A Special Summer (Love Conquers All) (9 page)

Summer stared at Nick like he had two heads. “I have to get home
now
.”
I wouldn’t be out here in this mess if it weren’t for you,
she wanted to scream at him, but knew better not to.

“Not by yourself, you’re not. Sit back down and give me a few seconds. I’ll take you home.”

It was more of a command than a request. Although she couldn’t stand to be in that office another millisecond, obediently Summer sat back down. It was becoming too much of a chore being around Nick, his attitude and behavior toward her was becoming more unpredictable.

Placing his briefcase on the desk, he put files along with that awful document inside before closing it. Nick doubt a courier service would make any last minute runs. The document was too sensitive not to be in his possession until it could be delivered to Mr. Steinberg.

Standing up behind his desk, walking over to the coat rack grabbing his coat and scarf, donning them, and then snatching the briefcase he said, “Let’s go.”

Standing at the curb on Eighteenth and Walnut, Summer’s teeth chattered as she waited for Nick to bring his vehicle to the front of the office building. She could have waited inside the lobby, but decided not to. She was in a hurry to get home and away from Nick. The sooner she could hop in the car, the sooner and closer to home she would be. Wrapping her

arms as far as they could go around her body, vigorously rubbing herself trying to generate heat, Summer was praying Nick would hurry. The black Benz rounding the corner and easing to a slow stop with flashing hazard lights was the best sight she’d seen all day. Well, with the

exception of Nick’s handsome face. Despite their present circumstances, she still thought he was the finest man she’d ever laid eyes on.

Effortlessly, Nick swung the door open taking long strides to the curb where Summer was. Quickly his arm went snuggly around what used to be a tiny waist as he pulled her close to him. The last thing he wanted was for her to slip and fall on the icy covered ground and hurt herself or the baby.

Summer tensely flinched and nearly lost her balance. She hadn’t expected him to touch her like that. Take her by the hand maybe, but not wrap his arm around her. It had been so long since she’d been anywhere near having his arms around her.

Nick gently tightened his hold on her. “Whoa, careful now you don’t want to fall.” A grim expression covered his face when she flinched. It had been the second time in less than an hour she had recoiled at his touch; a touch that at one time ignited her passion.
Does she think I’m going to hurt her? She knows I would never do that to her. Doesn’t she?

Gingerly, Nick guided Summer to the vehicle and helped her inside without any further mishaps. His mind was elsewhere, still tripping over how she was responding to him. He hadn’t heard Summer when she thanked him for helping her in the car.

Summer’s heart sank when Nick never acknowledge her thanks. She couldn’t win. It seemed at every turn she did or said something to irritate him. The grim expression his handsome

features wore when she flinched at his touch said it all. What was wrong with him? He act as if the last time he saw her they were in each other’s arms.
Humph, he was the one who told me ‘take your hands off of me.’
So why was he looking all perplexed?

Traffic was gridlock. Nick turned to KYW to get the latest traffic report. With the storm blowing into the city earlier than previously forecasted, all bridges leading into and out of the city were closing, public transportation was being cancelled and all government offices were closing. The reporter advised the public to stay indoors because the roads had become increasingly dangerous as the snowfall steadily accumulated at a rapid pace.

Summer felt like a noose was being tied around her neck. Gripping the side of the leather armrest, the knuckles on her left hand turned white as her right hand slowly inched to press the button, automatically rolling down the window a bit. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe. As soon as the cool air rushed into the window, Summer took a deep breath to get the welcomed oxygen into her lungs. She did this a few more times until she felt she was able to breathe comfortably again.
This can’t be happening, not now
. If she had taken the subway she would have been to Fern Rock by now. From there the walk wouldn’t have been too bad. On a good day, she had done the walk in fifteen minutes. So what if it would’ve taken her a little longer. Besides, she had the option of taking a cab home from the train station.

Glancing sideways at Nick and taking in his strong profile wondering,
why is it every time I do as you tell me I find myself getting into a big mess?
Regret immediately swept through her as she rubbed her belly. She had just referred to her baby as a ‘big mess.’

As Nick switched the radio back to the jazz station, the rush of cold air drew his attention to the partially opened window, then to Summer. Her dainty nostrils were slightly flared as she took in deep breaths. Further inspection revealed tiny beads of sweat on her brow she hadn’t

bother to wipe away and a petite hand gripping the armrest so tight he was sure fingernail prints would be left in the soft leather.

“If you’re hot I can turn the heat down or off.”

“I’m fine now.”

Nick studied her stiff profile. “You sure?”

Summer nodded her head. “Yes.”

Nick knew she was far from being
fine.
She would probably be fine with swimming in the middle of the ocean with sharks than to be in such tight quarters with him.

Nick shrugged his shoulders and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers to the tune of the song playing on the radio. He was never going to get Summer from Center City to Oak Lane with the magnitude of the blizzard. Now was just as good as any time to tell her since they hadn’t moved two blocks in the last ten minutes.

“You know you’re not going to make it home.”

“I know,” Summer whispered. As she peered out the passenger side window, a single tear slid down her cheek. Quickly she wiped it away before Nick could see it. She hadn’t been quick enough though. He saw the tear before it even fell.

A fifteen-minute drive to Nick’s waterfront penthouse had taken over an hour because of the bumper-to-bumper congestion. Everyone on the roadways was trying to make it home in what was becoming the worst storm of the season.

The congested traffic irritated Nick to no end. Silently the pair rode the elevator to the top floor, twenty-four stories. As they stepped off the elevator into a contemporary living room, Summer was glued to the spot where she stood.

At one time, Nick’s penthouse had been like a second home to her. She was familiar with every square foot of the spacious luxury dwelling. However, this did nothing for the level of uneasiness she was presently experiencing. Summer felt out of place, she wanted nothing more than to be at home curled up on the sofa drinking hot chocolate as she watched old movies.

