Nico’s dark lashes dropped for a moment then he lifted his gaze to mine and a lump formed instantly in my throat. I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him but there was still a wall between us, a wall that I’d built.
“I got your message and I dropped by your house to talk to you. Your mom told me you were coming down here to meet me. I was confused at first but then something struck me, something that should have struck me today when we were in the truck,” his voice faded as he seemed to relive the painful afternoon. “I was driving over here and I remembered that I’d given Vanessa the keys to my truck. She’d needed to pick up something in town for my dad. Everything started making sense, and I realized it had been her all along.”
“She told me we were heading out to rescue you.” I rubbed the cold from my face with my hand. “I’m such a fool. I believe a nutcase like Vanessa, and like a giant dodo, I follow her onto a boat not having any clue about the fact that she’s a psycho. Then when my best friend, who I know better than I know myself, tells me something, I question it. I don’t know what came over me, Nico. Can you forgive me?”
I stared at his perfectly chiseled profile as he seemed to be contemplating my question. Then he lowered his eyes. “I don’t know, Jessa. When I realized that you didn’t trust me, it felt like someone had sliced a knife through me. I headed up to the hideout and hung out there. I didn’t want to see anyone. I just needed to think.” His throat moved as he swallowed hard. He didn’t look at me. “The problem was, the more I thought about it, the more it hurt.”
I drew the blanket up around my shoulders, slumped back against the seat, and cried.
There was a ton of activity happening on the dock by the time we reached the marina. Two police cars had arrived and a small crowd had gathered. Mom and Mr. Harris ran to meet us as the boat pulled in. Mom nearly knocked me over as she hugged me. I glanced over her shoulder and saw that Vanessa was sitting in a patrol car. It was all so surreal like I’d woken up in the middle of a television drama.
The police took down my statement. There wasn’t even that much to say. As I recounted it all, I actually felt sorry for Vanessa. In fact, at the moment, I was feeling the same heartbreak pain that she must have felt her entire life. Nico was not a guy you could forget easily.
After speaking to the police, Nico walked back to his truck and drove off. Mom was anxious to get me home and dry.
“Nico hates me, Mom, and I feel so awful I don’t think I’ll ever recover.”
“The important thing is that you’re safe, Jessa.” She looked at me. “Do you think we should leave Pinecliff?”
“But what about Aunt Sadie?”
“She does need us,” Mom said. “Still, under the circumstances, I think she would understand.”
“What do you think will happen to Vanessa?”
“I told them we will press charges, but first I’m sure they’re going to have to do some psychiatric evaluation on her. Poor delusional girl.”
“I don’t think she wanted to kill me, Mom. I think she just wanted me to leave town. She loves Nico. I can’t blame her for obsessing about him. I’m feeling rather unhinged myself.” My shoulders shook with a silent sob.
“Let’s just get you home and dry, Jessa. The bad dream is over.”
Chapter 19
We’d spent Saturday helping Aunt Sadie. My stitches had gotten wet, but they seemed to be holding, and the doctor had decided that since I was on antibiotics already, my leg would heal fine. Lexi must have called ten times to get the gory details, but I didn’t have the heart to talk about any of it. Mom and I went down to the station to give more official statements. They told us that Vanessa had been moved to a psychiatric facility in the city where she could be evaluated. I felt truly bad for her.
I’d sunk into a mild depression about the whole thing. I’d not heard a word from Nico, and I was forcing myself to face the stark reality that I’d lost him forever. My own heartbreak prompted me to call Josh back home and break up with him officially. He was popular and well-liked and would find someone easily, but it wasn’t fair for me to not tell him it was over. He wasn’t too shocked when I told him which made the task much easier.
Mom was worried about my lack of appetite, and she’d gone to the bakery early Sunday morning to buy pastries. I sat leaning over the kitchen table sipping coffee and picking the icing off of my cheese Danish.
“Aunt Sadie called this morning. She said the customers I spent so long with yesterday decided to buy that nineteenth century sideboard.” Mom smiled into coffee cup. “She thinks I have great potential as a salesperson”
“That’s great, Mom. I’m proud of you. Maybe you finally found your niche.”
