Perfect Together (31 page)

“Can we have this discussion in private?” Her mother looked dismissively at Sam.

Nicole would rather not have this discussion at all, but Marian had driven this far, and when she intended to have her say, nothing short of being physically restrained would stop her. Normally, she wouldn’t give her mother the satisfaction of doing anything she asked, but the thought of Sam witnessing any more of her family dysfunction turned Nicole’s already upset stomach.

“Let’s go inside my house.”

Her mother turned her nose up, no doubt at the thought of entering Nicole’s modest, older home. “Fine,” she said, obviously knowing she had no choice.

“Not fine,” Sam said, speaking for the first time.

Nicole turned a pleading gaze his way.
Please, please, don’t do this again,
she silently begged him. Her mother
was just getting warmed up. Whatever she said to Nicole would be painfully humiliating if she was alone, but she’d survive. If Sam witnessed it, she might not ever be able to face him again.

The whole time she’d been speaking with her mother, she’d deliberately shut off the mortification of Sam witnessing her being belittled and talked down to, the weight of her unreasonable family expectations, and the fact that she was a constant disappointment. Nicole’s parents stood out in stark contrast to Sam’s family’s warmth and caring, and she wanted to curl up and die, knowing worse was to come. The longer he stood by her, the harder the fall would be when he was ready for this affair between them to end.

And he’d made it clear that it would.

“Please?” she asked softly.

He shook his head, not speaking but letting her know that no way would he allow her to go through this alone.

Well, that was nice of him, but while dealing with her domineering parents, she’d always been alone. She was the child who’d never lived up to their hopes and dreams and never would. And if this shame was how it felt for someone to be by her side, maybe she was better off by herself after all.

“Sam, just go.” Hoping he would comply, she turned, gesturing for her mother to follow, which she did, judging by the clicking sound of her heels against the walkway.

Nicole was disappointed but not at all surprised when Sam stepped into the house behind her mother, closing the door behind him.

“I believe she asked you to leave,” her mother said to Sam.

He merely stared at her mother for a heartbeat before
extending his hand. “I’m Sam Marsden. One of the things Nicole finds so attractive about this small town.”

Oh, he did not just say that.

Nicole closed her eyes, knowing that if she’d introduced them earlier, she could have avoided this, but unlike with her father, when she’d just blanked, this time she’d hoped to spare Sam her mother’s direct snub.

When her mother merely eyed him warily, Sam, with his hand still out, explained, “Someone has to be civil.”

With a put-out sigh, her mother shook his hand. “Marian Farnsworth. Now may I speak to my daughter in private?”

He glanced between the two women. “I’ll wait in the den just in case you need me,” he said pointedly to Nicole. He headed to the next room, where Nicole knew he’d be able to hear every word exchanged.

“What does he think I’m going to do to you?” her mother asked. “He’s a rude man.”

“No, that’s you, showing up here uninvited, ordering my . . . friend around and making demands. I told you when I was packing to leave I was serious. It’s my life.”

Her mother sighed, shifting the chain on her purse to the other shoulder. “You’re part of a prominent family, Nicole. Your father’s partner was arrested this morning. Tyler and Paul are trying to hold things together and keep their important clients. You have an obligation to help us.”

“Why? Because you gave birth to me?”

“Exactly.” Her mother’s lips thinned. “Bloodlines are important.” Marian eyed her, a determined expression on her face. “And this little rebellion won’t do anything for you in the long run. Neither will that small-town cop.”

“Just
stop!” Nicole’s voice rose, and she realized she was a heartbeat away from stamping her feet like a child. She drew a deep breath and pulled herself together. “This isn’t a rebellion. This is my life. You’re standing in my home, insulting me. You’re belittling a place with good people, a place you know nothing about. And that small-town cop you’re so disdainful of? I love him.”

“Oh, Nicole.” Her mother’s voice filled with pity and dismay. “I told you that you can’t build a life that’s meaningful or important on love. Love won’t support you in the lifestyle you’re accustomed to. And this kind of living? It’ll grow old. Come home and do what’s expected of you now.”

