Chapter Ten

Once upon a time, Andy had loved New Year’s Eve. Rowdy parties and lusty tourists had ensured he could end one year and begin another with a bang.

Last year he’d still been on probation, so he’d skipped the festivities. At that time, he’d presumed that this year would be different. He supposed tonight was different because it’d be his last New Year’s party in Sterling Canyon. That could help explain his odd mood.

Still, he’d do his best to make it memorable, especially because his sister had been moping around since he’d mentioned moving.

“You look preoccupied.” Emma linked arms with him as they entered the bar. “I suppose you’ve got a lot of loose ends to tie up before you take off.”

“You could say that.” The only significant loose end involved transferring his ownership of the house to Grey. If he were being honest, the fact that he’d been second-guessing his last conversation with Nikki for forty-eight hours might also have been worth addressing.

“We’ll miss you.” Emma tugged him tighter to her side. “I wish you’d reconsider. Come back to work for me while you get the remodel thing off the ground. You have people here who love you. Do you really think you’ll be happier in a town full of strangers?”

“Has Avery recruited you to guilt me into sticking around?” he teased.

“Nope. It’s straight from the heart.” Emma smiled. “Is it working?”

He held up his hand—thumb and forefinger separated by an inch. “A little.”

“That’s better than nothing.”

Trip had wandered ahead and cleared some space at the bar for their troop. Andy found himself squeezed in the middle, with Trip, Kelsey, Emma, and Wyatt on one side, and his sister and Grey on his other.

He made eye contact with Nikki, who was hanging out directly across the bar with her sister, Amy.

Smuggler’s Notch had always been “the spot” for New Year’s—particularly after its hip renovation a few years back—but seeing Nik there still stopped him cold for a second.

He glimpsed her peekaboo cutout sweater, sparkly earrings, and, judging by how exceedingly tall she looked amid that crowd, spiky shoes—none of which were Nik’s preferred style. Clearly, Amy had dressed her up for the night. He almost felt sorry for Nikki because he knew those clothes probably made her feel more self-conscious, not less.

It bugged him that she didn’t know her own worth. That her self-esteem had weakened to the point that she hadn’t believed he really cared about her. Given time, he would’ve been able to change that for her. Not now, though. He quickly turned his attention away from her and her snug clothes.

His sister elbowed his side. “That was rude.”

“What?”

“You didn’t even smile or wave.” She took the beer Grey handed her. “Why are you giving Nikki the cold shoulder after she offered you your job back? Why trash that friendship?”

Friendship. He’d thought they’d been more than friends, actually—not that his sister or anyone else knew about that.

“She believed Millie,” he said, a sour taste filling his mouth like it did anytime he remembered that fact. He turned fully around so that his back would be toward Nik and leaned against the bar.

“I get why you’d be pissed at Millie, but can you blame Nikki for thinking it possible you wanted to resume that old relationship? You’re a single guy and haven’t exactly been an altar boy when it comes to clients. Then that woman shows up making accusations that can’t be summarily dismissed, especially given Nikki’s job. I think you’re overreacting.”

“She doubted me even after I denied it.” He scowled.

“She apologized.” Kelsey batted his arm. “People make mistakes, Andy. You’ve needed a second chance. Doesn’t Nikki deserve one, too? In the greater scheme of things, she’s been a good friend.”

A good friend. Neither Kelsey nor anyone else knew the full scope of his relationship with Nik, which was why they couldn’t understand his reaction.

“How about we change the subject before we ruin the night?” Andy asked. He didn’t particularly want to think about Kelsey’s point. Certainly not here and now.

“Good idea,” Trip piped up. “Although Amy’s going to burn a hole in the back of your head.”

Andy barely resisted the urge to look over his shoulder. Had Nikki told her sister about them?

“I know that look.” Kelsey smirked. “That’s got scorned woman written all over it. When did you hook up with Amy Steele?”

Trip whistled and patted his shoulder. “Not bad, Andy.”

That crack earned Trip an elbow to the ribs from his wife.

“I didn’t hook up with Amy.” Andy rolled his eyes.

“You did something to her,” Kelsey said, her face lit with the typical glee she felt when sniffing out gossip. “Ooh, it’s getting good. Nikki’s gripping her sister’s arm. I think Amy wants to have words with you. Quick, tell us what’s going on.”

