Wine and Whiskey (Surviving Absolution #1) (6 page)

He follows behind them, smiling at her keen perception of Shae’s
significance to him. They wash their hands as Max comes in and sits down. “I’m
starving. What do you have for us today?”

“Salad. Lots of good fruits and vegetables. Good for pooper!”

Max sputters and spits some of his drink on the kitchen table.
“Damn, Marta, you’re ruining my appetite!”

“Is truth. Now eat!”

As they gather their bowls and glasses, Marta stacks up several
cookbooks spread across the table, leaving them open to save her spots in them.
Shae sits in the chair next to her and nods toward the books. “Are you making
something special?”

“My church has, how you say, bazaar for kids. I make popcorn
balls and caramel apples, but not sure what else.”

They talk about what treats to make and what kids like, Shae’s
eyes dancing from their discussion of the ingredients required for
build-your-own sundaes. Max raises his eyebrows. “I think Marta’s stealing your
date.”

Unlike any other woman he’s brought home, she blends
effortlessly into the relationships he has in his life. No pretentiousness or
ego, just her soft-hearted nature charming the people who don’t easily impress.

After they finish eating, Max rummages through the refrigerator
while Shae and Marta stand at the counter, poring over the cookbooks together.
Containers fill the space around them from Max’s search. Marta looks up and
gasps, swatting at him with her dishtowel. “Leave alone. That’s for dinner.”

Feigning mistreatment, Max rubs his stomach. “But I’m starving.
All I’ve had today is yogurt, muffins, and salad. I need real food.”

“I make you sandwich. Now scooch.” She gives him a light push on
the stomach before opening the lids.

Nick stops scrolling through his phone. Max is right. They can’t
survive on so little. “I’ll take one too.”

He smiles at the sweet sound of Shae’s laughter at their request
for more food, giving him a tiny glimpse of the perfect life. Her joking around
with him and Max, dreaming up treats with Marta to satisfy her sweet tooth.
What it could be like with her here, bringing so much peace to his
world.
This could be his if he doesn’t mess it up.

Shae’s buzzing phone interrupts their planning. She picks it up
and laughs at the message on the screen. “Uh-oh, I’m in trouble. Carrie wants
to know if I’m ever coming home.”
She
texts back, her
face lit up as she types. Almost immediately, her cell buzzes again. She laughs
again before holding it up for Nick to see.

WTF??????

Marta glances over from smothering mayo on her thick, homemade
bread. “What is w-t-f?”

Shae purses her lips together and pats Marta on the hand. “It
means she’s very intrigued with what I’m doing.”

Nick hides his grin at Marta’s naiveté. Shae’s kindness toward
Marta matches Jason’s assessment of his friend. She looks after the people she
cares about.

They finish their conversation while Max and Nick gobble down
their sandwiches. Marta stacks up the cookbooks in a tall pile. Putting her
hand on her chest, she tilts her head, studying Shae. “You good girl. You come
back and cook with me.”

Her eyes sparkling, Shae pulls Marta into a small hug. “Thank
you. I would love that.”

Fucking shit.
He can’t help but shake his head and smile to himself. Marta’s
getting more than he is. He’s got to find a way to reach Shae too.

They walk outside to the waiting limousine with his driver
standing next to it. “Shae, this is Jacks. He’s part of my security team.”

She smiles at the man, thanking him as he opens the door for
her. As they drive, Nick lifts her hand to his mouth and kisses it. She glows
with happiness, the calmest she’s been since they arrived at the house.

“You made Marta’s day.”

“Well, she made mine too. My mom and I used to cook together all
the time, and I miss it.”

He kisses her hand again and entwines their fingers, her ivory
skin and short pink fingernails so delicate against his. “When can I see you
again?”

She drops her eyes as she smiles, making his heart pound at her
shyness. “You know I’m always at the gym at seven.”

He must find a way for her to understand how much more he wants
with her. That working out together will never be enough. “Will you come over tomorrow
night and let me make you dinner? Sunday is Marta’s day off, so I’m on my own.
I’m not much of a cook, but I do have one good recipe I could make.”

Jacks pulls into the gym parking lot, and she reaches for the
door handle as if she’s going to hop out before the car comes to a stop. “Can I
think about it and let you know in the morning?”

Nick rubs the back of her hand, trying to soothe the uncertainty
clouding her face. “You’re like a little bird. Whenever I get too close, you
get scared and fly away. Please don’t be frightened of me.”

Jacks opens the door and she climbs out, hesitating before
turning back to meet his eyes. “Okay, I’ll let you make me dinner.”

She strides to her vehicle, not giving him the chance to say
anything more.

* * * *

Carrie stands in the living room doorway staring at Shae, her
green eyes sparkling above a wicked smile. “Is he naked?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, with that dreamy look on your face, I figured you must be
fantasizing about Nick.” She cocks her head and raises her eyebrows. “So, is he
naked?”

Almost everything her best friend says and does relates to sex
somehow. And, with Nick, it’s way too easy to let her mind drift there too.
Heat creeps up her cheeks at the thought of him wearing nothing but his running
shorts. “Stop it.”

“I know he’s hot from his picture, but in person, is he really
as
fuckable
as he seems?”

“Carrie!” She admonishes her friend, but can’t hold back a
smile. “Yes.”

“Shae Armstrong! I can’t believe it. You really
are
thinking dirty thoughts about him!
What has this guy done to you?”

Made her the happiest and most terrified she’s ever been,
destroying all of her normally logical thinking and letting her heart make
decisions she doesn’t understand but can’t seem to change. “Nothing! I wasn’t
fantasizing. I was worrying. I’ve been chewed out and stood up all in the same
day, so I’ve had a lot to think about.”

