Chapter Four
Renaldi Mansion, Chicago
Natalie slammed thecut-crystal glass down on the bar top, whiskey splashing onto her hand. “I’m not letting her get away with it, I don’t care where she went to hide out. Who the hell wants to live in Wyoming?”
“Sit down, Natalie. I find your constant tantrums tiresome.” Michael, standing behind the bar in the corner of his great room, took the glass, and set it out of reach.
Bending his head, he pressed his thumb and forefinger between his eyes, hoping to ward off the headache brewing. She’d been going on for thirty minutes and driving him nuts since she and Douglas arrived for Sunday dinner. Thank God both of them had moved out of their parents’ home within a year of him inheriting the mansion. Even with over eight thousand square feet to spread out in, Natalie’s spoiled attitude and Douglas’ irresponsible ways managed to intrude on his life. As long as they did their jobs with the company and stayed out of the tabloids, he left them alone. On Friday, Natalie had refused to tone down her tirade after learning Nicole Wells had relocated to Wyoming, too far out of his sister’s reach to continue her ongoing harassment of the woman. He’d booted her out of his office, hoping that would put an end to it.
No such luck.
“She’s just letting off steam. Let her get it over with so we can dine in peace.”
He glared at Douglas who was perched on a stool wearing one of his relaxed, who gives a shit grins. “She’s been letting off steam all weekend. Enough is enough.” Michael directed that order to both of his annoying siblings.
“Not until you do something about her,” Natalie snapped, taking up a mutinous stance with her arms crossed, her shoulders stiff.
Throwing up his arms, he demanded, “What do you think I can do? She defended herself against Tony’s attack. There’s no refuting that. The only thing you accomplished by stalking her these past months was to make a public spectacle of yourself and send her packing. I’m ordering you now to let it go and quit dragging our name through the mud.”
In answer, she stomped over to the sofa and snatched her purse. Her heels clicked on the tile entry floor before she yelled back, “Obviously, I loved Tony more than you.”
The door slammed, her jab cutting Michael to the quick. He picked up her glass and finished the contents in one burning swallow.
“Don’t take that to heart,” Douglas said, his gaze compassionate for once. “They shared a bond as twins, and being the only girl and the baby to boot, she’s been impossible since the terrible twos.”
“Which everyone, including you and I, made concessions for way too long.” He blew out a breath, wishing yet again he had fought harder to bring his youngest brother home after his diagnosis. “Tony was the best of us.” Regrets wouldn’t change anything, however, and he shoved aside the painful loss to focus on the living. “I won’t lose Natalie also, and at the rate she’s going, she’ll land her ass in jail, so I’ll do what’s necessary to stop her. Come on. Just because she chose to skip Andre’s shrimp tartare doesn’t mean we will.”
“Her loss, and more for us.”
Michael followed Douglas, his eyes shifting toward the French doors and sweeping view of the green, landscaped acres behind the house, taking in the shimmering, Olympic-size pool and thousand-square-foot pool house. He controlled a multibillion-dollar company and his personal wealth afforded him anything money could buy, yet he couldn’t save his brother, and so far, he’d failed to divert his sister from the self-destructive path she was on.
Health issues were beyond his means, but one way or another, he vowed, Michael would not allow Natalie to destroy her future or continue to link the family name to scandal.
***
NATALIE FUMED ALL THEway home. She thought the heart-wrenching shock of her beloved brother’s terminal diagnosis was the worst news she could hear, but that was nothing compared to learning that woman had killed him. He was supposed to pass away gently, surrounded by those who loved him, not gunned down in his own home by a money-hungry whore. Her eyes filled with tears as she recalled Tony’s teasing. Face it, sis. It doesn’t matter who I go out with, she won’t be good enough for your approval. And he was right.
Michael either didn’t understand the special connection she shared with her twin or didn’t care about how he died, but she did. And one way or another, she swore that woman would not know a moment’s peace regardless of where she lived.
***
DOUGLAS CALLED NATALIEas soon as he left Michael’s house. His resentment of Nicole’s scornful rebuff had festered these past months, and he’d silently cheered his sister on when she would publicly lay into her. However, he was better off keeping his desire to side with Natalie from Michael, who took his position as head of the Renaldi family seriously.
The only other part of life he focused on with such unbending purpose was sex. Women did not turn him down. Ever. Call it ego, spoiled, or lucky, it was all the same to him. That nasty altercation was not only a first but from a nobody. Some things he couldn’t let stand. How many could claim they’d caught the interest of two Renaldi brothers? None he knew of. Instead of the gratitude he expected, she’d turned on him in disgust.
The humiliating set down from her father didn’t bear rehashing. His only saving grace was no one other than those two knew what happened that day. The pleasure of Nicole’s departure didn’t mitigate his need for payback though.
