by Cat Grant
"It's all over the news. Haven't you seen today's paper?"
Not only had she and Nick been too busy to look at the paper, they'd barely had time to turn on the TV or do any net-surfing unrelated to the new book. God, what a time to bury their heads in the sand!
Jumping up, she planted a kiss on her father's cheek, apologized profusely and promised to call him the next day, then sprinted outside to flag down the nearest cab. Of course it was downtown at the height of lunch hour, so she got caught in horrendous traffic, pulling up in front of Nick's apartment forty-five minutes later. She threw a handful of bills at the cabbie and dashed inside, finding Nick at his desk, pounding away at his laptop.
Seizing the remote, she flicked on the TV and started flipping channel, landing on CNN just in time to see Eric stride offstage, leaving the gathered press in an uproar.
"For those viewers joining us late,” intoned the anchorman, “New York Senator Eric Courtland has just announced his resignation, citing a chronic heart ailment. Members of Congress have called for the senator to step down in recent weeks, in response to a high-profile sex scandal involving a young reporter with whom the senator and his wife have had a long-standing extramarital liaison..."
Nick snatched the remote out of her hand and flicked off the TV, looking every bit as stunned as she felt. “D-Did Eric call you about this?"
"No, my father told me. Great week for us to stop reading the papers!"
"God, I hope he's all right."
Her stomach clenched with instant worry. “Do you want to call him, or shall I?"
"You'd better do it. My hands are shaking so bad I don't think I can dial the number."
She padded into the bedroom to use the land line, punching in Eric's cell number, hoping he'd see who was calling and not let it go to voice-mail. After four rings, the line clicked on. “Nick?” came Eric's voice from the other end, scratchy and distant-sounding.
"It's me,” she said, relieved to hear him at last, though it didn't stop her heart from racing. “We just saw you on TV. Are you sick again?"
"Hold on a minute, let me get some privacy here.” He came back a few seconds later, with much less crackling on the line. “To answer your question ... No, I'm not sick, not in the way you mean. But I've been better."
"I can imagine. But for what it's worth, I'm sorry about you having to resign."
"Are you really?” He made a sound somewhere between a sigh and a chortle. “Look, I've been through hell this past month, and I miss you terribly. You and Nick."
"W-Would you like to come over? We'll be here all evening."
"You're still at Nick's apartment?"
"Yeah. Or we could come to the penthouse, if you'd rather."
"No, I'll come to you. I've been cooped up here for the past two days. It's driving me insane."
"I know the feeling."
He laughed. “God, I can't wait to see you."
"Me too. Seven o'clock?"
"I'll be there."
He arrived at seven on the dot—without a bodyguard in tow, for once—grinning happily when he saw them, gifts in hand. For Nick, he'd brought a new MacBook Pro, and for Ally, a huge, beribboned box containing the black-and-white halter dress she'd ordered in Milan back in July, along with a pair of exquisite matching Manolo Blahnik sling-back pumps.
They sat down in the living room, an awkward silence descending. Ally couldn't help noticing how drained Eric looked beneath the over-bright smile he'd pasted on for their benefit, and suspected his claims of feeling fine were equal parts bravado and nerves.
"So what happened? When you got back to Washington, I mean,” she prompted.
"I knew I was in for a tough time of it, but I had no idea how much acrimony they'd stored up for me. People I'd considered my friends not only wouldn't return my phone calls, but walked right past me like I'd suddenly turned invisible. And as far as getting any work done...” He shrugged, rubbing a thumb along his lower lip. “I found it highly ironic the men who shunned me most openly were those whom I know haven't slept with their own wives in years. One of them has had an entire string of mistresses, with children by at least two of them. And yet they all felt perfectly justified judging me."
"But you didn't quit because of that,” Nick interjected.
