Page 15 of Texas Tycoon's Christmas Fiancée
When she finished the message, she took her drink to the rail. After a few minutes Nick joined her.
“Feel better now?” Without waiting for her answer, he continued, “Is everything all right at home?”
“Yes. Michael is sleeping and my aunt is getting ready to watch her favorite show.”
They stood, chatting about nothing in particular and watching lights along the shore slip past until she realized they were moving slightly away from land, angling toward the turn he’d indicated.
During dinner, while each course was lavish, culminating in succulent lobster, her appetite was diminished by the charisma generated by Nick. “I haven’t relaxed and enjoyed myself like this in months,” she remarked, looking at him and smiling. “Actually, in this manner, never. I know you know how to relax. You have a reputation in the media.”
“In the tabloids. I hope you aren’t relying on those for your info about me.”
“Definitely not! I’m relying on my own observations. My friend Alicia never mentioned you. I don’t think she ever met you.”
“No. In hindsight, I might have been better off if I had met her.”
“You probably wouldn’t believe me if I told you she hadn’t had many relationships with men. She was in love with a guy right after high school. That lasted a year. Then there were a couple more. She ran around with friends who were male, but nothing serious, nor did she sleep with them.”
“You sound as certain as if you were talking about yourself.”
“I am. We grew up together in bad circumstances. Both our families were poor. Worse, her father died when she was seven. Mine died when I was eleven. Alicia and I were as close as sisters, in fact, closer than I am to my own sisters. And she only had one brother who was killed three years ago. Alicia and I shared our hopes and disappointments. When she met your brother, he swept her off her feet. His money impressed her. She also liked him.”
“Money impresses a lot of women. Women liked my older brother and vice versa. No problem there.”
“I’m sure you receive the same reactions.”
“I didn’t from you,” he reminded her. “That’s where you threw me a curve. Principle before money? I never expected that response when I talked to you Monday morning.”
“Michael is more important than money to me. I’ve spent nearly my whole life without money.”
“That’s why you should have been so awed and willing,” Nick remarked.
“No. Michael is my son now,” Grace replied, hoping to reinforce her position. “I took Michael home from the hospital after he was released from neonatal intensive care. His premature birth was terrifying. Now it would scare me more because I love him so much and feel as if he’s my baby.”
“He’s actually my brother’s baby—at least according to what I’ve been told.”
“He is definitely your brother’s child,” she stated, realizing Nick’s food was as forgotten as her own. “I knew my friend almost as well as I know myself. I’ve told you there were no other men in her life when she met your brother. Actually, Michael looks as if he’s your son. When you see Michael, you’ll know your brother was his father.”
Nick’s eyes narrowed. “We bear a resemblance? I’d never thought of that. I look like my father, so that means Michael might. That isn’t something you can fabricate.”
“Or exaggerate. I’m sure you’ll eventually see for yourself. He looks like your son. No one could possibly disagree.”
Nick gazed into space and she wondered why the discovery had silenced him. Had he figured this was another man’s baby and dismissed his father’s wishes? She didn’t know what ran through Nick’s mind, but the news that he and Michael bore a strong family resemblance troubled Nick.
He frowned slightly as he turned back to her. “Michael doesn’t look like Bart? Did you ever meet Bart?”
“No, I didn’t, but I saw a snapshot of him. I don’t think Michael resembles Bart. Bart had hazel eyes, brown hair.”
“Bart and I are actually half brothers. We had different mothers.”
“That’s something I didn’t know.”
“Bart and I had our own lives and were busy. Time slips away.” Nick lapsed into silence again. A short while later he looked at her plate.
“Neither of us is eating. There’s a great dessert.”
“I’ll pass, although everything is delicious.”
“We can have the dessert later. C’mon, and I’ll give you that tour,” Nick said, standing and coming to take her arm.
