Perfect Together (15 page)

Nicole hadn’t thought about having kids, but as she held
Angel in her arms, a strange feeling of intense longing welled up inside her, catching her off-guard. “She’s so sweet.”

“You should hear her when she’s hungry at night. Or wet. Or cranky after six p.m.—but of course only in our house; in her grandparents’ house she’s the Angel we call her,” Erin said, laughing. The love in her voice and her expression were obvious.

Cole slid closer on the couch, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulder. “Says the woman who sleeps while I get up and take care of her midnight feedings?” His deep chuckle also belied his words.

These two were clearly in love, and another, distinctly different wave of need swept through Nicole. She swallowed hard and refocused on the less painful feelings.

“Hey, little girl,” Nicole said softly, stroking a hand down the baby’s chubby cheek.

Without warning, the front door opened. “We made it,” Sam said, stepping into the house, Cara behind him.

Nicole’s stomach tightened at the sight of the man she couldn’t get out of her head, looking handsome in a sport jacket—obviously he’d been at work—and his gaze took in the room, settling on her, his surprise evident.

She swallowed hard.

“Sam! I didn’t expect you tonight,” Erin said.

He shot her a strange look. “I told you I’d get things wrapped up early today.”

Mike rose to greet his wife.

Ella clapped her hands, obviously thrilled to have her whole family together.

“Come pour yourself a drink,” Simon said to his son.

And Erin busied herself with a nonexistent thread on her
shirt, refusing to meet Nicole’s gaze. She’d obviously lied to get Nicole to come, knowing her brother would show up.

Though she wanted to be mad at Erin, she couldn’t be. Erin obviously had her brother’s best interest at heart.

Sam said hello to his parents and siblings, kissed his mom and sister, and slapped Mike and Cole on the back, and she couldn’t help comparing her own family’s stilted dinner parties with this one. No jokes or kidding with the others, no hugs or kisses, no genuine concern over how each person’s day had gone.

Lost in thought, she didn’t hear Sam approach, but she smelled his cologne and her skin tingled as he kissed her cheek, his lips lingering a hint longer than they had with his relatives.

She trembled at the light touch, acknowledging her body’s immediate recognition and desire for a more thorough, more tactile hello.

“This is a surprise,” he said to her.

“Same for me.” She didn’t want him thinking she’d come here expecting to see him. “Erin said you’d be working.”

“Now that she’s happily married, my sister’s a busy little matchmaker,” Sam muttered. But he couldn’t deny he was pleased to see Nicole here; at the same time, her presence at a family gathering was a little too close for comfort. Sam didn’t bring women home to the family, and he definitely didn’t invite them to Sunday night dinners. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

She tipped her head to one side. “Are you? I don’t want to invade your home territory. I know we agreed—”

He reached for her hand. “I said I’m glad, and I meant it. As for the rest . . .” He trailed off, unsure of what to say.

“I
want to talk about it. Maybe not here and now, but later. I need to clarify a few things between us.” She raised her chin in what he took to be a gesture of defiance.

She wanted to change the rules. He felt it in every pulse of tension vibrating off her body.

“Dinner,” his mother said, before they could get into details of what Nicole meant.

Leave it to his mother to have impeccable timing, Sam thought.

“Ready?” he asked Nicole, knowing he wouldn’t taste a bite of his mother’s delicious cooking. Not while he wondered just what Nicole wanted to discuss. Or why he felt like he was at war with himself and the things he always knew to be true about who he was and what he wanted.

Nicole discovered Ella Marsden was a fantastic cook.
Her daughter, she learned, could barely crack an egg. Cole did most of the cooking in their house, a fact Nicole could barely reconcile, but she found it endearing that the gruff man clearly doted on his wife and child. Sam too knew how to fend for himself in the kitchen, and so could Mike. Since Nicole had a slew of recipes of her own, she and Ella hit it off well and discussed everything from basic cooking to Nicole’s favorite subject, desserts.

“Tell Mom about your shop,” Erin said. “She already knows you bake, but fill her in on the details.”

