Fall for Me (6 page)

Chapter Eight

Nick opened Beth’s apartment door that evening with the key that she had given him a few months back. Since their schedules were often different, it had made sense to be able to come and go as needed. She also had a key to the penthouse where he was staying.

He laid his briefcase down on the breakfast bar that separated the kitchen from the dining area. He noticed the blinking light on her answering machine that indicated a message. In all of the months that he had been in her apartment, he had never seen a message light blinking on the machine. He knew it was none of his business and an invasion of her privacy, but he couldn’t seem to look away from the flashing light. Maybe it was something concerning the baby.

He managed to pull himself away from the machine without pushing the button to hear the message and walked to the bedroom to find Beth. She was curled up on top of the comforter on the bed sound asleep. She took his breath away. He didn’t know how long he stood in the door just watching her. She looked so young and so vulnerable in sleep. The need he felt to protect her since he had learned she was pregnant was suddenly overwhelming. She looked so small lying there that it was hard to believe their child was nestled inside her.

In between meetings and conference calls, he had spent his day reading everything he could on pregnancy. Truthfully, a lot of it had scared the shit out of him. He had so much sweat on his face at one point that his secretary had asked him if he was feeling okay. He had wanted to yell,
“Hell, no, I’m not feeling okay. Beth is carrying a ticking bomb. A million things could happen to her or the baby. Oh, God, I’m having chest pains. Am I too young for a heart attack?”
Instead, he had offered her reassurance that he was far from feeling ill and then called Beth for the tenth time to see how she was feeling.

Now, standing here and looking at the beautiful woman resting so peacefully, he once again felt his chest go tight. He knew she couldn’t hear him but he made the promise anyway.
“I won’t let you down, Beth. I’ll be the best husband and father that I can possibly be. Just give me a chance to prove it. You will never want for anything. I’ll lay the world at your feet. Just believe in me, please.”

Nick quietly shut the door behind him and walked into the kitchen for a beer. The light on the answering machine was again calling to him.
You really should check it. What if there is a family emergency? She would want to know immediately. You would be doing her a favor.
Before he could talk himself out of it, he grabbed a pen and a notepad to write down the message and pushed the button.

“You have two new messages. First message today at four twenty p.m. Hey, Beth, it’s Seth. I wanted to make sure that we’re still on for dinner tomorrow night. Please give me a call and let me know. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”
The next message was also from Seth leaving his cell phone number in case Beth had lost it.

Who in the hell was Seth and what was with the “
Looking forward to seeing you again”
? Had Beth been out with this guy recently? Nick felt something completely alien take control of him: jealousy. Maybe they hadn’t formally talked about making their relationship exclusive, but he had assumed they were on the same page. He didn’t date other women when he was involved with someone. Had Beth been dating? She was late coming home from time to time and she did mention going out to dinner with friends but at the time he thought she meant women friends.

Seth’s intimate tone on the message didn’t sound like that of a buddy. It sounded like a guy excited about seeing a woman.
Well, she didn’t have any problem letting you know that she wanted you, did she? You may not be the only ticket in town, my friend.

* * *

Beth rolled over in bed surprised to see how dark the room was. A look at the clock showed that she had been asleep for almost two hours. Despite the nap, she still felt fatigued. The morning sickness was taking a toll on her body. With another quick stretch, she slid her legs off the side of the bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face and straighten her hair.

Looking much more presentable, she walked into the living room and stopped short at seeing Nick sitting on one of the barstools deep in thought. She took a deep breath and allowed herself the pleasure of just looking at him. God, the man was beautiful. She had the urge to rip his clothes off every time he was anywhere near her and now was no exception. Her body tightened with need as she slowly approached him.

As if sensing her, Nick’s head shot up. Beth stopped in her tracks at the look of confusion and sadness on his face. Something was obviously wrong. She reached out to take his hand and he moved his away. She dropped her hand back to her side and asked quietly, “What’s wrong?”

Instead of answering her question, he held up a slip of paper and snarled, “Who is Seth?”

Beth drew a complete blank. “Um, Seth who?”

Nick tossed the piece of paper down in disgust and jumped to his feet. “Beth, don’t you have anything a little more original than that?”

