You Belong To Me, page 9
Malcolm palmed Nicole’s back, nudging her forward into the group.
“Leo, I’d like you to meet Nicole Collins,” he said. “Nicky, our good friend Leo DeCaprio.”
“No relation to the popular young film star.” Leo winked and grinned as though he used the line often and enjoyed it every time.
Nicole chuckled. “How do you do, Mr. DeCaprio?” She shook Leo’s hand, wondering whether Malcolm realized his palm still rested on her back.
“Leo, please. And I do fine, thank you. I enjoy your books. Your mysteries, I mean. Haven’t read your science-fiction series.”
Nicole was surprised Leo knew of her mystery novels. He was the first person she’d met tonight who’d read any of her books.
“I’m flattered, Leo. Thank you.”
Leo waved away her words. “My son, Frank, is hooked on your InterDimensions series.” He broke off to look around the room. “Frank’s around here somewhere. Expect he’ll join us shortly. He’s excited to meet you. His name is actually Francis, but he goes by Frank.” Leo shrugged and rolled on his heels. “His mother loved the name, and after nine months and eighteen hours, I wasn’t going to argue with her.”
Nicole smiled, entertained by Leo’s running commentary.
“How is Ava?” Malcolm asked.
“She’s fine, thanks. She’s visiting her sister this weekend, or she would have been here with me. Miss her when she’s gone. You know what I’m talking about.” He beamed at Joyce and Tyrone. Then he turned toward Nicole. “Are you married?”
“No,” she murmured, feeling her face heat.
“It’s a wonderful institution,” he declared, swaying on his heels. “Highly recommend it.”
Nicole’s face went up in flames. Leo continued to stare at her, so she felt compelled to offer some type of response. She managed a noncommittal “Mmm,” and avoided Malcolm’s gaze.
“Ah, here’s Frank. Ms. Collins—”
“Nicole, please,” Nicole interrupted.
Leo beamed. “Nicole, I’d like you to meet my son, Frank. He’s a senior at USC and a big fan of yours.” The proud father put his hand on Frank’s shoulder.
The resemblance between father and son could not be denied, despite a few notable differences. Frank was long and lean, at least four inches taller and fifty pounds lighter than his father. Instead of twinkling blue, Frank’s bedroom eyes were violet. Returning his gaze, Nicole imagined she could hear coed hearts breaking all over the University of Southern California’s campus. And maybe some older women’s hearts as well.
Nicole grasped Frank’s outstretched hand. “I’m glad to meet you.”
Frank smiled shyly. “Your books are great. You’ve created strong characters that readers can identify with.”
“Thank you.” Nicole thought she’d float away from the compliment.
Leo slapped Frank on the back. “My son’s studying English at the university. He wants to be a novelist like you.”
Frank’s smile looked a bit pained around the edges, as though Leo hadn’t quite interpreted his son’s life goals accurately.
“Are you concerned the InterDimensions characters won’t translate well to the screen?” Frank asked.
“I chose Celestial Productions for this project because I want to protect the integrity of my story and characters. Malcolm and Ty will help me do that because they also enjoy the series.”
“Don’t be so modest, Nicky,” Tyrone said. “We’re big fans of InterDimensions.”
“Frank has all of your InterDimensions books,” Leo said.
This time, Frank ignored his father’s interruption. “Will there be other InterDimensions movies?”
“We don’t have plans to make others at this time.” Nicole didn’t want to tell Frank she wouldn’t have sold the movie rights to any of her books if Simone hadn’t become ill.
“How do you think other people will react to the movie?” the young man asked.
“Based on research on similar movies—” Tyrone began.
Frank interrupted. “No, I mean, how do you think your fans will react to InterDimensions being made into a movie?”
Nicole frowned over the question. “I hope they’ll be excited about it. How do you feel?”
Frank paused as though considering his answer. Then he smiled. “I’m really not sure. Usually, movies based on books aren’t faithful to the story or the characters. It’s almost as though the author cared more about their paycheck than the people they created.”