Nicole patted her mouth, and placed her napkin in her lap. “Well, Lulu Donovan and I have an appointment at the bank this week to discuss our business loan request,” Nicole said, excited at how quickly things were moving along. “Nick
Mancini offered us a very fair rental for the old bakery next to Consign and Design. Other than aesthetics, the infrastructure is already there. And Faith Barron is going to help decorate. My head is spinning,” Nicole said, laughing.

“When did you make all these decisions?” Sam asked.

“All weekend, while moving in, discussions came up, and Aunt Lulu is so prepared, she’s hard to say no to—she makes so much business sense, I don’t want to.”

Erin went on to fill everyone in on her new job as an attorney at Nash Barron’s firm. He had flexible work-from-home hours, and she was happier than she’d ever been.

“What about you?” Simon asked his younger son. “Case almost finished?”

“Wrapped it up today, right?” he asked Cara, who Nicole thought seemed quiet and out of sorts.

She nodded. Her face was paler than before. “Umm . . . excuse me,” she said, and darted out of the room.

Mike took off after her.

Eyes narrowed, Sam followed their quick departure. “Is she okay?”

A semi-smile lit Ella’s gaze, surprising Nicole. “Something tells me everything’s all right.”

Nicole met Sam’s gaze. They shrugged at each other, and soon Cara returned but Mike insisted they head out so she could get some rest, and nobody argued.

The rest of the meal passed pleasantly enough and the subject turned to an upcoming art festival, for which Nicole had seen flyers posted around town.

“I love seeing new artists,” Nicole said.

“Me too. And Tess Barron has a showing there,” Erin said. “She’s only sixteen and she’s an amazing artist.”

“That
girl has been through so much. I’m happy for her,” Ella murmured.

Nicole knew there was a story there and figured she’d ask Sam another time. “I’d love to go. There’s a place in my new bedroom that needs a picture.”

“Oh, let’s go together, then,” Erin said. “Cole hates those things, so he can watch Angel.” The baby was sleeping in a crib Ella and Simon had set up in a spare room. “Sam, you can keep Cole company. Maybe change a diaper or two.”

“Or three,” Cole said, offering up the opportunity like it was the chance to win a gold medal.

“I think I’ll leave that to you,” Sam said to his brother-in-law.

“Chicken,” Cole muttered.

Ella laughed and rose to her feet. “On that note, I’ll clean up. Dessert in a few.”

Nicole pushed her chair back, prepared to help.

“No, no, you’re our guest. Sam, take her out back. The patio furniture’s all cleaned and we have citronella candles burning so the mosquitoes won’t eat you alive.”

Nicole heard the definitive tone and knew better than to argue. Apparently Sam felt the same way, because he rose and held out a hand.

Suddenly nervous, she slipped her palm into his big, warm one and followed him outside. The bluestone patio reminded her of the glimpse she’d gotten of Sam’s backyard. Four lounge chairs, an outdoor bar with three stools, a rectangular table and chairs with an umbrella in the center, and a fire pit. The surrounding lawn was green and lush, the plantings and flowers perfectly placed.

Everything about the small Marsden house called to
something deep inside Nicole, the empty space never filled by her cold parents or their large house full of expensive things but lacking in warmth and love. In the short time here, she’d felt more welcomed and cared for than she ever had by her own family.

Her chest filled with a heaviness she fought against.

“What’s on your mind?” Sam asked perceptively, as he settled into a recliner and pulled her down with him.

She settled in beside him, resisting his attempt to pull her back against him so they could cuddle, her back to his front. She wanted to see his face when they talked, needed him to see hers. To understand.

“You’re lucky.” She wondered if he knew just how much more he had in life.

“How so?”

“Love. You were surrounded by it. Your parents are present in your lives. Not just physically but emotionally.”

Sam heard the catch in her voice and knew tonight’s conversation was important because she was going deep into herself, giving him insight into who she was and why.

“I’m not sure I ever thought about it that way,” he admitted. “Mike did because Simon adopted him.”

“Really?” She leaned in closer.

“Yeah. We’ve always been thought of as the perfect family, but we have our own secrets too. Not so secret, actually. Mom got pregnant by Mike’s father and when he bailed, Simon stepped up. Turns out he’d been in love with her all along.”

Nicole’s eyes grew wide on hearing the story. “That’s beautiful. They seem so in love now.”

