Perfect Together

by Carly Phillips

And Sam had thought her father was a coldhearted bastard. Sam sat frozen to his seat, shocked that anyone could treat their own child like a pawn in a game. With those two as parents, Nicole was a fucking miracle.

  His miracle.

  She’d stood up for him to her mother, declaring her love, proving herself much braver than he’d been with her. He was the big bad cop and she put him to shame.

  He rose from his seat, sorry that he’d left her alone with her bitch of a mother. Then again, maybe it was better that Nicole think he hadn’t heard anything. Less embarrassing for her that way, and he’d do anything to protect her from being hurt any more.

  He paused in the entryway, the distraught look on Nicole’s face gutting him. Unable to remain silent, he stepped forward. “Nicole?”

  She brushed at her cheeks, and he realized she’d been crying. And now she wanted to hide it from him.

  “Hey.” He strode up to her and grasped her hands. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine.”

  He held on to her wrists and stared into her damp blue eyes. “No, you’re not. Don’t pretend with me.”

  To his surprise, she jerked out of his grasp. “Don’t.”

  He narrowed his gaze. “Don’t what? Help you? Be there for you?”

  Her face morphed into a cool mask. “Don’t make me think I can depend on you.”

  “Whoa.” He dropped her wrist and raised both hands in a gesture of confusion. “I am here for you. I want to be here.”

  “Why?”

  It was his turn to step up. “You want to know why I want to be there for you when you need me?” He drew on all the courage she’d shown so far, using her bravery to bolster his own. “Because I love you.”

  Her eyes opened wide, a flash of hope in their depths, before they went . . . blank.

  She deliberately shut down her feelings. “No, you don’t. You feel sorry for me.” She wrapped her arms around her shoulders, her fingertips digging into her skin.

  “I don’t—”

  “Yes, you do. You heard everything my mother said and you pity me. Why else would the man who didn’t want anything to do with relationships and who doesn’t believe in love choose this moment for a declaration?”

  Her voice cracked and his heart squeezed painfully as she deliberately misinterpreted his words.

  He’d told Mike he’d prove to her she could count on him. No matter how hard she made it, whether or not she shut him out, he wouldn’t bail.

  “I’ll tell you why. Because I’m an idiot who couldn’t get beyond my past to see the amazing woman in front of me. But I see you, Nicole. And I’ve heard everything you’ve ever said about what you want and need in life—”

  “Oh my God, don’t!” Her eyes opened wide, the blue depths filled with disappointment. “Don’t use my own words against me.”

  “I’m using them for you. For us.” But as he spoke, he recognized the irony. Now that he wanted everything from her, she didn’t trust him or his words.

  She couldn’t because her mother had shown up and demoralized and destroyed her in an attempt to get what she wanted. And Sam hadn’t come to his senses in time.

  She turned away. “I have to get up early and I have a long day tomorrow.”

  “I’ll get my things and be right back. We can stay here.”

  She didn’t face him. “That’s okay. I . . . I need to be alone tonight.”

  Sam shook his head and swallowed a groan. “Nicole—”

  “Sam, please. I can’t do this now. I just had it out with my mother. I can’t argue with you too. I’m exhausted,” she said, her voice catching.

  “Okay.” He didn’t like it, but he’d respect it. “But set the alarm when I leave.”

  “I will.”

  “I’ll pick you up and take you to work tomorrow.”

  She shook her head, still not turning around. “There’s no reason for you to be up before dawn just because I have to be.”

  He rolled his eyes. If she thought she could get rid of him that easily, she didn’t know him well at all. “I’ll be in the driveway at four. With coffee. See you then.”

  Because he loved her. He knew for sure. And in his mind, that changed everything.

  Operating on autopilot, Nicole woke up, showered, and dressed for her grand opening. Her head hurt from lack of sleep, and she wasn’t feeling the excitement she’d anticipated for today. She blamed her mother as well as Sam. He was a good guy, trying to make her feel better in the only way he knew how. But she didn’t believe he suddenly realized he was in love with her at the very moment he was exposed to yet another ugly side of her family and her life.

