What Nathan Wants

by Ruth Ann Nordin

  “But I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to hang around someone who dresses...” her mother’s voice drifted off as she struggled for the right word.

  “Danielle doesn’t usually wear that,” Amy insisted for the third time. “She had a part to play, so it was a costume.”

  Her mother strapped on her seatbelt. “I thought she worked with you at the travel agency.”

  Amy put Nathan’s key into the ignition of the Lexus—which she had to admit was a nice car—and shut the door. As she put on her seatbelt, she explained, “Danielle does some acting on the side.” She decided, for simplicity’s sake, that she didn’t need to go into any more details on the subject.

  “Alright.” Though her mother finally caved, her expression remained guarded.

  “Look, I called her up so you can get to know her. She’s my best friend. I wouldn’t pick a tramp for a friend, Mom.”

  Since her mother didn’t say anything, Amy turned the key and backed out of the four car garage. What on Earth did a single man need with a four car garage? People used money to acquire things for the heck of it, not because they needed it, she assumed.

  “I promise you’ll have a good time,” Amy said, glancing at her mother. “Mr. Rud...uh...I mean, Nathan gave me unlimited access to his accounts.”

  He’d even gone so far as to hand her a debit and credit card in her name and said to go wild. Maybe if she took Danielle’s advice and went wild enough, he’d have a heart attack and let her loose.

  She drove through the outskirts of Omaha from the wealthy division to Bellevue where Danielle lived. The drive was less than twenty minutes, and in that time, Amy pointed out some of the sites, one being the buildings on Offutt Air Force Base where she had lived before Sean died. The sting of driving by had lessened until she no longer recalled the first day they had arrived in the area and got lost. Sean had laughed the whole thing off in his typical way. Having her mother beside her brought back a lot of memories as she took the exit off of 75 so she could go right onto Capehart Road.

  “I’m glad you found someone,” her mother softly said, as if she’d read Amy’s mind. “I want to see you happy again after losing Sean.”

  “I am happy, Mom,” Amy assured her.

  True, Amy wasn’t happy with Nathan or her new ‘marriage’, but she was happy. She liked her life. She saw no reason to mess with it. Why couldn’t things have just stayed the way they were?

  She took a left at the second light and turned into the first sub-division. She drove three blocks before she pulled into Danielle’s driveway. Danielle came out of the house, and she wore a scarf and sunglasses to hide as much of her face as possible. Amy felt another stab of guilt poke at her.

  Her mother breathed a sigh of relief. “Good. At least she’s wearing decent clothes.”

  Amy groaned but pressed on the button to unlock the car doors so Danielle could get in. “Hi, Danielle,” she called out, trying to sound chipper despite her apprehension when she realized a rash covered one of Danielle’s cheeks. “Maybe we should go to a spa.”

  Danielle sighed as she shut the door to the backseat and buckled her seatbelt. “The doctor gave me a special cream. My face should clear up in a week.”

  “Wow.” That long? Amy took her eyes off of Danielle’s face and shifted the car into reverse. “So where do you want to go? Nathan said I should pamper everyone I take out today.”

  “Including yourself,” her mother inserted.

  “Right. Including me.” She backed up and tried not to let her gaze linger at Danielle’s rash. It was only Danielle’s love of shopping that convinced her to leave the confines of her house. “So, where to, Danielle?”

  “Well, since getting a new face is out of the question, I’d love to get some new clothes.”

  “At the mall?”

  Danielle nodded.

  Feeling a little better, Amy drove forward. “What do you want to look for at the mall?” she asked her mother.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I think I’ll browse the shops. If I find anything, I’ll buy it myself. Your husband has already done too much for me and your dad.”

  Only because he wants to win you over. Instead of voicing this thought aloud, Amy glanced in her review mirror and sent Danielle a ‘it’s been a grueling night’ look.

  Danielle’s eyebrows rose in interest but she didn’t reply.

