exception of Nick’s handsome face. Despite their present circumstances, she still thought he was the finest man she’d ever laid eyes on.
Effortlessly, Nick swung the door open taking long strides to the curb where Summer was. Quickly his arm went snuggly around what used to be a tiny waist as he pulled her close to him. The last thing he wanted was for her to slip and fall on the icy covered ground and hurt herself or the baby.
Summer tensely flinched and nearly lost her balance. She hadn’t expected him to touch her like that. Take her by the hand maybe, but not wrap his arm around her. It had been so long since she’d been anywhere near having his arms around her.
Nick gently tightened his hold on her. “Whoa, careful now you don’t want to fall.” A grim expression covered his face when she flinched. It had been the second time in less than an hour she had recoiled at his touch; a touch that at one time ignited her passion. Does she think I’m going to hurt her? She knows I would never do that to her. Doesn’t she?
Gingerly, Nick guided Summer to the vehicle and helped her inside without any further mishaps. His mind was elsewhere, still tripping over how she was responding to him. He hadn’t heard Summer when she thanked him for helping her in the car.
Summer’s heart sank when Nick never acknowledge her thanks. She couldn’t win. It seemed at every turn she did or said something to irritate him. The grim expression his handsome
features wore when she flinched at his touch said it all. What was wrong with him? He act as if the last time he saw her they were in each other’s arms. Humph, he was the one who told me ‘take your hands off of me.’ So why was he looking all perplexed?
Traffic was gridlock. Nick turned to KYW to get the latest traffic report. With the storm blowing into the city earlier than previously forecasted, all bridges leading into and out of the city were closing, public transportation was being cancelled and all government offices were closing. The reporter advised the public to stay indoors because the roads had become increasingly dangerous as the snowfall steadily accumulated at a rapid pace.
Summer felt like a noose was being tied around her neck. Gripping the side of the leather armrest, the knuckles on her left hand turned white as her right hand slowly inched to press the button, automatically rolling down the window a bit. She felt as if she couldn’t breathe. As soon as the cool air rushed into the window, Summer took a deep breath to get the welcomed oxygen into her lungs. She did this a few more times until she felt she was able to breathe comfortably again. This can’t be happening, not now. If she had taken the subway she would have been to Fern Rock by now. From there the walk wouldn’t have been too bad. On a good day, she had done the walk in fifteen minutes. So what if it would’ve taken her a little longer. Besides, she had the option of taking a cab home from the train station.
Glancing sideways at Nick and taking in his strong profile wondering, why is it every time I do as you tell me I find myself getting into a big mess? Regret immediately swept through her as she rubbed her belly. She had just referred to her baby as a ‘big mess.’
As Nick switched the radio back to the jazz station, the rush of cold air drew his attention to the partially opened window, then to Summer. Her dainty nostrils were slightly flared as she took in deep breaths. Further inspection revealed tiny beads of sweat on her brow she hadn’t
bother to wipe away and a petite hand gripping the armrest so tight he was sure fingernail prints would be left in the soft leather.
“If you’re hot I can turn the heat down or off.”
“I’m fine now.”
Nick studied her stiff profile. “You sure?”
Summer nodded her head. “Yes.”
Nick knew she was far from being fine. She would probably be fine with swimming in the middle of the ocean with sharks than to be in such tight quarters with him.
Nick shrugged his shoulders and tapped the steering wheel with his fingers to the tune of the song playing on the radio. He was never going to get Summer from Center City to Oak Lane with the magnitude of the blizzard. Now was just as good as any time to tell her since they hadn’t moved two blocks in the last ten minutes.
“You know you’re not going to make it home.”
“I know,” Summer whispered. As she peered out the passenger side window, a single tear slid down her cheek. Quickly she wiped it away before Nick could see it. She hadn’t been quick enough though. He saw the tear before it even fell.
Chapter 7
A fifteen-minute drive to Nick’s waterfront penthouse had taken over an hour because of the bumper-to-bumper congestion. Everyone on the roadways was trying to make it home in what was becoming the worst storm of the season.