Chapter Six
--
Harsh sobs woke him from the depth of his sleep. Where am I? Then he remembered whose home he was in and realized the sobs that echoed the darkened house were coming from Michelle. He reached for his watch on the nightstand and flicked on the bedside lamp. Shielding his eyes against the harshness of the light, he noted the time. 3 a.m.
Tossing the blankets from him, he struggled into his boxers and headed toward her room. His hand hesitated on the knob; his presence could very well send her into a frenzy or at the very least scare the living daylights out of her. Her sobs continued and he felt his heart break at the pitiful sound of it. Turning the knob slowly, he crept to her bed quietly and gently lowered himself to sit at the side of her bed.
"Shelley...Shelley," he called softly, touching a hand to her dampened cheek. "Wake up, Michelle. You're having a nightmare." He noticed she stilled and her sobs subsided within moments and her eyes fluttered open as she bolted to a sitting position, searching the darkness.
"Nicky," she whispered, finally seeing that which she sought. "Wha...why...did I wake you?" She asked when he brushed her tears away with his knuckles.
"Mmm...you were having a nightmare," he answered softly. "Are you all right?"
Michelle stared at him, blatantly taking in his near naked body sitting on the edge of her bed. Lord have mercy, he was perfection! Taut muscles danced over his body with each movement he made, his sinewy chest invited her touch and she longed to trace her tongue over the ripples of his washboard stomach. "All-ri-right?" she stammered, unable to tear her gaze from him.
Nick chuckled and placed a finger under her chin, drawing her gaze to his face. "Calmed down? Will you be able to sleep?"
Michelle shook her head first yes then no. "Calming down. Won't try to go back to sleep."
"Lie back," he urged, pushing gently on her shoulders and easing her back into the mattress. "You need to sleep."
"No," she insisted, her eyes imploring. "Rachelle...I see it every night...her death; hear her last words. I don't want to listen anymore..."
Instinctively, in some manner of wishing to comfort and protect her, he found himself lying next to her, holding her in his arms, stroking her hair and murmuring words of comfort until she drifted off to sleep. He held her throughout the remainder of the morning, and slept with a peace he had not known for some time.
--
Michelle's eyes opened slowly, she felt warm and safe and really had no desire to move from the haven of her bed. There was something different about her bed; she never heard a thumping sound from her mattress before. Her eyes opened wide when she realized it was a heartbeat. Bracing herself up on her elbow she looked down on the sleeping Adonis lying in her bed. How did... and then she remembered how he had come to rescue her from her never ending nightmare.
His eyes fluttered softly when he felt her move next to him. He marveled at the dark color of violet that fixed onto him. She had the most amazing eyes. The color softened when she was amused and darkened when she was passionate. "Good morning," he greeted with a smile.
Don't smile, don't smile she begged him silently. His smile was her undoing. Brilliant white teeth clashed strikingly against the olive tones of his skin and his short dark hair and close shaved beard only added to his stunning appearance. Even after sleep, the man was a god.
"Shelley?" he questioned when she didn't respond, only stared.
"I..uh...good morning," she finally managed through her embarrassment. She pulled away from him and slid out of bed momentarily forgetting she wore only a flimsy lavender teddy that left little to the imagination. "I'm sorry about last night..."
"Don't be. It's not every night I get to hold a beautiful woman in my arms," he responded playfully.
Her eyes locked onto his and she saw his brown eyes deepen to a dark chocolate as his gaze flicked over her. "Oh!" she exclaimed and bolted toward her bathroom when she realized he had quite of view of her body.
Nick chuckled softly. He was amazed at the different qualities her personality possessed. She could be bold and brazen and yet still hold easily onto a touch of demure and timorous behavior. He heard her call out through the closed door she was going to shower quickly and get ready for their day out. And something to the effect that when she was finished they would drive back to his place so he could change. "Sounds fine," he shouted through the closed door. "Can your plumbing handle two showers at a time?"
"What?" Michelle asked, opening the door a crack. She had to blink at the vision of him standing in her bedroom clad only in those formfitting boxer shorts. It was a task all its own to wrench her gaze from his 'treasure'.
"Shower...can your plumbing handle two showers simultaneously?" He asked with just the slightest hint of amusement. Her violet eyes were dark and he could read the lust in them.
"Ya—yes. I'll meet you downstairs in fifteen minutes." She closed the door quickly to keep from launching herself at him and taking him for all he was worth. "Damn that's one fine package."
A little over ten minutes later he was cleaned and refreshed, even if he wore the clothing he had on the previous night. He was descending the stairs when the doorbell rang. Glancing at his watch, he saw it was nearly 8a.m.
"Nick...can you get that? It's probably Jason wanting to give me a piece of his mind," Michelle called from her bedroom.
"Sure," he answered. "Although I may get his fist when I open the door."
"Nah...he's a pussycat."
Nick reached for the door and pulled it opened.
"Nick!"
He blinked. Blinked again. "Rae?"