  He came to her door to pick her up, not looking much better than she felt. He hadn’t shaved, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to be moving as slowly as she was. But he still looked delectable to her, and keeping her distance was hard. But she’d gone into self-protection mode. No longer was she willing to expose her heart for people to slice and dice. Even well-meaning people who told her the way things were going to be up front. Like Sam.

  They drove to town in silence, punctuated by occasional questions on his end.

  “How did you sleep?” he asked.

  “Fine.” She lied. She’d tossed and turned in her big empty bed all alone.

  “Really? Because I didn’t sleep at all. I haven’t been sleeping all week. I’d gotten used to having you in my bed, and I miss you.”

  She’d stared straight ahead, not wanting to get into any kind of deep discussion, and he took the hint and was silent for the rest of the way.

  He pulled up in front of the store. The lights weren’t on yet, which meant she’d beat Lulu here and she could get started on cleaning and sanitizing before prep and baking began.

  Sam turned, slinging one arm across the passenger seat. “I’m working today, but I’ll come by to check out the line coming out your door,” he said, his grin cute and sweet.

  “You don’t have to do that.” She managed a forced smile. “I’ll be too busy to be able to talk.”

  He studied her, his hazel eyes assessing her in a way he’d never done before. Like he was looking beneath her skin and trying to figure out a way to understand this new version of her. Well, she understood herself, and she’d tried to explain it to him last night: She didn’t want his pity and she certainly didn’t want him saying things he didn’t mean because of it.

  “Like I said, I’ll be by later to check things out,” he said, ignoring her.

  She clutched her bag. “Suit yourself. Thanks for the ride.” She opened the door and hopped out of the car.

  She let herself into the shop, with the car engine humming behind her, as Sam waited until she was safely inside before taking off.

  She brought her hands to her face and groaned. What was she going to do with him? The good news was, she had no time to worry about it.

  She had a business to open.

  Nicole didn’t know what to expect from the day, but based on last week’s slow build of sales, she had high hopes. Those hopes were exceeded. As Sam predicted, they had long lines during the prework hours, when people would pick up coffee from Cuppa Café and come by for food.

  Her cranberry and hazelnut scones were a hit with the moms, and the kids loved the chocolate chip ones. The cinnamon and cream cheese muffins were treats everyone seemed to enjoy. And people ordered Lulu’s pies for their weekend barbecues. By the time the day ended, Nicole’s legs ached from being on her feet all day, but her emotions were running high with their success.

  Then there was Sam. True to his word, he stopped by during the day. Not once or twice but three times, offering moral support and buying food. He didn’t stay to talk or hog her attention, but she felt his warm gaze on hers for the duration of his visit. His proud gaze.

  And his words from last night came back to her. You want to know why I want to be there for you when you need me? Because I love you.

  Could he mean it, she wondered? And more importantly, could she t
rust him, especially after his insistence on not wanting or believing in relationships and love for himself?

  Come to me when you're free—of everything. Then we can talk. Tyler never thought the day would come. In fact, up through last night, his father had been refusing to cooperate with the police, proclaiming his innocence and thrusting all the blame on his accountant. Only when Paul Farnsworth had refused to stand by him did Robert Stanton break down and confess. He’d truly believed that his partner, Nicole’s father, would understand the need to bolster the firm during tough economic times, no matter the means.

  Tyler was still coming to terms with his father’s betrayal of everything moral and right. His mother? He didn’t think she’d ever forgive her husband, and at this moment she was meeting with her attorneys. Not to delve into the legal status of her campaign funding, but to file for divorce. That was his mother. No second chances.

  Before he could go talk to Macy, he had to do some legwork on something he hoped would prove to her that from this moment on, she came first. Whatever happened between them in the long run, Tyler knew it wouldn’t be for lack of trying.

