Needing Nicole (The Cantrelle Family Trilogy Book 2) (13 page)

He couldn’t remember when he’d last felt this way. The only experience at all similar was when he was a sophomore in high school and Susan Richardson, the most beautiful girl at his school, had been his date for a big dance. He’d been so excited, and so hopeful, and so scared. Jack could still recall exactly how he’d felt when he’d kissed her, how his hands had shaken, how his heart had pounded.

He felt exactly the same way now.

Only now he was a grown man, and the feelings were much more powerful.

Nicole Cantrelle was as dangerous to his equilibrium and his future as a stick of dynamite wired to go off at the first touch.

Michaul’s was more and less than Jack had expected. It was not pretentious at all. The floors were bare, the tables were plain, the decor was more warehouse than restaurant. But the band, three young Cajun men and a thin woman who played the washboard, were terrific. Their music was infectious and toe-tapping, although Jack couldn’t understand a word they were singing. They all sounded as if they had mouths full of marbles.

He and Nicole had arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early, so they were already seated close to the bandstand when Julianne arrived.

“There’s Julianne,” Nicole said, rising to meet her.

Jack watched curiously as she walked over to a short, dark-haired young woman. They hugged, and then, arms linked, walked toward Jack.

“Julianne, I’d like you to meet Jack Forrester. Jack, this is Julianne Belizaire, my boss and my friend.”

Jack extended his hand. Julianne’s hand was small, her handshake firm.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said in a rapid, precise voice with only a trace of a Southern accent. She grinned. “All good, of course.”

She had a nice smile, and a direct, honest gaze. Her round face was spattered with freckles, and her eyes looked green or hazel. He wasn’t sure which. He decided he liked her.

For the next hour he enjoyed listening to the two women talk. At first he’d thought they were a study in contrasts, but now he was beginning to realize there were a lot of similarities between them. They were both lively, animated women with the gift of warmth. And he could see how much they liked each other, something that impressed him. In his experience, if a woman didn’t have women friends, she was probably a woman he’d rather steer clear of.

After they’d all eaten and the table was cleared away, like an unseen signal had been given, two men walked over to the table. They nodded to Jack, then looked at Nicole and Julianne.

Nicole smiled. “Hi, Don, Grady. How are y’all doin’?” Jack smiled at Nicole’s new persona. He wondered if she even realized that she’d lapsed into her native accent.

“We’re doin’ fine,” the tallest man drawled. “We’re glad to see y’all back. Y’all haven’t been around for a coupla weeks.” He reached out his hand, and Nicole stood. The other man went around for Julianne.

Nicole slanted Jack a glance. She smiled. “You don’t mind, do you, Jack?”

He shook his head. “No, of course not. Go ahead.”

He turned his chair so he could watch her dance.

The band struck up a lilting number, with a catchy rhythm that Jack would have been hard-pressed to define. He noticed how almost everyone in the place got up for this dance and how different it seemed to be from the others he’d witnessed.

The dance floor was huge, a football-shaped field designed to hold a lot of people and give them room to move freely. All the dancers stood in rows, not paired. They all moved independently, but their moves all matched. They dipped and turned, and did intricate footwork.

All the waiters and waitresses were up there, too. Jack wished he had some dancing ability. He would have loved to be there with them.

Even though Jack couldn’t dance himself, he recognized excellence when he saw it. And Nicole was spectacular. Her body moved fluidly and effortlessly. Her head swayed from side to side, and with each movement the glittery earrings and tank top flashed and sparkled.

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

When the dance was over she stayed on the floor, and this time the tall man who’d come to get her put his arms around her and they began an energetic, foot-stomping dance to much faster music. Nicole’s hair swirled out each time her partner twirled her around, and her head was thrown back in laughter most of the dance. Jack couldn’t prevent a twinge of envy as he saw how much fun she was having. His only consolation was there was nothing remotely romantic about the dance.

The next dance was different.

The next dance was slow and seductive, and Nicole’s partner pulled her close, and the two of them moved as one through the steps, their bodies closely meshed.

Jack’s stomach twisted into knots as he watched them. He saw how Nicole’s partner had one hand resting low on her back. He gritted his teeth. An inch lower and he’d be caressing her butt. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from the two of them.

