If I Trust You (If You Come Back To Me #4) (15 page)

“Welcome back to Harbor Town,” she murmured a moment later, brushing her lips against his as she spoke.

“With a welcome like that, I might never leave.”

“With a hello like that, I might never let you,” she assured, before she pressed her lips against his small grin.

Deidre was still smiling an hour later when she heard the shower shut off in the bathroom. She started the sauce for the beef filets she’d already prepared. By the time Nick walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, she was pouring it over the beef.

“What’s this?” Nick asked.

She glanced back and did a double take. He looked extremely good. His hair was still damp. He wore jeans and the dark blue cotton tee he’d had on beneath his button-down shirt. The short sleeves highlighted his strong-looking forearms and muscular biceps. She caught a subtle whiff of his shower-clean skin and had an urge to bury her nose in it. He was staring at the table she’d set for two.

“It’s dinner, what do you think?” she said, laughing as she set down their plates. She lit the two candles she’d placed on the table.

He was there when she turned around. He leaned down and kissed her. Deidre closed her hands around the dense muscle of his upper arms and savored the scent and texture of him.

“Thanks. It smells great. I didn’t know you could cook,” Nick said as they both sat. “What other secrets are you keeping?”

“You should taste it before you draw any conclusions,” she said, stabbing her fork into an apple-and-walnut spinach salad. “I like to cook, but didn’t get much of an opportunity while I was in the army. I haven’t tried this peppercorn filet recipe in ages, so eat it at your own risk.”

Nick took a bite of his filet. “It’s
fantastic,
” he muttered after a moment. “Apparently the army hasn’t dulled your cooking instincts.”

“I’m just glad eating army food hasn’t completely killed my taste buds,” Deidre said, watching him with a smile as he ate another bite of beef with flattering haste.

When they’d finished and were sipping their decaf, Nick suddenly stood and walked over to where his coat was hung on the coat tree. He withdrew what looked like a black velvet pouch from his coat pocket.

He sat down again and placed the large pouch on the table. “This is for you. I stopped at The Pines on my way back to Harbor Town and picked it up.”

“What is it?” Deidre asked, eyeing the pouch.

“It’s something Linc asked me to give you in his letter,” Nick replied gruffly. She met his stare. He frowned. “I’m sorry for not giving it to you until now.”

Deidre loosened the drawstring on the bag. She reached inside and withdrew a smaller pouch.

“I took everything out of their storage boxes and put them in these bags for easier transport,” Nick explained as she poked her fingers into the small pouch.

Deidre gasped.

“It’s gorgeous,” she whispered, gaping wide-eyed at an exquisite diamond and sapphire pavé ring. Something occurred to her and she twitched her hand beneath the larger velvet bag, feeling numerous hard items within. The pouch was
filled
with jewelry.

“I can’t accept any of this,” she said, stunned.

Nick grasped her wrist when she went to set the pouch and ring on the table.

“Yes, you can. Linc left it to you as a separate request in the letter. This jewelry used to belong to Lily DuBois. These were her finest pieces. There were several other pieces that were left to the entire estate, but Linc handpicked these items for you to have exclusively. They were locked in a safe at The Pines.”

Deidre stared at him in amazement. He released her wrist. After a pause, she once again picked up the bag. She set all of the smaller pouches in her lap and smoothed the larger velvet bag onto the table. Nick said nothing, just watched, as she withdrew all of the separate pieces. By the time she’d finished, a breathtaking display lay on the black velvet—a sapphire and diamond set, including necklace, earrings and ring; a stunning pair of diamond earrings and matching wreath necklace; a pair of sunflower earrings that included large center diamond studs and a matching necklace with row after row of large, sparkling diamonds; a ruby, diamond and platinum set that included a flower motif with the ruby as the center and diamonds forming the petals and leaves; and, lastly, a diamond and platinum brooch of a horse in midstride. The artistry of the items was unlike anything Deidre had ever laid eyes on—exquisite in detail, unapologetically lush but delicate at once, luxurious without being ostentatious. Deidre ran her fingers over the running horse in wonder.

“George had that brooch made for Lily when Gallant Hunter, one of their horses, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame.”

She glanced up at Nick mutely.

