Sweet Nothings (37 page)

“Christ. Guess she handled herself just fine, then.”

“Guess so. Lee Ann said she was a mess. Said she’d never seen her that riled up.”

“I haven’t either. Honestly, I didn’t know what type of reaction she’d have to seeing her mother again. She was pretty ticked when I left, but the woman was being a hag. I was worried, though, that Joanie would calm down and end up letting Grace walk all over her.”

“Apparently not.” Cody motioned to the phone Nick had in his hand again. “She hasn’t called you, then?”

“No. But she sleeps late.”

“Her store opens at ten.”

Nick was very well aware of that. Fifteen minutes before the store opened. He couldn’t imagine she wasn’t up and about. “Lee Ann say anything else?”

“That Grace intends to take the house.”

“What?” Nick would have come off his seat if he wasn’t strapped in. “She’s been gone for twenty years. What right does she think she has?”

“She’s the daughter. Next of kin.” Cody caught his eye. “There was apparently no will.”

“
Shit
.”

“Yeah,” Cody agreed.

“She planning to move back to town, then?”

“No. She wants it sold. She just wants the proceeds.”

Nick’s teeth hurt where he was grinding them together so hard. “Likely has no plans to pay off the bank loan either, huh?”

“If I were to guess…” Cody let the sentence linger. They both knew the answer. The woman would take all the proceeds and walk.

Most likely, though, the house would have been put as collateral for the bank loan. That would slow things down, hopefully not leave Joanie in the lurch if they couldn’t keep the house from going to Grace outright. He’d call his lawyer and see what he could do concerning getting Joanie some help. She may have booted him out of her house last night, but that didn’t mean he would turn away from her now.

His cell rang and he had it off his belt in record time.

“Joanie?” He sounded too anxious.

There was a slight pause before she said, “Good morning, Nick.”

“Why didn’t you call last night?”

“I uh, went to bed, instead. She didn’t come to the house, did she?”

“No,” he said. “And if she shows up, I’ll kick her out.”

“It’s her house, Nick. I’m not sure you can do that.”

“It isn’t her house until a judge rules it is. I’m calling my lawyer Monda—”

“Don’t,” she interrupted. “I can take care of it myself. Don’t call anybody. I have a lawyer I’ll use.”

“My guy’s good. We’ll get it tied up so she can’t just walk.”

“Don’t, Nick. I don’t want you to.”

Her tone had a strange finality to it that he didn’t like. What had been said in that house after he’d left? “Don’t want me to what, exactly? Are we only talking about calling the lawyer?”

There was silence and he could picture her on the other end, blinking as she tried to figure out how to let him down. Something her mother had said must have scared her, convinced her to back off. She was retreating behind the damn curse.

And she was about to dump him over the phone!

“Are you kidding me, Jo?” he asked, not waiting to hear what she had to say.

“I just think…” she started. He heard a little sigh and then she finished with, “Everything has moved so fast. Maybe we just need to slow down a bit.”

“No,” he said. “Slowing down is not what we need to be doing. Cody and I are in Atlanta already, but I’ll be home tonight, tomorrow at the latest. I’ll come over when I’m back and we’ll talk.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I just need some time to think. You’re heading back to Nashville soon.”

“What you need is to get that woman out of your head. I’ll come over.”

“No.” The word was not spoken hesitantly. “Don’t. You’re a good guy and all, but I—”

“Don’t you fucking tell me I’m a good guy, but not the kind of guy you want. Don’t
even
say it.”

“That’s not—”

“Save it,” he snapped. “I don’t want to hear your crap. Just like you didn’t want to hear that I love you.” He was yelling now. “Well, guess what, sweetheart? That’s too damned bad. I do love you. Deal with it.”

He hung up the phone and threw it in the floor before he could say any fool thing else to her. Sheesh, how big a mess could he make of things? He rubbed his temples with one hand. Joanie was going through a crisis, for crying out loud. And he had to go and push. Of course she would push back.

The vehicle turned off Peachtree and Cody lifted a brow. “That seemed to go well.”

“I’m a blooming idiot.”

“It wasn’t me who said it.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

They drove in silence, Nick thinking about how he should have stuck to their original plan. Sex only. No emotions. Hell, he should have just screwed Gina when he’d had the chance, and never gotten involved with Joanie.

