What Now? (24 page)

“Confession
is good for the soul,” Shari quoted breathlessly. “So I should confess that I
didn’t want you to stop. This is hard for me too, Nick.”

That
made him feel better knowing that he wasn’t the only one feeling that way.

“Tell
me about it. I’ve been celibate for eighteen days!”

“That’s
great, Nick! I’ve been celibate for four years!”

“So
you said before, but I didn’t take you seriously. How can you even remember
what you’re missing?”

“It
wasn’t that memorable in the first place,” she admitted. She’d never shared
that with anyone, feeling that it was somehow her fault that she’d been unable to
reach fulfillment with Rob. Nick groaned.

“That
only encourages me to want to give you something that you won’t forget.” 

“Stop.
We’d better go. I hope I can trust you to spend the night at your house.” And
myself, she added silently.

“You
can trust me, Shari.” Nick said seriously, starting the powerful engine. “And
to prove it, I’ll stay within the speed limit,” he teased her, lightening the
mood.

“You’ve
probably used up all your favor here, anyway,” Shari said drily, “so you would
definitely be short on finding a sympathetic officer like Officer Patton.”

Nick
laughed as he remembered the altercation with the officer in Denver. That
seemed so long ago, but it was only about a month. How could he have known
Shari for such a short time and yet she had such a major impact on his life?
What was going on? He’d begun to wonder if their meeting was divinely
orchestrated. Could God have sent Shari to save him from himself?

Shari
could see why Nick was not as impressed as she was with all the upscale hotel
rooms he’d stayed in. His house, and that term was used very loosely, was huge
and lacked nothing that the luxury hotels had. There was not only a huge pool,
but a fully-equipped gym and spa, not to mention an entertainment room which
doubled as a music room, where he kept his guitar collection. That adjoined to a
party room complete with surround sound and a bar. When they had strolled
outside, enjoying the warm temperature, she had seen a gardener in the distance
and someone else cleaning the pool. Nick had also introduced her to his
housekeeper/cook and cleaner whom they’d come across on the tour of the house.

“My
goodness! This is like something from
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
,”
she remarked, somewhat overwhelmed. She’d known that Nick was rich, but she’d
never really quantified it, especially as he practically lived in jeans and
T-shirts. She began to have serious reservations about their budding
relationship.

As if
Nick sensed where her thoughts were heading, he pulled her close and linked his
hands just below her waist.

“Don’t
even think it. I’m the same Nick. My house doesn’t define me and it doesn’t
change who I am. Don’t go pulling back from me now.” He said it jokingly, but
he was almost pleading with her not to let who he was and what he had come
between them. Other women would be running to cement themselves into his life,
but Shari seemed to be retreating and that was what made her special. And he
wanted her in his life.

“OK.
I’ve heard that wealth doesn’t make people bad or good; it just makes them more
of who they already were.”

“I’m
not sure if that’s helping me or not,” Nick probed.

“Well,
I’m here, so you must know that I see some good in you,” she joked.

“Yes!
Progress is being made. How about a celebratory kiss?”

“Don’t
push your luck, Nick Badley,” she advised, escaping from his arms.

“OK.
Then what would you like to do today? Tomorrow we leave around ten to get to my
parents’. It takes about five hours to get there and we’ll have to stop for
lunch along the way.”

“Have
you packed already?”

Nick
looked surprisingly shamefaced as he confessed that his housekeeper would pack
for him, but he had already given her input on what he wanted included. Shari
shook her head in disbelief. She needed time to process this new information.
It wasn’t that she was impressed by wealth and status, but she knew that she
could definitely get used to this lifestyle; she’d already had a small taste.
If she and Nick could have a relationship – and that would only happen if he
recommitted his life – would living like this change her as it had changed
Nick?

Shari
clung to the side of her seat as Nick hit the CA-99N. The speed limit sign had
said 70mph, but Nick was surely over that, although she was too terrified to
glance at the dashboard. Thankfully, Nick had not folded down the top or the
wind whistling through the car would have made it feel even faster.

