The Heir (23 page)

"Thank you."

"-I wanted to give it to you at the door
but." He shrugged and a corner of his lips quirked up. "I was
nervous and forgot about it."

Jessica laughed. "I'm glad I'm not the only
one."

Nick smiled. "And I'm glad you said yes."
This time it was Jessica's turn to smile. "Have I told you how
beautiful you look in that dress-I mean you are always beautiful
but that dress..." He shook his head and mock leered at her. "I
feel like the big bad wolf that tried to gobble up little red
riding hood. Do you know any woodsmen?"

Jessica shook her head and felt a shiver of
excitement shoot up her spine at the look in his eyes. There was a
gleam in them that she'd never noticed there before. "My, what big
teeth you have." She joked breathlessly.

He gave her a toothy smile. "The better to
eat you with... and I will." He promised, glancing down at the
edges of her dress. His look and his words made her feel a thrill
like no other.

Before she could respond he leaned over and
gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "Don't worry little red you're
safe with me." He told her as he started the car and backed out of
the driveway then gave her a sideways glance and added. "For
tonight."

Chapter 16

She'd didn't taste a single bite of her
food-not that she ate enough to taste. All of her senses-all of her
attention was concentrated on him. She didn't know when but
somewhere along the line her feelings had begun to shift and it was
a shock to find that his earlier promise excited her. Before she
would have been offended by his words but now she only felt
anticipation coursing through her veins.

He felt her regard and his gaze lifted to
connect with hers. "Is something wrong with your food?"

She shook her head. "It’s fine."

"Then why aren't you eating?"

She smiled wryly. "I can't."

He smiled back. "I know what you mean. I
don't seem to be hungry for food either."

He called a waiter over, had the plates full
of food taken away and ordered some coffee.

"I like your necklace." He told her, trying
to break the silence as they waited for their drinks.

Jessica reached for the piece of jewelry that
rested just above and between her breasts and ran a gentle finger
over the pendant. "Thanks but it's not mine. I don't own any
jewelry so I borrowed it from my mom."

Nick stored that bit of useful information
away and said. "Well it looks beautiful on you just the same."

His glance strayed back down to where the
pendant rested and she had the suspicion that he wasn't looking at
the necklace. She smiled at him knowingly but before she could say
anything the waiter arrived with their drinks. Somehow that small
interlude broke the ice, they drank their coffee and continued what
they had begun during their last-and first date; they worked on
getting to know each other better.

Nick talked about the members of his pack
which he promised she would meet soon, but still managed to avoid
talk about their "mated" situation. Jessica spoke about her love of
motorcycles and told him stories about her learning experience.
Nick admitted that he taught himself to ride because of her and
they shared a couple of laughs over stories of each other’s pride
bruising falls.

Time flew from there and soon Nick was paying
the bill and helping her out of her seat. Outside of the restaurant
he turned to face her and admitted. “I’m having fun and I don't
want to take you home."

"I am having fun too."

Nick threw his head back and laughed. "Don’t
sound so surprised. I noticed a parking lot carnival on the way
here, would like to go?"

She'd looked down at her bare legs and high
heels and raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I'm appropriately
dressed for the rides."

"We don't have to get on the rides. Come on
let me win you a stuffed animal." He took her hand and led her back
to the car.

It was a short drive to the small carnival.
Nick parked the car and went around to help her get out. She was
shaking her head when he opened the door. "What?"

She shook her head again. "Nothing, it's just
that no one has ever opened my door before."

"Well get used to it." Taking her hand,
together they walked towards the carnival game area.

The first game they came upon was a water
racing game. The operator, a girl, was talking into a microphone
telling them to step up and give it a try.

Her enthusiasm was contagious and Nick
decided to give it a shot. He paid for them and asked the girl if
she could make it a two people race. She readily agreed and he and
Jessica sat down next to each other.

"My name is Rachel and I am your race caller.
Aim your guns at the target, when the bell goes you go, first one
to reach the top wins." The girl explained.

