Page 7 of The Rough Ride (Sanctuary, Inc. #3)
T he doorbell rang and Liz called out, “I’ll get it, Mom.” A satisfied Ella slept in her arms as she glanced in the peephole before opening the door.
Her body froze. Nick.
Oh shit! What was he doing here? Her pulse sprinted. He always called first or tried to set up a weekend rendezvous. She looked left—right—bewilderment seized her and she hurried down the hallway to Arlene’s bedroom.
“Liz, what’s wrong?” Arlene dropped the book she was reading and stood. “Honey?”
“Nick’s at the front door, Mom. You’ve got to take Ella to Louise’s for a little while. Please, please, hurry,” she panted. She placed the sleeping Ella into her mother’s arms and swung the diaper bag across Arlene’s shoulder.
“Oh, no you don’t, Elizabeth. You’ve got to tell him about Ella, honey. If he wants you, she’s part of the deal now.” The doorbell rang again.
“Mom, please!” The harsh, whispered command sounded odd to Liz’s ears. Her mom deserved so much better. “We’ll discuss it later, but he hates kids. You’ve got to go—now.” She gave Arlene a gentle push and checked to make sure she had shoes on her feet. Tennis shoes. They’d do.
Arlene reluctantly moved toward the kitchen. “I want you to tell him, Liz. He has a right to know. He doesn’t hate kids. He was abused.”
Liz opened the back door and waved an arm for her mother to get moving into the alley.
“I’m so sorry. I’ll make it up to you, somehow.
” She kissed Arlene’s cheek, shut the kitchen door, raced into the living room, picked up a baby blanket, pacifier, booties and a book on the first year of life and threw them into the hall closet.
The bell rang for the third time followed by a series of short knocks. Her heart galloped like a Preakness winner. She pasted a smile on her face and heaved a deep breath before opening the door.
“Nick—hey, what a surprise.”
She ran a hand through her hair as coherent words fled her mind.
Nothing prepared her for all six-foot-three of her Nick in a suit and tie.
It was even better than his military dress uniform.
Those piercing blue eyes, broad shoulders, and powerful chest all framed in a subtle black pin-stripe suit. His only accessory was a sexy smile.
“Hey yourself, beautiful.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead, pressing a huge bouquet of vibrant flowers into her arms. “For you.”
Liz took a step back from the sheer size of the bouquet.
“Wow, they’re stunning—thank you. You want to come in while I put them in some water?
” She still couldn’t get over the shock of seeing him in a suit.
Her heart beat faster than when she’d been running around. Just the sight of him made her dizzy .
“I was hoping you’d ask.” He stepped into the foyer. “Sorry to drop in on you like this.”
“No, you’re not. You planned this, Nick Flannery.” She laughed. “Does this surprise visit have anything to do with my text to you earlier today?”
“Damn straight, it does. I was looking for an excuse to come down and see you.”
She bit her lip as he peeked into the dining room. One of Ella’s little pink bears grinned from under the table.
“There’s a baby swing in there. You got a friend staying here or something?”
Crap. She’d forgotten all about it. Her brain froze mid-thought as her heart pounded. “Umm, my mom’s been doing some babysitting lately.” She hurried toward the kitchen and filled a vase with water.
“I remember you telling me she’d downsized after your dad passed away. This is a nice place, babe. I haven’t seen your mom in what, two years? How’s she doing?” He leaned against the kitchen island and crossed his arms.
“She’s good. She likes being retired and young enough to really enjoy it.” Liz trimmed a long hydrangea stem and tucked it into the vase. She glanced over her shoulder and caught him staring at her. “What?”
He loosened his tie. “Have you been doing yoga or some new exercise program you learned in rehab?”
“No, why?” She threw a pile of stems and leaves in the garbage.
“You’ve got curves, girl. Lookin’ good.” He shoved the tie into his jacket pocket.
“What?” Her cheeks warmed. He’d noticed the sixteen pounds that were the curse of her existence .
“Seriously. You look terrific.” He smiled as he removed his suit jacket and draped it over a kitchen chair.
She cleared her throat. “Thank you.”
He rolled up a shirt sleeve.
Her mouth went dry. If he removed another piece of clothing or gave her a peek at the tats on his arm, she’d dissolve into a pool of molten lust on the kitchen floor.
Her hands shook and ached for one touch.
She spun around to keep her wits about her and cleaned the counter. A gargantuan task with him in the room.
He came from behind, slid his arms around her waist and set his cheek on top of her head. “I’ve missed you.”
She sucked in her stomach as his hands locked over the softness where Ella had grown. She trembled with anticipation as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her right temple, then her cheek. She slid her hands up and down his forearms, heaved a deep sigh, and leaned back against his chest.
No matter how long they’d been apart, it was always this way.
Their unique intimacy rose from the ashes like midnight embers in a fireplace.
One touch, and they flared. Hot tears stung the backs of her eyes.
If she turned around and faced him, he’d nibble her bottom lip until she was blind with need and opened to him.
She would not turn around.
She and Ella needed forever. They were a pair.
They’d been together ever since she’d awoken in Germany with a doctor murmuring in monotone that he’d removed her foot to lower-calf.
Then something about lost blood supply, shattered bone and, oh, she was pregnant—very early.
Might not remain a viable pregnancy considering the trauma, the blood loss, the drugs. She had options.
“Get out,” she’d snapped at his emotionless face. He’d had the bedside manner of a salt shaker. She leaned over the side of the bed and got sick once he’d left.
Nick massaged her shoulders. “Let’s talk, go get a bite to eat.”
She stepped away from his comforting warmth, shaking off the memories.
“Yeah, that’d be nice.” Sex wasn’t on the menu, but a huge slab of chocolate cake would be a somewhat tolerable substitute. She placed the magnificent vase of flowers on the kitchen table, swung her purse over a shoulder, and followed Nick out the door.
She paused on the front porch and texted her mom that it was safe to come home.