Fierce Possession (Touched By You 9) (10 page)

“Well, funny you should bring that up,” Aaron said.

“Why is that?” Natalie raised her brows.

“No offense, Tanner. I’d like to tell you that he chose us over our competitors because of his respect for Clarke Luxury Brands, but that doesn’t happen to be the case.”

“No?”

“Unfortunately, no.
Ella Walker, the woman Natalie mentioned, is engaged to him. And when we spoke a few days ago, he said she is a great admirer of Natalie Baker Designs. It was Ella who suggested connecting with Clarke Luxury, since she knew that you and Natalie recently married. Adam said it would please her if the two companies were doing business together.”

“Hmm, you don’t say.” Tanner grinned at Natalie. “Looks like you have impressed the right people.”

Natalie was flattered that her designs had garnered such attention. She hoped one day she would get to meet Ella. Clearly, they had similar taste in fashion.

“So, let me know,” Aaron said. “We have a couple more days to secure the agreement with Adam.”

Tanner put his arm around Natalie and guided her out. The discussion of Adam and his fiancée, Ella, had been a temporary distraction. Anxiety gnawed in Natalie’s stomach; she dreaded meeting her father. Her natural love for her father was tainted by his actions. It was going to be hard to shut him out, but there was no other choice.

18 – Nicolas Hughes

During the drive to the hotel, Tanner held Natalie’s hand while she gazed out the window. More than nervous, she felt sad. Her mother was only forty-nine years old but aged beyond her years. And Nicolas was largely responsible. His abandonment had been unhealthy for his daughters, but worse for their mother.

He’d never even married her, and since he disappeared Emma had had no way to contact him. It wasn’t her nature to be vindictive, and she never pursued him legally. When Natalie asked her about that once, her mother said she cared more for her daughters than any money she might have obtained. To pursue him would have required proof of paternity, and other actions. Preferring not to upset her daughters with it, Emma had let it go.

Eternally the romantic, her mother felt that if Nicolas cared about them, he’d return. An effort to force the issue or make him take responsibility for his family wouldn’t be good for anyone. Emma loved him, and never stopped. That was just what she was like. Although Natalie might have handled things differently, she understood her mother’s decision.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Tanner asked.

“Yes, I think this is the only way to make him stop. It’s awkward, especially after all these years. No matter what, I have to be sure he doesn’t approach Emma. He doesn’t love her, and it would break her heart all over again to see him.”

“I’m sure you are right.” Tanner squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right beside you, and will step in if you need me.”

“I know you will. And I’m glad I don’t have to do this alone. I want to deal with it, if I can. We will see how it goes. Keep an eye on Jazzy. She’s more sensitive than I am. I know she’ll put on a brave face, but this will be hard for her.”

“We will make sure she’s okay. And Ellis is still coming with her?”

“Yes, he won’t have it any other way.”

Andre pulled through the circular drive at the hotel, and the attendants opened their doors, helping them out. “I’ll call you when we are done,” Tanner told him, and the limo pulled away.

Just inside the lobby, Ellis waited with Jazzy. Tall and lean, dressed in a white shirt and slacks, he stood patiently with his arm around his wife. His light brown hair was perfectly groomed, but worry showed in his pale blue eyes. He nodded toward them when they entered.

Jazzy, dressed in lavender linen pants and a short embroidered jacket, looked ravishing. But her skin was pale and her eyes were slightly dull. Natalie suspected she hadn’t slept well. Rushing over to hug her sister, Jazzy wrapped her arms around her.
“Oh, Natty. I’m so glad we are doing this together.”

They’d had a long discussion about their father and recent events. Jazzy was grateful to be included in the meeting, and assured Natalie it was the best thing. As sisters, they needed to do this together. They were resolved that Emma should never know. There was no reason to tell her.

They found the restaurant and entered the bar section, making their way to the room in the back, available for private parties. Just inside was a long table with chairs, and at one end sat Nicolas Hughes. Taking in his appearance, Natalie felt sadder. He was older than Emma, ten years her senior, and, sagged into the wooden chair he looked every bit his age.

Standing, he greeted them. “I’m glad you agreed to meet with me.”

Tanner stood stiffly, nothing friendly in his manner. “Do you recognize your daughters?”

“Yes. I saw Natalie in the paper recently. As you know, I saw the announcement of your engagement.”

It was an odd feeling for Natalie to be looking at a man that she didn’t remember. He had dusty blond hair, peppered with gray, and was dressed in a well-worn polo shirt and ill-fitted slacks. Her father looked old, tired, and unattractive. She tried to imagine him over twenty-five years ago, struggling to see him young and handsome. His green eyes had no sparkle in them, but years before they may have. His daughters had gotten their mother’s eyes, and Natalie decided neither of them looked anything like their father.

“Natalie,” he said, looking at her. “
Jasmin,” he added, angling his head toward her. There seemed to be no emotion attached to the words. They could have been strangers—and in reality, they were.

Everyone sat down, unsure how to proceed. Tanner took the lead. “I received your letter and would have dealt with you privately. However, your daughters prefer to confront you, personally. So, here we are.”

Natalie had to know. “Why did you leave so long ago? I never understood.” This was her only chance to ask, since she didn’t plan on seeing her father again.

“That was so long ago,” Nicolas said.

“Answer the question,” Ellis said, shifting in his seat.

“I was never cut out to be a father. When Emma got pregnant, I didn’t deal with it well. Having a family was never discussed, and then we had you, Natalie.”

The feeling of being unwanted made Natalie’s cheeks burn. This man had never cared; she knew that. But seeing him, and hearing him say it, was worse.

“You were never a father to me,” Natalie said.

“No, that’s true.”

“And you didn’t want me,” Jazzy said.

