Kevin sounded more like a dog than a boyfriend. “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.” The endearment rolled off his tongue. He’d never used it with any other woman.
Lauren opened her mouth but said nothing. Instead, she crossed her arms protectively around herself and searched his face.
“Come on, Lauren. Give us a chance.” Nate never begged but if he thought it would help, he’d do it now.
“I don’t know,” Lauren answered, looking away. “I need time to think.”
While still not the answer he wanted, he grabbed onto the uncertainty in her voice. If she truly felt nothing, her answer would have been an outright no. “Fair enough.” He forced the words from his mouth. He didn’t want to waste any more time. They’d already lost fifteen years. But he had little choice. Before she could stop him, he moved closer and dropped a light kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you soon.”
***
Lauren stared at the television, her mind a million miles away from her living room. By now she should be in bed. Midnight had come and gone, and before she knew it, her alarm would go off. But even with knowing this, she couldn’t sleep. Both her body and mind fluttered with emotions of every kind. The usual anger and sadness that overcame her whenever she thought of the baby she’d lost weighed down on her, but this time so did guilt. At the time, she’d been angry at Nate, but he’d had a right to know she was pregnant. She justified not telling him because he never contacted her, but she’d been wrong. And what if she hadn’t lost the baby? Would she have told him then? Honestly, she did not know.
And what about now? What did she really want? When they kissed, it took her breath away. Made her feel alive in a way no other man’s kiss ever did. Wrapped in his arms, her mind and body forgot about the past. All it recognized was the man and how he made her feel. But she couldn’t let herself forget the past. When he left, it had nearly killed her. Depression had plagued her for months. She’d almost failed her freshman year of college, in fact. Did she want to open herself up to him again like that? What about Kevin? More guilt pressed down on her as she thought of him. He didn’t set her body on fire like Nate, but they enjoyed each other’s company. He treated her well, and they shared some of the same interests. Kevin was safe, and he didn’t make decisions for her.
“What am I going to do, JoJo?” Lauren asked the dog next to her.
JoJo cracked open her eyes at the sound of her name. Then, after a heavy sigh, the dog readjusted her head and closed her eyes again.
“Thanks for all your help.” Reaching out, she rubbed behind the dog’s ears. She needed someone other than her dog to talk to. In the past, she would have picked up the phone and called Callie regardless of the time. That was the type of friendship they’d had. But not anymore. Sure, she still considered Callie her closest friend, but now she had Dylan in her life. Any phone calls would have to wait until tomorrow. Her sister Kelly was out, too. With the new baby, she needed to rest whenever she could. With no other options Lauren leaned her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. Maybe if she pretended to sleep, her body would get the message and she’d still get about five hours of sleep. Five hours was better than none.
Chapter 7
The ring of her cell phone pulled Lauren from the lesson plans in front of her. She wanted them done before calling it a day and heading home to pack for the weekend with Kevin in New York—something she should be excited about. Unfortunately, since her last run-in with Nate, she wished she’d never invited Kevin along. With her emotions stuck on this darn roller coaster, she needed a weekend away from both men. Maybe with hundreds of miles separating her from both of them, she could get her head on straight. But she’d already asked Kevin, and he had rearranged his schedule so he could join her. After that, there was no way she could cancel on him.
When she picked up the phone, Kevin’s name glared back at her. Right away, hope sprang to life. He never called this early. Was it possible something had come up, and he needed to change their plans? It had happened several times in the past. On those occasions it had annoyed her. If it happened today, she’d do a little jig right there in the middle of her classroom.
“Hi, Kevin.” Lauren tried to infuse some cheer into her voice. “Is everything okay?”
A hacking cough came through the phone. “No,” he said in a raspy voice. Another coughing fit came over him. “I’m sick. The flu.”
Lauren almost didn’t recognize the voice. He sounded as if he’d placed a clothespin over his nose.
“There is no way I can make it this weekend. I went to the doctor this morning and have been in bed ever since. If Olivia hasn’t gone back to California yet she’d love to go with you.”
A crazy mixture of relief and guilt washed over her. The poor guy sounded miserable, and she knew how awful the flu made you feel. She’d had her own run-in with it around Thanksgiving. Yet, thanks to his condition she was getting out of their weekend together.
“I understand. Is there anything I can do for you? Bring you anything?”
“Kill me, maybe,” he moaned, before another cough assaulted her ears. “Every part of my body aches.”
“I know the flu is brutal. Make sure you rest. I spent three days in bed sleeping when I had it.”
“Trust me, unless the house is on fire, I don’t plan on leaving my bed,” Kevin said. “If I feel better, I’ll call you on Sunday. I’ll text you Olivia’s number if you want to try her. Have fun in New York.”
“Thanks. Feel better.”
Lauren stared around her empty classroom. Now that Kevin couldn’t go, she had an extra ticket. Should she ask a friend or give Olivia a call? Her first choice of companions was out. Callie hated the ballet. The only way she’d get her there was by physical force. Kelly was out, too. Not many of her friends enjoyed the ballet, but Kevin’s sister did. Would she enjoy a whole weekend with Olivia? They’d only met that one time. She’d have to think about it, and, worst-case scenario, she would go alone. Just because she had an extra ticket didn’t mean she had to use it.
