CHASING TROUBLE

That explanation seemed to do the trick, because Glen nodded and released her, “Alright, I’ll be here,” he said, and turned to talk to a man who approached him.

This was her time, Caroline thought as she turned and began to walk away. Except instead of heading to the restroom as she’d told Glen, she headed for the nearest exit.

___________

Caroline rushed towards her car, each step she took more urgent than the last. Why? Just why had he chosen to show up now? What happened to the man who left home, joined the army and didn’t show up for years? Of course it was a horrible thing to think or wish. Caroline knew that, but at this moment she felt horrible and all she wanted to do was get away from Nicholas.

She was at her car now, thankfully. The huge parking was almost empty except for security and a few people, and her heels clicked loudly against the floor as she walked. Caroline grabbed her keys from her purse and was about to insert it when she heard him behind her.

“Caroline!…”

His voice brought her to an abrupt halt. Wasn’t it funny? She was the one who’d told him repeatedly not to call her ‘Care’, and if anyone ever told her that a day would come when she’d wish he called her by that name he’d specially coined for her, she’d have called the person crazy.

His voice brought back memories she should have let go of, or at least memories she thought she’d put behind her, but they came rushing back as if someone had opened up the gates. This time, he wasn’t teasing her or telling her how beautiful she was. His tone was harsh and when she finally brought herself to turn around to face him, she was scared by the anger blazing in his eyes. Caroline swallowed hard and reminded herself to be calm… To behave with restraint. Besides, she wasn’t sure he knew about Charlie. He could be mad about something else, she thought. The chances were slim, but she could wish, right?

“Nicholas…” She breathed, “I didn’t know you’d be showing up today. Didn’t even know you were back,”

He said nothing. Just kept his gaze locked on hers while he took the steps needed to reduce the distance between them so he was standing in front of her. Caroline on the other hand fought the urge to back away from him. She didn’t have any reason to be scared or worried, she told herself. She might have kept their child a secret from him, but he was the one who decided to leave, not her.

“I came back a week ago,” said Nicholas as his eyes narrowed, “I didn’t want to show up tonight but I found out something very important…. so I had to,”

Caroline willed her heart to stop beating so damn fast, “Well, welcome back, Nicholas. I’m sure your father is glad to have you around once again,”

Nicholas stared at her and wondered how long she was going to keep up with the charade. Without letting his father suspect anything, he’d subtly asked him questions about Caroline. Like how old her son was. When his father had mentioned Glen and Caroline being in a relationship, it filled him with anger that he had no right to feel, but judging by the time his father told him they’d begun dating, there was no way Glen could be her child’s father.

Seriously? Glen Asher? That was the guy she’d deemed fit to be in a relationship with? The man she deemed a ‘gentleman’? Nicholas had a feeling he’d react the same way if it was any other guy she was with, but that was not the reason he was here, so he went straight to the subject that had brought him here.

“You have a son.”

Her eyes flickered. Okay… So he knew, she thought. And if he was asking, then he knew Charlie was his too. Her secret was out.

Nicholas read the surprise in her eyes. He’d often thought how their eyes were mirrors of their personalities; Caroline’s blue and warm, his dark and cold. “I saw you with him. Two days ago,” he added when her mouth dropped open.

Tears filled her eyes. He held his breath and warily waited for them to spill over or for her to lash out at him. It didn’t happen. Instead she swallowed rapidly and nodded.

“He’s mine?”

She brushed a falling tear and nodded again. He didn’t like to see her cry…. He didn’t like to see women cry, but at the moment he was so angry with her, so he forced himself not to care and took a deep breath. He’d known the child was his in his heart but having it confirmed still came as a rush.

“What’s his name?” he asked the question though he already knew the answer because his father had already told him.

Charles Anderson. Born eleven months ago weighing three kilograms. Born nine months after he’d gone back to New York.

“Charlie,” she said softly, “Charles Anderson,”

One side of his mouth curled upward, but Caroline knew Nicholas well enough to know that he didn’t find anything about the situation funny at all. He was angry… She could tell by the look in his eyes that he was fighting to keep his emotions intact.

His expression was stark, almost savage. The man who’d laughed with her in Texas a year ago had disappeared. In his place was a man without mercy. Even in the light in the parking lot, she could see that. Olive-skinned and black-haired, he was as handsome as ever, but something had changed. His face had an edge of fury-of cruelty. He’d always been strong, but there were hard planes to his body that hadn’t been there before. His shoulders were somehow broader, his arms wider, as if he’d spent the last months beating opponents to a pulp in a boxing ring. His cheekbones were razor-sharp, his arms thick with muscle, his dark eyes limitless and cold. Looking into his eyes was like staring into a half-frozen sea.

Once she’d loved him; now she didn’t know if hated him or if she was just scared of him.