Chapter Eleven
“Gin.” Grant set his winning hand on the table in the station house. Despite not having his mind on the card game, he’d managed to beat his friend David three hands in a row.
All he could think about was Niki and how strangely she’d been acting since that party at the nightclub, like she couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him. What the hell had he done?
Actually, he knew what he’d done. He’d asked her to move to New York, and then, when she’d clearly wanted to know why he’d make such an insane request, he’d clammed up. All he’d been able to think about was the city life she wanted, the polar opposite country life he offered…and Carrie.
He never wanted to see that kind of disappointment in Niki’s eyes. Better to let her go before things got ugly.
“Damn,” David said. “I knew I shouldn’t have thrown that ace. You want to play another one?”
Grant glanced at the clock and shook his head. “Shift’s over in ten minutes.” As he boxed the cards, his phone buzzed. His parents’ number showed on the display, so he answered.
“Grant, it’s Mom.”
“Hey, Mom. What’s up?”
She sighed. “Dad and I have been talking. The farm’s getting harder and harder for us to manage.”
Why was she telling him this again? They’d already discussed it.
“I have a contract on my house,” he reminded her. “As soon as it closes, I’ll be coming back. It’s going to take a little time, though.”
“Yes, and that’s great, but there’s so much to do. The house needs an awful lot of work.”
He nodded. “Ben and I will figure something out. Maybe he can take a week or two off of work and help me with everything. Look, Mom, I want you to quit worrying. We’ll get it all sorted out.”
She let out a groan as if she didn’t quite believe him. “Well, Grandma and Grandpa are having a hard time with the steps, and there are…other issues.”
He considered that for a moment. “We can always convert the den to a bedroom. Or put in one of those lift systems on the staircase. I don’t know. Ben and I will figure it out. I promise.”
His phone buzzed with another call.
“Mom, someone else is beeping in. I’ve got to go. I want you to quit worrying. Soon enough I’ll be home and everything will get taken care of, okay?”
Another sigh. “All right.”
He said good-bye then switched to the other call.
“Grant, it’s Dex.”
“Hey, what’s up?”
“Is Niki with you?”
Something in his friend’s tone sounded off. “No, but she’s probably home by now.”
“She’s not. I was just there.”
Okay, now he was worried. Why would Dex have gone looking for Niki? “What’s going on?”
“Their aunt collapsed and was taken to the hospital.”
“I was just leaving work.” Grant gave a quick wave to his work buddies and strode toward the locker room to grab his things. “What happened to Bev? Is it her heart or a stroke?”
“Miami General told Lucy they suspect a heart attack, a pretty serious one.”
“Okay, I’ll find Niki and bring her over.” He prayed he’d get her there in time. Once he got to his truck, he tried her cell, but it went to voicemail. She’d probably let the battery run down again. “Niki, it’s important. Call me.” His stomach twisted into knots.
He got behind the wheel and headed to Heatwave, although he doubted she’d be there this late. As soon as he found her he’d feel a little better, but if he didn’t get her to her aunt in time, well, he didn’t want to think about how crappy Niki would feel.
Or why that mattered so much to him.
…
Niki carefully folded the gold and black tablecloths they’d used in the VIP lounge the night before. With the limited budgets Tristan was so fond of for special events, she’d surely have to reuse them many times.
Tristan entered the room, wearing a huge grin. “You killed it night before last, love, bloody killed it.”
She forced a cordial smile. “So you’re glad now that you didn’t can my arse?”
He waved away her question. “Sorry I didn’t ring you up sooner. I spent the entire day on Emmett’s boat yesterday. The man couldn’t stop singing your praises. He was so impressed with the party that he’s booked his daughter’s sweet sixteen here and his company holiday party as well.”
“That’s fantastic.”
“Actually, it’s you that’s fantastic. You’re working incredibly hard. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize that sooner. Speaking of your work ethic, why are you here so late?”
Because I’m avoiding my roommate.
“I wanted to make sure this stuff was put away properly.” She set a layer of tissue paper on top of a tablecloth before putting another in the box.
