by K. M. Scott
The server took our order, and I tried for the third time to talk about something that could help my two intended lovebirds get acquainted. “Gage was in the Navy before he began working as a bodyguard, Jordan. Remember when we went to Fleet Week?”
Her green eyes grew as wide as saucers with surprise, and for a moment I thought she might be angry with me for bringing up the topic, but before she could say anything, West angrily excused himself from the table and stomped away.
As I watched him leave the restaurant, I wondered aloud, “What’s up with him?”
Rolling her eyes, Jordan joked, “Maybe he’s an Army guy.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Varo smile and knew instantly it was one unlike any he’d ever given me. It went all the way up to his eyes. He really did like her. Thrilled my plan was unfolding exactly as I’d hoped, I sat back and let things happen.
Just as I’d believed, he was charmed by Jordan’s humor and occasional snarkiness, and if she liked him before, the mention of him in the Navy made her practically crazy about him. I saw it in her eyes. Only a few times before had I seen them sparkle like they did as the two of them sat there getting to know one another in the back of Brickfire. By the time West returned, I was convinced my matchmaking work had succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.
As we climbed into the back of the car to head to her place, I couldn’t help but smile from ear to ear. Jordan was less expressive, but I knew inside she was bouncing off the walls. “Don’t tell me you didn’t have a great time. I know you did.”
“Sure. The food was great. I really liked that fireplace. I bet in the winter it’s great to have dinner there.”
I smacked her arm hard. “Don’t tell me you didn’t love getting to know him. I know you did.”
She giggled like a schoolgirl and blushed bright red. “I did. He’s even better than I thought. I’m trying not to get too excited by things just in case it ends up being nothing.”
“Nothing? When he sees you in that peacock blue dress, he’s going to want to sweep you off your feet right there in my garden.”
Jordan’s expression turned serious, and she squeezed my hand tightly. “I just don’t want to be let down, Nina. He’s gorgeous and hot and everything any girl would want. I don’t want to get my hopes up just yet.”
I understood her cautiousness. Letting someone into your heart was risky business, and as we both knew from experience, it rarely worked out. I still believed she could be happy like I was, so wary or not, I had hope for her and Gage.
Jensen stopped the car in front of her apartment and with a heavy heart I had to accept my time with her was over too soon. She saw my sadness and hugged me tightly to her. “Just a couple more days and we’ll be standing there in our awesome dresses and you’ll be marrying the man of your dreams. No sad faces, okay?”
“Okay. See you in a few days. The wedding is set for six next Saturday, so I’ll have Jensen come for you around two.”
“Two it is. I love you, Nina. Thanks for being such a great friend.”
I watched as she climbed the stairs to her place, already missing her. I wasn’t sad so much as understanding for the first time that everything was going to change. Living with someone was one thing, but becoming a wife meant something far more serious. I knew I’d see her whenever we wanted, but my life was about to change.
By the time we arrived back at the house, Varo and the still miserable West were there waiting for us, and as I got out of the car I saw Tristan pull Varo aside near the garage to speak to him. Both wore very serious expressions, but I didn’t get the sense he was reprimanding my bodyguard. After a minute or so, Varo left and I approached Tristan, happy to see him but curious about what the conversation had been about.
“Hey you! I found a wedding gown and Jordan found her bridesmaid gown, so we’re all set on the dresses.”
He took my hand in his and smiled. “Good. I can’t wait to see it.”
Looking up into his eyes, I tried to discern the meaning of his chat with Varo. “Everything okay? I saw you pull Varo aside as I drove up.”
“Everything’s fine. I have to head into the city, but I’ll be back in a few hours. I’d love it if you’d be waiting for me,” he said with a wink.
“You know I will be,” I said as I stood on my toes to kiss him, missing the feel of his lips on mine after hours away. “Maybe I’ll have a surprise for you.”
“I like that. You’re making it hard to leave, though.”
“Good, but I know you have things to do, so just remember I’ll be waiting when you get back.”
Whispering “I love you,” he kissed me again and turned toward the garage. As I watched him walk away, I thought about how I might surprise him. Maybe a nice dinner? Or me in sexy lingerie? Or a nice bubble bath for two?
I’d think of something good.
Chapter Eighteen
Nina
A few minutes after Tristan left, my phone rang. Thinking it was him calling me to say he loved me, I didn’t pay attention to the number that flashed across the screen and simply answered the call.
“Hello,” I said in a happy, singsong voice.
“Nina? It’s Kim.”
Just hearing my sister’s name made my mood change from blissfully happy to completely miserable. She must have had some kind of happiness radar that beeped as soon as I began to feel good in life, but this time, I wasn’t going to let her ruin my great day.
“What do you want, Kim? I’m a little busy.”
The phone was silent for a long moment, and then when she spoke again, her voice sounded different, almost contrite, for the first time ever. “I thought maybe we could meet.”
“I’ve got a lot to do this week. I’m getting married, so it’s not really a good time. Maybe after I get back.”
I knew I was being a bitch, but after years of her being just that, I figured she had it coming. No matter how sorry she felt for our relationship, or lack of, I didn’t want to hear it.