“If you’re calling to side with Michael, I don’t want to hear it,” Natalie answered as Douglas pulled up at a stop sign.
“Relax, brat. I’m on my way. Two heads are better than one when plotting revenge.” Douglas hung up with a smile.
***
THE CONTRACTOR ARRIVEDtwo hours late then made up for it by spending three hours checking out the house, caretaker’s cottage, and barn, making detailed notes on repairs. Leaning on her elbows braced on the kitchen counter, Nicole glanced at the list and estimated price tag, rather surprised it wasn’t higher. She’d donated the proceeds from selling Tony’s house to various charities, but about half of what he left her remained in a savings account in Chicago. She’d kept enough to stay out of debt buying the property and covering the expenses of repairs, putting in five indoor/outdoor kennels, updating and furnishing the house and cottage, and saving some for the rescued dogs’ vet and food expenses. The home inspector had assured her both living quarters were solid, with updated plumbing and electric, and only needed a cosmetic facelift, which helped her finances.
Glancing up, she nodded at Jim who stood across from her, finishing a glass of iced tea. “Okay. Slade Kincaid vouched for you, and this looks good. When can you start?”
“I can get a construction crew out here in about ten days. Maybe a little sooner if a smaller job gets finished by the end of the week. In the meantime, I’ll order supplies and give your preferences for the house and cottage interior redos to my interior design assistant who will call you.” He jerked a thumb out the window. “The Kincaids are good people. Did Slade build the fence for you?”
She normally didn’t care for bragging, but, darn it, she’d also worked long and hard on it. “Along with his brothers and myself.”
Lucky for him, he didn’t appear surprised or even impressed. Setting the glass down, he picked up his hat and said, “Feel free to stack anything you don’t want from the barn and cottage in a burn pile, anywhere out in the open, away from the woods. I’ll call you with a more definitive time schedule.”
“Thanks,” she replied, walking out with him.
Sam came trotting out from the bedroom as soon as the door closed. With tail wagging, all happy now that the stranger had left, he nudged her hand for attention.
“What’s with you? Jim is a nice man, yet you run off without even checking him out. And this is after you cozy up to Slade, who’s bigger, gruffer, and well, annoying.” All true, which didn’t explain why every time he popped into her head, she grew warm in places that had no business getting hot and bothered over the man.
“He is so not my type,” she told her dog with a final scratch behind his ears. “You better learn to like Jim. You’ll be seeing a lot more of him than the neighbor soon. Come on. Let’s go for a walk.”
Nicole had planned on checking out the mercantile this afternoon, but one glance at the clock and she decided to wait until morning. There was still enough daylight left to find the place, but she didn’t relish driving the long stretch of unfamiliar highway in the dark. At home, there was always traffic, day and night, to light up the roads, and no wild animals darting out of nowhere. She was still acclimating to the odd howling, hooting, and screeching night sounds that were either calming or nerve-wracking as opposed to the ruckus from neighbors on the other side of her walls.
Taking advantage of the last hour or so of daylight, she and Sam explored more of the property, believing Tony would approve what she was trying to do here. He’d been crazy about Sam and had accompanied her to donate time at the shelter, always insisting on loading up with food and toys for both dogs and cats. They strolled by the barn, and she looked around for the two stray cats who, so far, had resisted all efforts to allow her close. She figured they kept the mice under control, but put out food and clean water anyway, hoping they would learn to trust her.
They came across a narrow trail veering into the woods around the same area where she’d first seen Slade. Peering through the dense trees, she couldn’t glimpse a house or barn but was close enough to hear the gurgling stream. Another day, she would take Sam down to the water where he would love to splash and romp, not because she was curious how close Slade he was. Not that she would admit anyway.
“Come on, boy. Let’s head back and find something to eat.” All this outdoor exercise had stirred up her appetite, and the air had turned cooler with the sun dipping.
The next day didn’t go as planned, either. The designer, Taylor Schmidt, brought out a van full of samples, from flooring to counters and catalogs to browse, which took hours. They walked through the house making choices, then the small cottage, taking a break to eat the fresh muffins Taylor had picked up from a bakery in Eagle’s Nest on her way here from Casper. With her head swimming with colors and textures, Nicole spent what was left of that afternoon drawing for one of her children’s books contracts, her dream job both fun and soothing.
Allie called first thing Wednesday morning to ask about lunch, and, since that fit into her plans, Nicole agreed to meet them at the restaurant. All her plans in initiating this move had been centered around the need for solitude, an ache that intensified every time the press found and hounded her for an interview or Natalie showed up at the shelter or work to harass her. She enjoyed the girls’ company, but all she wanted today was to show her appreciation for their thoughtfulness the other day by accepting their invitation.