  That conversation would come later. For now, Amy had to pretend she was happy to be chained to the devious rat.

  The ride to the mall was relatively pleasant as Amy tried to come up with small talk to encourage communication between her mother and Danielle, and though both fell along and talked a bit, there was still tension hanging in the air.

  As soon as Amy parked, they got out of the car and found the first clothing store that Danielle wanted to check out. While they were sorting through the summer selection, her mother gasped in delight and took a white knee-length dress off the rack and held it up to Amy’s neck.

  “Try this on. I bet it’s your size,” her mother said.

  “I didn’t come to get clothes,” Amy replied.

  “Well, you could use some. This is a darling dress.”

  “It is,” Danielle agreed. “White goes nice with your dark hair and tan skin. I think I saw a pair of sandals that will go great with it.”

  “Oh, I know the pair you’re talking about,” her mother eagerly stated. “And it would be perfect!”

  At the prompting of her mother and best friend, Amy tried it on and had to admit it was a cute dress. The straps held it up and white flowers were sewn along the neckline which stopped before she showed any cleavage. The skirt of it flowed out enough so if she spun around, it would swirl around her legs. The material was thick enough to mask her underwear but light enough so that she wouldn’t get hot when she was outside. She had to admit that the sandals would perfect the look.

  From there, her mother and Danielle found a couple more outfits for her, and this endeavor seemed to be all that was necessary for her mother to accept Danielle. Danielle managed to find enough clothes to stuff in a few bags. Then they ate at a restaurant and window shopped until her mother found some scented candles and a music box she liked.

  By the time Amy dropped Danielle off, her friend was laughing and in a much better mood than when she first joined them. Amy helped Danielle with her bags while her mother stayed in the car.

  “So? How is it going?” Danielle asked as they plopped her things in her bedroom.

  “Horrible,” Amy replied. “He’s won my parents over.”

  “Yeah, I got that impression. Your mom can’t talk about him without smiling.” She removed her scarf and sunglasses, revealing the dark red spots where her eye shadow had been.

  Amy cringed. “You look awful.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Wow. Thanks.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  “I’ve been through worse, though I admit this rates high up there.”

  “Oh, Danielle. I can’t believe the make-up did that much damage.” She let out a long sigh. “Well, I’m going to get you and Randy a gift certificate to that fancy restaurant Mr. Rudolph took me and my parents to.”

  A smile crossed her friend’s face. “You’re so funny.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you’re married to him and you still insist on calling him Mr. Rudolph.”

  “I’m not married to him.”

  “That marriage license says you are.”

  “But I don’t. I’m getting out of this ordeal if it’s the last thing I do.”

  “That’s a shame. I was having a great time today. Can you imagine how much shopping we could do if you stayed married to him?” Danielle clasped her hands together and gave her a pleading look. “This made up for a good five years worth of hand-me-downs I’ve endured because of all the house repairs we had to do.”

  “It’s a shame you couldn’t have married him.”

  “Yeah. But I kind of like Randy.”

>   Amy giggled. “I think he’ll like the lingerie you bought.”

  “Hopefully, the kids will go to bed early so I can use it. You know, the best time to enjoy being married is before kids come along because as soon as they do, you’re lucky to get five minutes of peace and quiet.”

  Amy clapped her hands. “Danielle! That’s it!”

  “What’s it?”

  “You’re brilliant!”

  “I am?”

  “Yes. You just gave me a wonderful idea!”

  “Uh...okay. Exactly what did I say?”

  Amy gave her a big smile. “Why don’t Mr. Ru—Nathan—and I take the kids off your hands for a couple of days? Then you can go the restaurant, watch a movie, and do whatever else comes to mind without having to worry about Chase and Byron?”

  Danielle’s eyes grew wide in excitement. “Really?”

  “Yep!” If Nathan wanted children, by golly, she was going to give him two! Then he’d see how badly he wanted them.

  “Okay. This is great! But I don’t want to go out until my face clears.”

