Healing Nicole

by Rachel M Storm

  MACE

  A litany of curses flowed through my lips all the way to my house. Damn, I was really hoping to spend a bit more time with her tonight, especially after she stared at my half naked body like she was ready to pounce on me.

  But then it dawned on me, I was out running with my sister when we stopped to help her, so I probably stink of sweat and I didn’t even have my phone or wallet with me. I groan loudly as I plop on the couch, water bottle in hand when I think back to the spider incident. Did I really go on like a scared puppy in front of her?

  "Shit!" I groan even louder when the image of my six-foot-four self, stomping the shit out of my shirt like it was on fire goes through my mind.

  "I'm going to kill Ang," I groan again.

  But on the brighter side of things, Nikki actually laughed and for a split second, the sadness in her eyes dissipated. I could get used to that laugh, it’s beautiful. But, does this mean I have to behave like a complete idiot for her to laugh like that again? Can I even do it?

  A knock on my door brings me back to the here and now and I lazily stand to go open it. My lips quirk in excitement when I see my brother standing on the other side.

  "What up loser!" Chase, my twin says as he pulls me in for a one armed bear hug.

  "It’s about damn time you got your ass back," I tell him as I return his hug. "Thought you said you were coming next week," I ask.

  "Yeah, decided to catch an early flight. So, tell me about this new woman in your life," he asks as he walks past me, eliciting a groan from me in the process.

  "Seriously, Chase?" I close the door. "No 'how've you been bro' before your curiosity reared its ugly head?" I shoot back as I follow him to the kitchen.

  "Okay," he chuckles. "So, on a scale of one to ten, how horny have you been because of this girl?" He says beaming at me.

  "Jack-ass!" I say, flipping him off and he laughs.

  "Fine, I'll take the fact that you don’t really want to talk about it as you've been as horny as fuck- pun intended," at this I groan again.

  "Anyway, I'm here to get you, we are all going out," he tells me.

  "Who's we and where are we going?" I ask.

  "I'm about to call Connor and Ang," he says.

  "Connor maybe but Ang is on a date," I tell him, the words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind my sister dating... Okay that’s a lie, I very much mind and it doesn’t make things better that she is on a date with that ass-hat Jack.

  "What! With who?"

  "Jack," I answer through clenched teeth.

  "No, fuck that shit!" He spews. "Not the same Jack that broke her heart just five months ago?" Chase is getting pissed.

  "The one and only," I reply.

  "Let's get them, obviously we didn’t make things clear enough on our last visit." Chase's fists are clenched so tight that his knuckles are starting to turn white.

  "If I knew where they went I wouldn’t be still sitting here. And you know she won't tell us where they went," I tell him. "Let me grab a shower. Call Connor," I say making my way to my room.

  Fifteen minutes later and I'm done, ready to take on a night full of fun with my two brothers. And just maybe, I can forget the utter humiliation of going bat shit crazy over a nonexistent spider in front of Nikki.

  "So, where are we headed?" I ask Chase as I walk into the living room where he is lazily lounged on the couch, watching highlights of the game.

  "Connor can't find a babysitter at such short notice so we are going over to his place," he pouts, he actually freaking pouts.

  "I take it you were hoping for something else?"

  "Yeah man, wanted to unleash my Maynard predator and get myself a hottie to devour later on," he says. "If you know what I mean," he continues with a wink, causing me to roll my eyes.

  "What's that look for?" I decide to ignore him as I push him out of the door, hastily locking it before following him across the lawn.

  "Wait, or is her pu-"

  "Chase, I swear if you finish that sentence I'll punch you in the face," I threaten, because I know what he was about to say and for some reason I don’t feel comfortable or want him to talk about her like that. He laughs out loud before slapping my back and walking down the lawn.

  "Nice!" I whistle as I walk toward the sleek black and silver Harley VRCS Night Rod parked behind my SUV on the sidewalk. "New baby?" I ask my twin while I circle the beauty of a bike in front of me.

  "Beautiful, isn't she?" Chase answers with a question, standing beside my car with his hands in his pockets and a wide smile on his face.

