I remove my head off his chest to look into his stormy grey eyes.
“What do we do now?” I ask him.
He smiles as if he has been waiting for me to ask just that exact question.
“I think I should take you on a first date again.”
“You do, huh?”
“Absolutely. So, Miss Stewart, will you have dinner with me next weekend or the one after that?
“I would like that.”
We stand there for a few minutes holding onto each other. I’m afraid that if I let go any chance of future happiness will disappear.
“I really, really want to kiss you.” Nick mumbles.
We were always so affectionate with each other. I can’t imagine how difficult it has been for him to keep his word and act the gentleman.
“Then kiss me.”
His eyes widen before he pulls my body even closer to his, touching from thigh to chest, his heat radiating into me, bringing his head lower to mine his lips gently touch my own. The spark is there immediately, and I need to catch my breath momentarily. As soon as his mouth makes full contact with mine I’m lost, lost to the past, and my feelings for this man. It starts out slow and questioning before becoming heated, our lips moving against each other’s. I move my hands to his head where I run my fingers through his hair, reacquainting myself with the softness and feel of it. My breathing and heart rate increases and I need more, I need to feel closer to him. I feel a tear slip out of the corner of my closed eyes. Nicholas deepens it by running his tongue along my bottom lip asking for access which I grant him, accepting the intrusion of his tongue in my mouth. He tastes exactly as I remember. His scent invading me. I’m kissing Nicholas again. In all the dreams I had of him over the years they never lived up to the reality of what being in his arms and getting kissed by him actually feels like. He ravishes my mouth with his lips and tongue, his teeth nipping my lips along the way here and there before he moves to lower to my throat. I let out a moan of pleasure while my legs are weakening and struggling to keep me upright. “God, baby, I have dreamed of this for so long.” I hear him murmur against my neck. Emotions I long since closed off and locked away have come out in full force, every little memory and feeling has come alive all because of this one kiss. He could destroy me so easily again but I need to believe him when he says he won’t. I need to believe in us.
We’re so caught up in each other that neither one of us notices that the tide has come in as a large wave crashes into our legs, the force of it knocking us down. We’re soaking wet on our asses laughing.
“Even mother nature is on my side. That kiss certainly swept you off your feet.” Nick gets out through his laughter.
“Oh my God, that is so corny.”
“Let’s get back, Charlotte will be wondering where we are and getting impatient to blow the candles on her princess cake.”
He helps me up and we walk hand in hand back to my car where Wade is parked beside me. He raises an eyebrow at the condition we’re in curious to know how we ended up soaking wet.
“We’ll meet you back at the house.” Nick gets in the driver’s seat of my car turning up the heat to help dry us off and keep the cold out on the drive back.
We spot Rachael pacing the living room when we get back. “Thank goodness, Charlie was starting to get upset. Why are you both wet?”
“I’ll explain later. Let’s cut this cake. Can you get it out for me while I quickly change?”
Nick and I stand on either side of Charlotte as everyone sings happy birthday to our daughter who is in her element lapping up the attention. I glance at Nick over Charlotte’s head. He’s lovingly gazing at her as she blows out her candles. Just maybe it will work out.
Chapter 19
Nicholas
Two weeks have passed since Charlotte’s birthday. I am so ecstatic that Alannah is giving us another chance and I’m going to do everything in my power to not screw it up and make both of them happy. However it was almost over before my second chance began.
The party had wound down; only our parents were left at the house helping to clean up. I was fuming at Dennis’ interference, at him telling Alannah about what happened to that poor girl and basically pointing the finger at me so I politely asked to speak to him. We walked out to the front of the house, away from the others so as to not be overheard. His hatred makes so much more sense now as well as the things he said me over that long ago phone call.
In no uncertain terms I told him that I didn’t appreciate him trying to cause problems where there were none. Alannah is a grown woman and can make her own decisions. I also let him know that my daughter’s birthday party was not the appropriate place to open his mouth and that he should have come to me. I set him straight on a lot of things he assumed about me and told him to butt out from now on. I don’t know what I was expecting from him, he gave me nothing in return. I’m sure Alannah will have her own conversation with him about this. He looked me up and down with his hands on his hips, told me to tell his daughter he had to go, then left. As a father I can understand him wanting to protect his daughter, but he doesn’t need to worry about me hurting her again. Only time will prove that to him.
A couple of days after Charlotte’s birthday I received a Google alert on my phone. I clicked on the link to a photo of Alannah and I holding each other on the beach. Some asshole must have recognised me and snapped it. I’m grateful it was just the two of us and not on a day where Charlie was with us. That would have been a shit storm. The caption read ‘Sydney’s Bachelor Seen Embracing Ex’. At least our location wasn’t given away, so thank goodness for small mercies. I had to inform Alannah about it, in case any journalists or photographers came lurking her way. She expected something to come out eventually about the two of us but not so soon, her goal is to keep Charlotte, for lack of a better word, hidden for as long as possible which I totally agree with.
Next weekend can’t come soon enough so I can take Alannah out on an official date. I’m having so much trouble organising it. I’m so nervous, I need it to be both fun and special, something to show her how serious I am on working things out. My sister has been no help with any ideas so I may have to call my mother for some suggestions, but that will certainly be a last resort. Before I left, Alannah’s parting words brought me down from the high I was experiencing that day. “Don’t make me regret this, Nicholas. You only get this one chance.” This is why I need it to be perfect and do everything I can to not give her second thoughts or any doubts about a future together.
I’m seated behind my desk at work. It’s still very early in the morning, the building is practically empty except for a few employees and security. I need to finish going over some new contracts and designs before my meeting later today to give my decisions and approval on them. It’s far too quiet at home, the apartment is empty and dull. Every time I close my eyes to sleep I picture Alannah and Charlotte and wonder what they’re doing, so I spend more time than is healthy at the office.
My phone ringing pulls me away from the electrical plans of a building I was perusing. Picking it up I see Alannah’s name on the screen.
“Lana?” I cheerfully answer.