A Special Summer(33)

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“Mr. Stiles, everyone is present in the conference room.” Nick’s receptionist announced over the intercom.

“Thanks Gladys. Tell everyone I’ll be there in about ten minutes.”

The meeting would have to wait; he was preoccupied with thoughts of Summer, the baby, and the time they’d recently spent together. Murmuring a curse, he was still disgusted with how badly he treated her. He remembered how fragile she was as he held her in his lap. With words and touch he profusely sought to calm and soothe her. A weight lifted when Summer’s demeanor became somewhat relaxed. Her stance was still guarded; however, she no longer was a bundle of nerves when interacting with him.

Nick was astounded, yet pleased when she requested that he not leave her alone that first night. Stunned when she nestled herself against him and encouraged him to feel the evidence of life in her womb as she quietly whispered, “It’s your baby.” The softness and gentleness of her touch ignited his passion for her. He refused to ruin the tenderness of the moment. Instead he focused his energy on soothing her fears away. Nick sincerely meant every caress, stroke and tender kiss he planted on her beautiful face.

What he felt for Summer as she lay in his arms, he refused to acknowledge. No. He wasn’t in love with her. Sure he still cared for her, wanted to do the right thing by her and their baby. But when and how did he go about doing what was right? How did he know for certain she wasn’t playing him for a fool? Being a fool once for a beautiful woman was more than enough. Never again would he give his heart to a woman.

Confusion consumed Nick. So many emotions warred inside of him as he contemplated what to do about his relationship with Summer, if it could be called a relationship. He wanted to pick up where things had left off with them. After the way he treated her was it possible? Would she be able to love him the way she had before he abandoned her months ago? True, he had held her all night as she slept like a newborn in his arms; however that didn’t mean a thing. He would do anything to regain that special relationship with Summer. Kevin had been on the money. Summer was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Rubbing his hand across his jaw, Nick truly was at a loss of what to do for the first time in his life. If it meant apologizing, he’d do it on his hands and knees. Heck, he would buy her anything she wanted. A bigger house, new car, furs, jewelry, anything as long as things could go back to the way they were before he left the states. Yet another part of him didn’t trust her. She tried to manipulate him, or so he believed. Bile rose in his throat every time he relived the night of going to her and finding her pregnant. Deep in his soul he knew if he had never listened to that small voice in his head telling him to go see Summer he would have never known she was having a baby. His baby. The possibility of having a child somewhere out in the world and not knowing it infuriated him. Any decent man would want to know if he had a child.

Standing and straightening his tie, he headed to the door. Taking long purposeful strides down the corridor to the conference room, Nick’s mind shifted gears. Shedding off thoughts of Summer and the baby, he eased into predatory mode as he entered the conference room and announced, “Gentlemen, we’re about to engage in a hostile takeover.”

A pin drop could be heard as everyone witnessed the ominous expression Nick wore on his handsome face. The group of professionals quickly grasps the understanding that he was gearing up for battle with every intention of being the conqueror.





Chapter 13




Rushing in the front door to get out of the cold, Summer dropped her things on the floor and plopped down on the sofa. “Five more weeks to go,” she said to herself as she patted her belly. Right away, her thoughts went to Nick when she touched her belly. It had been five days since she heard from him. She wasn’t at all bothered by it, because she understood they both needed the distance.

Life went on as usual with the exception of Ava and Starr doing round the clock vigils after she spent those three days with Nick. “We just don’t want to see him hurt you anymore than he already has.”

Both Ava and Starr felt guilty over the situation with Nick. After all they were the ones who convinced her to go out with him. Summer tried telling them things were “okay” between her and Nick. But they knew she was holding back and wasn’t telling them everything.

To Summer’s amazement her parents were not upset about Nick’s unexpected return. Thanks to her dad, Summer was sure of. However, her mother had advised, “Watch yourself baby, men can be so complicated, even downright unpredictable.”