Frank’s words didn’t offend Nicole because they shared a similar concern. That was the reason she’d insisted on some creative control over the InterDimensions movie.
“You don’t have anything to worry about there,” she assured him. “I care very much about my work.”
“Do you have any actors in mind for specific characters?” Frank asked.
“No.” Nicole angled her head quizzically. “As an avid reader of the series, do you have anyone in mind for a particular role?”
Frank shook his head. “No. I can’t really see anyone in those roles.”
“Well, we don’t want to hold you up,” Leo said. “A pleasure to meet you, Nicole.”
Nicole shook their hands. “The pleasure was mine, Leo. Frank.”
Leo clasped Malcolm’s hand and then Tyrone’s. “Good luck with the project. Let me know if I can help in any way.”
Once father and son had disappeared into the crowd, Joyce surveyed the room. “Okay, Nicky, let’s start mingling again.”
Nicole groaned and checked her watch. “How much longer?”
Joyce looked at her. “You really do hate these events, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well, don’t think of this as an event.” Joyce linked her arm with Nicole’s. “Think of this as a small group of friends paying you a visit.”
Nicole slid her an amused glance. “When can I ask them to leave?”
Although he was friendly enough, when compared to Leo DeCaprio, Nathan Rutherford seemed bland. The tall, lean, blond reporter had scrutinized Nicole from head to foot. Then he made her wince with his first words.
“I’ve never read any of your books,” he stated. “What are they about?”
Nicole chuckled. “In a nutshell, InterDimensions takes place on a space station charged with protecting a wormhole that brings travelers to different worlds and different times.”
“Hmm. Interesting,” Nathan said, sounding bored. “Can this wormhole take you to different times in different worlds?”
“Yes.” She wondered whether this surfer-in-a-suit had any interest in science-fiction books and movies.
“What makes you think it would make a good movie?”
“We know it will,” Malcolm interjected. “The book has a lot of action and visual elements that will translate very well into film.”
Malcolm went on to draw comparisons between scenes in her book and scenes from successful science-fiction movies. He had hard numbers on budgets from those movies and their returns on investments, as well as their similar audience demographics. Listening to his impromptu presentation, Nicole felt a rush of excitement and something very much like pride in her ex-husband.
“How much will this cost?” Nathan asked. “And how much will it make?”
“We’ve run some preliminary numbers,” Tyrone told the growing crowd. He began to outline the numbers Malcolm and he had been working with, and the various costs and return scenarios.
“It sounds as though even the low-end example would net a decent income,” Nathan noted.
“Wow,” Nicole whispered to Malcolm as they moved on to speak with other guests. “You guys are really impressive.”
Malcolm smiled. “It’s a good night.”
An uncomfortable silence sat between them during the drive back to her apartment. Malcolm had been charming to the guests at the cocktail party but now seemed distant. Nicole slanted him a glance as they pulled up outside her apartment building. She prepared to interrupt his contemplative mood.
“Malcolm, what’s wrong?”
He paused. “Nothing.”
The sphinx had returned. Nicole shifted in the passenger seat to face him. “Oh, no. You’re not going to get away with trying to dismiss me after your performance Monday night. You badgered me until I told you what was bothering me. Tonight, I’m going to return the favor. Turn off the engine and come upstairs with me.”
Malcolm’s lips twitched. “Your tone of voice removes any doubt you want to do anything other than talk.”
“That’s because I don’t want to do anything other than talk.”
Malcolm’s eyes scorched her. “Pity.”
“Stop it, Malcolm.” Nicole ignored the nerve endings leaping to life all over her body. She suspected he was trying to distract her. The tactic might have worked four years ago, but it wasn’t going to work tonight. “Turn off the engine and come upstairs.”
Apparently, her voice still wasn’t firm enough. Malcolm hesitated, erasing all expression from his face and pulling a curtain to shield his eyes.
