Primary Colors (14 page)

“You’re kidding?” She was already drawing the covers over her.

“Yeah, darlin’, I am.”

She settled back down. “
Matka
sent stuff for breakfast, too.”

“I’m famished. We didn’t eat
last night.”

“Hmm,” she said sexily. “We didn’t.”

He got hard again, just at her words. He flipped her over onto her back. “This first, though.”

“Oh, definitely, she said, a twinkle in her eyes making them brighter. “This first.”

“Let’s go out to breakfast,” Paulina said to Nia, the week after Jonas’s death. The morning had been slow at the site. “A Christmas breakfast.”

“I’d love to. We can even walk to the diner.”

“You’ve been a walking maniac. Even in this bitter cold.”

“Once I started again, I remembered how good it was for me.”

“I’m glad you’re doing what feels good again, Nia.”

They donned coats and boots and went down the street, shoulders touching, strides in sync. The sun burst out from behind the clouds, and juxtaposed to the cold
temperature, its effect was soothing.

As they walked, Paulina said, “I have to talk to you about something.”

“I figured you’d get around to telling me about the wedding. You don’t need to tiptoe like this. I’m glad you’re getting married.”

“Honey, I told Adam since you and I had a double wedding, you’d probably not want to be at my second one. He made reservations to go to a resort
in Jamaica. He says it’s lovely there for a destination wedding.”

“You’re eloping?”

“I thought this would be easiest on all of us.”

“Sounds wonderful. The kids will be off school and I can watch them.”

“Thank you. From both of us.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Nia opened the door to Ham and Eggs, a landmark in Queens. In a cushiony booth, they each perused a menu and ordered before
they began conversation again. “So, how’s Rafe?”

“For the most part, okay. You know how the grief comes and goes. It hurts to watch him deal with the ambushes.” She shook her head. “Who knew, Paulie, when that awful thing happened to us, that it would give me the knowledge and strength to help someone I care about?”

“It’s ironic, for sure. I’m so glad you’re with him now, Nia.”

“I
am. And I’m not fighting it.”

A big smile from Paulina.

“We’re taking it slow because of his recent loss and because physical intimacy is new for me. But I have high hopes.” She closed her eyes briefly. “God, Paulie, I forgot how wonderful sex was with a man.”

“I’m glad you have him—and sex—back in your life.”

Nia scanned the diner, noting the holiday reindeer in the windows and
a small tree, lights twinkling out at them. “Remember the first Christmas after the guys died? It choked the life out of me. You, too.”

“We could barely function. If it wasn’t for the kids…”

“They were our saviors. Now you have Adam.”

“And you have Rafe.”

“I think it’s going to work out. But I’ve decided not to live for the future. To enjoy the present. Things will happen as they
do.”

“I’d like to tease you about your change in attitude, but I’m so happy.” Tough Paulina got teary eyed. “It’s a blessing to see.”

“I want that dark part of me gone. I’ve lived in gloom and doom too long.” She reached across the table and took Paulina’s hand. “Thank you for bearing with me.”

“You’re welcome.”

They both ate fattening breakfasts of Belgian waffles with hot syrup
and butter, and crunchy bacon. As they did, they discussed Christmas, what they would get for the boys. For
Matka
. Nia felt the holiday excitement in her bones for the first time in years.

On the walk back, as little snowflakes landed on her cheeks and eyelashes, she thought of Rafe and what Christmas would be like for him. Would he feel as bad as she and Paulina had in those desperate holiday
times when they could barely keep from crying? She wondered if he’d come to their house. She thought he would, but grief could halt you in your tracks at any moment of the day or night. She wished she could do something for him to derail the grief, for just a little while.

“Oh,” she said speaking her thoughts aloud. “Oh.”

“What is it?” Paulina asked.

“I have a great idea. But you need
to agree.”

“Anything, sweetie, to keep you like this.”

The paintings stood before him, side-by-side, reflecting the dichotomy in his life. Images of himself that Jonas had done reminded him of the time he’d spent with the only father he’d ever known. Those days had been a respite from the horror of his young life. And it was all because of Jonas Crane.

His gaze transferred
to the other painting. He laughed out loud. When she’d seen it, she’d said,
That’s not me, Rafe. That’s not how I am.

It’s how I see you.

He’d been right; she’d become that woman with him. They’d made love only three times—once more at the cabin—and once when she could get away this week. But each time had been sexy, hot and comforting all at once. He marveled at that side of her, treasured
it
.

He just wished he wasn’t dreading Christmas. He’d had bleak holidays with his mother but ecstatic ones with Jonas. He’d get through this year with Nia’s help, but he knew it would be hard.

The buzzer downstairs rang. Who would come to see him? Nia was at work; he’d spoken with his lawyer and his manager this morning. When it rang again, he got up to answer. And knew, somehow, before
she spoke, it was her. “Rafe, thank goodness you’re home. Let me in.”

“Of course. Come up.” He’d let her into his house and into his life.

