Falling For Nick by Joleen James Page B

Clea.
    She wanted to say yes, but she held her tongue.
    "Do you?" he asked again.
    "I don't know." The prick of hot tears stung her eyes, but she wasn't sure if the tears were for John or for her. "It's not about you and me anymore," she said sadly. "It's about John. I think it would be worse if you left."
    "What do you want me to do?"
    "I don't know."
    "Clea." He brushed a tear from her cheek, his touch tender. "If I could change things I would."
    Clea sniffed, searching her coat pocket for a tissue. She wanted to believe his words, but didn't know if she could trust him, especially when it came to John.
    Rain pounded the top of the truck, filling the silence between them.
    She blew her nose.
    Nick started the truck. The windshield wipers danced across the window. Snow mixed with the rain now. Up at Lake Bliss snow would be falling.
    Nick pulled away from the side of the road. They made the drive to The Coffee House in silence. When they arrived, Nick pulled over to the curb.
    "Thanks for the ride." Clea reached for the door handle.
    Nick touched her arm. "I'm here if you need me. Just say the word. I'll do whatever you want."
    "Really?" she asked, surprised.
    "I'd do anything for you and John." Leaning over, he kissed her cheek.
    His words sent unwanted excitement across her already cold skin, jolting her into action. Clea opened the door and jumped from the truck, needing to get away from him and the turbulent feelings he aroused in her. She watched as he drove away in the sleet.
    When she couldn't see the truck any longer, she turned toward the shop and looked up. The curtain moved, as if it had just been dropped into place. Had Robert been watching? Had he seen Nick kiss her? She hoped not. An argument with Robert was the last thing she needed.
    Bracing herself for the confrontation to come, she started up the stairs to her apartment.
    *   *   *
     
    Nick wanted to get drunk.
    He walked through the door of the Point Bliss Tavern and headed for the bar. Every nerve in his body throbbed. He wanted that feeling to go away.
    "Give me a whiskey, straight up," he said to the bartender. He'd hoped that Billy would be home, but he'd gotten his answering machine when he'd called. He'd left a message asking his brother to meet him at the tavern. Tonight, he needed a friendly face.
    The bar smelled exactly the same, like stale cigarette smoke and cheap beer. Neon signs covered the west wall, selling every kind of beer imaginable.
    He'd been in the bar dozens of times, but always as a kid. He'd come in the back door, hiding behind the bar, needing something from Maude, usually food, but sometimes he'd needed help with Billy, like the time Billy had broken his arm and wouldn't stop crying. That time, he'd walked right through the front door and gone straight to Maude. She hadn't been able to ignore him. Her boss had given her the rest of the night off to take Billy to the hospital. Nick grimaced at the memory. Maude had bitched the entire time they'd waited at the hospital about the night's pay and tips she was losing. His stomach turned at the memory.
    The bartender poured the whiskey, then slid the glass across the lacquered surface of the bar toward him. Nick downed the amber liquid, welcoming the burn as the liquor made its way down his throat to warm his belly. "Hit me again."
    The bartender obliged. Nick knocked the drink back. "Once more."
    "Okay." The bartender poured a third drink, setting it in front of Nick. "Aren't you Maude's kid?"
    "Yeah." He never should have come here. The place reeked of Maude and bad memories.
    "I'm sorry about your mother," the bartender offered.
    Before he could reply someone behind him said, "Nick?"
    Nick turned. A short, balding man who looked to be in his late sixties took the stool next to him, a can of Budweiser in his hand. He looked familiar, but Nick couldn't place him. "Do I know you?"
    "I'm Bernie. I was a friend of your mother's."
    "Ah. One of Mom's male friends." Nick took a swig of