"Here. This is where you can stay for as long as you need until you get on your feet." Stepping inside, he shows her where the door for the bathroom is and where she can find some extra toiletries stocked by his amazing sister, Everleigh. "Alright, let me grab you something to wear. I may have shorts and sweats that you can work with."
Nikki doesn't respond, instead she stands beside the bed, stroking her delicate fingers back and forth across the soft, white down bed coverings. As Austin walks out of the room, he turns in the doorway and glances back inside. He finds Nikki in the same spot, but her arms are wrapped tightly around her body, shielding herself from some unknown enemy.
Austin's heart actually lurches in pain for her. She looks so lost and alone, a far cry from the bold, brazen, and sexy woman she typically portrays herself as. Realizing that she needs a moment by herself, he quickly bustles to his bedroom and rummages in his closet for a t-shirt and sweatpants.
"Here," he murmurs, returning and placing the clothes on the dresser. "I'm going to start a fire and walk Duke before the snow gets too bad. Make yourself at home, Nikki."
Turning at last in his direction, he is graced with her exquisitely wide smile. His heart pounds loudly in his chest at the perfect turn of her lips.
"Thank you, for everything and… for being so nice to me. I know I'm the last person you want to help, let alone into your home. But I am really grateful for your hospitality."
"Nikki, I already told you..."
"I know I know, that you don't do anything that you don't want to do.” She waves her hand dismissively, “But really, thank you, Austin; for everything…”
The implication hangs heavily in the air as she rubs her hand across her slightly swollen stomach.
Austin nods at her heartfelt gratitude and heads out of the room, leaving her to her solitude.
His body shakes as he travels down the stairs; his pulse racing with each step that takes him farther from her.
I need to stop feeling this way. I can't go through the pain of losing her again.
"Come on, Duke!" he bellows, alerting his dog to his increasingly foul mood.
He trots with Duke around the snowy yard, watching as he sniffs every branch and tree. A full thirty minutes later, Duke at last is content with the perimeter of their property and feels ready to head inside.
"Finally," Austin mutters to himself, chilled to the bone.
Back inside the warm home, he makes sure that Duke has food and water, grabs a beer from the fridge, then walks over to the fireplace to check on the blaze within. After adding a few more logs, Austin moves towards his spot on the couch to watch a few minutes of television. Turning, he is quickly caught off guard by the sight of Nikki, curled tightly in a ball, resting comfortably in the corner of his couch.
The flickering light from the hearth dances off the curves of her skin, illuminating her body with a warm glow. Austin can't help but be mesmerized.
Dammit! I love her. I love this woman with everything I am.
And then he reaches deep within the pocket of his jeans, almost subconsciously, to feel the coolness of the metal and the stone pressing against his palm. A small but infinitely valuable trinket he has refused to remove from his grasp so long as she was in his life, though he planned on fighting it every step of the way.
NIKKI STARTLES AT THE sudden movement and a jolt of electricity sparking her skin.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to shock you, but that blanket is notorious for it.”
Ok, at least she knew her mind wasn’t playing tricks on her. The spark was, quite literally, a product of electricity.
“I didn’t mean to fall asleep, but this couch is like heaven.”
“I know. Believe me, you’re not the first.”
Thoughts of the other women he must have entertained in her absence dance tauntingly across her mind, and the pleasant smile that had graced her face upon waking to see his handsomeness dwindles down to a frown.
Surprised by her reaction, Austin quickly adds, “I haven’t brought any other women to this house, Nikki. You’re the first, besides my family of course. I just meant both Cassidy and my mom have fallen asleep in that exact spot.
“I’m sorry. You didn’t need to explain anything. I am the one that left.”
“Nikki, you don’t…”
“But I do. I need to explain. I was scared, so scared. I loved you so much, but things had been moving so fast and we had never talked about what our next step was -- if there even was a next step. I knew you weren’t ready for marriage, or for settling down, and you had already expressed your views on fatherhood…”…
“Whoever said I wasn’t ready to settle down?” he demands.
