Page 14 of Nico (Members From Money Season 2, #154)

A whole month had passed since the terrible time at her home where he had told her goodbye.

Four weeks of agonizing and heartbreaking pain where she would spend her nights falling to pieces.

At least, he had not been seen around town, except a photo in the papers of him and his daughter at a skating rink.

The story had been leaked to the press about him discovering that he had a daughter after the fact.

They had also speculated on the relationship between Sadie and Nico. A few enterprising reporters had even called for comments. She had brushed them off with the statement that they were just friends. That had not fooled anyone, but she did not care.

Andre had not been satisfied until he got the entire thing out of her.

"Honey, why didn't you fight for him? Are you against children? It's not like the mother is still in the picture, is she?"

"No." She would rather not talk about it, but Andre was not as easy to brush off as the press. "It's complicated."

He rolled his eyes at that. "You're being evasive."

"I'm being impatient. I don't want to talk about it."

"You look miserable."

"That's because you're bombarding me with questions."

"And I will continue to do so, until I get the truth out of you." He had set his face in that stubborn line which told her he wasn't going to budge.

So, she had spilled everything.

"He broke up with you. The guy was all the way in. I know love when I see it and he had it big time."

"Things changed."

"He has a daughter, big deal."

"It is a big deal."

"Unless you're not into children." He peered at her curiously. "Are you?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. I never decided if I wanted to be a mother."

"Just because your bitch of a mother did not get parent of the year award, should not stop you from having any. You're nothing like her."

She had to smile at that. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. It's clear that you love the guy."

"Intensely attracted."

He rolled his eyes and snorted. "Please. At least credit me with some intelligence. Even a blind man on heroin could see that the two of you fit. He could not keep his eyes off you or his hands for that matter. Don't be stupid and let him slip out of your fingers."

"You sound like my mother."

He looked so genuinely insulted that she had to laugh.

"Now you're trying to piss me off."

"She gave me an exceedingly long lecture about letting a 'good man' slip out of my hands. Also said Nico wasn't going to remain single for very long."

"I have to agree with her there. The guy is vastly appealing in a scholarly sort of way. Very cute and definitely gorgeous. He's also a single parent with all that money and the art thing going on. An obvious catch."

"I don't give a damn about his money." She felt weary and drained. He had been calling her, but she was not taking his calls. He had left her several messages, and she hadn't responded. A clean break was what they needed.

Now she was feeling a little steadier. And had met someone.

Robert Wilson was a banker and had wandered into the gallery a week ago when he accompanied his sister to a showing.

He had approached her and started asking about several pieces and then invited her for coffee.

Which had been followed up by dinner at an Italian restaurant.

He was sweet and kind and uncomplicated, just what she needed. He knew about her and Nico because their photos had been in the papers, but he never pressed her for more information.

He was a distraction and exactly what she needed.

Most of all, he wasn't an artist, which was a big plus.

*****

"She's an artist." Nico looked pleased as he studied the drawing pad his daughter had filled with sketches of her dolls and the flowers beneath her window at the manor.

It was almost Christmas, and the manor had been decorated with a towering tree in the main living room, with several smaller ones in some of the other rooms.

His mother and sister had gone all out with the shopping and Gracie had enough clothing to open her own department store.

A nanny had been hired and was living at the manor to be at the little girl's beck and call whenever she needed anything.

But Nico and his family made sure to spend quality time with the little girl.

"She sure is." Nadine commented as she peered down at the picture of a dog Gracie was drawing.

"She has been asking for a doggie."

"What does mother have to say about it?" He asked, handing her a glass of wine.

His cottage looked nothing like what it had looked like before.

A housekeeper had been assigned, and this one was sticking.

Only his work area was off limits. He had child proofed the various areas and had a room decorated for when his daughter comes over for the weekend.

His social life was non-existent, but he preferred it that way.

When he was not working, he was getting to know his daughter and discovering that he had fallen in love with her.

She was so much like him in the way she would focus on a task to the exclusion of anything else. But the ache in his heart was not going anywhere. He missed Sadie with a keenness that was designed to drive him crazy. Nothing dulled the pain, and he had given up on trying to erase her from his mind.

Nadine smiled as she sipped her wine. "She's all for it."

"Daddy, I want a cute puppy." Gracie looked up from her drawing and sent him that soulful look out of her bottle green eyes.

It still gave him a jolt when she called him daddy.

"A puppy is a lot of responsibility." He told her solemnly. "It needs food and warmth and a place to live, not on your bed. It also needs to be trained. Do you understand all of that?"

She nodded, eyes swinging to Nadine. "Aunt Nadine and Grams say they would help."

"Is that right?" He sent his sister a look that spoke volumes.

"Can I have a puppy, please?"

"We'll see."

Taking that to mean she was definitely getting her wish, she abandoned her chair and launched herself in his arms, almost spilling his wine.

"Easy, I haven't said yes."

"I love you daddy."

The words stunned him enough to have him going still and he felt his throat getting tight.

It took him a minute to get himself together and said it back to her.

"I love you too sweetheart."

His heart felt full. The unqualified, unconditional love of a child was a lot to take in. Glancing over at his sister, he met her look of understanding. Wrapping an arm around his daughter, he kissed the top of her head.

*****

He finally decided that it was time to confront her. She wasn't answering his calls or responding to his messages and dammit, he missed her so much, he was suffering. Agonizingly. Nothing was working. Not work, not even the time he was spending with his daughter, as enchanting as she was.

So, Friday night, he handed over his daughter to her very grateful grandmother and was dressed and out the house in under an hour.

The wind was biting. Christmas was three days away and his mother was planning a party, something he wasn't looking forward to. But she was also planning a family breakfast, and he had promised to spend the holidays at the manor, so he could spend the time with family.

Handing his key fob to the valet, he pulled his long overcoat around him and headed for the building. He was planning on going to the club but was not certain he was in the mood for socializing.

By the time he reached the glass doors, his heart was racing.

It had been more than a month since that fateful day at her place, when they had parted and it felt like years.

An attendant opened the door for him and took his jacket.

Giving a nod of thanks, he stepped through the foyer and into the main room.

People were milling around. Ignoring the curious looks cast his way, he scanned the room and saw her instantly.

His heart slowed and then picked up speed as he stared at her hungrily.

She was wearing black. A snug black wool dress that came just short of her knees to meet her boots.

Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and she was chatting up someone and gesturing with one slender hand.

He felt the piercing straight through his heart and wanted to devour her.

He had taken two steps towards her, when she turned and saw him.

For a second, the atmosphere seemed to freeze, and it was as if they were the only two people in the room.

He saw naked pleasure flash on her face before it was carefully schooled.

She came to meet him, a polite smile pinned to lips coated in dull red.

"Nico. What a pleasant surprise."

"Is it?" He wanted to haul her into his arms and ravish her lips. It must have shown on his face because she took a step back.

"There's been a lot of interest shown in..."

"I don't give a damn about that." He growled. He did not care that they were the center of attention, nothing mattered except that he was near her. Within touching distance and oh how he wanted to! "I've been calling..."

"How's your little girl?" Sadie felt as if she was suffocating. She had to get away from him. He was wearing a thin black sweater over wrinkled jeans, and his hair was unkempt as usual. Her finger itched to brush the strands off his forehead.

"She's fine. Adjusting. Look..."

"Oh, here is Robert!" She reached for the man and almost dragged him forward. "Robert Wilson, this is Nico Coulter."

Aware of the tension emanating from the couple, he smiled and held out a hand. "I have been admiring a few of your pieces. Especially the mother and child. Very endearing and heartfelt. Makes you want to own it."