“Shari,
relax,” he said for what seemed like the hundredth time.

“Why
can’t you just drive slower?” She countered.

“Why
buy a Porsche if you’re not going to get the most out of it?”

“I’m
sorry I agreed to drive with you,” she threw at him.

Shari’s
comment jolted Nick. She was right. He was being totally selfish and enjoying
his new toy even though he knew she hated fast driving. He slowed the powerful
car to the speed limit. He was once again being the rock star, doing what he
wanted and getting what he wanted without thought of anyone else. Old habits
were hard to break.

“I’m
sorry, Shari.” He pried her hand from the seat and held it in his. “You’re
right. I’m being selfish. Will you forgive me?” He brought their joined hands
to his lips and kissed the back of hers.

“I
will, if you promise to stay at the speed limit.” He agreed.

Now
that Nick had slowed down, she could relax as he had urged her to do all
through the drive and actually enjoy the scenery. She loved the warmth of
California and she’d already fallen in love with Nick’s house. They’d driven around
the town yesterday and then come back to swim in the pool and soak up the sun. 

Nick
had been true to his word and did not touch her at all, although she could
practically feel his gaze burning through his sunglasses when she slipped off
her wrap and plunged into the pool. He had quickly followed, claiming that he
needed the equivalent of a cold shower. He had swum around for a while then
pulled himself out and told her that he was heading inside to write some
music.  He didn’t invite her, but she was content to amuse herself. She started
a book that she’d recently downloaded and had not had time to read.

A
neighboring couple came by for dinner and Shari wondered if Nick had
deliberately invited them so that they wouldn’t be alone. She was glad for the
chaperones and she enjoyed their company, especially since they were not in the
music business and they could chat about things other than music. Seeing Nick
relaxed and in his own environment gave her another perspective of him; one
that she realized she could very easily fall in love with, if she hadn’t
already.

“I’ll
stop for lunch soon,” Nick informed her, bringing her back to the present. It
was about half past twelve and, from what he’d told her, they’d have a similar
amount of time to travel. It would definitely have been easier to fly, but she
knew that Nick had been dying to drive one of his babies for a long time. She
wondered if he had enjoyed his bed, but she thought it prudent not to ask him.

The
attraction between them was already simmering just below the surface, waiting
for any break in their defenses to burst through. She hoped that Nick was
strong because she was feeling particularly weak at the moment, especially in
the presence of this relaxed and attentive side of him.

Nick
turned into a long driveway that merged into a roundabout with large trees dominating
its grassy center. He pulled up behind a red Range Rover which was parked in
front of a two-storey house painted white with grey roof tiles and a large
patio enclosed by white handrails. The patio wrapped around two sides of the
house and provided ample place to sit and chat in comfortable-looking chairs.
All of the sash windows and the doors were open in welcome. Lights were wrapped
around the handrails and the columns of the patio and life-sized statues of
Santa and his reindeer were off to the side of the house.

“I
see that Christmas has arrived at the Badley household,” Nick murmured.

As
soon as Nick stopped the car a woman jumped to her feet and hurried down the
steps before he had even gotten out properly. She was probably in her late
fifties and very attractive with dark hair cut in a fashionable style. She wore
an elegant dress which fitted her well.

“Nick,
welcome home.” She pulled him into a warm hug.

“Ma,
I was home a couple of weeks ago,” he reminded her, returning the hug. Shari
let herself out before Nick had the chance to open her door and he drew her
over to meet his mother.

“This
must be the journalist you told me about,” his mother greeted, extending her
hand.

“Yes,
this is Shari Goodwin, but she’s more than just a journalist. She’s become my
close friend and my conscience.”

His
mother laughed.

“I
like you already, Shari. Happy Christmas.” She turned the handshake into a hug.
Nick’s mother was very demonstrative so that’s probably where he got it from,
Shari thought.

“Same
to you, Mrs. Badley.” Shari smiled at her, loving her warmth and openness.