"No. I would've hung in there forever if only to show them they couldn't intimidate me. Then of course, they all started grandstanding, calling for my resignation. But I still wasn't about to give those sanctimonious hypocrites the satisfaction.” His eyes fluttered shut for a moment, letting Ally see how close he hovered to utter collapse. “The governor called me a little over a week ago. He said the public was demanding a recall, and if I didn't resign voluntarily, he'd have no choice but to call for a special election. And considering the current climate, I'd probably be voted out by a landslide."
"I'm sure that must've been quite a blow,” Nick said quietly.
"Even then, I wasn't prepared to concede—until your mother called.” He had a tremor in his voice now. “She asked me to please take care of myself and told me I'd always have her support, even if we weren't together anymore. Then she said she hoped I'd have the sense to know when the fight was over, because she wouldn't want to see me humiliated. And if my own mother were still alive, no doubt she'd want the same thing. After that, my choice was clear."
For a moment, Nick's expression hovered between delight and mortification. “Eric, you have to believe me, I didn't ask her to call you."
"I know you didn't. But somehow your mother always knows what to say to me, and at exactly the right time."
Ally grasped his hand. “When did you sleep last?"
"I got a couple of hours last night. I was up until around three working on my speech. Maybe now that this circus is over, I can finally unwind."
"We'd invite you to stay, but Nick's bed isn't big enough for all three of us,” she said, smiling shakily.
"I've got a better idea. Why don't you both pack your things and come back to the penthouse with me tonight?"
Two weeks ago, Ally would've jumped at the chance, but now she found herself hesitating. A quick glance at Nick told her he concurred. “Isn't this rather sudden?” she asked.
"Sudden? We've been separated for over a month!"
"I know, and I want to come back, I really do, but...” She took a breath before plunging in. “Things need to change, Eric, and I mean really change, before I'll feel comfortable resuming our marriage. It can't go back to the way it was before."
"I agree,” Nick said. “For the past couple of years, our relationship's revolved around your political career. How do we go forward now that that's not the case? Ally and I need to feel like equal partners here and we haven't for a long time."
Ally had expected Eric to become angry, but instead he looked merely confused. “I-I had no idea you both felt this way."
"That's probably as much our fault as yours,” Ally replied. “We weren't terribly forthcoming in airing our grievances—at least, not without getting into an argument about it."
"Look, I'm willing to do whatever it takes. It's been miserable these last few weeks without the two of you."
Ally looked at Nick, then back at Eric. “We feel the same way."
"All right. So why don't you come up to the penthouse tomorrow for lunch and we can talk about this in greater depth, once I have a few more hours of sleep under my belt.” He stood slowly, fatigue making him unsteady on his feet.
Nick caught him by the arm. “I'll take the couch tonight. You're in no condition to drive."
Eric nodded wearily, letting Ally lead him back to the bedroom. She helped him undress and pulled down the covers, slipping in beside him. He dropped off immediately, his head pillowed on her shoulder. She stroked his hair, kissed him and followed suit.
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Chapter 16
Three Tickets to Paradise:
Coming to Terms
Ally heard Eric get up around seven, tipto
eing gingerly around the room to avoid waking her. After he kissed her goodbye, she rolled over and went back to sleep, waking again around nine. Padding into the kitchen, she found Nick sitting at the table with his new laptop and a mug of coffee. “So I guess he's gone back to the penthouse already?” she asked.
"Yeah. He said we should show up for lunch around eleven-thirty.” He shut the computer, giving her a lopsided smile. “You don't look as overjoyed about this as I thought you would."
"I'm still in shock. I never thought anything would get him to resign, not in a million years."
"Maybe he's finally realized there's more to life than winning."
Nick put on his best dark suit for lunch, and Ally wore her new Versace dress and pumps, with her hair up in a classic chignon. It looked stunning on her, and she hoped it would please Eric to see her wear it. From the way his eyes lit up the second he opened the penthouse door, she knew she'd made the right choice.
