CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
T he kiss replayed in her mind on a loop. It couldn’t have been a goodbye forever kind of kiss, but nothing else made sense. Still, she’d waited five minutes in the hall, expecting Nico to return. He never did, and he also didn’t respond to the three text messages she sent.
They were done. The part that killed the most was they never stood a chance. Doomed to fail from the second they met, and it tore her heart to pieces. Her level of despair skyrocketed and she couldn’t even bring herself to go back to her condo. The memories of them littered the space.
Her father refused to discuss his conversation with Nico despite her tearful plea. He ended up giving her some melatonin to help with sleep. She couldn’t be angry with him, not when he comforted her and granted her the space she needed to process her gargantuan mistake. Caroline wouldn’t regret a second of her time with Nico. Not a single moment. But she wished she’d considered the ramifications her decisions had on others. She’d been so selfish and naïve.
“Do you think Nicolas will take me down the river? I’d prefer a lake to start. The water is calmer. Caroline are you listening?” Connie didn’t form attachments easily and hearing his name brought more tears to her eyes.
“Peanut, if he said he’ll take you out in a canoe then he will. Nicolas has summers off for the most part, therefore, I’m sure he’ll take you wherever you want,” her father said before sipping his coffee.
“Good,” Connie said through a mouthful of toast.
Given the current state of her relationship, and the fact he was being traded, it seemed unlikely he’d be around during the summer. “Um… I don’t… he’s probably not—”
“He’s a man of his word.” His tone dared her to disagree, not that she would. “What time is your show tonight?”
Caroline shrugged her shoulders and pushed the blueberries around her bowl. Her appetite was nonexistent. The thought of getting on stage didn’t hold the appeal it usually did. Everything lacked luster in the light of day, knowing she wouldn’t be seeing Nico. “We go on at ten.”
The band had picked up another gig at a local jazz club. They hadn’t hit the big time, but they were getting paid. Only yesterday, Caroline had boasted about the new venue and the possibilities. The owner had connections in the business and had the potential to open many doors. It all seemed so insignificant now.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve booked a day of pampering for you and Maddison? You’ll look your best when you get on that stage tonight.”
She figured that was his way of mending bridges while politely hinting that she resembled a mangy dog. “That’s sweet of you, but I’m not in the mood to go out.”
“Nonsense, I spoke with Maddison already and she’ll be here to get you at noon.” He folded the newspaper and stood.
Caroline balked. “You spoke with Maddy? Daddy, really you didn’t have to do this.” She peered down at the table and the article showed a recent picture of Spence Northcote with the team. The headline was only half visible and said the rich aren’t safe or something like that. “What’s the paper saying now?”
Her father made the news frequently. She’d learned to tune most of it out. “They caught wind of your sister’s momentary disappearance. It’s fear mongering, mostly. See for yourself.” He spun the paper sideways and pushed it towards her.
Nico’s smiling face caught her eye more than the article. Her chest hurt, like her heart was being split open with a serrated knife. That might have hurt less. She concentrated on the words. The writer condemned the police for the growing crime rates. It showcased a list of names of recent missing teens and listed the attempt made against her sister and Meagan. It mentioned the police hadn’t found the girls, but the NHL team did.
Something was wrong in their city, but the police weren’t to blame. The officers had been helpful in putting out the alert and spreading Connie’s picture. Their involvement may have scared off the men. Regardless, who brought her sister home, she was safe. Caroline glanced at her sister and her heart went out to the families whose outcome hadn’t been the same.
“Those poor families, and there’s over a dozen missing. Connie could have easily become a name on the list. We have to help them. This article raises awareness, but no solutions.”
He took the paper back and tucked it under his arm. “Most of the kids are runaways. The police don’t believe the cases are related, but it’s great you want to help the families cope. I’ll have my assistant send them something.”
“They don’t need a fruit basket. They need their kids back; their brothers and sisters, and best friends.” Caroline knew firsthand the devastation of losing a loved one. She couldn’t imagine not knowing if her mom was dead or alive. The hell those families went through. “I’d like you to use your resources to keep this in the press and force the authorities to take it seriously. Runaways or not, those kids need to be found. It’s been in the news for months and the numbers are climbing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to connect the dots and see there’s an issue.”
“I don’t have the kind of pull politically to hire more cops or force them to take on a case they don’t believe exists.”
“You’re a persuasive man. You’ll figure something out. Just look what you’ve accomplished. Nico’s on a plane flying who knows where. I didn’t want to get out of bed, yet here I am eating and about to spend the day with my best friend.” Caroline pushed her chair away from the table. “Have a great day!” She hadn’t intended to raise her voice and take out her anger on him. But surely a man who owned the best team in the NHL could bend the damn rules for his own daughter. The fact they didn’t see eye to eye on the missing kids only added to her sorrow.
Caroline kissed her sister and marched out of the room without saying goodbye to her father. A day at the spa would not make things okay between them. Nothing would take away the sickly feeling in the pit of her stomach. Both men she loved had let her down. She refused to fall apart, but pretending not to be broken would take all of her resolve.
Maddison made the day a little easier by keeping her mind occupied. Her friend chatted more than usual and Caroline suspected her friend was hiding something. She guessed it had to do with a certain drummer, but kept her mouth shut. Between the spa, the stylist and the shopping, she was worn out; too exhausted to cry.
By the time they arrived at the bar, she looked like a million bucks. Her hair darkened with golden low lights and styled in loose ringlets down her back. A makeup guru transformed her red, blotchy eyes into a smoky, pop star masterpiece. Maddy insisted she buy and wear a white bohemian dress, making her feel like a bride, something she’d never be.