Sam didn’t look happy when she left, but he’d enjoyed a long romp that morning while she flagged the area to fence in behind the house for a large yard. He always obeyed her, coming as soon as she called to him, even if he was chasing a rabbit or squirrel, but she would never leave him unattended outside. There was no telling what he would do with her gone.
The shopping center was about half a mile off the highway but easy to spot by the crowded parking lot. Nicole found a place in the middle, close to the mercantile which sat between the restaurant and a small laundromat. She would have brought a load had she known about it as her washer and dryer wouldn’t arrive for another week. She walked toward the restaurant thinking she should have thought this move through more thoroughly. She’d spent more time and effort getting acclimated to her new environment and making preparations to take in needy dogs than mourning Tony’s death and her hand in ending his life.
The two sessions with a grief counselor her parents had suggested were not much help. The guilt still lingered, just under the surface, and with it the unanswerable question – had there been another option? She realized the futility of asking that, but for that reason alone, she could look at her scars and be grateful for the reminder of how far gone he had been in those final moments.
Nicole heard her name and glanced toward the door, seeing Lily waving. Shoving off the past, she focused again on the here and now, returning her greeting. “Hi. Sorry, my head was in the clouds. Oh, what smells so good?” she asked as they entered and the aroma of fresh-baked goods hit her.
“Mmm, Ina’s baking. Pies and bread, her specialties. That’s her behind the counter.” She returned the older woman’s wave. “Her husband, Howard, is one of the cooks. We’re over here.”
“Popular place,” she commented, eyeing the row of customers seated at the long counter and the number of occupied tables. A tall pie stand loaded with decadent desserts sat next to the register, tempting people to add one to their tab.
“It is, with good reason.”
The ends of Lily’s mahogany hair swung around her upper back as Nicole followed her through the filled tables to a corner where Allie waited. Each of the blonde’s white nails sported a fall icon — leaves, pumpkins, witches, turkeys — that covered the upcoming holidays.
“I love your jewelry and nails,” Nicole told her, taking a seat. “But with all the work I have to do, it’s best to stay Plain Jane.” She held up her bare nails and wiggled her fingers.
Lily grinned. “She’s tried to talk me into going with her to get mine done. I prefer clear polish.”
“Boring.” Allie rolled her eyes, handing a menu to Nicole. “Everything is good. I’m having the chicken melt. Save room for pie.”
“There’s always room for pie, but that bread smells too good to pass up. I’ll order some to take home. All this fresh air and the physical labor I’m not used to sure keeps the appetite stirred up.”
“What are you used to?” Lily asked, setting aside the menu and reaching for her water glass.
Nicole waited until the waitress took their orders before replying. “The big city. Crowds, traffic, constant noise, and stuffy air unless the wind is gusting. Once I get a few dogs, it will be nice keeping them outside for a while each day without having to walk them. But I could use help with hiring a handyman who likes dogs.”
“I’m glad you asked, and, if you’re open to giving second chances, I may have someone for you.”
Seeing the guarded but hopeful look on Lily’s face made her think the person she had in mind was someone from the shelter. Treading cautiously, she replied, “I’m open to hearing about who you have in mind as long as you’ve considered my isolation. I don’t want to be put in the position of defending myself against an employee, regardless of his past difficulties or present circumstances.” That sounded self-centered and cold, even to her, but she stifled the urge to reveal her scars and explain herself.
She breathed easier when Lily nodded and said, “Absolutely, and there aren’t many I would recommend from the shelter right now. Mental illness plagues most of the homeless. Paul couldn’t cope with the tragic loss of his family ten years ago and ended up losing his job then his home. He’s been trying to find his way back and a purpose in life ever since. I’ve seen the longing on his face when others bring their pets in, and he’s a good handyman, from the work he’s done around the shelter.”
They paused the conversation when their food came, and Nicole dug in to her sandwich, thinking about Lily’s recommendation. She struggled with the death of one person and couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a family. Empathizing with someone’s hardships, though, didn’t mean she should take a chance on hiring someone with obvious mental issues. She’d taken a risk staying so long with Tony, praying for more time after he began showing swift, uncharacteristic mood changes and deteriorating cognitive awareness.
Nicole noted the expectation on both their faces. “I’ll talk to him, but I have to be honest.” She paused, weighing how much to tell them. Her scars were covered by her high-collared pullover, but eventually she would have to wear something that couldn’t hide them. Instead of revealing the whole story today, though, she would say enough to explain her hesitancy. “Someone I knew very well, trusted with my life, became ill and turned on me. Not his fault, none of it, but the scars are there and still hard to deal with. I don’t want to put myself in that position again.”
“I’m so sorry,” Allie replied first, her blue gaze compassionate.