The weather had taken an unseasonably warm turn for late October, so they took their lunch on the balcony. The sky shone clear as glass, their view of the Hudson every bit as breathtaking as the vineyards in Tuscany. They had lobster salad and iced tea followed by a dessert of fresh fruit, and filled each other in on the mundane aspects of their lives over the past month. Eric seemed genuinely happy that she'd found absorbing, worthwhile work, while she felt infinitely relieved to see the tight lines around his mouth and eyes fading, eased by a good night's sleep.
When they'd finished eating, Eric reached into his jacket and pulled out a long white envelope, sliding it across the table to her. “I want you to have this."
She opened it, unfolding the thick sheaf of legal-sized paper inside, all written in Italian. “What is it?"
"The deed to the villa. I bought it last week and put it in your name."
Her mouth dropped open. “B-But we weren't together last week!"
"Look, I thought that if the worst came to pass, you'd need some assets of your own. I didn't want you leaving our marriage penniless."
"I'm prepared to abide by our prenuptial agreement, Eric. You don't owe me a thing.” She pushed the papers back to him. “You know, this is exactly the sort of thing I said we needed to talk about. I didn't come here today because I wanted more of your grand gestures or expensive gifts. I came because I still love you and I want to make our marriage work, but now—"
"Will you please just hear me out? Both of you,” he cut in pointedly, glancing at them both in turn. “There's a reason I bought the villa, and not only because I want you to have a home that's exclusively yours. For months now you've been urging me to take it easy, but you know me well enough to know I'm not the type to sit at home doing nothing. So I thought I'd take over running the Courtland Industries office in Rome."
Ally glanced at Nick, who glanced back with a mildly baffled expression. “How'd you come up with this idea?” he asked.
"It's the perfect solution for us all. I can telecommute, and fly into the office once every week or so if there's a meeting I have to attend in person. You two can work on Nick's book. We'll have all the privacy and quiet we need. If we want to travel, the whole of Europe is at our doorstep. And of course, we'll come back to the States for Christmas every year."
She sat there for a moment, happily stunned. “Well, it certainly sounds like you've given it plenty of thought."
"That first week we spent in Tuscany was the happiest we've been in the past two years. I want us to feel that way all the time.” He smiled. “And I have to admit, I find the idea of living in a country where Nick and I can walk down the street hand in hand without being pelted with rotten fruit especially appealing."
"That does sound wonderful,” she said cautiously, “but there are still a few things we need to discuss."
"Like what?"
"Well, first, no more bodyguards."
"Absolutely not. You could be in danger without—"
"Eric, I'm not in any danger. I've been walking around the city by myself for the past month, and nothing's happened to me. You have to let go of this paranoia of yours."
He looked like he wanted to voice another protest, but he stopped himself. “What else?"
"I'd rather not use the limo anymore. It's too big and ostentatious. I won't object if you want to keep it for your own personal use, but I'd like to have my own car."
He thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “All right."
She glanced at Nick with a smile. “Do you want to take this one?"
"Okay,” Nick said, sitting up straight. “It's pretty obvious that most of our problems have sprung from us keeping things from each other. That's got to stop. I mean, if there's a problem between two of us, I don't think it's fair to put the third person in the middle. But if an issue arises that concerns all of us, we need to sit down and discuss it, like we're doing right now."
"And no more of one person making decisions that affect all three of us without talking it over first,” Ally added.
Eric chuckled. “I guess I don't have to ask which one of us you're talking about."
"Look, we're not trying to gang up on you,” Nick explained. “But if we let this stuff simmer, it'll blow up in our faces all over again."
"I know,” Eric admitted. “It's just a bit disconcerting to realize how unhappy you've both been all this time."
"Not that unhappy.” She smiled. “We came back, didn't we?"
"So providing I agree to your conditions, I take it you're in favor of making our arrangement permanent again?"
"I'm not so sure,” Nick replied. “There are a couple other things we need to work out first—in private."
Well, talk about unexpected, although the playful twinkle in Nick's eye told her exactly what he had in mind. When Eric shot her a look, she feigned her most innocent shrug. “Sounds serious,” she said, trying hard not to smile. “You two better go hash it out on your own."