“Do
call me Doris.”

“I’ll
get our bags out.” They’d brought two small bags with just enough stuff for the
few days that they would be there. Nick told Shari to pack the minimum so that
he could take her shopping. She didn’t know about that. Having him pay for her
ticket to Barbados was bad enough; she didn’t want him buying her clothes too.

“Dear,
I’ve got a visitor.” Nick’s mother sounded as if she were cautioning him as he
slung the bags over his shoulders and gestured for Shari and his mother to
precede him up the stairs.

Shari
noticed a beautiful blonde woman about her height for the first time. She stood
up to greet them. She wore her long blonde hair in a ponytail and her green
eyes smiled in a friendly, though somewhat cautious, way. Shari noticed that
her eyes went straight to Nick and that her color seemed to heighten a bit. His
mother seemed to be waiting for Nick to make the introductions although she was
her guest. Nick hesitated for a fraction of a second before dropping the bags
and moving to give the woman a big hug.

“Hi,
Jo! I didn’t expect to see you here.”

Jo?
As in his ex-wife? Shari looked at Jo with fresh eyes.

“Hi,
Nick. I just dropped by to bring your parents a gift. I had planned to be gone
long before you got here, but you know how it is when your mum and I get to
talking.”

“Yes,
I do. Jo, this is Shari Goodwin, a friend of mine. She’s also doing a
documentary on me. Shari, this is Joanne Blakely, my ex-wife.”

“Hi,
Shari. Nice to meet you,” she said, smiling. “Nick’s mum told me about the
documentary. How exciting!”

Shari
returned her smile although ‘awkward’ was the word she would use to describe
the situation. But Jo was so friendly you couldn’t help but like her. She
seemed to have gotten over Nick but Shari caught a glimpse of sadness in her
eyes that her smile couldn’t quite hide.

“How
are you doing?” Nick asked her, watching her closely.

“I’m
doing fine, Nick.” He relaxed a bit at that.

“Good.
I’m glad.”

“Anyway,
I was just leaving. Happy Holidays everyone!” she said gaily, grabbing her bag
and giving his mum a quick hug before she headed for the red SUV.

“Shari,
come and sit down. You must be tired after that long drive. Not to mention
shaking,” she joked. “Is Nick still driving at those ridiculous speeds? I won’t
drive with him anymore.”

“Yes
he is and I’m not going to drive with him anymore either if he doesn’t slow
down. Although I must admit that he did slow down today after I begged him to.”

“You
must have great powers of persuasion.”

“I
don’t know about that. But I prayed a lot on the way and God obviously touched
his heart.” Shari laughed.

“A
girl who prays. Nick, this is wonderful.”

“I
see that I’m not needed here so I’ll go and take our bags in. Where have you
put us?”

“Shari’s
in your room and I’ve tidied up the basement for you.”

Nick
headed off to deposit the bags, leaving Shari and his mum together. Shari’s
eyes followed him before turning back to his mother, only to find her smiling
knowingly at her. Shari almost cringed with embarrassment to be caught staring
after Nick like a groupie.

“So,
how is the documentary coming?”

“Great!
It’s turning out really well.”

“And
has Nick been behaving himself?”

“I
plead the fifth.” Shari smiled at Nick’s mother.

“I
don’t know what to say to that boy. We’re a church-going family and that’s how
Nick came up, but when he reached his teenage years he didn’t want to go
anymore. I should have forced him to, but I believe that causes children to
rebel even more. But he still rebelled anyway.”

“He
told me about that. Many of us who grew up in the church turn away for a while
but often come back because the seeds are there,” Shari assured her.

“My
dear, I still live in hope for Nick, but the lifestyle that goes with being a
musician… I don’t know. Sometimes I’m almost sorry that I gave him his first
guitar.”

“Music
is in Nick and it would have found expression sooner or later, even if you
didn’t give him a guitar. It’s a part of who he is; he just needs to channel it
in more positive ways.”