The band had set up on stage when the girls strolled in. The room was packed, but the moment she saw Nico standing by the microphone, no one else mattered. Her breath hitched as she drank him in. He wore a suit that fit him like a glove. He didn’t have the right to look so sexy when they couldn’t be together.
“What on earth?” She peeked at Maddy whose grin gave her away. The traitor expected him.
“Ah, there she is. You are gorgeous, angel.” The smoothness of his voice shot straight to her heart.
A spotlight landed on her and she closed the distance from the door to the stage at lightning speed. “Nico, what are you doing here?” She made short work of the three steps to join him in front of the crowd. She needed to touch him, to confirm he was real. Caroline pinched his arm.
“Ouch,” Nico rubbed his arm before threading their fingers together.
“I wanted to make sure I’m not dreaming, but pinching my own arm hurts.” She stared into his eyes, mesmerized by this man.
“You are my dream come true. I only ever wanted to play hockey, and it was my escape. Then you came along. I handled everything wrong. I should have told you I loved you back when you said it because I felt it. In every part of my body, and I still feel it. I’ve never met anyone so damn thoughtful, loving and beautiful. There’s been a gap in my heart for so many years and I assumed it would be there forever, but you filled it. In a few short weeks you did the impossible. I’m on this stage tonight to tell you how much I love you, Caroline. I know I haven’t said the right things at the right times.”
“You’re saying them now,” she whispered. The audience was silent, hanging on their every word.
“Caroline Celine Masters Northcote I love you. I love you today, tomorrow and forever.” Nico dropped to one knee. “Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Caroline could hardly see past the tears but it was impossible to miss the rock in his hand. The sparkly diamond he pushed onto her ring finger was huge. “Nico.”
“Say yes and let me experience your love for the rest of my life. I’m a selfish man, and I want it all for myself. I’m never giving you up. It’s you and me forever, angel.”
She loved the sound of that. She gazed into the crowd and her father sat there with Connie and both of them smiled. All the people she loved were in the same room. She looked back to the man pledging to be there for her now and always. He wasn’t going to disappear. “Yes! A million times yes.” She dropped to her knees and kissed him. First, she kissed his mouth then his nose, his eyes and then his lips again. She’d never get enough of those lips. “How is this going to work?”
Maddy took the microphone away from Nico. “She said yes for those of who you didn’t hear the answer before she ate his face.” The crowd laughed and Caroline didn’t care. “The band will kick off the night shortly. Thanks for being a part of this moment folks.” She switched off the mic. “All right, you two love birds, you’ve got five minutes before our set begins. Let me be the first to say congrats.”
Caroline hugged her best friend. “You knew all day about this and said nothing?”
“Your dad told me to keep it a secret when he called. It was hard to listen to you whine all day, but I suffered for you. Caroline, you deserved this grand happy moment. Something to erase those unpleasant memories, you know.” They didn’t need to say more because their smiles said it all.
“I get a brother. That’s what dad and Nico said. Is it true?” Connie asked from the front row. She didn’t handle change well, but this was one change she would come to love.
“It sure seems that way, baby girl. Are you okay with that?” Her sister’s approval mattered more than anyone else. She stepped down from the stage to hug her. When Connie nodded, it was as if the stars aligned and she could finally breathe.
“Welcome to the family, son.” Caroline turned to see her father and Nico hug. “I wasn’t convinced she’d say yes, but you pulled it off. There is no better man to win her heart.”
“I promise to take good care of her, and I also won’t miss the morning flight to catch up with the team. Thanks for letting me stick around tonight.”
“Daddy!” She launched herself at the man she’d tried to hate all day. “You said he wasn’t the man for me, but you gave him your blessing to marry me. Did you come up with this idea? Does he get to stay with us?”
“He can’t leave his bride to be and the rules don’t apply to married couples. I can’t take credit for your smile. Every detail was his doing. Last night, we sat and discussed what happened. How he'd fallen in love with you and that no matter what happened he’d never leave you. He asked if there was any way he could keep you and keep playing hockey in Winnipeg. I told him not on my team. He said he’d quit and asked me not to hold it against my future son-in-law. I laughed, but he was serious. He chose you over hockey. We talked about his decision and he asked for my blessing to marry you. He convinced me when he told me he'd already bought the ring. I remember what it’s like to find your soul mate, and I will not stand in the way of true love.” He winked and Caroline’s eyes widened.
“When?”
Nico hugged her from behind, nuzzling his face against her neck. His beard tickled. “Don’t laugh at me, but I might have known you were the one from the first day we spent together. You had all those conditions, and I went along because I didn’t want our time to end. I couldn’t get you out of my head or my heart. When I was in Vancouver last week, I found myself in a jewelry store. One minute I stood at the door and the next, I had a box in my pocket. The second I saw it, I knew it belonged on your finger. But I expected the ring to sit in my dresser forever because how do you ask a girl to marry you if you can’t say you love her. Love isn’t about the words; it’s about the feeling inside. You taught me that. Being with you reminds me of the exhilaration of skating on the ice and sending the puck into the net. It’s never been hard for me to say how much I love hockey and it won’t ever be hard for me to say I love you too.”
“I can’t believe you compared me to hockey. That’s awesome and I love you so much.” She turned in his arms and kissed him again. It wasn’t a goodbye kiss. It was the first kiss of the rest of their lives.