Authors: Teresa Southwick

And Then He Kissed Me (14 page)

BOOK: And Then He Kissed Me

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“I'm trying to protect her.” She looked up at him.

“I know you are, honey. But smothering her isn't the way.” He reached for her, intending to pull her into his arms.

Fear flashed through her eyes just before she took a step back. “Nick, it's late and I'm tired. Not to mention angrier than I've probably ever been in my life at the two most importantâ” She stopped and dragged in a deep breath. “I think you should go.”

He frowned. “We should talk about this,”

“There's nothing further to say. By keeping that confidence, you encouraged Sarah's deception. It's a
behavior that could have been a disaster. How would you have felt if she had been in an accident tonight?”

“Awful. I don't know. Iâ”

“You're right. I don't know how to rebel. But I do know what it feels like to lose your whole world. And I'll do whatever I can to keep it from happening again.”

“Abby, let me help.”

“You've already done enough.” She went to the door and opened it. “I appreciate you coming over so late. Thank you, Nick. Now it's time to say goodnight.”

He shook his head, puzzled and disturbed. “That tone in your voice. It smacks of âdon't darken my doorway again.'”

“Maybe that's not such a bad idea.”

Nick was stunned. He was afraid to breathe. Afraid if he did the pain would come and bring him to his knees again. “You don't mean that, Abby.”

“Yes,” she said, meeting his gaze directly. “I do mean it. Goodbye, Nick.”

Chapter Eleven

A
bby curled up in the corner of the couch and prayed that the cup of coffee wrapped in her hands would take the place of the whole night's sleep she'd lost. She couldn't shake the bad feeling that had settled over her.

From the corner of her eye, she saw movement in the hall. Her sister was finally up. She was dreading another confrontation.

Sarah sat down on the love seat, looking sulky, sullen, and as sleepy as Abby felt. “I'm sorry about last night, Abby.”

“Me, too. And you're still grounded.”

“Why would you lighten up on me just because Nick says you should?”

“This is between you and me, Sarah. Why can't you understand that I'm just trying to do the best job I can to finish what Mom and Dad started?” She felt tears burn the back of her eyes. “And I stink at it.”

Sarah's face clouded. “And why can't you understand that I feel guilty every time you don't go out
because of me? If I was eighteen right now, I'd move out. Then you wouldn't have to worry about me.”

“I love you, Sarah.” Abby's stomach knotted at the thought of losing the only family she had left. “I'll always worry about you. You're all I've got.”

“You've got Nick.”

Abby shook her head. “He's just my boss.”

“He's stuck on you, Abby. But I overheard what you said to him. You need to talk to him.”

“There's nothing more to say.”

Sarah stood up, the rebellious look back. “Yeah, there is. You care about him, too. He can show you how to have a good time.”

“So I'll lighten up on you?” Abby said, trying to coax a smile from her sister.

“No. Maybe. But mostly it's about you. Don't make me your whole life. What are you going to do when I'm all grown up, Abby?” She turned and ran from the room.

Abby finally realized what that bad feeling was. She felt like she was losing her whole world. Again.

As soon as the door had closed behind Nick, she'd had a flash of comprehension. She was in love with Nick Marchetti. But that was impossible. Or was it? She hadn't spent any significant time with him. Or had she? Wasn't it possible that falling in love happened in a less than orderly way like her parents? They'd had more good times than bad in spite of the way they got together. If they'd lived, they might have salvaged the marriage. She couldn't make him happy.

That thought broke her heart.

Standing at the restaurant podium, Abby looked up from checking her dinnertime waiting list. Madison
Wainright walked up to her. “Abby, could I speak with you?”

“Of course,” Abby answered automatically. Shock at seeing the other woman had momentarily cut off the blood supply to her brain.

She had a feeling she didn't really want to have this conversation. She was fairly certain she wouldn't like what Madison was here to say. If she and Nick had patched things up, that would be good news and bad. Bad because Abby had realized that she loved him. Good because if he was happy with Madison, she, Abby, couldn't hurt him any more than she already had.

