The Things I Do for You (The Alexanders) (21 page)

“Raina, sorry to keep you waiting.”
 

She turned at Nick’s touch to her elbow. He looked stressed but handsome, as usual. Her eyes traveled over his dark blue pinstriped suit. By the time she got back to his face, his eyes were amused.

“Does my fashion sense meet with your approval, sweets?”

She ran a finger down his tie, then moved the knot slightly to the left. “The suit is divine. What’s in the suit is even better.”

Nick pulled her close and whispered in her ear. “I’m supposed to be romancing you and taking you for a civilized lunch. You’re making me want to forget my good intentions. There are so many other things we can do with this hour.”

“Oh no. You aren’t getting out of this that easily. You promised to show me around and then take me out. So…” She grabbed him by the hand and tugged him toward his office. “Show me your world, Nick.”

*
 
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*
 
*
 
*

NICK PULLED OUT her chair and Raina sank down into the wrought-iron seat gracefully. After a quick tour of his office, they’d walked down to a sidewalk caf
é
a few blocks from Nick’s building.
 

“I never asked you this before, but what made you decide to open your office in New Haven? Wouldn’t it have been easier to get clients in Norfolk or Virginia Beach? Or go up to D.C. like Elliot? Not that I’m not happy you’re here.” She turned and accepted a menu from the waiter who’d just approached the table.

Nick waited patiently as their server rattled off an impressive list of specials and took their orders. Once they were alone again, he picked up her hand that was resting on top of the table. He’d been touching her like that all afternoon. Just casual little touches, but he couldn’t seem to stop.
 

He was doing his best not to push after her
I think I love you
declaration but at moments like this, when they were just hanging out and sharing their lives, it was so hard not to show how he felt.

“I thought about going to other, more metropolitan areas. I would have gotten more clients, twice as fast. But my family is here and I didn’t want to go that far.”

They sat in comfortable silence for a while. Raina seemed to be thinking about what he’d said.
 

“You know, I don’t think I could have done what you did. Could I have stayed at home if my mother had needed me? Or if Ridley had been scared to be on her own? I want to believe that I’d be that selfless, but I probably would have gone anyway.”

Their server returned then with her chicken salad and Nick’s club sandwich. He immediately took the bun off his sandwich and rearranged the way the lettuce and tomatoes were stacked. When he looked up, she was staring, so he said, “I don’t like too much lettuce.”
 

“I didn’t say anything,” she said with a smile. “I just never noticed that you’re almost as fussy about food as I am. Anyway, that was really nice of you, Nick. To stay in case your family needed you.”

He took a big bite of his sandwich and shrugged. It was weird to have her congratulating him for sticking around. That was what you did for family. Did she think that he’d just run out on
her
if she needed him?

“I was raised to believe that when you need help, your family is there. I’m not sure how much you know about Jackson’s story, but his late wife got pregnant while I was a senior in college. It took us all by surprise.”

He figured she had to know bits and pieces about Jackson’s life before he was widowed. Ridley had probably told her about the accident that had killed his first wife.
 

“I bet. What was she like?”

Nick considered his words very carefully. “Cynthia was a sweet girl. She was pretty quiet.”

Raina watched him take a sip of his drink. “It’s okay if you didn’t like her.”

Nick put his drink down. “I didn’t say I didn’t like her. She was really nice. Just perhaps not the best match for my brother.”

“You don’t have to mince words around me, Nick. I understand. Not everyone gets to have that picture-perfect movie love.”

Nick took her hand. “It’s not that rare. I see it in my parents, and Jackson has found his perfect match in Ridley.” He looked at her long enough that he hoped she could hear what he wasn’t saying.

And I have my perfect match in you.

She cleared her throat and looked away. “Anyway, I’m really glad Ridley has Jackson now. He and the boys are exactly what she needs. I worry about her sometimes.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Nothing. It’s just that Ridley’s been communicating with our father a lot lately. I worry that he’s using her soft nature to worm his way into her good graces. She’s planning to go visit him in Maryland soon.”

“You don’t want to go, too?” Nick asked.

“I wanted to meet him, but that doesn’t mean I trust him completely. Everybody seems to think I should just forgive and forget all those years he wasn’t around,” Raina snapped. Then she sighed. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to take it out on you. This topic just puts me on edge.”

Nick pushed his half-eaten sandwich aside. “I think you’re doing what’s best for you by being cautious. After all, what if he decides to up and disappear again? There’s nothing wrong with taking this slowly. He’s been gone this long, so surely he can wait until you’re ready to take the next step.”

Raina relaxed back into her seat. “Thank you. That’s pretty much how I feel about it, too.”

His phone vibrated in his pocket and Nick pulled back. “Sorry, I meant to turn this off.” He looked at the screen for a minute and then looked up at Raina. “We need to go. Now.”

He pushed his chair back and pulled out several twenty-dollar bills, tucking them under the salt shaker.
 

“Nick, what’s wrong?”

Raina stood and followed him down the sidewalk. He turned into a little corner store and walked to the checkout aisle.
Where are they? Where are they?
He didn’t read tabloids
,
but he knew they were usually sold right near the cashiers. He knelt down and grabbed one of the papers on the bottom row. The bold headline was easy to read.
 

FAMILY TROUBLE FOR LEGGY?

Nick handed the magazine to the cashier and a few minutes later they were outside on the sidewalk again. He flipped to the article and read it quickly.
 

“Whatever’s in there isn’t worth getting worked up about, Nick. Lies are what tabloids are known for.” Raina watched him with a sad smile. “I’m just sorry that you have to deal with it now, too. Was it something about me or you?”

He looked up at her. “No, it’s about my mom.”

Raina choked. “What?”

