Electing Love (The Collins Brothers Book Three)

by Pinder, Victoria

  Her face heated. “Either my agent, Roy, or my costar, Philip, might have put that out there. Philip had no movie roles lined up. I’m going to call my assistant and find out if it was one of them.”

  Gerard parked in a spot under a tree next to the rectory. The cross on top of the building burned into her brain. She really was planning her own wedding.

  “Welcome, Mr. Collins and Miss Burns.” Father O’Reilly shook Gerard’s hand and hers. “I’m happy we found time to get together to discuss marriage.”

  The priest talked. She nodded, though she had no idea what was being said. She didn’t want to listen to a speech on the sanctity of marriage yet. She continued to nod.

  Gerard and the priest stared at her. She smiled brighter then nodded some more. Whatever they were discussing continued. She stared out the window. She ought to pay attention, but Stella’s image floated into her mind.

  “Thank you, Father O’Reilly. Nicole and I have a lot to finish today.” Gerard stood. She followed what he did, and gazed at the clock. Two hours had passed. Wow.

  “I’ll need you both to sign these now.” The priest pushed the papers forward. Gerard signed. She took the pen out of his hand and stared at the application for a marriage license.

  This marriage would be real soon enough.

  As she finished, the priest told her, “I’ll have everything ready.”

  Good. Everything moved forward. At the altar, she stared at where she used to sit with Stella and her family. Stella had plotted multiple times to get Gerard. Nicole froze in place.

  “Nicole, what’s wrong?” Gerard’s arm wrapped around her.

  “We have to talk.” Her entire body tensed. She had to tell him what she wanted from him. This church wasn’t the place. “Before we go back to your parents’. We need to be alone.”

  “You’re white.”

  She sucked in her breath and walked down the aisle as fast she could. At the door, he reached in front of her. She must have run. He pressed the handle to open it and said, “Let’s get you a coffee.”

  How did she tell him without scaring him off? She’d figure out her words fast. She had to.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  Gerard

  Gerard scratched his chin as Nicole stared out the window. She’d be safe in California. If he broke ties with her until the Boronis were all arrested, then no one would target her.

  He flinched as she turned toward him. “We’re here. What kind of coffee would you like?”

  “Regular. Like this morning. I’ll get us a seat in the corner, where we can talk alone.”

  He inhaled her vanilla scent as she passed.

  Again he remembered how Kate had been shot in the head. If he married Nicole in two days she’d be a target, and the Boroni family could seek revenge. His hand shook as he picked up the cups of coffee from the counter and turned toward her.

  He handed her a mug and took the seat beside her. “I’m going to stick to contracts and business law for Dad’s company. No more FBI stuff.”

  “Not if you win the election.” She smiled and sipped her coffee. “Don’t lose faith, and I’m proud of you.”

  “For what?”

  “You’re drinking black coffee.”

  “You noticed.”

  “Of course.”

  As he stared at her, a warmness grew in his heart. “Being a senator means I can help people, but I never wanted to compromise who I am in the deal.”

  “Do you want to be senator?” she asked him. “’Cause this is almost end game now.”

  “So many politicians sell their beliefs in making a deal, but I wouldn’t necessarily have to. It scares me, though. The line between helping and hurting people seems to get lost as people spend their lives on Capitol Hill.”

  “We’ll talk it through.” She reached out and placed her hands on his. Her skin on his seemed to activate every cell in his body. “If you question your ethics, we talk it through, or walk away if we have to. It’s going to be fine.”

  His cells seem to melt. “Your smile is enough motivation for me to stay focused on my goal.”

  She leaned closer to him. Her vanilla taste was better than any sweet he’d ever had. She fixed his hair. “When you’re sweet, you are the guy a girl can fall in love with.”

  He sipped his coffee and stared into her blue eyes. She seemed to trust him. “Part of me wants you here forever, and part of me thinks you need to go back to California immediately, Nicole. I can’t have your hurt. I’m not sure what we should do.”

