Chapter 7

"Good morning," Caroline piped up cheerily as Nick trudged into the kitchen.

"I guess," he replied and yawned as he took a seat at the table.

"Are you feeling better now?"

"A little," he looked at his watch and took a look around the kitchen.

Caroline watched him out of the corner of her eye as he kept glancing from his watch to the kitchen doorway over and over.  She smiled knowingly.  "She's gone."

"What?!" he exclaimed and then quietly regained his composure, "I mean...she...she just left?"

"Well, the storm's let up.  There was no real reason for her to stay."

"Oh."

Caroline nearly burst out laughing at his attempt to hide the disappointment on his face.  "But since I offered her a free place to stay for a few months, she couldn't resist."

Nick stared at her in confusion.  "Huh?"

"She just went down to Mr. McAllister's to let her sister know where she is and that she's fine."

He cleared his throat.  "Oh...well...that's good.  Good for her."

"And for you too."

His eyes narrowed.  "I never said that."

"Caroline's blue eyes twinkled with perception.  "You didn't have to dear."  She sighed happily.  "Rina's a lovely girl."

"If you like her type."

She set his breakfast in front of him and sat down.  "Nickolas, I really think she could be a very important part of your life."

He scoffed.  "What life Caroline?"

"The one that God was gracious enough to give you."

"Are you kidding me?!  If this is the life that 'God' wants for me, he can 'graciously' take it back and shove it up--"

"NICKOLAS GENE CARTER!!  Don't you make me wash your mouth out with soap!  And don't look at me like that either!  You know I'll do it!"

Nick relented and began to pick at his food.  "I'm sorry," he muttered.

"It's not me you should be apologizing to."

He groaned.  "Caroline, please!"

She rolled her eyes.  "All right, all right!"  Her smile returned.  "So...?

"So..." he repeated as he gazed at her warily.

"What do you think of Rina?"

"She..." he continued to pick at his food, "she's not like any other girl I've ever met."  He slammed his fork on the table and crossed his arms.  "There!  I said it!  Are you happy now?!"

Caroline grinned.  "Very!"

***

A surge of never ending relief overpowered Billie's body when she saw her little sister running toward her.  She grinned from ear to ear.  "Rina!"

"Billie!"

They flung into each other's arms and Rina looked up at the clear blue sky.  Thank you Lord!  Thank you!  "I was so worried about you girl!  I thought I lost you for good!"  Joyful tears ran down her cheeks.

"I'm fine," Katarina replied happily, "I met a very kind woman who let me stay with her and--"

Billie raised an eyebrow at her sudden cut off.  "And?"

"And...uh...her grandson."

"Oh," she replied without question, "I'll have to thank them.  Maybe I should buy them something before we go home."

"Uh, Billie," Rina looked at her nervously, "we need to talk."

"What about?"

"Well, see, the thing is...I'm not going home...just yet."

Billie stared at her, stunned by her sister's decision.  "What?  Why not?"

"I want to stay here a while longer."

Billie frowned.  There had to be a better reason than that.  "Rina, I don't think--"

"Caroline," she interrupted, "the woman who took care of me, is living up there all alone..."

"I thought you said her grandson lives with her."

She blushed.  "He does...but he's not always there...he's...in school...a lot.  So he only stays with her on weekends."

"Oh," Billie nodded in understanding, "she must be really lonely during the week."

"Yeah, she is and I just want to...keep her company for a few months, you know?"

She smiled.  "You're so sweet Rina!  Always willing to help other people."

"I guess," Rina smiled tentatively.

"All right.  Well, let's get your stuff at the hotel and I'll drive you back to wherever it is you're staying at."

"Billie, before we go, I need to ask you a big favor."

"Anything."

"Please don't tell anyone I'm here."

Billie frowned again.  "Why not?"

"Because...I don't know...just don't mention to anyone where I am please?  I'd really appreciate it."

She stared at her sister's pleading eyes and sighed.  "All right.  I won't say a word."

Katarina grinned.  "You're the best!"

"Yeah, I know!"

***

"Hellooo!"  Katarina shouted when she closed the door to the house.  "Caroline!  I'm here!"

No answer.

She put down her suitcases.  "Caroline?"  Where is she?  A dark figure suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs and she gulped.

"She went out for a walk," Nick said as he descended, "she'll be out for about an hour or so."

"Oh," Katarina wrapped her arms around herself, feeling really uncomfortable with his eyes on her.  She hadn't been able to stop thinking about those eyes since last night and it was driving her crazy.

He stopped a few feet from her.  "Need help with your bags?"

"Um, yeah.  Thank you."