Carrie pushes the white blanket covering Shae’s lap out of the
way before plopping down next to her on the sofa. “By who?”

“Gail called and said she was doing damage control from my
bodyguards pulling a gun on some aggressive fans.”

“Oh, shit.”

“I know. There isn’t any video because the place didn’t have its
security system set up yet. It’s only a picture the girl took of us sitting at
a table and the kids’ version of what happened.”

Max’s bribe was not enough to keep the teenagers from selling
the story to a gossip site for more money than they probably ever imagined. No
doubt the talk of their friends, basking in the sudden stardom of a drama they
misinterpret. She smiles at the fun they must be having, grateful only her
reputation is hurt, not their lives.

“That doesn’t seem too bad.”

“No, but I still received the ‘tough love’ and ‘help me help
you’ lectures.” With her hand on her heart and three fingers forming a pledge,
she sits up tall. “I had to promise I will always keep my manager informed of
everything that goes on in my personal life, so she can help guide my decision
making and manage any issues.”

Carrie throws her head back and cackles. “Oh, no! Two speeches
and an oath. She must have been mad. Wonder what she’ll do when she finds out
the truth about Nick?”

“I don’t want to think about that.” She slumps against the
cushion, smoothing the cover over her legs. “He didn’t show up at the gym this
morning. After what happened yesterday, I’m worried something’s wrong.”

The danger may have ended for her when they left the restaurant,
yet her stomach twists knowing the risk for Nick remains. Juan’s angry threats are
unlikely to dissipate without Nick’s agreement to work with him.

Carrie pulls her hair into a pony tail. “Maybe he’s sick or
something. But he could have at least texted you.”

Shae wrinkles her nose. “Um, I don’t think I ever actually gave
him my phone number.”

“How do you expect a guy to call you then?”

Shae puts down the book she wasn’t really reading and leans her
cheek against the back of the couch. The coarse red fabric scratches her skin,
releasing a hint of her mom’s perfume from all the years of her sitting in their
favorite spot in the house. “What should I do?”

Tapping her temple with her index finger, Carrie whispers to her,
“Give him your number.”

“I’m serious. He thinks he’s in love with me. I was worried
about him being in the mob, but now I’m worried about him being crazy too.”

“There are worse things in the world than a guy thinking he
loves you.” Carrie covers her heart with her hands and flutters her eyelashes.
“Besides, haven’t you ever heard of love at first sight?”

“Only in the movies.” With Evan, their relationship evolved out
of friendship, slow and hesitant, before ending with a sudden, harsh finality
she can’t seem to recover from. She may be over him, but not the shame of
failure, unable to forgive herself for not following her own heart.

“Maybe it’s possible in real life too. Or, if not, you could
just use him for sex.”

“Carrie!” Shae throws one of the checkered pillows at her friend.
“You’re terrible.”

Leaning forward, Carrie slips on her running shoes and ties the
laces. Shae picks up the iPod and selects her friend’s favorite running music
before handing it to her.

“Thanks. What are you going to do about dinner? Are you going to
go over there?”

“No, I don’t think so. I don’t want to look like an idiot since
I haven’t heard from him. We’ll just do it another time. It’s fine.”

“Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” Carrie stops
swiping the screen and squints at Shae. “I know you’re afraid after what
happened at the coffee house. Hell, I am too. But you like him and need to talk
to him. If you don’t want to see him anymore, that’s cool. If it was me, I’d at
least give him a chance to explain before writing him off.”

Shae’s head drops as she smiles. “I‘ve never felt like this
before. It’s just so intense it scares me.”

“That’s what love feels like.” Carrie’s smile fades, and she
lays her hand on top of Shae’s. “Don’t run away from him unless he gives you a
reason to. He’s not Evan.”

Shae bites her lip and nods. “I know.”

“After I’m finished, I’m going to meet Nathan for his dinner
break, if he even gets one tonight. Text me if you leave. I want to keep tabs
on you and your hot new boyfriend.”

Shae swats at her bottom as she walks past, but Carrie jumps out
of the way and laughs. “Too slow!”

She snuggles in to read again, but it’s no use. The words blur
together as her mind drifts to Nick, hoping he’s okay, wondering if he’s
thinking about her too. Tossing the book on the floor, she slides down on the
sofa and stretches out her legs with the fuzzy afghan tucked under her chin. Carrie
must be wrong. This isn’t love. It’s…

The side table rattles from her buzzing phone, interrupting her
attempts to define this whirlwind of sensations spiraling within her stomach.
Her heart skips a beat at the message.

It’s Nick.
I’m sorry about this morning.

Please say you’ll still have dinner with me.

He wants to see her. All the emotions she should feel—relief,
irritation, doubt—fade away because he wants her. As much as she wants him.
Another text comes through
.

I can be there in ten minutes.

This is it. The perfect opportunity to walk away. Tell him no
and end the dance. Stuffing the cell under the pillow, her body throbs from her
racing pulse. The right choice. Yet, the truth scrapes like a chisel against
the wobbly foundation supporting her decision. She doesn’t want it to be over.
A muffled chirp squeaks through the fabric.

I have dessert.

She laughs out loud at her lameness and his ingenuity. Too
clever for his own good, he uses her weakness against her. Before she can talk
herself out of it,
she
texts him back and grabs her
keys.

At Nick’s estate, the gates glide open as soon as she pulls into
the driveway. Her heart flip-flops at him waiting for her by the front door.

After she climbs out of the car, he wraps her in his arms,
nuzzling her neck. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

Her knees weaken at his lips on her throat, stealing every
thought out of her mind except for the feel of his muscular back through his
shirt as she holds onto him, his broad chest engulfing her as she nestles
against him. She swallows hard, trying to regain her ability to speak. “You
know I can’t resist dessert.”