Electing Love (The Collins Brothers Book Three)

by Pinder, Victoria

  “Does any airline have a flight that will get me there faster?”

  “Why?”

  With gritted teeth, he said, “I screwed up my life, and need to tell a woman how I feel.”

  The woman nodded. “Hold on.” She typed away then picked up her phone.

  He had to tell Nicole he was wrong. The agent then smiled. “Go down four gates, to the woman waving her hand at us. She has a flight in one hour with available seating.”

  He let out a breath. His chest fluttered as he nodded. “Thank you.”

  “You have my vote, sir.” She stood taller. “Don’t spend too long there. Ms. Wyman will forgive you, and we need you here.”

  Gerard turned to leave. “How did you know?”

  “Your face is recognizable, and you were looking everywhere for a ‘Nicole.’ I’m quite sure someone took video and posted it online already.”

  Perhaps Nicole might know he was here before he found her. His heart surged. “I need to find her and apologize.”

  “If a man like you came to my door to do that, I’d faint from shock.” The woman walked with him to the lady with the ticket. “Nicole will forgive you if you’re genuine.”

  His heart thumped in agreement. He had to find a way to get her to come back.

  He’d not leave without her.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Nicole

  Nicole sighed as she opened her front door, kicked off her shoes, and climbed the stairs to her first floor.

  Nausea grew in her throat. The place had a violated tension in the air. Her window near her patio had wind that blew the curtains. Nothing should be open. She sucked in a hard breath as her skin grew cold.

  The taxi’s tires squealed down the street. She lived alone. No one near the beach would come if she screamed. She turned to run, but then someone tugged her hair.

  Ouch.

  Self-defense took over, and she clenched her hands as her elbows swung backward. She struck a small-breasted woman’s chest and twirled around.

  She narrowed her eyes. The brunette’s hard brown eyes had splashes of red in them. “Isabelle Boroni?”

  The woman shrugged then punched her in the face. Nicole’s eyes burned.

  “Your fiancé stole my family.” The woman’s knee went to Nicole’s waist, and jabbed into her hard. “You shouldn’t let reporters take pictures of your home. Someone might come.”

  Nicole fought the urge to cry, but lost. She stood and swung into the air to hit the woman, but Isabelle was too fast.

  Isabelle then punched her jaw and waist, and sent her flying across the floor.

  “Women don’t punch to the face.” Nicole wiped her lips.

  “I missed that memo.” Isabelle drew back her leg and intended to kick her, but Nicole used both of her hands to grab her knee and throw her on her back.

  The stairs to the door were three feet away.

  “Argh,” Isabelle screamed, and twirled to stand.

  Nicole pressed her down and twisted Isabelle’s leg, and used her to leverage as a way to turn around faster. As she stood to run, she twisted the woman’s hair.

  “You fight like such a girl.” Isabelle’s eyes grew wider as Nicole continued to tug her hair.

  She stepped toward the door. She needed to get away.

  “I am a woman, and you touched my face.”

  Isabelle twirled and detangled herself with both hands. Nicole threw the hairball in her hands onto the floor as Isabelle circled the door.

  Drat. Nicole took a step to go around her, but again Isabelle used the palm of her hand to hit her in the eye as she grunted. “Get over it.”

  Pain shot through her cheek.

  Isabelle didn’t stop. She swung again. Nicole sidestepped, turned on her bare heels, and ran toward the kitchen.

  “Stop now or I’ll shoot you dead.”

  Metal clinked in the air, and Nicole froze midstride. Even if she flung open the patio to escape, she’d have to climb rocks.

  Isabelle shouted, “Put your hands in the air.”

  “Why?” Nicole followed instructions. “People will come looking for me.”

  “You fired your agent to marry Gerard.” Isabelle laughed. “He’s quite the stallion, and he has to hurt the way he hurt me.”

  The reflection in the gun caught Nicole’s attention as she turned to face Isabelle. “Stallion? When did you and he…?”

  “When we were in college together. I’m the reason he joined the Marines.”

