Electing Love (The Collins Brothers Book Three)

by Pinder, Victoria

  “I know. I liked your tattoo. It’s your secret proud arm badge under the white collar.” She smiled at him and let out a breath. “In the movie, the father of the marine almost killed him. Life isn’t like any movie. We’re not that black and white.”

  “Don’t worry, Nicole. I’m an adult now, and want you to help your sister.”

  “Stella was so obsessed with you. She suffered a setback because of us.” Closing her eyes, she imagined her sister exploding with anger at her over this. “She’d call me a traitor.”

  “You’re not. You’re amazing.” He drove onto the highway. “I was not a person to her, but something she wanted to possess.”

  “That’s an accurate statement. I believe you, and she went too far, scaring me too.” She opened her eyes, warming up to talking. “She wasn’t well, and made up stories most of her life. I escaped into stories, but knew the difference between fact and fiction. She didn’t.”

  “How did she end up in the hospital?”

  “That’s a long story.” Looking at Gerard gave her strength.

  “We have the time.”

  “Three years ago, I was filming my last movie. We had talked, and you were the subject. Schizophrenic obsession doesn’t vanish. Then silence struck my phone and I was worried.”

  “Why?”

  “She didn’t call. When I hadn’t heard from her, I called a neighbor, who checked in on her. She was lying on the floor in the living room, seemingly dead. The police said it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and I have paid for her medical bills ever since. She had almost been arrested the day before for some drug bust. I was overwhelmed, and all I kept thinking was I’d let her down.”

  He stepped on the gas for a fraction of a second “I don’t know how you stood tall all this time, all alone. Had she ever been suicidal?”

  “She had said it for years, but I stopped listening. It was almost too late.”

  “Don’t feel guilty. This isn’t your fault, Nicole.”

  A huff of a laugh came out, but then she covered her mouth. “With you, I keep saying things out loud I’ve never said to anyone.”

  “You can talk to me.” He met her eyes and then stared toward the road. “I’ll look into the latest research that might help you, and share if I find anything.”

  “Don’t.” She stopped any tears that might form in her eyes and focused on his kindness. “I hate always playing twenty questions with doctors. I paid for the best. Let’s talk about other things.”

  “Like what?”

  Her heart lifted. “My ring is very pretty, and you promised to answer questions. Let’s start with how many women you’ve had in your bed.”

  He let out a cough. “Wasn’t expecting that one, Nicole.” He changed lanes. “None of them matter. In high school I was knee deep in love with Maureen. Pretty little redhead, but she used me to get another guy.”

  “Stupid girl.” She relaxed her head into the headrest. “I’m glad she freed you. Who else?”

  “Pamela.” Gerard gripped the wheel tighter. “She let me believe she loved me. I fell for a pretty face who wanted my money. When Sean married his first wife, I heard her at the church. I haven’t trusted a woman since.”

  “Heard her say what?” Nicole whispered, leaning closer, worried for him though it was years ago.

  “She lied. She had intended to tell me she was pregnant to keep me next to her. I didn’t want to believe she’d do that, until a few weeks later, when she repeated what I’d heard her say.”

  “That’s horrible.”

  He shook his head. “I never told anyone this either, Nicole. So we’re both trusting each other now.”

  “How do you know she lied?” She squeezed his hand. “The thing about pregnancy is that in nine months there is proof.”

  “I didn’t have to wait that long. I asked for a test, and insisted on it live.” He shook his head. “She hedged. I went out and bought my own pregnancy tests and sent her into the bathroom. When they came up negative, she said it was too early. Then when I insisted we go to a doctor, she confessed.”

  “We all live and learn.”

  “I guess.”

  She smiled. “We should both promise no lying.”

  “What about the unimportant stuff?” He masked his face, but his voice grew heavier. “I might not like your outfit choice or wish to discuss our wardrobe choices.”

