Nick started out small, trying not to overwhelm Emma, but the problem was, Nick wanted a large house, a place you could get lost in, where friends and family would have an open invitation to visit but everyone could still have their privacy and space if needed.
They were pulling into a long narrow driveway of a large property located near the edge of Crystal Rock Lake. According to Emma, the homes in this area were more private. Although the majority were year-round homes, many of the owners used them as vacation spots or rentals.
It was exactly the kind of location that Nick had been dreaming of, with a private beach, a large boathouse and plenty of property to explore.
And the house was beautiful, looking more like a huge Italian villa rather than a ten bedroom, eight bathroom home, with an indoor pool and combination family room and game room on the lower level.
“Nick. This is nuts,” Emma said, her eyes going wide. “We can’t afford a place like this. It would take us more than a lifetime to pay for this kind of house.”
Nick pulled the car into the driveway where there were spaces for at least five cars.
Shutting down the SUV, he turned and gazed into her eyes. “Humor me, Emma. Will you?”
She rolled her eyes upward. “I don’t know what good it does to see how the other half lives when it something I’ll probably never be able to afford.”
Grinning, Nick stepped out from the SUV walking around and opening the passenger door for Emma. He’d never seen her so irritated before, except for the time they’d spent in Bali. It was why he’d fallen in love with her in the first place.
Nick halted, realization dawning. He was in love with her. It was funny how he hadn’t been to admit it right away.
Although it was still happening pretty fast.
“Nick?” Emma asked, looking at him with concern. “Are you alright?”
“More than alright,” he said softly, bending down and kissing her hard.
“Wow,” Emma said, shaking her head and looking puzzled. “You’re acting awfully strange today.”
But Nick was checking out the house as they approached the grand entrance of the back door. Although the house was at least fifty years old, it had been well maintained, on the outside at least, and as Nick plugged in the code of the alarm before unlocking the back door, he felt like they were coming home when they stepped inside.
Emma said softly, “This place is beautiful, Nick.”
“I can’t get over it, Em. The place is pretty much perfect. It feels like home.”
When Emma snorted, Nick grinned widely, because little did she know.
They walked into the kitchen, and devoid of cabinets, countertops and appliances, so far it was the only space not finished.
“It looks like most of it’s been restored already,” Emma murmured. “I wonder why they stopped?”
“I guess they were getting ready to put it on the market and weren’t planning on doing much more than they have. The kitchen would have been costly. Supposedly, the bathrooms need work too. But these tiled brick look floors beneath us? I guess they’re all heated.”
“Really? I love them.” And then she approached the walls, laying her hands over the surface. “It’s smooth.”
“It’s some kind of stucco paint effect. Do you like it?”
“Surprisingly, I do. You’d need the right kind of furnishings, leather maybe. And lots of area rugs. But the brick fireplace is perfect. It’s the same brick that was used on the outside.”
“I agree with everything you’ve suggested.”
The tile was used only on the main floor, but the dark original wooden floors had been restored on the three upper levels.
“The bedrooms are huge,” Emma said, her eyes scoping the master with its wide French doors leading onto a balcony overlooking the lake.
They moved up to the window, looking through.
“Imagine waking up every day to that,” Nick muttered. “We could set up a coffee bar right there in the corner.”
Emma was beginning to look glum. She was loving the place as much as he was.
Nick reached for her hand.
“And that room next door could be used as a nursery.”
Nick nearly laughed out loud at the expression on Emma’s face.
“Come on. Let’s check out the rest of the house.”
They walked upstairs where a combination media room and playroom was set up on the upper level.
“See the staircase stopping on each level?” Nick motioned with his hand. “Apparently, it’s for the kids. I guess the lower level is meant for the adults.”
They finished up downstairs and what they found made Emma’s jaw drop.
“They were living downstairs while they were working on the house. The pool table and furnishings stay.”
“I’d prefer more modern colors, but this would be nice to start. Wouldn’t it? The television and media room too?”
Nick grinned, giving her a side glance. She was already imagining herself here. “It does.”
Nick pulled his phone from his pocket, plugging in a number and waiting for someone to answer the call.
“Hello?” a woman answered.
“Hi. This is Nick Hanover from Northwest Property and Realty Management in Crystal Rock. We’re at the house on Birchbark Lane. I think I’d like to make an offer. What’s the asking price? Give me your absolute lowball offer…”
Glancing at Emma, Nick sucked in an unsteady breath. She looked like she was going to pass out.
“Hold on a minute,” he murmured into the phone, heading over to Emma and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m okay now.” Her gaze was accusing. “What’s going on, Nick?”
“I promise I’ll explain in a minute, after I finish this call,” he said, pulling the SUV keys from his pocket. “It’s cold in here. You can wait in the car if you’d like?”
“Alright,” she said, still looking addled as she walked back outside through the doorway.
Nick grinned, returning to his conversation on the phone. “I’m back. Were you able to get that information for me?”
“I was, Mr. Hanover,” she answered, going over some of the details of the house.