He dragged his hand through his hair, knowing that for the lie it was. He no more could have gone to bed with Gina than he could have not fallen in love with Joanie.

“What is it with women, anyway?” he asked. “Do they learn at an early age how to screw with a guy? Is there a class taught on it? Or are they just born that way?”

Cody laughed. “One often wonders what the reward is for putting up with them.”

Nick eyed his brother. “So you’re not sure about Lee Ann, then?”

“Oh, hell. I’m positive about Lee Ann. My life would be shit without her. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t drive me insane most of the time.”

“Yet it’s worth it in the end?”

A wicked look covered his brother’s face. “Oh, yeah.” He pulled into a parking lot and shot Nick a lecherous grin. “Think about the best time you’ve had with Joanie, then compare that to every other woman you’ve ever met. Which do you want again?”

There was no question. Both in bed and out.

“How do I make it happen?” Nick asked.

“First, you don’t go off half-cocked when the girl is working through some heavy stuff.”

“I probably need to call her back and apologize.”

“No,” Cody stated. “Let her be, man. Whatever you say right now doesn’t matter. She’s messed up. She’s scared. And she’s seeing herself in everything her mother has done. She’s trying to figure out if she can trust who she is, as well as you. Hopefully she’ll see what she has and make a commitment for once.”

“To me?”

“To you. Her store.” He turned off the truck and pulled out his keys. “She’s run scared her whole life. Pushing isn’t what she needs right now.”

Nick sat there silent. He knew that, he just couldn’t seem to help himself. He could make her see that what they had was real.

“It’s not what you need, either,” Cody added.

Nick looked at him.

“You want it to be good, right?”

Nick nodded. “Of course.”

“Then you need her full commitment. Not just because you’re pushing so hard she has no time to think about it.”

What his brother said made sense, though Nick found the idea hard to put into action.

“You and I worked because when you barged into my life, I’d just figured out I was looking for the same thing. She’s different. She’s not there yet. Give her time or you’ll lose her for good.”

This was a part of brotherhood he’d always wanted but had never expected to get. He nodded, knowing Cody was right. Joanie was on the cusp of walking and there wasn’t a thing he could do to alter her decision. She had to work through what she wanted, and hopefully come to him at the end. He had to let her go to see what happened.

“Love is shit,” he muttered.

Cody laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “That it is, man. That it is.”

They stepped from the truck and Nick eyed the high-rise across the street, taking in the many floors. They hadn’t attempted to contact him before coming down, deciding instead to approach him cold to get a
more honest reaction. It was how Nick had met Cody, and that had turned out okay.

“Looks like our brother is some sort of big shot.” Nick spoke first.

Cody stood beside him. “I’m beginning to think we should have called. What are the chances he’ll actually be here?”

“What are the chances we’ll be able to get through security, much less up to his condo?”

They hurried across the busy side street and made their way to the building. The first entrance merely dumped them into a wide, circular driveway with a gazing pool and fountain in the center. Valets waited by the doors. It was a different world than Nick was used to.

Nick nodded at the attendant as the man whisked open the wood-framed door for them, and they entered the lobby. What they found inside confirmed what had only been hinted at from the street. Their brother was loaded.

Elegant, rich leather seats and bronzed side tables dotted the marble-floored lobby. Heavy molding covered the walls, framing muted light fixtures and abstract art. It was ten on a Saturday morning and people were coming and going, but everyone remained silent or spoke in hushed tones, the elegance of the space overshadowing everything else.

Nick and Cody headed to a curved desk where a concierge waited to help, and Nick whistled under his breath. “Never wanted to live in a condo like this but I’ve got to admit, it’s impressive.”

The investigator had revealed their brother’s name to be Zachary Winston, adopted by Janet and Randolph Winston. The couple had been nearing forty, childless, and had paid a hefty sum to be parents. Late father a doctor, mother still alive. The mother lived in a suburb outside Atlanta where Zack paid her bills and provided for every imaginable need.

Zack had grown up to be a fast-talking, big-client, climbing-the-ladder defense attorney for one of Atlanta’s largest firms. He seemed as far removed from Nick and Cody as Nick could imagine.

“May I help you, sir?”

Nick hung back, contemplating the differences in all their lives as Cody took the lead. One adopted by a well-to-do family, another
bounced around from foster family to foster family, and the third growing up in a bug-laden apartment with a drunk for a mother.

