They had warmly embraced him, coming out from behind the counter one by one. They even remembered Nick from the old days. Back when he'd been a half-starved teenager with long hair, razored off on one side.
He told her he hadn't often been able to afford eating out, but when he did he came here. She couldn't help but laugh, imagining a skinny, scruffy, bad to the bone little Nick Falcon coming into this place and getting a scone.
Something new she learned about Nick: he loved scones.
She watched fascinated as he demonstrated the proper way to eat one. His eyes closed in ecstasy as he dipped it in his tea and nibbled daintily on the tip. She would have laughed but she was feeling something else entirely at that moment.
Desire.
She swallowed her tea too quickly, burning her mouth a little. Nick had surprisingly soft lips. She'd been imagining him touching her. Nibbling on her.
Oh God. She was in trouble. She couldn't just run away this time either. Worse yet, she didn't want to. Even though she knew he was going to end up hurting her in the end. It was inevitable.
So was her losing her heart to him.
He was gorgeous, sweet, talented and dangerous in a wildly sexy way. She was completely ordinary. Bland even. She didn’t stand a chance.
He was grinning at her while he finished up the rest of his scone. She put on a brave face and smiled at him.
"Where to next?"
"My old stomping grounds."
"Where's that?"
"Where else? Camden Town."
Chapter 35
Nick
Come on, don’t bolt… nearly there.
Nick wrapped his hand around Sabrina’s, knowing the crowds were making her skittish. She glanced at him and he squeezed her palm. He heaved a huge sigh of relief when she didn't pull away.
He told himself it was only because he didn't want to lose her in the crowd. But it was more than that. He wanted to touch her so badly that holding her hand was making fireworks go off in his head.
They were walking through the stalls at Camden Market. Nobody recognized them at all. It was bliss.
So far, they are having a bloody perfect day.
They'd already perused a few record stalls and bought several of the albums that had influenced Nick, plus a few lesser known artists that Sabrina wanted him to try.
They both shared a love of music which surprised him. She knew her stuff and had a keen ear. Sabrina had seemed all business to him, but there was a reason she chose the music industry.
Other than the added bonus of dating dashing rock stars, of course.
He grinned to himself.
She said something about loving the escape of listening to records up in her attic growing up. Her parents had refused to buy her a stereo. They'd needed the money for other, more important things. But they'd had the old 1960's record player left behind by the previous tenants. They'd left a lot of records behind too. She'd go up the rickety stairs and get lost in the music.
He smiled at the image of uptight little Sabrina Newton laying on her bed listening to Joni Mitchell or The Mamas & the Papas.
"What was your favorite?"
She grinned at him.
"Creedence."
A loud laugh had exploded from his chest, causing other people to turn and stare. They'd had to quickly put their heads down and get lost in the crowd to avoid detection.
It was only later, while he watched her pick out an old vintage concert t-shirt that he realized she hadn't said what she needed to escape from.
He'd been clinging to her hand all day like a little boy with a kite he was afraid to let go of. Or a balloon. Something felt fragile about what was happening. He didn’t want to risk breaking the spell. He finally had to release her small hand to pay for a cone of fries for them to share.
Her eyes widened as he poured vinegar straight onto the fried potato crisps. Gingerly she had picked one up with her fingertips and crunched the very end of it. Her eyes had widened as the tangy flavor exploded in her mouth.
She took another tiny bite. And then another. It took her a half an hour to eat a handful of crisps.
But he wasn't annoyed. He was enamored.
Nick stopped short when it hit him. She was imperfect. Bossy, overly self-sufficient, fussy, bloody adorable. And his.
She had to be.
He was falling in love with her. Hell, he'd already fallen.
He was lost without her.
That’s when he knew.
He’d do anything to keep her close.
He was even pulling out the big guns.
He was taking her to meet his mum.
Chapter 36
Sabrina
Sabrina looked nervously around the shoddy neighborhood. It looked like the outer parts of Brooklyn where she'd been sent on one of her earliest scouting trips. But she'd had a driver to take her when she visited New York. They dropped her off and waited for her outside after shows.
Now it was just the two of them out on the streets after a long Tube ride. And the light was starting to fade.
"Where are we, Nick?"