Her head began to pound. “Mother, I’m going to say something and for once in my life, I want you to listen. To
hear
me. I’m building a good life here. One I’m proud of. I have friends who like me for me, not the family name or money. And tomorrow I’m opening a bakery in town with a woman I admire. I’ll be up at four
A.M.
preparing the pastries and the baked goods for my customers. If our blood ties mean anything, if my being your daughter is important to you, I hope you’ll come and see what I’ve accomplished.”

A myriad set of expressions crossed her mother’s face, none of which Nicole could interpret. It would take too much time and effort for her to try. She could only hope she’d made some kind of impression on her mother’s implacable will to put her status above all else.

Marian placed a hand on Nicole’s shoulder, surprising her and making her wonder if she’d made some sort of dent after all.

“Your sister’s ill. She will never be able to step up and
be the daughter we need her to be. But you still can. Think about it,” Marian said.

Nicole jerked away. “I don’t need to think. I know who I am. You’re looking at her, Mom. So look. Understand. Come tomorrow and see for yourself.” Was she really begging? Nicole bit the inside of her cheek hard.

“You’re a disappointment to me,” her mother said. “And clearly I came all this way for nothing.”

Nicole shook her head and closed her eyes.

Her mother hadn’t heard one word Nicole said. In one ear and out the other. Her mother had ignored everything that was important to Nicole, words that came from her heart and soul in a last-ditch attempt to reach the woman who was supposed to be her mother. But a mother’s job was to love and nurture, and Marian Farnsworth had done none of those things.

When she opened her eyes, she wasn’t surprised to find that her mother had gone, cementing the fact that they clearly had very different views on what it meant to share blood.

Nicole swiped at her damp eyes, fully aware that Sam was in the other room. He hadn’t rushed in to save the day. No doubt he was still reeling, processing the difference between their families, reassessing what the hell he was doing with a woman who’d grown up with vultures, not parents.

Or maybe he was wondering how to extricate himself sooner rather than later. She wouldn’t blame him.

One thing she knew for sure: After that little display,
she
wanted nothing more than to be alone.

And Sam had thought her father was a coldhearted
bastard. Sam sat frozen to his seat, shocked that anyone could treat their own child like a pawn in a game. With those two as parents, Nicole was a fucking miracle.

His miracle.

She’d stood up for him to her mother, declaring her love, proving herself much braver than he’d been with her. He was the big bad cop and she put him to shame.

He rose from his seat, sorry that he’d left her alone with her bitch of a mother. Then again, maybe it was better that Nicole think he hadn’t heard anything. Less embarrassing for her that way, and he’d do anything to protect her from being hurt any more.

He paused in the entryway, the distraught look on Nicole’s face gutting him. Unable to remain silent, he stepped forward. “Nicole?”

She
brushed at her cheeks, and he realized she’d been crying. And now she wanted to hide it from him.

“Hey.” He strode up to her and grasped her hands. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

He held on to her wrists and stared into her damp blue eyes. “No, you’re not. Don’t pretend with me.”

To his surprise, she jerked out of his grasp. “Don’t.”

He narrowed his gaze. “Don’t what? Help you? Be there for you?”

Her face morphed into a cool mask. “Don’t make me think I can depend on you.”

“Whoa.” He dropped her wrist and raised both hands in a gesture of confusion. “I am here for you. I want to be here.”

“Why?”

It was his turn to step up. “You want to know why I want to be there for you when you need me?” He drew on all the courage she’d shown so far, using her bravery to bolster his own. “Because I love you.”

Her eyes opened wide, a flash of hope in their depths, before they went . . . blank.

She deliberately shut down her feelings. “No, you don’t. You feel sorry for me.” She wrapped her arms around her shoulders, her fingertips digging into her skin.

“I don’t—”

“Yes, you do. You heard everything my mother said and you pity me. Why else would the man who didn’t want anything to do with relationships and who doesn’t believe in love choose this moment for a declaration?”

Her voice cracked and his heart squeezed painfully as she deliberately misinterpreted his words.