“Whatever you want.” He pulled the key from the ignition.
Preparing for battle, Nicole led the way to her apartment.
“What’s wrong?” she repeated. She took off her coat and held out her hand for Malcolm’s. She hung them in the hall closet as she waited for him to begin.
“Why didn’t you want me to go to the police station with you Tuesday?” he asked as she returned to the living room. His voice sounded tight, as though he’d forced the words out.
Nicole stared at him, surprised by the question and the fact he’d asked it. “That happened three days ago. And we’ve been through this. I can file a police report by myself. I told you they took down my information and kept the original letter, as I suspected they would.”
“There’s more to it than that.”
Nicole frowned. “More to it than what?”
Malcolm shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “There’s more to your reason for insisting on going to the police station by yourself.”
“What are you talking about?” Nicole strode to the love seat beside the front door, putting some space between them. “You didn’t miss anything. I told you everything that happened. I have no idea who could have sent that letter or what the letter is referring to, so there’s nothing more the police can do right now.”
Malcolm followed her. “I’m not talking about what I might have missed by not being at the police station. I’m talking about the point you were trying to make to me and to yourself by leaving me behind.”
“And what would that point be?” Nicole felt trapped. Malcolm was too close. She could feel the strength of his determination pushing past her defenses, barriers that kept the truth hidden even from herself.
“You went to the station alone to prove you don’t need me,” he stated.
“That’s—”
“By going alone, you threw my offer of friendship back in my face.”
“I—”
“The same way you threw it back in my face when I offered to sleep on your couch Tuesday night.”
“All right,” Nicole snapped, pushing past him. She marched to the other side of the room before spinning to face him. “I was trying to prove I don’t need you. That I can manage on my own just as well as you can.”
Malcolm closed the gap between them. “But I’m here, and I want to help you.”
Nicole held her ground. “I’m fine on my own.”
“Really?” He grabbed her. The curtains lifted from his eyes, allowing her to see the impatience and frustration swirling in their chocolate depths before he fused his hungry lips to hers.
Nicole shoved against his chest. Malcolm banded his arms around her and crushed her closer against him. When her lips stayed firm against his tongue, he switched from using ineffective pressure to irresistible persuasion. As he nuzzled her ear, she feared their years together as lovers gave him unfair insider information. Her body reacted from memory, despite her resolve. He nipped at her neck, and she pressed against him. He caressed her with his body, and her body trembled back. He stroked the seam of her lips with his tongue. Lightly. Once. Twice. She moaned in surrender. His tongue stroked her mouth, and she melted down his body.
He followed her onto the floor, she in her formal dress, he in his suit. The hunger was more intense on this reawakening. It became an emptiness begging to be filled. He lay above her, tempting and teasing with kisses and caresses, preludes to a joining while their lower bodies strained toward each other. She reached around him to bring him closer still. He responded with a kiss so deep, it pulled her desires to the surface.
And then he was gone, rolling off her and pushing himself unsteadily to his feet.
“Mal?” she asked, dazed.
“There’s obviously something still between us,” he said in a graveled voice. “Let me know when you’re ready to stop lying to yourself and accept it. And me.”
He left without his coat.
Nicole settled in to watch the Sunday morning pregame show before her beloved New York Knicks basketball team faced off against the Miami Heat. She didn’t feel her customary excitement before the game, though. Her mood was dampened by resentment over the fact she hadn’t heard from Malcolm in two days, not since the evening of the cocktail party. She didn’t expect to hear from him today, either.
Thinking about Friday night’s kiss and subsequent unfulfillment lowered her mood even more. After a fitful night, she’d been tempted to call him Saturday to blister his ears. But she’d decided against doing that.
Why had Malcolm kissed her so passionately, then walked away? From her reaction, he must have known he could have stayed if he’d wanted to. And she could tell that from his response to their heated kiss he had wanted to stay.
