Past Life

Disclaimer: As with everything on this site, I don't own any of Kelley Armstrong's characters, locations blah blah blah etc. But the woman herself does rock - and I am a huge fan of her books.

Prologue

Jeremy walked out of his study and made his way straight out to the back door. He looked in the direction of Nick, Clay, and Antonio playing some football. Antonio noticed Jeremy nod his head slightly and called a halt to the game.

"Nick, you've got a message on the machine. I suggest you listen to it." Jeremy said, and with that disappeared back inside. Antonio followed suit giving his son a squeeze on his shoulder before patting him on the back and walked off into the house.

Clay gave a questioning look over at Nick – rare that it was anyone should ring the estate, least of all to ask for someone in the Pack by name, and to top it off to ask for a Pack member who doesn't reside full time at Stonehaven. Nick shrugged his confused response and followed after Jeremy.

As Nick entered the study, the answering machine light blinked, he pressed play just as Clay threw himself into an armchair. A tired quavering voice called out on the speaker.

"Erm, this is a message for Nick… Nick this is Belle – If you remember me, Annabelle Smart?" She stammered letting out a deep sigh.

Clay stifled a smirk. "Isn't that the girl you-"

"What girl?" Elena asked, as she came into the room.

"The one Nicky boy here lost his 'learners permit' too." Clay drawled winking over at her.

Nick growled trying to listen to the rest of the message. "Yes it is, alright - Now shut up!"

1. Seventeen years ago

Nick was in New York on his way to a meeting with some clients in his Dads business. Trying to surf his way through the lunchtime crowds on their way to the fast food joints wasn't an easy task.

"Nicky..?" He heard a voice call just above the humdrum of the traffic. He turned around scanning the crowd seeing nothing but blank faces as they pushed past him.

"Nicolas Sorrentino…" The voice came again teasingly. A high pitched whistle cut through the crowd like ice, and everyone in the near vicinity fell silent and turned in the direction of a short brunette clinging to the side of a lamppost waving frantically at the young Italian man.

"Annabelle… Is that you?" He asked striding over to her with a beaming smile to make any female heart swoon as she untangled herself.

"Last time I checked. Sorry about the whistle." She blushed, smoothing down her clothes and taking a sip of her coffee.

Nick shook his head politely. "Don't worry about it, so how are you? What's it been – two, three years?" He asked.

"Three… I think. Time flies huh?" Belle replied shyly pulling a stray strand of hair from her face, and nervously taking a sip of her drink.

Nick took this distraction to get a good look over her body. She was only about 5'5", barely reaching his shoulder; dressed in a short pencil skirt with a green coat buttoned halfway to her ample sized bust. She had never been the slimmest of girls, but the weight added an attractive hourglass shape to her small frame.

"So, what are you up to these days?" She asked, asking the usual pleasantries of reuniting with someone you haven't seen in a while.

Nick shrugged "This and that. Working for my Dad right now, you know what it's like – how about you? You were just graduating from College when I last saw you, right?"

"Yeah, I was." She nodded. "I'm working in a Photography studio as an assistant, have been for a year now."

Nick gave an impressed look. "Good for you. That's really cool." He glanced at his watch hesitantly. "Shit – I'm really sorry - I've got to head off. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes on 5th. But if you want to catch up, give me a call later? We could go out for a coffee, or dinner or something…?" He suggested reaching into the inside jacket of his coat and pulling out a business card.

"It'd be nice to catch up." She replied taking hold of the card and putting it into her pocket. "But anyway, I'll let you get going – My lunch is nearly up." She smiled timidly taking another sip of her coffee.

"Okay no worries. I'll see you later." He said leaning down to her. Belle reciprocated the gesture taking in a breath of Nick's scent as she placed a kiss on his cheek. "Okay, I really must go now." He chortled pulling away. "Sorry to be so rude…" He winced. "I'll see to you later."

"See you…" Belle gave a slightest wave and continued in the opposite direction.

*********

Two days later Belle was sitting in her office at her computer going over some images from a photo shoot for a client, adding a few touch ups.

"Hey Belle – you got change for the coffee run?" Anita asked.

"Sure, I could really do with a cappuccino – One sec." Belle replied rummaging into her handbag. She sighed rolling her eyes, resorting to spilling the contents on the desk in a bid to find her purse.

"Ooh! What's this?" Anita asked spying Nick's business card and examining it. "Nicholas Sorrentino - not a bad face." She mused overlooking the small picture, examining it at a distance and then close up.

Belle snatched it back off her. "Just an old friend I saw the other day, nothing to get excited about."

Anita gave her a suspicious look, raising an eyebrow. "Just a friend? Hmm, when did this happen?"

Belle gave another impatient sigh. "Okay, okay, we dated a couple of times a few years back. But that's it." Anita made herself comfortable sitting on the edge of the desk, a hungry look for gossip in her eyes. Belle pulled a twenty dollar bill out of her purse. "Coffee?" She reminded and Anita reluctantly let the conversation go. "And don't forget the change." She smiled sweetly.

After Anita had left, Belle resigned to sitting back at her computer staring at her work but constantly being distracted by the business card now tucked under her keyboard. Finding no new inspiration, she drummed her fingers absent mindedly. "Screw it…" She muttered to herself. After a minute she reached for her cell phone, when the phone on her desk started to ring. She gave a mock growl and threw her cell back into her bag.

"Belle Smart." She stated picking up the phone, brushing her fingers through her hair along with her frustration.

A stutter sounded down the phone. "Oh hi, Belle? It's Nick."

"Oh… Hey." Her breath caught in her throat as she felt her stomach flip and her cheeks burn. "I was just about to call you."

"Ahh, I thought I could feel my ears burning." He chuckled down the line, making Belle feel giddy. "How does dinner sound tonight?"

"Tonight?" Belle squeaked.

"If I'm being too presumptuous, I'm free tomorrow night." He replied hastily.

"No, no - tonight would be great. What, uh, what do you have in mind?"

The line buzzed with static for a second as if he was thinking. "How about, I make it a surprise." Belle could hear the smile in his words, and remembered fondly the little glint in his eyes whenever he smiled. "I'll pick you up at seven. Your place?"

Belle's laughed fluttered down the phone. "That's all very well and good. But you don't know where I live Mr. Sorrentino."

"Would Ms. Smart be willing to part with that information?" He flirted. Belle guessed he was on a cell phone in his car, hearing the throb of a finely tuned engine in the background.

"Maybe…" She flirted curling some hair around her fingers.

A few minutes later the conversation ended, leaving Belle to stare at the desk phone with a sly grin on her face until a cup of coffee was placed in front of her. "So," Anita said with a youthful grin. "That sounded like dinner plans…?"

Belle took a sip of a coffee. "Maybe."

Anita squealed in excitement. "Do you know where you're going? Oh, oh – what are you going to wear?"

"Oh god… what am I going to wear?" Belle mock panicked placing her hand to her mouth. "Like I said earlier… he's nothing to get excited about." She shrugged off.

"Well if you don't want him, I certainly will!" Anita snatched up the business card again, and began scrutinising the picture. Belle once again took it back. Anita huffed. "Fine…fancy leaving an hour early? I can help raid your wardrobe for something sexy." She asked emphasizing the last word with a pout. At the suggestion, Belle grinned. "And then… you can tell me more about this young Mister Sorrentino." Anita winked grabbing her coat as Belle simply rolled her eyes.