  “Oh, I understand. We’ll plan for next weekend.”

  “I hope you don’t mind if I say something.”

  “You wish to thank me?”

  “No. I have to say that ever since you got married to the head boss, my life has been so much better. Well, minus the make-up.”

  “Enjoy it while it lasts.”

  “I guess all good things must come to an end at some point.”

  With a slight chuckle, Amy left her friend and returned to the car.

  ***

  At her mother’s insistence, Amy agreed to put on the white dress before they were due to go out to dinner. She couldn’t remember the last time she wore a dress, but she did like it.

  When she came out of the closet, her mother hugged her. “It’s nice to see you dressing up again. You look beautiful.”

  “I couldn’t agree more,” came an all-too-familiar voice.

  Amy forced herself not to roll her eyes as Nathan strode into the bedroom.

  Turning to her mother, he said, “I hope you had a good afternoon.”

  “Yes, we had a lot of fun. Who won the golf game?”

  “Terry.” In a lower voice, he added, “And I didn’t even let him win.”

  Her mother chuckled. “I could have told you he’s good.”

  “Better than most,” Amy agreed before she turned to the bathroom so she could brush her hair.

  To her surprise—and dismay, he followed her.

  She groaned as she ran the brush down her silky strands. “My mother is right out there.”

  “Not anymore. She went downstairs to see your dad.”

  “And you’re here because....?”

  “I need to change my clothes for dinner.”

  “Are you taking a shower first?”

  “Nope.”

  She shook her head. “Then what are you doing in here?”

  “Admiring my beautiful wife.”

  She looked up at his reflection and caught the expression on his face. Something about it unnerved her, so she forced her focus back on her hair. Her face flushed from a mixture of uncertainty and pleasure. It’d been a long time since a man looked at her that way.

  He took a step toward her and she froze. His hands felt warm and tender as they rested on her shoulders. Her breath caught in her throat when he pressed his lips to the side of her neck. A tingle ran straight down her back, making her knees weak.

  Slamming the brush on the counter, she turned to face him. “Stop it.”

  “Stop what?”

  His hands settled on her hips, and even though his touch wasn’t threatening, it was highly arousing. And that was something she didn’t need.

  “Uh...” If she could get her brain to work, it would help! She blinked and tried to recall exactly what it was that she found so distressing about being with him. “I...” She cleared her throat. “I...um...” Think, Amy. Think!

  He kissed her neck again, and her body tingled everywhere in response. She tried not to encourage him. She leaned back and kept her hands on the counter behind her, but she didn’t resist it when his lips traveled up her neck before he kissed her. She thought he’d be aggressive in any kiss he’d give a woman. After all, any man who’d force a woman into marriage had to be a brute. But he was surprisingly gentle. And her traitorous body was more than happy to kiss him back.

  He never touched her anywhere else. His hands remained on her hips, and he kept his mouth closed. He didn’t press her further. When the kiss ended, he stood up straight and smiled at her. Lightly brushing her cheek with his fingers, he whispered, “You are a very attractive woman.”

  He left the bathroom, and all she could do was stand there, probably looking like an idiot as she tried to process exactly what had just happened. Still in a daze, she turned back to the mirror and continued to brush her hair.

  That night when they went out to dinner, she didn’t mind it so much when he purposely bumped his knee against hers. She still wasn’t sure what to make of him but found that she was slightly disappointed when he returned the big recliner to the bedroom and slept in it that night, leaving her free to sleep in the bed alone.

  Chapter Nine

  “Amy...Rudolph?” the man asked, glancing up from the job application and giving her a questioning look.

  She inwardly groaned. That wasn’t the name she wrote on the application. “No. My name is Amy Watson.”

  “The same Amy Watson who married Nathan Rudolph?”

  Shifting in the chair in front of the large desk at the Weston Travel Agency, she said, “I don’t recall there being a wedding.”

