by Dez Burke
Yeah, it did sound cooked up, Kaycie had to admit if only to herself. But damn, what could she say? She was still in a whirl just thinking that Nick wasn’t being straight with her, just as she’d feared. Why hadn’t he told her he’d been worried sick when she’d left? That had to mean he didn’t even know himself about why she’d gone. She must have left without telling anyone and this must have caused some major drama at the wedding.
Forcing her mind to think fast, she quickly let off a laugh. “Well, looks like you’ve got me there. I really shouldn’t have tried to fool you, babes. But then, how could I tell you the truth when it sounds so silly now? It’s pretty simple though: I was mad with Nick for getting me to marry him against my will, and I decided to teach him a small lesson, just to let him know he couldn’t have it all his way all the time. I let him stew for a little bit and then I called to let him know where I was. You can bet the make-up sex was explosive,” she finished with another one of those hollow chuckles.
Natasha smirked. “Hmmm. Well then at least, take the time to warn your parents first before you go pulling stunts like that. I’m not sure what Nick must have done to convince them, but eventually they returned home with deep reluctance. They were this close to calling the cops on that hunky hubby of yours.”
“I can imagine,” Kaycie said, smiling tightly. “But thankfully, I called them soon after to fill them in. Everyone was cool with it. I’m sorry I gave you any cause to worry, though. But anyway, I’m back, and I’m glad I’d already taken off time from my business or I’d have had some serious crap to deal with now that I’ve returned. All in all, I’ve been able to convince everyone who cares to listen that I never planned to cause a major scandal with my wedding. But phew...I never knew marriage to a billionaire was such a risky affair.”
Natasha made a face, and then laughed. “It has to be, when that billionaire’s Nick Vitale. I mean that guy was one of the most sought-after men in the country. Hell, he still is, even with that ring on his finger. So if I were you honey, I’ll watch out and not let any of those gold-digger home wreckers sink their fangs in him, okay? There are lots of pests around, believe me.”
And then Natasha paused, before asking mildly, “And speaking of pests, what’s up with Mark?”
Kaycie shrugged, sighing as she stared into her coffee. “I don’t know. He wasn’t at the wedding and I haven’t heard from him since. But I’m sure he’s well over me now, especially with little cousin Trisha.”
Kaycie stopped short, jolted by a fleeting memory crossing her mind – but then it faded away before she could grasp it firmly.
“You mean that brat?” Natasha scoffed, unaware of Kaycie’s lapse. “I haven’t heard of her in a while either. But then even from way back I could tell she had her eye on poor Mark. Only back then she was a pimply, overweight teenager with attitude. She’s shed some weight and the pimples, but obviously still kept the attitude. I ran into her at your wedding and...”
“She came to the wedding?” Kaycie croaked, and lifted a hand to her throbbing temples which felt like they were knotted in tight bands of steel. That niggling memory was back, but still no clearer. Why was this bugging her?
“Of course she was – don’t you remember? Oh shit, yeah, you probably don’t, what with your partial memory loss,” muttered Natasha apologetically. “To tell you the truth though, I was surprised to see you two having a conversation at the reception. I knew how you two didn’t get along when you and her cousin were heartthrobs. In fact, it was like you both were sworn enemies. I was dying to know what you both could have to talk about.”
Kaycie chewed hard on her bottom lip, telling herself she was dying to know the exact same thing. She had the damnedest conviction that it was very important.
“Anyway, she was the last person I saw you with before you vanished. I couldn’t help thinking right then that she had something to do with your disappearance. We were so close to declaring your ass missing that day!”
Kaycie laughed along with her friend, but the sound was weak to her own ears. Nothing added up, and she was done being lied to and having to lie to hide whatever must have gone wrong that day. It was about time Nick gave her some real answers this time.
NICK NOTICED THAT KAYCIE was in a quiet mood when he returned home from work. Her absentminded kiss on his cheek was hardly the warm welcome he’d been expecting from his newly-wed wife either.
