John answers on the second ring, always there, unconditionally, no expectations.
“Hello?” his warm voice soothes me.
“Hi, it’s me.”
“Nina. How are you, darling? Maggie, Nina is on the phone!” he calls out to his wife.
Tears pool in my eyes as realisation sinks in. “I’m okay,” I hesitate.
“That’s not all that convincing. What is it, love? Do you need help with the studio this month? You know it’s not an issue.”
I smile through unshed tears, two words, and he knows, prepared to trample anything in my way.
“It’s not the studio, John, I just… you know how grateful I am, don’t you? For everything you and Maggie have done for me. I wouldn’t be half the person I am without you both. You gave me everything I could have wanted in a family. You believed in my dreams—invested in them even.” I pause, feeling silly for rambling. “If I had the choice at a do-over, to be born again into a different family, a different mum, I wouldn’t. I’d always choose the hurt that led me to you. I’m so thankful to you both, and I’m sorry I haven’t told you that before.”
“Well, that’s enough of that. You’re going to make an old man cry,” he says gruffly. “Are you sure you’re okay, Nina?”
“I am. I promise.”
“Nina, hunny.” Maggie’s voice croons, my throat constricting as a fresh wave of tears spring to my eyes. God, what is wrong with me today. “You’ll be here tomorrow for lunch, I hope?”
I smile, pushing the wetness away with the palm of my hand. “Yeah.”
Something sharp digs into my hip as I roll in the bed. My eyes slowly open in the dimly lit room, the sun almost lost to the horizon and out of sight for the day. I sit up, looking at the array of items spread on the bed.
I pick up the luxurious looking hamper, filled with washes, bath salts and perfumes.
What is all this?
My hand finds a sleek black stiletto buried under my side, and I sit up to find a beautiful beaded gold dress lying at my feet. It looks expensive. It all looks expensive. Pushing back the covers, I climb from the bed but stop short at the dresser when I see a note sat beside an ice bucket, champagne open and at the ready alongside a lone flute.
I take a deep breath, trying to dispel the unease that comes with the gifts.
Don’t make me wait, Pixie.
I’ve already waited long enough.
My head tells me to leave, that I can’t be bought with gifts—money. But my treacherous heart doesn’t care. It beats fearlessly in my chest, begging me to stay. To try, for once. To be more for him.
Whatever he needs me to be.
I grasp the bottle, pouring myself a glass before I grab the hamper and head for the en suite.
I need to armour up first. If that tortured look in his eyes tells me anything, it’s that his demons like my own—won’t fight fair.
TEN
Nina
He asked me not to make him wait, so naturally, it made me want to take my time. Soaking in a cloud of bubbles, three quarters of the champagne obliterated, I pop a chocolate truffle into my mouth. Tilting my head back against the rim of the sunken bathtub, I let the silky-smooth treat melt down my throat.
I’ve been no more than an hour—I’m sure of it. But as the rapping of his knuckles echoes off the smooth marble suite, I jump, legs slipping from the edge and champagne spilling over my breasts.
“Shit!”
“Nina? Are you okay in there?”
“Uh, yeah, just a sec!” I climb from the bath, wrapping myself in a towel and padding over to the door.
