Given (Give &Take) (15 page)

N
adia was awake and making breakfast in the kitchen when I came down early, leaving Rachael asleep. “Morning!” she said, pouring me a cup of coffee. “I’ve got pancakes and sausage almost ready.”

“It smells incredible. My stomach’s growling. Can I help with anything?”

She waved her spatula at me. “Nope. Just sit and relax.”

I grabbed my phone and started scanning through e-mails. “How was your day yesterday? What did you do?” Probably avoided Rachael, and I was sure the same would be true about my lovely fiancée.

“Rachael and I went to Miami to this amazing spa—I know the owner so he got us in last minute. We got massages and had a girls’ day.”

I couldn’t be hearing this right. “A girls’ day? You and Rachael?”

She nodded enthusiastically and turned back to the stove to flip pancakes. “Then we came back, ate pizza, and watched a movie.”

“You and Rachael? Seriously? Wow. I can’t tell you how
happy that makes me.” I could actually feel the weight lifting off my shoulders. If they got along, my life would be perfect.

“I know. We both want you to be happy, so we’re trying.” She plated my breakfast, picked up a jug of maple syrup off the counter, and brought it to me at the table.

“Thanks. It looks great.” I picked up my fork and dug in.

Nadia slid onto the chair across from me and watched me chew. She stared at me kind of starry-eyed, like a young girl who admired her father might. It was crazy and fantastic and a little strange all at the same time. “Aren’t you eating?” I asked her.

“I had some fruit.”

“Did Paul get back okay?”

She twirled her hair around her finger. “Yeah. I talked to him last night and told him you were at the Harley store.” She laughed. “He said he wants a picture of you with a bandanna around your head.”

My mind flashed back to last night when Rachael blindfolded me with it. I made a point to look down into my plate and chuckle like I hadn’t just had erotic memories that were giving me half wood. “Planning to see him again soon?”

She sighed. “I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll see him again, but an intercontinental romance is pretty impossible.”

I thought about how Rachael and I began. “Nothing’s impossible if you want it enough.”

With a far-off look in her eyes, she gazed out the window.
“Some things seem pretty impossible when they’re out of your control.”

Somehow I didn’t think we were talking about Paul anymore. I was no stranger to feeling out of control when I was her age. “You take what you want, no matter the cost.” That sounded like good dad advice. Not that I’d ever received good dad advice myself, but I could wing it.

“Lie, cheat, and steal, just don’t get caught?” She grinned.

I shook my head, standing with my empty plate. “Yeah, something like that.” She was a character. I’m glad we could joke around like this after our rocky start a few months ago.

“In that case,” she said, following me over to the sink, “I have something to tell you. I think you’ll be okay with it. It’s not a big deal really…”

Why did this sound like I was being led to the dungeons? “Okay.”

“My mom’s going to come visit and apologize for going along with Enzo all those years.”

“Gina?” All of the air rushed out of me. “When?”

“This afternoon.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “Unless you want me to tell her not to come.”

Fuck.
Fuckfuckfuck.
Turning down an apology would make me the asshole in this situation. Rachael was going to go through the roof. “No, it’s fine.” I managed a smile for Nadia’s sake. “It’ll be good to clear the air. We have kids together after all.”

The truth of my statement sent me reeling. We had kids together. We’d forever be tied by them. She was in
my life whether I wanted her to be or not. Our kids would have kids—our grandkids. Birthdays and baptisms and holidays with Gina Montgomery flashed through my mind. I’d never be free of her. And to think, only a few months ago I thought she was dead. Talk about your life-altering revelations.

We heard the helicopter approaching at three o’clock that afternoon. Rachael stood on one side of me, pissed enough to kick kittens, and Nadia bounced on her toes on the other side, shading her eyes to get a glimpse of the copter.

“I cannot
fucking
believe this,” Rachael muttered, too low for Nadia to hear.

I took her hand and whispered, “I’ll make it up to you.” I wished I knew how.