Had he lost his mind? Maybe he was drunk. Where was the happy-go-lucky Nick that she was used to? This Nick was cold, angry, and, damn him, a complete turn-on. She wanted nothing more than for him to slam his mouth down onto hers and take her hard and fast. Talking slowly as she might to a child, she said, “I really have no idea what you’re talking about. You aren’t making any sense.”

Never breaking eye contact with her, he pushed a button behind him and played the messages on her answering machine. When the second message finished, she couldn’t hold it in any longer. A giggle escaped her and then another until she was doubled over laughing so hard that tears were streaming down her face. Instead of looking at her in anger now, Nick was just looking at her as if she were insane.

He didn’t say a word as she mopped up the tears that had been running down her cheeks. “Sor— Sorry, give me a minute.” Beth chuckled once more and took another breath to steady herself. Grinning at him standing there with his arms crossed and frowning at her, she asked, “So that message brought this whole he-man routine out?”

“I’m glad you think it’s so funny, Beth, because I’m still not amused. Who is Seth?”

Shrugging her shoulders, she walked to the kitchen for a drink of water. “He’s just a guy I went out with before, no big deal.”

“How do you know him and when did you go out with him?”

Still unable to figure out why he would be upset, she replied, “I, um, met him through a dating service and we went out a few weeks ago.”

Nick turned to face her, his face thunderous. “You’re using a dating service and you’ve been seeing this guy while we’ve been together?”

Suddenly it hit her how bad this whole thing must look to him. True, they hadn’t made any promises, but they had, for all intents, been spending most nights together.
Well you wanted to put some distance between you, here’s your chance. If you really want to lose him, you can do it right now.
Faking a carefree manner that she was far from feeling, she said, “I never said I wasn’t seeing other people, Nick. I assumed you were as well. I signed up for the dating service months ago. Before you even ask though: Yes, I do know for sure that I am carrying your child.”

“I wasn’t going to ask that, Beth. I know you wouldn’t lie to me about something like that. Tell Seth and anyone else you’re seeing that it’s over. You’re pregnant and getting married. There seems to have been some confusion about seeing other people while we are dating, but let me clear it up for you. I’m not sharing my girlfriend, and I’m sure as hell not sharing my wife and the mother of my child. Send the memo, princess, you’re off the market.”

“You’re crazy! I’m not marrying you and you can’t tell me what to do. I’m an adult, Nick. You don’t own me. In fact, I plan to go out with Seth tomorrow night.”

Nick stared at her, clearly mystified over her refusal to make their relationship exclusive. Someone perfect like Nick could never understand the insecurities that someone like Beth harbored. He was too perfect for her. She would constantly find herself flawed against his perfection. She was pregnant and, God help her, about to start gaining some of her hard-lost pounds back. How would he feel when he could no longer span her waist with his hands? Would he enjoy her breasts as much when they were too large and far more than the current handful? Would he want to kiss and caress her lips as much when there was a double chin below them?

Nick prowled toward her and she took a step backward, suddenly nervous at his intense expression. When he had her backed up against the wall, she laughed nervously. “What’re you doing?” He ignored her question and lowered his head to her neck. She felt his warm lips slide against her sensitive skin and she gave an involuntary shudder. “Nick—”

His tongue thrusting into her mouth silenced the feeble protest she attempted to make. With a groan, she surrendered to him. They both knew she was powerless to resist how he made her feel. At that moment, she would have followed him off a cliff, so she issued no denial when he backed her toward the bedroom, never once breaking contact with her mouth.
Just one more time and I’ll be stronger the next time. Everyone deserves a weak moment, right?
Even as she repeated the reassurances to herself, Beth had to wonder if she would ever be strong enough to walk away from this man who took her breath away and set her body on fire with just one look.
Would it be so bad to take what he’s offering?

Chapter Nine

Beth had worked steadily through the morning, and she stood up behind her desk stretching her tired muscles. It was probably the workout from last night that had her fatigued the most. My God, that man knew how to use his tongue and the rest of him wasn’t too shabby, either. She hadn’t realized how lost in her thoughts she was until a snort from the doorway startled her back to the present.