When he opened the door, she stood before him, her hair a wild mess around her and her face red. She wore a long down coat and black boots with laces up the sides. Hmm, he thought, getting into the moment. He’d like to see her in only the boots. Maybe
that’s why she came…

She held up a bag. “I have a Christmas present for you.”

“Does it have anything to do with those boots?”

“What? Oh, no.” She swept in past him
.

When he turned, he saw she’d taken out a package wrapped in exotic colors. “I haven’t had time to get you anything, Nia.” He pointed to the gift. “This is a little early.”

“When you open that, you can give me mine.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Open it,” she said impatiently. “And you will.”

They sat on the couch and she caught sight of the paintings. And murmured, “The Agony and the Ecstasy.”

She understood
.

He tore at the paper. Three boxes were inside. He opened the first one. And burst out laughing. Holding up the hot pink bikini, he lifted his brows lasciviously. “I didn’t know you were
into cross-dressing. But if this is what you want…”

“Stop it, silly. The present is the suit—with me in it.”

Grinning broadly at the thought, he took the top off the second box. It was men’s trunks, in bold masculine colors. “Wow.” He checked the tag. “Just my size.”

“That’s great, because we don’t have much time to exchange it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Open the last box. There’s an
envelope at the bottom, too.”

He lifted the lid of the deeper box. And uncovered books.
Love Me Forever, Dark Hearts, A Price Worth Paying.
Again, his brows arched, this time in surprise. “Romance novels?”

“Hmm, some of the best.” She leaned over, and her breath fanned his ears. “We can read them together.”

Oh, God.

Beneath the books was a white envelope with his name on it. And
hers. Hmm. Slowly he pulled out…plane tickets? His eyes widened. “Holy shit, Nia, what did you do?”

“Paulina and Adam are getting married at the Sandals Resort in Jamaica. We’re going with them as witnesses.”

He checked the ticket. “This is for the week of Christmas.”

“I know. We’ll celebrate with my family the weekend before. Ana and Sofia are going to move in with
Matka
to help take
care of the boys over their Christmas break.”

He fingered the shiny paper. “Why did you do this?”

She got up and knelt before him. “Because I know how excruciating that first Christmas can be. Trying to pretend for everybody that the day is still festive. I thought maybe we’d just…skip it this year.”

Emotion clogged his throat, worked its way up to his eyes. “Oh, honey.” He eased her
onto his lap. “I’d love to. But won’t the boys be disappointed?”

“Somewhat. But it’s time for both me and Paulina to have a different kind of Christmas. Just for us. Paulina’s over the moon, and
Matka
thinks the vacation will be healthy for both of us. My family will take care of the boys.”

“So you can take care of me.” He couldn’t believe what she’d done for him, this beautiful, generous,
loving woman.

She laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ll take care of you, all right, mister. Both in that bathing suit and out.”

“You sure about this?”

“Totally.”

“Then I’m in.” He buried his face in all that glorious hair. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.” She glanced at the package. “Now, if you’d like me to model that suit—with my boots on—I will.”

“You’re on, girl.”
He kissed her nose. “For that. And for everything else that happens between us.”

As I said in the note in book one, I’ve been fascinated by the Ludzecky sisters since they
appeared in PROMISES TO KEEP and CLOSE TO YOU. (See links below.) After writing about them for so long, I decided they each deserved their own stories which, I hope, are unique and interesting.

The biggest challenge of writing PRIMARY COLORS was making Nia a grown-up adult, stuck in her grief, but not have her appear as a whiner. I hope I achieved that by letting her recognize she’s
stuck and wanting to get out of it. But she can’t.

Until she meets modern artist Rafael Castle. Honestly, didn’t you just love him? Could he have been more adorable? Not only is he talented, smart and of course gorgeous, but his softer side is what you see throughout the whole book. His relationship with Jonas and then Salvador brought me to tears when I was writing the story. And his
patience with Nia, how he is kind to her even when she’s hurt him deeply, won my heart!

Probably my favorite part of the book was when Nia showed great strength and fortitude after Jonas’s death. Believe it or not, I didn’t know until she did this how she was going to behave. She’s right there for Rafe and won’t let him push her away. Determined to help him heal, Nia finds her own healing.
This theme is one of my fundamental beliefs, that in helping others we ourselves are made better, stronger, more insightful. That Nia
knew
his kind of grief so intimately cemented a bond between them that they finally recognize.

Once again, the other sisters show their stuff in this second book. I’ve tried to develop them a little more in each story until we get to them in the series.

I hope you loved Nia and Rafe as much as I did.

Kathy Shay

Be sure to read the rest of
THE LUDZECKY SISTERS
series as these six beautiful blond women try to make their way in the world after a tragedy strikes the family. Their stories will capture your heart.

BEGIN AGAIN
finds Paulina Ludzecky running a contracting business with her twin, Antonia since their husbands died three years ago. She’s ready to dip her toes in romance when she meets Adam Armstrong, the architect on the new music hall her company is building. Suave and sophisticated Adam is intrigued by Paulina, but their strong differences keep them apart.