***
Under three layers of blankets, Kevin shivered again and cursed his bad luck. He could not recall when he’d last been sick. And never like this. Every inch of his body ached, one minute he was hot and the next freezing, and the cough medicine did not even take the edge off. He just wanted to die and end his suffering.
His physical ailments only added to his foul mood. Of all the weekends, it had to happen on this one. While not a huge fan of the ballet—in truth he found it downright boring—he had been looking forward to a getaway with Lauren.
He had postponed his Friday afternoon appointment until the following week just so they could leave when she got out of school. Rarely did he change business meetings for anything or anyone, much less something as trivial as the ballet, but he knew how important this was to Lauren. Not to mention he figured it was a great opportunity to further develop their relationship. Even before she’d asked him, he had been considering a romantic weekend getaway. Especially considering her distant behavior as of late. Although she never called on a regular basis, her phone calls had become even less frequent. When they did talk on the phone, she sounded preoccupied and kept their conversations short. The last time they’d gotten together, she remained stiff and rigid most of the night. Only twice had he glimpsed the woman he’d first met: once when she discussed the ballet with his sister and then when she slipped her hand into his under the table. Of course, he could chalk up her behavior that night to meeting his parents for the first time.
When she’d dropped this weekend in his lap, it had alleviated some of his worry over the change he’d noticed in her. How important could the guy from her past be if she invited him away for the weekend? Not that it mattered now. Thanks to the damn flu, he was stuck in bed, his hopes of pushing their relationship closer to an engagement put on hold.
Although, maybe it didn’t need any further encouragement. If Lauren wasn’t fully invested in them, would she have a
sked him? She could have just as easily invited along a friend like Callie. She hadn’t, though. She’d asked him, and she’d sounded genuinely disappointed when he’d just talked to her.
Despite the drummer in his head using his brain to compose a rock song, Kevin smiled. He had nothing to worry about.
***
“That was amazing.” Suzanne Miller followed Lauren into their suite at The Sherbrooke Plaza Hotel located in the heart of New York City. New to Ridgefield, Suzanne taught tap and ballet with Lauren, and they had become friends over the past winter.
Amazing was only one of the many adjectives Lauren would use to describe the show. It had been everything she’d imagined a New York City performance to be and then some.
“I could have sat there all night and watched them perform,” Lauren said, fingering her gold hoop earring. Her eyes once again took in the elegant suite, an odd sense of unease forming inside her.
When they had checked in the previous afternoon, the hotel concierge had immediately descended on them. Despite her protests that it wasn’t necessary, he’d escorted them up to their suite. When she realized their floor could only be accessed with a VIP room card, she’d known Callie hadn’t booked her in any ordinary room. Still, when the elevator doors opened she’d been surprised. Nothing around her resembled the hotels she was used to. Then the concierge unlocked her suite door, and she’d stared at it once again, reminded of just how different Callie’s life had become.
“I still can’t believe this whole trip was a birthday present.” Suzanne stood near the window looking down at the city. “Half my friends forgot to even wish me a happy birthday this year.”
No question about it, she was lucky to have a friend like Callie. Few people had friends they could depend on the way Lauren and Callie depended on each other. “We’ve been friends for a long time. She’s more like a sister than a friend.”
“You’re still lucky.” She nodded toward the city outside. “What do you say we go to some clubs? It’s still early and we’re both single. Let’s have some fun. See who we can meet.”
A few hours at a dance club sounded fun. “I’m not single, Suzanne, and neither are you. Or are you and Bryan done?”
Suzanne rolled her eyes. “I don’t see rings on either of our fingers, Lauren.” She held up her hand and wiggled her ring finger. “Bryan’s okay with me seeing other men. He went out with a woman from work last night since I was here with you.”
Ring or no ring on her hand, the last thing she needed was another man in her life. Even now guilt slammed her over the head every time she saw Kevin or talked to him. It might not have been intentional, but she’d now kissed Nate on two separate occasions. Something she had no business doing while still with Kevin.
“You pick up anyone you want, but I’m only dancing tonight.”
“Suit yourself,” she said with a shrug. “I’m going to change. See you in a few minutes.”
Lauren shook her head and headed to her own bedroom off the living room area. To each her own. If Suzanne spent the night with some stranger, she wouldn’t get a lecture from her, as long as she didn’t bring him back here.
Alone in her room, she hung up the gown from Callie. For a second, she considered calling Kevin to check on him. He had sounded terrible when he called and a good girlfriend would call and see how he felt. Even knowing this, she held back. First and foremost, he needed his rest. That reason alone didn’t hold her back, however, and she knew it. So far the trip into New York and the ballet had been a terrific distraction from her relationship woes, but calling him would only reinforce the fact that she had a decision to make.
