by Stone, Mary
“Admit it, you just like the food.” She flashed him a grin, trying to break the ice. “Is this awkward for you too?”
“A little, but we’ll move past it. I don’t know what changed your mind, but thank you for reaching out. I was worried about you.”
“It was Jacob. He really does think you’re a good guy.”
Nick nodded, swallowing hard as his blue eyes searched hers. “And what about you?”
“I think you’re a good person, and we’re just not as compatible as I thought.”
She could tell her words knocked him back a little, but he nodded. “Could it really be that simple?”
Ellie shrugged, her throat tightening as she stared into his soft blue eyes. “This still hurts, Nick, but seeing you, it’s better than it was before. I think this was a good idea. The sooner we can get back to being friends, the sooner we can both move on.”
Nick’s eyes widened. “Have you found a reason to move on?”
“Nothing like that. Trust me, it will be a long time before I’m willing to put myself through this kind of hurt again. But I have a reason, and that reason is me. I deserve a man who loves everything about me, including my career.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she held up her hand. “That’s not a comment on you as a person. You deserve a woman who feels the same about you. Now that I’ve had some time to think, I realize you weren’t the only one doubting a career path.”
He chuckled softly, tiny crow’s feet appearing in the corners of his eyes. “I never thought of working with charities and in real estate as career paths up for being judged harshly.”
“They’re not. I don’t know how to explain how I feel. I just know if I’d had enough confidence in your ability to keep Valerie safe beyond providing a place to stash her until she was out of danger, then I wouldn’t have doubted you.”
“It sounds like you’re questioning my manhood.” He raised his arm to show her his muscle. “Do I need to prove just how manly I can be?” Leave it to Nick to soften a potentially explosive comment.
“Never. I’m surprised you haven’t learned just how manly Charleston’s debutants consider you.”
He shook his head, smiling a little as he assessed her steadily. “All this from chatting with Jacob?”
“You should thank him.” She looked into his clear blue eyes. “We’re both adults. I think we can handle this.”
“I’m glad to hear you say so.” He held out his elbow to her, like he had so many times before. “Shall we?”
“We shall, but I’ll escort myself, my friend.” Ellie went up the stairs, pausing when she reached the door to wait for Nick. She pulled open the door, startled as Wes almost fell into her arms. She glared at him. “Eavesdropping is beneath you, little brother.”
His grin was wide and completely unapologetic. “It is, but it wasn’t my idea. Besides, I didn’t hear a thing.” Winking, he held his arm out to her, giving Nick a pointed look over her shoulder. “Shall we?”
Ellie took her brother’s arm, giving him a little pinch as she did. “Didn’t hear a thing? Yeah, right.”
Her family was already at the table, with Jillian and Blake engaged in a lively debate. Ellie paused at the sight, and Wes turned, his normally bright smile replaced with concern. “Is something wrong, sis?”
She shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “No. In fact, everything is right in the world. Sometimes, I don’t stop moving long enough to let that sink in.”
Wes wrapped an arm around Ellie, giving her a tight hug. “We are truly blessed.”
Ellie rolled her eyes as she swatted him away and took her usual seat beside Jillian. Wes quickly sat in the empty seat on her other side, preventing Nick from sitting in his usual spot. She caught the look that passed between the two men, but made no comment, content to let them work it out on their own. Nick had been a family friend for so long, he and Wes were practically brothers. Once Wes was sure Ellie was truly okay with their new normal, he would return to his usual laidback self. Until then, Nick could fend for himself.
Helen and Daniel Sr. greeted them from their customary places. The extra long glance toward her daughter was the only indication Helen gave that she thought inviting Nick to dinner without warning after the breakup was a little uncouth. But Helen was first and foremost a socialite, which meant she saved her fussing for the Tuesday night lady’s club, like any other civilized woman of her station.
