Page 18 of The Rough Ride (Sanctuary, Inc. #3)

L iz’s hand trembled as she tasted the crockpot stroganoff and turned the knob to warm.

The wide noodles and roast vegetable medley sat on a countertop warming tray alongside the garlic bread wrapped in aluminum foil, with a note to remind her to bake for ten minutes.

She’d pop them into the oven while she and Nick talked and enjoyed their wine.

If only her nerves would settle down. She’d been popping antacids all afternoon.

Ella entertained herself with the pull toys on her sit-and-spin. More verbal every day, she cooed and babbled in her own baby language with an occasional tug at the bow on her one curl of blonde hair.

Liz grinned. If she were lucky, Ella would tolerate the bow until Nick arrived.

Her little princess had already eaten supper and wore an adorable, pink onesie pajama with an attached lace ruffle.

Liz only needed to nurse and change her before bedtime.

Once Ella was down, she’d focus solely on Nick.

She wiped her sweaty hands on a paper towel.

Stop stressing. She’d planned this night for a year and had rehearsed what she was going to say dozens of times over the past couple days.

She’d explain everything. The other night at his apartment had convinced her.

They were still good and understood each other.

It gave the hope she’d clung to for so long a set of wings.

“Alright, sweetie, I’m outta here. Off to the beach with my friends.” Arlene rolled a small suitcase into the kitchen and swung her purse over a shoulder. “I’ll be home Monday evening. I love Labor Day weekend. It allows me a chance to stay at the beach an extra day.”

Liz pulled her mom into a hug. “Thanks for giving me the house for the weekend and for your help with the recipes. Wish me luck.”

Arlene kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Are you kidding? I’m so excited to get away for the weekend. I can’t wait to have a Long Island iced tea on the beach and sit in a hot tub. It’s that much sweeter knowing you and Nick will be here making things right. Call if you need me, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.” She wouldn’t call Arlene under any circumstance.

Her mom beamed like sunshine with her beach hat askew from their hug. She carried her suitcase down the back steps and rolled it toward her friends waiting down the alley.

Liz hurried into the house in time to hear the doorbell ring. Her heart gave a thud. He’s here. She glanced at Ella still playing contentedly. She’d have given anything to be as peaceful and happy as her daughter right then.

She stopped by the foyer mirror, tossed her hair, and wiped her once-again sweaty palms on her jeans. It’s all good. She’d get through this somehow. She opened the door.

“Hey, gorgeous.” Nick held flowers and wine in one hand and snaked his other arm around her waist and pulled her in for a kiss. “How’s my girl tonight?”

The trace of his lips against hers helped her forget for a quick second why she’d initiated this night.

She placed a hand on his chest and leaned in, savoring each spark and sensation.

He tasted like peppermint and the scent he wore—yummy layers of ocean and pine.

When he broke the kiss, she let her nose wander down to his chest while she slid her hands to the waistband of his trousers. Forget dinner. She was hungry for him .

He whispered in her ear, “I hope you’re going to invite me in because I’ve got an impressive boner right now. I’ll scare the neighbors and the dogs.”

She laughed. Something she’d seldom done this past year. “After a greeting like that, I wouldn’t dream of leaving you outside to face the hounds of the neighborhood.” She stepped back and accepted the wine, waving him in.

“The house smells incredible. You really can cook something besides me, huh?” He wiped his feet and winked.

She grinned. “Watch yourself, buddy. There’s still time for me to burn it.

” She forged ahead with her plan. “I need to talk to you about something, Nick. Could we sit on the couch for a few?” There was a clatter in the kitchen, and she wheeled around to make sure Ella was okay when she heard the familiar voice.

“Hal-loo? You-hoo…just me. I know your mother is out of town this weekend, and I stopped by to say hi.”

Oh, no. Liz rushed into the kitchen. “It’s not a good time, Vera,” she blurted.

“That’s okay, dearie. If you need any help with your daughter this weekend, you let me know. My number’s on the fridge. Where is the little munchkin? I just wanted to see how much she’s grown while I’ve been in Florida. Then I’ll get out of your hair.”

The air whooshed from Liz’s lungs. Heat flooded her face. She braced her hands on the counter as Nick’s slow footsteps echoed on the tile floor.

“Well, hello there, young man,” Vera drawled as she removed her sunglasses. “I’m Vera, and you are?”

“I’m Nick, ma’am. If you don’t mind, we were just about to sit down to dinner. Stop back another time, perhaps?”

The ice in his voice made Liz’s blood run cold.