It was written all over her face, she’d rather walk on hot coals barefoot than be secluded with Nick in his tower.

As he shrugged off his coat, he instructed Summer to do the same. Trudging in the snow and then waiting in it had completely saturated her pants from the ankles up to her mid-calves. She was not surprised when he said, “Your pants are wet. You need to take them off.”

Summer looked down to inspect her pants, which was useless; her protruding belly obscured her view. She had been so preoccupied with thoughts of home she hadn’t noticed the

wet cold fabric clinging to her legs. As she sneezed covering her mouth, “Aaachewww!” her mother’s words admonished her again.

Nick said, “Bless you,” as he gestured for Summer to hand him her coat.

“Thank you.”

“Come with me.” Turning and going to the hall closet, hanging up their coats he made his way to his bedroom with Summer lagging behind. Dreading every step, her legs became heavy upon entering the master bedroom suite. The instant she stepped across the threshold memories of being with Nick invaded and crowded every corner of her mind. If she could turn back the hands of time, she would’ve never made the fatal mistake of treading onto forbidden territory.

After months of dating, Nick remained a perfect gentleman. Summer, however knew it was just a matter of time before they’d become intimate. Every kiss, hug, and caress wore down her resistance. In the beginning the tiny voice in her head warned,
don’t do it.
After months of kisses, hugs, and caresses, the tiny voice became a faint whisper, hardly audible. When she decided to take the plunge, share his bed, the voice was buried so deep she never heard its pleas.

Nick was a drug to Summer. She was a clean vessel tasting an illicit substance. And like many addicts the first time was a bit awkward, but nevertheless enticing enough, exhilarating enough, to keep going back for more. The addiction was so strong she let fundamentals she’d been raised with like going to church fall by the wayside. Whenever she asked, “Why don’t you go to church with me on Sunday?” The answer was always, “I’m not ready for that yet,” which was always followed up with a suggestion to go to a jazz brunch, an afternoon game to see the Sixers or to play a couple sets of racquetball. Initially she tried to resist but the Jones for her drug was too strong, too overpowering.

“Summer?”

The baritone sound of her name snapped her back to the present.

“Huh?”

Nick handed her a tee shirt. “Here, put this on.”

Summer’s hands fumbled nearly dropping the tee shirt as Nick brushed pass her into the walk-in closet to grab a pair of jeans before he left the room.

♥♥♥

Nick snatched the cordless phone out its base on the kitchen wall.

The pickup came on the second ring.

“What’s up man?”

“What up with you? You’re the one who called me,” Kevin chortled.

Letting out a deep breath deciding to jump straight into it he said, “Summer’s here.” Nick paced the floor and waited for Kevin’s response. He always had something to say.

“Where?”

“Here…with me.”

“Get the hell out of here!”

“Wish I could but I can’t.” Ending his pacing, Nick leaned against the sink.

“Man, what is she doing at your place?”

“She came down to my office to bring the paternity consent.”

Deep. Summer actually signed it, poor girl. What is up with my man?
Kevin talked to him until he had a migraine and was blue in the face. He’d told Nick to wait until he simmered down a bit before he presented Summer with the document. But as usual, when Nick had his mind set on something, he had the tenacity of a bulldog.

“Man…you made that girl come downtown… eight months pregnant… on public transportation… to bring you a piece of paper?”

Nick cringed at his best friend’s accusing tone. “I know man, I know…I was wrong.” A hint of regret laced his voice.

“Wrong for what, Nick, making her come downtown in a blizzard? Or making her sign that damn paper?”

Nick’s tone was tight as he clipped out every word. “For making her come downtown. You know how I feel about the paternity thing man. So don’t even go there.”

He’s a lost cause.
Changing the subject, Kevin wanted to know, “So how is Summer? Can I talk to her?”

Dragging his hand down his face, Kevin was pushing it as usual. “Man, she’s driving me crazy. And no, you can’t talk to her.”

“Driving you crazy?” There was an air of amusement in Kevin’s voice. Nick was a trip. He was the one who insisted the poor girl come to his office with the threat of a snowstorm. Serves him right, Kevin thought.

“Man, I’m so confused. She looks so pitiful. I want to take her in my arms one minute and tell her everything’s going to be okay. But then I look at her big belly and get pissed off all over again. I don’t know if I can take having her here…so close.”

“Well you should’ve thought about that before you made her come out knowing a damn storm was coming. If you had, Summer would be home and you’d be alone.”

“Yeah, I hear you man. To make matters worse every time I say something to her she jumps like a spooked cat.”

Grunting into the phone, Kevin warned, “Stop acting like a damned beast and maybe the poor girl will relax some. You need to chill and lightening up a bit.”

As much as he wanted to cuss Kevin out, he refrained himself. He knew he meant well. But Kevin would never understand how much this thing with Summer was affecting him. At least not until something like this happened to him. The way Kevin chased skirts he’d have a heart attack if one of those skirts told him he was about to get caught up in some baby momma drama.

“Listen, Kevin, man I need to go.”

“A’ight man. I’ll check you later.

“Later.”

Slowly Summer stripped out of her clothes. She took her time to remove every piece. The longer she took, the longer she delayed seeing
him.
She pulled on the oversized tee shirt then padded over to the huge walk-in closet.
I know I look a hot mess.
Opening the door to the closet, staring at her reflection in the full-length mirror that hung on the back of the door, she groaned, “I am so fat.” Her protruding belly making the tee shirt rise higher than normal made her suddenly uncomfortable with her expanding body. She shrugged slim shoulders. “Oh well.” Stepping back, gently closing the door, she picked up her wet clothes and headed to find Nick.