  “Okay, you can tell me I look beautiful, though find a way to mention that the outfit is horrendous.” She winked, not wanting to go too deep. She had enough on her plate already. “I enjoy bargain shopping.”

  “Ahh.” He nodded. “Well then, you’ll get along great with my mother. She says she has coupons for everything.”

  She laughed, and breathed easier now.

  He pulled into a spot near a real estate office and kissed her cheek. “We only live once. Don’t worry about your sister. Let’s just be happy.”

  Her heart dropped for a second. What did make her happy? She didn’t have much longer to figure that out, but she would.

  If she bought a place with Gerard… Her mind circled the same word over and over as it spun. Commitment. As Nicole stared at Gerard as they waited in the real estate office, her phone rang. She took a step backward, opened her purse, and read her caller ID. “It’s my agent.”

  “You want to talk to him?” Gerard glanced toward her.

  “I should get this. We’ve been missing each other’s calls.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll get a listing of available homes and filter out the easy nos.” He kissed her cheek and her heart banged in her chest. She slipped out the front door and the cold wind slapped her in the face. “Hello?”

  “You won’t believe the deals I’ve made for you, dollface.”

  She sucked in her breath and found her strength. “Roy, I’ve been trying to talk to you.”

  “Dollface, you’ve made me a busy man.” He laughed. “And I’m happy for it.”

  “Wait.” She tapped her foot, stared inside the window, and saw Gerard as he sat with the realtor. Her heart fluttered and she looked away. She gripped her phone tighter. “We need to talk.”

  Roy made a kissing sound over the phone. “I need you in LA as fast as we can get you here. Money is no object.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’m engaged, Roy, and I’m quitting Hollywood.”

  She’d not go back. As she stretched, she felt herself grow taller.

  “You’ve never dropped your career for a man,” Roy argued. “You’re smarter than that, and I’m getting you more money than any female actress in history.”

  Directors and producers often believed female actresses were a dime a dozen. Roy had said that how many times? Years of listening to that nonsense of women not being what drove movie sales compared to the life she could have here. She’d find a worthy cause. “No. Roy, listen to me, I’m not making another movie. I’m getting married.”

  “To the guy on track to be president.” Roy quieted down. “You can’t love the guy, though he’s perfect for upping the offers on your career.”

  “Why can’t I love him?” The question flew out of mouth without a filter. She covered her mouth a second later. Roy didn’t know Stella.

  “You haven’t been there long enough.” Roy’s answer hit something deep inside her, and she flinched. “Dollface, I have roles lined up for you for the next five years.”

  She closed her eyes and heard the promise. Gulping for air, she refused to think about that possibility. No. “I am marrying Gerard, and helping him run for the Senate seat. He’s going to be amazing in DC, and I need you to stop. I’m quitting.”

  “I’m going to send you a script.” His voice became clearer. “You’ll connect to this movie. I know you.”

  She stared at the door and shivered. “Our conversation is over. I’m not coming back. Bye.”

  She ended the conversation and opened the door. The bells rang overhead. Gerard stood up as she came close. She stared at the papers. Today the
y bought a house. This was it. Stability sounded better than pretending to be someone else, again. She took his hands and sat down to pick up the house listing.

  She’d stay right here.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Nicole

  “This is Erin Callahan, a local agent, Nicole.” Gerard sat next to her and scooted his chair closer. She extended her arm to shake hands with the agent.

  “Nice to meet you. I’m Nicole Burns.” Nicole smiled, and read the house advertisements lying on the real estate agent’s desk. Two would fit his mother’s walkability criteria. She placed those two on the top. Gerard lowered his gaze and scratched his neck. “You think walking to their house is important?”

  “To you, yes, though you don’t admit it.” Her jaw shifted. “You love your family, and your mother will be an excellent babysitter one day.”

  “We’re not having children.” He crossed his arms. Then his voice cracked. “Do you want them?”

  “Maybe.” She shook her head and then turned his head with her hand. “Are you okay with this?”

