Mrs. Matthews was a product of her world, for better or for worse. Too bad she was Nick’s mom.
Nick led her by the hand, which he was gripping rather tightly, to the valet stand, where Nick requested his car to be returned.
Lauren hadn’t been around Nick before when he was angry, and although he wasn’t saying much, she could practically see the steam rolling off his shoulders.
The car was brought around, and the valet climbed out. Nick handed him a twenty dollar bill and said, “Thank you.”
His tone was clipped, though, and the valet nodded, then quickly got out of the way.
Surprisingly, Nick’s touch was gentle on her back as he guided her to the car and opened the passenger door for her. As she waited for him to walk around the front of the car, her mind reeled with all that had happened, but it only solidified her resolve to stay away from wealthy people in general, especially drunk wealthy people.
On one hand, she felt a little sorry for Nick if his mother was the prime example of a woman in his life. And what mother would try to set up her son with someone like Chelsey? Granted, she was probably a little different when not intoxicated, but still, it was baffling. Was control of money really that important to his mother? To sacrifice her son’s happiness and ignore his wishes?
When he got inside the car, he said, “Ready?”
His tone wasn’t as hard, but after she nodded, he pulled out of the parking lot a little fast. Okay, really fast, and Lauren found herself gripping the seat. They drove in silence for several moments, and she wondered if they’d make the entire two-hour drive without speaking. She definitely wasn’t going to start the conversation.
When red and blue lights flashed behind them, Nick cursed and slowed down, then pulled over to the shoulder of the road. They hadn’t even made it to the freeway yet.
An officer approached his side of the car, and after getting the registration and insurance information, the cop issued a speeding citation.
If Lauren hadn’t felt numb about everything, she might have found it ironic and even funny. As it was, Nick was still pretty grim, and when the officer left, he tucked the ticket into the jockey box, then pulled onto the main road again.
It wasn’t until they were on the freeway that he spoke.
“I’m sorry about my mom,” he said, his tone sounding defeated. “She’s . . . she has a lot of issues, none of them having to do with you, and yet she treated you horribly.”
His left hand was gripping the steering wheel, and his right hand was resting on his thigh, so Lauren reached over and took his hand. “She’s scared about her future.”
Nick turned his gaze to her, his brows furrowed. “What do you mean, scared? She’s a wealthy woman, regardless of the shared trust.”
“She lost a husband,” Lauren began.
“Ex.”
“Ex-husband,” Lauren said. “She sees any woman you date as a threat because she’ll no longer be the number-one woman in your life.”
Nick scoffed. Then his expression relaxed. “You really think that’s what she feels?”
“Yes,” Lauren said in a soft tone. “She’s lashing out, trying to keep her control in whatever way possible. But she doesn’t realize she’s only pushing you away.”
Nick nodded. “Exactly.” He intertwined their fingers. “You’re an amazing woman, Lauren Ambrose. And understanding. And sweet. You’re beautiful, intelligent, talented. And too good for my mother, and probably me—”
“Stop,” Lauren said with a laugh. “I’m not that amazing.” She loved that Nick’s mouth turned up at the corners. His brooding seemed to be over, and hopefully the anger gone. Yeah, it was justified, but Lauren also recognized that beneath the glittery and aloof exterior of Penny Matthews was a woman who loved her son.
His gaze was on her again, and although the night was dark, she felt the intensity all the same. “You are amazing. If I say so, then it’s true. I don’t lie, Lauren, so I’d appreciate if you’d learn to take a compliment.” His wink drove heat straight to her belly.
From there, warmth spread to the rest of her body. “Well, thank you, sir. You’re kind of amazing yourself.”
He was still gazing at her, and well, he was still driving.
“Eyes on the road, Romeo.”
Nick looked at the road, but seconds later, she felt his gaze on her again, and she squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.
Raindrops began to fall in single increments, then more and more, until Nick had to turn on the wiper blades.
