Slow Hand (21 page)

Nikki gaped at her. “Is that all you have to say?”

“What do you expect? It isn't like I invited him over.”

“So you're saying he just showed up out of the blue?”

“Guess he figured I'd come here.”

Nikki dug her spoon into the tub, fishing around for the biggest hunk of Oreo but then paused, spoon midway to her mouth. “Wait a minute. You said Dwight wanted money, but how could he even know anything about my inheritance?”

Shelby looked guilty. “Maybe I…er…let it slip.”

“Why would you even be talking to the asshole after what he did to you?”

“He has all my stuff. I wanted it back.”

“What stuff?” Nikki asked.

“My clothes and things.”

“You can buy new clothes, Shelby. There's nothing you own that's worth negotiating with that scumbag.”

“Easy for you to say, Miss Moneybags. You can buy whatever you want now.”

“I don't have any of it yet, Shelby, but even when I do, I don't plan to do anything stupid, and I still want to work.”

“Speaking of work…” Shelby's brow wrinkled. “Why are you home so early?”

“Because I quit today.”

“You quit?” Shelby laughed. “Good for you! I hope you went out with a bang. Did you wipe any computer drives? Paint graffiti on the bathroom wall with your nail polish?”

“I told Phyllis off.”

Shelby's eyes glimmered. “Oh yeah? Whadya say to the old bag?”

“Told her I wasn't going to kiss her bony ass any more.”

“And?”

“And what? I left.”

Shelby looked crestfallen. “Hell, that'll be forgotten in a week. Tops. I need to give you some lessons on leavin'.”

“Like your adventure in leaving Dwight?”

Shelby looked mildly chagrined. “All right, you have me there.” She added defiantly, “I shoulda taken better advantage of his unconsciousness and castrated the bastard.”

“Do you think he'll be back?” Nikki asked.

“Probably. He said something about bringing his forty-five next time.”

“Holy shit! He threatened your life?”

Shelby shrugged. “It's not like it's the first time. You don't understand how it is with us. It's a complicated relationship.”

“Why, Shel?” Nikki asked. “Why do you go for these assholes?”

Shelby glowered with her good eye. “Isn't that the pot calling the kettle back? I've met some of your winners, too, you know.”

“They haven't
all
been bad, and
none
have been homicidal maniacs.”

“Oh yeah? If you're so great a picking 'em, name me one that wasn't a lying, cheating asshole.”

“Wade,” Nikki blurted without a second thought.

“Wade?” Shelby scrunched her face. “I don't remember a Wade. Who was he?”

“The lawyer in Montana.”

“A lawyer?” Shelby grinned a mile wide. “Wow, Nik! You've graduated from bottom-feeding rednecks to white-collar professionals? Whoo-hoo, look at you! Big sister is moving up the food chain.”

“Maybe not so much. He's also a cowboy. Well, a rancher, to be precise.”

“You shagged a
cowboy
lawyer?”

Nikki blushed. “Shagged? You make it sound cheap and dirty. It was more than that.”

“Really? Then what's the deal with you and him?”

“Deal? There isn't one. He's there and I'm here. End. Of. Story.”

“But you're going back there, right? You still have to settle the estate and sell the place, don't you?”

“Yes, but I don't have to go back to do any of that. He's going to handle it all for me—well, his legal assistant is anyway.”

“Ah.” Shelby pursed her pouty lips with a knowing look. “That explains everything.”

“Everything what?”

“Why you've been such a bitch…well, a worse one than usual…since you got back. It's not hard to add one and one, i.e., you and Wade. Or maybe I should have said you
minus
Wade.” She balanced the bowl of the spoon on her nose. “So what are you going to do about it?”

“Nothing. I told you it's already over.”

“Why's that? Did he lie about a wife and kids?”

“No.”

“He cheated?”

“Don't be ridiculous. I wasn't there long enough.”

“You're wrong there. Where there's a cheater there's a way. I speak from experience. The length of the relationship is irrelevant. So did he get drunk and slap you around?”