  “We’re getting married. I’m not going anywhere.” She tapped her fingers on the table and sat straighter. “There is no more discussion. Decision made.”

  He lowered his gaze. “Okay, warrior woman. I’ll not fight ye. We’re getting married. Letting you out of bed at all after we say ‘I do’ will be a challenge enough.”

  She opened her mouth like she intended to say something. He stayed quiet and waited. She said, “Sex isn’t enough for me or for you. Trust and love work best together, Gerard. I’m following what my heart says right now. The truth is, though, I don’t know if we should, despite how determined I sound. I’m scared too.”

  Her eyes welled up with tears.

  He reached for her hand, but she scooted her seat away. “If we postpone our wedding till after the election, you could make another movie and be safe from those with the name Boroni.”

  “I don’t want another movie.” She jerked her chair back and stood. She turned like she was going to run. “But I am nervous. I won’t lie about that.”

  “Don’t.” Without her, nothing else mattered. “Nicole, I can’t keep you safe here. A huge part of me wants us to hold off and not rush into anything that puts you in danger.”

  She wiped her eyes. “I don’t want to go.”

  “I’ll come for you once this is all over. I swear it.”

  “Okay. I’ll go.”

  He froze as she stood and walked out the door. If he followed her, he’d convince her to stay.

  She’d be safe in California. His heart raced, and he held back the urge to chase her right now. In a few weeks, he’d camp out at her door and never leave her. She’d be safe three thousand miles away.

  He couldn’t protect her, but his heart said that he’d made a huge mistake.

  A moment later he took off in a run. He needed her.

  The two-second delay cost him. Gerard stuffed his hand in his pocket as he ran toward the train station. The car was pulling out the other side. His skin crawled and he had a sour taste in his mouth. He’d been about to marry Nicole, but then convinced her of his fears.

  His stomach had pain everywhere.

  The now empty station had a bitter wind that blew through it as he turned to leave. It would snow soon. He returned to his car.

  He opened his door. His mind reminded him that the Boroni family could never harm her if she went back to sunny California. However, if anyone knew him or truly wanted him destroyed, Nicole was the key.

  Nausea grew in his throat. He clenched the door handle. He needed to find out fast if he’d made a mistake. His heart said Nicole should stay.

  He flopped into the driver’s seat. His heart stayed in his gut, not his chest, and he was sick. He started the car and went straight. The green sign that read Boston led to the highway. If he sped up, he could beat her to South Station.

  He turned the wheel, though his head screamed he’d put her in danger. His heart thumped. The nausea lifted as he realized he could bring her home with him. They would have security, and he needed to have faith that his brother’s case didn’t affect them long term.

  The phone rang as he sped on the highway. He clicked the accept button and said, “Liam, what do you want?”

  “Are you going to Boston?”

  His brother might have bugged the car. Then he stared at his mirrors to see if other cars followed him. The headlights all appeared normal. “It’s Nicole. I told her to go, but I made a mistake.”

  �
�Everything is almost clear on my end. Don’t ruin your own wedding.”

  “I’m trying. How are your arrests going?”

  “Once we get the last son, Stefano, we’ll have all the known major players. We have the warrant. It should be any time now.”

  “Good.”

  “There is one more thing.”

  “What?”

  “Isabelle’s missing.”

  Gerard rolled his eyes. He pressed on the gas to get to South Station. “Hurry and end this. I want a peaceful wedding, where no one shots my bride.”

  “Gerard, that won’t happen again.”

  “You can’t know that. I’m stopping my campaign. I won’t let anyone harm her because of me.”

  “You can’t.” Liam coughed, and Gerard’s hair stood on its ends. “The competition pulled out of the race ten minutes ago. You’re running unopposed now, and guaranteed that seat.”

  “What?” Gerard refused to believe that. “Why would a career politician drop out?”