“No one,” she exclaims. “But one night stands were your MO. We just never talked about it. So I left. I didn’t want you to think I was trying to trap you into something you didn’t want.”
Seething, Austin stands from the couch hastily.
“So you planned on keeping my child from me? You were going to deny him a father?”
“Austin,” she gasps, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water, gasping for air and at a loss for words.
Nikki watches as he storms off and heads back up the stairs, hands shoved deep into his pockets. Her shoulders sag in defeat and she rests back against the couch in frustration. Her time with him so far has zigzagged from one extreme to another so fast that she can’t keep up and it has only been a single day.
She came home under the advice of Melanie to form a peaceful relationship with Austin. Nikki knew she’d always love him -- he was it for her -- but she didn’t want to play games. She didn’t want to make him feel as if he needed to settle with her – a travesty that was the union of her own parents. No, Nikki is here to make sure that her child has his father in his life.
As she gazes around the cavernous first floor, she wishes that things had been different. She could imagine herself here, but that vision pierces her heart like a knife. She couldn’t provide a thing for their child, but Austin could give him the world on a platter.
A sigh of resignation escapes from her lips and she closes her eyes firmly. The wetness that had gathered along the lower lids expels out the corners, coating her cheeks in a shimmery, damp sheen.
Pulling herself from her despair, she rises from the couch and moves up the stairs.
As she turns the knob to her bedroom she halts as two thoughts simultaneously occur to her. One, they never discussed the doctor appointment time for tomorrow. Two, he is sleeping in the bedroom next door, probably naked, as he had always preferred sleeping that way when they were together.
The bed in the elusive bedroom creaks, knocking Nikki from her wayward thoughts. Against her better judgment, Nikki moves to stand in front of Austin’s bedroom and hesitantly knocks on the door, then opens it a crack.
“Austin?” she probes.
“Go to bed, Nikki.”
She sighs heavily before running a hand through the end of her ponytail.
“I just wanted to tell you that the appointment with the gynecologist is at 9:30.”
“Ok, be ready to leave at 8:30. With the snow, I want to make sure that we have plenty of time to get there and then we’ll head to the office.”
“I’ll be ready. Thank you, Austin, for offering to take me.”
Austin humphs in acknowledgement then repeats, more gently than before, “Nikki, go get some sleep.”
She closes the door and makes her way to her designated room, gazing around at the lush area. Decorated in whites and creams, the room exudes a softness and comfort that she had been desperately craving. Austin’s mother must have a knack for decorating at holidays as even this room boasts some black and red flannel pillows on the chair and bed, each decorated with a single deer silhouette.
Nikki walks over to the chair placed beside the window that overlooks the front yard. She lowers herself into the chair, wrapping her arms around the single pillow, resting her head on the velvety mater
ial.
“I’m so sorry, Austin. I’m so sorry for running and for not giving you a chance. I’m just so fucking sorry,” she cries into the pillow as it muffles her words. The desolation inside her heart wracks her body with sobs for hours.
Sunlight peeking over the tree line and into the corner of the window startles Nikki as it shimmers onto her face. Sitting up straight, she yawns and stretches; amazed that she slept so well in the small chair. Glimpsing at the clock on the nightstand and realizing that the day is still very young, she relaxes back into the chair before hopping up and heading into the bathroom.
“Might as well get the day started,” she murmurs to herself.
Standing in the spacious shower, she cleanses both her body and soul beneath the spray of searing water. As she rinses her luscious strands of the shampoo, Nikki resolves that today is a new day and she is going to start off on the right foot with Austin. Her heart aches at the knowledge that they will never have the relationship that they once had, but Nikki understands. Austin had told her the story of his girlfriend Ashley and how she had left him high and dry for her step-father, in turn causing Austin to lose all faith in love and relationships.