  A lie. Nicole swallowed. Stella had been the primary reason. Nicole raised her eyebrow. “Are you why he likes to play rough?”

  “Does he still play our game?” Isabelle smiled. Nicole’s gut was a pile of rocks. “Sit on your couch and keep your hands behind your head. I’ll need to take a picture of you before I shoot you.”

  Nicole swallowed. She had one chance to get away. With her hands behind her back, she came closer on Isabelle. As she moved to pass, she grabbed Isabelle’s arm. Then she swung behind her to get the gun.

  Pain was necessary. She bit Isabelle’s neck.

  Isabelle screamed, “Bitch.”

  Nicole bit harder as she fought for the gun.

  The gun fell to the floor. The thump echoed as Isabelle reached behind to claw Nicole’s neck.

  Nicole spat back and kicked the gun. Then she used every muscle she had to throw Isabelle across the room.

  She picked up the gun and pointed toward Isabelle. “Get out of my way.”

  “Shoot me.” Isabelle sat on the floor. “I cannot live while my family is caged.”

  Nicole blinked, and Isabelle shot onto her feet to grab the gun. Nicole wiggled to get free, but then Isabelle pulled the trigger on herself.

  The gun hit the floor at the same time Isabelle did.

  Nicole screamed and fell to her knees. Isabelle’s face contorted in pain.

  “I shot you. I shot someone.”

  Her entire body shook the same as Isabelle’s. Then in a surge of adrenaline, she ran to her pocketbook and dialed the police.

  “911 dispatch. How can I direct your call?”

  Tears came to Nicole’s eyes. She never liked violence of any sort. She had no idea what had happened. She sniffled as she said, “Someone was shot in my condo. She pulled the trigger while I fought with her. She’s dying on my rug. Please help.”

  “Officers will be right there.”

  Her hands shook and she dropped the phone onto the hardwood floor. She knelt down next to the now still body on the floor and felt for a pulse. She couldn’t make it out. She screamed, “No, you are not dying here.”

  A movie role played in her mind. A doctor; she’d been told to put pressure on a wound. She stared at Isabelle’s stomach. She found the spot where she’d shot her, and pressed down hard.

  The bleeding slowed.

  Officers and paramedics arrived minutes later. The movement didn’t faze her until an EMT came beside her and added his hands to the wound. “I still have a heartbeat. Let go.”

  Nicole curled into her knees and a ball on her floor. Her body shook uncontrollably as the police moved all around her.

  “Let me in there.” Gerard’s voice penetrated through her coldness. His dark eyes met hers and she took in a deep breath of air. He told the officer, “Nicole’s my fiancée.”

  Seconds later, he placed his arm around her and she breathed easier. She wasn’t cold anymore. He held her tight.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Gerard

  Gerard hugged Nicole hard, and his heart ached the moment he eased his hold. She clutched his hand and continued to shake. He waited for her to catch her breath, and then she wrapped herself back into his arms.

  She smelled like vanilla still. He breathed easier, despite how the police surrounded the beach house. “I never should have let you go.”

  “You were afraid this would happen.”

  “I was wrong.”

  “No, you were right.”

  “I’m sorry.” He petted
her hair and waited for her breath to catch. She latched on to him and held tight. She gulped and let go without a warning. She swayed as she stood. He tucked in her shirt as she gazed into his eyes.

  The black and blue shiner and the cut lip were going to bruise.

  “You’re hurt,” he muttered, and raised her chin with his hand to get a better look.

  “Ouch.” She winced but didn’t move. “That woman threw a punch like a pro.”

  “We have to get ice on your face.”

  “I don’t have ice. I drink water all the time.” She turned her gaze from him.

  “Frozen food?” He massaged her chin and hoped she’d look at him again.

  She traced the outline of her face and winced at her lip. “I doubt it. Preservatives add weight on fast, and I never ate meals here.”

  “What do you have that’s cold?”

  “Nothing in the freezer, if that’s what you are asking.”