“Baby, you’re getting married? I thought you and Tristan already had the wedding. You weren’t going to tell me, were you?”
Just the word baby made guilt rush over me. My father would be heartbroken to know on the biggest day of my life that Kim wouldn’t be there to share it with me. I heard his words echo in my mind at that moment.
“No matter what else you two are, Nina, you’re family. Always remember that, baby.”
“Kim, what do you want to meet about? I’m not interested in hearing you tell me I’m making a mistake. Considering the man I’m about to marry saved you and your family from being killed, I’d think all you’d have to say to me would be glowing praise for Tristan.”
“Please, can we meet? I’m in Manhattan for the night.”
Every fiber of my being told me not to go to her, except for that tiny part of my brain whispering that no matter what else Kim was, she’d always be my sister and I owed it to my father to give her another chance. We didn’t have to be the best of friends, but I’d always wanted us to be closer. Maybe now we could be.
“Okay. Meet me at a restaurant called Malone’s. I can be there in an hour.”
As I gave her the address, a sense of satisfaction came over me. Perhaps this was finally the time we could be the kind of sisters I’d always wanted us to be. I felt strong enough to handle her now.
I tracked down Jensen near the carriage house to let him know we’d be hitting the road again, and as I made my way back to the house, I saw Varo. I didn’t need a bodyguard to meet my sister, but if I tried to leave without letting him and West know, the hassle wouldn’t be worth it.
“Since you’re only seeing your sister and Karl’s been taken care of, I can probably handle this without West. He seems to be feeling under the weather anyway. He’s been scarce since we returned from our little lunch get-together.”
I couldn’t help but smile. No matter how snide he sounded, I knew he had a good time. “Yeah, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy it.”
>
He smiled and I saw a sparkle in his dark blue eyes. “Always the matchmaker, Nina. I hope Jordan and I don’t disappoint you. We’re mere humans, after all.”
“All I want is you and her to be as happy as Tristan and I am. That’s all.”
He chuckled at my statement, and as he walked away toward the car he and West used, he turned around. “I don’t know about that, but maybe Jordan’s right about that good things happening to good people thing. I guess we’ll have to see.”
“Just give it a chance,” I yelled as I walked back to the house.
The hostess led me to where Kim sat, and I saw that her time in the islands had been good to her. Tanner than she’d been since she was a teenager, she practically glowed. I sat down and was greeted with a smile that looked so different on her. Optimism surged in me, and I was ready to begin what I hoped would be a new future with my only sister.
“Nina! You look wonderful.”
“You too. You wear the tropics well.”
“You should see the girls. They’d never seen so much sand. It’s going to be hard for them to get used to Pennsylvania weather again,” she said with a smile.
“I’m glad you enjoyed the resort Tristan arranged for you.”
A sharpness crept into my voice that I hadn’t intended, but I couldn’t deny what lived in my heart. I wanted to repair my relationship with Kim, but that wasn’t going to happen with just one dinner and it wasn’t going to happen with me forgetting everything she’d done.
The mention of Tristan’s name elicited a forced smile from her, and I instantly knew she was still struggling like I was. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing. Whatever we were going to end up being to one another, I wanted it based on truth.
“It was very nice. I just wish there hadn’t been a reason for us being there in the first place.”
I knew what she was saying—that Tristan was to blame for a fucking madman being in our lives. Instinctively, I defended the man I loved. “Karl wasn’t interested in you because of Tristan, Kim. He thought you had something he wanted because of Daddy. It had nothing to do with Tristan, in fact, so I don’t appreciate your insinuation that he was to blame for any of this.”
A waiter interrupted our conversation, and I quietly ordered the first dish I saw on the menu, not even sure I was in the mood for a roasted vegetable panini. Not that it mattered. I had a feeling I wasn’t going to have much of an appetite tonight.
When we were alone again, a heavy silence settled in between us. I had to admit once again that she hadn’t contacted me because she wanted to wish me well or to see if I was happy. As always, Kim had sought me out to be a damper on my life. I felt sad that once again our relationship wasn’t going to change.
Unlike every other time I’d accepted that reality, this time I wanted to know why. Why was my happiness a thing she always had to crush?
“Nina, when Daddy died, I promised myself that I’d watch out for you. I know I haven’t done a wonderful job, but I tried.”
Kim sat there across the table from me wearing some kind of martyr expression, as if she’d struggled so long with me only to be disappointed in the results of her efforts. I wanted to smack that look off her face. How dare she! I’d never been the one who sabotaged her happiness. Never once had I been a hassle asking her for money or to bail me out of trouble. I’d lived my life my way and respected her for living hers the way she wanted to. Why was she acting like I’d been some kind of cross for her to bear?
“What are you talking about, Kim? I didn’t need anyone to watch out for me. Why do you make it sound like I’ve been one problem after another for you?” I asked, feeling the defensiveness rising inside me.
She took a sip of her water and swallowed hard. “Daddy always spoiled you. I told him not to, that it was going to make things harder for you when you became an adult, but he never listened. I think he felt guilty about not finding another woman to help as you were growing up, so he gave you whatever you wanted. It would have been better if he had remarried.”