"The East End. Getting tired?"
"A little. Can we find someplace to sit for a little while?"
"Just a little bit further, love."
Sabrina had stopped correcting him when he called her that. Mostly because it was fruitless, but also because she was starting to like it. Too much.
Don’t get used to it, Brina. Hold onto your heart.
Finally, he stopped in front of an ordinary looking row house. Well, not exactly. She glanced around. This spot was fixed up more than the others they'd passed. Actually, the whole block was fixed up. Spiffy. New windows and doors and the brick work all repaired. Flowers and trees planted out front of each.
"Where are we, Nick?”
He turned to her and kissed her hand. It was incredible the way the man could give her butterflies with the lightest touch.
"Home."
Just then the door opened and a funny looking woman came to the door. She was dressed as a maid would be in the finest establishment. But her hair was pink.
"Mrs. Falcon! Come quick, it's Nick!"
Sabrina turned to Nick in astonishment.
"Wait, your real name is Falcon?"
“You thought I’d made it up?”
“I thought it was a stage name!”
“No, dear. It’s not.”
He shrugged sheepishly. Then another odd looking woman came to the door. This one was dressed like an ordinary housewife. Except for the sparkle.
Sabrina squinted, realizing the woman was covered in diamonds.
The woman was swimming in them. Her ears, neck, wrists, fingers. Sabrina glanced down, half expecting to see diamonds on her feet.
No gems, but she was wearing Chanel ballet flats.
"Nicky! My boy!"
He grinned at her and threw his arms open.
"Mum!"
She was squeezing him with all her might as he bussed her cheeks with kisses.
"You are not eating enough!"
"Mum, I want you to meet someone."
She perked up at that, finally noticing Sabrina.
"A young lady now? What's this?"
"Mum, I'd like you to meet Sabrina Newton."
Sabrina was quickly enfolded in a warm hug. Mrs. Falcon smelled like sugar cookies. No, not cookies. She smelled like scones.
Definitely Nick’s mom.
"Well, it is very nice to meet you. What a lovely girl. Come in, come in. You are just in time for tea."
"That's what I was hoping for."
Nick winked at Sabrina as he ushered her into the modest little row house. She was still absorbing the fact that he'd taken her home to meet his mother. A warm feeling was in her chest, spreading outward in all directions.
But once inside, all she could do was stare around her in wonder. It wasn't a simple row house at all. It was three or four row houses all remodeled to be one giant, opulent, over-the-top city mansion.
"Make yourself at home now. I've got to call the girls! Jasmine, get the tea ready- we have guests!"
The little maid bopped her bright fuchsia head and scurried off on Mrs. Falcon's heels. Sabrina felt like she was in an old movie all the sudden.
A comedy. No- a farce.
"I don't understand- what is this place?"
Nick guided her to a soft chair in what could only be called a 'front parlor'. It was so opulent that it was almost too much. Just a little bit tacky… The sort of thing that a woman with a sudden influx of money might do.
"She refused to move out of the neighborhood or away from all her friends. So I bought the block."
"You what?"
"This was a couple of houses before we combined them. The next few houses are Sadie's. On the other side is Gertrude. Around the corner are my aunts on both sides. And my mum's hairdresser. She needed a house too."
"You bought houses for all your mom's friends?"
He shrugged sheepishly.
"She deserved it. She did everything for me coming up.”
Sabrina's heart did a crazy little flip-flop. Who would have thought it? Nick Falcon was a mama's boy.
"He means that I put up with him, dear girl. I started going gray when he was ten! Not that you'd know."
Mrs. Falcon patted her well-coiffed head as she sailed back into the living room with her maid at her heels. Nick beamed as the maid set down a teakettle and a heaping tray of tiny sandwiches.
"Don't forget the scones please, Jasmine!"
Mrs. Falcon started serving tea. Nick bussed her cheek.
"Be right back, mum. Have to use the loo."
She leaned in conspiratorially as soon as he was gone.
"He'll be stuffing his face back there, just watch. Now my dear, how do you take your tea?"
"Lemon and just a half spoon of sugar."
Mrs. Falcon handed her a cup of tea and made one for herself. Then she leaned back and leveled a piercing stare at Sabrina.