Ten minutes later, Nick was disconnecting the phone. Of course, the offer would still have to be accepted, but he was pretty sure he’d just bought a house.
Chapter Twenty-Five
What was going on? How could Nick afford to buy a house that cost at least a couple million dollars? Maybe she’d misunderstood, and he was buying it as an investment property for the company?
Around fifteen minutes later, Nick stepped outside wearing a smile on his face. Seemingly with pride, he turned, taking a final look at the house, nodding his apparent approval.
“Well. It looks like I might have just bought a house,” Nick murmured, stepping into the driver’s seat of the SUV.
Stunned, Emma studied him lengthily, trying to determine whether he’d lost his mind.
“No, I’m not nuts,” he muttered, bending over and kissing her quickly. “Jack told me you needed to know, but I really didn’t want to tell you. I was afraid it might change things between us.”
“What?”
“This has to stay between you and me, Em. Although your dad kind of already knows.” Nick heaved a sigh. “The Hanover family from Hanover Industries, in Richmond, Virginia? That’s my family, although everyone, I’m sorry to say, is rather dysfunctional. Your family is a refreshing change from mine.”
“What does that mean, Nick?”
“That I have money,” he said softly. “Lots of it.”
“Oh,” she answered, feeling glum.
As Nick drove through town and was ready to stop for lunch at the Crystal Rock Tap, Emma laid her hand on Nick’s arm. “Maybe you’d better drop me off at home, Nick? I’m not feeling so well.”
Nick glanced at her with obvious concern. “Alright. Maybe we can try it again in a day
or two?”
She nodded, but not enthusiastically.
Nick pulled into the driveway of her house, and Emma quickly got out of the SUV. “I need some time to think, Nick. Okay?”
“I don’t understand. You loved the house, didn’t you?” He looked confused. “I’m sorry Emma, for whatever I did.”
“It’s not you. It’s me,” she murmured. “We’ll talk soon.”
Nick was still parked in the driveway a few minutes later when Emma peeked out through the window, but finally he put the SUV into gear, and pulled out from the driveway.
Suddenly, Emma was overwhelmed by sadness.
* * *
“I don’t understand, Emma,” Danielle Loughlin said, seated at her desk in the office. “I thought you didn’t want to travel right now, and you wanted to think over the job offer?”
Emma answered, “I’m kind of in the mood to get away for a little while. And it’s sounds like some of the other hotels could use my input.”
“Okay, well, how about heading to our place in Minneapolis first? We could schedule you to assist there for a few weeks, and then you can decide if you’d like to continue back to back or spread out your traveling through the year.”
“That sounds great,” Emma answered. “I’ve never done much traveling, but you never know. I might get homesick.”
“What about Nick?”
Emma blinked. “I…didn’t know that you knew.”
“It’s been kind of obvious,” Danielle said dryly.
“We’re taking a little break,” Emma said, gazing away uncomfortably. “It all happened pretty quickly.”
Danielle snorted. “Sometimes, that’s the best way.”
Emma grinned wryly.
“Something you might not know, Emma? Your Nick is one of the most generous men I’ve ever met. This is hush, hush. He’s going to be paying for a million-dollar addition of the Crystal Visions Vocational Facility, and he’s going to try and find someone to do year around marketing so that the center will eventually pay for itself.”
Emma’s jaw dropped.
“He’s over there nearly as much as you, spending time with the kids, but he usually stops by in the morning for a few hours. They’ve given him the nickname of St. Nick.”
“I didn’t know,” Emma said, finally finding her voice.
“I didn’t think you did.” Danielle smiled. “I’ll let you know your itinerary when it’s all set up.”
“Alright,” Emma answered, leaving the office.
Chapter Twenty-Six
A few days later, even though his offer for his dream house had been accepted, Nick was sitting in his new office, feeling glum.
Knocking quickly, Jack walked into the office, settling in the comfortable chair near Nick’s desk.
“Okay. No more of this stupid silence. You’re acting like you did when you broke up with Marissa, and I want to know what’s going on.”
Nick growled, “Alright already. Emma found out that I have money, and she said she needed some time.”
Jack looked surprised. “You finally told her?”
“No. I did something better. I bought us a house.”
Jack shook his head, looking dazed. “So, let me get this straight. You took her house hunting, found aa house you both loved, and without mentioning the fact that you’re loaded, you put an offer in on it without even talking about it first and letting her have time to adjust?”
“That about sums it up,” Nick murmured. “The fact that I have money has never been a problem with the women I’ve dated in the past.”
“But Emma isn’t just any woman. You two were made for each other, Nick, but you can’t just reveal a secret like that, without giving her some time to think about it. She probably feels inferior, like maybe she’s not good enough for you now. Remember her reaction on Bali?”
Nick groaned. “I wasn’t insulting the fact that she was a hairdresser. I told her that and apologized.”
“I think she mentioned she was supposed to originally go to college, before her dad became ill? She might still be sensitive about it.”