Ellie nearly choked at the thought of her mother unloading her snarkiest feelings with her friends. Helen wasn’t much of a gossip, but as an awkward silence settled over the meal, Ellie had to wonder if even Helen could resist commiserating with her cronies.
Jillian and Blake’s discussion had even quieted, their heads down as they focused on the meal. Butternut squash ravioli in a heavy cream sauce, honey lemon chicken, and roasted asparagus were served. Ellie took a bite, savoring the rich flavors and purposely ignoring the loud clinking of flatware on the plates in the quiet that had descended.
Daniel Sr. broke the silence. “So, Nicholas. Your father tells me you’ve been working with Paul Strong on a new business endeavor. Tell me, how is that going?”
Ellie relaxed a little, happy her father had found a way to clear the air without interrogating Nick.
The tension melted from Nick’s face, replaced by a glow Ellie hadn’t seen in ages, if ever. Patting his mouth with his linen napkin before returning it to his lap, he took a sip of wine. “Phenomenal, if I’m being honest. Working with Paul has opened opportunities for me I never expected. We purchased another property last week, and once we have the proper permits pulled, the renovations will begin.”
Ellie frowned. “Another property? How many is that?”
“This is the third under our joint venture, Lupine Property Management. We have a couple in various stages of remodel. The latest is in Mount Pleasant. I’ll be heading out there tomorrow to look at it.”
“Wait, you haven’t seen it yet?” Ellie set her fork down on her plate. “Did Paul show you pictures?”
“He sent me a few links.”
“Sent you a few links?” As rich as he was, the Paul Strong Ellie knew insisted on carrying a flip phone and wouldn’t know one iota about a link, much less be capable of sending one without help. An uneasy feeling swam in her gut. “Have you met with him?”
Nick’s spine stiffened, his smile fading. “No, I haven’t. We do most of our dealings through email and over the phone.”
Ellie pulled back, incredulous. “You don’t find that odd?”
“If I was talking about anyone else, sure. But this is Paul. He’s known to be a bit eccentric. I trust him, Ellie. That’s all there is to it.” Before Ellie could interrupt him again, his smile returned, and he continued. “The property looks wonderful. The original project was abandoned when the main building was almost complete. Like I said, we’ll hire a construction crew and pull the proper permits to get it up to snuff. By the looks of it, the Mount Pleasant property will be completed quickly.”
Ellie opened her mouth to press the issue, to ask her father if his old friend had taken up surfing the Internet.
But her father spoke first, calmly pulling information from Nick without putting him on the defensive like Ellie had. “How is Paul doing? I haven’t seen him in quite some time.” Daniel gave a weak smile, pointing to his chest. “I was so busy dealing with this bum ticker of mine, I wasn’t able to keep up with some of the people I care most about.”
Ellie’s father was still recovering from a heart transplant that he’d needed since she was abducted, when he suffered a stroke that caused damage to his heart.
“He sounds like he’s doing great. I think this project has given him a new lease on life. I can’t wait to open our first resort. We’ve worked hard to get this company up and running so quickly.”
“You seem to be buying a lot of properties in a short time.” Ellie tried to soften her tone, but her statement still came out sounding like she was suspicious.
<
br /> Nick grimaced, leaning forward so he could see her past Jillian. “I’ve only put out funds on one property. Paul has purchased the rest.”
“I don’t understand why he doesn’t purchase them all.” Every eye was on Ellie, but she continued without missing a beat. “He’s extremely wealthy. Why does he need you to invest in this business? He’s in his early seventies, right? Maybe his mind is going.”
“Eleanor Kline!” Helen clutched her napkin, mouth agape. “I didn’t raise you to speak this way behind a man’s back.”
“I’m sorry, Mother, but I’m concerned.” And they would never understand her reasoning unless she went for broke. “There’s no reason for Nick to be putting his own money into these investments, and I’m worried he’s being taken advantage of.”