  Daisies. Sam sent daisies to the store every morning for a week straight. Each day, they brightened up the area by the cash register, and when Nicole ran out of the room, they lined the windowsill overlooking the street.

  “Someone’s in love,” Aunt Lulu said, turning the lock on the door and hanging the CLOSED sign from the doorknob.

  “Are you talking about me? Or Sam?” Nicole asked her partner.

  Aunt Lulu waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, a little bit of both of you.”

  Nicole bit down on the inside of her cheek. “Is love enough?” She asked the question that had been nagging at her day and night.

  “Oh, honey. Of course it is.” Aunt Lulu placed an arm around her shoulders and led her to a small table in front. “Sit.”

  Not one to argue with this woman, Nicole did as instructed. Aunt Lulu pulled up a seat beside her. “I lost my first love to cancer before we ever got married. If I could have him back, just to experience that love again, I truly believe all would be right in my world.” The woman who always seemed so together and strong looked suddenly frail and sad.

  Nicole reached for her hand. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

  Aunt Lulu shrugged. “It’s in the past. I can’t change it, so I just push forward. But I can advise you not to waste one single day.” She rose to her feet, obviously finished with sadness and reminiscing. “So aren’t you glad we hired people to help with the cleanup?”

  “More than anything. I don’t know if I could handle it,” Nicole admitted, stretching her legs and wiggling her aching feet.

  A knock sounded at the door. “Who could that be?” Nicole asked.

  Aunt Lulu stepped closer and glanced outside. “A very distinguished-looking gentleman I’ve never seen before.”

  Wary, Nicole stood and checked the visitor for herself. “Dad!”

  “That’s your father?” Aunt Lulu asked. “Nice-looking man.”

  “Yes.” But Nicole wondered what was inside him. “I guess I should find out what he wants.” She unlocked the door and let him inside. “You’re returning my unexpected visit,” she said. “What’s the occasion?”

  “I have news,” he said.

  “I see. Well, first meet my business partner, Lulu Donovan. Lulu, this is my father, Paul Farnsworth.”

  They shook hands, Aunt Lulu lingering too long—more for effect—as Nicole had come to learn about her. She liked being noticed.

  But she was also observant and realized that Nicole’s father had come for an important reason. “I’ll go see to the cleanup,” she said, excusing herself.

  Nicole waited until Aunt Lulu was in the back room before turning to her father, only to find him wandering around, taking in her bakery with his discerning eye.

  “Very nice,” he said, surprising her.

  She blinked. “Thank you. I take it Mom told you where to find me?”

  “Your mother told me she paid you a visit. She was . . . upset about the business and Robert’s arrest, and you know how your mother gets when things don’t go her way.”

  “Yes. She tries to manipulate them back the way she wants them.”

  “She does,” he agreed.

  “You’ve done it a time or two yourself,” Nicole pointed out.

  His mouth twisted in a wry grin.

  “It won’t work with me. Not anymore. I’m not leaving my life here—”

  “I’m not here to ask you to.”

  Nicole stepped back, taken off guard. “Then why make the trip here?” she asked, her heart suddenly racing, and she couldn’t figure out why.

  He studied her, as if seeing her for the first time. “Something your boyfriend said.”

  “Sam’s not my—”

  Her father burst out laughing, the action and the sound so at odds with the man Nicole knew, she was even more off balance. “What’s so funny?” she finally asked.

  Her father shrugged out of his suit jacket and placed it over the back of a chair. “Whatever you label the man, he cares about you. Enough to call me out on ‘not giving a shit about you.’”

  Nicole’s mouth went dry and she lowered herself into the nearest chair. “He shouldn’t have said that.”

  Her father took up the chair Aunt Lulu had been in minutes earlier, his big frame awkward in the smaller seat. “Someone needed to point out what should have been obvious.”

  Nicole glanced down at her hands. “I don’t know what to say.” And she was rarely at a complete loss for words.

