A Winter's Promise (A Winter's Tale Series Book 2) Read online

  Shaking her head Adeline snickered. “You think?”

  “I reached my limit after the second glass of Moscato, but Nicholas started acting like a jerk and Menzie offered me a shot,” she groaned. “And it all went downhill from there.”

  “Charli, I was there . . . you don’t have to fill me in,” Adeline chuckled.

  “You were there? Weren’t you?” Charlotte said through hiccups. “So, you saw it for yourself? Nicholas being mean to me?”

  “Uhh . . . I don’t know if he was necessarily being mean to you─”

  Charlotte jumped up from the bed. “Adeline!” she squealed indignantly, her big brown eyes narrowing at her sister. “Don’t take his side!”

  “I’m not taking his side. I’m just stating a simple observation. . . from the outside looking in it didn’t appear that he was being mean to you.”

  “Not mean to me?” Charlotte gasped, exasperated. “Then what would you call it, huh? Music was playing did he ask me if I wanted to dance? No! Caleb asked his wife if she wanted to dance,” she pouted. “Did you see that big open seat next to me? Hm? Why did he sit on the arm of the couch furthest away from me? And when we were leaving I reached for his hand, and he . . . and he . . . he pulled away from me,” she choked, wiping viciously at the unwelcomed tears that fell carelessly down her rosy cheeks. Sighing, she mumbled, “He was mean to me.”

  “Charli,” Adeline said softly, her tone consoling. “Those are things that couples expect from one another, right? But you two are just friends . . . you can’t get mad at him for treating you like he’s your friend, that’s not fair to him.”

  Falling back onto the bed Charlotte continued to wipe the tears from her eyes. She was at a loss. It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to understand the sudden change in Nicholas’ disposition she couldn’t quite come to grasps with what had come between them. If only he would be open about what she had done to make him so distant, if she had done anything at all. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes praying that sleep would take away the hurt and frustration that she was feeling over the matter.

  “I’m tired,” Adeline said after a while, her tone apologetic. “Maybe─”

  “No,” Charlotte interrupted. “No, I’m not leaving to go talk to him. I want to sleep with you tonight.” Rolling over she patted the bed inviting the younger girl to lay down beside her. She wasn’t going to chase after Nicholas. As far as she was concerned she had shown him how far she was willing to take their relationship when she had kissed him on Christmas Eve. Like a fool she had put her heart out on a limb, and he didn’t want it− and so there they were. Balling up into a fetal position she tucked her hands in between her thighs needing the warmth that the small space offered before closing her eyes once more. No more chasing after men who want nothing to do with me, she promised herself. Never again.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nicholas glanced at the alarm clock that sat atop the ivory nightstand adjacent to his bed. 4:00a.m. Rubbing roughly at his eyes he sat up resting his weight against his elbow as he reached for his phone a few inches away from him. Time was of no importance as the night hours slowly turned into morning. Sleep had eluded him− his thoughts too loud for his subconscious to find any rest. Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. What in the hell am I doing? He thought, unable to stop his fingers from scrolling through his contacts. Dropping his phone to the bed he combed his fingers through his thick beard before quickly picking it back up and tapping on the envelope icon at the top of the screen.

  Nicholas: Are you awake?

  Charlotte pulled the covers over her head turning away from the wind chime melody that sounded from her phone alerting her of a new message.

  Nicholas: Can we talk?

  Nicholas: . . . please.

  Throwing the comforter away from her body she searched for her phone in the dark. Moving her hands in quick circles she felt this way and that until she found the rectangular device, yawning as she keyed in her password. Nicholas, she frowned. Reading his messages, Charlotte signed. “Talk? Talk about what?” she pondered aloud. When I wanted to talk to you, you had nothing to say to me.

  Charlotte: What do we need to talk about?

  Nicholas: Come to my room.