Should she stick with the safe path and stay with Kevin or risk her heart again and give Nate another chance? Every time she thought she had made up her mind, a memory or a thought occurred, and she again found herself pondering her choices. The way she saw it, both choices had repercussions. If she stayed with Kevin, not only might she find herself in a relationship with a man she never loved, but she’d also have to see Nate go on with his life without her. On the other hand, if she jumped headfirst into something with Nate, not only was she setting herself up for possible emotional devastation, she might be throwing away something special with Kevin.
“What a complete mess,” Lauren said as she pulled on her black boots.
***
“You might want to check on those steaks,” Nate said, referring to the Porterhouse steaks his brother had put on the grill. Older by three years, Ryan and his wife lived on the opposite side of town from their parents.
“I know how to grill, and they’re fine. But if you don’t like the way I do it, be my guest,” Ryan answered, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Nate refused to take the bait, knowing if he got up and checked now, he’d have grill duty for the rest of the night.
“How’s it going living back at Mom and Dad’s?” Ryan asked when Nate stayed seated. “Is Mom constantly stopping by?”
When he’d moved into the apartment he’d expected that from his mom. Except for the few times she’d brought by his mail because it had been left in his parents’ mailbox instead of his, she never stopped over. She called once or twice a week to invite him for dinner, but otherwise she gave him his own space.
“I hardly see them. But it’s still just a temporary arrangement. I haven’t had enough time to find something else.” One more problem on his list.
“Heard you and McDonald got into it at O’Donnell’s.”
He didn’t need another reminder of Lauren. He had enough of them back in his apartment. Every time he walked into his bedroom, memories of what they’d done in there while in high school ambushed him. In fact, he’d been searching for a distraction from those memories when Ryan called and invited him over.
“Who’d you hear that from?” Who else had been in the pub that night? At the moment he was drawing a blank. The shock and grief had overwhelmed him. If he’d handled things differently that summer, what would’ve happened? What if she’d had the baby? Would they be a family today?
The shock had since worn off, but not the grief. His heart still ached for what they’d both lost. The only thing that helped ease it was the knowledge that Lauren still cared. Their kiss that night had sent his body and mind spiraling out of control. That kiss and Lauren’s request for time to think kept his hopes high. If no chance existed for them, she would have told him upfront. She wouldn’t string him along and play games with him.
“We had words. It was no big deal.”
Ryan reclined in his chair and crossed his arms. “That’s not how I heard it. Harry Evans said he expected some blows. Said he heard McDonald warn you to stay away from Lauren.”
Harry Evans had always acted like an eighty-year-old busybody. It looked like some things never changed. “Evans is an ass.” He wasn’t sharing what he learned that night with anyone.
Ryan shrugged one shoulder. “Never said he wasn’t, but he usually knows what he’s talking about when it comes to rumors.”
Had others heard Matt’s outburst? They’d raised their voices but not until later in the conversation, after Matt dropped the news on him.
“Yeah, Matt told me to leave her alone. He made sure he reminded me she was with someone.”
“Yeah, I heard she’d been dating some wealthy business executive from Rhode Island. So what’s your plan?”
“She asked for time, so I am giving her that.” He left out the particulars of why and when she’d made the request.
Ryan stood and clapped him on the back on his way to the grill. “Anything I can do to help. Say the word.”
His brother could not do anything, no one could. Still, he appreciated the offer. It helped to know his family wanted them together, but he wasn’t going to tell his brother that, either.
“Yeah, you can get those steaks off the grill before we need a sledgehammer to cut them.” Now seemed like a good time for a change of topic. Especially before his sister-in-law came home and start
ed poking around.
Chapter 8
“You’re quiet tonight.” Kevin took the seat next to her, a glass of white wine in each hand. She’d driven to his estate in East Greenwich and they’d driven into Providence for dinner and a play. Now they were back at his house for the night. Or at least that had been the original plan.
Unease about spending the night nagged Lauren. In the months they’d been dating they’d never spent the night at each other’s home. Doing so now gave the impression she wanted to take their relationship to the next level, to something more serious. Before Nate walked back into town, she’d wanted that with Kevin. Or at least she’d thought she had. Now, she had her doubts.
Lauren accepted a glass, a forced smile on her face. “Just tired. I’ve had a lot on my mind that’s kept me up at night.” She spoke only the truth. She just left out some key information.
Kevin’s hand settled on her shoulder, his skin smooth and warm. “One of those weeks? Well, tonight you can relax.” He pulled her closer and kissed her.
She held her breath and waited, hoping for a rush of heat or excitement. Kevin’s touch brought nothing. Not a single ounce of emotion sparked with him so close—unlike with someone else. Nate merely entered a room and her body reacted.
Stop comparing the two. Lauren snuggled closer. “I’m glad you invited me for the weekend.” His invitation had come out of the blue. Before his phone call, she hadn’t expected to see him until sometime the following week.
“I hated not making the trip to New York with you, so I thought we could spend this weekend together. I’ve missed you.”
He moved in for another kiss, taking her by surprise. Lauren responded, hoping that at any minute fireworks would go off or doves would start to sing, but she got nothing. Not even a pigeon chirped.
The Billionaire's Best Friend (The Sherbrookes of Newport) Page 10
