CHAPTER ELEVEN: Fiona

Nick and I lay in each other’s arms without saying a word; just listening to each other breathe. I rested my head on his chest and my hand on his hard stomach and melted into him. His naked body was warm and comforting. His strong arms closed around me and made me feel safe and warm for the first time in years. When Nick’s breathing grew slow and shallow, I closed my eyes and quickly drifted off to sleep.

When I woke up, I was alone in Nick’s bed. I stretched my arms toward the ceiling and yawned at the clock on the nightstand. It was nearly noon. I’d been sleeping like a baby for three hours.

“Hey, sleepy head,” Nick said as he came back into the bedroom carrying two cups of coffee and the box of donuts from the kitchen. He was wearing a pair of black boxers and a smile. “I made fresh coffee. I’m afraid we let the other pot burn.”

“It was so worth it,” I said, propping up on pillows and pulling the sheet over my breasts so I didn’t get crumbs down my cleavage. Although if I did I was sure Nick would love to lick them off. He handed me the cup of coffee and set the box of donuts on the bed, then sat on the foot of the bed and crossed his legs.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Nick said, picking up a cream-filled donut and biting into it. He licked the cream from his lips and gave me a smile. “Now, tell me why you’re here.”

I blew a cooling breath into the steaming cup and gave him a playful frown. “What do you mean?”

“I mean why are you here,” he said, shrugging his eyebrows. “And I don’t mean because you wanted to tap this shit again.” He grinned at me. “Are you here just for sex or because you’re looking for a rebound romance or…?”

“That’s a good question,” I said. “I’m not sure I know the answer.”

He smiled. “That’s fine. I don’t really care what your reason is. I’m just glad you’re here.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “And why are you glad I’m here?”

He chuckled. “I’m not sure I know the answer to that one myself.”

“My, aren’t we two peas in a pod,” I said. I sipped the coffee and cocked one eyebrow at him. “So, we’ve established my relationship status. What’s yours?”

“Mine?” He shook his head. “I am as free as a bird.”

“No girlfriend? Or girlfriends? No serious significant other?”

He shook his head and gave me a sigh. “I have never been in a serious relationship,” he said. “Not once.”

“More of a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ kind of guy?” I’d done my research into Nick Patron’s social life online. He had been linked to lots of women, though none seriously.

“More of a ‘love ‘em and get back to work’ kind of guy,” he said. He smiled at me with his eyes. “Just never had the time for relationships before.”

“Before what?” I asked. Before he could answer, my phone buzzed in my purse on the foot of the bed. Nick heft up the purse and handed it to me. I tugged out my phone. It was Kyle.

“It’s work. I need to take this,” I said, tossing back the covers and sliding out of the bed naked. I did a little dance as Nick clicked his tongue as I trotted into the bathroom and closed the door.

I sat on the toilet and quietly answered the call. “Yes?”

“Fee… oh shit… Fee.” Kyle was crying. Really crying, not pretending to. “Fee, it’s mother. She’s had another heart attack. Jesus, Fee, they don’t think she’s gonna make it. Please come, right away.”

“Fiona, do you want me to heat up your coffee?” Nick called through the door.

“No thanks,” I said quietly, covering the phone with my hand. “I’m sorry, Kyle. I’ll be right there.”

I went back into the bedroom and quickly put on my clothes. Once again, I was running out on Nick after having amazing sex. This time, it couldn’t be helped. I could only hope he understood. I found him in the kitchen pouring himself another cup of coffee.

“Nick, I’m sorry but I have to go,” I said, giving him a pained look. “I swear, I’m not running out on you again, there’s just an emergency that I have to handle.”

He looked disappointed for a moment, then shrugged it off and took me in his arms for a big hug. He kissed the top of my head. “I hope this isn’t going to be how it works every time we have sex. Maybe next time you can hang around longer than a few minutes.”

“Yes, I would love that,” I said, not really knowing what to say. I wasn’t even sure there would be a next time, but this wasn’t the time for that conversation. I leaned up to kiss his cheek, grabbed my purse, and hurried out the door.

* * *

Ramona Cassidy died of a third heart attack, this one massive, before I reached the hospital. The ER doctor who had admitted her the night before met me in the hallway and gave me the news. Large clots had blocked both her arteries and before they could get her to the operating room she had died. I didn’t ask if the angioplasty would have saved her life. We both knew that it would have, but there was no need to say it. I was sure Edward felt bad enough. There was no need to rub salt into his wounds, even if his indecisiveness inadvertently caused his wife’s death.

I pushed open the door to Ramona’s room slowly, dreading what awaited me on the other side. Ramona was on her back in the bed, eyes closed, mouth open, covers up to her chin. Edward was sitting in a chair beside the bed. Kyle was beside him with a hand resting on his father’s shoulder. They were both crying in that quiet, stern way men who claimed they never cried, cried.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, stepping to the other side of the bed. I put my hand on Ramona’s forehead. It was cold and hard. I glanced at Kyle and Edward. Edward was weeping with his hands and forehead resting on Ramona’s arm. Kyle looked at me through big tears and just shook his head. I felt sorry for him, even after everything he had done. When he came around the bed with his arms outstretched, I took him into my arms and rested my head against his shoulder. I began to cry with him. We remained like that, sobbing, until the orderlies came in to take Ramona’s body away.

“I can’t be alone this weekend,” Kyle said, wiping his nose and eyes on his silk handkerchief. “Please, Fee, let me come home. Stay with me, just until mother is laid to rest.”

I didn’t want to, but I didn’t have the heart to say no.

An hour later I as in the back of the limo next to Kyle, headed for home. Danny O was in the seat next to me. I felt as if I was being driven back in time, leaving my newfound freedom, and my wonderful new lover, behind.