The silence between them was comfortable now, even companionable. The rain fell in earnest, but Nick didn’t have a problem driving through it. Lauren loved that about him. His confidence. His way of getting things done. How he held her hand like he wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon.
And . . . she had so many questions, mostly because she knew her heart was getting caught up in this man beside her. She was curious. She wanted to know more. She wanted to know everything.
By the time they reached her place, Lauren was feeling sleepy, but in a good way. Like she could fall asleep in no time with a smile on her face. The rain hadn’t let up when they’d parked, and Nick reached behind the seat, searching for something.
Then he clicked on the overhead dome light, and Lauren blinked in the light.
“What are you looking for?” she asked.
“Umbrella.”
“You afraid of a little rain?”
He met her gaze. “No . . .”
She grinned, then popped open her door. “Coming?” she asked before climbing out.
He called her name, but she shut the door and ran to her condo. She was shivering and nearly soaked by the time she arrived.
Nick was right behind her. “You’re crazy,” he panted as she unlocked the door with a shiver.
She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him into her dark apartment. Then they were kissing. Despite the fact that Lauren was cold and wet, she was soon warmed by Nick’s mouth on hers and his hands cradling her face.
She blindly shut the door, and he moved her against it, so that she was trapped between the door and his body. Which she didn’t mind in the least.
Nick’s kissing slowed and turned more exploratory, more methodical, which only raised Lauren’s pulse several notches. This man had the ability to stir all of her senses to life with one kiss and send her into a place of sweet oblivion.
His phone buzzed, but he ignored it.
Then Lauren realized it was her phone. And she still ignored it.
Nick drew away, his breathing heavy. “Do you need to answer your phone?”
“No.” She exhaled. “Don’t stop kissing me.”
His chuckle was low, but his next kiss was soft, then he rested his forehead against hers. “You’re shivering.”
“It’s a good shiver,” she said.
This time Nick kissed her again, properly. She moved her hands over his shoulders and around his warm neck. She was infatuated with this man, that she knew, and as she pulled him closer, she thought of how hard it would be to let him go. Her phone rang again.
“Lauren, it’s nearly midnight,” he whispered against her skin.
The thought sent a jolt through her. No good calls came at midnight. She reached for her phone, and Nick stepped away to flip on a light.
“Sofia?” she answered.
“I’ve been trying to get hold of you for hours,” Sofia said. “Why aren’t you answering?”
Lauren moved the phone and looked at her call log. Sure enough, there were several missed calls, but she hadn’t heard the phone ring. “My phone must have been out of service,” she said, panic building. “What’s wrong? Is it Grandma?”
“Granny’s fine,” Sofia said, then took a breath. “I was calling about something I needed to run past you. And when you didn’t answer your phone or call me back for a few hours, I started to worry.”
Lauren moved to the kitchen and sat on a chair since she didn’t want to get the
couch damp. Nick stayed standing, his arms folded.
“How much time have you been spending with Nicholas Matthews?” Sofia asked.
This was not what Lauren expected. “Why?”
Sofia let out a sigh. “Are you with him right now?”
Lauren glanced at Nick.
“Hi, Sofia,” he said in a clear tone.
“Put me on speaker, then,” Sofia said.
So, Lauren did, and Nick came to sit at the table too.
“Hi, Sofia,” Nick said. “Nice to hear from you.”
Sofia released a half laugh. “She knows, right?”
“Yes.” Nick’s gaze met Lauren’s. “Do you have any updates?” he asked Sofia.
“I do,” Sofia said. “Our grandmother is planning on signing tomorrow. All terms are agreeable.”
Lauren stared at Nick. The triumph in his eyes was unmistakable. “Great,” he said. “Do you have any concerns?”
“You’ve been good enough to address most of them so far,” Sofia said. “I do have one more concern, though—which I was going to talk to Lauren about—but I might as well speak to both of you at the same time.”
