“Juno Properties,” Dean replied, but he didn’t want to talk about the center. Talking about the center made him sad. It was time to change the subject. “Why are you going back to France?” he asked, mildly curious about the answer. “I thought that was the whole reason you and Nick got married…so you didn’t have to go back yet?”
“Plans change,” she said with a smile and shrug, but there was something sad about her countenance.
Maybe she was regretting giving Nick all that money. “Nick can’t possibly reimburse you for the money you gave him.” Dean wanted her to know she could change her mind all she wanted, but she shouldn’t expect anything back from Nick, not even a partial refund.
“Oh, I know.” She shook her head. “I’m not expecting a reimbursement.”
Okay. Well…as long as she knew where she stood as far as the money was concerned, she could do whatever she wanted.
But he couldn’t help wondering why? What was the real reason? Dean had gotten the feeling that Lecie liked Nick, just as much as Dean knew Nick liked her. But he didn’t know Lecie well enough to ask.
Once home, Lecie surveyed the house. It looked like Nick was still living there, but she couldn’t understand why. He wouldn’t bring Ginny to her house, would he?
Of course not. Nick wasn’t that kind of guy. Lecie might not like that Nick loved someone else, but deep down she knew he was an upstanding guy.
So why was he still here?
Well, he had entered into a contract with her. He was probably trying to uphold it. It’s just that Lecie couldn’t let him lose his chance to get back with the woman he loved.
She dug her cell out of her purse and called up his number.
“Lecie…I’m so glad you’re back.” His voice slipped over her like smooth silk.
“Yes. Yes, I am.” It pierced her heart to think that soon, very soon, she wouldn’t be hearing his voice anymore.
“How’s Deidra? She come with you?”
“She’s taking care of some last-minute details,” Lecie said. “She’ll be here tomorrow.” And they’d be leaving for France by the end of the week. She just had to figure out a way to get Nick to take back the percentage of Hang Ten that he’d given her. “Are you very busy?” she wondered. “I really need to talk to you.”
“I can be at the house in five,” he said.
Lecie disconnected the call and tossed her phone onto the couch. She drew in a deep breath, hoping it’d bring her enough courage to keep her dignity about her and not make a fool of herself when Nick arrived.
Just remember, she coached herself, he loves someone else. She prayed Ginny didn’t insist on coming along.
The five minutes it took Nick to get there was just enough time for Lecie to get herself sufficiently worked up. She should never have let herself get mixed up with him in the first place. She might be young, and a little naïve, but she knew full well the feelings she’d had for Nick before she let Camille and Tasha talk her into asking Dean—Nick’s best friend—to marry her.
Nick rushed through the front door, hardly able to believe how excited he was that Lecie was back. He shouldn’t be—and for more reasons than it was a bad idea to get hooked on her—but he was. It shouldn’t matter to him, but her being back was the one thing that made the prospect of losing the community center bearable.
She was standing by the fireplace, trying to smile. She was probably still feeling the effects of Deidra’s grandmother’s passing.
“Lecie…” He went to her and wrapped his arms around her. That was a bad idea too, but he did it anyway. “I’m so glad you’re home.”
She was a little reluctant at first, but after a couple of seconds, her arms wrapped slowly around him until finally she held on like she was holding on for dear life. That made Nick’s heart sing.
“Everything go okay while I was gone?” She pulled away and went to the couch. He followed her. “Did I miss anything?” she asked.
Nick sat beside her and shook his head. “It was pretty boring around here without you.”
“So what did you want to talk to me about?” she asked. She was so distant, so aloof, and Nick had to wonder why. What happened to the fun-loving girl who lit up like a Christmas tree every time he came into the room? Where was that girl? Nick wanted her back.
“Oh…it was nothing.” He chuckled, buying time to come up with something plausible. “I just wanted to take you out to dinner…” He was making it up as he went along. He liked that idea so he ran with it. “To show my appreciation for you stepping in and helping out at the Hang Ten.”
For a second, she looked at him like she didn’t believe him, but before he got around to throwing out a few more sensible explanations, she said in a sad, lonely sort of tone, “You’re such a nice guy, Nick.”
He didn’t know what to make of that. That’s the phrase most girls used when they’re getting ready to dump you. But if she dumped him, where would that leave her? She couldn’t be dumping him—at least not yet. “Well, you did a good thing and you deserve to be rewarded.”
“So do you.” She nodded, and seemed so sad about something. Deidra’s grandmother? He had no way of knowing. She looked like she was about to cry when she said, “I’ve been awfully selfish.” She shook her head and turned away from him.
“You? Selfish?” He said on the edge of impatience. “You don’t have a selfish bone in your body, girl.”
“I took advantage of you.” She looked at him. “I shouldn’t have done that.”
“What do you mean you took advantage of me?” He laughed nervously.
“I knew you needed money.”
“I’m responsible for my own actions,” he said. “You didn’t twist my arm. I entered into this agreement as a willing participant.”
“Yes, and now you’re stuck.” She stared at him with a blank look.
“Just for a few more months.” He paused. “Then we’re both free to do as we please.”
“A lot can happen in a few months.” She shook her head. “I shouldn’t hold you to that.”
“We made a deal. Signed a contract.” Nick spoke in a steady, lower-pitched voice. “I take that kind of thing seriously.”
“Look, if you want out,” she said. “All you have to do is say the word and we’ll end this thing tomorrow.”