Redemption (The Bet) (14 page)

He sighed, suddenly very eager to leave. Aiming to do just that he turned and caught two curious faces peering at him, they ducked behind the hedge before he could say anything.

With a grin, he turned to leave but stopped at the pitiful yelp he heard moments later.

He found the two children who’d been spying on him on the floor, the boy looked at him with anxious eyes. “What happened?”

“I think she sprained her ankle.”

Finding himself on his knees, Nicholas
reached for the girl’s foot, but she whimpered and pulled away. “Can I take a look?”

Raising black as nig
ht eyes from her bruised ankle she met his gaze and they both gasped.

"You're…
"

"Nicholas." His name came out as nothing more than a whisper, but it felt like a claxon blaring in his ears and Nicholas staggered backwards, landing on his as
s.

He gaped, in utter shock at the sight of the little girl who wasn’t so little anymore from memories never forgotten.
She looked the same and yet so much older. The eyes were still the same obsidian hue, but instead of shining with the exuberance of childish mirth, Nicholas saw the webs of adolescence lying in wait for puberty to strike.

"Oh my God! You're here!" shocked into silence, Nicholas
couldn’t say much when he found his arms full of a sobbing preteen. She clung to him like a life line, an overwhelming amount of emotions pouring out of her. “Please don’t let this be a dream.” She uttered against his shirt. “Please don’t leave.”

Incapable of doing anything else, Nicholas’s features gentled as he gathered her in his arms and returned her embrace just as fiercely.

As if the years hadn't created a chasm between them, time reversed and Nicholas was eighteen again. In the living room of that quaint two-family home he remembered meeting this little girl. Nicholas remembered the connection they had made the very first time he'd picked her up and Sophie had offered him her bottle. He remembered moments when they'd all been together and the mere thought of seeing Ellie and Sophie's smile had been the only thing that kept him going. Nicholas remembered it all and damn if the memories didn't threaten to unravel him just then.

“I'm not going anywhere, Kiddo.”
He reassured, pulling her back into an embrace that was a comfort to her as well as himself.

Roan watched the scene unfold with puzzled frown, unsure of what to make of it. “Sophie…?” he didn’t know this man, but it seemed Sophie did and was incredibly happy to see him. But with that knowledge he also knew that he needed to get her inside so they could look at her ankle. “Sophie we need to go.” Sophie reluctantly pulled away, but fear that
Nicholas would leave kept her at his side. When he asked whether she could walk, she shook her head and smiled when he scooped her off her feet. Roan followed at a more sedate pace.

With her gaze boring
into him Nicholas looked down with a smile.

“What?”

She shook her head with an answering smile. “I can’t believe you’re here.” She murmured. “I wished for you.”

“Sophie, what are you doing here?”
He asked suddenly, wondering why Ellie’s daughter was at this engagement party.

“My mom is…
”

“Sophie…
”Just before they cleared the threshold of the front entrance they all turned at the call of Sophie’s name.

Eyeing the handsome dark haired
man holding her granddaughter, Dina thought he looked familiar, but couldn’t place him. But then he flashed Sophie a smile that was all too reminiscent of her Grandson’s and Dina knew. She chocked on a gasp as her mind worked to refute what she already knew to be the truth.

There was no denying it
when the evidence stood before her looking dapper in his tailored suit. She realized that this was how Dylan would look when he got older. The resemblance between father and son was that uncanny.

On numerous occasions, Dina had inquired of the children's paternity, but Ellie had refused to talk about him. No one asked about it, no one talked about it and eventually everyone just forgot. But not anymore, Dina wouldn't have to wonder anymore, because standin
g only a few feet away from her was the answer to all her unanswered questions.

Finally noticing that he held her granddaughter in his arms, Dina’s cry of alarm had her by his side. “What happened?”

“She sprained her ankle.” Nicholas informed. “We need to get it looked at. Is her mother around by any chance?”

“Uh---yes, but she’s a little preoccupied at the moment. Let
’s take Sophie upstairs and I’ll get her looked at.”

“Lead the way.”

Was she a betting woman, Dina would’ve put very good money on the chance that her daughter had no idea the father of her children was present.

The children. Dina wondered if he knew about t
hem...had her daughter told him? Was her Ellie capable of keeping such a secret for so long? Did this man even realize where he was? What this occasion happened to be?

"Mr. Grayson, finally I've found you." Devlin rounded on them. He was like one big ominous cloud hanging over them. A cloud with a charming personality that could do no wrong, a cloud who doted on her lovely child as if she were some reincarnated deity sent here on earth for his worshipping pleasure. Ellie and Devlin loved each other and soon their marriage would cement that fact, Dina just
prayed they made it to the altar without any interference.

"Sophie
, are you alright?" genuine concern flashed across Devlin's face as approached Nicholas.

"I think I sprained my ankle
."

“Alright, let’s get you upstairs and take a better look.” He turned to Roan. “See if you can scrounge up some ice.”

“Yes, Dad.” He was gone in a flash.

With Devlin leading the pack, they headed upstairs. Roan returned with the ice a few minutes later and once they’d assured themselves that she would be all right, Dina stayed behind while Nicholas and Devlin headed back downstairs.

“I take it you know who that man is?” Dina inquired of her eldest grandchild while applying the ice packed towel to her ankle.

Sophie nodded solemnly. “Yeah.”

Dina sighed. “He’s going to be trouble.”

~*
~*~*~

So
the four horsemen weren't galloping at her side, inauspiciously awaiting her demise. Ellie had to admit she did carry with her the nagging propensity to exaggerate things. But to be fair, it only happened when it came to things she had no control over, like this party for one. Despite how it began, she was having a great time. The guests were a bit much to handle but Ellie handled them just fine. She found herself laughing and genuinely enjoying the company around her.