“No. He's a perfect gentleman and doesn't drink. Well, not anymore.”

“Did he suck in bed?”

“God no! He was incredible. The best. Ever. No contest.”

“All right, time to cut through the bullshit,” Shelby said, blunt as ever. “What is your freaking problem, Nikki? Why the hell are you sitting here in Georgia completely miserable, when you could be happily boffing like bunnies with your hot Montana cowboy lawyer?”

Nikki gaped at Shelby as if she were Confucius incarnate. “You know, Shelby, that's a damned good question.”

Chapter 19

Wade had left Nikki in a rage, but his bottled fury had faded to really pissed-off by the time he'd driven back to Bozeman. Now after weeks of aging, it had mellowed all the way down the scale to moderate resentment. Although he still hadn't spoken to her directly, he'd kept up with the smallest details regarding her estate. Wanting to avoid any awkwardness in their professional relationship, he'd limited his communication with her as much as possible, instructing Iris to field her questions and return calls on his behalf.

It was easier for them both this way. He missed her like hell, but didn't know what he could say to her that he hadn't already said. Well, there was one thing. It had even been on the tip of his tongue more than once, but repeating those three words without some assurance of reciprocation scared the shit out of him.

Since she left, he'd gone back to his old routine, filling all his days and more than half his nights with work. Defying his best efforts, she still invaded his thoughts every moment he let his mind stray. Wade vividly recalled every detail, from their first meeting at the airport to their bitter parting, and everything in between—especially what had come in between.

His mind lingered on those days and nights that now left him feeling sexually frustrated and confused. There were still so many things he'd wanted to do to her. Hell, he couldn't even look at a cannoli without getting a hard-on. He'd never experienced anything like it. He craved her voice, laugh, the feel of her beneath him, surrounding him, but it was much more than great sex. Everything about them together seemed to fit. It had seemed like some kind of karma the way they had come together. It had to be. She was so damned easy to be with. He loved that about her. There was no pretense about her. Nikki was the real thing.
They
were the real thing. Why couldn't she see it, too?

Wade toed off his boots and then shrugged out of his shirt. He was considering whether he should relieve his sexual frustration with a cold shower or just go ahead and jerk himself off, when the phone rang. His chest tightened when he recognized her number. For a moment he considered letting it go to voice mail, but on the fourth ring, he snatched up the phone.

“Hello, Nikki.” He paused. “What can I do for you?”

“Hi, Wade.” Silence. “Do you think we can talk?”

“Depends on what you want to talk about. Anything business related is billable time.” He winced at his tone. He sounded like a real asshole.

“I know that,” she replied. “But I need your advice.”

“That so? Then I'm all ears, sweetheart.”

“Allie called me with an offer on the riverfront piece today.”

“Yeah, I heard about that. She worked some magic pulling that deal together. The buyer's the same guy who wanted the Flying K. When that deal fell through, she showed him your quarter section on the river. Turns out he's an avid angler and snapped at it like a trout to live bait.”

“Lucky me,” she said dryly.

“You don't sound too excited,” he couldn't help remarking. “You're gonna accept the offer, aren't you? I understand it's a cash deal.”

“So you think I should accept it?”

“Yeah. Take the money and run…wait,” he couldn't help adding, “I guess you already did that second part.”

“That was unfair.”

“Never said I play fair.”

Another silence. “Allie says there's also an offer on the pasturelands, but it's a lease. That's what I really needed to talk to you about.”

“There are significant tax advantages to leasing it out, especially if you keep it agricultural. If you sell off everything at once, you're likely to lose your ass in taxes.”

“That's what I thought, but I want to better understand the ins and outs of all this before I decided anything. So you think I should accept the lease deal as well?”

“Yes, as long as the price is fair.”

“I don't know if you're going to feel the same about the offer when I tell you who's made it.”

“Why would that matter? Who is it?”

“Your brother?”

“Dirk?” That news took him by surprise.

“Why would your brother want to lease pastureland from me?”

“I'm not involved,” Wade replied curtly.