Nick looked over at Jessica. "Let’s see if
you are as good with a gun as you are with a knife."

Jessica smiled at him with a battle gleam in
her eyes. "Let’s do this."

The bell went off and water shot out of their
guns. It was a tight race until Jessica nudged him with her
shoulder and he lost his aim. Her number went off and she
laughingly accepted her price-a small blue frog.

He helped her up from her seat and murmured.
"Cheater." Before leaning down to give her a kiss.

The light touch of their lips under the game
lights took her breath away and made her shiver.

Nick noticed and pulled her close to put his
arms around her. "Sorry, I didn't think it would be his cold and I
forgot my coat."

"It’s ok."

"One more game and then we go?" She nodded
and he looked around before asking. "What stuffed animal would you
like me to get you?"

Smiling wickedly, she pointed at the 3 milk
bottles game. "I want one of those."

He eyed her suspiciously. "You don't think I
can do it?" She shook her head and he led her to the game,
determined to prove her wrong. He failed the first time and he mock
glared at the chuckling Jessica, "That was just for practice
round.”

"Sure it was." She responded airily.

And it was; he knocked down the three bottles
down on his next try. Triumphantly he looked at her and told her to
take a price. Shocked, Jessica pointed at the big black Rottweiler
dog. The game attendant got on a ladder to pull it down and handed
it to Nick who in turn presented it to Jessica. They laughed at her
failed attempt to wrap her arm around its neck and he offered to
carry it for her and she happily handed it over.

Holding the dog over his shoulder with one
hand, he wrapped his other arm around Jessica’s shoulders and
together they turned to leave when he spotted the short line on a
certain ride. "Come on." He told her and led her toward the Ferris
wheel.

The seats were big enough for the dog to ride
along and it fit perfectly into his plans. She sat in the middle
and he wrapped his arms around her. "Perfect." He murmured when she
leaned into him. They rode in silence until they reached the top.
"Beautiful." He exclaimed.

"Yeah, I can see everything."

"I wasn't talking about that view." He said
looking down at her.

Their gazes connected and he slowly lowered
his lips to hers. It was a soft kiss that lasted until the ride
attendant cleared his throat to inform them that the ride was over.
Jessica blushed, Nick laughed and they both thanked him as they got
off. He put his arms around her again and smiled to himself when
she leaned into him again

The drive back to her home was done in
companyable silence. When they arrived he parked the car and told
her to wait while he got out and went around to open her door. She
took his offered hand, smiled, thanked him for his assistance and
stood back as he got her stuffed dog out of the back seat. With the
dog on his shoulder, he walked her to her door.

"Thanks." She told him. "I had fun."

"I'm glad. I did too."

Smiling, she stood on her tip toes and gave
him a light kiss on the lips. Dropping the dog, he wrapped an arm
around her waist and pulled her flush against him; he deepened the
kiss until they were both breathless. "Invite me to your birthday
party." He whispered against her lips.

Speechless, she nodded and he smiled.

"I'll be busy all week and I won’t get to see
you but call me?" she nodded again, "OK, I'll see you on your
birthday."

Chapter 17

Time flew that week and next thing she knew
the day of her birthday party had arrived.

With the exception of dress shopping, she
spent the morning doing the same thing she'd done for her date with
Nick; manicure, pedicure; hairstylist and makeup artist. Also like
last time Christian met her at her door and walked her down the
stairs where Nick waited for her.

It would kill her to admit it, but she had
missed him. They'd spoken on the phone every night but those
nightly talks weren't nearly enough.

When she reached him, he gave her a light
kiss on the cheek and complimented her looks. "Beautiful" He said
with awe resonating through his voice.

She was wearing the second dress she'd
purchased last week and her hair in an up do.

"And this is for you." He pulled a slim box
from his front pockets and presented it to her with a smile and
wished her a happy birthday.

Jessica thanked him and flipped the jewelry
box open. Lying inside was a necklace the likes she'd never seen
before. It was beautiful. It was exquisite. But she could not keep
it and told him so. She tried to give it back to him but Nick shook
his head and took a step away.