  He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “When we get married, you’re going to eat what’s at the store. Our children deserve treats and Irish stews.”

  “Shepherd’s pie, too.” She laughed and then winced in pain.

  He needed to get her cleaned up. “Nicole, let’s go to the kitchen. Do you have medicine in your cabinets?”

  “Maybe,” she answered as she took his arm to steady herself. “I’ve not checked in years.”

  He massaged her knuckles again. “I almost lost you today.”

  “I came home to Isabelle Boroni.” Nicole nudged him to go the left. “When I saw the window open, I should have been faster to turn around and run.”

  “You didn’t know anyone would be here.” He sat her at her dining room table. “Sit. I’ll get a washcloth or put something together for you.”

  She sighed. “Okay. Can you get me out of here when the police let me go? I don’t want to look at my living room ever again. I was never happy here…” Her entire body shook and her voice lowered to a whisper. “I killed her.”

  He massaged her shoulder. “Shh. You didn’t do anything but survive, Nicole. I was so afraid you’d be shot like Kate that I sent you away.”

  Tears poured from her eyes. “What are you talking about? Kate is fine.”

  “Right after Daniel’s wedding, as we stepped off the ship, someone shot her. She almost died, and I couldn’t let that happen to you.” He then ran out of the room toward the kitchen.

  He grabbed all the medication he found and heard her chair shuffle. He called out, “Give me thirty seconds.”

  He returned and dropped the supplies on the table. She didn’t wince as he applied an ointment to her lip. “So that was why you were so determined to call off the wedding?”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t lose you to a bullet.”

  More police surrounded them. She grabbed his hand and whispered, “Clearly that didn’t work as planned. Let’s go.”

  He helped her to her feet and they headed to the door. A detective stepped in front. “Nicole needs to get out of here,” Gerard said. “Do you have any more questions for her?”

  The detective shook his head. “You have friends in high places, Mr. Collins. We have orders to help you both.”

  Gerard nodded and puffed out his chest. “I’m getting her to a hotel now.”

  No one said anything. He grabbed her pocketbook near the front door and held it. Her face had no color and she gazed at the ground. He braced her back and helped her out the door. She almost fell. He grabbed her. “Hold on to me, Nicole.”

  Outside he gazed around her yard. “Do you have a car around here?”

  She nodded and said, “My keys are on the table near the front door.”

  “Lets take my rental.”

  He turned her toward the Prius. She laughed and covered her face. “Ouch. This is quite a step down. I thought you had an election to run.”

  “Nicole, the other guy backed out.”

  He helped her sit down, closed her door, and then ran around to the driver’s side. “You’ll like the hotel. They’ll have ice.”

  She nodded slightly and pushed her head into the cushion. “I don’t know what I’d do right now if you weren’t here.”

  He’d never want to find out.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Nicole

  Every muscle in Nicole’s body twitched as Gerard stopped at the five-star hotel. She rubbed her temples. Her stomach was empty and in a tight knot.

  “Nicole, everything is going to be fine.”

  She blinked and gazed at him. His strong shoulders invited her to depend on him. She licked her lip and winced at the pain. She cleared her throat. “Is this post-traumatic stress? If so, I want the fast-forward button.”

  His deep voice ruptured into a laugh, and she relaxed her shoulders until he opened her car door.

  She bit her tongue to stop the urge to scream. She covered her lips and stared at the uniform of a bellhop. She then hid behind that shoulder of Gerard’s.

  As he took her hand and led her inside, she muttered, “I hope Isabelle lives.”

  “I don’t care what happens to her.” Gerard stayed in front as she followed in his footsteps to the front desk. “The police assumed she would.”

  “Good.” She straightened her mess of hair as he spoke with the woman at the desk. The moment he was free, she whispered, “I don’t want blood on my hands, Gerard.”

  “You didn’t do anything except defend yourself.” His hand squeezed hers. “She came after you.”

  She shivered. “Doesn’t matter. I don’t want to be involved. Let the courts deal with this and leave me out.”