“I thought maybe you could explain his plans.”

“You'll need to talk to Dirk directly,” Wade said. “My brother's decided to expand his cattle operation, and I've pretty much washed my hands of it.”

“So things between you and Dirk—”

“Haven't changed for the better.”

“I'm sorry to hear that… I'm thinking I might come up there for the closings.”

Wade's pulse quickened at the thought of seeing her again, but then he wondered at her motives. He couldn't see the point of her return when she already said she was selling everything. “It's not necessary,” he said, “especially given how you hate to fly.”

“I do, but it wouldn't be so bad with a companion.”

“A companion?” He felt a violent surge of jealousy.

“Yes. I'm thinking about asking Shelby to come with me. I'd rather not leave her alone with her stalker ex-boyfriend still on the lam.”

“Shelby? That would be your sister?”

“Yeah. I'm surprised you remembered that.”

“I remember everything, sweetheart.”

Silence.

“You do realize it's winter here, right?” Wade said. “Your thin Southern blood probably won't tolerate subzero temperatures very well.”

“I can take it.” Another pause. “Are you trying to talk me out of coming?”

“Just trying to save you expense, discomfort, and aggravation.” More like
his
discomfort and aggravation. “You really don't have to be here for the closings, you know.”

“I know, but I'll be there anyway. I'm flying up next Friday. We're gonna spend the weekend. Any suggestions on where we should stay?”

Yeah, in my bed
. He had little doubt they'd end up in there anyway. But as much as he missed her, it would only be like a quick fix to a junkie. The high would be great, but the crash would be hell. And then what?

“You might enjoy Big Sky,” he suggested, telling himself it was all for the best.

Another pause.

“Thanks,” she said. “I'll book a reservation there. See you Friday?”

“Sure. Bye, Nikki.” He disconnected on the lie. Evans would be handling the closings. He'd be long gone.

* * *

Nikki clicked the phone off with a hollow feeling. But then again, what did she expect after almost three months? Initially, the sound of his mellow baritone had sent a warm ripple through her, but then he'd become so painfully aloof. Their conversation hadn't played out at all as she'd thought…as she'd hoped. She'd taken a huge step to call him. Why couldn't he at least have met her halfway?

She wondered if it was really worth all the trouble to go up there. She hated to fly. It was early December, freezing cold, and Wade's reception on the phone had been anything but warm. Was there any chance he'd welcome her back? Was there even a glimmer of hope? It was impossible to know his true feelings when she couldn't see his face. Maybe the whole thing was a waste of time.

Shelby plopped onto the sofa beside her. “So what did he say?”

“Not much. He advised me to sell the river piece and lease the rest.”

“Why lease any of it if you can sell? I'd take the money in a heartbeat,” Shelby said.

“Yeah, you would,” Nikki said dryly. “And you'd probably head straight to Vegas with it.”

“Probably.” Shelby grinned. “A girl's gotta have some fun, after all.”

“He tried to talk me out of coming back.”

“He told you not to come?”

“Not exactly but he was very discouraging.”

“Cold shoulder, eh? It has been a long time, Nik. Do you think that maybe…”

“He's involved with someone else?” Nikki finished the thought she hadn't wanted to acknowledge aloud. She mentally kicked herself for her stupidity. Just because she'd been pining didn't mean he was doing the same. In all likelihood, he was involved with someone. The thought that she might have lost him for good made her stomach churn.

“You're probably right. I'm just going to make a giant ass of myself, aren't I?”

“Maybe so.” Shelby's reply didn't make her feel any better. “But you're still planning to go, aren't you?”

“Yes. But my going really has nothing to do with him and me. The closing on the riverfront parcel is next Friday and I have a lease offer to consider on the remaining pasture lands. If I sell everything the taxes are going to kill me, so I might be better off to entertain the lease. If I do that, if I keep the land, I should at least learn a little about how it all works, don't you think? So I'm going up there to talk this deal over. It's all strictly business,” Nikki insisted.

“You trying to convince me or yourself?”

Nikki frowned. “It's all true.”

