their only visit to see her parents. She was pretty sure the paintings Nick had weren’t prints, either, but the real thing.
She straightened and followed as Nick moved on down the hall, which opened into a large living room.
The kids were sitting in front of a monstrous TV screen, playing their video game.
Rachel recognized it as Roblox, Jake’s favorite game, and from what Nick had said, it was apparently Bailey’s, too.
Nick walked over to the kids and set Bailey’s hot cocoa on the coffee table. The kids sat on the floor with their legs under the coffee table and their backs against the sofa. “This is the living room. You saw the family room back by the kitchen, but this has the biggest screen, and Bailey likes it best,” Nick said by way of an explanation.
Rachel followed him and set Jake’s drink on the coffee table in front of him. “Gotcha. Jake would be the same way.”
“So, there you have it. The rest of the upstairs is just more bedrooms. I do have a small theater in the basement along with a gaming room, where I have a pool table, air hockey table, dart board, and some other games. I even have a poker table.” He laughed. “Do you still like to play poker?”
Rachel smiled. “On occasion of which have been few and far between. Greg never liked that about me...that I liked to play cards, so I haven’t done much.” She narrowed her eyes. “But I still remember enough to beat your backside.”
Nick threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Not likely. I’ve learned a lot since we last played. I’ll have to see if I can get a game together while you’re here and see just how good you still are.”
“I’d like that. Just a friendly game, though. I’m not interested in losing a lot of money...if I happen to lose.” She winked at Nick.
“Shall we gather our children and get them to bed? Did you bring a swimming suit?”
“Yes, I thought you might have a pool. I remember swimming in that pond in the summer. It was so darn cold, and yet, you couldn’t wait to get in it.”
“You remembered. Yes, I have an indoor pool so I can swim all winter, too. It has a glass ceiling so, when it’s not covered in snow, it’s like swimming outside in the summer, even in the winter. Come on. Let’s get the kids into bed.”
They went to retrieve the children.
“Jake it’s bedtime. Let’s go. You can bring your hot chocolate with you.”
“But, Mom, we’re just getting started,” whined Jake.
“You’ve been playing for an hour. I know the time went much faster than you wanted, but now it’s time to go to bed. We’ve had a rough day, and you need your rest if you’re still planning on a riding lesson tomorrow. Do you want a riding lesson or not?”
Jake set the controller on the coffee table and hopped up off the floor. “I do want a lesson. I want to learn to ride as good as Bailey. She’s really good.”
She smoothed his hair as they walked toward the stairs. “I know, and you’ll eventually get to ride that well, but you need to learn the basics first.”
“I know. I’m not a baby.”
She smiled, her heart swelling. He didn’t understand he would always be her baby. But now she had to acknowledge he was growing up. Much faster than she wanted. “I know. You’re a big boy and very smart, so you will go to bed now so you’re ready for tomorrow. Get in your pajamas, and I’ll read you some from The Wild Robot. I saw you brought the book.”
He nodded. “I wanted it if there was nothing to do here, but there are all kinds of things. Bailey told me they have a pool in a house.”
“They do. Nick likes to swim, even in the winter.”
“Wow. It’s great here. Can we stay forever?” He looked up with the same green eyes she saw staring in the mirror every morning.
She could hardly resist them, but she did. Rachel chewed on the inside of her cheek while he looked up at her before she kneeled in front of him. “The thing is we can only stay for a while. Only until I’m sure it’s safe to go home.”
He looked down and kicked an invisible rock with his foot. “Did my dad tear up all our furniture?”
Rachel thought about lying, but she opted for the truth instead. “Yes. He was furious, so he broke into our house and destroyed it. He’s still mad at me for divorcing him. But I couldn’t let him hit me anymore, and I couldn’t let him turn his anger on you. Your father isn’t a well man, but that doesn’t excuse his actions. Do you understand that? You never hit a woman. Never.”
“I know, Mom. I’ll never be like my father.” He moved close and placed his arms around her neck. “I love you, Mommy.”
With her heart melting, she hugged him back. “I know you won’t. You’re a good boy, love of my life.”
“Ah, Mom.”
“I know.” She hugged him to her again. “I’m too mushy. Now, you go ahead, and I’ll be back in a minute to tuck you in and read.” She walked out to let him have the privacy he wanted to change his clothes. Rachel had a difficult time realizing that Jake was growing up. She wanted him to remain a little boy, but she knew that was an unreasonable wish. Looking at his door, she thought he’d had enough time. She knocked on the door.
“Are you ready?”
“Yeah, come in.”
Jake was in bed waiting. She sat on the edge of the bed and opened the book. She began to read and by the time she’d finished one page, he was out like a light. Rachel closed the book, tucked in the blanket around him, then kissed his head. “Goodnight, my little love.” Then she left the room, leaving the door open a crack. She’d have to remember to ask Nick if he would leave the hall light on or see if he had an extra night-light.
Jake didn’t normally need one, but they were in a new place and she thought it was safer than him wandering around in the dark.
She walked next door and changed into her white, halter-top one-piece swimsuit, then added the colorful sarong style skirt, before meeting Nick in the kitchen.
She walked in.
He leaned on the breakfast bar with his back to her.
“So, where is this infamous pool house.”
Nick startled at the sound of her voice. “Sheesh, Rach, make a noise next time. You frightened me.”