Turning off the water, Nikki dries her body and places the clothes from yesterday back onto her frame. Unfortunately, she lacks any clean panties so she decides to go without. She’ll have to ask Austin if they can stop by Logan and Avery’s so that she can grab her things.
As she blow dries her hair, she ponders returning to Savannah to grab her car. She had driven it there when she had run from Carson, but to get her to return, Melanie had forced her onto the bus, knowing that Nikki would hate that Melanie had spent her hard-earned money on a ticket and refuse to waste it. She absolutely despises relying on people for things that she has access to or could accomplish on her own. It’s why she had pushed back against Austin’s offer for a job and place to stay. But Nikki wasn’t about to stare a gift horse in the mouth when he offered to drive her yesterday evening. It was all Nikki could do to not jump for joy.
Dressed, Nikki heads towards the kitchen in hopes of finding a notebook and a pen, thoughts about her project springing forth in her mind as she recalls the ideas that invaded her brain when Austin had held her in his arms last night.
She had been writing stories since she was little, without a playmate these fairytales became her closest friends. As she grew up, those sweet tales involving princesses and happily-ever-after turned sexier and more torrid after she read her first Danielle Steele and Harlequin novels. Her mother had found several of the notebooks at one point and angrily dumped them all in the garbage, but it did little to deter Nikki from her writings. Since then, Nikki had actually written several stories - simply penned for her own entertainment - but after Melanie had gotten a hold of one of her notebooks, she had pushed Nikki to publish them. Nikki had promised her she would think about it, but these were personal – thoughts that invaded her mind and body and wouldn’t let go.
She had been working on a new piece - one she felt imprisoned by. The characters would come to her at the strangest times, and with them came the irresistible desire to write everything down as quickly as possible. The urge to write was so fierce that she’s had even suffered a few headaches when she couldn’t transcribe things immediately.
Exuding glee when she spots a brand new notebook and a pen resting beside the phone, she skips to the couch and gets to work. The pen flows freely from her fingers and she closes her eyes, envisioning the scene before her. She records every detail as if possessed by the characters. Sometimes she is astounded at how legible the work is when she finishes.
As the scene concludes, she opens her eyes to find Austin placing a plate of eggs and bacon on the coffee table in front of her.
“Oh!” she jumps a little, quickly closing the notebook, shielding it from Austin’s view. “I must have lost track of time.”
“You seemed to be lost in your own world. What are you working on?”
“Um, just a…thing…that I do. You know?”
“Vague much?” he asks, an eyebrow cocked slightly.
“Sorry…… I don’t really talk about it.” She replies shyly, “Do you mind that I took the notebook? I’ll buy you a new one.”
“It’s fine, I have a ton of them. Now eat up. We need to leave soon. I’m going to go walk Duke.”
“Thanks…for the notebook, and the breakfast.”
“You’re welcome,” Austin replies as he stands back from the coffee table and returns to the kitchen.
As she rests the plate on her lap and eats, she watches Austin from the corner of her eye. His flannel shirt hangs open, showcasing rippling muscles beneath tanned flesh, his chest tattoo of an eagle on full display. The distressed denim hangs low on his hips, embracing his muscular thighs. Sweat beads along Nikki’s hairline as she continues to gaze upon Austin’s physique. She had always loved the way he cared for his body, needing to stay in shape for both his job, and his volunteer work for the Carson fire department where his father, Joseph, is the chief. It doesn’t hurt, either, that she is a sucker for tattoos.
When at last he walks out to the mudroom where Duke sleeps, Nikki can finally focus on getting the rapidly cooling food into her mouth. Finishing the meal quickly, she rises from the devastatingly comfortable couch and takes her plate to the sink to wash. Gazing out the window, she watches Austin as he tosses a ball for Duke to retrieve. Though he had tugged on what looked like waders for his trek through the snow, he still manages to be sexier than the deadliest sin. Nikki laughs as the playful pup jumps into a bank of freshly-fallen snow. The soft accumulation billows out into a powdery haze, covering Duke and Austin in white. Once the snow settles back to the earth, Duke struts from the pile, proudly carrying the bright red ball in his slobbery grasp. Austin pats his head, smiling lovingly.