  “Nicole, we haven’t discussed that yet. If you’re volunteering, then this is a different story.”

  The real estate agent interjected. “It’s amazing to vote for a real person in this campaign and a neighbor. I’m so happy for you both.”

  “Thank you,” Nicole answered, and pushed the two papers forward. “We’ll start at these two houses.”

  Gerard stood with her, but then her phone bleeped with a new message. She smiled and glanced at the message. “I told him I quit, but Roy sent me a script.”

  Gerard flinched but then smiled. She narrowed her eyes and tried to understand him. “Can’t wait to see the house, Gerard. This is more important.”

  Without a word, he offered her his arm. She accepted, and as the door opened, they walked into the sun.

  ***

  The realtor talked, a lot. Nicole picked up on half of what she said. “The first house was owned by another government official with an affluent family. It has five bedrooms, an office, modern kitchen, and an amazing view of the ocean.”

  Gerard held her arm and stayed silent. She took her arm back. His face grew white. “What’s wrong? Why are you in a bad mood?”

  “It’s nothing.” He shook his head. “I’m being oversensitive for no reason. Let’s get going.”

  “Fine.” She pasted a smile on her face. She’d get to the bottom of whatever bothered him.

  They walked outside. He helped her into his car while the agent followed behind them. A few seconds later, they stood outside. The second house was close enough to see his parents’ house diagonally.

  She inhaled and stared at the perfectly manicured lawn with the circular trees on either side. This was the house.

  At the front porch his phone rang. He stepped away from her and stared at his phone. “It’s Barnie. I’ll be right in, Nicole.”

  His smile made her smile. She let the realtor go first. The door was almost shut entirely but she heard Barnie say, “Marrying Nicole might not work out. There is this poll I’m worried about, so I’m running the numbers to see how we’d do without her. I know you don’t want to hear this, but my job is to give you all the facts.”

  “Whatever the data point is, we’ll discuss it when I get to the office.”

  Her entire face heated. She nodded at the realtor. “Gerard and I need to talk.”

  “He’s scared.” The realtor gave her a small smile. Nicole assumed she’d heard the same thing. “All men get nervous before a wedding, plus the election has to be added stress. Don’t worry about.”

  She nodded, but her stomach was in knots. The huge, spacious mansion didn’t stop the fire that grew in her belly. She tried to calm herself. They had made plans. They had an agreement, and she intended to stay.

  As she stared at the empty, quiet mansion, she let the opulence of old money overwhelm her. Her old home was middle class, Victorian, and nothing like this. She sniffed the air, and ocean saltiness was close. This place would be perfect for both of them.

  The fire in her eyes didn’t make her stupid. He needed the wife, and she wasn’t leaving. As the door opened, and he returned, she told the realtor, “I love it. Get the paperwork in order to buy the place.”

  His eyes opened wider. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.” She crossed her arms and ordered the agent, “Get this done as soon as possible. We’ll close up in here, and leave in an hour. Would you mind if my fiancé and I talk? I’m buying it, and we need to talk about the ceremony.”

  “We’re not I, Nicole,” he corrected her. “We’re buying the house together.”

  “Fine.” She held his stare. “We’re buying. Now get everything.”

  “Whatever you need to talk about is fine. Drop the key in the box and text me that you’ve left.” The agent rushed out the door. “I’ll get the paperwork started for a fast transition.”

  Nicole kept her gaze glued on Gerard until the door closed.

  He spun on his heels away from the door then paced. “What’s wrong?”

  “Running the numbers? I can hurt you in the election if we married?” she shouted louder than she had in all of her life. “When do I get told this wasn’t working out for you? At what point do we call it off?”

  “You’re the one reading scripts and leaving, Nicole. Barnie is running numbers, but that doesn’t mean anything. He’s doing his job. I love you and won’t be changing my mind concerning us. I just want to know the weak statistic to see if I can address in the campaign.”

  “I’m not going anywhere.” She tapped her foot on the floor. “I love you too, and being together makes me happy in a way no movie ever did.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Positive.”

