only one who would possibly understand would be Starr. But she would have to wait to call her because Nick hadn’t budged. Besides, she was sure Ava would call Starr once they’d hung up.
Strolling down the hall Nick heard Summer talking. Sure enough, she was on the phone. He wondered whom she was talking to, her voice had suddenly become low and she was giving one-word answers when he appeared in the doorway. Nick assumed she was talking to a man because of the way she was acting. Nick’s jaw clenched as he listened to the one sided conversation.
“Dinner’s ready.” His eyes narrowed as he pushed away from the doorframe, turned and left the room. Summer shuddered from the look Nick threw at her as she slowly stretched her legs out and stood up. His reaction left her wondering what she’d done wrong this time. It had to be something, but what? People just didn’t go around giving the evil eye for nothing. Was he mad because she had used his phone without asking? That was totally absurd; he knew she had to call her family.
With every unsteady step she dreaded having to sit across the table from him, but what was she to do? She hadn’t had anything to eat since morning, she was famished. Besides, she was at his mercy for the next few days to be clothed, fed and sheltered from the raging elements. What choice did she have? She had to get through this ordeal the best way she could. But how? Summer wondered as she chewed her bottom lip and lowered herself into a chair.
Chapter 9
Dinner was delicious. Nick prepared a toss salad, grilled salmon, steamed broccoli, and wild rice. Summer hadn’t realized how hungry she was. It had been hours since she ate, which was unusual for her. As of lately she ate several times a day. With the events of the day the last thing on her mind was food. Her main concern was how she was going to make it through the next few days without getting into a confrontation with Nick. It was definitely inevitable; the heaviness of it was in the air. Shrugging slim shoulders, deciding not to worry about it, Summer concentrated on filling her empty grumbling stomach.
The pair ate in silence; there was no dinner conversation whatsoever, which was fine with Summer. Nick was still in a foul mood for whatever reason. She tried not to make too much out of his behavior. It was no secret he had taken to being a complete jerk.
Summer inhaled everything on her plate. There wasn’t a morsel left. She didn’t know what to do with herself after she finished her meal, so she squirmed in her seat as her gaze surveyed the vast dining area.
She admired a piece of artwork that complimented the room. That must be new; it wasn’t there the last time I was here. Further inspection displayed a lush green Ficus tree in a corner. I didn’t know Nick had a green thumb. Maybe his new girlfriend bought it. Nope. Summer was not going there. A hundred times or more the thought charged through her mind he had broken things off so abruptly with her to be with another woman.
Summer would torture and beat herself up as she pointed out every imperfection. “I’m too short, my legs aren’t long enough, my breasts are too small.” There had to be something about her that drove him into the arms of another woman.
Summer shook the painful thoughts from her head and sad expression from her face as she went on to survey the room until her eyes collided with Nick’s. His gaze was relentless, tearing into her while lifting a wineglass to his lips.
She hadn’t been aware he was gawking at her like prey. His eyes were unreadable. Was it disappointment, mistrust, hate…what? Summer didn’t know what insane thoughts were running amuck in his head. One thing she did know, Nick was no longer the man she’d known or loved. He had changed. On the outside, he appeared as the Nick she knew and loved. However, on the inside he showed her an entirely different part of himself, a part that possessed a black heart. In a million years she would have never believed he would be so downright callous toward her. At first she couldn’t put her finger on it, until now. He hated her because she was pregnant. Was being a father so repulsive he would actually hate her? A lump formed in her throat, not so much from the idea of him hating her, but what were his feelings regarding the baby? Not once had he inquired about the welfare of their baby. The only thing he was interested in was getting custody, taking her baby. Suddenly the thought angered her. What was he going to do with a baby? Her baby? Have a nanny raise it? Nick definitely wasn’t the diaper changing type.
It’s a good thing nothing on his plate was alive as he stabbed his fork into the food. The idea Summer may have been talking to another man on the phone earlier was still messing with him, had him tripping. The way he was grinding his teeth as he ate was sure to have him in the dentist chair before his next six-month visit.