“I apologize again for not bringing them when I first came to Harbor Town,” he said quietly.

“I understand why you didn’t,” she whispered. “You shouldn’t have brought them now. Maybe after we hear about the genetic testing, but—”

“They’re yours, whatever happens,” Nick said gruffly. “It’s one of the few specific bequests Linc made. I’ve thought about it, and he would want you to have these things no matter what the outcome of the testing. I’m convinced of that.”

She shook her head, overwhelmed by emotion, and began to put away the priceless jewelry. “Take it,” she entreated when she’d replaced all the items in the bag.

“They’re yours, Deidre.”

She swallowed with difficulty, but it didn’t work. She felt choked with emotion. “I don’t know what’s mine and what’s not anymore.”

He assessed her soberly. “What do you mean by that?”

She shook her head and stared out the window blankly. She was having difficulty meeting his eyes for some reason. Was it guilt?

“I’m not so sure anymore that I deserve anything from Lincoln. He didn’t even know me, not really. It was
you
he knew and loved for a lifetime.”

“There’s no official timetable on love. Lincoln believed you were his.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. “Do you believe that, Nick?”

He inhaled slowly. Was he striving for caution in his answer? Deidre wondered. “Belief isn’t as important to me as it is to you in these circumstances. I know that
Lincoln
believed.”

“I wish I knew what to believe,” she said, giving Nick a desperate glance. “I’m so happy Lincoln had faith that I was his child. I want
so
much to be Lincoln’s biological daughter. But every time I imagine it being true, I feel so sad and mad because he’s gone. Derry’s gone. I’m right back where I started, without a father.”

“I’m not so sure about that. You have a mother, Deidre.”

She met his stare, remorse spiking through her. “You must think I sound so ungrateful.”

“No, I don’t think that.” He frowned and sat back in his chair. Deidre had the distinct impression he was torn about whether to go on about the subject.

“What is it, Nick?” Deidre asked. “Do you think I’ve been too hard on my mother?”

“I understand you’re mad about being kept in the dark all these years, missing out on a relationship with Lincoln. But your mom lost her husband and she lost her best friend. She lost you for a good portion of her life and probably fears she’ll never get you back. I can’t help but feeling bad for her.” He shook his head and gave a sheepish wave. “I know—it’s none of my business.”

“I don’t think that it’s none of your business. I’m just confused as to why you care one way or another,” she said. “You’ve been urging Mom and me to resolve our differences. Why?”

For a few seconds he didn’t reply. “I guess I just worry about you.”

“
Me?
You want to make sure I have a mommy to look out for me? I’ve been taking care of myself for a long, long time, Nick,” she said, chuckling.

“I don’t like the idea of you being alone in the future.”

Her mirth faded. Was he telling her he was trying to prepare her for the fact that what was between them wasn’t permanent? Was he implying that she needed to build up her support because there was a good chance she would be cast adrift again sometime in the near future?

She closed her mouth and cleared her throat. Of course that’s not what he meant. Hadn’t he been the definition of a passionate, interested male in the past week? She was just being paranoid.

“You don’t have to worry about me. Or my mother.”

“You’ve told me the story about Brigit. I feel for her, that’s all. She finds out her husband has had an affair. She’s devastated...hurting. She flees West and finds comfort from an old friend.”

“It was selfish of her. Pure and simple. There were much better ways to handle the situation with Dad than to get him back by having her own affair,” Deidre insisted, her jaw tilted up defiantly.

Nick’s eyes flashed. “Do you know for a fact Brigit was intent on payback? You loved Lincoln after knowing him only for months...weeks...days, maybe? He was a wonderful man. Wouldn’t you consider running to him, after a betrayal like your mother experienced? Imagine how deep your mother’s feelings must have been for him, given their long history. Maybe it was a mistake for them to sleep together, but you don’t have to twist your mom into the wicked witch. I won’t argue that Brigit made a huge mistake. She’s paid a heavy toll for it. Don’t you think she’s suffered enough?”

Deidre just stared at him, amazed that he saw the topic so differently than her. As an outsider, did he perhaps see it more clearly? Was her perspective hazed by a teenager’s pain and simplistic view of the adult world?

“Look, I’m sorry for bringing it up,” he mumbled. “I’m sorry, period. I don’t want to fight with you. I just wanted to give you the jewelry. I don’t know how the hell we got here.”