“What the hell does that mean? I had nothing to do with him not marrying again. And Daddy didn’t spoil me, unless you call making sure we had a warm place to live and I had clothes on my back spoiling someone.”
“That’s not the type of spoiling I mean. What I’m talking about is the way he took care of everything for you. You think that’s the way it’s supposed to be because that’s the way you always had it with him.”
I wasn’t sure where Kim was going with all this, but I wasn’t liking any of it. And I wasn’t liking the way she was dancing around her true intentions. “Just say what you want to say, Kim. Don’t blame Daddy if you’re jealous of whatever the hell you’re jealous of.”
Gritting her teeth, she said, “This isn’t about me being jealous, Nina. It’s about our father not preparing you for the world and allowing you to be naïve for too long.”
That was it. I was done. Leaning across the table, I pointed my finger at her face. “I’m not going to take this anymore from you. You’re jealous because I’m not a miserable bitch full of mistrust. I’m sorry you’re like that, Kim. I really am. But I didn’t make you that way and nothing I do can change who you are. That’s on you. I simply won’t be the person you dump all your shit on anymore. Don’t bother calling me again. I met you tonight because I knew it was what Daddy would want. To be honest, I hoped that we could finally change the vicious cycle our relationship has always been in, but it’s obvious that’s not going to happen, so don’t contact me again.”
As I stood to leave, she grabbed my arm to hold me back. “Don’t leave. I need to tell you something. Whatever happens after that, at least I can know that I tried and didn’t let Daddy down.”
I glared down at her, not believing a word coming from her spiteful mouth. “Whatever you need to say, don’t bother. I don’t want to hear about it.”
Reaching into her purse, she pulled out a sheet of paper with tattered edges that looked like someone had ripped it from a notebook. It was folded in half, and she placed in on the bread plate in front of her and looked up at me. “Just hear me out.”
As if everything was happening in slow motion, I sat down again and stared at the piece of paper. It looked just like the kind of paper in my father’s notebook. “What’s this about?”
“Do you remember when you first told me about Tristan? I told you I’d heard horrible things about him—that he’d been responsible for someone’s death?”
I raised my eyes from the sheet of paper to look at her. “Yes, and I remember telling you I thought you were crazy. I still do. Tristan couldn’t kill anyone. You don’t know him.”
“No, I don’t. I’m afraid you don’t either.”
Shaking my head, I took a deep breath. “You’re wrong. Whatever you think that says, you’re wrong. It was Tristan’s brother who was responsible for that girl’s death. Taylor did that, not Tristan.”
She opened the folded sheet of paper and scanned what was written there. “This says Tristan. There’s no mention of his brother being implicated in that girl’s death. Daddy found all this out when he was investigating Stone Worldwide.”
“You’re mistaken. I’ve seen Daddy’s notebook, and he knew it was Taylor who got that girl pregnant. He wrote it down himself. I can’t believe you’d accuse the man I love of being a murderer again. What is wrong with you, Kim? What did I ever do to you to make you do this to me?”
“I’ve seen that notebook too, but before Daddy died. He ripped this page out because it wasn’t part of his investigation of Tristan’s father’s company and filed it away. I found it when I cleaned out his house after the funeral. You know, when you were busy spending hour after hour in bed while I had to deal with everything that comes when your father dies and no one else is there to help you.”
Her attack stung, and I sat there speechless as my mind attempted to process through the hurt and anger to the meaning of what she’d said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you need
ed me, Kim. I can’t help how I reacted to when he died. Daddy and I were very close. His death devastated me.”
“I was heartbroken too, Nina. That didn’t mean I got to stay in bed, though. I had to be responsible for taking care of all the business that comes with death.”
My chest tightened as I watched her expression harden. She couldn’t forgive me for not being there because I was falling apart. How could we ever hope to have any kind of healthy relationship while she still harbored these feelings? “Kim, why are you telling me all of this? What does this have to do with why you wanted to see me?”
“When Daddy died, I had to go through every inch of that house, reliving all the memories of Mommy’s death. I wanted to break down too, but every day I had to return to those rooms so full of the past. I had to sift through every piece of paper he kept. Do you remember how he’d always write on scraps of envelopes and cocktail napkins when he had an idea or found some fact he needed to remember? That house of his was full of them. Some I threw away, but most I kept, mainly because I couldn’t let go and those were all I had left of him. So I stuck the ones I saved in a box, even though I wasn’t sure what I’d ever do with them. Copies of that notebook of his you’ve seen were some of what was in that box, along with this sheet of paper.”
“I’m so sorry, Kim. I’m sorry I wasn’t there and didn’t realize what you had to go through,” I said quietly, hoping to at least show her we didn’t have to continue like we’d been.
Her hand shook as she lifted the paper in front of me. “When you told me about Tristan, I knew something about him sounded familiar. I couldn’t place it at first, but then it all came back to me. I’d seen his name on one of Daddy’s scraps of paper. When I searched through that box, I found everything Daddy had discovered about Tristan and his family. How they’d done horrible things and never gotten caught or been punished, and now one of them had tricked the only family I had left into falling in love with him.”
