Colorado 01 The Gamble by Kristen Ashley Read Free Book Online Page B

more thing to do.
    I went to my purse, grabbed my cell and saw
the battery was low. I also saw I had a number of texts, all from
friends, not one from Niles.
    I climbed the spiral staircase, went to my
overnight bag beside my suitcase, dug out the charger and the
converter, attached them and plugged them into the wall. Then I
pulled the cord and phone with me and sat on the bed. Then I went
to my contacts and hit Niles’s number.
    He answered on the third ring. “Hello?”
    “Niles?”
    “Nina?”
    I tried to figure out how I felt about his
voice coming at me over the phone and I couldn’t figure it out. It
wasn’t relief or welcome familiarity it was just… well,
familiarity.
    Then I tried to figure out how I felt about
his voice coming over the phone not sounding relieved that I was
calling from half a world away. Just sounding like Niles and I was
at the store asking him what he wanted for dinner. I couldn’t
figure that out either.
    “Hi, I’m here,” I told him.
    “That’s good.”
    “I’ve been here for –”
    “Listen,” he cut me off, “I’m about to go
into a meeting.”
    “What?”
    “I’ve got a meeting.”
    I shook my head. “Niles, I just wanted to
tell you, I’ve been sick.”
    “Yes, you said you thought you were getting
a sinus infection.”
    “Well, it was worse than that.”
    “You sound fine.”
    I did. Miraculously, outside of being tired,
I felt pretty good. My throat didn’t hurt, I wasn’t coughing though
my nose was still kind of stuffy.
    “I’m better now.”
    “That’s good.” He sounded distracted.
“They’re waiting for me.”
    “Okay,” I said. “Do you want me to call
later?”
    “Later?” Now he sounded perplexed, as if he
didn’t understand the concept of later.
    “Later, tonight, when you’re home.”
    “I’m working late.”
    “Yes, but your late is my afternoon.”
    I heard his sigh then he said, “If you
want.”
    If I want?
    I felt anger again, surprisingly anger at
Niles. I never got angry at Niles. He never did anything to get
angry at mostly because he never did anything.
    “Niles, I’m half a world away.”
    “Pardon?”
    “I’m half a world away!” I said louder.
    “I don’t understand.”
    And he didn’t. Because he wasn’t the type of
man who cared if is fiancée needed a timeout and took it half a
world away.
    And I wondered what he’d think if I told him
I was staying in the beautiful home with breathtaking views with a
amazing looking man who’d seen me naked (mostly), made me
breakfast, teased me, flirted with me and who I’d kind of slept
with.
    “Are you there?” he asked me.
    “I’m here.”
    “I need to go.”
    “Of course.”
    “Call me later, if you like.”
    “Right.”
    “Are you okay?”
    No, I was not .
    I didn’t tell him this, instead I said,
“Tired.”
    “Rest, that’s what you’re there to do.”
    No it wasn’t. I was there to take a
timeout.
    “Right,” I said again.
    “Talk to you later.”
    “Right.”
    “Good-bye.”
    “Bye.”
    Then he disconnected.
    I stared at my phone, hit the button to turn
it off and set it on Max’s nightstand. Then I flopped back on the
bed. Then I bit my lip so I wouldn’t cry.
    Charlie had never met Niles and I wished he
had. Charlie had always been sharp, good at reading people. Charlie
would have given it to me gently but he would have given it to me
straight.
    Problem was, I didn’t think I needed Charlie
to give it to me straight.
    I lifted my left hand to my face and with my
right hand I touched my ring.
    I’d been thrilled when Niles asked me to
marry him because I’d been in love with him. He was steady, he was
quiet, he was predictable and he loved me in his Niles way.
    He’d never cheat on me which had happened to
me, back in the day when shit happened to me. He’d never be mean to
me, say mean stuff to me, not on purpose just to hurt me and not
when he was drunk which also had happened to me, back before I
played it safe and shit