Susan Mallery - Sweet Spot

“You’re late,” she announced the second he walked in the door. “You’re supposed to call. I don’t like worrying. And don’t tell me not to. You live here now. Worry comes with the room.”

Which wasn’t at all what she’d expected to say. She was supposed to let him talk first.

But instead of getting angry or defensive, like Jesse would have done, he smiled.

“You waited up.”

“Obviously. What did you think? That I would just go to sleep, never once imagining your broken, bleeding body on the side of the road?”

“You were worried?”

“Yes, and you don’t have to sound so happy about it.” He couldn’t seem to stop smiling, which she found really annoying.

“I’m sorry. I called.”

“There’s no message.”

“I left one. On your cell.”

On her…“Oh,” she said, feeling a little foolish. “I only checked the house machine.” She grabbed her purse and pulled out her cell. “It’s off. I didn’t think to check it.” She turned it on and waited. Sure enough the message envelope flashed on the screen and the phone beeped.

“I was at a party. A couple of guys got really drunk. I didn’t want them to drive, so I took them home. I’m sorry I worried you.”

“No, it’s my fault. I should have checked my cell. I didn’t mean to yell.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not.” She was feeling more stupid by the second. “I have a temper and I overreact.” Which was probably a lot of what had gone wrong with Jesse.

“I like that you worry about me, Nicole. No one ever does.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Why not? It’s true.”

It was also beyond sad. “I’d rather you didn’t do anything to make me worry. Can it be enough that I’m prepared to worry at any time?”

“Yeah,” he said with a grin. “That’s good, too. Night.”

“Night.”

He started up the stairs. Sheila went after him, then followed him into his bedroom. Nicole turned off the movie and turned off the lights.

While she’d hated being concerned about Raoul, she did like having someone in her life to care about. Which made her think of Jesse, but she didn’t want to go there tonight.

Families were a mess, she told herself. So why was she so determined to have one of her own?

SUNDAY MORNING Nicole woke up early to the sound of voices. She rolled over and looked at the clock. It was barely seven. She sat up and listened, wondering what would possess Raoul to turn on his television at this time and play it so loud? He was still a teenager-sleep was precious.

She stood and grabbed her robe. As she started for the door, the voices became more distinct and recognizable. It was almost as if…

“Oh, no,” she muttered.

She raced to her door and jerked it open. Raoul stood at the top of the stairs, blocking entrance to the landing. She couldn’t see the man trying to pass, but she had a good idea who he was. Sheila stood beside Raoul, fifteen pounds of pregnant growling fury.

“I knew I made a mistake not changing the locks,” she said, moving toward the railing and looking down at her soon-to-be ex-husband. “This isn’t your house anymore, Drew. Go away.”

“I’m not leaving until we talk. Although now I know why you’ve been avoiding me. So this is the new boyfriend. A kid? Is that the best you could do, Nicole?”

“You know him?” Raoul asked.

“We were married.”

“We’re still married,” Drew said.

“Separated, divorcing. It’s over.”

Raoul nodded, then turned his attention back to Drew. “You need to leave.”

“I don’t think so.” Drew looked at Nicole. “Is it fun with a kid? Are you teaching him things you know?”

The slap caught her off guard and she felt herself flush. But before she could figure out what to say, Raoul grabbed Drew, hauled him up to the landing, then wrapped his arm around Drew’s neck, locking him in place.

“Didn’t your mother teach you any manners?” he growled. “You will not speak to Nicole that way.”

Drew flailed against his attacker, waving his arms and gasping. “Nicole!”

“She deserves respect and appreciation,” Raoul continued, his voice low and angry. “Something you need to learn.”

While Nicole was enjoying the show, she didn’t like how all the blood seemed to drain from Drew’s face. The last thing Raoul needed to deal with was an assault charge.

“Thanks for looking out for me,” she told Raoul. “But you need to let him go. You can both wait for me in the kitchen.”

“Do I have to?” Raoul asked, and she knew he wasn’t referring to the meeting.

“Yes. It’s not a fair fight.”

Raoul looked disappointed as he released Drew. Drew staggered forward, gasping for air as he steadied himself on the railing.

“You bitch,” he said, his voice raspy.

“I guess we won’t be talking.”

“No. Wait.” He rubbed his throat. “I want to talk.”