One person in particular she found absolutely charming went by the name of Theodore Yates. He was around Ellie's age, had a love for
animals and he was quite handsome underneath the mop of shaggy chestnut hair. In a way, he reminded Ellie of Maddie, with his easy smiles and open friendliness. The gears in Ellie's head began to spin. He’d be perfect for Maddie. Sure, the red haired woman was overseas right now, going crazy over some newly discovered fossils and couldn't be bothered to leave her site. But Ellie figured that was why they invented cell phones. She would give Maddie's number to Theodore, Theodore would call and voila! Match made in Ellie heaven. They were perfect for each other and it was about time Maddie found someone to settle down with.

Six years ag
o, they'd reacquainted, settled past feuds and agreed to always be mindful of the other. Friends had to trust each other, no matter how jealous, angry or upset they got, and if the situation ever proved to be particularly disastrous, talking was always the best way to go. They'd been children, they'd made mistakes and as adults they'd been big enough to realize it, and so Ellie and Maddie forgave and moved on, never once looking back. That had been years ago and though Maddie spent the majority of her time out of the country, they always kept in contact. Maddie hadn't been able to make it to the engagement party, but she had promised to come back for the week long wedding celebration they were having on Ellie's behalf.

"So, Theodore, are you seeing anyone?" He'd be a perfect wedding date for
Maddie.

Taking a sip of his drink to hide his blush, Theodore responded with. "I d
on't think you're my type."

Ellie had to stop herself
from coughing out her laughter. "As smooth as you may be Casanova, I wasn't asking for myself. I have a friend---"

"Hello soon to be wife.
" Devlin greeted, wrapping an arm around Ellie’s waist. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" With a passing guest stealing Theodore away, Ellie didn't feel terribly guilty when she favored Devlin with her attention.

“It bears repeating, soon to be husband.”

"Well then, you are by far the most amazingly beautiful woman I have ever seen.”

“And you are a bad liar
.” She said with a smile, stepping into his arms and winding her arms around his neck. “But I love you for being so sweet.” He made her feel cherished, especially tonight when his attention had been solely on her, never leaving her side unless necessary. He’d been the perfect gentlemen, the adoring, attentive fiancé, introducing her to family, friends and co-workers alike as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him.

He was unabashed in his love for her, showing all in attendance how much he adored her and continued to do so now as he lowered his head and kissed her, his full mouth upon hers, a sweet seduction that had Ellie’s body responding instantly.

Stopping before they got carried away, Ellie pulled back with a smile, swiping her lipstick from his mouth. “This is a great shade on you.” He laughed and leaned forward to kiss her again when the clearing of someone’s throat put an instant halt to his action.

Ellie’s heart stopped, quite literally ceased to beat in her chest. Breath squeezed painfully in her stilled lungs as her stomach muscles contracted with dread
at the sight of him.

Oh hell. Her eyes closed, feeling faint, she held onto Devlin for dear life, refusing to contemplate letting go. Fate was cruel.

Anger, guilt, anxiety and the briefest wave of happiness snowballed into one large unrecognizable mess that left Ellie feeling like she would retch.

There was so much she wanted to say, but in that singular moment, Ellie lost her ability to speak.
She wanted this to be a nightmare, a terrible nightmare from which she would soon wake from. Ellie wanted a lot of things in that moment, but most of all, she just wanted Nicholas Grayson to disappear.

Freeing himself from Ellie's vis
e-like grip, Devlin gave her a curious stare, before wrapping an arm around her waist. "Are you alright?"

No
, she damn well was not alright.

"Yes." It was whisper soft, but it seemed Devlin heard it. He smiled down at her, kissed her head before moving forward to make introduction, unaware that Ellie and Nicholas knew each other far more intimately than names went.

"Nicholas Grayson, please allow me to introduce you to my future wife, Eleanor Holbrook. Ellie this is Nicholas Grayson, the investor I was telling you about." Devlin nudged her forward to accept Nicholas's outstretched hand.

Ellie did not move to take it. Nicholas however
didn’t miss a beat as he reached for her hand. His touch was electricity that sent a jolt through Ellie’s core. She wanted to withdraw her hand, but he held it firm. The impression of his lips as he whispered an intimate kiss along her knuckles, just below her engagement ring, sent her heart thundering.

"
It is an honor, Eleanor, to finally meet you." When he looked at her with those piercing silver eyes, Ellie didn’t miss the challenge in that gaze that dared her to make a scene.

Fire pooled at
the base of Ellie's abdomen but she aspired for decorum when she maneuvered her hand out of his unyielding grip. "Likewise, Mr. Grayson." She coolly replied, before disregarding him completely. “I’m going to find my mother, Dev, I’ll see you in a bit…”

"Actually, Westport, I was wondering if it would be too forward of me to request a dance with your fiancée?"

"No."

"Of course." Devlin sa
id breezily, his smile wide for the 
venerable
 Mr. Grayson. "Ellie would be honored, wouldn't you, Ellie?"

"Dev…
"

"Please,
Ellie." He murmured against her cheek.

“Dev, there’s something…
”

“
Just one dance, baby. I really need you to do this for me.”

With a resolute sigh, Ellie nodded. “Ok.”

He kissed her and with a grin he handed her off to Nicholas. Ignorant of what he'd just done. "I'll be back soon. Take good care of her, Grayson."

"You have my promise on that." With a last lingering kiss, De
vlin left Ellie with the Devil.