After her anger had abated, she was appalled at how she'd sent him away. Countless times she had picked up the phone to apologize. Then what? She would be right back where she'd started. Loving him with nowhere to go. She'd decided that since the deed was done, it was best to leave it that way. If only she didn't see the future in black and white. Without Nick, all the color had disappeared from her world. She was left with profound emptiness and an ache that didn't go away, not even in sleep.

“Why don't we go somewhere quiet?” she said, indicating the hall leading to the manager's office.

“I'm not taking you away from work, am I?” Madison asked, looking around the sparsely filled restaurant.

Abby looked at her watch, then shook her head. “It's past the dinner rush. And rush is definitely the right word. My feet are killing me. This way,” she said.

Abby led the way to the quiet room in the rear of Marchetti's. “Have a seat,” she said, sitting behind the desk.

Madison gracefully took one of the chairs facing her. “I'd like to talk to you about Nick.”

Abby's heart contracted at the sound of his name on the other woman's lips. “Yeah. I didn't figure you were here to discuss the price of pasta.”

Madison smiled. “No. That's not my area of expertise.”

“Before you start, I just want to reassure you that Nick and I are nothing more than friends.” Liar! Not only did she love him, but they didn't even have friendship anymore. “You have nothing to worry about on my account.”

“Funny, that's what I was going to tell you.”

Abby blinked as she let the words sink in. “Excuse me? What did you say?”

“Nick and I are just friends. You have nothing to worry about from me.”

“But you guys are just taking a break from each other. You'll get back together. If you give it a chance, I'm sure you can work out whatever the problem is.”

“I don't think so.”

“Madison, you can't give up on this. You won't find a better man than Nick. He's loyal, funny, smart, good-looking enough to tempt a saint.” Abby figured the years of all work and no play had finally made her crazy. Why else would she sell another woman on the man she loved? Because she wanted him to have the wife and family he'd longed for.

“Yes, he's everything you say and more.”

“Then what's wrong? I didn't peg you for a quitter. You don't get through law school by giving up on your briefs. You have to try. If you don't, you'll break his heart again.”

“Again?” Madison looked confused.

“Yeah, you know. Like that moron in Phoenix that he married.”

Her confusion cranked up a notch. She looked ready to call the guys in the white coats. “What are you talking about, Abby?”

“You remember. He told you. The woman who was pregnant with another man's baby. The one he married to give her and the baby a name. Then the bozo came back and she dumped Nickâ”

Her gasp of stunned surprise was no act. She really and truly had no idea what had happened. Nick hadn't confided in her. Oh lord, that meant she, Abby, was the first person he had told. That meantâthat meant stuff she didn't want to think about.

“No, Abby. I didn't know. Poor Nick. He's always trying to take care of everyone. He needs someone to protect him from himself.”

“He has you,” Abby said, really getting nervous now.

Madison shook her head. “No. I did the right thing when I broke it off.”

“But he cares about you.”

The other woman shrugged. “As a friend. That's not good enough for me. Besides, there would always be another woman standing between us.”

“Who?” Abby had to ask even though she knew what the other woman would say.

“It's you, Abby.”

She shook her head. “No. It can't be me. I'm completely wrong for him.”

Madison lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. “Says who? If he isn't in love with you, he's awfully close.”

“I don't want him to care about me. I've been trying so hard to prevent this very thing.” Abby stood. “Madison,
you've got to go after him. He's been hurt twice and once was you.”

“The last thing I want is a Marchetti man.” She shook her head vehemently. “Besides, I didn't hurt him. But you'll break his heart if you don't stop burying your head in the sand and take what he's offering.”

“I can't have him.” Abby felt a rising wave of panic, mixed with a healthy dose of pain. Why couldn't things have been different?

“I don't understand what's standing in your way, Abby. It's obvious to me that you care about him very much.” She stood up, too.