  He laced his fingers with hers, and she leaned into him. Then he took the plastic key cards and told the clerk, “Thank you.”

  “Thank you both for choosing to stay with us.”

  Nicole kept her head down as they walked past the bar. She peeked, and very few people were inside. Her mouth watered for a glass of wine. She tugged his hand to stop. “I need a drink. I never do this, but my nerves are fried.”

  “One drink can’t hurt, and it might help you sleep. The swelling of that lip of yours is going to hurt.” He guided her to a dark corner. As they sat, he continued, “Then I want to book us on a flight back home. I want to marry you if you’ll still have me.”

  “I want to, but I want to straighten a few things out in person here.” She shook her head and avoided his stare. Then she played with a loose strand of her hair. “I hired an agency to find out who made the false sex tape. I need to know what jerk tried to ruin my name.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll call them and Liam, then.”

  The waiter came and took their orders. She placed her hands together on her lap and waited. As the waiter left, Gerard placed his hands on the table and said, “Who did you hire, Nicole?”

  “The Unconventional Agency. They did a good job for me a couple years ago. The girls there should have my answer already, or soon.”

  The waiter returned with her Moscato and his Guinness.

  With a pad in his hand, the waiter addressed them, “Senator. Mrs. Senator…”

  “My name is Collins. We’ve not won the election and our wedding is this weekend,” Gerard corrected the boy. “It’s bad luck to say that before the wedding.”

  The boy’s face turned red. “Can I get your autographs?”

  Gerard took his pen and signed.

  She took the pen and tried to smile as she signed right after Gerard’s name.

  The waiter jumped and then ran.

  Gerard reached across the table, and her body heated up as he took her hands in his. “Will you marry me still?”

  She sipped her drink. He did the same, and then put the glass back down to take her hands again. “Nicole?”

  If love was enough, then their problems were over. “I’ll marry you. My ties here end when we find out who lied about me. I want to stare whoever it was in the eye, and then I’m free to go home with you. As the wedding is in a few days, we don’t have a lot of time.�
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  “Nicole…”

  She held out the glass. “Let’s toast.”

  His eyes had a twinkle in them as his shoulders relaxed. He then clinked glasses with her. She sipped her drink. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He traced her hand with his finger, and every cell in her body became alive. He said, “You have to show me your favorite place tomorrow morning. I want to see what you enjoy.” He patted her knee and scooted closer.

  “If we have time.” Her face hurt more now, so she took a sip of the wine, which helped a little. Her heart still had this ache. She should discuss love with him. Instead she winced. “I’ll need that ice soon.”

  “We can go now.” He stood, but she sank lower in her chair.

  He sat again and she sipped her drink. “I need this drink, though this is so unlike me.”

  “You might need a doctor, Nicole.” His eyes assessed every part of her.

  “No.” She shook her head and closed her eyes. “Let me finish this in peace. How did the competition for US senator drop out suddenly? Did something happen?”

  “Scandal. Affair. Low poll numbers.” He sipped his beer as she studied her fingernails on the stem of her glass. He kept his voice low. “I’ve been thinking about my future. Congress might frustrate me with all that logrolling instead of doing what’s best for the nation.”

  She squeezed his arm. “I don’t know what logrolling is, but you’ll be great, Gerard. You are a natural leader.”

  He swallowed his beer. “It’s when senators vote for pet projects with the attitude of ‘you help me, I help you.’ Money is wasted big time with that attitude.”

  She took his hand in hers. “I’ll be there to help you.”

  “What’s going on with you? What drove you to listen to me and move here?”

  The bells inside her all rang. “I was so afraid to turn out like Stella if I stayed and forced my way.”

  “Stella?” His voice grew stronger. “Nicole, you’re nothing like her. You make the world brighter just by being close. It’s one of the reasons I love you.”

  If only she believed in fairytale romances, but her head kept telling her that life wasn’t a movie. She gulped the rest of her wine. “You didn’t know her, not really.”