"I...what are you doing here?" she demanded. His hair was damp from a recent shower and his shirt hung open. He spent the night with her! "Holy shit, Nick...didn't you just meet her?"
Michelle crept slowly down the stairs and fought the desire to run back up and hide in her room. But the thought that this was her house and she and Nick were adults and did not have to answer to Rae for their actions ate at her. "What's up Rae?" she asked softly, reaching the doorway. "Do you want to come in?"
"No...not..."
"Rae...it's not what you think," Michelle began but stopped when Nick rose a hand.
"It really doesn't matter does it? Does it Rae?" Nick asked quietly.
Michelle watched the scene unfold intently. She felt like she was watching a scene in a movie, not something that was happening in real life. It didn't escape her how intensely Nick watched Rae, waited for her answer, but there was no hope in his voice. No expectation of a chance. No hint that he wanted one. Was he really past his feelings for her?
"No," Rae breathed. "I suppose it really doesn't matter." She glanced at Michelle. "I came here this morning to apologize for yesterday. You were right." With a nod she turned and left.
Nick turned back to Michelle who stood, hugging her arms about herself. "Right about what?"
Michelle dropped her arms to her side and crossed the spaced between them. "That although she wanted to save her marriage, she wasn't willing to let you go."
"Let me go? She never had me in order to let me go. She only used me..."
The hurt was evident on his face. No one likes to be used and that's what he felt happened between him and the lady doctor. "No Nicholas, I don't believe that...entirely. She needed you, loved you even...loves you still."
He shrugged and offered a smile. "It really doesn't matter anymore," he admitted.
"Good!" Michelle exclaimed. "Let's get you home, changed and get this day started, Doc!"
Nick laughed as she grabbed his hand and started for the door. She wore a pair of jean shorts, a powder blue halter-top and a matching pair of blue walking shoes. "So this is a casual outing?" he asked while they made their way to her car.
"Yup. We're going to be tourists today, Nicky. No pressure, no stress...just take things as they come." She grinned at her handsome companion. "Do you own any casual clothing?"
"Hmmm...guess we'll find out," he joked, sliding into the passenger seat.
Michelle giggled softly and started the engine. "Hey, don't think I won't make you wear a pair of cut-offs and a "I left my heart in San Francisco" t-shirt!"
"Ugh...a fate worse than death. I think I can manage, my dear."
--
He manages quite nicely, Michelle noted when he exited his bedroom wearing a pair of white Dockers shorts, heather grey polo shirt and a pair of New Balance walking shoes. "Ooh...nice legs, Doc."
"I could say the same for you, Shel," he teased, giving her the once over. "Shall we go?"
"Yes, we shall." With one last glance at around his almost empty apartment; she headed with him to her car. "A walk along Fishermen's Wharf, some lunch and then a ferry ride to Alcatraz if that sounds okay to you, Nicky?"
"I'm in your hands, M'Lady," he mocked good-naturedly as she drove. The top on the convertible was down, allowing the breeze to flow through her hair. She looked happy, carefree. So unlike the tortured woman he held throughout the night.
She remained that carefree soul throughout the morning while they walked lazily along the wharf, inspecting the various shops and sidewalk vendors. They stopped to watch and listen to a violinist play. Nick held her hand possessively while they walked and talked, laughed and played.
After lunch they boarded the ferry for Alcatraz. Michelle leaned on the rail of the bow watching the water break against the ferry. She noticed Nick watching her intently as if something was on his mind. "What's buggin' ya, Doc?"
He grimaced at her. "You're good. Jason...you never told me what the deal was with the two of you."
Michelle nodded shortly. "I was kind of hoping you would forget. Jason...Jason and I were engaged."
"What happened? You still appear to be close to him."
The ten-minute ferry ride was coming to a close and she could put him off again if she wanted. Instead, she covered his hand with hers, "One night I went to Jason's and found him in bed with another woman."
"Shelley, you..." he interrupted.
"No, it's okay. You see, when I found them it was the oddest thing. I realized that I didn't care. I mean, I cared...but not like I was devastated. I could have hated Jason...and Marsha, for that matter, but we had been friends for so long. I came to terms with the fact that they did actually love each other. I was in love with the thought of being in love. Pretending to be hurt more than I was would have resulted in losing two of the most important people in my life. Instead, I have my friends and they have each other. "
"Friends are important," Nick agreed, sliding his arm around her shoulder as the ferry docked. "And it's good to know your own mind."
"Mmm...Rachelle..." she began before her voice faltered with a hiccup.
"Tell me," he whispered softly into her ear as they walked. "Talk about her, keep her alive in your heart."
Michelle sniffed a bit before smiling up at him. "Thank you, you're making it easier somehow."
"That's good to hear," he admitted, kissing her temple. "Now tell me."
"Rachelle said that finding out how I truly felt about Jason would make it easier to know when or if I ever really fell in love."
"Well, I have to say I do like the sound of that," Nick said, hugging her close.
Michelle nodded. "A sage piece of wisdom that we both can use, I daresay."
***