  Gerard surprised her as he wrapped his arms around him. She pushed back, not ready to kiss him, but he won. Then she clung against him, and his lips tasted better than chocolate. She couldn’t stop a moan from escaping her lips as she glued herself against him.

  He petted her hair. “You’ve never been sexier, Nicole. I’m glad you came into my life.”

  “I never shout.” She unwound her tight grip of him.

  “Liar.” He let out a throaty laugh. “And don’t change. I hate women with secrets.”

  “Says the master himself with loads of them.” She traced his bottom lip with her mouth. “You can tell me whatever is happening to you. I need you to trust me, Gerard.”

  His face froze. “The one thing I’m worried about has nothing to do with us, and I’ll share it when I can. Please don’t push me on it, Nicole.”

  “Then make me forget about the dark cloud I see.” She unbuttoned his shirt. “My mind won’t stop racing, unless I’m touching you.”

  His hand made an impression in her butt when he picked her up. The house had no furniture, but she approved his choice of the kitchen island. She pulled his mouth to hers as she stripped off his shirt.

  They were home.

  ***

  “There is something I have to take care of, Nicole.” He kissed her forehead as her body came back to earth. Her breaths were slightly easier now. His five o’clock shadowed tickled her skin as he said, “Just forget what Barnie said. I’m not planning on leaving you. I told you before, it’s going to be you that leaves me.”

  “I’m not.” She reached over the counter for her bra and tried to straighten out her hair.

  “But I do have to do some work. Barnie wants the campaign to be able to understand and offer rapid-fire defense. It’s his job. I prefer to focus on corruption and crime.” He stood and threw his pants on as he placed her skirt next to her on the counter. “Can you spend a few hours with my mom and buy us furniture for this place? I’ll be back soon.”

  “Your mom?”

  “She’d like to get to know you better.”

  “I guess that would be nice.”

  She fixed her dress and tried to get the wrinkles out. “Can you walk me over? I’m sure you
r mother has internet.”

  “Absolutely.” He kissed her hand. “I need time, then I’ll be fine.”

  “Give me five minutes in the bathroom to clean myself up.”

  ***

  “I’m here to help you, Gerard.” She glided down the stairs and took his arm. He led her through the door, and they hopped into his car for the thirty-second ride. As the engine roared, she repeated what she meant. “I’m not interested in movies.”

  “Yet you are wildly successful and your movie is number one in the theaters.” He froze like he’d said too much. She raised her eyebrows. He finished, “We should plan a date to go to the movie.”

  They arrived at the front gate. “I don’t care about that.”

  “I don’t understand, but we’re here. We’ll talk about this later.” Gerard spoke to security and they went inside. He parked the car and helped her get out. A minute later he called out, “Mom, Nicole’s staying here for a while.”

  Gigi poked her head into the living area. “Gerry, we didn’t expect either of you. Your mom is out for groceries. Kate and I are working. What’s going on?”

  “Nicole can stay with you both for a while? She needs to use the internet.” Gerard smiled at his sister-in-law.

  “Nicole is welcome to join us.” The brunette shielded her eyes from the sun. “Nicole, hope you’re into quality girl time.” As they came closer, Gigi dropped her hand and stared at Gerard. “Where are you going?”

  He led her through the front door. Nicole placed her pocketbook on the nearby table. “The man’s being mysterious and won’t tell me.”

  “No. I can’t tell her yet. I will, though.” His face went dark as he gazed at her. “I’ll be back soon. I’m going to work.”

  Nicole paid rapt attention to his darkened eyes and grew more suspicious. He had a secret. Then he took both of her hands in his and kissed them. “I’ll be home in a few hours. Then we’ll go.”

  If he told her, then they’d have a chance. She’d help him in the campaign. She bit her lip, said nothing, and then kissed his cheek. She had to trust him and give him this chance. “Later, Gerard. I have friends to make.”