by Jessica Gray
“I grew up, grandpa.” Nik remembered those times very well, they had been the happiest moments in his childhood.
His grandpa's face softened and he put his hand on Nik’s shoulder while he continued, “I'm afraid you didn't grow up, even though you’re old enough now. And this is entirely my fault.”
This was one of the rare moments when his grandpa openly showed affection, and Nik had to swallow back the lump in his throat before he answered, “No, it isn't your fault and I believe I learned my lesson in Australia. That incident with is the press was—”
“Let's not talk about this." His grandfather interrupted him with a gruff gesture. “What about the woman?”
“Her name is Reese Paxton. I’m very sure she won't talk to the press.”
“This is not what I mean. What about you and her?”
What did his grandfather know? Had Evelyn said anything? Anyways, it didn't matter anymore. He’d lost Reese because of his asshole behavior. “There is nothing between us. We were traveling companions. “
His grandfather gave him a doubtful look and said, “Nik, growing up also means owning up to your emotions.”
These words left Nik puzzled, but before he could think about them, his grandfather had already turned around to sit at Nik’s desk and waved him over. “Let’s talk about business, shall we?”
***
Nik was in a horrible mood and didn’t even care to hide the fact. Since returning from Australia, he’d been constantly bombarded with thoughts of Reese, and how hurt she’d looked when he’d driven away from her. He was terribly unhappy, and had no one to blame except himself. He’d messed up – big time!
Today he’d freed up the afternoon to spend time with his half-sister, hoping she would take his mind off Reese. Unfortunately, Daphne had a radar like no other, and knew upon first seeing him something was wrong.
“I’m so glad you’re back. What happened?” she demanded to know after exchanging a bear hug with him.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. How are you doing?”
She shook her head at him. “I don’t want to talk about me. I want to talk about the woman you crossed the Outback with. Who is she?”
“No one.”
“Are you marrying her?”
Nik looked at her in shock. “Cutie, just because we traveled together for a few weeks doesn’t mean I have to marry her.”
“But you slept with her,” she stated.
He tried not to laugh at how cute she was being. She was his little sister and at the age of eleven, she saw things differently than he did at the age of thirty-one. He was jaded and she still believed in happily ever after. Even after seeing her parents tear each other apart. Oh, the innocence of youth.
“We’re not getting married. We’re not even dating.”
“So, show me a picture of your girlfriend.”
Her tenacity surprised him. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”
“I don’t believe you. Is she ugly? Is that why the papers only printed a picture of her hair?”
Nik laughed hard. “No, you little brat. She’s not ugly.”
“Then show me a picture of her,” she demanded.
He sighed and pulled out his phone, showing her the only picture he had of Reese. He’d taken it after crossing the river with the crocodiles in the background.
Daphne took the phone, looked at it for a few minutes and then handed it back. “She’s so beautiful. And you’re not my smart big brother if you don’t want to marry her.”
She stood up and grabbed his hand. “Come on. I want to go to the zoo.”
They left his penthouse apartment on the Upper East Side in Manhattan and drove to the zoo. There he bought her cotton candy, spent the afternoon walking around the Central Park Zoo, and spoiling her in every way possible.
But he couldn’t forget the conversation they’d had in his apartment. No matter what animal they observed, or how silly their conversation became, he couldn’t stop thinking about Reese. God, I was such a fool. I treated her horribly. The shame of his abhorrent behavior invaded every crevice of his essence.
As they slowly walked away from the zoo, Daphne seemed to be able to read his mind and pulled him to a stop. “If you love her, you need to go get her.”
He gave her a sad smile. “Why do you think I’m in love with her?”
“Niiik. You’ve said her name at least a thousand times today.” When he shook his head, she continued, “And each time, you got this silly grin on your face. You love her.”
He stopped and realized she was right. “That may be true, cutie, but I really screwed it up this time. I acted like an idiot and hurt her. A lot.”
“Then you have to go apologize to her.” If only it were that easy. He wasn’t an eleven-year old anymore and a mere apology wouldn’t make the cut.
“How old are you?” he asked her, wrapping an arm around her slender shoulders as they continued to walk.
“Old enough to know when you screw up, you need to apologize.”
“She’s never going to forgive me,” he told Daphne, believing it to be the truth. I wouldn’t forgive someone if they treated me that way.
She looked up at him with her huge brown eyes, full of affection. “I would, because I love you so much.” Her next sentence wasn’t more than a whisper. “You’re the only person who ever cared for me and I wouldn’t want to lose you. No matter how much you messed up.”
He swallowed back a lump in his throat and hugged her tight. “I love you too, cutie. And I promise never to leave you.”
Then he pulled her in for another hug. “I’m hungry. Do you want pizza?”
“Starving. Can we go to that pizza place beside your apartment?”
“Sure, cutie.” Nik grinned. Every time she was with him, she insisted on going to the same restaurant. He didn’t mind, as long as she enjoyed her time. Her life was painful enough and he did what he could to make her feel loved. Something he’d missed so much when growing up.
