“Nannies, the chauffeur, boarding school,” Nick replied, confirming her guess. She wondered about his life and could see how his relationships might be shallow and brief. Some people would envy Nick’s childhood, but she thought it was inadequate. She didn’t want Michael to grow up in any such manner.
“Face the facts, you’re limited in the life you can provide for Michael,” Nick stated. “You should give some thought to what you’re turning down here. My dad wants me to set up a meeting where he can talk to you about Michael. Just talk. You should be willing to do that, because there is nothing threatening in meeting. Far from it,” Nick added, self-assurance lacing his tone. He remained at ease, as if assured of the outcome of this conversation.
She bristled. “Your brother wanted nothing to do with his baby. Where was your father at that time?”
“I’ve told you, my father is a changed man.”
“This transformation is a little late and it’s difficult for me to believe he’s actually changed. Michael’s mother, Alicia Vaughan, was my best friend my entire life. Before she died, she told me about Bart. When she was pregnant, your brother was blunt and coldhearted with Alicia. The last time Alicia saw him, he called her foul names while insisting he wanted nothing to do with ‘her brat.’ He sent her on her way in tears in a rainstorm. That night was when she had the wreck that eventually ended her life. She almost lost Michael because of the wreck. After what occurred, I can’t see any reason to take Michael to your father.”
Nick leaned forward, placing his arms on his knees, his navy suit jacket falling open. A gold cuff link glinted in the light. He was close, distracting her with fleeting thoughts about how handsome he was. She found it difficult to get her breath, impossible to resist looking again at his mouth. What was the man like when he was not on a mission? She had seen glimpses of that last night.
“My father has aged a lot in the past year. He’s in failing health—I think he’s hanging on for Christmas and he wants to see his grandson. Can’t you at least meet with him? What harm could there be in that? You need to think about this, because you might be a lot better off and the baby certainly would. My father is enormously wealthy. Don’t cut Michael off from a better life.”
The words were persuasive, as well as the man. She felt a flutter of sympathy that vanished when she remembered Alicia sobbing in the hospital bed, hooked to tubes, hanging on to life. At the same time Michael, who was delivered a month early because of the car wreck, had been in neonatal intensive care. All caused in part because of how cold and harsh Bart Rafford had been to her friend.
“Michael was orphaned because of your brother. Alicia begged him to recognize his son. He could have said no without being hurtful about it. I see no point in taking Michael to visit your father. He’s had his chance to have the baby in his life. He could have come forward when Alicia was pregnant or right after that last time she saw Bart.”
Grace stood and Nick came to his feet immediately. She was aware of his height and that aura about him conveying his control. He stood close to her, and once again she was more conscious of Nick than anything else. His features were impassive and she had no idea whether he was irritated, disappointed or mapping his next move.
“Just because my brother was hurtful doesn't mean you should be. If you’re frightened about Michael, don’t be. My father can’t take him from you, because he’s not well enough to do so.”
“I think I’ve made my feelings clear,” she said, unable to get Alicia out of her mind or stop worrying that while Eli Rafford wasn’t well, he was a man who had enough power to achieve his goals.
“You can live with your conscience over your decision?”
“Better than I could if I agreed to take Alicia’s baby to see your father. Does he have any idea how cruel his son was to my friend? Or does he just want Michael in his life and he doesn’t care what happened to Alicia? Bart used her and then discarded her.”
“I think most women my brother ‘used’ were extremely willing as well as pleased at the time,” Nick remarked drily, stirring Grace’s indignation “Your friend wasn’t forced to have an affair with him.”
“She realized what a mistake she had made.” Grace stepped away from Nick to head toward the door. “I think we’ve finished our conversation.”
“Don’t be so quick to toss away Michael’s future. Suppose this catering business doesn’t last? Then what?” Nick asked, honing in on her deep fear. “You know how to reach me if you change your mind,” he said. As far as she could tell, he didn’t seem distressed, but she suspected he could easily hide his feelings.
“I can tell you now—I won’t change my mind.”
Nick gave her a cool, satisfied smile as if he expected her to capitulate to his wishes. “When you do rethink Michael’s future, just call.” Nick hesitated, his gaze undergoing a subtle change that warmed her. He gave her a glance that caused her heart to skip a beat.
“Too bad we didn’t meet under other circumstances,” he said in a deeper tone, this time setting her heart racing. As he left, closing the door, she let out her breath.
“But we didn’t,” she said to no one, surprised by his last remark which, for a brief moment, had taken her away from the problem. How much more difficult it was to deal with the situation when the messenger was a charismatic, sexy man like Nick.
She felt completely wrung-out, as if she had been sparring with a formidable foe. She didn’t imagine she had seen the last of the Raffords. Men with wealth such as theirs did not accept defeat easily.
Was she cutting Michael off from a myriad of marvelous opportunities that Eli Rafford could provide? That was exactly what had sent Alicia to see Bart. Would Alicia have jumped at this chance and think Grace was being a poor guardian? Grace simply feared the Rafford patriarch would take Michael from her, but she needed to give Nick’s request more consideration before she totally slammed the door on the Raffords. Eli Rafford could insure Michael’s future. After a few days, it still wouldn’t be too late to contact Nick and agree to his wishes.
The thought chilled her more.
She wanted no part of Eli Rafford and she couldn’t imagine that he merely intended to see Michael a few times. She suspected he wanted his small grandson. And he would want to give him the life he had given Nick—nannies, chauffeurs and boarding schools. As far as she was concerned, she could give Michael vastly more because he would have her loving care and attention.
She walked around her desk and looked up her attorney’s phone number, afraid she would need help to fight this battle. Frightened and concerned, she was certain it wasn’t over and that she had not seen the last of Nick.
Two
Nick drove his black sports car away from the strip mall where Grace rented space for her office. Relief dominated his feelings as he glanced at his watch. His lunch appointment with his closest friends would get his mind off this problem for the time being.
Jake and Tony were already waiting and soon Gabe Benton joined them. Over hamburgers, Nick realized the lunch was not pushing his problem out of mind.
“Nick, I don’t think you heard a word I said,” Jake stated.