“That didn’t even occur to me Jack. I haven’t even been back to the house since I closed on it.”
“Find a way to get Emma out there, and finish what you started. Make it romantic. Propose to her, you idiot.”
Nick looked at Jack in astonishment. “It’s too soon, isn’t it?”
“You’ve been planning on marrying her from the start. Get her to realize that the money doesn’t matter.”
Nick became thoughtful.
His phone suddenly rang, and glancing at his caller ID, he switched it on.
“Amy? How’s everything going? Are you and Angel enjoying Mike’s leave?”
“Nick,” Amy cried. “Someone tried to kill us. It happened a few hours ago. They shot at Mike while he was driving our van on the highway, and somehow Mike was able to get us all off the highway before he passed out.”
“I’m on my way home, Amy. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Mike’s in surgery right now. I’ll update you as soon as I know what’s going on. Luckily, your dad was available and he’s watching Angel.”
“Okay. Try and stay calm.”
“What’s happening?” Jack asked.
“Mike’s been shot. I’m going to call Jake Loughlin and see if his private plane’s available so I can fly directly to Richmond.”
“I can handle it Nick. Go pack a few things. Make sure you leave a message for Emma, so she doesn’t think you’ve abandoned her.”
Nick nodded firmly. “Good idea. I’ll do that on the plane.”
* * *
Luckily, Jake Loughlin’s plane and pilot had been available when Jack had given Jake a call and explained the situation. Nick could have hired a plane, but it still would have taken hours.
Nick talked with Amy first.
“They were able to remove both bullets Nick. But they don’t know if Mike will be able to walk again.”
“Oh, no,” Nick moaned.
“But he’s in recovery, and the next twenty-four hours will determine how well the operation went. Whatever happens, he’s going to need a bunch of physical therapy.”
“Hang in there, Amy. How’s Angel?”
“Confused, but your dad is so good with her.”
“I’m glad. I’ll let you know when I’m close. Maybe you can take a break and be with Angel and get some rest, depending on what the doctors say.”
“Alright, Nick. Thank you for being there for us.”
“I love you guys. Just try not to think the worst.”
“I’ll do my best,” Amy said, disconnecting.
Inhaling a deep breath, he dialed Emma’s number.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Emma?” Nick murmured. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, Nick.”
“Listen. I’m calling in case you’re thinking about trying to get in touch with me. I’m headed back to Richmond right now. My brother has been…in an accident, and he’s in the hospital. I need to be there for his wife and daughter.”
“Oh, Nick. I’m so sorry.”
“I miss you,” he whispered.
“I miss you too.”
“Does that mean we’re going to be alright?”
“Well. I’m in Minneapolis right now, and I’ve been doing some thinking.”
“Minneapolis?”
“I took a job where there’s occasional traveling involved. I’m kind of an advisor for Jake and Danielle’s hotels, and I give advice on how to improve their services in the salons.”
“You’re going to be traveling all year?” he asked, feeling deflated. He should have followed up with her after she needed some time.
“Not at all. It’s up to me to set my own schedule. I don’t think I want to be away from Crystal Rock too much.”
“I’m glad,” Nick answered.
“Let me know how your brother’s doing. Alright? I’ll be thinking about you.”
“I will. We need to get everything straightened out between us, Em. We should talk when I get back. Hopefully soon.”
“Okay. Keep in touch.”
“Alright,” he murmured, switching off his phone.
He heaved a sigh of relief, because at least the situation with Emma seemed to be resolving itself with time.
Now to figure out who had it in for Mike and his family. Probably the usual suspects, Nick was sure. It was time to hire a new investigator to look into his family, although he wouldn’t fire Berman, just in case he wasn’t really doing the job or answering to someone else, like Nick suspected.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Was she being stupid for not wanting to see Nick because of his money? Truthfully, she was scared. But why would him having money bother her so much? She tried to think hard about why she was feeling this way.
Maybe she was nervous about meeting his family, and she was worried that they wouldn’t think she was good enough for Nick? They were definitely in a different social class. But by cowering the way she was, wouldn’t that just prove to them that she didn’t think she was good enough? Where had all these insecurities come from? She’d had a great childhood, but maybe the fact that most of her friends had been able to go to college had bothered her more than she realized.
She thought about how quickly Nick had stepped in to handle the accident with his brother. He was one of the most caring guys she’d ever dated. And she did want more. Relationships were difficult enough, without letting heedless obstacles, like the fact that Nick had money, get in the way.
The reason she was looking for excuses finally became clear. For the first time in her life she was in love, and that was what scared her the most.
* * *
A few weeks later, Emma returned to Crystal Rock from Minneapolis, relieved she was finally home. She hadn’t enjoyed the trip as much as she thought she would. Of course, Minneapolis wasn’t exactly somewhere she’d longed to visit. Danielle had talked about New Orleans and San Diego and a few other interesting places which she was sure would be more enjoyable to visit. Although being alone wasn’t exactly much fun either. She was definitely a people person, and she missed her friends.
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