Nick and Lilac

by Marian Tee

  Lilac’s disapproving violet gaze sought Nick’s. How could you?

  Nick’s blue eyes laughed at her. Because I can, sweetheart.

  Derek coughed, and the sound had Lilac quickly look away from Nick, flustered. Derek was fascinated, having never before encountered a girl like Lilac York. Nick had warned them that Lilac York was different, but he hadn’t thought she’d be this…charmingly reserved, so much so it felt like they were the ones who were privileged to be with her than the other way around.

  Oddly, she reminded him of his Jaike, and the thought had another kind of smile curving on Derek’s lips. This one was of fondness, and Derek looked at Nick, letting his friend tacitly know of his approval.

  Nick rolled his eyes at Derek’s not-so-subtle message, but he was not really bothered by it. Deep satisfaction was coursing through his veins because of the way Lilac appeared so unbelievably oblivious to his friends. He had a sudden urge to kiss her, claim her for his but he kept his hands to himself with an effort. He hadn’t yet talked to Lilac about her boundaries regarding their friendship but that had to go away – soon.

  Derek bit back a sigh when he saw the way his friend was looking at Lilac. It was more than how friends should look at each other, but it was not yet love and that was a damn fucking shame. Nick Christakos might be one of the most cunningly resourceful men in the business world, but he was terrifyingly blind when it came to love. Derek could only hope that Lilac would finally be the one to make his friend forget about the bitch he had the misfortune to fall in love with.

  Cold sweat bathed her skin as Reid Chalkias, Christien di Luca, and Derek Christopoulos continued to gaze at her intently. It was as if she was being weighed and measured of her worthiness to live. She adjusted the 3D glasses on her nose. Thank God the dark modified lenses had them a little disfigured or she would probably have run away in fear by now. They were just too intimidating.

  Sensing Lilac’s nervousness, Nick was about to snap at his friends and pull Lilac close to him when his brother suddenly stepped forward, saying with a smile, “My turn to introduce myself.”

  Jason Christakos’ easygoing manners put Lilac at ease, and she found herself smiling back tentatively.

  “I’m sorry for the fright I gave you. It wasn’t intentional---” He paused, appearing almost embarrassed. “This is the first time I’ve heard of someone who doesn’t know we’re twins.”

  Lilac winced. “I see photos…online of Nick…but I never thought…to read…the articles.”

  “Ah.” Jason looked at his brother slyly. “Well, now that you know we’re twins – I have to warn you about one thing.”

  “What?”

  “You might like me more after this.” Jason gave her a solemn nod. “It’s a well known fact Nick’s the less charming between the two of us.” He leaned close to say in a confidential whisper, “Not to mention the fact he’s extremely arrogant.”

  A smile flitted over her lips. “Not just…conceited,” Lilac told Nick’s brother. “Don’t forget…selfish, too.”

  There was a moment of silence before Nick’s friends burst into laughter.

  Nick’s eyes found hers. You’ll pay for that, sweetheart.

  Her eyes laughed at him. We’ll see about that…sweetheart. She mouthed the last word.

  He blinked.

  She mouthed at him, Don’t blink.

  This time, Nick laughed, not knowing that everyone in the room had noted their silent exchange and everyone was uneasy, for very different reasons.

  ****

  Two hours later, the balcony doors slid open as Christien joined him outside. Over Christien’s shoulder, Nick caught sight of Lilac laughing as Jason, with his arms around her, tried to teach her how to effectively fight against Derek with a Wii-Nunchuk-powered sword.

  “That’s fucking cheating,” Derek was growling.

  “You know how Jason is,” answered Reid, his arms stretched wide on the back of the sofa. “He’s always helpful with the women.”

  Ignoring the two, Jason gently held Lilac’s playing wrist and guided it through the motions of swinging her imaginary sword. “That’s how you perform the finishing move…”

  Derek said mockingly in a falsetto voice, “Oh, Jason, please teach me, too?”

  When he saw Lilac blink in surprise before laughing at Derek’s antics, making her fall back against Jason, Nick controlled the urge to stroll back in and yank her out of Jason’s hold.

