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Alarm bells started ringing in Nicky’s ears. “What have you done?”
“Something you tend not to do,” Hannah told her. “Give people a chance to explain.”
Before Nicky could protest or flee, Hannah pushed the door open and dragged Nicky inside.
“Hello, Nicky,” Mike’s voice made her freeze.
Her eyes traveled to where he was standing behind a table set up with a candle and place setting for a romantic dinner. Her heart jolted, and her breath caught in her throat.
“No!” Nicky shook her head. “Nope!” She waved her hand through the air. “I’m leaving.”
“No!” Hannah stopped her. “You’re not.”
“Yes.” Nicky tried to dodge her sister. “I am.”
“Nicky, please just hear me out,” Mike asked her. “I know I don’t deserve a chance to explain. I was an idiot earlier.” He paused, and she looked at him. Their eyes met in the soft candlelight. “If you still want to leave when I’m done, I won’t stop you.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll give you the bookstore, and you won’t see me again.”
“What about Jade?” Nicky asked the first thing that popped into her head. “She’s so excited about moving here.”
“We’ll stay here, but I’ll move away from Tigertail Avenue,” Mike said. “It is, after all, basically the Scott family’s avenue.”
“She’ll stay.” Hannah pushed Nicky toward the table, whispering to Nicky, “Stop being so stubborn. Mike isnothinglike Grant the Gnat.”
Nicky nodded and couldn’t remember if she had walked to the table or if Hannah had pushed her. But she found herself seated in a romantic setting in front of Mike.
“I’m going to go!” Hannah said, bobbing like a meerkat looking for predators as she backed out the doors. “Play nice, you two.” She pulled the doors closed behind her.
A silence fell over them as Mike poured them each a glass of wine and pushed one in front of Nicky. She took a big sip of the smooth liquid, trying to keep her eyes from locking with his.
“Nicky, I—” Mike broke off, sipped his wine, and gave a soft laugh. “For the past couple of hours, I’ve rehearsed what I would say.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “The truth is there’s no words that can erase what I said or how I acted.”
He swallowed and swirled the wine in his glass, watching it slosh from side to side before lifting his eyes to hers. Nicky swallowed. Her throat felt dry, and her heart felt frozen as she held her breath. She could see the flickering flame of the candle dance in his eyes as she stared, being drawn into their warm depths.
“I know it’s worth nothing; actions speak louder than words.” His voice was barely audible and was gruff with emotion. “I’m so sorry I acted like a jerk.” He squeezed his eyes shut, and Nicky could feel his pain resonate through her.
While her heart screamed for her to forgive him, her mind wasn’t so quick to let him off the hook. Mike had kept secrets from her and had judged her without giving her a chance to explain.
“I want to say it’s okay,” Nicky’s voice shook with suppressed emotions. “But it’s not.” She shook her head, and her eyes dropped to the glass of wine before they drifted shut as she composed herself. “You hurt me.” She looked at him. “I thought you were different.” She gave him a small smile. “Then Gill breezed in here and told me you and she were engaged.”
“Were being the operative word,” Mike assured her. “Gill and I were over a long time ago. She just took a while to accept it.”
“I couldn’t believe you werethat,Mike,” Nicky told him. “It was an even bigger shock to discover you were Mitch Stone.” She swallowed the emotion, trying to spill over, but it refused to stay down, and she felt her eyes sting with tears. “I’m sorry, Mike.” She sucked in a shaky breath trying hard not to cry. “I thought your book was brilliant—”
“I know!” Mike reached across the table, took her hand, and Nicky let him. “Harry told me everything.”
“How did Harry know?” Nicky looked at Mike, confused for a few seconds before it dawned on her. “That’s right, his brother owns Star Publishers.” She wiped a stray tear from her cheek. “I would never try and do such an awful thing to any writer. Good or bad.”
“I know!” Mike nodded. “Deep down, this afternoon, I knew then too.” He blew out a breath. “Where you’re concerned, my emotions are heightened,” he admitted, and their eyes collided in a heart-stopping moment. “Nicky, I’ve never felt this way about anyone. I’m so hopelessly in love with you. It’s what I’ve needed to say for so long that I couldn’t think straight.”
His words sent an electric shock through her system and straight to her heart. Making it try to bounce out of her chest to join his. She took a breath and smiled at him.
“I’m in love with you too.” Her voice was barely a whisper but filled with love. “I’ve never felt the way I did when I thought you were with Gill.”
“I’m sorry, Nicky.” Mike took both her hands. “Please tell me what I can do to make it up to you.”
“How about we agree to no more secrets?” Nicky gave him a shaky smile.
“I can agree to that.” Mike nodded.
