Jolted awake after another restless night, Nikki slapped the snooze bar on her alarm clock, and then pulled a pillow over her head, dreading her return to work. Although she was tempted to blow it off altogether, wisdom told her not to act rashly—at least not until she had enough money in the bank to tell her boss to kiss her ass.
After dozing through two more alarm cycles, she finally dragged herself from bed and stumbled to the kitchen to start the coffee. On her way back to shower, she thumped loudly on Shelby’s door.
“Go away,” her sister groaned.
Nikki cracked the door open. “Don’t you have someplace to be?”
“Like where?” Shelby mumbled, her head still buried under the covers.
“Like work,” Nikki snapped. “Aren’t you going?”
Shelby sat up with a guilty look. “About that. I meant to tell you that I’m kinda between gigs right now.”
“Again? Did you get fired?”
“No. I quit.” Shelby heaved a dramatic sigh. “Don’t look at me like I’m some kind of vermin, Nikki! A lot of people are out of work right now.”
“But you were only there a month!”
“Almost two, and I had good reason for leaving.”
“Yeah and what was that?” Nikki couldn’t hide her skepticism.
“You don’t understand how it is, Nikki. You just sit there all day in cubieland. You’ve never had to deal with the kind of dickwads I have to face every day—like the ones demanding blow jobs. That asshole offered me an extra fifty bucks to blow him.” Shelby rolled her eyes. “Fifty…as if I’d ever.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“Wish I was. You’d be surprised how many clients think a ‘happy ending’ is included with a massage. Tantric costs extra. Mucho extra.”
“Tantric?”
“You know, erotic massage.”
“No. I don’t know.” Nikki shook her head. “And I think I don’t want to know.”
“Probably not,” Shelby smirked.
“Are you at least looking for something else?”
“I was planning to,” Shelby said. “But you can hardly expect me to show up for an interview looking like this.”
She had a point. The bruising was hideous. “Look, Shel, you can stay here for a while, but I expect you to earn your keep.”
Shelby scowled. “What does that mean?”
“I want you to help out. You can at least clean the place up while I’m gone. You know, dishes, vacuuming, windows…”
Shelby’s eyes widened in incredulity. “You expect me to wash the freaking windows?”
“Yeah, I do.”
She cursed under her breath.
“What’s that?” Nikki asked.
“I’ll comb the want ads today.”
“That might be best.” Nikki closed the door with a smile.
The rest of the morning followed her normal routine, sipping coffee from her travel mug while sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic, jockeying for a decent parking space, and then rushing to punch the time clock. Her week spent in Montana was the first break she’d had in three years from a life of redundancy. Every day for Nikki was pretty much like the last, but predictability was safe, right? And security was what she craved most after a lifetime of revolving door relationships.
What Wade had offered her was neither safe nor secure. He was a gamble she wasn’t ready to take. So why did she now feel so hollow? Why did every action feel dull and mechanical, as if she was now nothing but a walking automaton? As usual, she stopped by the break room to refill her coffee mug before proceeding to her cube where Jessica and Robert prairie-dogged from the other side to greet her.
“Morning, Nik,” said Jess. “Welcome back.”
“Have a good trip?” Robert asked.
“Not good, exactly. But definitely interesting. Thanks for asking.”
Robert was a decent sort and she’d even dated him a few times in her effort at rehabilitation. But he had really sucked in bed the one time she’d gotten drunk enough to give him a shot. He’d been good-humored about it when she’d turned him down for another date after that. They both realized they were better as friends than lovers. She hoped he and Jess might eventually make a go of it. She was really cute in a geek-girl way. Maybe he’d take notice if she talked Jess into a makeover? Nikki decided to put it on her to-do list.
Nikki booted her computer and opened the bottom desk drawer to stash her purse, but then hesitated. She hadn’t checked her phone messages since last night. She wondered if he’d tried to call. It had been almost five days since they’d spoken. Surely there was some news about the estate. She swiped her iPhone screen to the message menu. Nothing. No texts either. Maybe he’d sent her an email?