"This is too beautiful I am not a jewelry
person, I am afraid I will lose it" she persisted.

Nick shook his head again and wrapped her
hand over the gift. "Don’t worry about it." He told her. "You don't
have to ever wear it. I just wanted you to have your own necklace
and I knew this one was made for you the moment I saw it." Jessica
shook her head and he continued. "Besides your second gift, in my
opinion, is better."

Jessica’s eyes flew open. "You got me more
than one gift?"

He nodded, took her hand and led her to the
backyard. When they stepped out everybody shouted happy birthday
but her concentration was centered on one person.

“Uncle Mike?!"

Her honorary uncle, the man who’d helped
raise her, took a step forward, smiling from ear to ear, and opened
his arms. In a daze yet still mindful of the clothes she was
wearing she walked rapidly into her uncles outstretched arms.

Her uncle wished her a happy birthday and she
smiled tearfully. "Thank you but how, when?" she asked in
confusion. "I thought I wasn't going to see you for a long
time."

"I thought so too." Uncle Mike smiled at her
before looking over her shoulder. "But someone convinced me that it
was safe enough for me to attend your birthday party."

Jessica looked over her shoulder. "Thank
you." She told Nick.

Nick shook his head. "No thanks are
necessary."

Jessica thought otherwise, part of her had
been dreading her birthday because it would be the first time that
she would celebrate it without her uncle and mom. Thinking about
her mom, she felt a twinge of sadness because she wasn't there but
she was comforted with the fact that she at least had the chance to
see her uncle again.

"You’re right." She told him. “This was a
great gift."

Nick, shaking his head, came up to stand
beside her and leaned down to whisper into her ear. "I'm glad you
liked seeing your uncle, but that's not your birthday gift." He
confided.

"It's not." Her eyebrows scrunched up in
confusion.

He shook his head and moved to the side.
Shocked, Jessica watched as her mom separated herself from the
group of birthday wishers. "Mom?"

"That's your birthday gift." Nick pointed out
then murmured a happy birthday and nudged her towards her mom
Layla.

"Mom!" She cried and ran into her mom's
arms.

"Happy birthday Jess." Her mom whispered in
her ear.

Jessica smiled and whispered into her mom's
shoulder. "It is now."

Her mom pushed her back to take a look at
her. "Wow, how did they get you to wear a dress?"

Jessica laughed. "I have no idea."

"Well you look amazing."

"Yes she does." Her mom Lauren, who had come
up behind them, agreed.

By the looks, it seemed that all three of her
parents had taken the time to have a talk with each other because
there were no awkward moments between them.

Later when the three of them were talking,
she confided to them how lucky she felt to have two moms.
Wordlessly, they both smiled and engulfed her in a hug and she knew
it had been the right things to say. "I'm so happy to be able to
spend my birthday with the both of you."

Layla nudged her head towards Nick who was
talking with her brother. "And you have him to thank for that. If
it wasn't for him I would be in some deep trouble."

Jessica turned to look at him; yes she'd yet
to thank him for the wonderful surprise. As if sensing her gaze, he
looked up at her and for a second, it was as if they were the only
ones around. Smiling and breaking the trance, he excused himself
and made his way towards her.

Jessica did the same and they met halfway.
She looked up at him, even with high heels she still had ways to
go. "Thank you."

The words were spoken from the heart.

He shrugged, uncomfortable with her
gratitude. "It was nothing."

"It's everything to me." She stood on her
tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "I thought you said it was dangerous
to bring her here."

"It was, it is." He told her and shrugged
again. "But your my mate, I want you to be happy, especially on
your birthday."

And that's when it happened, an earthquake.
An earthquake like she'd never experienced before. It lasted only
seconds but it managed to turn her whole world upside down. She
looked around, amazed that no one else had felt the tremor. But why
would they? They weren't the ones who had just realized that they
were in love.