Real Time by Jeanine Binder Read Free Book Online

I came. And my dad all but disowned me when I was a teenager. He thought my music was frivolous and was adamant I needed to go to school to learn some kind of a respectable trade. Both my brothers had already finished college long before and had careers; Phillip is a banker and Trevor is a professor at Oxford.”
    “They’re a lot older than you?” Kate asked.
    “Trevor is the closest but there are more than twelve years between us,” Nick answered. “Even after I had success and became what I am, my dad was a long time in forgiving. And he passed his disapproval to both of my brothers.” Nick was silent and Kate didn’t push him. She merely held him against her, waiting for him to go on with the story. She suspected he was getting close to what had happened.
    “After the funeral, we went back to my mum’s house. I barely had time to say goodbye to her as she was leaving to stay with Phillip and his family in Leeds for a while. Once she was in the car with his family, both Phillip and Trevor backed me against a wall, told me to get the hell out of the house, and not to come back.”
    Oh my god, Kate thought. What do you even say to that ? Kate silently watched him pour more Scotch in the glass and, before picking it up, he broke out of the embrace, turning to face her. She saw the remnants of his tears and gently reached up, wiping away the rest. His mouth found hers in a kiss – not the soft gentle ones they had been sharing previously – but an assault on her mouth with his tongue. He scared her at first as he held her face in his hands, but she remained calm, knowing it was the stress driving him to be so fierce.
    When Nick lifted his head, he pulled her to him in a tight embrace. “I didn’t mean to be so rough, love,” he said softly. “You should probably get out of here before you end up in that bed.”
    “I’m not leaving until I’m sure you’re okay,” she countered.
    Nick gave her another hug before releasing her. “I’m good. Thanks to you,” he answered. “And thank you for the phone calls. They were a lifesaver.”
    “I suspected you had a reason for giving Mickey the message for me. It was an odd request.”
    “I needed a lifeline. I debated about even going when my mum called because I knew there would be trouble.” Nick ran his fingers through his hair which was now flowing down his back. He usually pulled it back in a ponytail during the day unless he was onstage. He smiled down at her. “I didn’t quite expect what happened. But it’s all right.”
    “Then I’ll go,” Kate said quietly. She stepped closer to him and pulled his head down to hers to finish the kiss. His arms came around her holding her to him. He eventually pulled away and turned back to the window.
    “Now you really better get out of here,” he growled at her.
    Kate touched him one more time then went out the door. She talked a minute with Sam who confirmed what Kate had suspected –things with his oldest brother had been exceptionally bad. Sam asked if Nick had told her what had happened before they left and she skirted at the details, saying they had said some hurtful things, but not wanting to tell Nick’s secrets. She also mentioned the Scotch and suggested he get some food brought up, otherwise Nick wouldn’t be in any shape to do a show tomorrow night. An entire bottle of the Scotch was just asking for a hangover.
    * * *
    T he next morning around nine, the band was eating breakfast when Nick strode into the room. He walked over and got a cup of coffee then laid the sheet music he had brought with him next to Kate on the table. Kate glanced at the title ‘ Winning it All’ . Nick turned the chair around backwards and sat down next to her. There was nothing from last night to indicate Nick had ever been upset. He also gave no hint about their kiss or what emotion was going through him at this moment looking at Kate. Nick knew he wanted her, although the argument she worked for him continued to keep