Mom sat back and pulled her robe tighter around her shoulders. “I have to admit, aside from the obvious unfortunate events, I’ve felt better than ever being back here with Aunt Sadie. For the first time since I can remember, I’m not stressed out by a man in my life and I love my job. I’ve never felt so free and relaxed.” Then her face smoothed with concern and she reached over and took my hand. “But, Sweetie, if you’re not happy here then we can pack up and drive back home tomorrow.”
“To be honest, Mom, I know things didn’t start smoothly, but I really feel like this is home.”
Mom beamed at me across the table. “I’ve been thinking the same thing, Jessa. I’m sure it won’t feel too homey one month into a snowy winter, but if you don’t mind spending your last year of high school up here, I’d like to stay on for awhile.”
“I don’t mind.” My phone vibrated and I read the text. “Hmm, that’s interesting. Chase said he’s dropping by,” I looked up at Mom, “and he’s bringing Susie with him.”
“Well then,” Mom said, “I suppose we should get dressed.”
Chase smiled widely as he stepped inside. Susie walked in behind him looking meek and uncomfortable. “We’re just on our way to get muffins and thought we’d drop by to see how you were doing.”
“We have some pastries and coffee,” Mom interjected, “why don’t you sit and have some. You can save yourself a trip to town.”
Susie didn’t look to anxious to take her up on the suggestion.
“Mom, their Sunday morning muffins are a tradition,” I said.
“It’s silly, I know,” Susie said. I was shocked to hear her talk in such a self-deprecating manner.
“I don’t think it’s silly at all.” I grinned at Chase. “I think it’s cool. I envy you guys.”
That seemed to please Susie, and Chase looked admiringly at me.
“At least sit for some coffee,” Mom suggested. We sat at the table, and Mom poured us each a cup then she went into her room.
Susie sipped her coffee then lowered the cup to the table. “You must have been so terrified to be out on the lake in the dark. I still can’t believe that Vanessa had planned it all. She’s always been sort of a loner and everyone knew she was still obsessed with Nico, but I never would have expected her to go so crazy.”
“You know, I’m sure that I’d heard somewhere that she had some kind of kooky parents too. Maybe it runs in the family,” Chase said.
I glanced toward my mom’s door and smiled. “I think we’ve all got kooky parents, but we still don’t go around sending spiders through the mail or dumping people overboard.”
Susie chuckled, and I was so shocked by it, it took me a second to recover. She was trying very hard to be friendly, and I thought it was great.
Chase looked stoked about it too. “Hey, did I tell you Cindy’s back home?”
“Is she? Good to hear. Tell her hello for me,” I said.
“I will. So have you heard from the stubborn man yet?” Chase asked.
I shook my head. “I don’t think he’ll ever speak to me again.”
“He’s being a knucklehead. He’ll come around.”
“He??
?s always been so crazy about you,” Susie said suddenly. “I can’t imagine that he’ll never speak to you again. After all, who can blame you? You were in such a scary position.”
“Thanks, Susie. That’s really nice of you to say.”
Chase took hold of her hand. “Well, I guess we’ll head out for those muffins.” We stood. “We’re going to the Monday Meet Up tomorrow night. Why don’t you come with us, Jessa?”
I peeked over at Susie and she looked as if she truly didn’t mind if I tagged along. “I might just take you up on that. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know for sure. And Susie-- I’m really glad you came by.”
“I’m glad I did too,” she said with a sincere smile. Obviously she’d realized something that I’d known all along. Chase was a catch, and it would be worth any extra effort to hang on to the guy.
Mom and I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting by the lake before heading over to help Sadie with chores. There was no message or call from Nico, and I was steeling myself up for the possibility that we would never speak again. The thought of it left a terrible black hole in my heart that I was certain would never heal.
Chapter 20
Tourist season was in full swing, and the shop was crowded with customers. The day went by fast and I was worn out, but I told Chase I’d go with them to the meet-up. I figured since Susie was making the effort, I needed to reciprocate. Truthfully, though, I wasn’t looking forward to it. My biggest dread was that Regina would show up with Nico. I could not even absorb the possibility of seeing them together.
I slid into Chase’s backseat, and Susie twisted back to look at me. “My mom was in your aunt’s shop today. She bought a lamp.”
“Really? I guess I haven’t seen her very often. I must not have recognized her. The place crawling with tourists today.”