“Let me help.” Pulling one of the cloths from the laundry cart, he folded it awkwardly, like a man who’d never folded anything before in his life, which was probably the case. None of the corners matched up when he placed it into the box on top of the others.
Niki covertly straightened it as he reached for another, wondering all the while why he was attempting to be helpful, which was so out of character for Tristan. Usually he delegated absolutely every task.
“So tell me more about your roommate” Was he purposely avoiding her eyes? “You two seem…close.”
Just thinking about Grant, about that dance, being near him, sent a pleasant shiver up her spine. But she couldn’t dwell on what would never be. Grant wasn’t the man for her. She wasn’t the farmer type any more than Grant was the international jetsetter type. “Just friends.”
Tristan placed another poorly folded tablecloth into the box. “Good, because I was thinking that you and I should explore a different side of our relationship.”
She stopped what she was doing to look at him. Tall and gangly, manipulative and rich. Nope, there was no way she felt any sort of attraction for him. How could she have ever thought there was a chance for anything between them? “It would be best if we kept things purely professional, Tristan.”
He took a step closer and covered her hand with his. Although the club was in full swing downstairs, they were completely alone in this closed-off part of the building.
She glanced out the window at the passersby on the busy street below, but she still felt a little uneasy. Moving her hand out from his, she wrapped her arms around herself. “You know, it is later than I realized. I should be leaving.”
He grasped her shoulders. “Niki, are you still angry with me for asking you to cut your trip short? I’ve already apologized. Was it that big a deal?”
Her temper flared. “As a matter of fact, it was. My time away from here needs to be mine. You’re going to have to understand that, especially if I move overseas.”
Tristan’s expression softened. He nodded. “You’re right, love. Sometimes I’m an idiot. I’m glad I have someone like you to put me in my place.”
As she closed up the box, Tristan encircled her in an embrace. Before she could stop him, he kissed her on the lips.
The move was such a shock that she froze for a moment. God, his lips were dry and cold, nothing like Grant’s. When she realized that Tristan intended to stick his tongue into her mouth, she shoved him away and wiped the back of her hand over her lips. “No, that’s not cool.”
He held up his arms in surrender. “If you’re not ready yet—”
“I’ll never be ready for that.” She turned around. All she wanted was to be away from him.
“Niki, please,” Tristan said. “Let’s forget this happened. I don’t want to lose you. I’ve been thinking that you’d be perfect for the London job. We could fly over in August.”
She held her breath. The July Fourth event was a week away, yet he’d apparently made his decision. And August was so soon. But was his decision based on her work or the fact that he apparently wanted their relationship to move to the bedroom? “I…I have to think about it. I’m really tired. It’s too late for me to be here.”
Leaving him in the VIP lounge, she took the stairs two at a time, then pushed through the crowd in the main area of the club until she got to the office.
One of the bar backs was in there, and he said something to her she didn’t quite hear. Instead of asking him to repeat whatever it was, she merely grabbed her purse from her locker, waved at him, and ran out the office door. Throngs of club-goers swallowed her up, their alcohol-infused breath turning her stomach, the pounding of the music inciting a headache.
A wave of nausea took hold as she waded through the sea of people. She didn’t know if she could make it out of the club. To hell with London, and Tristan, too. She had to get to Grant.
…
Grant stood on the street below Heatwave, trying to collect himself. There was no mistaking what he’d witnessed a few moments before when he’d glanced up at the window. It was Niki all right. And she’d been kissing her boss.
The image had been so disturbing that Grant had looked away almost immediately. Was it the first time? Didn’t matter, not really. If she wanted Tristan, she could have him.
He didn’t own Niki; he’d only slept with her a couple times. Big deal.
Only it was a big deal. Because he had feelings for her. Feelings he had no business to. In truth, he’d pushed her away because he was afraid to fight for her, afraid of getting hurt like Carrie had hurt him.
Besides, he was there for one reason—to get Niki to her aunt before it was too late. Shoving through the glass doors into the club, he went inside and made his way toward the office.