He ran his hands over his hair. “Apparently one of my mom’s friends sold a story to the press. They printed an email my mom wrote. I’m really sorry.”

“Well, it’s not her fault that one of her friends is a sellout.”

“It’s not that. The email was about you. Here.” He handed her the paper. She skimmed the article quickly.
 

- - - Family Trouble for Leggy? - - -

Sources close to the Alexander family share their worries about the marriage of Raina “Leggy” Winters to finance whiz kid, Nicholas Alexander. Nick’s mother, Julia, is quoted in an email to our source as saying:

“We didn’t hear anything from Nick, just some story on the Internet that he’s married some woman we barely know. I don’t know what to think! How do I know she didn’t kidnap my son?”

Sources also confirm that Raina is not only persona non grata with her new in-laws, but she’s not even on speaking terms with her own father! Leggy’s dad was reportedly distraught when she refused to meet with him earlier this month. The honeymoon seems to be over for Leggy already.

Raina handed the paper back. “It’s okay, Nick. I’m not upset.”

“You aren’t?” He peered at her closely. “I can understand if you are. I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

She sighed. “Nick, the tabloids are a necessary evil in my life. But I
chose
this life. Your mom didn’t. She should be able to vent to a friend about her daughter-in-law. She didn’t even say anything that bad, just that she wasn’t sure what to think. Although the fact that she was worried about
me
kidnapping
you
is pretty ironic.”

Nick chuckled. “I’m glad you’re taking this so well. Because the text I got was from Bennett. Mom is pretty upset about this. I think we should go smooth things over.”

She slipped her hand in his. “Of course. When family needs you, you’re there. Let’s go.”

RAINA TRIED TO ignore the feeling of dread that settled in her stomach as they drove down the dirt road leading to the farm. He’d said his mother was upset, but was she mad at Raina for bringing the tabloids into their lives?

Would his family even be happy to see them?

“Nick, maybe you should go talk to everyone first.”

He looked at her in surprise. “Why would I do that?”

She looked at him in annoyance. “I’m sure they don’t want to see me right now, Nick. Their lives were peaceful before I brought all this tabloid garbage into the mix. I’m probably the last person they want to see right now. Especially your mom.”

He grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “I can guarantee you that no one is mad at you. My family adores you.”

“That was before. Now they have people stealing their emails and publishing their private thoughts. I know how invasive it is when it happens to you.”

“I know you do, sweetheart. That’s why you’re the best person to talk to them right now. You know what it’s like better than anyone else here. You can help the rest of us get through it. You’re an Alexander now and we stick together. So if it’s a problem for you, it’s a problem for us. None of us would have it any differently.”

He opened his door and climbed out. Raina followed reluctantly. The front door was open, so they walked through to the backyard. Bennett, Laura, and Nick’s parents stood at the railing, looking out onto the lawn.
 

“Hey, Dad. Mom. We came as soon as we heard,” Nick said.
 

His mother turned to face them and Raina sucked in a shocked breath. Julia’s eyes were puffy and red. She was filled with anger and shame all over again. Someone like Julia only wanted to help people, to show kindness to her neighbors and her family. She had no defense against mean-spirited journalism. She shouldn’t have to guard herself against it, either.
 

“Mom, are you okay?” Nick asked.

She nodded then glanced over at Raina. “I’m fine.”

Raina’s heart sank. It had been a long time since she’d cared about what the tabloids printed about her. They were going to make up something to get their story no matter what she did, so she’d long ago learned to tune it out. What they did had simply ceased to matter in her world.

But it was totally different when people who’d been nothing but nice to her were being harassed. It
mattered
when the lies they spread hurt family. The Alexanders, she realized, weren’t just Nick’s family now.
 

They were hers, too.

“I have something I want to say.” Raina turned to the rest of the group.

Laura reached over and turned the music off. “I’ll just go supervise the kids so they stay out of the way.” She gave Raina a sympathetic smile and skipped down the steps into the yard.

It was suddenly extremely quiet.
 

“I want to apologize for the invasion of your privacy,” Raina said. “I’m so used to the tabloids that I don’t even think about them anymore, but I remember what it was like in the beginning. It was awful. I really wish this wasn’t happening.” She didn’t look at Nick as she said, “But perhaps if I go stay in my apartment in D.C. for a few months, it’ll help. Maybe they’ll focus on what I’m doing and not bother you if I’m not here.”
 

Nick’s head shot up and he looked like he was about to speak when his mother beat him to it.
 

“You shouldn’t have to exile yourself because of those miscreants.” Julia’s chest heaved as she stomped her foot. “They’re the ones in the wrong. We want you to stay right here with your family.”

Raina twisted her fingers together. “But I’m the one they’re targeting. You all didn’t ask for any of this. I’m going to have my security guy look into how they got their hands on that email. I’m sure some laws have been broken.”

Julia’s eyes suddenly filled with tears. “I wrote that before I ever met you, honey. I would never say that now. I think you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to Nick.”

Raina stepped forward and then shocked the hell out of both of them by pulling Julia into a hug. It probably looked as awkward as it felt, like she was trying out a skill she rarely used. She was so much taller than her mother-in-law, especially in the super-high heels she’d worn that day, so she ended up patting Julia on the back clumsily while looking down at her.
 

But the smile on her mother-in-law’s face was worth it.

Raina looked back at Nick and said, “I think he might be the best thing that ever happened to me, too. Partially because he comes attached to all of you.”

*
 
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IT NEVER FAILED. Whenever he really needed to be somewhere, a client wanted to ask questions. No matter what else was going on in the world, this was the one rule that Nick could always count on.

“So, I’m thinking about buying more investment property. I was going to wait until next year when I have more cash on hand. But I heard that congress might not extend the current bonus depreciation after this year. Should I buy now?”