He’d
told Mike he’d prove to her she could count on him. No matter how hard she made it, whether or not she shut him out, he wouldn’t bail.

“I’ll tell you why. Because I’m an idiot who couldn’t get beyond my past to see the amazing woman in front of me. But I see you, Nicole. And I’ve heard everything you’ve ever said about what you want and need in life—”

“Oh my God, don’t!” Her eyes opened wide, the blue depths filled with disappointment. “Don’t use my own words against me.”

“I’m using them
for
you. For us.” But as he spoke, he recognized the irony. Now that he wanted everything from her, she didn’t trust him or his words.

She couldn’t because her mother had shown up and demoralized and destroyed her in an attempt to get what she wanted. And Sam hadn’t come to his senses in time.

She turned away. “I have to get up early and I have a long day tomorrow.”

“I’ll get my things and be right back. We can stay here.”

She didn’t face him. “That’s okay. I . . . I need to be alone tonight.”

Sam shook his head and swallowed a groan. “Nicole—”

“Sam, please. I can’t do this now. I just had it out with my mother. I can’t argue with you too. I’m exhausted,” she said, her voice catching.

“Okay.” He didn’t like it, but he’d respect it. “But set the alarm when I leave.”

“I will.”

“I’ll pick you up and take you to work tomorrow.”

She shook her head, still not turning around. “There’s no reason for you to be up before dawn just because I have to be.”

He
rolled his eyes. If she thought she could get rid of him that easily, she didn’t know him well at all. “I’ll be in the driveway at four. With coffee. See you then.”

Because he loved her. He knew for sure. And in his mind, that changed everything.

Operating on autopilot, Nicole woke up, showered,
and dressed for her grand opening. Her head hurt from lack of sleep, and she wasn’t feeling the excitement she’d anticipated for today. She blamed her mother as well as Sam. He was a good guy, trying to make her feel better in the only way he knew how. But she didn’t believe he suddenly realized he was in love with her at the very moment he was exposed to yet another ugly side of her family and her life.

He came to her door to pick her up, not looking much better than she felt. He hadn’t shaved, his eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed to be moving as slowly as she was. But he still looked delectable to her, and keeping her distance was hard. But she’d gone into self-protection mode. No longer was she willing to expose her heart for people to slice and dice. Even well-meaning people who told her the way things were going to be up front. Like Sam.

They drove to town in silence, punctuated by occasional questions on his end.

“How did you sleep?” he asked.

“Fine.” She lied. She’d tossed and turned in her big empty bed all alone.

“Really? Because I didn’t sleep at all. I haven’t been sleeping all week. I’d gotten used to having you in my bed, and I miss you.”

She’d
stared straight ahead, not wanting to get into any kind of deep discussion, and he took the hint and was silent for the rest of the way.

He pulled up in front of the store. The lights weren’t on yet, which meant she’d beat Lulu here and she could get started on cleaning and sanitizing before prep and baking began.

Sam turned, slinging one arm across the passenger seat. “I’m working today, but I’ll come by to check out the line coming out your door,” he said, his grin cute and sweet.

“You don’t have to do that.” She managed a forced smile. “I’ll be too busy to be able to talk.”

He studied her, his hazel eyes assessing her in a way he’d never done before. Like he was looking beneath her skin and trying to figure out a way to understand this new version of her. Well, she understood herself, and she’d tried to explain it to him last night: She didn’t want his pity and she certainly didn’t want him saying things he didn’t mean because of it.

“Like I said, I’ll be by later to check things out,” he said, ignoring her.

She clutched her bag. “Suit yourself. Thanks for the ride.” She opened the door and hopped out of the car.

She let herself into the shop, with the car engine humming behind her, as Sam waited until she was safely inside before taking off.

She brought her hands to her face and groaned. What was she going to do with him? The good news was, she had no time to worry about it.

She had a business to open.

Nicole didn’t know what to expect from the day, but based on last week’s slow build of sales, she had high hopes.
Those hopes were exceeded. As Sam predicted, they had long lines during the prework hours, when people would pick up coffee from Cuppa Café and come by for food.