When I went upstairs after breakfast and told her Gina was coming today, I swear fire was going to shoot from her eyes. She screamed into her pillow and threw it at me. Then she stopped speaking altogether. I guessed she was too pissed to form words.

The private-piloted helicopter Gina had hired touched down. We waited for the propellers to slow before going near. Rachael kept a death grip on my hand. I was fine with that. I’d rather have her hold on than let go.

The pilot got out first and rounded to the passenger side. When he came back around, he escorted a petite blonde in a pink sundress with black sunglasses on. I never would
recognize her if I ran into her. Not in a million years. The way she sashayed across the grass toward us, she wasn’t the sunny-dispositioned girl who used to babysit me and my sister. She was a woman on a mission. I didn’t like what my senses were telling about that mission.

When she reached me, she ripped her sunglasses from her eyes and shook out her hair. “Little Merrick, my, have you grown into a fine-looking man.” Her smile spoke of shared secrets. What we shared wasn’t a secret any longer. “I saw your sister not too long ago. She’s doing well. And that niece and nephew of yours! Adorable!” She turned her eyes to Nadia and reached out to hug her. “Hello, darling girl. I’ve missed you.”

With no way to ignore Rachael any longer, Gina turned her attention to her. “You must be the fiancée I’ve heard so much about.” She held out a hand to shake Rachael’s. Rachael took it, but looked like she’d swallowed something that made her sick to her stomach. “Gina Montgomery. Nice to meet you.”

I should’ve introduced them, but I hadn’t said a word. I was such an idiot. “This is Rachael DeSalvo,” I said—finally.

“Nadia told me she ruined your dress,” Gina said to Rachael with a frown and a
tsk
sound. “Such a shame.”

Rachael inhaled sharply, but maintained her composure. “That’s okay. It was just a dress.” She looked up at me and ran her hand up my arm. “It wasn’t what will make the day special anyway.”

That’s my girl.
I hooked my arm around her waist and pulled her against my side. “No, it’s not what you wear that matters, but I know you’ll find something lovely to replace it.”

“Is Nadia in the wedding?” Gina asked, looking from one to the other of the three of us in turn.

“We hadn’t—” I said. “I was thinking—” Rachael said at the same time.

“No,” Nadia answered. “It’s Rachael’s day and her attendants should be people she’s close to.”

Gina eyed me sternly for a second. She didn’t need to. I felt like shit already. My daughter wouldn’t be in my wedding when her twin brother was my best man. “I want you to be in it,” I told her, ignoring the daggers being stared into my back by Rachael. “We’ll find a role for you to fill.”

“She’s too old for flower girl!” Gina laughed and tapped her lips with the end of the arm of her sunglasses. “Well, I could use a drink. How about showing me around?” Her question was clearly directed at me. “I figure we have some things to discuss,” she said, dismissing Rachael with a tight-lipped smile and curt nod.

Rachael wasn’t a docile woman to be played like this, but the situation was such an odd one, she looked up at me, eyes blank, giving nothing away, and said, “Of course. Let’s get your things situated and Merrick can make you a drink and show you around my island.”

My
island. I see. It was her way of pissing in the corners
to mark her territory, so to speak. I hope she didn’t feel like she needed to mark me, too. I belonged to her one hundred percent and always would.

Gina let out a big, bold laugh. “Oh! Have you two signed the prenup then? What’s yours is yours and will remain so,” she said, vibrant eyes twinkling at Rachael. “I don’t blame you. A woman has to protect herself financially.”

Said the woman who made a career out of pretending to be dead for twenty years. Rachael didn’t say a word, just kept right on smiling with that nothingness in her eyes, like she’d left the building and was staying gone until Gina flew out of here.

I met the pilot halfway to the helicopter and took Gina’s suitcase, wondering how long she was staying because it weighed a ton. It would be rude to ask. I mean, she raised my daughter. I could at least host her for a day or two. Although I hoped she’d be leaving in the morning if not sooner.