Kelsey and the rest of the group all focused directly on him, awaiting the story. He closed his eyes and swigged his beer, wishing he’d stayed at home tonight. But he was leaving town soon, so he had little to lose by fessing up now.

“Nik and I were . . . exploring something together.” He hoped his casual shrug fooled them into thinking he wasn’t upset about the fact it didn’t work out. “Then Millie happened.”

“Ooohhhh.” Kelsey’s feline smile appeared. “Now I see.”

“See what?” he asked.

Trip interrupted again, pulling Kelsey close. “Princess, if you want to put someone on the hot seat, take me home and we’ll make it fun. But let’s leave Andy alone.”

That elicited a few chuckles, which Andy used to change the subject. “How about a round of kamikazes?”

Emma smiled, letting him off the hook by going along with the shift in conversation. “A toast to new beginnings.”

“Wherever they might lead.” Andy nodded and ordered the round.

Avery rested her head on his shoulder, and he felt a moment of regret. She wanted him to stay, and even he had trouble picturing a life without seeing her every day.

While the bartender lined up their shots—and a seltzer for Avery—Kelsey leaned closer. “Don’t look now, but Billy Benton is hitting on Nikki and Amy.”

Andy’s grip tightened around his shot glass. Of course Kelsey noticed.

“Just what I thought. You still like Nikki, but she hurt your pride. What is it with you guys and pride? Love is more important than pride.” She tugged on his hair. “Don’t be stupid, Andy.”

“Okay, that’s it. I didn’t come out for a coffee klatch.” Trip stepped away from the bar. “Grey, Wyatt, Andy, let’s hit the pool tables for a bit and let the ladies gossip.”

“Sounds good.” Grey kissed Avery on the cheek. “See you in a bit.”

As they walked away, Andy murmured to Trip, “Thank you.”

Trip slapped his shoulder. “Having been the target of those ladies’ speculation for some time, I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”

When they passed by the other end of the bar to get to the pool tables, Andy managed to refrain from pulling Billy away from the Steele sisters. Nik might not be exactly the woman Andy had hoped she was, but she was too smart to be charmed by that guy.

In truth, Andy no longer had the right to begrudge her getting involved with Billy or anyone else. One thing the burning in his gut confirmed, however, was that getting out of town would make it easier to live with that reality.

#

Nikki wanted to cry, and not only because her feet hurt. Andy had waltzed past her and Amy without a word.

Amy must’ve noticed her stiff upper lip about to falter, so her sister turned to Billy and lightly touched his arm. “Could you please go see if you can find us seats at one of the booths?”

In the face of her sweet-as-pie smile, Billy nearly tripped over himself in the race to accept his mission. Once he’d gone on the hunt, Amy whirled on her. “Nikki, explain to me again why you’re letting Andy go without a fight?”

“He made his feelings clear. I’m not going to beg.” She might beg for a bar stool, though, to get off her feet.

“Who said anything about begging?” Amy’s pretty blond brows pinched together. “If I were you, I’d march right over and tell him he’s an idiot.”

“You would not. You’d never tell anyone they were an idiot.” Nikki had to smile at her little sister’s bravado. Amy was about as aggressive as Lizzy Bennet’s sister Jane.

“Well, maybe I’ll start with Andy. What’s he want from you? Blood?” She shook her head. “In fact, I’m half-tempted to tell him off for you right this minute.”

“Please don’t. The whole reason he’s leaving town is because he’s sick of being judged. If we pile on more accusations, we’ll only be proving him right.” That was the sad truth.

Despite her own disappointment, Nikki did want Andy to be happy. With the exception of the past two weeks, he’d been fairly miserable around Sterling Canyon since his arrest—the arrest she might’ve helped prevent had she not been so disappointed at his lack of interest in her then.

She could hardly blame Andy for her current misery, though. Her self-defeating insecurities had, once more, sabotaged things for both of them.

“Why do you always do that?” Amy asked.

“Do what?”

“When your mind wanders, you always touch your scar.”

Nikki hadn’t noticed that habit. And it must have been a habit for Amy to have picked up on it. She shrugged, embarrassed. “Sometimes I wonder if my life would be different if I were dainty and pretty, like you.”

“Really? And here I’m always wishing I were strong and capable, like you.” Her sister’s expression turned into a smile filled with wonder. “Isn’t that funny? Maybe everyone is always thinking someone else has it a little easier or better.” Trip’s hearty laugh from the pool-table alcove interrupted Amy’s musings. “Well, everyone except Trip Lexington. I doubt he’s ever wanted to be anyone other than himself.”