“You cooked dinner?” Nick queried, sniffing the air and inhaling the aroma of some delicious home cooking. Even with Nick being ready to maintain a staff of private chefs, Kaycie had insisted she could prepare whatever meals they needed. And any housekeeping she couldn’t handle, she ensured that the cleaning help only came around on weekends. Nick was used to having a full load of staff especially when he was staying here in his pricey open-plan mansion but he’d been only too happy to let Kaycie have her way – especially when he discovered his woman could cook up a storm in the kitchen.
Never would he have pictured himself much of the domesticated male, but Kaycie had him wanting to come home earlier, and cut down as much on his travelling and work load as he could. She had her own thing going on with her business, but when she was home he always liked the thought of his hot wife waiting with an equally hot meal when he got back.
“Yes; I decided to try out some of those seafood recipes you like.”
“Sounds delicious,” he said as she walked on ahead of him, her hips in those white jeans swaying unconsciously and giving him ideas that had nothing to do with dinner. That and the sliver of sexy skin showing in between her waistband and her matching white crop blouse.
But Nick wasn’t so insensitive not to tell his little treasure was far from being in a happy mood. Grabbing her gently by her slim waist, he drew her close and then turned her round to face him.
“What’s wrong, tesoro?” he asked softly, cupping her face and quelling her to meet his searching gaze.
She sighed deeply, her thick black lashes fluttering low. “I’m so afraid, Nick,” she breathed, and instantly his throat constricted. She continued worriedly, “I don’t know what or who to believe anymore. I can’t figure anything out. I just can’t.”
Nick could only draw her into his embrace, tucking her face underneath his chin as he squeezed his arms tightly around her for a few moments, wishing to transmit his strength, his assurance.
But then with her cheek resting against his chest, he heard her ask softly, “Was everything you told me the truth, Nick? About why I went away?”
With an inward sigh, Nick let her draw back from him. He should have known his story wouldn’t hold. Kaycie was no fool; and he shouldn’t have lied to her, no matter the reason.”
“No,” he replied, shoving his fingers back through his hair and flinching at her look of distress. “The truth is, you ran off on our wedding day; during the reception. One minute you were there and the next...”
He expelled a deep breath and turned to face the window overlooking the moonlit gardens beyond.
“I never understood why you did it. Yes, in the start it was meant to be just a business arrangement – one I had to pressure you into. But as time went on I began to think things had taken a different turn – and that it wasn’t all just a cold-hearted agreement. I felt it – you felt it. Even though neither one of us ever came right out and said it. At the wedding...damn. You looked like a vision. Beautiful, your eyes shining with warmth at me. I could hardly stop staring at you, wanting to sweep you away the first chance I got. I couldn’t wait to finally get you alone and...”
Nick turned to face her again, expressionless. “Whatever your reasons, you left me. You made me look like a fool and I couldn’t help wondering if that had been your plan all along; to hurt me for forcing you into marriage. I didn’t know what to think, and it took five weeks before I found you again – which happened purely by luck.”
Kaycie was staring at him. “You mean I was there for five whole weeks?”
Nick’s voice turn
ed bleak as he turned away once more. “Five whole torturous weeks for me. I feared the worst. Kidnapping, murder. It was when I realized you’d left of your own free will that I started to get mad. I wanted to find you at all cost and make you pay for all the suffering you caused me. But then on the flight over, all I could think of was how I could win you back, convince you that I wasn’t some hard-hearted, single-minded bastard who cared only about some damned inheritance. When I saw you get run down by that motorbike...it was then I finally realized how close I’d come to losing the most important person in my life.”
Nick felt Kaycie come to stand behind him, felt her slip her arms around his waist as she rested her face against his back. He drew in a ragged breath, closing his eyes briefly before adding plainly, “I lied to you because I was scared. Yes, Kaycie...I’m not ashamed to say I was fucking scared to death that if you ever remembered what happened, it would change how you’d come to feel about me.”