  Yeah, the only time my twin gets that kind of smile on his face is when he is with me, Connor and Ang and when he looks at his rides. Chase loves bikes so much that he owns three- now four Harley Davidson's and two Ducati superbikes. I swear, he loves his bikes more than women.

  Chase and I might be identical twins but we are two very different people. He's the fun hot head and I'm the voice of reason – so to speak, okay maybe I'm the voice of reason when Connor isn't around. We both have absolutely no filters, me only when I'm drunk and Chase all the damn time, doesn’t matter if he's drunk or sober. Our appearance slightly differs as well, Chase has thick shoulder-length hair and I have trimmed short hair. He's got a lip and tongue ring and I have no piercings, although I've been thinking of getting my eyebrow pierced. He's obsessed with all things bikes and I love big cars.

  "Okay, stop ogling my baby and let's get going man," Chase tells me. I chuckle as I make my way to the driver's side and hop in.

  Thirty minutes later, Chase and I walk into Connor's house beers, pizza and snacks in hand.

  "There's my gorgeous princess," Chase says as we walk into the kitchen.

  "Uncle Chase!" Abby squeals, jumping into Chase's arms. But then she pulls back, scowls and her tiny hand slaps Chase on the arm. My hand flies to my mouth to cover my smile.

  "Hey, what was that for?" Chase asks, rubbing his arm as if she hurt him.

  "That’s for going away too long," her eyes narrow in the cutest way. Chase mumbles something about Ang teaching Abby bad things. Then she kisses his cheek, her smile coming back full force like she didn’t just slap his arm and narrowed her eyes into tiny little slits. "That’s for coming back. I missed you uncle Chase," she says sweetly.

  She is just adorable.

  "I'm sorry, I missed you too princess," Chase replies, giving her another hug. "Look what I got you," Chase stands to grab the present he bought on our way over.

  "Thank you!" she squeals again as she grabs the stuffed white and pink unicorn. Connor is going to freak the hell out at that damn unicorn. He hates unicorns. He saw this weird video on Facebook of some guy all glittered and dressed like a unicorn. And then there was that time his college girlfriend dressed like a unicorn after having sex then tried to ram her dick horn in his ass. What's more? Chase and I walked in on them. Connor running around the bed naked and the girl chasing him while she shouted "Come on baby, my horn is horny!"

  Good times.

  "Hey, where's my hug?" I say, smiling and holding my arms open for her.

  "Hey Uncle Mace!" She says launching herself into my arms before kissing my cheek. Well at least I don’t get a slap as well.

  "Come on princess, it's time for your bath," Connor says, from around the kitchen entrance.

  "Can I please have a tea party first, daddy?" Abby asks, using that sweet tone of voice that has us all wrapped around her tiny little finger. Connor looks at his watch and then back at her seeming to think about it.

  "Please, daddy." She pleads "I want to introduce Lily the Unicorn to Lucy the Mermaid and Binnie the bear," she continues, holding out the new unicorn in her hands.

  I'm having trouble stifling my smile when Connor tries his best not to tense at the sight of the fluffy stuffed toy in his daughter's hands.

  "A unicorn?" He manages to say it without sounding disgusted as he gives Chase and I a 'I'm going to murder you where you stand' look. "Sure ba
by girl, thirty minutes and then it’s bath time okay?" He says.

  "Thank you, daddy!" Abby squeals in excitement. She turns to look at us; "Uncle Mace?" Oh no! I inwardly groan.

  "Yes, princess?" I say reluctantly because yeah, I know what's coming.

  "What does holified mean?" I exhale the breath I was holding in anticipation. Thank God, something I can actually answer.

  "Well, princess, it’s pronounced horrified and it means very scared," That adorable crease forming on her forehead tells me she's deep in thought.

  "I had a nightmare last night and I woke up all sweaty and wet because I was ho-rri-fied," she says. I open my mouth to say something when she continues to talk; "Does that mean I had a wet dream?"

  "What did you drea– wait, what?" Shocked- no wait I’m not shocked, there is no word that can describe me right now- flabbergasted comes close.

  Oh dear Lord, why me!

  I look at my two brothers. Chase has shifted to the fridge, I can see his shoulders shaking with laughter and Connor's eyes are horrifyingly wide.