  His brother answered Derek in the same feminine tone. “I’d rather fucking die.”

  Lilac’s peal of laughter filled the room, and it was the last sound Nick heard before Christien pulled the balcony doors closed. When Nick glanced at him, Christien murmured, “They’ve become inordinately close in a short amount of time, haven’t they?”

  Nick, still struggling to breathe naturally, managed a nonchalant shrug. “She probably finds it easier to relax with him because we’re twins.”

  “Probably.”

  Nick glanced at his friend with irritation. “Spit it out, di Luca. You never say anything without a point.”

  “Your brother is drawn to her.”

  His fists clenched and unclenched. “She’s mine.”

  “No,” Christien said implacably. “She is your friend. Your words – not mine. If you really do mean that then you should, as a friend, let your brother know what your intentions are towards Lilac York.”

  “We have an understanding,” Nick said tightly. “And that’s all anyone has to know.”

  “You should tell your brother that.”

  “If he wants her, he could just ask. But she won’t say yes. She knows she belongs to me.”

  Christien raised a brow. “Are you sure about that?”

  Was he fucking sure about that?

  This was Jason – his brother. His fucking twin – and he was so much the better man than Nick could ever be.

  “I like Lilac York.”

  Nick threw Christien a disgusted glance.

  A smile briefly formed on his friend’s lips. “Not that way, Nick. I like her – as a human being.”

  The admission startled Nick. Although Christien was the most charming and polite among them, never lacking for a compliment to dispense, what most people didn’t know was that it was all a façade for the French-Greek heir, his courteous manners simply a means to conceal his heartless way of looking at the world.

  “She is a nice girl, and I believe with your brother she can have a happier future.”

  The words stung.

  “Perhaps you’re right,” Nick acknowledged in a hard voice. “But she’s happy with me now and that’s the only thing that should fucking matter.”

  ****

  “Did you have fun tonight?”

  She gave Nick a hesitant smile, more than aware of his cold mood for some time now. He had been positively glacial when he had told the rest of his friends that the night was over and had even used Lilac’s morning classes the next day as an excuse. She had wanted to protest, but the icy look in Nick’s blue eyes had made Lilac swallow her protest.

  His chest squeezed hard at the smile on Lilac’s face.

  Inside the car, Nick took her hand and placed it under his on the gear stick, startling Lilac. “What is…it?”

  “I just want to hold you.”

  “Oh.” And she knew something was wrong, something Nick couldn’t bring himself to say just yet.

  Nick smiled, but he didn’t say anything else and he didn’t let go of her hand either.

  Lilac didn’t smile either, didn’t even look at him, but she didn’t pull away, savoring the feel of being in contact with Nick for the rest of the ride.

  When they reached her home, she looked at Nick to say good night and caught him staring at her broodingly. “Something is wrong,” she said carefully, worriedly.

  He shook his head, leaned forward and pressed a kiss on her nose. “Something is right.” He pulled back. “This friendship…the two of us…this is right.”

>   Before she could answer, he had already stepped out of the car and was going around it to open the door for her. She let him assist her out of the car. “Nick.” She was very, very worried now, and the fact that she couldn’t explain why she was so worried her even more.

  “Lilac.” His tone was teasing, but his eyes were carefully hooded.

  Her anxiety increased. “Tell me---” Words failed her, and Lilac stared at Nick miserably.

  Nick didn’t meet her gaze. “I need to fly to California tomorrow.”

  Her heartbeat raced in an unpleasant way, nightmares chasing the stallions that held the reins to her heart. “Karla?”

  Nick stiffened.

  “I read…the tabloids. I know…she’s there.”

  “You should know better than to read the tabloids.”

  “It’s because…I didn’t read them…I didn’t know…about Jason.”

  “And so if you knew about him, you would have chosen Jason because he’s the better Christakos?”

  Her lips parted in shock at his virulent tone. “Nick?”