He glimpsed Niki leaning against the wall, and she didn’t look well. The black lights made her appear pale. Or had she been drinking?
“Niki?” He took her arm and helped her toward the door.
“Oh, Grant.” She practically collapsed in his arms. “I need to get out of here.”
“Are you all right?”
“I will be once I leave.”
He nodded. “Come on.” Tucking her under his arm, he rushed her through the club as if rescuing her from a fire.
She didn’t complain, and he didn’t say a word about her aunt until they were in the car on the way to the hospital. Her initial response was stunned silence.
“Is she going to be all right?” Niki finally asked when he stopped for a red light on Collins Avenue.
“I don’t know. All Dex told me was that it was a serious heart attack.” He offered his hand, and Niki accepted it.
“Aunt Bev is sort of like the glue that holds my family together.”
He nodded. “That would be my grandfather in ours.”
Sniffling, she stared out the windshield.
“What about you?” he asked. “Are you okay?”
Instead of answering, she squeezed his fingers for several seconds. Finally, she nodded. “It’s been a long…interesting day. I’m not ready to talk about it. Maybe later.”
When they arrived at Miami General, the whole clan was there. Niki’s stepfather Jack had a cardboard tray full of takeout coffee for everyone. Her mom Michelle was sitting next to Lucy and a female cousin whose name Grant couldn’t remember.
Niki joined the women while Grant accepted a cup of coffee and an update from Dex and Jack.
“She’s in surgery now,” Jack said.
“Double bypass,” Dex clarified. “The surgeon told us her chances are excellent.”
Three hours later, several family members got to visit Bev in ICU after a successful surgery. As Grant watched the family rally around their matriarch, he couldn’t help but miss his own relatives.
Maybe it was best that he go ahead and sign the papers to sell his house. It was almost a done deal anyway at this point, since Carrie had already signed off on the offer.
Niki had obviously moved on, and his parents needed him. She’d never be happy living on a farm anyway.
Dex patted his shoulder, pulling Grant out of his thoughts. “I can take Niki home later if you want to leave.”
“Her car is still at Heatwave,” Grant said.
Dex nodded. “We’ll take care of it. Go get some sleep.”
His friend was right. Niki wasn’t his responsibility. “Yeah, thanks. Give Bev my best.”
When he got home, the sun was just coming up. Instead of going inside, he went around the back of his house and sat down on the wood planks of the small deck. He should have used the back deck more in the time he’d lived in Miami, should have put an umbrella table and a better grill on it. Not that it mattered now. Soon enough, he’d be freezing more days than not.
Damn it, he was going to miss the warm weather and the lack of snow.
And Niki.
She’d get that promotion soon and run off to England on the arm of her rich boss. Recalling the image of the two of them kissing in the window, he cringed.
The sound of a car door shutting interrupted his thoughts.
“Grant?” Niki came around the house moments later. “What are you doing out here?”
He shrugged. “Thinking, watching the sunrise.”
“Hungry?”
“Not really.”
She sat next to him. “I guess I’m not either.”
“How’s your aunt?”
“Holding her own. Thanks for coming to the club to get me. I forgot to charge my phone or else I’d have gotten the call.”
He laughed. “I figured.”
“I need to work on that.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Maybe they have a different system in England.”
He swiveled toward her. “Oh?”
“I got the job.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Could be that she was merely tired from the long night at the party and then the hospital, but he suspected it was something more.
“Congratulations are in order then, huh?”
She nodded. “Thanks. I’m excited.”
Not from what he could tell. “I guess we’re both moving on, saying our farewells to Miami.”
“You’re going to miss it here, aren’t you?”
More than you know. “I enjoy farming, too. And my folks need the help.”
She slipped off her shoes. “It’s beautiful country up there. I can see why you’d want to go back.” She wiped her cheeks, and he wondered if she was crying.
He took her hand. “Are you all right?”
She pulled it away. “Sure, fine. Tired, you know.”
“Mm-hmm.”
I’ll miss you.