He nodded, grabbed the suitcases and ascended back up the stairs.  She followed quite a distance behind him, unsure if she should try to strike up a conversation or not.  He had the shortest temper...  They turned into her room and he set the suitcases down and turned to face her.  She stared at him, so many questions filling her mind.  Why was he here and not back with his friends?  Why did he wear that leather patch on his face?  What was underneath it?  Why couldn't she stop thinking about him?... She nearly burst out laughing.  Like she'd ever ask him that last one!

"Uh," Nick shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other, "do you...want to see the rest of the house?"

She raised an eyebrow in surprise.  "You're asking me?"

"There's no one else here is there?"

She blushed and moved her gaze to the floor, missing the amusement in his eyes.

"Well?"

"Sure, but I kind of want to unpack a bit first."

He shrugged.  "That's fine.  I'll be back in a bit."

He hurriedly left the room and Katarina stared after him, feeling a little confused.  Why was he being so nice to her all of a sudden?  It was almost strange to hear his actual voice instead of all that mumbling that he often did.  She smiled.  He had a nice voice, not too high, not too low... and quite masculine, but what was most surprising was the timid ring it held...not at all frosty and biting...  She shook her head.  Get a grip Katarina.  This is Nick Carter we're talking about here.  He's a major superstar...you're just another normal human being.  She gazed at her clothes pensively.  But there was more to him than just his superstardom.  She could feel it...  She was looking forward to seeing that side of him very much.

If she could coax it out of him.

***

He was losing this battle.

Nick watched Katarina stare at her surroundings in wonder and he'd never felt his heart beat so fast.  She was really shy.  He'd learned that very quickly while talking to her.  And even though a big part of him was grateful for her shyness, a small part of him wished that she was more open so he could get to know her better.  That's just great, he shook his head, this is exactly what I need...for me to be all weak for a girl I don't even know.  But it wasn't his fault.  Any guy would have to be crazy to not see how gorgeous she is...or the sweet personality she possesses.

"I can't believe how many secret passages there are in this place!" she exclaimed all of a sudden.  "You can see every room in this entire house and no one would even notice that they were being watched..."  She frowned.  "You haven't been taking peeks in my room have you?"

He cleared his throat and tried his hardest to keep from blushing himself.  "Of course not!"

An odd look crossed her face but it disappeared as fast as it came.  "Just making--" Suddenly, she gasped and her eyes widened in horror.

"What?" Nick gazed at her quizzically.

"T...There's something on me..." she replied with a trembling voice.  "I can...feel it."

"Let me see," Nick approached her and began to walk around her, not seeing a thing, but enjoying the view very much...

"Nick!  It's moving!"

He frowned.  "But there's nothing--" Then he spotted it.  It was entangled in her hair.

A good old fashioned spider the size of a quarter.

This can't be good.

"Nick!  What is it?"

"A spider."

She let out an earsplitting scream.  "GET IT OFF MEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Nick winced and grabbed her trembling form.  "Calm down!  You're only making this worse!"

"GET IT OFF!!!"

He sighed impatiently.  "I will but you have to hold still!"

"You don't understand!" she cried out, "I'm scared stiff of spiders...you have to get it off!!!!!"

Not knowing what else to do, he wrapped his arms around her waist and began to whisper in her ear.  "Now listen to me.  I need you to stay calm okay?  It's not going to hurt you..."  He could feel her body begin to relax a bit.  "All right, now I'm going to take it out all right?  It'll be okay."

"But--"

"Shh!" he ignored the sweet smell of her shampoo, "Just trust me."

"...Okay."

Slowly, his fingers weaved into her silky hair and he grabbed the harmless bug and flung it as far away as he could get it.  "Okay.  It's gone."

She heaved a sigh of relief and turned to face him.  "Thank you so much!  You have no idea how scared I was."

He managed a faint smile.  "It's all good."  She licked her lips, which immediately caught his attention and he realized that he was still holding her.  Her lips weren't that far away...all he had to do was lean in a few inches...

"Nick..." she said softly.

He didn't like it at all.  There was something in her voice that told him that she didn't want this.  And then there was the fear in her eyes that wrenched at his heart.  She wanted nothing to do with him.

He let her go.

"I'd better go see if Caroline's home yet."  He brushed past her.

"Nick!  Wait!"

He ignored her pleading and sped up, wanting to get as far away from her as he could possibly get.  I should've known better than to hope, he thought bitterly.  But that won't happen again.  Katarina Clark can keep being the sweet little angel and marry the perfect preppy with the perfect looks and the perfect job.

I couldn't care less.

***

 

 

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