Waiting For You (13 page)

“That’s great,” Nick said. “Was the building yours?”

“You can bet your fancy car it was mine.”

“I find it fascinating that a single young woman would be able to obtain a place like that back in those days.”

Cassandra gave Nick a toothless grin. “It shocked most of Sacramento’s high society at that time, too.”

“How did you do it?” Nick asked. “I mean, how did you run a business as a single young woman? I’d think it would have been hard back then.”

“It was very difficult, and people didn’t take me seriously. The building was purchased as my engagement present. I didn’t have to pay a penny for it. Not long after that, I married. Vanessa’s great-grandfather handled most of my affairs then.”

“And who did you marry, if I might ask?”

“His name was Harry Westland.”

Abigail arched an eyebrow.
How interesting…

She wrung her hands, hoping Nick or the elderly woman would say something vital to her case. She glanced at Nick. He stared hard at Cassandra, and Abigail knew he was thinking about his next move.

Nick cleared his throat and leaned closer to Cassandra. “One of my clients says she is a distant relative of Edward Carlisle. Do you remember him? He was the one who owned the building before you bought it.”

Cassandra’s eyes widened and her face turned pale. Abigail’s heartbeat kicked up a notch.
The old woman knows something!

“Yes, I remember him.” Cassandra nodded. “He died a couple of weeks before his daughter killed herself, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The elderly woman cocked her head. “And your client says he’s a distant relative of Edward’s? That’s impossible.”

“That is what she claims. My client seems to think she is related directly to Edward Carlisle.”

Cassandra waved a frail hand through the air.
“Hogwash.”
She held a pink handkerchief to her mouth and coughed loudly. Her eyes were steely brown as she narrowed her gaze at Nick. “From what I remember, Edward was married to his newspaper. He didn’t have time for a wife. Even his own daughter was left out most of the time. But if by chance he did have illegitimate children running around, he wasn’t about to admit it. He never did like owning up to his mistakes.”

Abigail’s heart sank. Was this woman saying that her father had sired children he wouldn’t recognize as his own? No, she wouldn’t accept it. Abby narrowed her eyes at Nick. “She’s lying! My father didn’t have other children. He was a prominent society figure. And he did own up to his mistakes when he made them.”

Nick shook his head as if telling her not to say any more, even though only he could hear her. But it hurt her to think Cassandra thought of her father this way.

Abigail sank to the floor beside Nick’s chair, tears gathering in her eyes. Cassandra couldn’t have known Edward Carlisle, even though the older woman was right about how he treated his daughter. But even if Abigail had been put second in her father’s life, he had still loved her. If he did have other children, she believed he would have loved and cared for them, too.

Suddenly, Abigail felt at once all the heartache and loneliness of growing up and wanting her father’s attention. Her chest tightened and she could scarcely breathe. She wanted to fling her arms around Nick and cry on his shoulder, but instead she reached for his hand. Right away, his fingers wrapped around hers. Warmth spread through her like it had done the last several days, but something was different.

She glanced at their hands and shifted her fingers against his. It was a solid connection—she actually felt his hand, as if she were still alive!

A gasp tore from her throat as Nick’s palm covered her hand. His skin was a little rough, just like her father’s had been, and his fingers were strong as they gently rubbed hers. His gaze dropped to their clasped hands and then met her stare. His green eyes widened, and she knew he felt it too.

What’s happening to me? I can really feel him!
Yet there was nothing she could do right now to express the excitement building in her chest. Nick also looked out of sorts as he blinked and glanced at the floor, before clearing his throat as he returned his attention to Cassandra.

Abigail dropped her head to their clasped hands and kissed his knuckles. Touching his skin with her lips felt heavenly. She slid her cheek along his fingers, relishing in the joy of
feeling
alive once again
.

Nick cleared his throat again and squirmed in his chair. “So, Mrs. Westland, I get the impression you knew Edward Carlisle well.”

Cassandra shrugged. “As well as anyone in town, I suppose.”

“Do you honestly believe he had other children besides Abigail?”

Abigail glanced at Cassandra. There were tears gathering in the older woman’s eyes. A few silent minutes passed. Abigail’s heartbeat strummed in her throat.

“
Grandmama
?”
Vanessa finally whispered. “Did you hear the question?”

“Of course I heard him, Vanessa. I told you before, I’m not deaf.” Cassandra waved her frail hand to shoo her great-granddaughter away, then shook her head. “I’m tired now. Please have your friend leave. I don’t wish to think about that time in my life any longer.”

Nick stood and Abigail followed, still clutching his hand. He looked at Vanessa and shrugged.

“If I said anything out of turn, I’m sorry—”

Vanessa shook her head as she ushered him out of the room. “
Grandmama
gets this way. It’s like she gets lost in memories.”