  He paused, clearly as uncomfortable as she was. “Your mother and I aren’t affectionate with each other,” he finally said, surprising Nicole yet again. “It shouldn’t be a surprise to me that I didn’t know what to do with children. Two girls, no less, and one with a mental disorder. And your mother is not exactly the maternal type.”

  “You can say that again.” If he could state the truth, Nicole wasn’t about to hide her feelings. “She told me I was a disappointment.” She choked on the word and averted her gaze, embarrassed to show emotion in front of him.

  “I’m sorry. From both of us. I realize that doesn’t change anything, but at least you know I’m aware now. And that’s why when Robert asked me to back him up and help him out of this mess, I refused.”

  “He betrayed your trust and was using the business to launder money. Of course you wouldn’t help him.”

  “No. I can’t say I’m that honorable. If he’d managed to pull us out of the recession mess we were in without getting caught, I might have turned a blind eye.” Her father’s cheeks flushed a ruddy color. “But to threaten you because of it? Robert crossed a line that’s unacceptable. I don’t care if I have to start over from scratch. I want him to pay.”

  Her father had defended her? Gone to bat for her? Nicole blinked back tears. “I matter to you?” she asked, hating that she sounded like a pathetic little girl seeking her daddy’s approval, even if that was exactly what she was.

  The child who’d never gotten what she needed. Not when she made honor roll every semester. Not when she’d graduated cum laude from college. Not ever.

  Until now.

  Her father reached out and—awkwardly—placed his hand over hers. “You matter, Nicole. You and Victoria both do.”

  She didn’t know how badly she’d needed to hear those words until her father said them. She wiped at the tears with the back of her hand.

  “Now I want you to do something for me,” he said, ignoring her show of emotion.

  “What’s that?”

  “Find a man who deserves you. Someone warm and caring. Someone not like me.” His lips turned up again in a self-deprecating way.

  She managed a laugh.

  “Someone like that detective of yours.”

  She blushed, unable to answer.

  Her father wasn’t expecting a reply. He rose from his chair, pulling his jacket back onto his shoulders, and st
arted for the door.

  He grasped the doorknob and paused. “Nicole?”

  “Yes?”

  He cleared his throat. “You’ve done a wonderful job with this place.”

  She blinked hard. So many surprises from him, she couldn’t take them all in. “I . . . Thank you,” she said, to his retreating back as he shut the door behind him.

  Macy lived in a garden apartment, a low-rise set of buildings near The Family Restaurant. She loved the location, so close to work, and she also liked being surrounded by people. Her neighbors were composed of a mix of people her own age, married couples, and older folks who’d chosen to downsize from their homes. Macy, being Macy, was friendly with them all, and today was the day she normally checked on her next-door neighbor, Monique Tamm, a recent widow.

  Yesterday Macy had picked up sticky buns, Monique’s favorite, so she could drop by for a cup of tea and a chat. She didn’t know why, but she found it easy to talk to people of all ages and always had, which was why her family had designated her hostess, not waitress, from early on.

  She and Monique lived on the ground floor, the last two units near the end of the hall, which had the same apartment layout. Their kitchen windows overlooked the parking lot, which, despite its nature, was surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees. The backyard gave them each a view of a manmade lake.

  She brought her bakery box with the brightly colored Lulu and Nic’s insignia and knocked. Monique opened the door. Her dark hair with no gray was pulled back in a sleek bun; she had a warm smile on her face and Macy was happy to see her looking relaxed and more at peace than she’d been in a while.

  A few minutes later, they settled around the kitchen table, and Macy was drinking the most delicious chamomile tea. As usual, conversation drifted from town gossip to Monique’s past. Today she focused on her early dating days with her husband.

  Macy couldn’t imagine losing someone you loved so much, but at least Monique had had over forty-five years. She wasn’t ready to see anyone else, but she was open to the idea of companionship of a sort. Other people, like Macy’s aunt, never got over a loss and compensated in other ways, but Macy suspected her aunt was still lonely and often wished Lulu would find herself a nice man. But she preferred to be alone.