She stared at the velvet pouch, longing and doubt warring inside her.

“To whom would that jewelry belong if not you?” Nick asked after a grave pause.

She met his stare. “You,” she mouthed.

He nodded slowly and leaned toward her. “So no matter what happens, it’s yours,” he said before he kissed her trembling lips.

* * *

Deidre stared out the kitchen window the next morning, watching a gentle snowfall. Nick and she had gone to the Starling Hotel last night and had Lily DuBois’s precious jewels locked in the hotel safe. This morning, however, Deidre felt as if she carried a priceless treasure in her heart. Her entire world sparkled.

“Hey.”

She turned and smiled at the source of her newfound joy. “Hey.”

“You ready to go?” Nick murmured, stepping toward her and wrapping his hands around her shoulders.

“Yes,” she replied, turning her face up to receive his kiss.

“Do horses like the snow?” she asked after a moment.

“It depends on the horse,” Nick said wryly next to her mouth before he kissed her again. He grabbed her hand. “Come on, I told your mother we’d pick her up by ten.”

Nervousness fluttered in her belly as they approached Sycamore Avenue, but Brigit was walking out of the house at the same moment Nick pulled into the driveway. She walked toward them through a gentle snow wearing a pair of riding breeches, supple brown leather boots and a dark green anorak. Brigit gave her a warm smile through the windshield as she walked to the car. Gratitude swelled in Deidre’s breast at the knowledge that her mother had understood she wasn’t quite ready to go into the house.

“It’s a wonderful day for a ride,” Brigit enthused as she got in the backseat. Deidre glanced back at her mother. Brigit beamed at her. Was Deidre’s happiness with the world contagious? Her mother seemed to glow with health and good spirits.

“I’m so excited. To think—I’m finally going to teach one of my children to ride.”

Deidre returned her smile. “If I don’t fall off and break my neck,” she said under her breath as she turned in her seat.

“With teachers like Nick and I?” Brigit asked jovially. “Not a chance.”

As it turned out, Deidre had more than Nick and her mother for teachers. A half an hour later, she sat on the back of a brown mare named Grace as she was taught to find her seat. Nick held the horse steady while Addy adjusted one stirrup, Brigit adjusted the other and Evan, Addy’s husband, silently oversaw their progress. Deidre held the reins and tried to get used to the unusual sensation of sitting on a large animal’s back.

“Don’t jam your foot so tight in the stirrup,” Addy instructed.

“Keep your posture straight, but try to relax,” Brigit added.

“Quit poking at the girl and put her out on the lunge,” Evan chimed in.

“The lunge?” Deidre asked nervously. She petted Grace’s neck soothingly when Nick let go and her hooves shifted. Was she transferring her anxiety to the animal?

“It’s easiest to teach you how to post on a lunge line,” Nick explained as he attached a leather strap to Grace’s bridle.

“And what’s posting again?” Deidre wondered uncertainly.

“A horse’s trot is bouncy,” Nick explained. “Posting helps to smooth out the jarring motion. You rise in the saddle for every other stride. Can you show her while I explain?” Nick asked Brigit.

Brigit nodded. Evan brought her a sleek-looking, near-black horse that had already been saddled. Deidre watched in admiration as her mother mounted with ease and an elegant poise. She straightened her spine, trying to model her mother’s perfect posture. She watched Brigit urge the horse to a trot within the fenced enclosure.

“See how she rides the trot?” Nick said. Deidre listened intently as he described the necessary motion for the post, watching her mother with a tight focus, trying to memorize the movement.

“Are you ready to try it?” Nick asked.

“Not really,” Deidre said doubtfully. Her mom had made it seem like the easiest thing on earth to post on a horse, but she was quite sure it wasn’t.

“It’ll be okay,” Nick assured her. “You’ll circle me while I have Grace on the line. It’ll give you a chance to learn to post without having to worry about guiding her.”

“Can I lunge her?” Brigit asked breathlessly as she dismounted and handed her reins to Evan.

Nick glanced at Deidre, his eyebrows quirked upward. She gave him a shaky, hopeful smile.

“Sure,” he murmured, handing the lunge line to Brigit.