“Did Nick put you up to coming here?” Abby asked.

“No. But I saw him recently. I'm on retainer for Marchetti's Inc. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks. Your name happened to come up in conversation.”

“My name?”

She nodded. “I don't remember why. But he said that you're under the mistaken impression that he and I are still an item. I'm here to tell you that's not true.”

“You could try again,” Abby said hopefully.

Madison shook her head. “I know when the evidence is stacked against me. He got that same look in his eyes that he always gets when he talks about you.”

Abby knew it was wrong to glow at the words. The hope bubbling up was a mistake. To even contemplate something with Nick was asking for heartbreak. But again she had to ask. “What look?”

Madison smiled sadly. “It's an expression that I hope some man someday will get when my name comes up.”

“What look?”

“It's hard to describe.”

“What look?” she asked for the third time.

“As if you hung the moon.” Madison sighed and shook her head.

“Really?” The question was rhetorical. She suddenly realized
why
she'd known Madison wasn't right for Nick. He'd never looked at her as if she held his heart in the palm of her hand.

“Despite what you've heard about attorneys, I always tell the truth. Yes, really.” She moved toward the door. “One more thing. I like you, Abby. This would be so much easier if I didn't. Nick met you first. I never had a chance with him.”

“Madison, Iâ”

She held up her hand. “Don't say anything. I think I'll go into the dining room and have a lovely glass of your very good house chardonnay.”

Abby walked out with her. When they stopped at the bar, Luke was standing there.

“Great,” Madison muttered. “Just what I need. Another Marchetti man.”

Abby looked at the youngest Marchetti and thought Madison could do worse. He was very handsome. Not like Nick's charming, easygoing good looks, but with more of a simmering, dangerous appeal. In fact, as they stood in front of him, she looked from one to the other and thought they would make a striking coupleâif Madison hadn't already been involved with Nick. No matter what she said, Abby hoped she would change her mind and be his significant other. She, Abby, wanted him to be happy. More than anything else in the world.

Luke smiled. “Hi, Maddie,” he said.

“Hi, yourself,” she answered.

“To what do we owe the honor of your presence?” Abby asked him.

Reluctantly, she thought, he pulled his eyes away from the other woman. “I was looking for Nick. I've left messages for him all day, and he hasn't returned them.”

“I don't know why you thought he would be here,” she said. “And before you ask, I don't know where he is. It's not my night to watch him.”

Madison smiled a little sadly. “Before you ask, ditto for me.”

Luke looked from one to the other. “Ma suggested I check here. I'll just catch him at the office tomorrow.” He sat on one of the stools and met Abby's gaze. “I thought you might like to know that the restaurant numbers are up. Good job, Abby.”

“That's great,” she said. If only the rest of her life could be fixed as easily. “Thanks for letting me know, Luke.”

“No problem.” He turned his gaze to Madison. “You okay, Maddie? You look like you lost your best friend.”

“No,” Abby said quickly. “They're just taking a break.”

“And you're the Queen of Denial,” Madison said, smiling a little sadly.

“I have to get back to work.” Impulsively, Abby hugged the other woman. “Thanks for trying to help.”

As Abby walked away, she heard Luke ask, “Can I buy you a drink, Maddie? I have two shoulders. You can pick either one to cry on.”

Abby closed and locked her car door. The wind was cold and her suit jacket was no protection. But it was
the chill from inside that made her shiver. She hardly remembered the drive home from the restaurant. She was still reeling from Madison's revelation.

Nick never told her his secret.

That meant she, Abby, was the one he felt closest to. Was it possible that Madison and Sarah were right? Did Nick really have deep feelings for her?

Keys in hand, she walked through the apartment complex. As she approached hers, a man stepped from the shadows, startling her.

“Hi, Ab.”

“Nick,” she gasped, a hand to her chest. “You scared me out of a year's growth.”

BOOK: And Then He Kissed Me

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