“Then meet me downstairs. And don’t try anything. Raoul doesn’t always do what I say.”

There was no reason to threaten him, but it still felt good to say the words. Probably childish of her, she thought as she returned to her bedroom, but fun all the same.

She washed her face and brushed her teeth, then quickly dressed. Dealing with Drew and their relationship didn’t bother her. She was over him-she’d known that from the second she’d found him in bed with her sister and had been more devastated by Jesse’s betrayal than his. But there was the question of the baby. Did she tell him?

As the possible father, he probably had the right to know. But Jesse was already dealing with trying to make it on her own. Did she need to be worrying about Drew, too?

Nicole briefly debated the issue, then decided it wasn’t her call to make. If Jesse wanted him to know, she knew where to find him. As far as Nicole was concerned, she wasn’t going to get involved.

She made her way to the kitchen where she found Raoul and Drew in a standoff, each on opposite sides of the kitchen, staring at each other. If there was a tree in the middle of the room, they would each be peeing on it.

She ignored Drew and crossed to Raoul. “I need to talk to him without you glaring. Would you please take Sheila for a walk.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“I don’t trust him, either, but I’m pretty sure I can take him. My leg is much better now.”

That earned her a smile. “I’ll be close and I’ll take my cell.”

“I’ll call if there’s trouble.”

Raoul got the dog’s leash from the pantry and left the kitchen. Nicole waited until she heard the front door close before turning to Drew.

“What the hell were you thinking, sneaking in here again? Didn’t you learn your lesson last time?” He’d broken in before, late at night and drunk. Claire had held him at bay with a few unexpected moves and a high-heeled shoe. He still had the scar.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“So use the phone.”

“Who’s the guy?”

“No one you need to worry about.”

“You’re sleeping with him?”

“He’s in high school, Drew, not that it’s any of your business. He needed a place to stay so I’m letting him live here. You’re the one who has inappropriate relationships, not me. I don’t need to chase someone younger to make me feel better about myself.”

Drew took a step toward her. “I don’t want to fight anymore. It’s been long enough. When are you going to let me come back?”

He couldn’t be serious. “I’m not playing a game,” she said. “I’m not pretending to be mad, Drew. Our marriage is over. It was a mistake from the beginning.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s the truth. I don’t know why you’re hanging on to me, but you shouldn’t. We were never good together.”

Just then the back door opened and Hawk walked in. He looked big and strong and sexy in his running shorts and a T-shirt. He ignored Drew, strolled over to her and kissed her on the mouth.

“I thought I’d stop by and say hi,” he told her, never taking his eyes off Drew. “Who’s your friend?”

“My ex-husband,” she said automatically, wondering what on earth Hawk was doing here. Why would he show up like this? Then she got it. Raoul must have called.

Hawk was worried about her. Knowing that gave her a toasty feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She turned to Drew. “This is Hawk.”

Hawk grinned. “The new boyfriend.”

Drew bristled. “We’re still married.”

“I filed papers,” Nicole reminded him. “We’ve agreed on a settlement. Right now we’re just waiting out the time until the divorce is final. That’s not married.”

“I’m not letting you go.”

“You don’t have a choice, Drew. It’s over.”

He looked like he was going to cry. “But this isn’t what I want.”

She could almost feel sorry for him, until she remembered he’d slept with her baby sister. “I should have changed the locks the last time you broke in. This time I’m doing it for real. Show up here again and I’ll get a restraining order. It’s time to move on, Drew. It’s time to grow up.”

She thought he might argue or try to make his case again. Instead, he left, letting the front door slam behind him. She looked at Hawk.

“Raoul called,” she said.

“Yeah. He had a feeling you would make him leave and he didn’t want you alone with the guy. That’s really your ex?”

She nodded. “Not my proudest moment.”

“I don’t want him showing up like this.”

She smiled. “I like it when you get all macho.”

He didn’t smile back. “I’m serious, Nicole. You can’t have this guy wandering around your house. He’s a weasel and I don’t think he’d do anything, but he shouldn’t have a key.”

“I know. I’ll get the locks changed as soon as I can get someone out here.”

He looked at his watch and swore. “I have to go have breakfast with one of my players and his parents. They’re already hearing from recruiters and I’m going to talk to them about how to handle things.”