  Liam said, “You missed the news today. His affair with his assistant combined with his vow he’d not avenge his wife in that debate.”

  “I thought his assistant was a man.”

  “Yeah, he was. The wife threw his stuff in the street, and he’s moving to Bora Bora to escape the chilly Boston weather.”

  Gerard massaged his forehead. This wasn’t how he’d planned his life. “Nicole’s left me and moving back to California. You have twenty-four hours to take care of your arrests, because I am not having anyone come near her. If I have to, I’m getting on a plane to find her and bring her home. I can’t let her leave. Make sure Mom keeps the church for Saturday.”

  “Good. Go get her,” Liam said. “I like her for a sister. She sets a high bar.”

  “She wants to help you with this girl Sherry.”

  “Goodbye, Gerard.”

  He ended the call and threw the phone on the seat beside him. He zoomed down the highway. Whatever he did, he’d apologize.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Nicole

  Nicole kept her head between her knees for the entire train ride. Part of her wanted to marry Gerard despite the danger. It was gut-wrenchingly hard to sit still. The half-empty train meant no one saw her. Her heart pounded so fast in her chest she thought she’d have a heart attack. She needed to be safe.

  This was his reasoning, and she’d agreed.

  Hollywood didn’t tear her up every fiber of her soul and leave her feeling like she was yesterday’s garbage left in an alley.

  The train conductor announced, “Last stop, South Station.”

  This was it. She had to go. She had to save what was left of her heart and wait for weeks. She ran her hands through her hair and fumbled for her credit cards. At least she had her pocketbook. She thumbed through it and clutched her cards and her keys.

  Home. She threw her head back as she stood. Santa Monica was safe. Once there, she’d set up a meeting with Roy and hire a detective to discover who’d lied to the media. Perhaps one more movie wouldn’t kill her. Anything was better than staring at herself in the mirror and remembering how her father had promised her a good man who would stand at her side, no matter what.

  A tear fell down her cheek and she wiped it away. She had fallen hard for Gerard, and she had to believe he’d come for her as he promised.

  She’d never be like Stella. Obsession ruined her sister. She’d not be the same. She picked up her phone and stared at the hospital number.

  The people on the train all filed off one at a time. She tucked the phone in her bag and followed the crowd.

  At least no one stopped her in the crowd, and she followed the signs to the silver line, the airport connector. A coldness sank into her skin, but she kept one step in front of the other.

  She blinked to hold off her tears. She kept her head down, following the signs.

  “Nicole. Wait.”

  Gerard’s voice echoed in her brain, but she kept her brisk pace. She imagined how he’d follow her and tell her he loved her and to not go. She shook her head. He was in Hyannis, and if she peered around, she’d miss the connection.

  Stella always said she imagined how Gerard would find her. Nicole would not be like her, ever. She passed the turnstiles, paid her fare, and found a seat.

  Someone banged on the door of the express as it closed. She stood to try to see, and in the mass of people who wanted to board, she imagined him there. She sat. Every guy with dark hair now became Gerard. She rubbed her temples. She might have to book a psychologist to stop the visions.

  “Welcome to Logan International.”

  She disembarked, clutched her pocketbook, and read the departure sign for the flight that left soonest. Seven airlines had flights. The lines through security were long. She went to the nearest counter to buy her ticket.

  “Thank you,” she told the woman behind the counter as she ran her card and handed her a ticket.

  She stared at security and decided to get lost in the crowd. No one expected movie stars near them, and she had a hat. She remembered Roy had sent her a script.

  While waiting, she pulled her phone out. At least she had something to read and picture with her mind’s eye.

  Something that hopefully had imagery nowhere near romantic, or with a wedding where she promised to love, honor, and respect till death do they part. She couldn’t pretend any of that until Gerard returned.

  The file finished downloading. She held her phone, opened the PDF file, and read. On the third page, the girl’s heart soared. Nicole choked back a sob. Until Gerard, she’d never been in love. Not where her soul could be ripped out of her body and she’d be left with nothing but despair. Had Stella lived like this?