“They’ve been that way for as long as I can remember.”

She
made a murmur of acknowledgment. “They’re lucky too, then.”

“What about your parents? I know you said they don’t care much about what you do unless it’s to benefit them, but how do they feel about each other?” Having divulged his parents’ past, he felt comfortable asking about hers.

She swallowed hard. “Let’s put it this way. When I told my mother I couldn’t marry Tyler because I wasn’t in love with him, she asked me what love had to do with anything, and when that didn’t sway me, she followed up with, just when did she tell me that fairy tales ever came true.”

Even Sam, who’d stopped believing in that result, at least for himself, winced. What kind of parent disillusioned her daughter? He thought of the way his parents had boosted Erin’s confidence and spirits, and convinced her she should at least try to go after what she wanted in life. Even after she’d gotten pregnant by a man determined to leave her and Serendipity behind.

The summer breeze blew around them and lifted Nicole’s hair from her shoulders. He met her gaze and wished he could put the stars back in her eyes and convince her that anything was possible. Maybe it was. Just not with him.

“So about us,” she said, as if reading his mind.

“I take it you don’t want to just pick up where we left off last night?” His chest hurt at the thought she might actually walk away.

“Actually I do—with some modifications or qualifications.” She looked down at the slats on the chair, not meeting his gaze. “It turns out I’m not so good at this sex-without-emotion thing after all.”

His breath caught in his throat, but he was determined
to hear her out. One night with her hadn’t been nearly enough, but what happened next? It all depended on what she asked for.

“I need us to be exclusive while we’re together.”

He let out the breath he’d been holding. “I can do that.”

She lifted her gaze to his. The vulnerability in her expression sucker-punched him but good. Everything about her hit him in new ways.

Scary ways.

“What else?” he asked.

She bit down on her full lower lip. “I need to know where you stand. Is this thing between us just sex? Like, when we’re out in public are you going to pretend we’re just friends? Because I couldn’t handle that.” Her huge blue eyes bore into his.

“Hell no! Just because I’m not looking to settle down and get married doesn’t mean I don’t understand what it means to be with someone. I want to
be
with you, to acknowledge it in public, to let everyone know we’re together. And I sure as hell don’t want anyone else with you either.”

Her lips parted in a soft O, and he was unable to resist leaning forward and kissing her face with its surprised expression.

The thing he was drawn to most about Nicole—looks and attractiveness were a given—was her innate honesty. Her vulnerability tugged at his heart, making him want to protect her. Be her white knight, as ridiculous as he knew that was.

He couldn’t help but respond to her and licked her parted lips. She sighed into his mouth, and he slipped his tongue inside. She’d had a glass of wine with dinner and he tasted
the fruity flavor, but most of all he tasted her and he didn’t want the moment to end.

Unfortunately, his brother had other ideas, as he called out from the door off the kitchen. “Coffee and dessert! Unless you’re already getting some of your own.”

Nicole pulled back and ducked her head, an embarrassed smile on her face. “Geez.”

“That’s what brothers are for,” Sam muttered.

She laughed. “Sisters aren’t much better.”

“True.” He glanced at her flushed cheeks. “Everything okay now?” he asked.

She didn’t pretend to misunderstand him. “Will you come home with me?” she asked. “Christen my new bed?”

Yeah, he thought, everything was just fine.

Tyler stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel
around his waist. As he pulled out clothes for his dinner with Macy, he ignored yet another call from his father. He couldn’t bring himself to disappoint the man by telling him he hadn’t made any inroads in getting Nicole back and bringing her home.

The Nicole to whom he’d been engaged had been quiet and easy to persuade to do whatever he needed in pursuit of career or family bidding. She wore designer dresses and suits, not tight jeans or cropped shorts and shirts. The woman he’d found in Serendipity was not someone he’d have become engaged to, and he had the definite sense she was finding herself now and liking the woman she was becoming. He admired her attempt to break free.

He
glanced at the new blue jeans on the bed and the casual T-shirt and frowned. What the hell was he doing, changing who he was in order to fit into a place where he had no intention of remaining? The minute he figured out how to fix the mess in his family business, he was heading back to Manhattan. Except this small town was growing on him. And so was one woman in particular.