“Do you think she’ll have me back so I can ask her more questions?”

“I’ll ask her, but not now.”

Nick nodded. “I’d appreciate that. It’s very interesting talking to her. I’d like to continue our conversation later.”

Vanessa snuggled into him, slipping her arm through his. “Would you like to go do something tonight? I don’t have anything planned.”

Abigail glared at the brazen woman. How dare she touch Nick!

“I can’t. I have plans,” he said politely. “But we can go to lunch sometime if you’d like.”

Vanessa pouted as she pulled away.
“All right.
I’ll let you go if you promise you’re not hurrying off to meet another woman.”

Nick tilted his head back and laughed.
“Another woman?
I don’t think so. If I was, she wouldn’t be from my lifetime.” He grinned.

He hurried to the car, his fingers still entwined with Abigail’s. Once she was certain nobody could hear them, she squeezed his hand. “Do you feel that?”

This time when he looked at her, pleasure darkened his eyes. “You know I do. But what happened? Why do I feel you?”

“I don’t know, but I could have jumped out of my skin with joy in there.”

“Me, too.
Do you know how hard it was to act like nothing was happening?”

He opened the passenger’s side door and motioned for Abigail to slide in. He hurried and closed the door then practically ran to get in on his side. He didn’t take her in his arms like she wanted. Instead, he started the car and raised the top to the convertible.

She sat still, holding her breath, praying he’d want to touch her. He looked almost too stiff. Her gut clenched. Did he not like the idea of holding her?

Once he was on the road, he leaned back in his seat and draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him. With a relieved sigh, she snuggled up to him and rested her palm on his chest.

“Nick? What do you think this means? Why do you think I can feel you now when I have not been able to before?”

He shook his head. “You’re asking the wrong person, honey. I have a couple of guesses, but I don’t know for sure.”

“What do you think?”

“Well, first I think I’ve completely lost my mind and that’s why I can feel you. Or maybe we’re getting closer to finding your killer and that’s why you’re becoming real.”

She chewed her lower lip before whispering, “I wonder when we do discover who killed me,
will
I pass over at that exact moment?”

“I don’t know, honey.” He leaned closer and kissed her forehead. “I don’t want to think about that right now.”

“Me either,” she said in such a low voice that Nick had to lean closer to hear her. How could she think of leaving him when she’d just found him?

“So then maybe we should pretend that I’m completely crazy,” Nick said, “and that’s the reason for all of this.”

She laughed and stroked his face. “Oh, Nick. I really cannot believe I’m touching you. Your skin is so warm, so smooth.” She moved her hand down his neck to his chest. “I can feel the beat of your heart against my palm.” She smiled.

A deep groan tore from his throat, and he turned the car down a darkened street. Soon, he stopped the vehicle and switched off the engine.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I can’t do this anymore. I can’t keep driving when I have you on my mind.”

In one sharp move, he gathered her in his arms, bringing his face to her neck. She sighed and leaned her head back, enjoying his hot breath on her skin.

“Abby, I’ve wanted to touch you for so long,” he mumbled against her neck.

“Me, too.”
She threaded her fingers through his hair, holding his head against her.

His hands traveled over her back and arms then moved up to gently stroke her hair. He kissed her neck before sliding his lips to her mouth. When he captured her lips, she gasped. Every nerve responded to his touch. She wanted the kiss to last forever.

She leaned into him, tightening her hold around his neck. A deep moan came from him as the kiss deepened. Sighing, she enjoyed the way his lips moved with her, and because she wasn’t used to being kissed in such a fervent way, all she could do was follow his lead.

Nick pulled her closer, never taking his mouth from hers, but before she could truly enjoy the many sensations assaulting her body, a bright light shone inside the car, followed by a loud bang on the window.

Chapter 11

Nick jumped in his seat, his heart thudding so hard he was afraid it’d leap out of his chest. A bright light shone inside the car. He squinted toward the beam as he tried to see who had interrupted his first kiss with Abby.

As the light dropped lower, he found himself staring into the gruff face of a policeman. Nick groaned.
Of all the nights for this to happen.
He pulled away from Abby and lowered the window. “What can I do for you, officer? Is something wrong?”

As the policeman shined the light on the passenger seat, his eyebrows pulled together and his forehead creased. Obviously, the cop couldn’t see Abby, and Nick knew he must look ridiculous sitting in the car with his arms wrapped around—nothing—while he passionately kissed—air.

“Are you stranded?” the man questioned warily.

“No, I—” Nick glanced at Abby, whose hand covered her mouth, her eyes twinkling with mirth. “I was tired, so I pulled off the road,” he continued as he looked back at the officer.

The policeman narrowed his gaze as he focused his light on the passenger seat again. Shaking his head, he lowered the flashlight. “Well, this isn’t a very safe street to take a nap. I suggest you move on.”