I drove the four of us to the hotel and showed Gina to the room beside Nadia’s. She looked around like she couldn’t believe she was staying here in this hotel that wasn’t the Four Seasons or a five-star property. “It’s… quaint, isn’t it?” She fingered a lace doily on the nightstand.

“I suppose it is.” I set her suitcase beside the bed. “We wanted it to look as original as possible. This place holds a lot of special meaning for Rachael and me.”

“That’s sweet.” She kicked off her shoes. “I’ll just change and meet you in the kitchen then for that drink?”

“Sounds good.” I couldn’t get out of there fast enough. This was going to be a very long evening.

Downstairs in the kitchen, Rachael had already made drinks for all of us. “Mojitos,” she said, garnishing them with lime wedges.

I walked around behind her at the island and took her in my arms. “Thank you. I never imagined I’d have to ask so much from you. I know this isn’t easy.” I kissed the back of her neck, thankful that she put her hair up and gave me free access. “Just keep telling yourself that you’re the love of my life and soon we’ll be married and nothing else matters.”

“Is that how you feel?” She sliced another lime in half. “Because they will forever be a part of our lives. It’s not going to change.”

Panic started to creep in. I turned her around to face me, took the knife from her hand, and set it on the counter. “Are you trying to tell me something? Is this too much for you?”

She wouldn’t look at me. “No. I’m not telling you anything except how it is. You do realize that when she leaves and when Nadia leaves—if she ever does—it’s not over. There’s no over to this.” Then she lifted her eyes, like black, soulless rocks, to mine. “It will always matter.”

This was killing her.

“Ah, drinks!” Gina said, strolling into the kitchen.

I gave Rachael a quick kiss. “We’ll talk later.”

“Can we take our drinks with us? Are we walking or taking a golf cart around the island?” Gina picked up a glass and took a sip. “Delicious. Did you make these, Merrick?”

“Ah, no. Rachael made them.” I didn’t want to leave her like this. She was scaring the hell out of me. The only safety net I had was being on an island. It wasn’t like she could get in her car and drive away while I was giving the grand tour of the place.

“Well, they’re great. Were you a barmaid?” Gina asked her.

Jesus.
“No. Rachael is an architect and designer. She was the project manager on the restoration of this hotel and island.”

“Oh, that’s right.” Gina ran her tongue across her front teeth. “I did hear something about that.”

Rachael picked up her drink. “Well, I’ll let you two get to it.”

She stepped away and I squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll be back soon. I’ll make your favorite for dinner.”

“Okay.” She flashed me a quick, tight smile before striding out of the room.

Gina watched her go, shaking her head. “She’s not happy with me being here. I’m sorry. I should’ve spoken to you first, but Nadia assured me Rachael was okay with everything.”

I tossed back half of my mojito. “Well, yesterday they went to the spa together, so things are looking up. You’re arrival was a surprise to us both.”

She let out an exasperated breath. “I’m sorry. That daughter of ours. She has it in her head that we’ll somehow end up together and she’ll have the big, happy family she’s always wanted.”

“Oh?” My stomach lurched like I’d been kicked. I took another healthy gulp of my drink. At the rate this conversation was going, I’d need a few more to take with us on the tour.

“She’s a dreamer, our Nadia.” She ran her fingertips, caressing, over the countertop. “Always has been.” She tossed her head back, her eyes lost in the past. “I have so much to tell you about her childhood. So much you missed. And then there’s MJ. We both missed out on his childhood. Not that either of us were given a choice. He was taken from me and sent to live with another woman—a nanny—who raised him. Your father wouldn’t let me see him.” Her bottom lip quivered and she raised her glass to her mouth. “I’ll never forgive Enzo for that.”

This was too much, too fast. I was a drowning man. Rachael was my life preserver, but she’d gone back to shore without me. Nothing to do but doggie paddle and try to keep my head above water until this was over.

It would never be over.