What had he meant when he’d told her to let him know when she was ready to accept what was still between them? If he’d wanted sex, they would have had sex. What more did he think was between them?
The phone rang, breaking her train of thought. Nicole debated answering it. If it was Malcolm, she didn’t know what to say to him. With a shrug, she picked up the receiver. If it was Malcolm, she’d wing it.
“Hello.”
“Ms. Collins? It’s Rita Collozo from Celestial Productions. Ms. Collins, there’s been an accident.”
CHAPTER SIX
Nicole was too late. By the time she arrived at the hospital, Malcolm was holding Tyrone’s fiancée. Joyce was crying hysterically, her face buried in his chest.
Nicole’s heart stuttered. She noticed Rita crying quietly on a sofa across from Malcolm and Joyce. Nicole approached her, laying a tentative hand on her shoulder.
“Rita?”
The small, heart-shaped face tipped up. Her soft, brown eyes were red and swollen from tears.
“What happened?” Nicole asked. “You said there’d been an accident.”
“Ty didn’t make it.” Tears deepened her lilting accent. “He lost control of his car. He was on his way home from his morning run along the beach, and he just lost control of his car.” Rita choked on a sob.
Nicole dropped onto the sofa before her knees gave out. Dazed, she wrapped her arm around Rita’s shoulder, automatically pulling her closer as misery shook the woman’s small body. She was glad the four of them were alone in the small, sterile waiting room.
“The doctor said he died instantly.” Rita’s voice trembled as she tried to gather control.
“Were you able to contact his family?”
Rita nodded. “I got their answering machine. I left a message for them to call Mal.” Rita heaved a teary sigh. “He was such a good man. He and Mal are the best bosses I’ve ever had.”
Snapshot images of Tyrone clipped through Nicole’s mind. The way he’d brushed aside her embarrassment over their first meeting, his boyish byplay with Malcolm, his ties that paid homage to the sci-fi genre. How could someone so alive, with so much to look forward to, die so suddenly?
“Rita,” Nicole said. “You don’t have to hold back. It’s okay to let go and cry. Ty was a wonderful man. He deserves your tears.”
“I know. I know.” Rita sniffed. “But I have to try to be strong for Mal and Joyce.”
“They have each other right now. Take a moment for yourself. If they need anything, I can help them.”
Rita sat stiffly a moment more, then relaxed and allowed the tears to fall. Nicole stroked her arm and offered what she could in the way of comfort.
She looked over to where Malcolm sat with Joyce in his arms. I’ve been happier with her than I’ve ever been in my life, Tyrone had said. She was so happy they’d shared a love that strong.
Nicole watched Malcolm as he allowed Joyce to weep her heart out onto his sweater. His eyes were red and blinked frequently as though he fought to keep his own tears from falling. People always leaned on Malcolm. Yet, when he was hurting, he’d never allowed himself the comfort of resting in someone else’s care. Malcolm knew how to give, but he didn’t know how to receive. That had been a problem between them, because she was also a nurturer. The one time in their relationship they had needed to support each other, he had pulled away from her. Now, it broke her heart to watch him once again struggle to be strong at a time that made people weak.
Nicole saw him help Joyce up and, with an arm supporting her, lead her from the room. They paused in front of Nicole and Rita. She looked past his composed expression to the grief in his eyes. Nicole wanted to stand, to touch them both in a gesture of sympathy, but she didn’t want to let go of Rita.
“Mal, Joyce, I’m so sorry,” she said.
“Thank you for coming.” Malcolm inclined his head, then led Joyce from the room.
Nicole watched them leave before returning her attention to Rita. “Let me take you home. Is there anyone who can stay with you now?”
With a shuddering breath, Rita lifted her face from her hands and looked toward the now-empty sofa. “Where are Mal and Joyce?”
Nicole continued to rub the other woman’s arm. “They’ve left.”
“Oh.” She blinked. “I didn’t notice.” She pulled another tissue from her purse.