Nick’s hand clenched around his fork. “If Paul is the only one putting up money, then I’d only be an employee. If I wanted that for my life, I’d stick with my father’s company.” His words were even and measured, but Ellie had known Nick since they were kids. He was angry. “By working with Paul as an equal partner under Lupine Property Management, not only am I gaining valuable experience in an area of investment real estate that I haven’t worked in, but I’m also building my reputation and making contacts. I’m sure I don’t have to explain to you that it’s who you know more than what you know that gets you places in life.”
It was a direct cut on her position in an elite Charleston family, but he held the same position, so she let it slide. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from questioning his business sense.
“If you haven’t met with Paul in person yet, how do you even know it’s him? You could be working with a complete stranger using Paul Strong’s name to manipulate you.” She held Nick’s fiery blue gaze, leaning forward so she wasn’t talking over Jillian’s head, purposely avoiding eye contact with the rest of her family. “There are a lot of scams running out there, and I don’t want to see you become a victim.”
The fork he’d been gripping fell from his hand, clattered onto the plate before bouncing to the floor. “Is everyone a victim to you, Ellie? I’m a grown man who is smart with money. I don’t need you to protect me. I’m not Valerie. I’m not a victim.”
Ellie recoiled, cringing as her words were thrown back at her. “That’s not what I meant. I just wish you’d be careful, that’s all.”
Nick stood, his skin mottled with red splotches. “I’m not an idiot. Paul is an old family friend, not some stranger off the street. I get it, being a detective you see the worst in people, and it makes you paranoid, but I didn’t come here to have you question my business and make me look like a senseless fool. I’ve done my due diligence, and I’d appreciate if you’d stick to investigating crimes.”
“I’m just trying to—”
“Keep your nose out of my business.” He closed his eyes momentarily, inhaling before he turned to Helen and Daniel. “My apologies, Mr. and Mrs. Kline. Dinner was lovely. I’ve appreciated being welcomed at your table throughout the years. I wish you nothing but the best.”
He turned abruptly, stalking out of the dining room and out the front door, closing it behind him with a firm click.
Ellie automatically pushed her chair back to stand, but Wes covered her hand with his and shook his head. “Let him go.”
Ellie’s gaze darted from one family member to another, searching for the words to explain what she’d been trying to tell Nick. She didn’t think he was naïve, but there was more evil in the world than most people were aware of. She only wanted to protect him.
Is everyone a victim to you?
His words echoed in her memory, stinging. She closed her eyes. He was right. She’d been overbearing, trying to find a crime where there was none. She folded her hands in front of her, eyes on the delicate floral pattern stitched into the ivory tablecloth.
Helen inhaled through her nose, and Ellie prepared herself for a tongue-lashing. “Well, that was enough excitement for your father and me for one night.”
Ellie lifted her head, surprised her mother didn’t quote from The Ladies’ Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness. Their eyes met, and Helen offered a gentle smile.
“You’re not mad?”
Helen shook her head. “Not by half. Breakups are complicated. I thought it was too soon for him to come to Sunday dinner, but I wasn’t going to tell you how to run your life.” Wes snorted, and Helen shot him a withering glare. “You both thought you were ready to work on your friendship, and it turns out, you’re not.”
“Thank you.” Ellie whispered the words, her heart heavy as the past several minutes ran on a loop in her head.
Helen fussed over Daniel, insisting the scene had been too much excitement since he was still under doctor’s orders to take it slow. They left the dining room, heading for the private wing of the mansion where they had their own suite the size of Ellie’s four-bedroom luxury apartment. Blake and Dan Jr. left right behind them, scurrying out of the room as if they couldn’t get away fast enough.
Jillian let out a sigh when everyone was gone except Wes. “That went well.”
Ellie snorted, burying her head in her hands, stuck between the urge to laugh or cry.
Wes patted her shoulder. “Remind me to never cross you, big sis. I’d feel bad for Nick if I wasn’t still mad at him for breaking your heart.”
Peering at him through her fingers, she narrowed her eyes. “Don’t push your luck.”