“Probably not.” Nikki chucked before swallowing her beer. “But, Amy . . . like Trip, you also have it better than most.”

Amy shook her head. “Why? Because I’m pretty? Pfft. Things like being pretty or rich or powerful can be a curse. You never know if people like you because of who you are. You always wonder if they’re just using you.”

Nikki set her bottle on the bar, knowing that the one thing she’d never had to question was whether people authentically liked her as a person. “I never thought of it that way.”

“Of course you didn’t. You’re so self-conscious about that scar, you forget to be grateful that almost everyone loves being around you because you’re fun and cool and kind. Most of the attention I get is because of my face, which I can’t even take any credit for. If I had to choose, I’d rather be you.” And then Amy wrinkled her nose and added, “Well, you, but with a better sense of style and more backbone when it came to sexual politics.”

Hearing the words sexual politics tumble from Amy’s pretty lips made Nikki giggle. “I do suck at both of those things.”

“You really do.” Amy grimaced, then sipped her cosmo. “But tonight I’ve taken care of the style part. Now you deal with the other. Right now. Go make Andy talk to you. Tell him how you really feel. What have you got to lose? You couldn’t feel worse. At least, if he still leaves, you’ll know you did everything you could to change his mind.”

“That’s true.” Nikki was considering Amy’s suggestion when her sister tugged at her arm.

“Let’s go. I’ll be your moral support.” Amy began dragging Nikki from the bar, and before Nikki could stop her, they were approaching the pool tables.

The crowd made the trek a bit of an obstacle course. She wondered how the guys had enough elbow room to shoot pool at this point. And although she would’ve thought nothing could be worse than fumbling around on her heels, the temperature in the bar had soared, thanks to all the body heat, making the tight angora sweater stick to her skin.

Trip was chalking his cue when he noticed them approach. “Happy New Year, ladies. Have you come to lose your money?”

Grey and Andy were setting down beer glasses, while Wyatt was engrossed in a conversation with some guy Nikki didn’t know. It surprised her to see Andy drinking so openly. Then she realized the unfairness of singling him out when everybody in the whole damn bar was already halfway lit.

Nikki went to answer Trip, but Billy showed up and interrupted. The last thing she needed now was for Billy B to start in on her and her “favoritism” when it came to Andy.

“Amy, I had a table for you. Why’d you leave?” Billy looked around, possibly to judge his competition for Amy’s attention, and saw Andy. “Oh, it’s you.”

“Hey, Billy.” Andy ignored Billy’s pissy tone and bent over to take his shot, sinking the four ball in the corner pocket.

Billy’s face colored, as if he resented Andy’s nonchalant attitude and lack of intimidation. He spat out, “You know, you cost me a couple hundred bucks.”

“Excuse me?” Andy straightened up.

Trip, who towered over Billy B by several inches, set his hand on his shoulder. “Take it down a notch there, Billy boy.”

“I can handle myself, Trip.” Andy came around the table. “What’s your problem, Billy?”

“You’re my problem. I finally got a high-paying private client in Millie, and then she disappeared.” Billy’s beer muscles were showing, and Nikki sensed this would end badly. Andy probably didn’t know that after the lawyers secured the release, Millie had been too embarrassed to come back to the ski school. “I don’t know what you did or said, but I know somehow you screwed me.”

“I don’t control Millie.” Andy turned away and lined up his next shot, but then he looked up at Billy before taking it. “If she didn’t want to work with you anymore, that’s on you.”

“Fuck you, Andy. I’m not the problem. I’m a great instructor. You’re the drunk convict who has to hit on the boss and guests to get jobs and clients.”

Trip set down his pool cue and puffed out his impressive chest, preparing for a bar fight.

Grey, who’d always been something of a gentleman, attempted to remove Nikki and Amy from the brewing argument. “How ’bout you ladies join me at the bar?”

Nikki had been privy to more than her fair share of bar brawls thanks to her career choice, so she wasn’t about to run away.

“No.” Nikki practically shoved Grey aside to get in between Andy and Billy. She stared straight at Billy and stiff-armed him in the chest, causing a hush to fall over the crowd. “You’re way out of line, Billy. Andy has always been one of the best employees, even before I became the head of the program. He shows up early and takes on extra responsibility. He’s polite to everyone on staff, and he’s friendly and patient with resort guests. He’s never acted entitled to one damn thing, not even when I got promoted over him.