In retrospect, Nikki can’t believe Austin never had any desire to be a father. Seeing the way he treats his dog and his family says enough about the kind of man he is: Gentle. Kind. Warm. Loving. All the qualities a woman desires in her mate, and the things a child needs in a parent.
Lost in her own thoughts of life and love, Austin startles her with a sudden, “Hey,” causing her to drop the clean plate back into the sink, the ceramic shattering on impact.
“Oh gosh. I’m so sorry,” Nikki cries apologetically. “I’ll replace it, I promise,” she adds, reaching into the sink to collect the shards.
“Nikki, don’t cry. Calm down. I’m the one that scared you. It’s just a plate.” Coming to stand beside her, he takes her hands into his own, halting her movements. “Calm down. It’s fine,” he assures, sincerity shining within his gaze.
He lets go of her hands and grabs the trashcan from its place in the cabinet at the edge of the counter. He quickly places all the pieces of the broken plate into the can and settles it back into its spot.
“I’m a mess,” Nikki announces, running her hands through her hair with a frazzled sigh, then allowing them to rest at the back of her neck.
“No, you’re beautiful,” Austin replies before he can think better of it. Without missing a beat, he adds, “Let’s get a move on. We don’t want to be late to meet Peanut.”
“Peanut?”
“Yes, in the picture he looks like a little peanut.”
Giggling, she nods and repeats, “Peanut,” and rubs her expanding belly.
Her laughter seems to break through the hardened shell Austin had formed around himself, and he smiles his secret, panty-dropping grin.
A smile that to this day swiftly and easily produces its intended effect: to drive her mad with desire.
SEATED IN THE SINGLE waiting room in the sole doctor’s office in Carson, Austin feels like he is on display behind the glass walls. It seems like everyone and their brother has decided to come see a doctor this morning, and all of them appear to take immediate notice of Austin, who is sitting beside Nikki in the “well” waiting area.
“Why does everyone keep looking i
n here? I feel like a monkey at the zoo.”
Nikki chuckles at his assessment and then turns back to the magazine she was reading. “Don’t you feel weird with everyone watching you?”
“Nope. Now if they were all able to see into the exam room with me, then that would be a different story.”
Nodding in agreement, Austin sinks back into his chair and returns his attention to the car magazine in his lap.
“Nikki? You can come on back,” an older woman calls a moment later, gesturing cheerfully from the doorway.
As they make their way towards the rear of the building, Nikki and the nurse exchange small talk about the baby. She motions for them to enter one of the exam rooms and hands Nikki a few items before exiting.
“I need to change,” Nikki confesses, placing the folded gown and paper on the bed.
“Ok.”
Obviously wanting him to turn around, Nikki stares at him expectantly before shrugging her shoulders and tugging her sweater over her head.
“What? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before. It’s part of the reason why we’re here.”
Damn. He should have turned around. Instead, he stands there, torturing himself, as Nikki removes every article of clothing. To his surprise, when she removes her jeans, he finds her panty-less, causing his cock to press uncomfortably against the zipper of his jeans. She looks as stunning as he had remembered. Her breasts have grown in pregnancy, at least a cup size larger, and her nipples are straining in erection. Her stomach is only slightly swollen, much smaller than he would have imagined, but then again, Nikki was always meticulous about her workouts and she had been quite sick until recently. When she turns around to grab the paper gown, Austin has to bite back a groan as her ass comes fully into display. He had always been an ass man and Nikki’s is a work of art – complete perfection nestled against her flawless body. What he wouldn’t give to sink his teeth deep into the meaty flesh.
She hops up onto the table, positioning the gown so that the opening is in the front, then places a large paper towel-looking sheet on her lap.
Coming Together: Welcome to Carson, Book Two Page 4