  Charlotte: Whatever it is you have to say . . .

  you can say it through text message

  Nicholas: =( please

  Charlotte didn’t move. Seconds turned into minutes as she lay fixed in one place staring at the dark ceiling. There was a deep glower on her face, and a wary look in her eyes as she gathered her thoughts, her brain working out words that her heart needed to let go of. I’ll make my peace with him, and then I’ll leave, she decided. After a long moment Charlotte finally rose from the bed, careful not to wake Adeline as she did so. Quietly leaving the room, she walked on the balls of her feet as she passed her parents suite just before the carpeted stairs. Holding onto the railing she found her way in the darkness, rounding the corner when her feet hit the third floor. Standing outside of Nicholas’ room she inhaled deeply, holding her breath until she worked up the nerve to open the door. Exhaling silently, she walked into the room grateful that her eyes had begun to adjust to the darkness. Ignoring all inhibitions, she made her way over to the bed, pulling back the covers as she climbed onto the tall mattress. Pushing her body against his, Charlotte urged him to move over. Complying, he rolled away from her, his silver eyes staring off into space. The silence was piercing, like a wordless terror, it was slowly killing them. Tension seeped between them, filling the space until Charlotte felt strangled by it.

  “What is happening to us?” she asked, her voice low.

  “I don’t know.”

  “I feel like I’m losing my best friend, and there’s nothing I can do to stop it from happening.”

  Silence.

  “How did we get here?” she breathed, fighting to hold back the tears that were just beneath the surface and seconds away from spilling from her moist eyes. “If it was the kiss . . . you don’t have to worry about it happening again . . . I’m sorry,” she cried. “There’s no pressure. I understand that you don’t see me as anything other than a friend, and I accept that. I do. I accept that, okay? Okay . . . so you don’t have to act so distant anymore.”

  Silence.

  “I just want my friend back,” she whispered.

  Silence.

  “Nicholas? Are you even listening to me?”

  “I hear you.”

  Sighing, Charlotte reached behind her to turn on the bedside table lamp. Then glancing down at him, she placed her hand on his cheek, gently turning his head so that he was forced to look at her. “And you have nothing to say?” she demanded, her eyes searching his for answers to questions he refused to acknowledge.

  Nicholas looked back at her. His silvers peering into her browns, held captive by the hurt there, but for the life in him he couldn’t dispute her words, she was right. They were drifting apart, and the realization had hurt him tremendously.

  “I don’t want to do this anymore,” Charlotte said when Nicholas didn’t respond. “When my parents wake up I’m going to tell them the truth about everything. I’m sorry for asking you to lie for me.” Tossing the thick quilt away from her thin body she threw her legs over the side of the bed wanting nothing more than to be out of the room and as far away from him as humanly possible.

  Nicholas moved then, with strong hands he pulled her to lay back beside him. “Don’t leave,” he said, his voice low in the dim room.

  “Why not? You asked me here to talk, but you haven’t said more than a few words to me.”

  Nicholas sat up then, the weight of his body resting on his forearm. Staring down at Charlotte he asked, “Do you still have feelings for Todd?”

  Charlotte grimaced. “No!” she shuddered, disgusted at the thought.

  “You don’t want to work things out with him?” Nicholas pressed, needing to hear her answer.

  “No, Nicholas. I don’t, but what doe
s that have to do with any─” Charlotte gasped at the feel of his mouth on hers.

  Parting her lips with his, Nicholas leaned forward pulling her into the comfort of his arms. The sweet caress of his tongue causing a tremor to shoot through her body, electrifying every nerve ending, and quickly sending a welcoming heat to spread through her veins. Their kiss was a slow dance as he savored the feeling of having her beneath him. Nicholas pulled back, his molten eyes gazing at her intently as he slowly brought his hand to her face. Tucking stray hairs behind her ears, he bent his head once more feathering kisses along her moist cheeks. He hated being the reason behind the tears in her eyes. With gentle fingers he traced the outline of her bottom lip in deep thought. “I’ve been trying so hard to keep my distance,” he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want to jeopardize our friendship.”

  Charlotte studied him for a moment in the dimly lit room, taking in his confession. “Stop trying so hard,” she murmured, pulling him back to her, needing the feel of his mouth on hers once more.