“But everyone makes mistakes. In fact, if Andy hadn’t driven you home from the holiday party last weekend, you would’ve earned your own DUI or worse. As for Millie, she stopped lessons for her own reasons, not because of anything Andy did.”

If Nikki weren’t constrained by the nondisclosure language of the release, she’d have gladly embarrassed that woman in public after what she’d done. “No one has the right to judge Andy—or anybody else—who’s paid for a past mistake. It’s time for everyone to cut it out. Move on and find something better to do with your time. Stop expecting to be handed something you haven’t yet earned. Like my respect.”

Trip started clapping, which triggered a round of applause. Nikki felt her face flash with heat from having made a spectacle of herself. At some point during her tirade, Avery, Kelsey, and Emma had come into the room, but Nikki brushed past them all, beating a hasty retreat. She’d assumed her sister had followed her but quickly found herself alone in the parking lot.

Crap. Although this was not a resort-sponsored event, she was still Billy’s boss. That outburst had not been professional. Not in the least. Billy might try to make waves at work, now. She’d have to tell Don what’d happened and hope that he wouldn’t hold it against her.

At the moment, her big problem was finding the courage to go back in that bar and face everyone. Face Andy. Lord knew he’d be pissed at her for calling more attention to Billy and his remarks. Andy hated being in the spotlight, especially when it cast a negative light.

“Nik?” Andy’s voice called out.

Dang. She spun around, almost stumbling on the blasted heels. Having no idea what else to say to him, she blurted, “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” He slowed but continued coming closer.

Her heartbeat sounded like it had relocated to her ears. “For making a public scene. I should’ve let you handle Billy’s slur. He just made me so mad, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Actually, I appreciated the defense.” He stopped a few inches from her. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and hold him close but waited to hear what else he might say. “I came to say thanks. And to apologize for being so cold. For not talking things through. I treated you and your mistake exactly like I hate to be treated.”

“Oh.” She interlocked her fingers in front of her waist to keep from touching him. Her breath seemed to be coming in short gulps. “Well . . . sticking up for you now was the least I could do.”

They stood there, awkwardly looking at each other, neither one apparently knowing what to do next.

“You coming back in?” He gestured toward the door with his head.

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?”

“Kinda lost interest in celebrating tonight.” She wrinkled her nose. “And my feet hurt.”

He looked down and chuckled. “Amy dressed you, didn’t she?”

No use trying to lie. She nodded in shame. “I don’t know why I give in.”

“Me either.” He reached out and brushed a lock of her hair back. “I like you best when you’re being you.”

“Thank you.” She held perfectly still, hoping he would touch her again. “Do you like me enough to change your mind about leaving?”

“I’m not that easy.” He leaned even closer. His perfect, adorable grin popped into place. “It’s going to take more than one public show of support and seeing you in faded blue jeans to convince me to stay.”

She wanted to kiss his shallow dimples. “Don’t forget a job offer. You can’t ignore the fact that I’ve handed you your dream job.”

“Not exactly. My dream job is still occupied by a feisty blonde in high heels.”

“I knew you’ve wanted my job all along.”

When she playfully shoved him, he caught her hand and brought it to his chest. “No, Nik. Actually, it was you—only you—I wanted.”

“Past tense.”

“Past . . . present . . .” He raised her hand to his lips.

“Future?” Her heart was pounding so hard it hurt.

“Can you trust in me and my feelings?” He traced her scar with his fingertip, needing her to be honest.

She held her face still, refusing to turn her cheek away. “Can you stop worrying about the people who might never forgive and forget, and concentrate on all the people who do care about and respect you?”

Because, as much as she had her issues to battle, he had work to do, too.

“Fair enough.” He tugged her up against his body and kissed her like he’d been missing her for a year. “I guess we’ve got our New Year’s resolutions.”

“I guess we do.” She kissed him again. “Can I assume you’ll come back to work now?”

“As long as Don isn’t pissed at me for turning him down and doesn’t care if you and I have a personal relationship.”

That promise made her whole body sigh. “Maybe we should go back in and join the party.”

He shook his head. “Actually, I have a better celebration in mind—one involving an empty hot tub.”

“Hot tub?” That invitation perked her up in a jiffy. “I’d do about anything to get out of this outfit.”