  She heard him mutter something in Greek and then he was hauling her into his arms, his crushing embrace threatening to crack her ribs. But she did not protest, did not move. She instinctively knew that he needed to hold her.

  “I’m sorry,” he muttered just before leaning back to look into her eyes, as if wanting Lilac to see that he meant the words. Before she could answer, he was raining kisses on her face. “I’m sorry.” He said the words over and over.

  The tension gradually left her body, but her heart was still unsettled. “Tell me…please.” She laid her head against his chest, listening to his volatile heartbeat. “What’s…wrong?”

  But instead, all Nick said was, “You need to tell me yes soon.”

  She shivered at the urgency in his voice.

  “Soon, sweetheart,” Nick gritted.

  Slowly, she nodded.

  Nick lifted her face, seeking her lips, which parted of its own accord. “Still friends?”

  She nodded.

  He pulled away, caressing her cheek, asking hoarsely, “Still no regrets?”

  “No…regrets.”

  Nick twined his fingers with hers, and she did the same with his other hand. But when she smiled at Nick, he didn’t return it

  ****

  Lilac’s steps slowed down when she finally spied Jason Christakos the next day, standing next to a well-known jeweler’s shop, his back to her. He was completely in black, but still another polo-and-jeans combination. It made her smile, this complete contrasting characteristic with Nick – and she suspected it wasn’t even intentional.

  Jason turned around, allowing him to catch the dreamy smile on Lilac York’s face. The sight of it did something to him, but his handsome face revealed not a hint of it as he walked to Lilac. In his mind, he was seeing a fourteen-year-old girl who had been defenseless against the exploitative machinations of James Caruthers. And behind that thought was the warning Mark issued after handing him the report on Lilac, the words lingering on Jason’s mind even if he didn’t want them there.

  This girl means a lot to Nick. It’s going to be messy if you pursue this.

  Mark meant well, but he didn’t understand a lot of things, didn’t see that it was too late. It was all messed up already.

  “Hello again, Lilac,” he said with a smile when he reached her. She was, once again, dressed in horrendous clothes. Today, it was an orange shirt and dark blue overalls that had seen better days.

  Lilac smiled back, and triumph made his heart beat a little faster. He knew from the report that Lilac smiling back at a man was a rare occurrence. In fact, if the report was to be believed – after James Caruthers, the only other man to accomplish this was…Nick.

  Jason pushed the thought away.

  “Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Jason’s light charming voice was so like and unlike Nick’s, the mix of similarity and contrast in it fascinating her so much Lilac could listen to Jason’s voice the whole time and not get tired of it.

  “I’m just...glad to…help.”

  “You look beautiful, by the way.”

  Lilac didn’t take Jason’s words seriously. Last night was more than enough to let her know that Nick’s brother knew his way around words very well. Eyes twinkling, she returned solemnly, “You…too.”

  He laughed out loud, so unlike Nick’s typically guarded response that it had her blinking in wonder.

  When he recovered from being so unexpectedly complimented, Jason found Lilac blinking at him in apparent surprise. His heartbeat thundered at the sight of it. Shit. So this was what Nick meant about her blinking. It made Lilac look like the most exquisite doll, like those fake human Barbie photos scattered all over the Internet – only this time it was real.

  Clearing his throat, he glanced at the window display filled with the most stunning collection of pearl necklaces. “Shall we go?”

  She nodded.

  He opened the door for her, and Lilac gingerly walked past him, a little intimidated at the fact that this was her first time to enter a jewelry store with a man other than her father. The interior was tasteful and elegant, its hushed environment only serving to emphasize the kind of clientele it catered to.

  A smiling middle-aged gentleman went forward, offering them his hand to shake. “Good morning, Mr. Christakos, ma’am.” His gaze was curious when it went to Lilac, obviously waiting for her to introduce herself.

  She could only smile, unsure of the politically correct thing to do.

  Realizing that Lilac was disinclined to speak, the manager said easily, “I’m Wally, the manager of Lux.”

  “I’m looking for a birthday gift for my mother and I brought backup to help me choose,” Jason explained. He nodded towards Lilac with a smile.