  “Next,” the airport security man told her. “Everyone goes through the machine.”

  She dropped her phone in her bag and followed the family in front of her as they kicked off their shoes. She did the same right behind them, and then stepped into the machine until someone waved at her that she was clear.

  She walked away, and the image of how she’d marry him in two days if it was safe came to mind. She couldn’t do that to herself.

  Miles between them could help her stay normal. Sometimes love wasn’t enough, despite all the dreams.

  She picked up her phone to read more. She hoped the movie sounded good, and whoever the lead actor was didn’t act like a sack of potatoes.

  As she found a seat, she continued the story. She smiled at the tongue-in-cheek fairytale parody and laughed at the next line.

  “I wonder if the guy will get the girl,” the older woman whispered to her, which stopped Nicole’s reading. She glanced at the romance cover in the woman’s hands.

  “A good romance doesn’t punish the girl for choosing her own life,” Nicole answered, and shook her head.

  The woman pointed toward security. “No, I mean the man searching the airport for his girl, fiancée, or wife. I bet she’s a pretty blonde. The heroines who get men to do that for them in movies is always blonde.”

  At least her hair was covered. Nicole sank in her seat. “Yeah, she usually is.”

  She shrugged and went back into the script.

  Roy had been right for once. She was enchanted.

  The voice from the gate then said, “It’s time for our first-class passengers to board.”

  Nicole nodded at the woman and slid into line to get on the plane. Soon enough she’d be in LA. She’d call her agent from her apartment, and then hire an investigator.

  She’d never do drugs and end up like Stella.

  ***

  Assured no one would see her for a minute, Nicole closed her eyes to remember the detective agency she’d been recommended. What was the name? It was something unusual. It started with something like Strange, but that wasn’t it. She smiled. Unconventional. She remembered the detective group. The Unconventional Agency. She turned on her Wi-Fi and searched as the rest of the passengers climbed on board.

  Their website had a p
lace where she could type in what she wanted. She filled out the form then smiled.

  When she landed, she’d know who created that tape.

  Her phone began to ring, and Gerard’s name appeared. She declined the call. There was nothing to say to him. Perhaps when she was home, she’d have the strength to listen to his “I’ll be there soon” speech. Then she went to settings and put the phone in airplane mode.

  As the aisle was now clear, she kicked her shoes under her seat and continued with the script. If it ended well, she’d consider this movie to be her last. The fantasy princess movie would probably be filmed in New Zealand. She’d be so far from Gerard Collins, his campaign, the Boronis, and everything.

  The plane began to pull away from the terminal.

  She let out a sigh as the plane began its ascent into the air. She then closed her eyes and imagined Gerard’s face.

  The picture came into her head so clear that it spooked her. She blinked and rubbed her forehead.

  ***

  “I hope you had a wonderful trip.” The stewardess woke her and handed her a hot towel. “Is there anything you’ll need?”

  Nicole glanced at how empty the plane was. She was the last person. She took the towel to pat her face. “Thank you. I guess Boston is long gone and best forgotten.”

  “I wish I could spend more time there myself, but we’re all meant to end up where we do.”

  Nicole winced and stood. As she stepped off the plane, LAX sped by in every direction and every language. She shuffled her feet and walked. Here, she’d live her shell of a life without anyone.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  Gerard

  Gerard sped through his the third trip around Logan. Nicole hadn’t heard him, ignored him, or she wasn’t there. He was unsure what to do.

  He had her address in Santa Monica.

  If he stood outside her door and begged her, she’d eventually listen.

  Barnie called as he turned toward the counter. He hit the ignore button and found the next flight to Los Angeles.

  “You missed a flight by five minutes.” The woman at the counter shrugged. “The afternoon flights all left. We have one leaving this evening, in about three hours.”