  "Abby, where did you hear that?" Connor asks, I'm frozen in place and can't seem to form words.

  "I heard Jacky saying that her wet dream ho-rri-fied her because she hadn't had one in a long time," she answers innocently.

  "The babysitter?" I ask, finally finding my voice.

  "You should run along and have that tea party honey, it's getting late and it’s almost bedtime," Connor tells Abby.

  "Okay, good night uncle Mace and Chase," Abby greets before running up the stairs. Thankfully not pressing for answers about wet dreams.

  "You," I point at Connor. "Need to fire that babysitter, it’s not like she’s very reliable anyway, she’s never available when you need her. And never take Abby to the supermarket again!" I say. This time Chase bursts out laughing so hard that he's struggling to catch a breath.

  "Definitely. Fucking definitely!" Connor hisses.

  I swear, Abby's awkward questions are going to be the death of me!

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  NICOLE

  The long weekend of unpacking and organizing my new house is finally over and now I'm in the elevator at C Maynard Inc, ready to start at my new job.

  "Hey Nicole," Sunette greets me as soon as I step out of the elevator.

  "Hi there," I say, walking towards her as I'm not sure where to go.

  "Mr. Maynard has an early meeting today in the boardroom down on the first floor but he asked me show you to your office."

  "Oh, am I late?" I ask, slightly panicking and look down at my watch, which states it's seven fifty-five. The contract said that office hours start at eight.

  Sunette laughs as she comes out from behind her desk. "No, you are right on time. Mr. Maynard comes in a bit earlier than normal and I have to too because I'm his personal assistant."

  "Great," I exhale a sigh of relief.

  "Come on this way," she motions for me to follow her into the office right beside Mr. Maynard's. "I'm so excited, it’s going to be so much fun having another woman up here to talk to," Sunette says excitedly.

  "Oh, were you and Mr. Maynard the only ones up here?"

  "No, the Marketing director before you, was a guy. A very ugly, very handsy sorta man who creeped me the hell out," she shivers at the thought.

  Shucks, did he do something to her? I don’t voice my question out loud because I'd hate to appear nosy on my first day.

  "So, this is you," she says as we walk into the elaborate and stunning office, furnished with a dark wood desk complete with a massive computer screen. The dark brown leather office chair behind the desk looks comfortable. My eyes wander to the far end of the office and I'm met with an equally comfortable looking couch and a small dark wood coffee table. The walls are decorated with gold rimmed portraits.

  "Boss man had the office redone this week, stunning isn't it?"

  "I love it," I reply in awe at the beauty surrounding me. I swear it looks like every single building I enter just takes my breath away.

  "I'm glad you love it, wasn’t sure you would like the dark wood, but my sister swore you would," A male voice says behind us, causing me to jump slightly because well, he scared the shit out of me.

  "Mr. Maynard, good morning," I say, turning to look at him. "Yes, this is stunning, Angela did this?" I ask.

  "Yeah, she's an interior designer and decorates mine and our other brothers' business buildings and sometimes our houses as well,"

  "She's really talented," I state honestly.

  "That she is," he says. "Okay, settle in and I'll come see you in a few to discuss the latest campaign." He tells me and I walk over to take a seat behind the desk.

  By the time lunch time rolls around I have worked through the documents Mr. Maynard gave me earlier and am halfway through planning the marketing strategy for the new shipment of electronics coming in next month.

  I'm just about to take a bite of my granola bar when I hear arguing in Mr. Maynard's office.

  "Angela, get back here!" A male voice says as Angela strolls into my office all smiles.

  "Hey Nicole," she greets, going straight for the couch.

  "You can call me Nikki," I say. "And Hi," I say, remembering my manners. Her brilliant smile makes me kind of nervous because I'm not sure why she is smiling so brightly.

  "Nikki, let's go out for lunch and save me from my overbearing and annoying brothers," she says on huff.

  "Angela, where- well hello there mamacita!"

  My eyes move from Angela to the door where a really hot guy dressed in black fitted jeans, black boots and a black leather jacket who looks an awful a lot like Mace but instead of having short, messy hair he has curly shoulder length hair; a lip ring and his voice is the same as Mace's but lacks that sexy rasp I like so much.

