Page 44 of Perfect Together
“Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Marsden.” Nicole handed her a bouquet of wildflowers she’d bought in town.
“I appreciate these. I love flowers, but next time, just bring yourself. And call me Ella.”
Her smile was so sweet and genuine, she couldn’t help but respond in kind.
“Who’s this?” she asked of the dog.
“Meet Kojak.”
Smiling, Nicole bent to pet the dog, who was bouncing up and down in excitement. With Kojak at her heels, she followed Ella into the house.
A few minutes later, Nicole had met Simon, the onetime police chief, and settled in with the family to talk and share a drink before dinner. Cole was in the family room, and to Nicole’s surprise, he greeted her with genuine kindness for the first time. Obviously, his wife had spoken to him, or he was coming to see that she truly was nothing like her sister. Mike Marsden was here without his wife, who was working with Sam, and even he seemed determined to get to know Nicole for herself.
It saddened her to think that many people, Cole and Mike included, probably wouldn’t give Victoria a second chance, despite how far she’d come. But those thoughts drifted away as she was included in the family conversation and joking.
She turned to Erin. “Can I hold that adorable baby of yours?”
Erin handed over the little girl dressed in a pink onesie and swaddled in a white blanket with pink satin trim. The pink brought out the coloring in her skin, making the baby seem even more girly. She smelled like the most delicious baby shampoo and quietly lay in Nicole’s arms, making smacking noises with her little lips.
Nicole hadn’t thought about having kids, but as she held Angel in her arms, a strange feeling of intense longing welled up inside her, catching her off guard. “She’s so sweet.”
“You should hear her when she’s hungry at night. Or wet. Or cranky after six o’clock—but of course only in our house; in her grandparents’ house, she’s the Angel we call her,” Erin said, laughing. The love in her voice and her expression were obvious.
Cole slid closer on the couch, wrapping an arm around his wife’s shoulder. “Says the woman who sleeps while I get up and take care of her midnight feedings?” His deep chuckle also belied his words.
These two were clearly in love, and another, distinctly different wave of need swept through Nicole. She swallowed hard and refocused on the less painful feelings.
“Hey, little girl,” Nicole said softly, stroking a hand down the baby’s chubby cheek.
Without warning, the front door opened. “We made it,” Sam said, stepping into the house with Cara behind him.
Nicole’s stomach tightened at the sight of the man she couldn’t get out of her head, looking handsome in a sport jacket—obviously he’d been at work—and his gaze took in the room, settling on her, his surprise evident.
She swallowed hard.
“Sam! I didn’t expect you tonight,” Erin said.
He shot her a strange look. “I told you I’d get things wrapped up early today.”
Mike rose to greet his wife.
Ella clapped her hands, obviously thrilled to have her whole family together.
“Come pour yourself a drink,” Simon said to his son.
And Erin busied herself with a nonexistent thread on her shirt, refusing to meet Nicole’s gaze. Erin had obviously lied to get Nicole to come, knowing her brother would show up.
Though she wanted to be mad at Erin, she couldn’t be. Erin obviously had her brother’s best interest at heart.
Sam said hello to his parents and siblings, kissed his mom and sister, and slapped Mike and Cole on the back, and Nicole couldn’t help comparing her own family’s stilted dinner parties with this one. No jokes or kidding with the others, no hugs or kisses, no genuine concern over how each person’s day had gone.
Lost in thought, she didn’t hear Sam approach, but she smelled his cologne and her skin tingled as he kissed her cheek, his lips lingering a hint longer than they had with his relatives.
She trembled at the light touch, acknowledging her body’s immediate recognition and desire for a more thorough, more tactile hello.
“This is a surprise,” he said to her.
“Same for me.” She didn’t want him thinking she’d come here expecting to see him. “Erin said you’d be working.”