  Charlotte’s words ignited him. Backing away from her, Nicholas pulled his black fitted V- neck t- shirt over his head revealing his perfectly sculpted chest and diesel abdomen. “Come here,” he said, pulling her toward him, easily removing her cami with skilled fingers. Nicholas bent his head to her small mounds taking her hard peaks into his mouth one at a time. Charlotte leaned into him, with trembling hands she pulled him closer still, needing more as her body had begun to quiver beneath him. His hands were everywhere− touching her in places she had never been touched, caressing parts of her body she had never known existed. Letting her breast fall from his mouth, he continued his exploration, grazing his lips across her shoulder blade . . . her neck . . . making his way to her jaw line. Her scent was intoxicating. Burying his face into the hollow of her neck he suckled intensely, nibbling softly before he found her mouth once more. Nicholas kissed her deeply causing a moan to slip past her lips. His mouth devoured hers as his hands traveled down her body stopping at her inner thigh. Charlotte quickly moved her hand to rest over his, urging him to continue further, needing the ache in between her legs to be soothed, needing the desire she had felt for him to be sated. Nicholas let out a heavy groan. Ending their kiss, he slowly pulled away from her. “Dimple,” he sighed breathing harshly. “We can’t─”

  “No. No. No. Don’t stop now,” she begged. “Nicholas, I want you.”

  A provocative smirk teased his full lips. “That’s quite obvious,” he laughed softly. The sound was her undoing.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  Resting his forehead against hers, Nicholas let out a labored breath. “I want to do things the right way with you,” he said, rubbing his fingers along her jaw line. “Dimple, I’m in love with you, and always have been.”

  Charlotte stared at him, shocked. If only he knew how long she had wanted to hear those words. “I love you, too,” she whispered, smiling against his lips.

  “Enough to marry me?” he asked.

  Charlotte froze. “What?”

  “Dimple, I’m asking you to marry me?”

  “Like in real life?” she gasped.

  Nicholas laughed. “No . . . in the fake one that you’re so good at making up.”

  “Jerk.”

  “Is that a yes?” he asked, suddenly serious.

  “Nicholas . . . I don’t want you to feel pressured, or obligated to─”

  “Dimple, I love you. Marry me.”

  Charlotte blinked up at him. Her mind was in chaos as her thoughts went from one extreme to the next trying to analyze what was happening, but her heart was in control and had already made up its mind. “Okay,” she said knowing in that moment that she wanted nothing more than to be his wife.

  “Okay? Okay as in you’ll marry me?” Nicholas grinned at her boyishly.

  “Yes,” she giggled. “I’ll marry you.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Charlotte woke up to the sound of a steady heartbeat. Blinking rapidly, she narrowed her eyes at the intensity of the sun’s light that had guiltlessly escaped through the sheer white curtains and had irradiated the room with its brilliance. Not wanting to wake Nicholas she attempted to slowly lift her body from the solace of his arms, but the act was in vain. Nicholas stirred beneath her, tightly wrapping his strong arms around her thin frame, his hands instantly locked together in a vise like grip. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked, his eyes still closed.

  “To take a shower,” she smiled against his chest. “Is that okay with you?”

  “No,” he answered decidedly. “Wait a little while. I’m not ready to let go of you yet.”

  Glancing over his broad shoulder at the alarm clock, Charlotte licked her dry lips. 8:17a.m. Closing her eyes once more, she raised her small hand to the nap of his neck, her fingers tingling in his thick chestnut brown hair. His words meant everything to her.

  “Caleb called me early this morning. He wants to get together for some bro’ time before he leaves,” Nicholas said, his thumb caressing the back of her arm.

  “Leave? He isn’t going to the party tonight?”

  “No. Caleb doesn’t mingle well with the elite,” Nicholas laughed softly. “He’s not the social type.”

  “Oh? And you are?”

  “When I have to be, yes, but it’s not my most preferred way of spending my time. Over the years I just learned how to get through it . . . .”

  “What about Rebecca?”

  “What about her?”

  “She won’t be there tonight, either?”