“You might want to watch your ass, Nikster,” Robert warned, adding in his best Austin Powers voice, “Mini-Me’s on the warpath.” At least Robert kept things interesting. He had nicknames for just about everyone. The department head was Dr. Evil, and their four-foot-ten-inch supervisor was Mini-Me.
“Thanks.” Nikki laughed and set the phone down, logging onto the Internet to check her webmail account. An email from Wade, even if it was only business, would at least reopen communication.
“Psst!” The hissed warning from Jess came too late. Mini-Me had materialized out of nowhere. Shit! Nikki’s stomach dropped. Why couldn’t she have had at least had five minutes before the be-atch came breathing down her neck?
Hoping to block the view of her monitor, Nikki spun around in her chair. Flashing a bright smile, she greeted her supervisor. “Good morning, Phyllis.”
“So you finally made it back?” Phyllis replied. “Good thing too. You really put me on the spot, you know. I doubt I could have held your job any longer.”
“I apologize for any trouble, but things got complicated. I lost my wallet on the trip and couldn’t do anything until I replaced my ID.”
Phyllis stood on her tiptoes to squint over Nikki’s shoulder. Her face screwed up. “Personal use of the Internet is prohibited. You’re already treading on thin ice, Nicole. There are a lot of people looking for work, many of whom would show up as expected and follow the rules.”
“I’m sorry, Phyllis.” Nikki forced a look of contrition. “I’m expecting some important communication from the probate attorney.”
“I don’t care what you’re expecting. You’re on the clock now. Or do you think you’re special? That corporate policy doesn’t apply to you?”
God, how she despised working under a petty, nitpicky little tyrant.
“Of course not,” Nikki replied. “It won’t happen again.”
Phyllis’s lips got even thinner. “Is that your cell phone? Why isn’t it stored in your locker? That makes two infractions.”
Nikki couldn’t hold back any longer. “Then I guess I’ve really made your day, haven’t I?”
“Are you trying for insubordination now, Nicole? I’d be more than happy to write you up for that too.”
“You know what, Phyllis? I think I’ll save you the trouble.”
Phyllis’s gaze narrowed. “If you walk out of here, you’ll lose all your remaining vacation pay as well as any chance of a reference.”
Nikki smiled tightly remembering Wade’s words. “All things considered, I think it’s more than a fair trade. ’Cause I won’t have to kiss your bony little ass anymore.” Nikki stood and snatched up both her phone and her purse. Her body trembled, but she held her chin high, walking out to a universal standing ovation.
She’d never done anything so reckless and impulsive, but it felt damned good—so good she even decided to celebrate. On her second impulse of the day, she pulled into the new Organic Emporium, a high-end grocery where she’d previously only window shopped. Now with a wicker basket over her arm, she strolled the neatly stocked aisles of gourmet and exotic foods.
She paused at the meat counter where they displayed only certified grass-fed and hormone-free choices. In addition to the expected chicken, beef, pork, lamb, and veal, there was ostrich, rabbit, bison, elk, and even alligator.
Nikki couldn’t help inquiring of the butcher, “Do you carry American Kobe beef?”
“American Kobe?” he asked with surprise.
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ve heard a few ranchers out West are cross-breeding Japanese cows with American Angus.”
The butcher scratched his chin. “I know of a few outfits out West supplying the upscale steak houses, but we don’t carry it in the market yet. I could look into special ordering it for you if you like. Do you want me to ask our buyers?”
“No, thank you,” Nikki replied. “I was just curious to know if it was catching on at all.”
She wondered if Dirk had any chance of making a go of it or if Wade was right about cattle ranching being an altogether losing proposition. Then again, someone had to raise cattle for the high-end markets.
Nikki hesitated over a twenty-dollar bison steak, but decided that her vegan sister would probably gag at the sight of it. With a sigh, she opted for veggie burgers instead and then headed to the bakery for Shelby’s gluten-free buns. Stopping midway to wander the wine aisle, Nikki lingered indecisively in the enormous selection of reds. She knew almost nothing about wine, as all her prior boyfriends had been beer drinkers. Her eyes lit on the Shiraz. She’d never tried it until the dinner with Wade. Thinking about it, she was stunned to realize just how closed to new things she’d been and how limited her world had become.