“Never,” Kaycie said feelingly, making him turn to face her as she grabbed his face in both hands. “Do I really seem that fickle? Nick, just months ago you told me love wasn’t important in a marriage. I vowed to myself to prove you wrong. And now that we’ve found true love together, do you really think I would give that up? I care too much to want to lose you, ever. And nothing’s going to change that.”
Nick sighed. He took her hands, kissed them. He really wanted to believe her. But he’d felt her rejection before when she’d left so unexpectedly. He hadn’t cared so much about the embarrassment caused; he’d been more impacted by the shock and hurt that he’d been wrong about Kaycie. That she could never care for him the way he’d begun to care about her.
And now that he’d tasted these past many weeks of passionate love with Kaycie in his arms, no way he could take it if she left him again.
Losing Kaycie was no longer an option.
Chapter Sixteen
Nick frowned slightly with impatience as he spoke to his secretary on the line. “Yes, Brenda?”
“Sir, Mrs. Vitale’s here to see you.”
“What?” he said. “Kaycie’s here? My wife?”
“Oh no, sir,” Brenda said on a laugh. “It’s your stepmother.”
The smile he’d unconsciously had on his face at the thought that Kaycie had come to see him vanished.
What did Lena want now?
And that was the exact same thing he asked her the moment after the door closed and she was standing in front of him.
As always she was dressed to kill; hair perfectly groomed and her svelte figure sheathed in some designer get-up that enhanced her undeniable beauty. There had been a time her breathtaking looks had moved him, but not anymore.
“Really, Nick,” she drawled, tut-tutting. “Is there anything wrong with my coming to see my adorable stepson at work?”
“Your so called stepson is a busy man, Lena. What is it?” he said coldly, drawing back when she bent over him to try and kiss his lips.
“Well, well, well,” Lena murmured as she straightened and then went to take one of the chairs in front of his desk. ”How your attitude has changed. Could it be due to the fact that your runaway wife is back?”
Nick’s look was chilly as he met her scornful gaze. “Maybe. I’m certainly glad I found her, safe and sound.”
“Oh, I’m sure you must be glad indeed. Because if she wasn’t – safe and sound that is,” Lena drawled sarcastically, “Then you’ll be without all this.” And she waved a dainty, heavily beringed hand to indicate the plush office.
Nick scowled darkly. “If you’re implying that I wanted Kaycie back to ensure that our marriage stayed valid, just so I could keep my fortune then you’ve got it all wrong. With the marriage certificate, I no longer had anything to worry about. I didn’t need Kaycie anymore. But I did want her. And thanks to Rachel, I found her.”
“How ironic,” Lena sneered. “Your ex-fiancée ends up helping you unearth your heartbroken, disillusioned bride.”
She was cut off by the suspicious look on Nick’s face. “Why would you think Kaycie was heartbroken and disillusioned?”
Lena’s eye widened innocently as she shrugged. “A mere assumption, darling. I mean, what if the poor girl found out about you and me.”
“There is no ‘you and me’ Lena as you very well know,” was Nick’s cold response. “Once upon a time, I believed myself in love with you. And I’ve always felt grateful for your eye-opening rejection, believe me. Just don’t kid yourself that just because Dad’s dead, we can start up something because it’s not going to happen. I love Kaycie and nothing in the world would make me do anything to jeopardize that.”
Lena’s face twisted into something bitter and angry and far from pretty. “You love her,” she gasped furiously. “And what about me?”
He gave her a deliberately blank look. “What about you?”
Lena smiled thinly, even as she rose to her feet with fluid grace and then began pacing the office in her high-heeled pumps. “I always regretted turning down your offer to run away with you. But I knew your father was a powerful and ruthless man and he would destroy me – and you as well, for making a fool of him if I dared follow my heart. My marriage to him was never about love but I respected him and he treated me like a princess. I lacked for nothing. And yet...all that never stopped me from pining for you. You were the one thing I really wanted, but could never have.”
She stopped in her pacing to turn to him. “I was so mad when you didn’t ask me to marry you once you could. First you chose Rachel, and then ended up with Kaycie. In a flash I sensed that with her, it was different. Part of me wanted to find a way to get back at you for all the times you rejected me. But another part of me longed to win back what I’d lost. So when I showed up at the reception, I realized that the best way to do that was to get rid of Kaycie.”