“Me?”
She smiled as one of the staff members came in, clearing the dishes as quietly as possible. “Dinner was lovely.”
Jillian echoed the sentiment and clasped her hands together with a triumphant grin. “Well, dinner was a little more excitement than I was expecting. Who needs dessert?”
“I do,” Wes and Ellie said in unison.
The three of them headed for the kitchen in search of something sweet.
Ellie drowned her sorrows in ice cream, wondering if she really was as paranoid and suspicious as everyone seemed to think.
But didn’t she have every right to be, with her kidnapper still out there somewhere?
20
Ellie’s head pounded as she dragged herself in the door of Charleston PD Monday morning. Entering the VCU detectives’ office, she paused as she spotted an interloper sitting at her desk.
Clay.
She was too tired from tossing and turning all night to ask him to move. Setting her briefcase on her desk, she grabbed an extra chair from nearby, placing it on the short side of her own desk and sitting down.
“Rough night?” Clay slid a cup of fresh coffee toward her.
“You have no idea.”
“Have you had breakfast?”
She shook her head, not even having enough energy to be embarrassed when her stomach growled. She’d been focused on coffee, not food. “No.”
“Well, that’s the only way I know to cure a rough weekend. Come on, let’s go. I’ve been dying to try that new restaurant, Charleston Crepes.”
Ellie’s stomach rumbled again. “All right, you twisted my arm.”
“I’ll drive.”
She stepped into the elevator behind him, hand wrapping around the safety rail when the car lurched downward. Digging in her purse, she took out a bottle of ibuprofen, chasing one with a half empty bottle of water she didn’t remember leaving in her bag.
“Want to talk about it?”
She eyed him over the water bottle as she sipped. “Not right now.”
“I understand. The job can get stressful sometimes. Everyone ties one on every now and then, when it all gets to be too much.”
Her eyes narrowed, and she barely kept herself from baring her teeth. “This isn’t about work. I mean, I didn’t go on a bender.”
Clay held his hands out, palms forward. “All right, sorry.”
Ellie stepped off the elevator, tossing the now empty water bottle in the recycle bin and wondering if things would look better today if she had tied one on.
Clay hurried ahead of her, opening the door, his jaw tight, brown eyes locked on hers. “Whatever it is, you have my support.”
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
“I can see that,” he muttered, falling into step beside her.
She stopped on the walkway, planting a hand on her hip, hating the fact that she knew her stance said “woman going on the defensive.”
“I’m not doing this.”
He gave her an innocent look. “Doing what?”
“Don’t play coy with me. You’re working me. I’ve seen you do this during interviews. You’re poking around, trying to get me to start talking.”
“I’m really just trying to make conversation.” He opened the passenger door to a black Ford Explorer. “If you want to talk about what’s bothering you, even better.”
“New car?”
“It’s a rental. I just take what they give me, as long as it’s black and an SUV.” He waited for her to get in and closed the door gently.
Silence reigned as he pulled out of the parking lot, turning left onto Lockwood Drive.
Guilt nibbled away at Ellie. “Thanks for suggesting breakfast, and I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
“I’m not mad. I know we haven’t worked together much, but I can tell you’re having an off day. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
His offer hung between them, and for a moment, Ellie convinced herself to pass it up. But try as she might, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Nick’s partnership with Paul Strong.
“I don’t want anyone to know about this.”
Clay made the universal sign of turning a key over his lips, sealing them, and throwing the key out the window. “You have my word.”
“It’s my boy…ex-boyfriend.”
“Nicholas Greene.”
Ellie let out an exasperated breath. “You could at least pretend you didn’t dig into my personal life.” She’d discovered that annoying personality trait about Clay not long after she’d met him in Gabe’s hospital room after rescuing Jillian from Kingsley.
“I’m not much for lying. What about Nick? He seems like a good guy, even if he’s an absolute fool for letting a woman like you slip through his fingers.”