New things weren’t safe. There was always a chance she wouldn’t like them—but she’d liked the Shiraz very much. She’d like the beef too. And the mountains. Being truthful, she hadn’t even minded the night in the cabin that much. It had felt like an adventure. Every day with Wade had brought something new and exciting. Yet, she’d played it safe, choosing to return to dull and predictable.
Was this who she really was? Who she wanted to be?
Nikki closed her eyes to the image of Wade sitting across the table from her and filling her glass that night at the Old Hotel. She’d tried many new things with him. The wine labels blurred before her burning eyes. Passing on the Shiraz, Nikki opted for a bottle of Biltmore Merlot instead.
After grabbing a bag of buns for the veggie burgers, she decided to quash her misery with something wickedly chocolate. She moved on to the pastry section where she nearly drooled over the mouthwatering selections—until her gaze lit on the cannoli. The remembrance of what had followed their last meal together incited a yearning that went bone deep.
Damn it! Am I so far gone that I can’t even make a trip to the grocery store without thinking about him?
No matter how hard she tried to push them aside, her thoughts kept returning to Wade. She wandered the aisles, replaying almost every minute they’d spent together—from the first cocky wink at the Denver airport to the breath-stealing vision of his soap-slickened body. She mentally freeze-framed the last day together when he was shirtless, wielding the ax and gleaming with sweat.
Aching for him in the worst possible way, Nikki abandoned the bakery for the freezer section where she hoped to drown her misery in a tub of Mayfield Cookies ’n’ Cream topped with a large jar of fudge sauce.
* * *
Nikki pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex with an ominous feeling. She supposed the three police squad cars and crowd of gawkers had a great deal to do with that, and strongly suspected she’d find Shelby in the thick of it. Leaving her groceries in the car, she approached her building with jangling nerves. Judging by the demolition-derby condition of Shelby’s car and the smashed apartment windows, her fears that Shelby’s psycho ex would eventually show up had materialized. Given the evidence, his weapon of mass destruction must have been a sledgehammer. She pushed through the crowd to find the police questioning her sister who, thank goodness, looked unharmed.
Her landlord intercepted, confronting Nikki and shaking a fist. “I’m holding you liable for these damages, Miss Powell. The rental insurance doesn’t cover willful destruction of property.”
“Wait a minute,” Nikki replied. “How can you blame me? I wasn’t even here and don’t have a clue what happened.”
“Your sister was here,” he accused. “Maybe she can tell us all what happened.”
“Are you all right, Shelby?” Nikki asked.
“I am now.”
“What happened?” Nikki asked.
“Dwight showed up…wanting money.”
“Money?”
“Yeah. He heard you had some. Said he needed a loan. He didn’t like the answer I gave.”
“Which was?”
“I told him to piss off.”
“You know the assailant?” one of the officers asked.
“Yeah. I know the dickhead,” Shelby replied.
“Did he threaten you?” the officer asked.
Shelby rolled her eyes. “No. He brought me a damned posy of pink carnations. What the hell does it look like?”
“Look, miss…” The cop scowled. “I have a report to make and I’ll need a little cooperation from you.”
“You’re going to arrest him, aren’t you?” Nikki asked.
“We will if we have sufficient witnesses to identify him and if you and your sister decide to press charges. It’s a felony offense.”
“Really?” Shelby interrupted. “How much time will he do?”
“If convicted, up to five years.”
“That so?” Shelby’s eyes lit up. “Where do I sign?”
* * *
Hours later, after filling out police reports, calling the insurance company, a tow truck for the wrecked car, and a glass company for the smashed windows, Nikki finally sat down with two spoons and an entire tub of somewhat soupy Cookies ’n’ Cream.
“Helluva day, eh?” said Shelby, picking up a spoon. “I don’t suppose you remembered to get chocolate sauce?”
Nikki gaped at her. “Is that all you have to say?”
“What do you expect? It isn’t like I invited him over.”
“So you’re saying he just showed up out of the blue?”
“Guess he figured I’d come here.”
Nikki dug her spoon into the tub, fishing around for the biggest hunk of Oreo but then paused, spoon midway to her mouth. “Wait a minute. You said Dwight wanted money, but how could he even know anything about my inheritance?”