“It wasn’t you in particular,” Nicolas said. “I had other plans. Having a family, raising two daughters, wasn’t right for me.”

“What about what was right for us?” Natalie couldn’t resist. She’d thought it forever, and now she could say it. “Did you ever think about us? Did you even care?”

Nicolas sighed. “I didn’t come here to defend myself. I think you know that I left your mother to raise you without my interference, and from what I can see she did a good job.”

“What did you come here for?” Jazzy challenged.

“I didn’t stay in touch; didn’t know how your lives developed. When I left, I didn’t turn back. Then there was Natalie’s picture in the paper.

“I know I have no right to ask for anything. But I’ve had a hard time. Life hasn’t been easy for me either. Nothing has ever worked out. It’s been a struggle. You may think it would have been better for me to be around, but I say, in all candidness, it wouldn’t have been better.

“Your life with Emma was good. I am sure it was, because I know Emma. She would take good care of you. I know that.”

“Did you love her?” Natalie asked.

Nicolas looked at Natalie, then at Jazzy. “For a while…in the beginning. I thought I did.”

“But not enough to stay with her?
Make things easier for her?”

“No, it wasn’t that kind of love.”

Natalie began to question the decision to meet with her father. It was worse to hear him say the things they already knew. It was easier as a memory than as stark reality. But she had to get him to go away. Remembering why she’d come to see him, she said, “So what do you want?”

Nicolas clasped his hands together, a man preparing to make his plea. “I’m not currently employed. Unfairly, I lost my last job. Since I am your father, I thought you could find it in your heart to give me a hand.”

Tanner’s jaw clenched and his body went rigid.

Jazzy’s
eyes welled with tears.

Natalie became enraged. “Surely you can’t be serious. You left us as babies, not caring a whit what became of us. You abandoned our mother, a generous and caring woman who worked hard to raise us, supporting the three of us with her work as a seamstress.

“And now, to be blunt, because you find out that I’m wealthy—through no support from you, I might add—you come begging. And begging it is.

“I’m not heartless. I don’t like to see anyone suffer. But your life is what you’ve made of it. It’s no secret that you’re unable to keep a job. Your lack of responsibility is your own issue. I won’t bail you out.

“But you need to remember this talk. You won’t continue to press us for money. You are correct that I am now wealthy, and believe me, if you do anything to distress any member of my family I will use every resource at my disposal to see that you pay for your actions.”

The look on his face was not one of shock, more resignation. Nicolas looked like a man used to being refused, and familiar with rejection. He appeared to have no pride, and the idea of begging was not above him. But he seemed easily dissuaded. Looking down at the table, he said nothing.

“And you will cease all harassment,” Tanner said sternly. “No more framed pictures or reminders to pull on our heartstrings. No one is impressed. And you do not want to incur my wrath. I’m already tempted to take action against you. I’m only letting this go at Natalie’s request.”

Ellis wrapped his arm around Jazzy, who was wiping tears from her eyes. “Let’s go,” he said, more to her than anyone else. But everyone stood, leaving Nicolas looking pitiful and dejected, sitting alone.

“This is over,” Tanner said, and guided them out of the room without a glance back.

Natalie didn’t want to look at her father. She didn’t want to see him again. He was no father to her. Nicolas was nothing but a disappointment.

19 – Too Much To Lose

Natalie had hugged Jazzy for a long time before letting Ellis take her home. “I’ll be okay, Natty,” she said. “It’s just hard. But I’ll get over it. He’s part of our past. I just want him to go away.”

At least Natalie could relax about it. Meeting her father was good in one respect. She could see that he was a coward at heart, and challenged as he was, he’d go away. There was little possibility that he’d contact Emma. With Tanner blocking his path, there was no chance he’d be brave enough.

Several days went by, and though not forgotten, the incident moved to the background of their busy lives. Natalie worked at her designs whenever Tanner was at Clarke Luxury. She had new deadlines in order to deliver to RG Fashion Showroom in time for the fall lineup. One night Tanner came home a little early.

Opening a bottle of champagne, he sat on the terrace with her, a mischievous grin on his face.

“What?” Natalie teased, sipping her drink and tickling his ankle with her toes.

“I have something for you.”

Natalie raised her brows.

“Stay here,” he said, and went inside. Tanner was back in less than a minute, and he handed her a box wrapped in shiny pink paper and tied with a silver bow.

“Pink?”

“Don’t women like pink?”

Natalie giggled. She ripped off the paper and held a green velvet box.

“Open it.”

She opened to find a delicate gold charm. It was an intricate carving of the
Trevi Fountain. The tiny details were exquisite. “Tanner.” Her eyes welled with tears. “It’s beautiful.”

“It took a while. With so much detail, it wasn’t easy to craft. But I thought you’d like it, to go on your bracelet with all the other charms representing places we’ve been together.”

It was so thoughtful and romantic. Natalie treasured the charm bracelet and kept it in a velvet-lined box. The way the charms were accumulating, the gold bracelet would be too heavy to wear. But that wasn’t the point. The bracelet was a treasure trove of memories: places they had traveled to, experiences they’d shared. It meant a lot to her.

“I want to be with you, baby, be close to you. Let’s drink our champagne in the hot tub.”

Natalie was touched. Day by day, Tanner seemed to better acclimate to married life, wanting to be with her. And he was so romantic.

They undressed and slid into the warm water of their private hot tub. It was dusk and the sky was deep blue with a few fluffy clouds drifting overhead. Natalie looked over at Tanner, admiring him. With his arms resting on the ledge of the tub, she could see his strong shoulders and biceps. Whatever he was doing in his workouts must be effective, because she could swear he was more muscular.

Under the water, she ran her toes along his thighs. “I like it when we are like this,” she said.