What are you doing here, Colin?
Herein Fairweather? Or herehere?
Both.
Im here he indicated the physical space beside her parked car because I wanted to let you know I was back.
Knowing how anxious hed been to flee the confines of the townand their marriageshe was more than a little surprised by his return. And completely unnerved by his sudden and unexpected appearance here. It was one thing to know he was in Fairweather, and quite another to be face-to-face with him again. Thanks for the warning, but the press beat you to it.
He took the newspaper she held out, winced as he scanned the headline. Hometown Hero, huh? I guess nothing much has changed around here if this is what passes for news.
What did you expect?
He studied her for a long moment. Nikki refused to shift her feet or cross her arms. She didnt want to appear annoyed or impatient, just disinterested. Anything else might suggest she had some residual feelings for Colin, and nothing could be further from the truth. There had been a time when shed loved him more than shed ever thought possible, but that time was long past.
I dont know what I expected, he said at last.
She forced a polite smile. Do you plan on staying long?
He shrugged. A few days, anyway.
A few days. She exhaled slowly. Whatever the reason for his return, hed be gone in a few days and her life would settle back to normal again. Still, his presence here now made her uneasy. Well, it was nice seeing you. Enjoy your stay.
She started past him, halting abruptly when he reached out to put a restraining hand on her arm. The touch burned her skin, and she pulled away as if he had branded her with a hot iron.
I need to talk to you, Nicole.
She forced herself to swallow the fear that lodged in her throat. Why was he doing this? After more than five years of silence, why did he suddenly want to talk? Had he somehow found out
No. She trampled that thought before it had completely formed. Whatever his reasons for coming back now, they were undoubtedly as selfish and self-centered as the reasons for everything else hed ever done.
I know I owe you an explanation, he said.
She shook her head again. Five years ago, I might have agreed. But too much time has passed for it to matter anymore.
Do you expect me to believe that you never think about what we meant to each other?
I dont care what you believe, but I dont spend my days reminiscing about our short-lived marriage. She didnt have time to think about what theyd once had or what might have been. She was too busy dealing with the reality of what was.
I think about it, he said. A lot.
The intensity in his eyes made her heart stutter. She steeled her resolve. Is there a point to this, Colin?
I dont want you to think that I didnt care.
Why would I think that? Because you petitioned for divorce before our first anniversary? Or maybe because you made love to me the night before you walked out on me forever?
She thought she saw a flicker of something in the depths of his green eyes. Hurt? Regret? She dismissed the thought.
I had my reasons.
Im sure you did. She couldnt quite mask the pain and bitterness that tinged her words. He had shattered her heart when hed walked out on their marriage, and she couldnt pretend otherwise. I imagine it was quite inconvenient to be legally tied to a woman who lived halfway across the country.
Dammit, Nicole. Im not going to let you believe our marriage was an inconvenience.
She shrugged, as if it didnt matter. As if this conversation didnt bother her. As if his easy disregard of their marriage vows didnt still hurt.
All Im asking for is a little of your time. Half an hour.
The last thing she neededor wantedwas to spend a single minute more with him, never mind thirty of them.
Please, Nicole.
She closed her eyes, willed herself not to respond to the quiet plea in his voice. She wanted to say nofirmly and finallyand walk away. But she couldnt deny that there was a part of her that was curious to know why hed tracked her down. After five years, there was still so much that she didnt know. So much that he didnt know.
Half an hour, she relented.
His quick smile did crazy things to her pulse again.
Why dont we go somewhere to grab a coffee? he suggested.
Theres a little café across the street, Nikki told him. Ill meet you there after I make a quick phone call.
Colin hesitated, then nodded.
Nikki waited until he was out of earshot before digging her cell phone out of her purse. She exhaled a sigh of relief when a familiar voice answered at the other end.
Arden, I need a favor
It was only as he reached for the door of the restaurant that Colin realized he still held Nikkis newspaper in his hand. He glanced at the headline again.
Get out of town for a while, Detective Brock had advised. Go somewhere quiet. Keep a low profile.
Good advice, but how the hell was he supposed to keep a low profile when the local media still believed he was some kind of superstar?
Colin knew better. The reality was that hed failed at everything that had ever mattered. Hed failed as a player and a coach, and hed failed to be the kind of husband Nikki deserved.