Long after he dropped Daphne at their father’s house, her words stayed with him. As midnight approached, he finally reached a decision.
I’ll win Reese back.
He spent another hour trying to come up with a plan and around two-thirty a.m. he fell into bed with a hopeful smile upon his face.
***
The next morning, he asked Evelyn into his office and closed the doors. When she gave him a quizzical look, he said, “I need to find her.”
She instantly knew who he was talking about. “Our security staff did a background check on her. I’ll forward her address to you asap.”
Evelyn turned to leave his office, but stopped when he called out, “Thank you.”
“Nik, I’ve never seen you like this. She must be pretty special.”
“Yes. She is.”
“If I might just give you a word of warning, you still don’t know that much about this girl. Don’t go into this with your head in the clouds.”
“She’s not a fame seeker. Neither she nor her brothers have mentioned my name in public. If they were going to name drop, the time to do that would have been at the championships.”
Evelyn shrugged and left him alone with his thoughts. Reese hadn’t even known who he was and she’d still fallen in love with him, not with his fame or fortune.
Chapter 28
Back home in Ashton, Reese immersed herself in work. She took on jobs she would normally turn down, working from sun up to sun down. She knew she was trying to keep herself so busy she wouldn’t have the time or energy to think about Nik.
He had deeply hurt her, and while she dreamt of him every night, and although every cell in her body longed for his touch, during her awake hours, her controlled mind insisted it was best never to see him again.
So, she drowned herself in work. Terrence was very worried about her. “Reese, you need to take a day off.”
“Can’t. I have too much to do.”
“Ree, I know he hurt you…”
<
br /> “This has nothing to do with him.” She smiled at him and then dismissed his concern. “Really. I’m fine. Just getting back into the groove of things. Everyone wants to get organized before summertime.”
When Terrence wasn’t able to reach her, Allison showed up on her doorstep. “Hey, sis. What’s up?”
Reese looked up from the drawing of a closet she was working on. “Hey, what are you doing up here?”
“I just came up to check on you. We haven’t heard or seen much of you since you got back from Australia. What’s going on?”
Reese looked at her, wondering if Terrence had shared her secret, but Allison was only fishing. She gave her a convincing smile. “You know, Australia was wonderful. I have so much energy right now, and my creativity seems to have gone up a notch. I’m simply taking advantage of it while it lasts.”
She smiled as she looked at Allison’s huge belly. “How’s the baby?”
Her sister took the bait and began filling her in on the details surrounding her pregnancy. “I can’t believe it’s only a month now.”
“You’re going to be a wonderful mother. How about if I come over next week and help you finish the nursery?” Reese offered.
Allison nodded, her eyes taking on a new light. “That would be awesome. Russell is working overtime to organize everything for his absence when the baby is born, and I might need some help moving a few heavy things around.”
She glanced at her watch. “I need to get going. I have a doctor’s appointment this afternoon and I can’t wait to hear the heartbeat again. It’s the most amazing sound.”
Reese laughed and hugged her sister. “Love you, Ally. Take care, okay? I’ll give you a call.”
Allison shook her head. “You won’t. But I will. Don’t work too hard.”
“I never do,” Reese assured her.
Reese hoped the interrogation from her family was over, but she hadn’t counted on her mother becoming involved. The phone rang later that night and Reese answered it before looking at the caller I.D. – something she almost never did.
“Hello?”
“Reese.”
“Hey, Mom. Is everything alright?” Reese asked, sitting up from her reclining position on the couch and glancing at the clock. Why is mom calling me at ten o’clock?
“Everything is fine with me, so why don’t you tell me what is going on with you?”
Reese sighed. “Nothing’s going on with me, Mom. I’m perfectly fine.”
“Reese, don’t lie to me. I know when something is bothering one of my children.”
“Mom, you’re hearing the grass grow – nothing is going on. I’ve been awfully busy since getting back from Australia. It seems everyone wants to get organized before summer starts so they can enjoy their time off.”
She spent a few more minutes talking with her mother and then was lucky enough for her mother to receive another call. “Reese, I have to take this call. You’ll tell me if there’s anything I can do.”
“Of course, Mom. Don’t worry about me, everything’s fine.”
The next day, Terrence called her. “Hey, Mom called me this morning.”
Reese groaned. “What did she want?”
“She wants to know what happened over in Australia.”
“Ter…”
“Don’t worry. I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone, and I haven’t. But I’m worried about you, Ree.”
“I’ll be fine. Just give me some time.”
“Okay. Call me if you need anything.”
Reese hung up the phone and went back to work. At least Terrence hadn’t buckled under their mother’s interrogation, and that meant her secret was safe. Until she chose to spill it.
Two days later, she received a call from Chase in New Zealand.
“Reese, why is Mom calling me to find out what happened in Australia? Is there anything I don’t know about?”
“Hello to you too, Chase. And nothing happened in Australia. You know Mom, she thinks because I’ve immersed myself in my work that I must be hiding from something.”
“Are you?”
“No. Everything is fine. So, how is New Zealand?”
“Amazing. The waves here are killer.”
“When is your competition?”