They disappeared inside, leaving her to enjoy the view. She took her time finishing her iced tea, and then, glancing at her watch, she got up and strolled back inside.
She could hear their ecstatic moans and cries echoing all the way down the hall from Nick's room, the door hanging slightly ajar, just wide enough for her to peer in. Eric lay flat on his back with his legs in the air and Nick in between them, pumping away with abandon. God, they looked so beautiful together like this, passionate and loving—and hot as fucking hell.
She stood there transfixed by lust and rapt fascination as Nick sped up, making Eric moan even louder, both hands gripping the covers, throwing his head back when Nick grasped his cock and jerked him to orgasm. A few more hard thrusts and Nick came too, before landing in a sweaty, exhausted heap at Eric's side.
Eric cast a glance in her direction, and for a second she thought he'd looked right at her. Then he winked. Giggling, she pushed open the door. “How long did you know I was there?"
Nick rolled his eyes. “I heard you panting all the way over here."
"Hey, watch it! I could make a few choice comments about your snoring!” Eric held out his hand to her and she took it, entwining their fingers, sinking to her knees by his side of the bed. “You looked like you enjoyed that,” she murmured.
"Believe me, he did.” Nick flashed them both a smug grin. “And so did you, if those pink cheeks are any indication."
"You should've joined us,” Eric added.
"Don't worry, there'll be plenty of time for that.” Grinning, she glanced at Nick. “Looks like we're moving back in."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 17
New Home, New Beginning
Ally still loved summer mornings in Tuscany the best. She insisted on spending the few hours between breakfast and lunch lounging on the terrace, soaking up the sunshine. Work could wait until later, when the intense afternoon heat drove her indoors.
She heard the familiar toot of a horn and threw on her cover-up, peering over the edge of the terrace in time to see Eric pull into t
he courtyard in his new Lamborghini Murciélago. He'd given up the limo the second he'd laid eyes on the candy-apple red roadster during their factory tour a few weeks ago. He loved zooming up through the hills in it at a hundred miles an hour, spraying gravel on the narrow country roads.
Taking the terrace stairs two at a time, he caught her up in his arms, kissing her soundly. “How's Rome?” she asked.
"Noisy and polluted,” he replied. “How's everything here?"
"Oh, same old, same old. Beautiful sun, beautiful house, beautiful Nick. Boring, boring, boring!"
"Well, you certainly seem bored,” he observed with a touch of gentle sarcasm.
Nick joined them for lunch in the dining room, and they took their time enjoying the delicious angel-hair pasta in olive oil and sweet basil that Luciana had prepared. Ally beamed over her glass of mineral water at Eric as he filled them in on his latest jaunt to the Eternal City.
"It was mostly an exercise in tedium, but I'm still glad I made the trip,” he said. “It's always good to get out there and rattle the troops’ cages a bit. Keeps them on their toes."
She laughed. “Well, at least it doesn't tire you out as much as it did a few months ago. You seem a lot stronger and more energetic."
"Remind me of that in another hour or so,” he replied with a wink. “So how'd you two keep yourselves busy in my absence?"
"I managed to finish another chapter, with the help of my very efficient research assistant,” Nick said, shooting Ally a grin. “At this rate, we'll turn in the manuscript well ahead of deadline."
"And take a couple of weeks off before we start on the next one,” Ally added. “Also, my extremely talented partner here's agreed to help me pitch a proposal of my own, once we get the chance to put it all together."
Eric's eyes widened. “I go away for two days and apparently I miss everything. But may I say—bravo!” He raised his glass to each of them in turn. “You certainly deserve it."
She went in to take her usual soak in the tub after lunch and had just settled into the warm, vanilla-scented water when the door swung open, and in sauntered Eric. Stripping off his clothes, he plopped down in opposite end of the tub, sloshing water all over the floor. They both exploded in laughter.