“Hey, it’s only a dance.”

He started. Julianne had sat down across from him. He hadn’t even been aware she’d come back to the table. She smiled knowingly. “Don’s just a dancing friend. Nicole doesn’t date him. She never has. There’s no reason for you to be jealous.”

“I’m not jealous,” Jack said quickly, too quickly.

In answer, Julianne’s smile broadened. Her eyes gleamed. “Sure looks like it to me.”

“Well, maybe, just a little—”

She chuckled. “At least you’re honest. Some guys would never admit to being jealous.”

“Nicole seems to bring out all sorts of new feelings in me.”

Julianne’s expression sobered. “Jack, I know this is none of my business, but I’m going to say it anyway. I can see how attracted to Nicole you are. I don’t really blame you. She’s a wonderful girl. But—”

“But what?”

Julianne sighed. “She’s extremely vulnerable. I know she doesn’t look it. On the surface she seems bold and confident and completely sure of herself. She looks as if she knows the score, as if she can handle anything. But that’s not the real Nicole. The real Nicole has a tremendous need for love and security. She needs someone she can count on, someone who can give her a lasting relationship. She especially needs someone who won’t take everything she has to give, then run out on her.”

“Is that what you think I’d do?” He wanted to be angry with Nicole’s friend, but her words were too disturbing. They echoed his own feelings too accurately.

“Isn’t it?” Julianne challenged.

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Well, Jack, I suggest you give this matter some thought, and decide whether you will or you won’t. And if you decide you don’t want the things Nicole wants, I strongly suggest you pack up your marbles and go home.

Pack up your marbles and go home.

The words reverberated in Jack’s brain. Throughout the evening, each time his gaze met Julianne’s, he remembered the admonition. And when he and Nicole, after seeing Julianne safely to her car, were on their way back to Nicole’s home, he remembered them again.

The evening had been wonderful.

The evening had been terrible.

Wonderful because he’d so enjoyed being with Nicole and watching her dance.

Terrible because he knew Julianne was right.

I won’t touch her tonight. She’s set the ground rules, and I’ll follow them.

But when they walked together through the inky darkness toward her front door, Nicole only tempting inches away, her scent surrounding him in the navy night, he wondered if he’d be able to stick to his determination.

He didn’t really have a choice.

When they reached Nicole’s door, she promptly opened it. And Heather, the baby-sitter, was sitting right there, in the living room. She looked up as they entered. “Hi. Did you have fun?”

“Yes, lots of fun,” Nicole said.

And then she asked him if he’d mind taking Heather home.

“No, I can walk,” the girl protested. “It’s only half a block. I’ll call my dad like I usually do.”

“There’s no need since Jack is here.”

Jack guessed he should be grateful Nicole had made things so easy for him.

While Heather gathered her things, he said, “I really enjoyed tonight. Thanks.”

She smiled, causing his heart to speed up. That smile of hers was as potent as 100-proof scotch. “I’m glad you came.”

“Is it okay if I give you a call tomorrow?”

“Sure.” Her dark eyes held an unreadable expression. Later that night, as he tried to go to sleep, he went over and over everything that had happened that night. How he’d felt seeing Nicole. His emotions when he watched her dancing with other men. What Julianne had said. And especially those fleeting emotions he’d glimpsed in Nicole’s eyes—first when he had been talking to Aimee, then when she’d said goodbye.

What would have happened between them if Heather hadn’t been there? Would he have been strong enough to withstand his attraction to Nicole? Or would his good intentions have evaporated under the powerful emotions and desires she elicited?

And what would she have done if he’d gathered her into his arms and kissed her? Would she have pushed him away, reminded him of their agreement?

Or would she have succumbed to the electrical charge that sizzled between them?

Would she have let him come into her bed?

He guessed he’d never know.

* * *

Nicole decided she couldn’t trust herself to see Jack again. And if he called her today, as he said he was going to, she would firmly refuse any invitation he might extend.

All Saturday morning she repeated this vow. While she cleaned the bathroom. While she did the laundry. While she dusted and ran the vacuum. While she helped Aimee pick up her toys.