“Well sure, I’ll stop by later in the weekend.” Vera cast a glare at Nick and opened the screen door. “You let me know if I can do anything to help out, Lizzie, okay?”

Liz nodded and forced a small smile for her mother’s friend. “Thanks, Vera.” She closed the door, locked it, and hung her head in dismay. All that planning shot to hell .

A dangerous silence hung in the room like thick fog.

“ She’s beautiful. I take it this is what or should I say who you wanted to talk about tonight?”

She turned to find Nick squatting in front of Ella’s sit-and-spin with her little fist wrapped around one of his fingers. Her daughter stared at Nick with a fixed intensity. Must be the deep voice. Come to think of it, Ella had rarely interacted with men.

“I didn’t mean for you to find out this way. I’m so sorry.” Sorry was only the beginning of it.

Nick’s hand shot out, stopping her. “Need a minute.”

She went mute. She’d only gotten the hand two times in ten years. Once when she totaled his car in high school, and again, right after she’d refused his proposal in Paris. She fidgeted with a pot holder, twisting and folding it with her fingers. The silence roared for an uncomfortable few minutes .

“Did you do this because I couldn’t,” he inhaled sharply, “ wouldn’t give you a child?” He ran his hands down his face.

Her chin lifted. “Her name is Ella, and she wasn’t planned. She just happened.” Oh wow, that sounded really bad. Desperation flooded her mind. She couldn’t even begin to remember the speech she’d rehearsed.

“Just happened.” His voice drifted off. “Did you give birth or adopt her?”

“No adoption, the old-fashioned way.” The loop on the corner of the pot holder broke, and Liz tossed it on the counter.

It wasn’t the only thing broken tonight, judging by the pain etched across his face.

She straightened and took a deep breath.

At some point, he’d have to look at her, and she braced herself.

“Ella is my greatest achievement in life, Nick. She’s way beyond the Purple Heart I received. She gave me a reason to pull myself together after Iraq. I hope I’m half the mother to her that Arlene has been for me.”

“So, this is who your mom has been babysitting?”

“Yes.” Her cheeks warmed again at his mention of her lie of omission. Shit.

“And this is why you wouldn’t stay at my place the other night?” He traced a finger down Ella’s chubby cheek.

“Yes. Well, I’m still nursing her. Sleepovers have to be planned in advance.” Did she just call staying at his place a sleepover? Like they were eight? Her boobs started to ache, and she crossed her arms.

He stood, shoved his hands in his trouser pockets and gazed at Ella. “She’s pretty—looks just like you.”

“You think so? I don’t see the resemblance at all.

I guess she looks like herself. It’s amazing how fast she’s growing.

” Oh God help her, she was babbling. Liz swallowed hard.

Seeing Nick and Ella in the same room brought tears to her eyes.

She’d dreamed of it. But, good lord, not with this kind of introduction.

He gave a sardonic laugh. “Is this why you wanted an open relationship?” He turned around and pierced her with a stare.

It was worse than she expected. His eyes cut into hers like slashes of watery, dark flint. His lips were a grim line.

All of her good reasons crumbled into flimsy excuses. “Absolutely not. I didn’t plan to get pregnant. I wanted the open relationship for you. I couldn’t commit knowing that you didn’t want children. Kids are a big deal, Nick. Maybe there was someone out there who felt just like you.”

He nodded. “So, Ella is why you’ve been avoiding me since I came home? The reason behind us always meeting at parks and restaurants?”

“Yes. I wasn’t ready to tell you.” Fat, sorrow-laden tears rolled down her cheeks. She whisked them away. The betrayal on his face cut her to the core. “I couldn’t figure out how or when to say something.”

He shook his head. “You had to work really hard to keep me from knowing about her.”

Understatement of the year. “I know. I’m so sorry. I had my reasons, but right now, I’m not proud of them.” The tension in the room was stifling. Even Ella felt it, and her lip quivered.

“I kept the baby awake to meet you, but it’s past her bedtime. It’ll take me about fifteen minutes to um, get her settled. Will you wait?”

He fixed a dark gaze on her. “I’m a combat soldier, Liz. So are you. I’m not about to cut and run with a skirmish at hand.”

A rush of dread—or was it hope?—bolted through her stomach. If he left, she could nurse her wounds in privacy. If he stayed, she’d need to face—what? An ultimatum ?

She wiped her clammy hands on her pants. “I don’t want to fight, Nick.”

He nodded. “Me either. But an explanation would be damn helpful right about now.” He strolled to the counter and started opening the bottle of wine.