Yet in the end, all of them—seemingly—had turned out okay. Funny how that worked.

Cody turned to Nick, a humorous look in his eyes. “He says Mr. Winston doesn’t like being disturbed before two on Saturdays. For any reason.”

Nick peered around his brother to take in the slight man behind the desk. He wasn’t the type Nick would want guarding him or his property, but he imagined the cameras dotting the lobby hid much larger guys who could easily stop two crazed men making a run for the elevators. Nick stepped beside Cody. “Two, huh? Must have a heck of a Friday night regimen.”

The man touched the brim of his hat. “He does, sir.”

“Hmmm.” Well hell, what did they do now? Nick took in the man’s name tag. “Frank?” he said.

“Sir?”

“We have a little problem here. You see, we drove in from out of town, and it’s very important that we see him.”

Frank nodded as if understanding.

“We’re his brothers.” Cody added. “Brothers he doesn’t know about.”

“Wouldn’t you think if Mr. Winston knew he had two long-lost brothers stop by, he’d be a bit upset you hadn’t woken him?” Nick finished.

The nodding stopped as a puzzled expression covered the man’s face. “He and his date were out very late last night, sir.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I was told they didn’t make it in until daylight.”

Nick glanced at Cody. “Going to bed about the time we left? Definitely a different lifestyle.”

“If he has a woman up there, they probably didn’t get right to sleep.” Cody grinned at both Nick and Frank. “If we’re lucky, he hasn’t even been to bed. Call him up, won’t you, Frank? See if he’s got a few minutes.”

“Oh no.” A firm shake of Frank’s head followed up his words. “I value my job, sir.”

Nick sighed and held up his cell phone. “Fine. We have his number. We’ll call.”

The man’s eyes bulged. “You have his number? It’s private.”

“Yep.” Nick was finished playing by the rules. They hadn’t driven this far to be turned away at the door. He pulled up the number the detective had given them and placed the call. It went immediately to voice mail. Nick hung up. “Voice mail.”

Frank shrugged as if he’d known that would be the case. Before any of them had time to speak again, a woman’s voice yelled from near the elevators, shattering the peaceful morning. “Frank! Get me a cab!”

Frank hurried toward the woman. She wore an expensive cream-colored turtleneck and matching pants. Her jewelry was chunky but pricey, and her boots reminded Nick of something Joanie might wear. Sky-high heels. He tilted his head and took in her legs. Nice, but no match for Joanie.

“Frank!”

“Right here, ma’am.” Frank reached her and relieved her of a heavy-looking bag. Nick didn’t know if it was a purse or luggage, but it didn’t seem to matter. “I have your cab waiting, ma’am.”

“What do you mean ‘waiting’? You didn’t know I was leaving so soon.” Her voice was half-slurred, and half an octave only dogs should hear. “Are you trying to imply something, Frank? I can have your job, you know?”

“No, ma’am.” Frank hurried her toward the doors, seeming frantic to get her out of the building. “Not implying anything. We routinely have cabs waiting around the clock.”

“
Hmph
.” She calmed enough to shut up, but as she reached the door, she lasered her gaze on Nick and Cody. Her eyes widened a fraction and then narrowed to beady, black orbs. “Assholes!”

She marched outside and let Frank put her in a cab. When he returned, the man’s shoulders slumped in exhaustion. He didn’t immediately make eye contact.

“Should we know her, or does she call everyone that?” Cody asked.

Frank gave them a genuine smile. “You two look a lot like your brother.”

“Ah, the infamous girlfriend.”

Frank looked embarrassed, but nodded in acknowledgment. “I don’t know how he puts up with her.”

“Let me ask you something, Frank.” Nick leaned on the granite slab of the high desk. “Do you keep cabs here around the clock?”

Frank’s cheeks pinkened. “No, sir. Call for one about four hours after Ms. Claudia comes in.”

“Does she come in often?”

“Often enough.”

“Hmmm…” Nick considered their options. They could continue pushing the concierge—Nick was certain between the two of them they would get the man to help—or they could come back later. Given the fact Zack dated someone like
Ms. Claudia
, and fairly certain he hadn’t had any sleep, Nick made a decision. He looked at Cody. “How about we check out the sights and come back around two?”