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.He rarely parked his car in the garage: Where could he be? Part of her had hoped he would be waiting for her to come home.“Mom, can I watch a movie?” Cade whined as they entered the house.He sounded tired and she needed a second to think.“Yes, but only one.”While Cade watched his movie, Ellie picked up her church bag and pulled out the folded piece of paper.Her eyes skimmed over Nick, looking really good in his tux and standing close to a model Ellie recognized.The woman wore a low cut evening gown and had her hand on Nick’s arm, leaning close to him and whispering in his ear.Nick looked attentive and had a small smile on his lips.The caption read: Is Nick Coulter going from Super Bowl to Super Model?If she hadn’t heard the explanation about the photo, she would have believed they were a couple, or at least interested in each other.Still, how could she not to compare herself to the beautiful woman? Ellie came up lacking in so many areas.Why would Nick want someone like her?* * *Nick drove around for nearly half an hour, trying to get his thoughts together.The picture had upset him, mainly because it reminded him of what his life was really like.Maybe if he had his wife by his side it would be different.But how many times had he seen the front page of a tabloid depicting a Hollywood couple looking unhappy with each other and then a caption about them fighting again and rumors of divorce?The woman he imagined by his side was too innocent for that kind of bad press.He groaned and dragged his hand through his hair.Still, he couldn’t see himself letting her go.What if Ellie was willing to weather the tabloids and gossip? Shouldn’t she at least be allowed to make that choice?He remembered the tender look in her eyes whenever he caught her watching him.Those were looks from a woman who was attracted to him.It had to mean she and Thomas hadn’t worked anything out.Nick loosened his tie as he turned onto his street.He had always been the type to go after what he wanted—and he wanted Ellie.One way or another he would find out where he stood, and if he even had a chance.Once inside the house, he yanked off his tie and tossed it onto the couch.As he removed his suit coat, his phone buzzed in his pocket.Glancing at the screen, he concluded his neighbor must be back in town.“Hey, Betsy.”“Hi.Are you running? You sound out of breath.”Nick loved how Betsy never treated him like a celebrity.“As a matter of fact, I’m just running out the door.”“Where are you going?”Nick could hear Owen in the background reprimanding his wife for being so nosy.“I’m on my way to talk to Ellie.”“Oh.I’ve been dying to know what’s going on between the two of you.”Nick smiled.“That’s what I intend to find out.We haven’t really talked since you left.”Betsy gasped, then told Owen to drive a little faster.“We should be home in about ten minutes.If you need time to talk to her, we can have Cade come over here.”Nick tried not to laugh and thanked her for the offer.He purposely left his phone on the table in the entryway.No more phone calls until he talked to Ellie.He jogged across the street and bounded onto her porch.Raising his hand, he rapped his knuckles against the door.Nick waited for a few seconds before pressing a finger to the doorbell.He wasn’t leaving until he talked to Ellie.A moment later she pulled open the door, her eyes wide with wonder.“Nick.”“Hi.” He tucked his hands in his pockets.“I wanted to thank you for making my first time in the nursery so nice.”She pressed her lips together, trying to hide a smile.“You’re welcome.”He was about to apologize for leaving the church so abruptly when Cade came running down the hall.“Nick!”Grinning, Nick crouched down to accept an exuberant hug.“Hey, little man.”Cade pulled back and looked up at him.“Do you wanna see what I got in Disneyland?”Nick chuckled as Cade tugged on his hand.“Sure.” He met Ellie’s eyes briefly, giving her a slow wink as he passed by her.“Cool,” Nick said, as Cade showed him his Buzz Lightyear toy.“Did you have fun on your trip?”Cade nodded his head.“Yeah, but I missed my mom.”Handing the toy back, Nick’s gaze found Ellie’s once more.“I’ll bet you did.”Nick had missed Ellie too, and figured she knew it by the smile that curved her lips.He listened to Cade tell him all about his trip to California, but found his eyes connecting with Ellie’s often.He couldn’t wait to get her alone.* * *Ellie might as well admit her heart was lost to Nick Coulter.She couldn’t take her eyes off of him and didn’t avert her gaze, even when he looked up and caught her staring.When Cade finished his narrative, Nick stood up and walked in her direction, his blue eyes intensely dark and focused on her.A tremor ran through her as he stopped and reached out, winding his finger in one of her curls.“Can we go for a walk?” His voice came out low and husky.“I want to talk to you.”She felt on fire when his hand slid down her arm and captured her hand.“Okay.” Her eyes flitted over to Cade.She wasn’t sure Cade would be cooperative about leaving his toys and going for a walk.Nick gave her hand a gentle squeeze.“Betsy just got home and said Cade could come over for a few minutes.”Naturally, Cade was willing to do that.Betsy and Owen were the next best thing to his grandparents.Nick kept a hold of her hand as they crossed the yard to the Stewarts’ house.A heightened awareness pulsed between the two of them as they stood on the sidewalk and watched Cade bounce inside the house.Ellie didn’t miss the glint in Betsy’s eyes as she waved to them.“Take your time.”Neither of them spoke as they made their way toward the jogging trail.Nick’s thumb caressed the back of her hand, warming her as much as the sunlight penetrating through the trees.Ellie wanted to talk about so many things: The phone call before he left, Thomas’s deception and cruelty, and the picture that had upset Nick at church.She also wanted to know about his lunch date with Miss Colorado and what that all meant.Before leaving the shelter of the trees, Nick glanced down at her.“I really missed you.”“You did?” Despite being near him, she still had so many fears.He pulled her to a stop and stared into her eyes.“I did.I’m sorry I didn’t call.”“Yeah, but I’m the one who told you not to, remember?” She stepped back and turned away from him, embarrassed by how stupid she had been.His warm hand clasped her shoulder as he moved behind her.She closed her eyes as the scent of his cologne enveloped her.Did he really have feelings for her?“Ellie,” he said in a gentle voice.“I need to know.Are you and Thomas getting back together?”What! She whirled around.“No!” She stared at him in disbelief.“How could you think that?”A satisfied grin crossed his handsome face.“Because I’m an idiot?” He lifted one broad shoulder in a shrug.“And I was jealous.”His honesty astounded her.“Really?”The blue of his eyes darkened as he reached out for her hand.“Yep.” He pulled her close to him.“I couldn’t stand the thought of him winning you back.”Like that would ever happen.The thought made her shudder [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]