“Me too. I worked on getting Paul to open up to me for three months, and, when he did, I saw the man he used to be when he had a wife, baby daughter, and two-year-old son to come home to every day. He worked in bank security, but that was a decade ago.”
Lily’s tone held a wealth of compassion, and Nicole wasn’t so jaded she couldn’t sympathize with the man’s loss. “When the cottage is ready, I’ll call, and we’ll go from there.”
“If you’re planning on just dogs, it shouldn’t be hard to get a referral from the shelter in Casper if Lily’s guy doesn’t work out,” Allie suggested as they resumed eating.
“I’ve talked to them, and I’m going to kennel their overflow, along with a few strays I come across. I don’t want people dumping unwanted pets on my doorstep all the time, so I’m not advertising or naming the shelter. I’d like to own a horse someday, but otherwise I only want dogs. Adding cats would be too much,” she answered, nibbling on a fry.
Lily smiled at her. “I pegged you as more of a city girl.”
“Trust me, I am.”
Allie raised a slim brow. “But you know how to care for a horse?”
She shrugged and reached for her tea. “Not a clue.”
“Ever ridden?” Lily asked.
“Nope, but I’ll learn. I’ve got time.” Lots of time and obligations only to the animals she would take in. That was what Nicole needed right now.
“Slade...”
Holding up her hand to stop Allie’s suggestion, she shook her head. “No Slade anything. That that man rubs me the wrong way. Don’t get me wrong; the whole sexy-cowboy package can get any woman’s blood pumping. Opposites attract, and, from what I can tell, our personalities are too similar to get along.”
Lily chuckled. “Heard you had an attitude.”
“Serves my brother-in-law right to deal with someone just like him. But, hey, lust is always fun for a while. Those guys can get creative, including on horseback,” Allie said.
Her traitorous body responded with damp heat at the image Allie’s comment conjured. She tried erasing it, but it wouldn’t disappear until the waitress arrived with their tickets. Pushing her plate away, she thanked her and stood. “I have a lot of shopping to do. Thanks for the invitation. Lily, I’ll get back to you in a few weeks.”
They walked up to the register with her, Allie leaning close to whisper, “Something to think about.”
She didn’t elaborate, leaving Nicole to wonder whether she meant asking Slade to help her ride or going for the lust, or both.
“You’ve brought me a new customer.” Ina smiled at them and held her hand out to Nicole. “Ina Henderson. Thanks for coming in. How was everything?”
“Nicole Wells, and excellent, thank you. I would top it off by taking that Boston cream pie with me, but I have a long list of shopping next door before I head home.”
Ina rang them up, saying, “I’ll set it aside, box it up, and you can grab it when you’re done. On the house. You bought Studman’s place.”
“Word spreads fast around here.” Another thing to adjust to, she thought, preferring the anonymity of city life.
“Ina hears all and knows all,” Allie quipped, giving the woman a fond smile. “I ought to know. She’s my mom’s best friend.”
“That’s right. For instance, I can tell you, Nicole, your neighbors are good people. You need anything, don’t hesitate to ask them.”
“I keep hearing that,” she murmured. “Thanks for the pie. I’ll be back shortly.”
Nicole said goodbye to Allie and Lily before strolling down to the mercantile, searching her memory banks for a time when the proprietor at any eatery she’d visited in Chicago offered a freebie as a friendly gesture. She drew a blank and put Ina’s as a perk in the positive column for when she found herself questioning this drastic move or a place to go when her self-imposed isolation got to her. To be honest, she’d enjoyed lunch with the neighbor girls more than she’d thought, and went ahead and added them to that list.
The center mercantile stretched wide and long, and it took her over an hour to fill a cart with groceries and necessities she hadn’t brought with her. She refused to admit Slade’s suggestion was the reason she purchased the low-heeled ankle boots. Where that man was concerned, denial would stay her middle name.
She took advantage of the polite hired help to load her vehicle then returned for the pie. “I appreciate the offer, Ina, but I’m more than happy to pay for it. Lily said you bake from scratch, which is a lot of work.”
“Work I love, so never you mind. It’s always a pleasure to welcome new neighbors. Stop by Casey’s on a Friday or Saturday night sometime. That’s a popular gathering place just north of here where you’ll meet a lot of locals your age. You can’t miss the lighted parking from the road.”
Nicole took the pie, her mouth watering for a piece despite not being hungry after that big lunch. “I’ll keep that in mind, and thanks again. I’m sure I’ll become a regular here in no time.”
“Then I’ll see you soon,” Ina returned, with a twinkle in her eyes behind the wire-rimmed glasses.
Nicole welcomed the warm fuzzy filling her as she returned to her SUV, taking it as proof it wasn’t just the annoying, libido-stirring neighbor who could cause such a reaction around here.