She said it again while she prepared lunch. And again while she and Aimee ate their macaroni and cheese. She said it one more time as she settled Aimee in for her nap and prepared to take a long, relaxing bubble bath. This was the first day she’d had off in a while. She might as well enjoy it.

The phone rang just as she had stripped off her clothes and put one foot into the tub. She grabbed for her robe and raced to the phone, hoping its ring wouldn’t wake Aimee.

“Hello,” she said breathlessly.

“Hi.”

Jack. Just the sound of his voice, low and husky, caused her insides to flutter alarmingly. “Hi.”

“Are you busy?”

“No. I-I was just getting ready to soak in the tub.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Shall I call you back?”

“No!” She softened her voice, embarrassed. So much for good intentions. “I can talk now. In fact, it’s a great time. Aimee’s taking her nap. What’re you doing?”

“Oh, nothing much. I spent the morning going over my notes. Trying to decide what approach to take next.”

There was a short silence, then he said, “Would you let me take you and Aimee to dinner tonight?”

“Oh, Jack...”

“I thought about you all night.”

Her heart teetered alarmingly. She wanted to say yes. “Jack, we agreed—”

“I know what we agreed. But I don’t have much time left here, and... well, Aimee’ll be with us.”

She had absolutely no spine. No sense. “Okay, what time do you want to pick us up?”

Nicole knew she’d always remember the evening. Everything about it was perfect. Jack showed up dressed in a dark suit that complemented his blond good looks and set her heart to racing. She knew the three of them looked nice together. She was wearing a matching lightweight wool skirt and sweater in a soft peach shade, and Aimee was dressed in a blue dress with eyelet ruffles.

Jack took them to The Court of Two Sisters. Aimee behaved like an angel. The food was to die for. And Jack was a charming host.

Nicole knew how dangerous it was, but she pretended they were a family. She watched Jack and Aimee together. She saw how much pleasure he seemed to derive from Aimee’s company and her obvious affection for him. Like mother, like daughter, Nicole thought. We know a good thing when we see him.

Later, when he brought them home and carried a sleepy Aimee to the door, Nicole’s heart twisted as she saw how Aimee had curled into his embrace, how her little arms had instinctively twined around his neck. A fierce longing shot through Nicole. If only things could be different. If only Jack wasn’t Jack. If only he didn’t have the kind of career he had, the kind of lifestyle he had. If only he wanted the same things Nicole wanted.

She swallowed over a sudden lump in her throat.

Jack even helped her get Aimee ready for bed. And after Nicole tucked her in, he bent over the bed and kissed Aimee’s forehead. “Good night, honey,” he murmured.

“’Night, Jack Rabbit,” Aimee said. “I love you.”

Nicole saw his shoulders stiffen. She couldn’t see his expression. “I love you, too, sweetheart,” he said, so low Nicole hardly heard the answer. She bit her bottom lip, blinked furiously to keep tears from falling. Suddenly she couldn’t stand it anymore. The knowledge hit her like a bat slamming into a ball, hard, powerful, undeniable.

She was falling in love with Jack Forrester.

And she didn’t know if she could let him go without ever having known what it was like to make love with him.

* * *

Nicole didn’t see Jack for the next three days. On Saturday night, he’d left soon after helping her put Aimee to bed, because Nicole, shaken and afraid, had said she was tired. Then she took a sleeping pill. She didn’t want to lie in bed thinking. She didn’t want to examine her feelings. She didn’t want to try to decide what to do. Not that night.

But all day Sunday she thought about him. And when Guy called her Sunday afternoon, she hardened her heart. She might not know what to do about her feelings for Jack, but she knew exactly what she had to do about her feelings for Guy. So she invited Guy to come for dinner, and somehow she got through the evening.

As soon as the kitchen was cleaned up and Aimee settled, Nicole said, “Guy, we’ve got to talk.”

Then she took him into the living room, and as kindly and gently as she could, she told him she didn’t think they should see each other again. When he asked why, she told him that, too.

“I just don’t feel about you the way a woman contemplating a serious relationship with a man should feel. I like you. I respect you. But I’m not romantically interested in you. I’m sorry.”