“Can I at least walk you outside?” he asked, half-offended at her determination to remain apart from him.
“I’d like that,” she cooed.
Nick stood, reached for her hand and looked at the bartender. “Pete, if you see Dean, let him know I’ll be right back.”
“Will do.” Pete didn’t miss a beat as he continued mixing drinks.
Holding onto Ginny’s hand, Nick led her through the bar toward the exit. “I wonder where Dean went?”
“Knowing Dean, you might find him in the parking lot with some girl.” She giggled, an odd response from Ginny when the subject of Dean Triplett came up. Dean was Nick’s best friend and the director of the Kevin Matthews Community Center, a local hangout for kids, for which Hang Ten was a key benefactor. Ginny could stomach Dean as Nick’s best friend, but Nick’s affiliation with the community center, not so much.
About six months ago, Ginny had suggested that Hang Ten break its affiliation with the community center, that there were better things they could be doing with five thousand dollars a month. But Nick had been adamant about his support of the community center that bore his brother’s name. Without Hang Ten, the center would likely close within a few months. Nick couldn’t let that happen.
Outside, Nick leaned in to kiss Ginny, but she turned her head, presenting her cheek. Confusion muddled his head, but he kissed the spot she offered. Ginny had been doing some odd things lately, like kicking him out of the house because she wanted them to have a traditional wedding night. This shouldn’t surprise him. But the thing was, there was nothing traditional about cutting out the sex a week before the wedding.
“You sure everything’s okay?” He studied her face, as if it’d provide some kind of clue. It didn’t.
“Perfect.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” Suddenly, he wanted to hear her confirm it.
“Be on time,” she said, and got in her car.
Nick lingered outside long enough to watch her leave, then he went back inside to find Dean. He’d been awfully quiet the past couple of days. Nick wanted to know why.
A quick check back in the bar, but no sign of Dean. Nick did notice and nodded at the cute little blonde and her measurably less attractive friend as his gaze rolled past their table. They’d been coming in a lot during the last couple of weeks, and he’d figured them for new to town or on vacation. The blonde was definitely Nick’s type, even more so than his fiancée, which still boggled his mind. Girls with dark hair rarely caught his eye. But Ginny had, and now he was one-hundred percent committed to her. That didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate an attractive woman though, and this one was.
Next stop in his search for his missing best friend, Nick sought out Keri, one of Hang Ten’s hostesses. He found her in the outdoor patio dining area, and asked, “You seen Dean around?”
“I think I saw him go into your office.” She pointed back toward the interior of the building, then took off.
His office. That’s the one place Nick hadn’t looked, although he should have. Dean was prone to using his office to make phone calls. And that was okay with Nick. The restaurant and bar were usually too noisy.
Nick found Dean inside his office, sitting behind the desk with his cell phone pressed to his ear. Nick dropped to the couch against the wall to the left of the door and waited for Dean to finish his call.
Dean looked at Nick, nodded, then said into his cell phone. “Yeah, okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He waited a few seconds, listening, before disconnecting the call. Dean looked at Nick, saying in a half-hearted tone, “This economy is killing us.” He deposited his cell phone into his jacket pocket and shook his head. “Man, if not for you and Hang Ten, I don’t know what the community center would do.”
“I’m just glad I can help. The kids need somewhere safe, recreational, and creative to hang out after school and on weekends.” Nick leaned forward, clasping his hands between his legs. “As long as Hang Ten is profitable, we will help.”
“I really do appreciate that.” Dean lowered his head.
“What is it?”
Dean lifted his gaze but kept his head low. “Well you know, I don’t like to play that card. Especially with you.”
“Dean…” Nick shook his head. “You know I’ll help the center any way I can. I’ve already given you eleven grand this month.” Six thousand more than Hang Ten’s monthly donation to keep the center up and running.
“Well that’s just it.” Dean had a subtle, uneasy inflection in his voice. “Ginny never gave me the second check for the six thou for the new computers.”
What? Nick had specifically asked her to do that a week ago. And she’d bitched about it for two days.
Nick went to his desk and pulled a checkbook from the middle drawer. “I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.” He reached for a pen and began scribbling out the details on the check. “She’s been busy. Maybe she couriered it over and it got lost in the shuffle or something. Anyway…” He handed Dean the check. “Here you go, bud. I’ll ask her about it tomorrow.”
CHAPTER TWO
BACK AT LECIE’S PLACE, a Spanish-styled Hacienda overlooking the Pacific, the time was nearing midnight. Lecie and Deidra had headed home after Nick disappeared and Lecie succumbed to the doldrums over his impending marriage tomorrow.
She didn’t know why it was affecting her so profoundly. It wasn’t like she and Nick had ever been close. Hell, they weren’t even friends. She barely knew him. But since when had that ever mattered when it came to attraction?
She dropped down onto the plush tan couch, her purse resting at her side, and propped her feet up on the maple coffee table. Staring at the massive stone fireplace in front of her, she wished it was cool enough to light a fire. At least that’d give her something to concentrate on. As it was, her mind was idle enough to dwell on Nick Matthews and his impending, scratch that, inevitable marriage to his supermodel-gorgeous fiancée, Ginny something-or-other. Tomorrow.
Deidra switched on the overhead light. An array of tiny light bulbs in the chandelier above Lecie illumined the room with entirely too much light.
Lecie groaned and shielded her eyes. The lights went out. Deidra shuffled to the other side of the room and switched on the small table lamps sitting on the table against the wall behind Lecie. A soft glow illuminated the room. Much better.