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“It’s not like I want to see them,” Jeb scowled. “She owes me, is all. But, yeah, I’ll do as you say. She won’t see me—tonight anyway.”
“Good. But if I hear that she’s caught so much as a glimpse of you after our talk tonight, the deal’s off.” Nolan glared at him to make his point clear. “And I’ll make sure she doesn’t give you anything either.”
Jeb looked at him, as if trying to figure out whether Nolan could influence Raina that much. Obviously he decided that Nolan could. He lifted his chin in acceptance of the terms.
“Where d’you want to meet?”
Nolan named a parking lot in back of some buildings downtown. Jeb nodded. “I know it. I’ll be there. Six o’clock tomorrow night. Don’t be late or the deal’s off and I’m back to my original plan.”
“Oh, I’ll be on time, don’t you worry about that,” Nolan affirmed, staying outside to watch Jeb as he headed off down the street and faded from sight.
Nolan went back to the hall. The lights gleaming on the front porch were a welcome contrast to the darkness of the man he’d just seen leave. He wondered what the hell Raina had ever seen in Jeb Pickering, but then again, knowing her even as little as he did, he could see why the lost boy inside Jeb would appeal to her nature to nurture and mend what was broken. She certainly had mended what was broken within him, Nolan thought, and made him dream of a new future.
He quietly let himself into the hall and scanned the rows of seats, trying to spot Raina. There she was. Again that familiar wave of protectiveness swept through him. Dealing with Jeb would be an unpleasant business, but he’d do whatever it took to keep Raina safe from that creep and anything or anyone else that threatened her. Raina and JJ both.
As if she’d sensed his presence, she turned and their eyes met. She gave him a tentative smile and waved him to come toward her. Nolan realized she’d saved him a seat. The knowledge eased loose the knot he’d been carrying in his chest since she’d confronted him and told him to get lost, and for the first time in a long time, Nolan admitted he felt hope.
Twelve
From the moment Nolan sat down next to her, Raina felt every nerve and cell in her body become attuned to his nearness. The seats were close together so his broad shoulder brushed against hers. In the end, it was easier to give in to the occasional contact and stop trying to hold herself apart from him.
Who was she kidding anyway? Yes, she was still mad at him and, yes, she still felt betrayed, but he’d extended an olive branch tonight. While her first instinct had been to reject it, and him, in an attempt to save herself from any further hurt or heartbreak, didn’t she owe it to herself to give him another chance? If what he said was true, and he’d quit Samson Oil, maybe that was the genuine measure of the man himself.
She glanced toward him and caught him looking back at her. His brown eyes were alight with joy and she felt her body relax even more.
“Our Spider-Man is doing great, don’t you think?” he whispered to her, leaning in closer.
Her nostrils flared as his scent wafted toward her, making her insides twist with suppressed need. It was all she could do to smile and nod an acknowledgment and return her eyes to the stage where JJ stood as tall and proud as he could, his little face turned to the crowd and his gaze searching for her among the many faces. She saw the moment he picked her out in the crowd and he beamed at her, and then his eyes drifted to where Nolan sat beside her and she thought JJ’s face might split with happiness.
She felt a telltale prickle of tears in her eyes. She’d tried so darn hard to be everything that JJ had needed in his young life. But his obvious joy at having Nolan present made her realize that she couldn’t be all things to her son, no matter what she did. Not being able to ensure he had the best of everything life had to offer frustrated her. She wanted him to have it all.
If Nolan’s words were true, if he was really falling in love with her, then she had to know how he felt about JJ, too. They were a package deal.
But what of the wife and child she’d heard mention of earlier this week? How could she casually bring that up in conversation without it sounding as if she’d been snooping into his life? Of course, she rationalized, she had a right to snoop—she had more than herself to consider—but snooping had never been her thing. She’d always been a “live and let live” type of person, someone who tried to always see the good in people.