Suzy, Ella, and Claire stood there looking at her. Suzy looked disgusted, Claire looked amused, and Ella looked as she always did, supportive. “Ugh, I know that look. She’s either thinking about the last time she got lucky or she just got lucky in her office. Just for the record, Claire, as an owner of this company, now objects to any sexual activity in her building, right, Claire?”

Claire looked at Suzy and laughed. “Um. . . . Sure, yes, whatever she says.”

Beth stuck out her tongue at Suzy and grabbed her purse to join them. They all chatted about their mornings until they were in Suzy’s SUV. Suzy turned in her seat and looked over at her sister sitting in the rear seat. “Let’s go ahead and address the elephant in the room. I told Claire you have a bun in the oven. You know I suck at keeping secrets from her. Now all of us know and you don’t have to sit through lunch wondering.”

She could feel her cheeks flushing as Claire gave her a sympathetic look. Ella, bless her heart, quickly changed the subject. The conversation was light and easy and Beth was just starting to relax after placing her lunch order when Suzy decided to move in for the kill. “So, what’s the status on the whole marriage, white-picket-fence thing that Nick’s trying to sell you?”

You really had to give Claire credit. She didn’t even look surprised by her best friend’s abrupt question. Ella was looking like she wanted to crawl under the table. She still hadn’t gotten used to Suzy’s direct way of getting straight to the point. “Nothing’s really changed; he still wants to marry me, but I told him it’s not gonna happen. Boy, if you think he was pissed off over that, you should have seen his expression when I told him I was still going on my date tonight with Seth. Now, that was a Kodak moment if I’ve ever seen one.”

“Whoa, wait a second. Who’s Seth?” Suzy demanded.

Beth immediately cringed.
Way to go, Big Mouth. Now you’ve moved Suzy up to DEFCON, level 5. Lie or tell the truth? Crap, he’s probably already told Gray, so you might as well come clean.
“Um, just a guy from the dating service.”
Have you lost your mind? No one else knows about the dating service!
Three sets of eyes were riveted on her and she fought the urge to slap her hand across her mouth in horror.

“Shit, I need a drink. Someone might have to drive us back to work because I don’t think I can handle any more of this story sober,” Suzy said, groaning. Beth thought she was kidding until she flagged a waiter down and ordered a
grande
margarita. She held her hand up to keep everyone silent until the large drink was sitting in front of her. After a dramatic gulp, she said, “All right, let’s hear it.”

Nervously stirring her drink with a straw, Beth said, “I . . . I, um, joined a dating service a while back. It’s no big deal. I just wanted to meet some new people.”

Looking stunned, Suzy asked, “You joined a dating service while you were sleeping with Nick?”

“Oh, no, it was right before. Since Nick and I aren’t really in a relationship, I’ve still been dating casually.”
Oh, God, they are all staring at me. Why did Ella look so shocked? She knew about the dating service. Beth had even tried to talk Ella into joining with her.

“Sis, I’m not a cheerleader for Nick or anything, but how can you still be dating when you are involved with him? Doesn’t he notice how often you are busy?”

“It’s usually only once or twice a week. He just assumes I’m with Ella. I’m not lying to him; he just doesn’t ask,” she defended herself.

With a smile, Claire said, “Well, in his defense, he is Nick Merimon. As much as I love my husband and as sexy as he is, I can still appreciate the fact that Nick is hot, hot! It probably never occurred to him to think that you were seeing anyone else. I’m betting this is the first time . . . ever. Just out of curiosity, why are you automatically counting him out? You obviously have feelings for him or you wouldn’t be practically living together. Why won’t you give him a chance? He’s said he wants to marry you and raise this baby with you.”

Beth’s shoulders suddenly slumped as she whispered what she already knew. “Because he’ll leave. I can’t let myself get attached to him. I know I am not the type of woman that someone like Nick will end up with.”

“Has he said something to you?” Suzy demanded. “I’ll kick his ass. Who does he think he is running my sister down? You’re way too good for him!”

Suzy was getting to her feet, her face enraged, but Beth managed to pull her back down. “No, no it’s not that. Nick has never said anything negative to me.” Looking down, she added, “He seems to love my body . . . a lot. I just know it won’t last, though. I’ve always known that we were short-term.”

“My God,” Suzy said. “You’ve continued to date this whole time so you would have someone to rebound with immediately, in case Nick left. You never intended for him to last this long, did you?”