  The balding man shrugged and adjusted his thin rimmed glasses. “There doesn’t have to be a wedding for someone to get married.”

  “Marriage by proxy doesn’t count,” she dryly commented.

  “It does unless you’re in Iowa. But we’re in Nebraska, and Nebraska recognizes marriages done by proxy.”

  She gritted her teeth but forced her voice to remain pleasant. “I’m not here to discuss my marital status. I’m here to apply for the travel agent opening. I believe you’ll find that my references are excellent.”

  He tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair and gave a heavy sigh. “Mr. Rudolph has a lot of connections,” he slowly began. “I don’t think he’ll like it if I hired you.”

  “Who cares what he thinks?” Most of her anger at Nathan had cooled after their kiss in the bathroom, but now it was quickly rising again. “I’m free to work if I want to.”

  “Well...yes. Of course, you are.”

  Steeling herself for the answer, she asked, “But?”

  “He wouldn’t be happy.”

  “So?”

  He loudly sighed. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Rudolph, but even if this is a competing travel agency, I don’t want to risk upsetting him.”

  “I see,” she bitterly replied as she stood up.

  “If you’re able to divorce him, then I can interview you.”

  She struggled for control of her intense feelings. Clasping her hands behind her back so she wouldn’t strangle him, she opted to thank him, even as the word “discrimination” flashed over and over in her mind. She shouldn’t have been surprised. Nathan had pulled out all the stops, but what did he do to convince this travel agency not to hire her? Apparently, his sphere of influence went further and deeper than she initially assumed.

  She strode out of the building, surprised she managed to get outside before she threw her purse on the ground and stamped her feet in frustration.

  Danielle, who’d been eating ice cream in front of the agency, jumped up from the bench and rushed over to her. “What happened?”

  “I hate Nathan!”

  “What? Why?”

  “He ruined my life! They won’t even interview me because I’m married to him.”

  Danielle fiddled with the spoon in her cup and scooped up some vanilla ice cream and a strawberry. “In all f
airness, with the money you have, you don’t need to work.”

  “He’s boxed me in, and now I can’t find employment.” Amy shook her head and picked up her purse.

  “What about your parents? Do they know you’re looking for a job?”

  “I told them I needed to take care of some personal things.”

  Fortunately, her parents were used to her doing that. Under ordinary circumstances, she never would have left her parents like that, but having her parents there prevented Nathan from tagging along to find out exactly what she was up to. Then again, he’d given her a smile, kissed her cheek and wished her luck. She thought he seemed unusually accepting of it at the time, but in retrospect, he probably knew what she’d be doing and knew her efforts would be in vain.

  “Maybe I’ll move to another state. Surely, his influence can’t reach that far,” Amy muttered. “Maybe I’ll move to Iowa.”

  Danielle quickly swallowed her ice cream and shook her head. “No! You’re my best friend. What would I do without you?”

  Amy didn’t want to leave either. She liked her life here. Rubbing her temples, she said, “Your kids better be little hellions.”

  “Just load them up on sugar. The rest should take care of itself.”

  “Alright. Well, I guess I better head back to my prison. Thanks for coming for moral support to this interview.” Or what little there’d been of it.

  “Anytime. It was nice to take in a visit during my lunch break.”

  “You’re lucky. You get to go back to work.”

  Danielle laughed, and though she wore sunglasses, Amy was sure her friend rolled her eyes. “Right. Lucky me. I work because I have bills to pay, not because I want a diversion from my otherwise boring life.”

  “It is boring. I don’t want to sit around all day watching TV or shopping. I need something to stay occupied or I’ll go crazy.”

  “I don’t know how it’s possible to be bored of shopping, but you are strange. Don’t worry though. I still love you.”

  “Whew. You had me worried there for a moment,” Amy teased.

  Danielle quickly finished her ice cream and threw the cup and spoon into the trash before she followed Amy to her car. “Could you at least get a new engine in this thing?”