Jill Shalvis: For The Love Of Nick

Sadie leaned on him, knocking him to his butt on the floor, and something inside him warmed slightly as she crawled into his lap. “Fine mess, huh?” he muttered, trying to be tough but it was hard with a hundred and fifty pounds of dog sitting on him. Giving up, he wrapped his arms around the damn dog-not an easy feat-and gave her a hug.

The big oaf put her head on his shoulder and let out a long strand of drool, right down his back. He hardly noticed. “It’s going to be okay,” he told her. Somehow.

But how? He could still picture the glitter of tears in Danielle’s eyes as he told her he loved her.

His love made her nervous.

His heart cracked at that, and a good amount of his temper drained. But for a man who hadn’t even imagined his own happily-ever-after, not quite yet, he had a lot of expectations.

Like being loved back.

NICK TOOK SADIE out back. They sat on the large deck overlooking the gardens, and beyond that, the hillside dotted with bike trails. Far below lay an open meadow, filled with green.

It was a beautiful spot, and Nick knew if peace was what Danielle was seeking, she’d find it out there on the trails.

Maureen came outside and sat by him. “Two things,” she said in her usual blunt style. “I had a friend at the station run that Ted of yours.”

He could tell by the look on her face she’d found something. “And?” he asked.

“Model citizen. Dedicated worker. Always pays his bills, yadda, yadda.”

“But? I think I sense a but at the end of that sentence.”

“Oh, yeah, there’s a but. Several charges of aggravated assault.”

“Convicted?”

“Nope. All the charges were eventually dropped. But if you take those, along with the fact he was quietly released from two different private investing firms over the past five years for the same reason, again no charges filed, you get a different picture of this so-called model citizen. Do you know this hot-head?”

“Not personally.” A grimness settled over him. “What’s the second thing?”

“Did you go trampling through my newly planted veggies against the east wall of the inn?”

“Are you kidding? And risk certain death?” When she didn’t smile, he glanced at Sadie, wondering if she could possibly charm Maureen into forgiveness, for Maureen’s possessive feelings about her gardens had become well-known. “Are you sure they’re people prints?”

“They’re not only people prints, they’re male prints. Definitely not Clint’s though, he wouldn’t dare. Plus, they’re too big.” She narrowed her eyes at his feet.

“Innocent,” he swore, lifting his hands. “But who’d want to be peeking in the windows-” Ah, hell.

Ted, aggravated assaulter, dog abuser and all-around asshole.

And Danielle was out there somewhere, alone.

TODAY, DANIELLE THOUGHT, striding up a trail on a particularly steep hill, trying to release some of the terrible tension that gripped her. The records from Laura Lyn would arrive today.

Then she’d be free to leave. To walk away.

Which was exactly as she wanted.

Mostly.

Oh, damn Nick Cooper anyway, making her yearn and burn for things that she couldn’t have.

She’d so carefully schooled herself to be alone, to not depend on or trust another. Yet his love shimmered and glowed like a beacon, tempting her in ways nothing and no one else ever had.

He was so different from the people she’d let into her life. Not temporary. Not selfish. Not out for only himself.

What would it be like to have someone like that in her world? Someone who cared about her hopes and dreams, and was right there by her side while she achieved them?

But what right, she wondered, kicking a rock, did she have to even think about things like romance and love, when her life was in such a mess? She had to fix things first, because only then would she be free to go after what pleased her.

And Nick Cooper pleased her, no doubt about that. She sank to a large rock and put her hands over her suddenly racing heart. If only…

No. No more if onlys. Soon as she got the records, she’d go straight to the police. If things worked in her favor, then soon she could be on the way to the rest of her life.

Whatever and wherever that life may be. She’d start over, make her life work out this time. She’d go to school. She’d become a vet. She’d-

“Danielle.”

At the low, unbearably familiar voice, Danielle took a deep breath and turned. It was Nick, of course, looking uncharacteristically ruffled, as if he’d run the entire way from the inn for her, desperate-

Hauling her into his arms, he pressed close. So close she could feel his heart racing.

Or maybe that was hers.

His hands closed over her, stroking, soothing, though she thought maybe he was comforting himself, which made no sense.

“God.” He pressed his face to her neck. “I couldn’t find you, I thought-”

“Nick?” Startled by his fierce possessiveness, the way he was holding her as if he’d never expected to see her again, she brought her arms around him as well, thrilling to the way she felt against him.

His hands cupped her head, and he rubbed his cheek to hers, relief and fear still deeply etched in his face. “I have what you need,” he said. “I can help you go back.”

“The records from Laura Lyn? They came already?” She pulled back with a smile, which slowly faded at the serious intent on his face. “Tell me,” she said, heart pounding. “What’s the matter?”

“It’s not the records.” He ran his hands down her arms. “They’re not here yet.”

“Then…what?” He was looking at her so solemnly, his hands still gripping her arms as if he never wanted to let her go. “Nick, you’re scaring me.”

“I had Maureen run Ted through the system.”

“You what?”

“She found aggravated assault. He was fired from two different jobs for it. Danielle, this is what you need to give your testimony weight.”

“Oh my God.” For the first time in as long as she could remember, the fist in her chest loosened a bit. “I was just sitting here, making the decision to go back no matter what. Whatever it takes. Fines. Jail time. I want my life back, no matter what.”

His eyes shone fiercely. “Fines we can manage.”

That “we” again. Oddly, the fist loosened all the more.

“And you won’t go to jail,” he said, determined.

“Nick-”

“I love you, Danielle. Remember that.” He ran his thumb over her jaw. “I think you love me back.”

She couldn’t breathe. “I’ve only known you a week.”

“A lifetime,” he corrected. “We’ve lived a lifetime in that week.”

“But there are things I don’t know about you.” She could hear the fear in her voice. “Things you don’t know about me.”

“I know enough.” In a jerky move, he stepped back, breaking her heart. “But apparently you don’t.”

“I’m sorry, I-”

“Yeah.” Expression unreadable now, he said, “there were footprints in Maureen’s garden, outside the house. As if someone was watching from the outside.”

Danielle stared at him then turned away. “I gave Laura Lyn this address for the records. Another stupid move, huh? I shouldn’t have trusted-”

“Danielle.” With a sigh, he started to step close again but the radio at his hip crackled. “Maureen insisted I take the two-way.” Lifting it to his mouth, he said, “Got her. Safe and sound.”

“Good.” Maureen’s voice filled their little clearing, her worry coming through loud and clear. “You guys have Sadie, right?”

“She’s asleep in the garden by the sunflowers.”

“No, she’s not.”