“C'mon, Nik,” Shelby cajoled. “It's past time to come clean. I think there's a much more personal reason why you want to hold on to some of that land. It's your only tie to him. Once it's sold, you've got no connection at all to him, no reason ever to go back. Why is it so impossible for you to admit?”

“Because I'm scared!” Nikki cried. “He might be the best thing that ever happened to me and I was too afraid to even give it a chance. Now it's probably too late.”

“Maybe it is and maybe it isn't,” Shelby said. “There's only one way to find out.”

“I know. That's why I'm going,” Nikki said. “I'm probably setting myself up for a horrible fall, but I have to know if it's really over. Seeing him face-to-face is the only way I'm ever going to know for certain.”

“And then what?” Shelby asked. “What happens if he
does
want to pick it back up again?”

“I'm going to cross that bridge when I come to it. I don't want to get my hopes up when he might not even want me anymore.”

“If he doesn't, he's a dumb-ass.”

“No. I was. You don't know how I treated him.”
Damned fool that I was, I let him go.
No, that wasn't true either. Wade had accused her of pushing him away and he was right. She had actually
pushed
him
away
—the only decent man who'd ever wanted her. She had many regrets and wondered if she could ever make it up to him. She hoped she'd get the chance.

“Why don't you come with me, Shelby? I don't like the idea of leaving you alone with that psycho Dwight still on the loose.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. Consider it an early Christmas present.”

“Can we stay at one of those plush ski resorts?” Shelby asked.

“You don't know
how
to ski.”

“Then I'll snowboard. How hard can that be? Besides, that's what lessons are for—preferably with a really hot instructor.”

“It isn't a vacation, Shel.”

“Why not make it one? I don't get you at all, Nikki. You've got all this money now. Why don't you enjoy some of it? Have some fun for a change?”

“Your idea of fun usually ends with a tattoo or a jail cell.”

Shelby made a face. “Not
all
the time. C'mon, Nik, just a couple of days. I've always wanted to go skiing.”

“All right. You win,” Nikki conceded. “We'll spend the weekend at Big Sky.”

* * *

“Are you really sure about this move, Wade?” Allie leaned against the doorjamb as he taped up his last box. “You've worked so hard to build this practice. I can't believe you're just walking away from it.”

“I'm not walking, Allie,” Wade answered dryly, “I'm running. Now that Dirk has scored that organic foods contract, I don't feel chained to the ranch anymore. If he wants to buy me out, I'm happy to let him.”

“But why give up this practice too?”

“Because I need a change. I've needed one for a long time. I feel like I'm suffocating here.”

“But Helena of all places? There's nothing in Helena.”

“There's a job with the DOJ in Helena.”

“At what…a third of your present salary? You really need to think this through, Wade. Even though things didn't work between us, Daddy still thinks you're one of the best associates he has. Given a few more years, the Denver practice could still be yours.”

“It's not all about money, Allie. Maybe once I thought that's all I wanted—a lucrative private practice and a loaded bank account—but a lot of things have changed.” He hated to admit it, but Nikki was no small part of that.

She stood up and wiped her hands. “All the more reason to come to Denver.”

Wade shook his head. “Maybe I'm not obligated to the ranch anymore, but that doesn't mean I want to abandon my family altogether.”

“But you're wasted here in Montana,” Allie insisted. “There's so much more opportunity for a man of your talents in Colorado.”

He propped a hip on his empty desk in his empty office—empty of all but the neatly stacked boxes. “Maybe not the kind of opportunity I'm looking for. This job with the DOJ will allow me to make the contacts I need so I can do what I really want to do.”

“And what's that?”

“I want to make a difference to the people here. We're one of the poorest states in the country, but have some of the most abundant natural resources. I'm sick and tired of all the bureaucrats dictating how we manage those lands and resources at the expense of the people like my family whose roots stretch back four and five generations. It's not right, damn it!” He slammed a fist on the desk. “It's high time we reclaimed what's ours so we can have a shot at a better future. That's what I really want.”