Lauren rested her hands on the table, clasping them tightly.
“Shoot,” Nick said, his gaze still locked with Lauren’s.
“I need to show you something in person.”
Lauren knew immediately what Sofia was speaking about. “No, Sofia,” she said. “Don’t bother. It’s not going to work.”
“I’m proof that the curse can be broken,” Sofia said. “So is Gavin.”
Lauren dropped her head. “You don’t know that,” she said in a quiet voice. “You can’t know that. Not yet.”
“I do know it, Lauren,” Sofia said. “I feel different now. And you will too. You’ll know when the curse is broken for yourself.” Her voice dropped. “The fear is gone. Completely gone. I can’t tell you how freeing it’s been. Besides, if you believe in the curse, then you can believe it will be broken.”
Lauren closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.
“Nick might as well deliver the paperwork himself, and you can come with him,” Sofia said. “Let Nick read Margaret Ambrose’s journal for himself, and then he can decide. That’s what I did with Gavin.”
Lauren lowered her hands. “It’s not like that between us . . . I mean . . . We . . .” Her words were getting jumbled, and by the frown on Nick’s face, she knew that he was confused too.
“I can deliver the paperwork in person, no problem,” Nick said. “Does Wednesday work?”
“Yes,” Sofia said. “Both of you can stay here. We have plenty of room. Thanks, Nick. And Lauren, call me later—tomorrow morning preferably.”
Before Lauren could agree or disagree, Sofia had hung up.
Lauren closed her eyes again, knowing that Nick would want an explanation. And he deserved one. Then she opened her eyes and narrowed them. “Have you and Sofia been talking about . . . me?”
“Us,” Nick said. “I might have told her we were, uh, dating.” The question in his eyes made her feel his vulnerability—something that Lauren hadn’t seen in him before. It was kind of . . . endearing.
“You mean this entire time I’ve been cryptic with my sister about . . . us . . . she already knew.” The slight dip of his chin confirmed it. “She must have been laughing at me.”
Nick set his hand over her folded ones. “Well, I don’t want to get in the middle of your relationship with your sister, but she said you’re like a locked box when it comes to sharing your life with her.”
That was true. “You just said you didn’t want to come between us.”
He leaned forward, those hazel eyes on her. “Come with me to Ambrose,” he said in a low voice. “Your sister told me about your second-great-grandmother’s journal. I want to read it.”
Lauren’s heart pounded for a lot of reasons, namely because letting Nick read the journal was giving him more access to her life and to the growing feelings for him that she was trying hard to tamp down.
“Why?” she said. “Why do you want to read the journal?”
“Because I was hoping to find a way to help you break the curse that has you living in fear every moment of your life.”
She blew out a breath. Despite the stinging in her eyes, she refused to let any tears fall. “I’m fine,” she said, but her voice trembled. “I’ve been fine for thirty years.”
Nick rubbed his thumb over her hand, and Lauren loved how his touch could make her feel immediately comforted. She also hated that he could have such a powerful effect on her emotions.
“Don’t you want to see if there can be more?” he asked in a soft voice. “A future that’s less lonely?”
She blinked.
Nick lifted his hand and brushed his fingertips along her jaw. “Let me in, Lauren Ambrose. Take a chance.”
“Why?” she whispered.
“Because I can see myself falling in love with you, sweetheart,” he said, “And I don’t want to lose you.”
Lauren’s body stilled, but her mind raced as his words rocketed through her.
“I don’t know, Nick,” she finally said. “I guess I am afraid.”
“You’ve never flown first class?” Nick asked as he looked over at Lauren with surprise.
She rolled her carry-on ahead of him, in a hurry, it seemed, although first-class passengers had priority boarding.
“No,” she said. “I always thought it was . . . pretentious.”
Finally she slowed her step, looking a little chagrined at the comment.
