Restoring Hope (18 page)

“You look dressed to go out, are we going somewhere?’

“The lady is not only beautiful, she’s smart,” Nic grinned and then grabbed her at the waist and pulled her in closer. He leaned down and said, “Hey, sugar,” before his lips teased her own. When she was thoroughly dazed, he pulled back, grabbed her hand, walked her the few feet to his car, and deposited her inside. When he got in, he turned to Hope and told her, “Time to talk,” then watched as she blanched and then nodded her head. He wanted to laugh at her reaction, but she looked like a woman being sent to the gas chamber. He knew whatever had her running was serious, and he wasn’t waiting another day. He needed her to be honest with him so he could keep her safe.

When Nic didn’t take the right that led them back to the condo, Hope kept her mouth shut. She’d hoped he was kidding when he said they were going out, but now she was too busy running circles in her head about what she should tell him to care. She was putting him and everyone she cared about here in danger by staying, she knew that, and if she were smart, she’d try to leave again until it was safe to come back. But, the nauseous feeling she got in her gut any time she thought about leaving him, always stopped her dead in her tracks, and she felt as helpless to run this time, as she did from her husband. Love was holding her captive it seemed.

After ten minutes of driving Nic crossed the Crescent City Bridge, and made his way down to Vallette Street until it deadened at Patterson Drive. The levee, keeping the Mississippi river from flooding the surrounding neighborhood, was in front of them, but Nic turned left and headed one block down to Old Point Bar. The bar sat on the corner; it was no frills, small and jumping to the lively beat of a band playing Cajun music. People were milling around outside, and the band was setup in the vacant lot next to the bar where people were dancing as well. She was surprised he’d brought her here for a serious talk; it seemed loud, too crowded. Then she thought about having a drink, being around lively music as she told him what she could and figured it was as good as place as any to lie.

Hope had made a decision while Nic drove; she couldn’t tell him everything, not yet. The truth would come out eventually; she knew that, but she couldn’t tell him everything now. He’d hate her, look at her with disgust, and it would open wounds that seemed to be closing a little bit each day for him. She had to protect him from her ugly past as long as she could until he wasn’t so raw from losing Chelsea. ‘Cause that’s what you do when you love someone, you protect them, shield them.

She hadn’t done that when she was pregnant, she should have protected her son and run then, but she didn’t. She wouldn’t make that mistake again, she would protect Nic, let him heal, and when she thought he was ready, she’d tell him the truth, the whole ugly truth, and pray when she did, he’d forgive her.

Nic found parking a block up, and when they exited the car, he came to her side and helped her out. Then he draped his arm around her neck as they walked down the sidewalk, pinning her to his side. They had to push through throngs of people to get to the bar, and when they did, he ordered two beers. The bar was small and rustic but appealing, and Hope wished they were here for any other reason than they were. Once they were served, Nic pulled her outside and across the street so they could sit on the levee and listen to the music but still hear each other talk. Once seated, Hope took a drink of her beer while her heart pounded; she wasn’t good at lying and Nic had figured that out the night she tried to leave. She prayed she could pull this off and figured if she stayed, as close to the truth as she could, maybe she’d get away with it.

“Ok, sugar, tell me everything. No secrets, no lies, I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s going on.”

Hope inhaled, let it out and then started.

“My husband and his brother were into illegal business transactions. I found out, went to the police and had to leave town for my own protection. Once the police make arrests, I’ll be safe.”

“What kind of illegal business?”

“Import export.” Nic watched her face and saw the fear. She didn’t want him to know, so he figured he’d give her that, what they were transporting wasn’t important.

“Did you work for them?”

“No, I, uh, found paperwork on his desk.”

“And now you’re afraid that they will harm you?”

“Yeah, the whole family can be, um, unpredictable.” Nic knew what unpredictable meant, and he wanted to hit someone.

“Name,” Nic growled, his emotions getting the best of him.

“What?”

“What’s your husband’s name?”

“I, a, I’m not married anymore.”

“Then what’s your ex-husband’s name? I can’t keep you safe if I don’t know who to look for.”

Sighing, because she hadn’t thought about how to answer this question, she pulled out her wallet and a picture of her husband and his brother she had tucked away in case she needed it. Pulling it out, she handed it to Nic and watched while he studied the photo of the two men.

“Which one?”

Hope pointed to John, and Nic’s eyes focused on the bastard, memorizing every detail of the coward, wanting him right in front of him so he could beat him just like he’d done to Hope. He handed the picture back to her and said “His name?”

“John Delaney,” she lied and hoped that would buy her some time.

“That it? Nothing else? Just you need to stay hidden until they are arrested?”

“It’s why I’m hiding, yes.”

Nic watched her eyes, and he could tell she was holding back something. He’d have to work on breaking down her walls, but for now, he had enough information to keep her safe.

“So tell me, sugar, where are your parents, your family in all this?”

“They were killed in car accident, along with my brother.”

“Jesus, I’m sorry,” Nic whispered as he drew her into his side.

“It was a long time ago, Nic, I’m fine.”

“Sugar, no amount of time lessens the loss, it just makes it bearable. You have me, Rose and Big Daddy now, no need to go it alone. We’ll keep an eye out; no one will get near you, I promise you that.”

Resting her head on his shoulder, she wondered if he would forgive her someday for her lies. She hoped so, but even knowing she might lose him once he found out, she’d take that chance. He forced her to stay, made her believe that she could have a life, something beautiful, to dream again. For that, she would do her best to help him heal, give him the love he needed to move forward while she watched over their shoulders, and kept them both safe.

