Page 89 of Breaking the Ice

“How was it?” he asked, pulling away reluctantly, knowing this wasn’t all about him.

“It wassoooogood to be back, Nick.” She beamed at him. “The office has the best view and” – she delved in her bag and pulled out a car key with a Porsche tag – “ta-da!”

Nick whistled and smiled then kissed her again because she was excited about her career getting back on track and he wastoo. Not because of the Porsche but because this was her dream and she deserved all the good things.

Flipping the sign to closed, Nick locked up and they made their way upstairs, Samantha regaling him with stories about her day. They dined together in his apartment then made wild, passionate love on his living room floor.Twice.

Because he knew it was all slipping away and he didn’t want it to. But it couldn’t be stopped either. All he could do was commit every detail of her face, her body to memory. And hope that she was doing the same. And who knew, maybe one day, they’d look back in fondness at the wonderful crazy months they’d shared in his grandmother’s second-hand romance bookshop and smile.

Three weeks later, Samantha was standing at her window looking out at the view. She’d been working like a dog – in at seven each morning, not home till after eleven each night. Weekends also. There’d been no time for friands or curling up with a Rita at Birdie’s.

And certainly no time for Nick.

He’d been understanding but she could feel him withdrawing, too. Which made sense. He was leaving for Canada for pre-season training in eight days, so the writing was definitely on the wall.

Hell, they hadn’t slept together in over a week.

Bob’s assistant knocked and entered, leaving a bunch of files on her desk with a smile. Shiny new files used to excite her – not anymore. There was nothing. No rush at the challenge, or showing how indispensable she was.

She should be feelinggreat. She had everything she wanted. But she wasn’t.

Because Nick was leaving next week and nothing felt right. Not the view, not the Porsche, not the corner office. She stared at her reflection and suddenly hated what she saw. A city career girl. Cool and calm and capable. And… boring!

She hadn’t felt boring at Birdie’s. She’d felt cool and interesting and valued. And yeah, the pay was lousy and the prestige was non-existent but here she was, standing at the pinnacle of her so-called career with money and prestige to burn and her lifesucked.

Again.

30

“Hello, Birdie’s, this is Nick.”

“Nick, what the hell are you doing?”

Nick frowned. “Bec?”

“My sister is miserable. What the hell’s the matter with you?”

He wasn’t exactly a barrel of laughs these days. “Does she know you’re calling?”

“Nick, it’s me. I’m the bossy older sister. I fix things. That’s what she loves about me.”

“She seems pretty happy to me.” Not that he saw much of her these days.

“That’s because she wants you to think everything is okay. Honestly… you two should have your heads knocked together. Jess has more sense.”

“She’s got what she wants.”

“That’s bull crap. She’s got what she thought she wanted only to discover it’s not what she really wants at all. Samantha finally got herself a life, thanks to you. Please for the love of God, save her from this one.”

“And how do I do that?”

Bec sighed. “Do you have… feelings for my sister?”

Nick paused. Did he? He knew he couldn’t stop thinking about her. “I… like her very much. But… she doesn’t want me.” She wanted a baby daddy. And that was more the point.

“Yeah, but she needs you.”

“No, she doesn’t. She’s got her career and her Porsche and her corner office.”

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