CHAPTER 35

"I'll get the phone," Christian called back at Nadine in the kitchen as he raced down the stairs towards the lounge.

She had definitely no idea who could be calling the inn, the phone ever barely rang. It was most likely a call for Christian.

"The call's for you Nadine," he shouted. She dropped the dough she was kneading and raced towards the lounge hoping it was one of two reasons; a new guest or another guest.

Silly me, she thought to herself.

Having a guest around finally made the old house useful and she felt fulfilled for the first time.

"Thanks," she smiled as she took the phone from Christian.

"Hello, Nadine here," she said breathlessly into the phone.

"Who the hell was that? And why are you both breathless?," a booming, angry voice thundered into her ear without a word of greeting.

Nicholas.

There was no mistaking his arrogant sexy voice. He had been calling her mobile incessantly all week but she had ignored his calls. She had no idea how he got the inn's number but couldn't bring herself to ask him. She couldn't grant him the satisfaction of knowing how the fact that he could dig up whatever he wanted about her got to her.

"None of your business," she replied calmly.

"It became my damn business the moment you had my child," he thundered back at her.

The arrogant son of a bitch!

"Who was that?," Nicholas asked again.

"A guest. Have you forgotten this is an inn?," she asked calmly.

"Oh," he said solemnly. "And you are on first name basis?"

"That, is none of your business," she replied tonelessly.

She had taken to Christian like a moth to flame and had given him leave to use her first name. Apart from being a looker, he was a shameless flirt.

He was a schoolteacher from New Jersey in Folks to take a break from the city life. He was also considering relocating. He had hounded her for details about her life, especially about Nichole after seeing her adorable pictures.

He had been a little dissapointed when she refused his advances but wasted no time finding someone willing in town. During his third night at the inn, she had heard him come in late at night, causing a ruckus that made her go down the stairs to check and had only been a little surprised when she saw him and the young librarian almost having sex in the lounge. She had woken up to see the clothes littering the room the next day and had made no mention of that night and the two nights like it after that.

"Nadine..."

"Why? You think I'm in desperate need for money and now bring them home? You don't need to worry about Nichole in that regard. I can assure you sex with you here was just a one time thing. I usually do it away from my curious daughter," she cut him off sharply.

"Your point was noted," he said calmly, lost for what to say.

"Good, not that it was any of your business what a man was doing in my house by the way. What do you want?," she asked crossly.

"I want you," he replied without a second in hesitation.

Nadine threw back her head and laughed bitterly.

"I think you've had enough of me than you could probably handle in a lifetime. I moved on to providing my 'services' where the money was forthcoming without any innuendoes."

"Nana...," he said calmly.

"Oh please, don't call me that," she said in frustration.

In the week since the truth about his leaving her became known to her, she had told herself never to forgive him for his sins.

"I'm sorry Nadine." The sincerity of his apology was lost on her.

"I accept your apology Nicholas." He couldn't even bring himself to apologize to her in person. She scoffed. Maybe because she avoided him all week.

"I know an apology doesn't begin to cover for all I've put you through but I.."

"I'm happy you know that. And you don't have any idea about what I went through," she cut in sharply, feeling her heart aching with all the pain she had to endure over the years.

"And I want you to talk to me about it. I need to know, I want to know everything that has happened from the moment I turned my back on you so I'll know how much sins I've to confess."

"It changes nothing," she said furiously.

"You should listen to all I've to say for a second. I need to see you."

"I don't care what you've to say and I've nothing to say to you."

"You love me Nadine," he bargained fast.

"I loved you and I was young and dumb when I did."

"That's not true."

"It is none of my business you are too self absorbed to see the truth."

The statement broke a part of him he didn't know still existed. She had 'loved' him. His insecurity had cost him the most precious thing he ever had; her unconditional love.

In the past week, she had done everything possible to thwart all his efforts to see her. She was never at the inn, store or restaurant. He had realized she was intentionally avoiding him like she had avoided his calls and voicemail.

He was getting really frustrated when he called Emma to get him the inn's number. It had been his last resort. Imagine the shock he got when a breathless man had answered the phone. His thoughts had gone into overdrive, thinking of all Nadine could be doing with a man in her house to make him so breathless.He trusted her but he didn't trust any man around her.

He missed her. He missed her eyes, her smile, her laugh, her worried look, her walk. He missed everything about her.

He was ready to move heaven and earth to have her love back. But he had no idea what he was supposed to do. He couldn't even bring himself to tell her how he felt about her.

He had never said the words to any woman; apart from his daughter. Never had the need to until her. His childhood and teen had been a messy time of his life and had greatly influenced his outlook on life. His parents' uncaring attitude had made him a closed off and cynical individual who wanted never to get himself involved in an emotional relationship to be disappointed ever again like his parents did to him.

He had grown up expecting no love from anyone, believing if anyone showed him any care, it was because of what they could get from him. That way, there had been no expectation and zero disappointment until he met Nadine.

He had expectations where she was concerned and when he thought she had been with him for the reasons everyone else ever did, he had been really disappointed.

She had changed all he believed. She had loved him as Maddy and George's grandson not Nicholas Cole of Coles constructions Ltd and one of the most eligible bachelor of New York. She had demanded absolutely nothing in return for his love, had never been clingy or demanding of information about him, always happy with whatever he was ready to give out.

But in return, he had allowed his cynicism, insecurity and endless assumption lead him on until he lost what he had with her.

And he wanted so desperately to make everything right. He wished he knew what to do apart from apologizing. He wished he could voice how he truly felt.It had been so easy saying it to Nichole.

"Nadine.."

"I've to go. I've got a lot of things to do."

"What do you want me to do? I'll do anything," he said in a rush before she decided to hang up.

There was silence on the other end of the line as Nadine contemplated what she really wanted from him.

She wanted his trust and all the love he could give her.

But she said nothing, knowing that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He was probably asking her what material thing she wanted from him. She definitely wanted none of those and she didn't hesitate telling him that.

"Nothing," she said definitely.

The single word stabbed at him. He was ready to give her everything but she wanted nothing from him. He deserved it.

"Goodbye Nicholas," she said and hung up.

He stared at the phone stupidly long after she hung up, thinking of the next thing he had to do.

Money wasn't going to help him in anyway where she was concerned and she was not buying his apology. His ways to win her back were dwindling to nothing. The only other thing he thought of doing was telling her how much he loved her but his mouth wasn't cooperating.

He thought of going on bended knees to beg her then remembered he hadn't been able to see her for a week. If he had to do that, he had to see her first and he was up for it.

If that didn't work, he was going to resort to blackmail; use their daughter to get to her. He knew that would be low of him but he didn't care. He hadn't come that far in life by being fair.

He realized he had been able to live seven years without her but a week without her had been hell. Whatever it took from him, he was going to win her back at all cost, his pride be damned.

But first, he needed allies on his side. He already has his daughter, he thought to himself smiling. Knowing for sure that Nichole has his back made a warm feeling spread through him. They had been spending a lot of time together in the past week. The kid was as curious about every detail of his life as he was of hers. She asked him thousands of questions about the life he led in the city and what it was like to live there. He couldn't wait to show her the life outside of Folks.

He needed Sheila on his side, but that in itself was going to pose a challenge. She hadn't warmed towards him a teeny little bit. He was going to rectify that as soon as possible.