“Tourists,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “I know they are the reason Pinecliff stays financially solid, but they swarm in like locusts during summer. It’s too crowded to even go out on the lake.” She raised an eyebrow at Chase. “Although, this guy did manage to get up early and go wakeboarding.” She looked back at me again with a comfortable smile as if we’d been friends a long time. “He never gets up early when I ask him to, but, boy, one call from Nico and he was up and dressed.”
Naturally my eyes widened when she said Nico. Chase seemed to sense my silent reaction. I could see his blue eyes watching me in the rear view.
“How is he?” I asked after a long pause.
“He’s fine, but I let him know that I thought he was a complete bonehead.”
I gazed out the window watching the people stream past on the side of the road. Most were heading wearily back to their tents and cabins with backpacks, beach chairs, and ice chests. “I’m the bonehead, Chase.”
A good-sized crowd was already gathered at Granite Beach, and I spotted Lexi instantly. She was talking animatedly to Chuck and his friends. From the sparkle in her eyes, you could tell she was really nuts about the guy. She waved excitedly at me as the three of us stepped onto the sand.
Lexi sprinted over to us. “Hey guys, I’m going to steal Jessa for a minute.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me over to an empty picnic table. “You are the topic of the evening,” Lexi said excitedly as she yanked me down beside her on the bench. “Is it true they’re going to put Vanessa in the hospital?”
“I really don’t know anything about it, Lexi. And I sort of want to keep it that way. Whatever happens, it is a terrible tragedy.”
“I agree,” Lexi said with little conviction. “Who knew she was still that nuts about Nico.” Then she made a shoddy attempt at an empathetic expression. “So I heard you two were completely through. Regina has been boasting about it all night.” She motioned with her head toward a group of girls where Regina seemed to be holding court. The girls in her circle took turns peeking over at me.
Fortunately, I caught Chase’s attention, and he seemed to sense that I needed to get away from Lexi. He walked over and put out his hand for me to take. “Sorry, I’m stealing her back.”
Lexi crinkled her nose at him and stomped away.
“Thanks, I owe you. She started grilling me about Nico, and she’s the last person I need to talk to about it. As a bonus, I’m getting some really sweet glares from Regina and her circle of crows.”
Chase scowled Regina’s direction. “Ignore them. Susie is over at the fire pit. Let’s go over there.”
We trudged across the sand, and it seemed like fevered murmurs were rolling through the crowd and all eyes seemed to be following me. Then a voice came from behind.
“Hey, Duchess.”
I stopped and Chase released my hand. Aside from the music blaring from the back of someone’s truck, the beach had fallen completely silent. My heart pounded in my chest as I turned around. I could feel more harsh glares coming from the direction of Regina’s group, but they were easy to ignore.
Nico stood ten feet away on the sand in jeans and a white t-shirt. His light brown eyes gazed long and hard at me, and I felt the intensity of it through my entire body. Then his mouth tipped up and his hands went out to his sides.
My feet flew through the sand as I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck. We kissed amidst the whistles and howls of the entire beach, but they were easy to ignore. Tucked in Nico’s arms, it was easy to imagine we were standing alone on a deserted island.
I peered up at him and could not keep the smile off my lips. “What made you change your mind?”
“I figured I could stay away from you and be miserable, or I could swallow my stupid pride and spend time with the girl who has owned my heart forever.”
I hopped up on tiptoes and kissed him again.
“What do you say we go somewhere where we can be alone?” Nico asked.
“That’s probably a good idea. I’m afraid if I stand here kissing you for too long, Regina’s going to begin an evil plan of her own. After all, your groupies tend to be a bit intense.”
He laughed as he dropped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me against him.
I looked back and waved good-bye to Chase.
We got back to the truck, and Nico pushed me up against the side of it. “Don’t ever mistrust me again, Jessa. It nearly tore me apart.”
I placed my hand on his face. He closed his eyes and pressed his cheek against my palm. “Never again,” I whispered.
He opened his eyes, took hold of my arms, and lifted me closer to him. His warm gaze drifted down to my lips and then our eyes met again. “Duchess,” he said on a breath before his mouth came down hard over mine.
Look for the other two novellas in Tess Oliver’s
Summer Romance Collection:
Cowboy Dark
Angel Beach
Other titles by this author:
Camille
Heart of the Huntress
Blackpool Cove
Safe Landing
A Little Less Girl
Bitterroot Crossing
Tess loves hearing from her readers. You can contact her through her website
or email at [email protected]
Tess Oliver, Home Is Where the Heart Break Is
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