Shelby looked guilty. “Maybe I…er…let it slip.”
“Why would you even be talking to the asshole after what he did to you?”
“He has all my stuff. I wanted it back.”
“What stuff?” Nikki asked.
“My clothes and things.”
“You can buy new clothes, Shelby. There’s nothing you own that’s worth negotiating with that scumbag.”
“Easy for you to say, Miss Moneybags. You can buy whatever you want now.”
“I don’t have any of it yet, Shelby, but even when I do, I don’t plan to do anything stupid, and I still want to work.”
“Speaking of work…” Shelby’s brow wrinkled. “Why are you home so early?”
“Because I quit today.”
“You quit?” Shelby laughed. “Good for you! I hope you went out with a bang. Did you wipe any computer drives? Paint graffiti on the bathroom wall with your nail polish?”
“I told Phyllis off.”
Shelby’s eyes glimmered. “Oh yeah? Whadya say to the old bag?”
“Told her I wasn’t going to kiss her bony ass any more.”
“And?”
“And what? I left.”
Shelby looked crestfallen. “Hell, that’ll be forgotten in a week. Tops. I need to give you some lessons on leavin’.”
“Like your adventure in leaving Dwight?”
Shelby looked mildly chagrined. “All right, you have me there.” She added defiantly, “I shoulda taken better advantage of his unconsciousness and castrated the bastard.”
“Do you think he’ll be back?” Nikki asked.
“Probably. He said something about bringing his forty-five next time.”
“Holy shit! He threatened your life?”
Shelby shrugged. “It’s not like it’s the first time. You don’t understand how it is with us. It’s a complicated relationship.”
“Why, Shel?” Nikki asked. “Why do you go for these assholes?”
Shelby glowered with her good eye. “Isn’t that the pot calling the kettle back? I’ve met some of your winners, too, you know.”
“They haven’t all been bad, and none have been homicidal maniacs.”
“Oh yeah? If you’re so great a picking ’em, name me one that wasn’t a lying, cheating asshole.”
“Wade,” Nikki blurted without a second thought.
“Wade?” Shelby scrunched her face. “I don’t remember a Wade. Who was he?”
“The lawyer in Montana.”
“A lawyer?” Shelby grinned a mile wide. “Wow, Nik! You’ve graduated from bottom-feeding rednecks to white-collar professionals? Whoo-hoo, look at you! Big sister is moving up the food chain.”
“Maybe not so much. He’s also a cowboy. Well, a rancher, to be precise.”
“You shagged a cowboy lawyer?”
Nikki blushed. “Shagged? You make it sound cheap and dirty. It was more than that.”
“Really? Then what’s the deal with you and him?”
“Deal? There isn’t one. He’s there and I’m here. End. Of. Story.”
“But you’re going back there, right? You still have to settle the estate and sell the place, don’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t have to go back to do any of that. He’s going to handle it all for me—well, his legal assistant is anyway.”
“Ah.” Shelby pursed her pouty lips with a knowing look. “That explains everything.”
“Everything what?”
“Why you’ve been such a bitch…well, a worse one than usual…since you got back. It’s not hard to add one and one, i.e., you and Wade. Or maybe I should have said you minus Wade.” She balanced the bowl of the spoon on her nose. “So what are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing. I told you it’s already over.”
“Why’s that? Did he lie about a wife and kids?”
“No.”
“He cheated?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I wasn’t there long enough.”
“You’re wrong there. Where there’s a cheater there’s a way. I speak from experience. The length of the relationship is irrelevant. So did he get drunk and slap you around?”
“No. He’s a perfect gentleman and doesn’t drink. Well, not anymore.”
“Did he suck in bed?”
“God no! He was incredible. The best. Ever. No contest.”
“All right, time to cut through the bullshit,” Shelby said, blunt as ever. “What is your freaking problem, Nikki? Why the hell are you sitting here in Georgia completely miserable, when you could be happily boffing like bunnies with your hot Montana cowboy lawyer?”
Nikki gaped at Shelby as if she were Confucius incarnate. “You know, Shelby, that’s a damned good question.”