Nick nodded. “Thank you, sir. I will.” He bit his lip so as not to laugh out loud. Poor policeman, what he must be thinking…

Nick waited for the policeman to drive off, but the man of the law was clearly waiting for Nick to make the first move. He sighed, started the car, and pulled away from the curb.

Beside him, Abby laughed and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m quite certain that policeman thinks he’s going daft.”

“I think you’re right.” Nick pulled her close to him once more. “I’m sorry we were interrupted, but maybe it’s a good thing. Making out in a parked car isn’t what I want to do.”

Abigail stroked his arm. “What do you want to do?”

“If this would have happened to me several months ago, I wouldn’t have a problem telling you what I want.” He glanced her way quickly before watching the road again. “But things have changed. I have changed, and what I want to do and what I
will
do are two different things. I hope you don’t think less of me if I take you back to my office now.” He squeezed her knee. “As much as I want to be with you—intimately—I think we both need time to cool off. After all, you haven’t kissed a man for nearly a century, and I—well, I just want to do things the right way.”

She cuddled closer to him. “Why would I think less of you for being a gentleman? I know men in your century do things differently, but men in my century had high standards, and they respected women. You have always reminded me of the men in my time, and I’m very glad you said what you did.”

He reached his office building, parked the car, then took Abby’s hand and escorted her up the sidewalk. He knew he looked strange since nobody else could see her, but he didn’t care.

Her beautiful eyes fluttered when she looked at him, and a blush stole across her cheeks. “Whatever it was that brought us together like this, I’m grateful for this time with you.”

He smiled. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”

They entered his office and he shut the door. Before turning on the light, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She closed her eyes and tilted her head
back,
her soft tresses cascaded over his hands seductively.

He brushed his lips over her eyelids and her nose, and then captured her mouth. The kiss he gave her this time wasn’t as passionate as the one in the car, but it still left him breathless. When he pulled away, he said tenderly, “You were made to be in my arms.”

Abby giggled. “If you really think about it, Nick, you’re kissing an extremely old woman.”

Shaking his head, he grinned. “I don’t want to think about it that way.”

“What are we going to do, Nick? How long will this last?”

“I wish I knew, my darling Abby. But we will take each day as if it were our last. We will make our time together as special as we can.”

Tears came to her eyes. “I don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want you to leave.”

“Is it too soon to tell you—” She swallowed hard. “I think I love you, Nick.”

His heart ached as he considered their uncertain future. Though he’d had many relationships with women, he’d never felt this way before. “I
know
I love you, Abby.”

Tears slipped down her cheeks as she reached up to kiss him. She flung her arms around his neck as he held her close. Joy beyond all comprehension filled him, and he never thought he would feel this way, yet he knew it wouldn’t last long. She was a ghost, destined to cross over once he found her killer. Life was so cruel and unfair.

* * * *

This is heaven!
Abigail cuddled against Nick’s chest as they sat together on the black leather couch in his office, staring out the open window. The night had passed with great difficulty, only because she couldn’t wait to see him again. Once he had arrived at the office, he had rescheduled some of his appointments just so they could spend some time together. Being in love felt so
wonderful,
and she hoped she’d get to experience more of it before she finally went to heaven.

Nick rubbed his hand slowly up and down her arm then gently kissed her neck. “I can’t get enough of you.”

Abigail smiled. “I feel the same.”

“What were you like as a girl?”

She shifted so she could look into his eyes. “Why do you ask?”

“I want to know everything about you.”

“You’re so romantic.” She smiled. “My father was very loving, but he was so busy with the newspaper that I rarely saw him. When he finally spent time with me, he spoiled me considerably. When I was older, I realized he was trying to use money to make up for his absence.”

“What kind of things did your father give you?”

She rested her head on Nick’s shoulder and relaxed. “Twice a year he took me places I had only dreamed about. I think my favorite trip was when we went to Paris. He bought me a beautiful gown. All the girls at the school were jealous, but,” she frowned, “it didn’t make up for the time we didn’t spend together.” She paused for several seconds, then asked, “Remember when I told you about personal items of mine disappearing right after my father died?”

“Yes.”

“The gown was one of them. It always hung in my closet, yet it was missing for two days. I found it in the greenhouse, if you can imagine that.”

“That doesn’t make much sense. Even if you were devastated with your father’s death, why would you put your gown there?”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Do you think someone was playing with your mind?”

Abigail shrugged. “I don’t know. Why would they? The servants were like family. They didn’t want me to lose my mind, because then Uncle Alexander would get the inheritance.”

“Very true.”

“Why someone would take my gown and not my hat is beyond me.”

“I’m thinking your hat must have been too gaudy for anyone else to wear,” Nick said with a grimace and glanced to the top of her head. “I’m glad you decided to remove that particular accessory.”