Rachel chuckled. “You should be more aware of your surroundings.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He raised his arm to push away her remark. “So, you’ve told me many times before. I never had to worry about it except for you. How do you move so silently anyway?”
She shrugged. “It’s a gift. It lets me sneak up on nurses who are standing around doing nothing.”
“Hmpft. So, my dear friend, what is it you need? I see you’re ready to go swimming.”
“I am, but I need to know if you can leave the hall light on outside Jake’s and my room. I don’t want him stumbling around in the dark.”
“Sure. That’s not a problem.” He tilted his head a bit. “Was that all you needed?”
“Yes. And I want to thank you again for taking us in.”
His gaze softened. “Of course. I will always be here for you, Rach. Always.”
“I know. I never wanted to be a burden to you. I don’t now, but I don’t know what else to do. I know you’re right; I can’t stay at the house...at least until I can get the kitchen door replaced with one without a window. And it must have a deadbolt. A good one.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve already got my guys working on it. But I don’t want you to feel you have to move right away or that you aren’t welcome, because you are. For as long as you want to be here. Even if you do go back to that house, I’m afraid you won’t feel safe there, regardless of the improvements we make. The windows construction is such that he could easily come through and I know you’ve thought about that because you’re a smart woman.”
She nodded. “I’m glad you think I’m smart, because I’m not so sure. I never thought Greg would follow me. I just wanted Jake to have a backyard. Some place outside that he could safely play. A place with real grass and actual trees, not the fake ones I had on the balcony of our New York apartment. I wanted him to have what we had. Though I realize now that’s a pipe dream, and it will be as long as Greg is a free man.” She took one of Nick’s hands in hers. “I can’t ever let him take Jake. He’ll raise him to be just like him. I can’t allow that to happen, but I need your help. I know that now. After he grabbed me around the throat was when I realized he was too far gone to be reasoned with.”
Nick squeezed her hand, pulled her against him, and then wrapped his arms around her. “Rach, you’re angry and still worked up, through no fault of your own. I understand and want you to stay here as long as you want. That’s what best friends are for, and we have the room. Bailey is thrilled to have Jake staying here so she can have someone to play with. I’m sure Jake is the same way. It’s hard when you don’t have any friends.
“Bailey can go to the same school as Jake because we have open enrollment in Colorado. That means any child can go to any school regardless of where the school is located or what district it is in, if there is room at the desired school. The thing is that the most popular schools have a sign-up period, and we might have missed it depending on the school. Although they do usually have a special open policy for children new to the district.”
“Well, that would be Jake. What school does Bailey attend? It might be best to leave her where she is and just enroll Jake in that school.”
“That’s true. I’ll get you the information.” He pointed toward the pool. “How about we head to the pool?”
“Sounds good. Let’s go.” She stepped back.
He led the way to the pool, through the kitchen.
As she reached the patio surrounding the water, Rachel grinned, kicked off her flip-flops, and removed her coverup.
Nick whistled. “You still look great, Rach.”
She felt her face heat to the temperature of Venus, and her face probably looked severely sunburned. “Um, thanks. You’re not looking so bad yourself. You have a lot more muscles than I remember.” She ran, jumped into the water and then, after she surfaced, she walked backwards in the cool water while keeping her gaze on Nick.
He laughed. “That’s what throwing bales of hay will do for you.”
“Why would you throw bales of hay? Don’t you have a machine for that?”
“No, I want to keep as close to the old ways as possible...with some things. I use machinery where I believe it’s necessary.” He ran a hand behind his neck as he joined her in the water. “And that’s about everywhere when it comes to producing hay.”
“Why don’t you just buy the hay? Wouldn’t that be easier?”
“Sure, but it’s way more expensive than growing it myself. Mom and Dad have the machinery already, so I just borrow it after they’re done with the harvest.”
She continued to walk backwards while talking.
“Uh, Rach, there’s a?—”
Suddenly, Rachel stepped back and off into the deep end. She went under and then kicked to the top, sputtering as she broke the surface. She pushed her wet hair back off her face. “You should have signs to warn a person there’s a drop-off.”
Nick pointed to the depth markings on the pool wall. “We do.” He grinned and then laughed.
Rachel laughed right along with him as she treaded water. “Well, I wasn’t looking over there. I was mesmerized by the muscular form in front of me.”
Now, it was Nick’s turn to turn red. “I guess I can’t blame you for that.”
The way he looked at her had her insides doing flips and all her blood rushing south.
Nick walked closer.
Rachel froze in place, unable to move away. She licked her lips just as Nick stopped right in front of her.
He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, and then the same hand cradled her head while he lowered his to hers, taking her lips in a gentle kiss.
She wrapped her arms and legs around him. The feel of his skin on hers was enough to set all her lady parts aflame.
He sank at her unexpected weight.
They bobbed to the surface, sputtering and laughing.
“Guess that will teach me to kiss you.”
“Back up. Go to where we can both stand without drowning.”
He did as she ordered.
She stood in front of him, reached up, cupped his head, and pulled gently until she could press her lips against his.
His arms came around her, and he pulled her close.
She placed her arms around his neck, her pulse raced and her heart pounded as she kissed him for all she was worth. She pressed her tongue against his lips and was thrilled he opened for her. This was her second genuine kiss from Nick, and it definitely wouldn’t be her last. Was it possible, after all she’d been through with Greg, that her dreams really were coming true? Could Nick fall in love with her, or was this just because of their proximity? Would this feeling change after she returned to her house in Denver?