  “My sister would prefer to bring in the New Year alone rather than sit in front of my patronizing parents and their judgmental friends.”

  “Are your parents that bad?” Charlotte asked.

  “Worse,” he answered honestly.

  “. . . and you’re only here because I lied to my parents about us being engaged, and my overbearing mother couldn’t keep her mouth shut,” Charlotte mused, shaking her head at the reality of it all.

  “Right. It’s all your fault,” he accused, amusement in his words.

  Charlotte sighed. “I’m sorry.”

  “You’re forgiven,” he shrugged, unbothered.

  “So, what are you and Caleb going to get into today?”

  “Uhh, I don’t know . . . maybe hit up a pub and grab a couple beers . . . watch whichever game is on . . . we’ll find something worth doing.”

  “Do you think Menzie would like to go shopping with me today? I packed a couple of dresses, but I’m not in love with either of them. I want to look nice,” Charlotte admitted. Especially with the Millionaire Barbie being there, she scowled inwardly. It was very clear that Blithe still had unresolved feelings for Nicholas. The woman had made that well known when she went through Charlotte’s phone, and then intentionally waited to share her findings in front of Nicholas’ parents. There was no doubt in Charlotte’s mind that the act wasn’t premeditated.

  “I’m sure you’ll be gorgeous in whatever you wear, but if you want to go shopping I don’t see why Menzie wouldn’t want to accompany you.”

  “Well, call your brother and find out,” Charlotte ordered pulling away from him.

  Nicholas tightened his hold on her. “Stop trying to get up,” he demanded, squeezing her to him. “I like the feel of your body attached to mine,” he said, his voice pure seduction igniting her senses into a burning frenzy. Lifting his head, his mouth found hers, his tongue orchestrating a wild dance as years− worth of desire poured out of him. Nicholas, Charlotte’s subconscious gleamed overjoyed with happiness as she melted further into him. He was finally hers.

  ***

  Charlotte’s eyes brightened when she walked into C7’ Cecilia’s, a small gown boutique that sat in the heart of East Hampton. Dresses of all colors and styles lined the four walls, each one decorated in a fixture of white lights to intensify its loveliness. Biting down on her bottom lip Charlotte looked to Menzie who had already begun to pull dresses from t
heir mannequins. With wide eyes she scanned the intimate space suddenly regretting her store selection. Just from the location alone she fretted about the potential cost of the merchandise, but after walking into the shop her worries became valid. I can’t afford anything in here, she pouted.

  “Charlotte! Come look at this dress,” Menzie squealed from across the store drawing attention from the other shoppers.

  Charlotte quickly made her way to the other woman ignoring the snooty glares of the older women who whispered to one another as she passed them.

  “Ignore them,” Menzie advised, rolling her eyes at the strangers. “I’m the epitome of what they imagine third world country citizens look like, dark skin and Asian, and you’re . . . well you’re . . . ” Menzie laughed. “What are you exactly?” she asked, handing Charlotte a purple halter dress with an open crossed back.

  Charlotte blinked rapidly, a quaint smile on her lips. “Creole,” she replied.

  “Creole,” Menzie repeated, nodding her approval. “Good job, Nicholas,” she said more to herself than to Charlotte. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” Charlotte smiled. “So are you.”

  “I try.”

  Charlotte regarded her closely. “You don’t have to try hard,” she said, admiring Menzie’s natural beauty. “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Why doesn’t Caleb like being around his parents? What exactly happened between them?”

  Menzie was silent for a moment obviously considering her answer carefully before she spoke. “It wasn’t in his parents plans for Caleb to get married fresh out of college. And it certainly wasn’t in their plans for him to marry a flight attendant born from a middle class family. When Caleb introduced me to his parents they were kind enough, but after we left he got a phone call from his father demanding that he break up with me . . .Caleb refused. Not getting the response that he wanted Spencer then threatened to split his trust fund up between Nicholas and Rebecca; Caleb told him to have at it. And when that didn’t work Spencer sent Caleb a certified copy of his Will with Caleb’s name removed from it.”