Chapter 96 Chapter~96~Stealing away the night.
Chapter 96 Chapter~96~Stealing away the night.
Harley~
Nick's argon oil scent calms me as I breathe him in. "What do you think about us going away for the weekend? We could relax, unwind, and regroup before court on Monday."
My throat seized in protest as I tried swallowing down the sharp taste of bile. I'm not ready to face Ben. "You and I alone in the woods could get us into trouble."
"I'm hoping so," he growls as he squeezes my waist.
He always knows how to hook me. "Did you have something in mind?"
"Un-hun, there's a lake a couple of hours from here that our parents took us to every year. It's very private, and we have a cabin right on the lakefront. It isn't magical, but we could make our own."
"We sure can, Wolfman."
"Great," he pulls back and kisses my forehead. "If we leave soon, we can see the sunset over the lake."
I'm ushered out the back door, where Becky, Kyle, and Kylie enjoy the salty breeze on the lanai. The concrete and chairs are now in the shade of the house, as the sun has passed overhead. He sets me on the other sun lounger, gives me a quick kiss, and he and Kyle are off.
Kylie rests between her mama's legs, her little arms and legs still showing some remnants of sunscreen. She's a sleepy, coconut-smelling bean. Becky strokes her hair and smiles at me, "What's going on?"
"Nick and I are going away for the weekend, and they have to unpack the car so I can pack it up again."
My friend Becky has a shift in her frequency today; her energy feels brighter, and her eyes are shining. I'd been in such a rush I hadn't noticed, but she's got a secret. "So, what's new with you?"
"Oh, not much, same old."
"Becky," I roll my eyes dramatically, "try that on someone else. You're glowing, my friend, spill!"
That does it; her face lights up, "Kyle and I are trying for another pup."
"Oh, Becky, I'm so happy for you," Kylie becomes sandwiched as I go in for a hug. "It's all coming together, isn't it?"
Becky's eyes are swimming, reflecting the sunlight as I pull back. Seeing her chin tremble strikes a chord in me, forcing my own tears to spill, which immediately dissolves us into high-pitched giggles.
Nick and Kyle return to find a pair of hysterical, wet-faced creatures wiping their cheeks. Wisely, they say nothing; instead, Nick pulls me to my feet, and we leave the lovers, retreating to our own room.
"Make sure that little red number comes with us," Nick says, giving me a cocky grin and a nod toward my open bag on the bed.
It's a quick pack for me: a couple of comfortable dresses, the nightie, and, of course, Nick's t-shirt for sleeping, and I'm done. Nick grabs our toiletries and puts them on top of his already packed bag.
Then he picks up both bags, and we head for the door. We passed Kyle carrying a sleeping Kylie through the house on our way out. He paused, "Let us know when you're there. Sofie packed the cooler in the kitchen."
The smell of the enclosed garage on the other side of the door hits our noses. A combo of gas, oil, and exhaust fumes has Rae growling and my stomach churning. Once we're inside and the engine is pumping the air, I let go of the breath I was holding.
According to the GPS address Nick entered, we're going to White Lake, and it's an hour and 35 minutes. Well, might as well get comfortable.
Nick takes my hand and puts it in its place beneath his before he puts the car in reverse and gives me a grin as he drops his shades over his eyes and focuses on the backup camera. The seat goes back, and I put my feet on the dash, which reminds me I need a pedi! Oh well, the chipped acrylic polish and dried skin on my heels would have to wait a little longer.
Two lefts and a right take us to I-15. We hit the exit and haul ass northeast toward Primm. The interstate isn't wall-to-wall cars; Nick flies by the slower traffic as soon as we get out of the city limits. He knows me too well; he opens the moon roof and drops the front windows.
"Thank you, Wolfman," I put my arm out the window and let my hand ride the breeze.
"Anytime, little mama, relax," I lay my head back on the rest as he makes circles with his thumb.
We stop after about an hour or so to use the bathroom. The air is thick with the smell of the creosote bush that grows along the border as we enter the gas station. That and the notes of baked dust on the wind confirm we are close to the desert.
Etta isn't a fan of the new aroma, so when we get back to the SUV, the windows stay up, and the AC comes on. Nick gets me a bottle of water from the cooler in the back seat and opens it.
"Thank you," I take a few big gulps as we get back on the interstate. "How long has it been since you've been to the lake?"
"10 years, maybe a little longer."
"How do you know that your parents still have the lake house?"
"Because Ruby loves the lake and Titus loves Ruby."
"You make it sound like he adores her."
"That's a suitable description; they've always been inseparable."
Now he's got me thinking. I'd just assumed Nick had left his family because his childhood home had been an unpeaceful place. How could it have been with parents who loved and doted on one another?
"So then you had a happy home as a child?"
"Yeah, I'd say so, except for when I disturbed it." he paused and looked over at me. "Say what you need to say, Harley."
"Why did you leave your Pack, Nick?"
Nick's eyes focused straight ahead on the strip of asphalt again. His jaw tightened until his ear muscle ticked. "Me," he clipped the word out coldly. "My selfishness. My parents did their best to help me and even begged me to stay after everything I'd done."
The only sound now is the hum of the tires against the pavement. It's deafening as the air in the cabin grows thick; I regretted asking. A ridiculous, irrational fear began to prick at my skin as Nick exited on I-495 toward White Lake, Nevada.
'Calm down, Harley. You don't really believe he would hurt us.'
'Of course not, Rae, but you must admit you're curious too.'
'Yes, I am, but Nick was a kid and an Alpha male at that. It's only natural for him to have been rambunctious and wild.'
'Really, Rae, boys will be boys? It's more than that. Nick wouldn't still be beating himself up over practical jokes and disobedience.'
We stop in front of a massive gate with the initials WL stamped into the metal on each side. Nick releases my hand and goes into his back pocket for his wallet. He scans a badge over the pad, and the gates slide open with an eerie screech.
To get a better look at the lake as we passed by, I rolled the window down. Many piers and cabins illuminate the distant water's edge, bordered by a dense, dark forest. It's secluded, alright!
Our destination is 606 Pine Street. The 'cabin' looks more like a villa. A wrap-around porch and arched brick support pillars make a bold statement. Nick pulls a loose brick from the pillar to the right, and a key falls out.