  “Oh, I see. We’re quite honored you’ve chosen our store. This way, please. We’ve several new designs that might please you.”

  Lilac was startled when she felt Jason’s hand on the small of her back, but she relaxed when it was only to guide her forward and follow the store manager into an inner room.

  Her lips parted in wonder when she found herself in what seemed like Aladdin’s cave of treasures, with jewels upon jewels beautifully staged on various settings but without any glass enclosures. The incandescent lighting overhead brought their sparkling colors to life, and the carpet-covered walls only added to its luxurious atmosphere.

  Wally gestured to a pair of padded bar seats with velvet backs and armrests. “Please make yourselves comfortable. Mr. Christakos, I’ll have your usual coffee served?”

  “Yes, that would be great. Thanks.”

  “Ma’am?” Wally turned to Lilac. “We also serve tea, soda, and wine as well as a nice selection of cakes.”

  “Tea…is fine.” She chose her words with even greater care.

  When Wally excused himself to buzz their orders, she bent close to Jason, whispering, “This place…is intimidating.”

  “Don’t be intimidated,” Jason said swiftly. “Just think of it as a place where we can buy girly stuff.”

  She couldn’t help giggling at that. “Price tags say…thousands of dollars.” She rolled her eyes. “And you say…they’re just…girly stuff?”

  “To a guy, this is considered girly.” But he was smiling, finding Lilac’s innocent amusement contagious.

  Wally came back with their drinks, coffee and tea served with plates of what smelled like freshly baked macaroons of assorted flavors. Her mouth watered. “Oh…wow.”

  Wally’s smile was a little smug. “We have one of the city’s best French pastry chefs working for us, if I may say so myself.”

  She took a bite of the pink colored macaroon, which turned out to be strawberry flavored mixed with a little cream cheese. Lilac wanted to swoon.

  She paced back and forth slowly, the hem of her dark cape brushing against the well-polished floors of St. Francis’ Bakery. It was not at all a respectable thing to do for a Lady to v
isit a bakery on her own for this was servant’s work. Hence her disguise: a plain back gown under a woolen cape, its large hood hiding her face in the shadows, and the early departure from her home, with dawn breaking just this very moment, painting the skies with streaks of lavender, topaz, and indigo.

  Mr. Forsythe smothered a laugh at the look of concentration on the lady’s face as her mesmerized gaze took in the rows upon rows of flavored tarts in front her.

  “What’s wrong, milady?”

  She gave the baker a sheepish smile. “I am sorry if I am taking so long with my orders, Mr. Forsythe. It is just because I can’t decide---”

  “Which flavors you would like to order?” Behind the lady, the baker watched the door open and the marquis, another favored guest, walk in silently. When he saw that he was not the only customer – and that the other one was a lady – the marquis raised a brow at him.

  The lady in question sighed morosely. “I’m afraid not. What I can’t decide is how much of my pin money I would like to spend on this. ‘Tis the absolute truth, Mr. Forsythe, but I would truly rather spend my pin money on your tarts rather than another silly dress or bonnet!”

  Mr. Forsythe’s laughter made her wrinkle her nose in disgruntlement, but she nearly jumped in shock when a voice from behind said, “Allow me to help you out with your predicament, milady.”

  For a moment, her mind was filled with shock. A sense of déjà vu also struck her, reminding her of that one day a gentleman had “helped” her - and that one also started by speaking to her from the back, without an introduction. And look where that had landed her, she thought with a helpless mixture of love and resentment.

  Slowly, she whirled around.

  Unsure of the ways of the Ton, Mr. Forsythe fumbled over the words as he said, “Err, milady, may I introduce you to the Marquis of Devonwood? He has just come back from the Continent.”

  Reluctantly, she raised her eyes up, up, and up – and her lips parted in astonishment when she saw that the gentleman bore an uncanny resemblance to the duke. It was not just because he was tall, dark-haired and with equally bright blue eyes. Everything – the way he stood and looked at her with a gleam of interest in his eyes – reminded her of the duke, too.