Falling For Nick by Joleen James Read Free Book Online Page A

closer to the window, trying to get a better view, but he was too far away. Frustration ate at him. It wasn't fair. He'd been robbed of the chance to know his son, now Clea was about to marry the man responsible for putting him in prison. He couldn't let that happen. He needed to level with Clea. For the past ten years he'd done nothing but think of his regrets and heartache. He'd been too stupid to realize what he was throwing away when he'd pushed Clea from his life. Instead, he'd felt he'd done the noble thing by letting her go.
    If he'd told her truth - that he wanted her and their baby more than anything else in the world - could they have made it through the ten-year separation? He didn't know. He'd only known that he'd had nothing to offer them.
    Tonight Clea had changed her mind about the No Contact Order. Why? If she'd been worried enough to have the papers drawn up in the first place, why have them revoked? It didn't make sense, unless she'd had a change of heart. A tiny flutter of hope beat in his chest, hope he had no right to feel but couldn't ignore. He needed to talk to Clea. It was time to clear the air between them.
    *   *   *
     
    The minute Mitzi left, Clea changed into her most comfortable pair of flannel pajamas, the ones with the cowboys all over them. After slipping her feet into her bunny slippers, she checked on John. The sound of his deep, even breathing put a smile on her lips. It sure hadn't taken him long to fall asleep. She knew sleep wouldn't claim her as easily. It had been a long, emotionally charged day.
    And tomorrow would be even longer once Robert and her mother discovered that she'd had the No Contact Order removed. She prayed she'd done the right thing. Would Nick seek her out and demand to know why she'd helped him? The thought made her pulse race, but with dread or excitement? She didn't know.
    Clea dropped down on the sofa and picked up her cup of peppermint tea, taking a sip. Mitzi had made it for her, telling Clea the tea would calm her nerves. So far it wasn't working. She sought out the photos that lined her mantel; photos she'd taken of John as a newborn, a toddler, and on his first day of school. Her stomach ached. God, she had to tell him about Nick. Nick was right. She was a coward.
    A knock sounded at the door. Clea jumped. Her body tensed. She wasn't expecting anybody. Surely her mother and Robert couldn't have learned of Nick's release already? Pulling herself together, she walked to the door and looked out the peephole. Nick. Her heart sped up. The sheriff must have told him she'd dropped the No Contact Order.
    He knocked again, louder this time. She stole a glance at John's door. The last thing she needed was for him to wake up. Making her decision, she unlatched the dead bolt and pulled the door open.
    Nick's stare moved from her face, to her pajamas, to her bunny-clad feet before meeting her eyes again. "I saw John's light go out. Is he asleep? Can I come in?"
    "He's asleep, but you can't come in," she said, wishing she'd grabbed her robe. Even fully clothed, she felt naked. He had a way of looking at her that left her feeling like he could see into her soul.
    "I just want to talk," he said.
    He didn't seem angry and a little of her fear subsided, but there was no way she'd let him in. She couldn't risk John seeing him.
    "I'll come out," she said. "Just let me grab my coat." Clea took her pink sweatshirt jacket from the coat rack and shrugged into it, zipping it up to her neck as she stepped outside onto the enclosed landing. A dim porch light burned overhead, bathing Nick in faded yellow light.
    "It's cold out here." Nick cupped his hands over his mouth and blew on them to warm his fingers.
    Clea thought it seemed stupid to discuss the weather when they had so much of importance to talk about. She closed the door behind her, but didn't shut it all the way in case John woke. "What do you want, Nick?"
    He ran a hand through his hair. "I want my life back. I want to