Nick went stock still, unable to believe his ears. What the hell was Lena saying? That she had something to do with Kaycie’s sudden disappearance?
He suddenly shot to his feet and moved swiftly to grab her shoulders, shaking her angrily.
“Just what did you do, Lena? Tell me!” he barked, his eyes dark with fury.
Lena merely laughed in his face. “Ah, I thought that would get your full attention.” She broke out of his grip, her own gaze stormy. “I did nothing devious, trust me. In fact, I’d say you had more of a hand in it yourself.”
“I’m losing my patience, Lena,” Nick warned, and heard her yelp in surprise when he took hold of her arm and twisted it round her back, not using enough force to really hurt but letting her know it could get really painful if she pushed him.
“Don’t be such a brute, Nick...ooh!” she cried, and at last agreed to tell him all.
“You haven’t changed, Nick,” Lena said sulkily, rubbing her bruised arm. “Still a bully – alright, alright!” she said quickly when he advanced again.
She sighed deeply. “Like I said, you did a lot to help. When I arrived at the reception and you came over to speak to me, I noticed Kaycie was watching us. I’m woman enough to tell that she was more than suspicious. I wasn’t sure how much you’d told her, but still I hatched this great plan to get you all to myself in some lonely spot. I was banking on the fact that Kaycie would follow and then maybe catch us doing something we shouldn’t.”
Lena paused, smiling thinly at the frozen look on Nick’s face. “You remember, don’t you? Our little head-to-head in the garden? It all went according to plan, as I recall. You came with me and Kaycie followed. She didn’t think I’d seen her, but I had. And you can imagine what she must have derived from our conversation that day.”
“You bitch!” Nick snarled, fuming as he smashed his fist down on his desk, sending files flying. How could he have been so stupid?
“You caused it all with your own words, Nick,” Lena went on triumphantly. “All those uncaring little things she must have heard you say about her. She looks like the sensitive type. Isn’t she?”
Lena chuckled with deep
humor, not waiting for his reply. “I’ll just bet she is. Sensitive, silly, and obviously besotted with you. I worked that all out and used it in my favor. I mean who wouldn’t? I knew she’d feel hurt seeing us together like that. But I never expected her to do what she did – desert you completely, and at the reception! Now that was heartless.”
Nick just stood there, dazed with fury and dismay as Lena let out a hearty, grating laugh.
“Anyway,” Lena went on with a nonchalant shrug, “I soon realized it was a wasted effort. I mean, instead of forgetting all about her when she vanished, you went on a one-man search. I was furious!”
She laughed heartily once more, shaking her head at him. “I really shouldn’t have bothered. If anything, I only managed to have brought you two closer together. I don’t know what lie you must have told her, but it must have been foolproof.”
Nick buried his face in his hand for some moments. He went over the episode in the garden and knew with a sinking feeling how it must have seemed to Kaycie. He hadn’t been ready to admit his feelings for her then, certainly not to Lena. So he’d played tough, and said things he hadn’t really meant. The old Nick might have meant them, but not the same Nick who’d been twisted up in knots over her since that first reckless kiss they’d shared on that balcony.
Finally he looked up at the smirking Lena, his gaze dark slits of calm wrath. “I hope you’re happy now, Lena. Does it feel good to know you almost succeeded in destroying my chance at happiness?”
Lena pouted, tilting her head to the side as she had the grace to look sorry. And then she sighed. “Look, I’m not really proud of what I did. But you know what they say about a woman scorned. I just refused to believe you didn’t want me anymore. Hell, I was ready to settle for being your mistress; to have that affair with you I denied myself all those years ago when I was married to your father. I should have known you’d never want a part in something that would seem aversive. Especially now that you’re older and wiser. Your loss,” she said casually, adding, “And hey, it’s not like there was any harm done. You’ve got your precious Kaycie back, haven’t you?”