  I know I might sound stupid asking this but..."Mace?" I ask anyway, I can feel my brows knit together in confusion.

  "Oh no sweetie, but I can be whoever you want me to be, I aim to please," he winks causing me to gasp because well, I did not see that coming.

  "Chase, stop hitting on my staff especially not on their first day," Connor groans as he joins us in my office.

  "Chase?" I ask again, my brain not really working fast enough because of hunger.

  "Yeah. Nikki meet Chase, Mace's twin," Angela says, sounding bored from her position on the couch. Chase's eyes light up at hearing my name and he and Mr. Maynard share a look I can't decipher.

  Okay, what the hell is that all about?

  "No wonder Mace is so-"

  Chase's words are cut off by a hard slap to the back of his head. Angela and Connor fall into a fit of hysterics as Mace walks past Chase making his way closer to my desk.

  "What the hell dude, was that even necessary?" Chase's eyes shoot daggers at the back of Mace's head.

  "Hi, Nikki." Mace smiles as he greets me, ignoring his scowling brother.

  "H-hi," I stutter a bit. Why? Because I'm an idiot that’s why, and his all toothy, white smile reminds me of the fact that he and his half naked perfectly abbed body was all I could think of this whole damn weekend.

  That semi tight white, button-up dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows isn't helping either. The guy is seriously what wet dreams are made of.

  "So, how about I take you out for lunch?" He asks in a smooth voice.

  No. Going to lunch with Mace goes against my plans of staying away from him.

  "I'm sorry, I already agreed to go to lunch with Angela," I quickly decline. His smile falls slightly but he nods.

  I grab my purse and look at Angela, God, I hope she hasn’t changed her mind about going to lunch. She said I will be saving her from her brothers but she will be saving me from Mace as well. Going out with her still goes against my plans of not having any kind of relationship, but I don’t want to seem rude and I would rather go to lunch with her instead of her hot as hell brother

  "Um, Mr. Maynard, can I run the ideas for the new shipment by you after lunch?" I as
k looking at him.

  "Please call me Connor," I frown at my boss's reply. Everyone at the office calls him Mr. Maynard. I haven't heard any of the employees addressing him by his first name. "And sure we can,"

  "Um, okay." I reply unsure.

  "Come on, I'm dying for a burger and fries." Angela says as she hooks her arm in mine before leading me out of my office, leaving the three men behind.

  "Thanks for saving me back there, my brothers can be huge pains in my ass sometimes," Angela says as we walk into the fast food restaurant just down the street from the office.

  "Oh?"

  "Yeah, Connor and Chase were on my case about the date I went on, on Friday,"

  "But why?" To my surprise, I'm genuinely curious, I remember Mace trying to forbid her to go to said date.

  "They don’t really like Jack- jeez what am I saying, they don’t like any guy that shows interest in me. Their over-protectiveness can be a bit too much sometimes," she says, sounding annoyed. “You know, they actually scared the guy who took my V-card out of town, he was the first guy that I really liked and they took him away,” the sadness in her voice makes me feel a bit sorry for her.

  "I’m sorry," is all I manage to say because I don’t really know what she is going through. I am an only child, I don’t have over-protective big bad brothers. I wish I did though, then maybe they would have warned me against... them.

  "Anyway, have you settled in yet?" She asks.

  "Yeah, I think so. I mean I have unpacked everything and my house is organized so..." I trail off, not mentioning that it's kind of lonely.

  "Did my brother stay for pizza?" She asks suggestively.

  "No, he left just after you did," I answer as the waiter brings our menus.

  "Really?" She frowns.

  "Um, yeah."

  "Hm," it’s either she's confused or doesn't believe that her brother didn’t stay.

  The waiter comes back and we both order the coke, burger and fries combo. Angela has a really chatty and bubbly personality. In the thirty minutes we sat eating, she told me all about her date and the guy. Apparently, she and the guy have been on and off for the past year and he cheated on her a few months ago and that is why her brothers hate him. And she just agreed to go to the date with him to piss off her brothers. Apparently, she wants to give them grey hair before their time.