“Already in the middle of it. I’ve made it past the prelims. Tomorrow are the semi-finals.”
“Good luck, Chase.”
“Thanks. And Reese, I don’t believe one word you said. Something’s been off with you since Cairns.”
Sometimes she wished her family wasn’t so nosy, or sensitive.
“Chase, I just need some time, and please don’t tell Mom your suspicions. She’ll make my life a living hell.”
“Your call. If you need anything you know where to find me. Meanwhile, I’ll try to diffuse whatever bee is in Mom’s bonnet if she calls again.”
“Thanks. Love you.”
“Love you too, sis. Take care.”
***
Two weeks later, Reese got a new client. Someone had purchased the largest villa in Ashton, and she’d been hired to reorganize the entire building.
She’d done some work in the villa years earlier, just after starting her business and was excited to see it again. The villa was exceptionally beautiful and had been owned by a famous A-list actress who used the place as a summer home and retreat.
Reese wondered what types of furniture the new owner would be bringing and how they would work with the architecture. She arrived at the villa promptly at ten o’clock for her first meeting, where she was met by an elegant woman, dressed in a black business suit with a pastel blue blouse and black three-inch heels. Nothing out of line, absolutely business-like.
The woman was somewhere around her mid-forties, and judging by her appearance Reese guessed she was the personal assistant to the new owner. She had a look of authority written all over her face and the no nonsense attitude found in all efficient employees.
“Good morning. I’m Evelyn.”
“Reese. It’s nice to meet you.”
The woman didn’t give further explanations, but thoroughly perused Reese and then turned and walked towards the large sitting room off the foyer. “Shall we get started?”
Reese followed her, puzzled by the unusual greeting and feeling as if she’d been checked out. But Evelyn continued to prove herself super-professional, while being friendly at the same time.
She led Reese through the house, and Reese raised her eyebrows when she noticed the new owners hadn’t changed a single thing. That is strange. Usually new owners tried to make places like this their own. They wanted to leave their mark upon the building by making some sort of change.
The new owner hadn’t even brought in furniture. I hope they don’t expect me to furnish this place. She could certainly do so, but that was an aspect of her work she didn’t enjoy. In contrast to her sister, interior design was more drudgery than fun for her.
“So, do you have any questions?” Evelyn asked.
Before Reese could reply, the woman looked over her shoulder and then excused herself. Evelyn tapped something into her phone while leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
Reese stared after her, wondering what was going on when she heard a familiar voice.
“Hello, Reese.”
She spun around on her heel, not willing to believe her ears. It’s him. In real flesh and not just a hallucination. Her first response was to turn and run away, but he was standing between her and the door leading out of the house.
Even though she was still unbelievably angry with him, butterflies of anticipation fluttered around in her stomach. “What are you doing here?”
He raised his eyebrow, and she knew one of his arrogant responses was forthcoming, but when he opened his mouth, he seemed to pause for a minute. Then, in the most tender voice she’d ever heard from him, he said, “I came here to ask you for your forgiveness.”
A turmoil of emotions swept over her and it took her a few moments to regai
n enough control to steady her voice before she asked, “Why not just pick up the phone and call me?”
“As if you would have listened…”
He knew her well and she had to smile against her will. She sobered, not willing to let him off the hook that easily. She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “Okay. Talk. I’m listening.”
Chapter 29
This proved to be one of the most difficult things he’d ever done. When he’d prepared for the moment of meeting Reese, he’d never imagined it being as hard as it was. He’d envisioned making a heartfelt statement and her falling into his arms with tears in her eyes and a smile upon her face as she readily forgave him.
Looking at her standing across the room, with her arms crossed and a cold look in her eyes had never figured into his plans. He swallowed and rehearsed what he wanted to say in his head. He had one chance to get this right, and he wasn’t going to screw it up again. She won’t let me off the hook easily and I guess I deserve it.
But then, she was worth it. He was miserable without her, and from what he’d been able to find out, she was just as miserable. She’d drowned herself in work since returning from Australia. The happiness he’d seen on her face the last week of their trip was gone and the dark circles beneath her eyes told of her sleepless nights. And it was his fault. A pang of guilt shot through his heart. The woman he loved more than anyone else suffered because he was a blockheaded asshole.
“Reese, I was an idiot. I’ve missed you so much.”
He paused and collected his thoughts, pacing a few feet away in his nervousness. “You were the best thing that ever happened to me. But the more I fell in love with you, the more guilt and fear seemed to consume me.”
He paused and looked at her, hoping to see some bit of positive feedback. Nothing. He pushed his hand through his hair and tried again. “I hated to lie to you, but I just didn’t know how to tell you the truth about me. When Evelyn called me with the news the reporters had found out where I was, I freaked out.”
Nik paced back and forth, trying to decide what to say next. He was fucking this up. She wasn’t responding. He felt panic well up within him. “I didn’t want to believe it was you, but all the evidence pointed to you and to Terrence. I believed he was your boyfriend and I was so jealous I couldn’t think straight anymore and lashed out at you. I’m sorry. I should have trusted you.”
