“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” Paul smiled.
“Besides, I want to make sure that when Trish wakes up, her daughter will possibly be by her side. She might be disappointed if we haven’t reached out to her yet.”
“You’re right. Weekends are busier, so how about we go this Friday evening, and maybe we tell her then or wait until Saturday?”
“Sounds like a plan.” Nikki smiled and finally relaxed into the chair.
She wasn’t the only anxious one. He’d seen how much it had eaten away at Trish because she couldn’t accept that she’d given up her child. Now, looking at Nikki, he couldn’t help but think that the three made an odd group—all having lost loves and parents who died.
Maybe it made them uniquely suited for each other, but he didn’t want to read too much into it either.
He would go where the wind took him, but not if he wasn’t the one guiding the sails. He’d had enough pain and disappointment.
He could do without one more.
ChapterNine
Nikki settled into her role as part-time manager and proprietor at the Nestled Inn.
The staff had already warmed to her, and during the two and a half weeks she’d been there, she’d been invited to dinner and several brunches.
Kaylyn had become a close friend of hers in the absence of Ava, and she relied on her guidance and support, considering she was more familiar with the business end.
Nikki stood at the front desk with Kaylyn one morning when Kaylyn nudged her. She turned to look at the woman, wondering why she was poking her when she saw the look on her face and where she was looking.
Nikki looked up at the door and saw Reed Story walk into the inn. He was casually dressed in a pair of jeans, a button-down, and loafers. He wore a marine cut, and his face was clean-shaven.
“What’s wrong?” Nikki asked Kaylyn. She’d seen Reed before, the first time being when she was hosting the last fundraiser, so she wasn’t sure what Kaylyn wanted to tell her.
She didn’t get a chance to talk before he approached the front desk. “Hello,” he said with a broad smile. “Can we talk?”
Nikki looked over at Kaylyn, and then back at Reed. She wondered if the woman knew something she didn’t. “Sure,” she said and stepped around the desk. “Maybe we can go out to the patio.”
“Great,” he said and ushered her in front of him.
Nikki didn’t know what the meeting was about, and all sorts of ideas started floating around in her head. She was nervous as she sat across from Reed and folded her hands in her lap.
“While I’m here, maybe we should get something to eat,” he suggested.
Nikki wasn’t hungry, but she knew it would be rude to refuse, so she accepted. They ordered from the lunch menu, which consisted of sandwiches and finger foods, and she nibbled on them while they engaged in small talk.
She knew he was still waiting to broach the real subject and tried to be patient.
“I have to admit, I’m very curious about what we’re doing out here,” she finally said. “Is it something about the Humane Society? Because I’m more than willing to take my sister’s place in whatever she used to do before.”
Reed laughed. “I don’t know how much you’ve realized since you’ve been here, but Trish was sort of…special to me.” He eyed Nikki.
It was then she understood Kaylyn’s nudging, and she was instantly relieved. “Are you two involved?” she asked pointedly.
“Not so much, but I have taken an interest in her. Our time was cut short after the accident, but I’m holding on to the hope that she will recover.”
Nikki was floored by the romanticism he was expressing. He was willing to wait for her comatose sister to regain consciousness so he could continue to pursue her.
“Oh, that’s so sweet,” Nikki gushed and locked her fingers beneath her chin.
Reed blushed a little and cleared his throat. “Needless to say, she has been very instrumental in many of the Humane Society's activities.”
“I can see that,” Nikki said as she remembered her episode with the dunk tank.