“You didn’t like my purple hat?”

“Don’t get me wrong, the color brings out your amazing blue eyes perfectly, but…well, I’m just not used to seeing women wear those styles of hats.”

“It was the popular thing in my day. Ladies didn’t leave the house without one. In fact, I competed with my friends as to who could wear the largest hat.”

“Oh, good grief.
Who won?”

“I did, of course.” She laughed. “Then again, I was probably the silliest-looking woman of all.”

“Tell me about your friends.”

He ran his fingers along the side of her face. “I didn’t have a lot of close friends who were around my age, mainly because I spent most of my extra time at the newspaper to be closer to my father. Of course, that didn’t work as well as I’d liked, but it kept me busy. The girlfriends I did have lived in my
neighborhood,
and our friendships were mostly superficial—you know, all the rich men’s daughters getting together for social events.”

“Did you ever regret not having many close girlfriends?”

“Yes, a few times. Lily was always there for me, but she was more like an aunt. There were a few ladies who worked at the newspaper who were my friends, but only if I was there with them.”

“What about boyfriends? I bet you had a lot of young men lined up at your door.”

Abigail laughed and shook her head. “You would have lost that bet then. My father kept a close eye on the boys who wanted to court me. Some were even afraid of him. Not only was my father threatening, but he had his friends and business partner watching out for me. They were so cautious. If I wanted to go out with a boy, I’d have to sneak away from the house to do it.”

Nick kissed her forehead. “Well, if I ever meet your father, remind me to thank him.”

“Why?”

“Because you might not have fallen in love with me if you had dated other men.”

She straightened and turned to face him fully. “Why would you say that? I was never attracted to the boys who wanted to court me. I knew what they were really after.”

He cocked his head. “What?”

“My father’s money.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Abby. You’re a knockout.”

She gasped and stared at him. “What? You think I’m a…boxer?”

He chuckled. “‘Knockout’ is my way of saying you’re a very beautiful woman who is more passionate than I could have ever imagined.”

She sighed and leaned against him again. “Why couldn’t I have met you before I died?”

“Probably because I wasn’t born yet.”

She laughed and kissed him. He held her head as he nibbled on her lips for a second before she pulled away. “Maybe it’s a good thing you were not alive in my time,” she said.

“Why?”

“Because all the girls would have flocked to you, and I would have never had the chance to catch your eye.”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so. You caught my eye when I first saw you in my office.”

“Only because I was dressed funny.”

“Well, that too, but the more you talked, the more mesmerized I became. There’s something about you that makes me want to be with you all the time. And your eyes are the most fascinating color I’ve ever seen. Every time I look at you, I get lost in the blue depths.”

Relaxing against him, she sighed. “Oh, Nick. You say the sweetest things.” She loved the way he made her feel more alive than when she was living. She also loved how he showed interest in her life. It’d been a while since she thought about those days. She’d wanted a beau so badly, but between her father and his manager at the newspaper.

Harry.
Such a kind, endearing man.
He was more like a favorite uncle or older brother than just a friend of her father. He watched out for her almost as much as her father did; he was almost too protective at times. She laughed and shook her head.

“What’s so funny?” Nick wondered.

“I was just thinking about Harry, my father’s good friend and business partner.”

He arched his brow. “Why would you think about him while we’re cuddling?”

She laughed. “It’s not like that at all.”

“Did you have a crush on him or something?”

She giggled. “Not likely. I never thought of him that way. He was a lot like my father, watching out for me, and wary of my friends.”

“So why were you thinking of him?”

“The day before I was killed, Harry proposed to me.”

Nick stiffened and stopped stroking her arm. “He asked you to marry him?”

“Yes. He was worried about me being alone, and he wanted to help. Apparently he thought marriage would make things better.”

“Maybe better for him, but what would you have gotten out of it?”

“Just his protection, I think. I didn’t love him in any romantic way, only like a good friend. He was much older than me. I think he was only ten years younger than my father.” Nick’s body relaxed and she cuddled close again.

“I wonder what happened to him?” he said slowly as if in deep thought. “I’m assuming he’s dead, but…I still have suspicions about that man.”

Abigail turned her head and noticed Nick’s narrowed stare and clenched jaw. “There is no need to be suspicious of Harry. He loved my father. He loved me and wanted only the best for me. He had no reason to kill me.”

A lazy smile played across Nick’s face. “So, you didn’t have any boyfriends, and you had only a few friends. What did you do for fun?”

She closed her eyes and rested her head back on his chest. “I didn’t do anything for fun. I didn’t know what fun was back then.”

“Now you do know?” he whispered against her neck.

“Hmm.”
She smiled. “I think so. Being with you has been an adventure.”