He rather wished that there was someone he could talk to about Nicole. He went through a rapid mental list of the men he called friends and realized that, while he could imagine himself boasting of a conquest with them—though that had never been his style—he couldn’t predict their reactions if he tried to talk to them on a more personal basis.
What would they say if he tried to explain that it wasn’t just physical with Nicole—that it never had been? Or if he tried to describe the emptiness inside him at the thought of losing her, even though he hardly knew her in some ways?
It occurred to him then that he really didn’t have many friends. Certainly none who were close enough to bare his soul to, even if he were the sort of man who could make himself that vulnerable.
Ashley had said he had no intimates because he wouldn’t allow himself to risk intimacy. She’d accused him of emotional cowardice. Perhaps she’d been right.
He was damned near terrified of the things Nicole made him feel.
That wasn’t normal after such a short time together, was it? He wished again that there was someone he could ask.
His secretary’s voice came over the intercom, startling him out of his brooding reverie. “Mr. Tyler? Your mother is on line one.”
“Thank you, Grace.” He lifted the receiver warily. “Hello, Mother.”
“Hello, dear. I have a little favor to ask of you.”
Of course she did. Except to ask for “little favors,” his mother rarely called him unless she’d spent an evening with her bridge club. After hours of looking at photographs and listening to bragging anecdotes about darling, talented grandchildren, she often called Andrew and demanded that he provide her with some. Immediately.
“What favor, Mother?”
“You needn’t sound so suspicious. It’s nothing major. I simply want to leave Buffy at your house while Lowell and I are in New York this weekend. It will only be for a few days. She won’t be any trouble at all.”
Andrew groaned. “Mother, I really don’t care to baby-sit your dog. Can’t you put it in a kennel?”
“Of course not!” Lucy sounded highly indignant at the very suggestion. “She would be miserable in such a place. I usually take her with me, but she’s had a little cold recently and I don’t think she feels strong enough for air travel.”
Oh, great. The dog had been ill. If that hairy little mutt died while in Andrew’s care, his mother would never forgive him, he thought with a grimace.
“I won’t be home to watch after it, Mother. I really think it would be best if—”
“Oh, that’s no problem. Martha has already agreed to look after my precious. She’s really no trouble at all. Just a little food and water, a warm place to sleep, regular walks, medication three times a day, her favorite toys around her, a special treat before bedtime, her—”
“You’ve already talked to Martha?” Andrew cut in.
“Of course. I wouldn’t want to impose on her without talking to her first.”
Andrew managed to resist the temptation to point out that she apparently hadn’t had the same consideration for him. He sighed.
“All right, I suppose it can stay,” he said without bothering to be particularly gracious about it.
“Uh...when will you be bringing it over?” he added, wondering if Nicole would be there at the time, and how he would explain her presence to his nosy parent. Maybe he should offer to pick the dog up, himself. His Range Rover already smelled of mutt, anyway, and it could save some awkward questions.
“Oh, I’ve already taken her to your house. First thing this morning. When I left, both Martha and dear Nicky were fussing over my litt
le Buffy, and I knew I’d left her in the best of care.” An expectant silence followed the bombshell.
Andrew cleared his throat. “Um, Nicky?” he repeated, stalling for time.
“Yes. She’s a lovely young woman, Andrew. I quite like her. I understand she’s living with you now.”
Andrew slipped off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose between his left thumb and forefinger. “She isn’t living with me. She’s only staying until she finds an apartment.”
“So she explained. She told me how you simply refused to allow her to stay in a motel alone for fear of her safety. That was so generous and noble of you, darling,” Lucy assured him with a laugh in her voice. “I’m sure your motives were entirely unselfish.”
“I, er...”
Lucy chuckled. “Never mind explaining. I hope I’ve made it dear that I’m delighted. You and Nicky make a lovely couple. What beautiful children you would have together!”