This lunch seemed to be going from bad to worse. Beth was never comfortable being the center of attention, even around her closest friends, and Suzy, Claire, and Ella hadn’t stopped staring at her since she dropped the dating-service bomb. She knew that they weren’t judgmental people, but she could see the shock and another emotion she knew well: pity. “Guys, it’s not that bad. Nick and I have a good time and when he leaves, life will go on. He’ll see the baby whenever he wants to. I would never deny him that right. I just can’t get caught up in what he’s selling. Soon, the new-baby glow will wear off and he will be looking for a way out. I refuse to be a stage-five clinger like all the other members of the Nick Merimon Fan Club.”

Suzy chuckled beside her. “Stage-five clinger? God help you, Beth, because you are my sister through and through. Hell, you actually shock me on a regular basis now, and I didn’t think that was possible. So you’re testing Nick now to see if he’ll run? Aren’t you? Maybe a little torture? No boom-boom? Making him jealous?”

“Um, no, I’m not doing that.” Then with a laugh of her own, she said, “There is no way I can withhold the boom-boom. I never get enough of him.”

“Ugh, TMI! Please don’t say anything else. I can’t get drunk since I have to go back to the office, and this sure isn’t a conversation I can deal with sober,” Suzy moaned.

Beth took pity on Ella since she was already almost crimson with embarrassment. Ella had confided in her that she was still a virgin and Beth knew that she was easily embarrassed, especially over anything concerning sex. She patted her on the hand and whispered, “Sorry, Ella.”

Ella gave her a shy smile in return and said, “Are you kidding? This is like watching a live taping of
Days of our Lives
or
Desperate Housewives
.”

Everyone around the table laughed and kept it light while they finished eating. When they were waiting for their bill, Claire looked at Beth with what could only be called an evil smile. “So, Beth, I have an idea. You say that Nick will cut and run when things get tough. I’ve got the perfect way to give him a little test.” Beth wasn’t sure if she wanted to know, but she let Claire continue. “You know Mom and Tom are on their honeymoon, and Louise and her sister have gone to Florida for a few weeks. Jason and I would really love a date night, and we wouldn’t trust just anyone with Chrissy.”

Suzy looked at her friend in admiration. “Ohhhh, I like where you’re going here. Hey! If you need a babysitter, why haven’t you asked me? Gray and I are perfectly capable of babysitting.”

Claire threw an arm around her friend’s shoulders and laughed. “The last time I was at your house you set my diaper bag and purse on the sidewalk when Chrissy started crying.”

“Hey, I couldn’t see you pop your boob out one more time. The kid’s going to choke on that thing, or something. Those babies are never going airborne again after the workout she’s giving them.”

Ella looked even more mortified if that was possible. Beth quickly asked Claire, “You would actually trust us to babysit for you? You know we don’t actually have much baby experience.”

“I trust you completely, Beth. You were an elementary schoolteacher for years. We can go over all of the details and I’ll run you through her routine. She goes to bed early so you guys wouldn’t be on duty the whole time. If you want to see how Nick is around a baby, this is a perfect chance.”

“Hmmm, okay. Why not? I might as well start getting some practice in, and Nick needs to know what he is trying to get himself into. How about Saturday night?”

Claire smiled. “That sounds great. Jason will be so excited. It will be nice to go to a restaurant to eat without spit-up all over us. I don’t think we’ve had a conversation since the baby was born that didn’t involve the contents of her diaper. Maybe we should just use our date time to catch up on our sleep in the car.”

Suzy snickered. “That’s just sad. It must be depressing to have a stallion that you never have the energy to ride.”

Ella almost fainted when Claire smiled and said, “Oh, honey, my stallion is never in the stable. I’m never too tired to give him a good workout.”

Beth grabbed Ella’s elbow and pulled her out of her chair. “Let’s go before you’re ruined forever.”

She was surprised when Ella said, “Oh, man, I just love them. I didn’t know that Claire had a horse, though.”

Beth’s mouth dropped open in shock. Surely, Ella wasn’t
that
naive. When Ella doubled over in laughter and said, “Got ya,” Beth had to admit that her shy little friend had certainly come a long, long way.