Nick didn’t mind. He wanted to hear all of Lauren’s thoughts, good or bad. It was Wednesday, and since that phone call with Sofia on Sunday night, Lauren had been . . . edgy. For lack of a better word. He’d taken her out to dinner on Monday night, but Lauren’s conversation had been distracted.
Yet Nick took heart that she was traveling to Ambrose with him. Despite the fact that he’d nearly told her he was in love with her, and she hadn’t returned the sentiment. Lauren was a juxtaposition of emotions, it seemed. She had closed herself off to substantial relationships her entire life. She rarely spoke to her grandmother and even less to her other sisters. And with Sofia, she seemed to be carrying the weight of the relationship between the two sisters.
Not that Nick’s relationship with either of his parents was perfect. He hadn’t fully appreciated his father until the last year of his life. And his mom—their relationship was shallow at best. Despite Lauren’s hang-ups and reservations, Nick only wanted to crack through them more and discover the real Lauren.
Following their dinner on Monday night, she’d taken him to the gallery, where Freddie had let them in after hours. Together, the three of them had stood before the Renoir for at least thirty minutes, just staring at it.
Lauren had been right. The piece was magnificent, almost holy.
And Nick had been speechless. Lauren had reached for his hand, and as their fingers linked, he knew that this woman who felt so much and had sacrificed so much had his heart in her hands.
At her doorstep after, she’d given him a fierce hug but no kiss, and she had seemed anxious to get inside her condo.
Now, Lauren moved down the aisle of the plane in front of him, and before she could load her carry-on in the overhead compartment, he grasped it from her.
“I’ve got it,” he said.
She nodded, and when both of their bags were tucked away, he sat next to her.
Lauren stared out the window into the drippy morning. The rain was gentle, and wouldn’t cause any issues with taking off.
“You okay?” he asked, wrapping his hand over hers.
She nodded but said nothing, keeping her gaze trained on the window.
Nick held back a sigh, and it wasn’t until they were in the air, the plane evened out, that he tried again. “What are you most worried about?”
She didn’t answer for a moment, then she looked over at him. The sadness in her eyes made his stomach feel hollow.
“You.”
He raised his brows. “Me? Why?”
“Why do you think?” she asked.
“Because . . . you think I’ll die a tragic premature death?”
She blinked. “It’s not funny.”
He leaned close, only a breath apart from her beautiful face. “I’m not laughing, sweetheart.” He kissed her lightly, not sure how she’d react.
His heart leapt as she lifted a hand and placed it behind his neck as she finally responded, kissing him back slowly and sweetly. When she pulled back, her cheeks were pink. “We’re on a plane, Nick.”
He exhaled. “I’m glad you’re coming with me to Ambrose.”
She bit her lip, which only made him want to kiss her again. But he’d have to settle for holding her hand.
“I don’t know about this,” she said in a quiet voice. “I mean . . . there’s a cemetery full of—”
“I know.” Nick slipped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close. He was gratified when she sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.
No, he didn’t know the future, but if Lauren and her sisters believed in the power of a curse, then he’d do what he could to help her break it. He was definitely curious to know what the journal said, yet he didn’t want to upset Lauren. He was treading as carefully as he could, letting her take the lead, but the truth was, he was in love with her. That he couldn’t deny.
He’d already fallen. Already lost his heart.
And as the woman leaning against him closed her eyes and let him pull her closer, he knew there was nothing more important to him than making sure she was happy and protected. It was a surreal feeling, to be sure. Nicholas Matthews had finally lost his heart. His mother would find out soon enough, and he didn’t know how much longer he could wait to tell Lauren, so for now, it would be his own secret.
He sensed that if he told Lauren too early, she’d backtrack in their relationship, possibly even breaking things off. It seemed to be her automatic response to things that got too complicated. The thing was, Nick didn’t mind the complication. Yeah, there were a lot of layers to deal with here, and he sensed that there was even more to Lauren Ambrose than she’d let him glimpse. She was an intriguing woman.
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