They sat there on the levee listening to the music, drinking beer and just being. When the song changed to a ragtime Cajun song, Nic jumped up grabbed her by the hands and said, “Dance with me angel.”

“Here? On the levee?” Nic shook his head and grinned, then pulled her up to her feet and then bent at the waist, threw her over his shoulder again and marched towards the crowd.

“Darlin’ Cajun music must be experienced in large crowds to be appreciate it.”

“Nic, I can walk,” Hope laughed.

“Yeah, but why spoil my view?” Nic answered back and swatted her sweet ass.

Nic made his way through the crowd to the sounds of hooting as other men slapped him on the back for capturing a woman. He grinned while he listened to Hope laughing and begging to be put down. Once he got to the dance floor, he put her on her feet, pulled her close, then started moving to the beat, swinging Hope out, and then back to him while she smiled. He hadn’t felt this lighthearted in over a year, and as he looked at Hope, he was convinced she was an angel sent from heaven to help him heal his broken heart.

As the music died and a slower song began, he pulled her to him, and buried his head in her neck. Hope wrapped her arms around his waist and felt his heart beating hard against her chest. She tried to absorb his strength, his goodness; tried to feel clean, as if being close to him would cleanse her of her sins. When Nic pulled back, she looked up at him and this time when he leaned down to kiss her she didn’t hold back, she allowed him to descend. When he was an inch from her lips, he took his eyes off her mouth and whispered, “I won’t bite, sugar,” and then winked, touched her mouth with his and kissed her gently as they swayed.

As they danced, focused on each other, they were unaware of the blue eyes that followed their every move, every touch, and every kiss. Kat stood in the crowd watching Nic’s face as he danced and knew she was in trouble. That was the face he gave her when they were younger, the face he gave her when he’d courted her. Feeling her nails dig into her hands, she released her fists and headed back to her car. She had to think, come up with a plan before it was too late. Though, in the back of her mind, she knew it already was. She wanted to send Hope back to whatever hole she crawled out of, but how?

Settling herself behind the wheel of her Mercedes, she sat there tapping her hand on the wheel. If she couldn’t get Nic’s attention while that woman was around, she knew who could. She’d send Nicky to his dad’s early this week, which would keep Hope out of his bed. Then all she had to do was come up with reasons to spend as much time as possible with the two of them. He’d remember what it was like to be a family and stop this silly love affair with the waitress or cook or whatever it was, she did for a living.

As she reached for her keys, she caught site of Nic and Hope as they made their way around the corner of the bar. Nic was nuzzling her hair; his arm wrapped protectively around her neck and shoulders, and Kat was frozen in place as she watched. He stopped next to his car, and pushed Hope against the side settling between her legs as his hands came up to capture her face. Nic leaned in, and Hope opened her mouth inviting him to take what he wanted from her. As the kiss grew more passionate, he leaned her back against the hood of the car and Kat watched as he rubbed himself on Hope, crotch against crotch and her heart rate accelerated.

How she could sit there and watch her husband, and he
was
her husband, no silly piece of paper would tell her otherwise, was beyond her. She likened it to being caught in a daze by something that your eyes couldn’t interpret, something beautiful or heinous that you couldn’t turn from in shock. But there she sat as Nic all but made love on the hood of his car, his hand going under her top, Hope’s back arching at his touch, neither one of them aware, nor did they seem to care that they could be seen. Disgusted with their display, she turned her eyes and waited until she finally heard his car doors open and then close. Once they’d driven off, she sat there a little while longer as she recovered. Needing to get home to a sleeping Nicky, she started her car, determined more than ever to put a stop to this affair, and then pulled out without looking and hit a passing car.
Well, wasn’t this just her night? Dangit-all!

Chapter Fourteen

Nic woke the next morning before Hope; she was tangled in his arms, head to his chest, legs mixed with his as he leaned in and breathed in her scent. She was naked; he’d all but ripped off her clothes once they walked through his door. Both had been in a hurry to undress, their lips barely leaving the others as they fought with their clothes. He’d picked her up, her legs wrapped around his waist, and then he’d walked down the hall stumbling into the wall, so he’d used it to press into her body as he made love to her mouth. They’d both fought for dominance, but once he’d placed her on the bed, she’d rolled and climbed on top of him, kissing him, grabbing his hands and putting them over his head.

“Lay back and relax,” she’d whispered in his ear, and his cock had jumped at her words. Her silken hair, a veil around them, she’d kissed him once more nipping his lips and then his chin as she made her way down his body. Her nails had scored his chest, and then her tongue kissed the pain away. Moving further down, his breath had escaped him when her warm hand and even warmer mouth had closed around his shaft.

Just the memory of how soft her mouth was on him, the way she teased him, her tongue rimming his crest, drawing a growl from his chest as his hands had fisted the sheet, had him hard again.

When she took him to the back of her throat, he knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Knifing up, he’d flipped her on her back as she’d gasped, and then slid inside her seating himself fully and then held as they both caught their breath, groaning as he stretched her, and she’d clamped down hard around his cock.

Cupping her face with one hand, he’d watched her expression as he’d pulled out slowly, drawing out the pleasure both received. Hope had moaned softly and tried to close her eyes, but he’d barked, “Eye’s on me.” When he’d almost left her body, he’d slammed back in and watched as she gasped and then shuddered around him. Resting his forehead to hers, he continued this, slowly pulling out and then pounding back in until she was panting. The exquisite bonding of their bodies, the heat, and the passion, all built to a frenzy as Nic found her neck and bit down where her shoulder met her neck. They exploded together in a release so powerful, Nic barely heard Hope calling out his name for the blood thundering through his head. Then he’d grunted in triumph at the sound of his name on her lips.