Since Nick was out of town for a few days, it made it easier on Courtney because he couldn't stand over her and try to stop her while she packed. Not that she'd had much of an opportunity to unpack everything; she'd only spent a few nights here before returning to Florida for Garrett.
But even though Nick wasn't around, that didn't mean he didn't breathe fire over her via text messages.
The first text came the evening after she'd arrived back in St. Louis. You're back home?
No doubt Garrett had clued him in. Her answer was short and sweet. Yes.
What are you doing?
Hmmm. He wasn't going to like it. Why not get it over with and tell him the truth? Moving back to your mother's.
Why?
Because that's where I live.
His text reply came back immediately. Not anymore, you don't.
Wow, okay. That was straightforward. How to respond? Are you planning on telling your mother that I live with you?
She'll figure it out sooner or later.
Probably sooner. She's having a party tomorrow night and guess what she's gotten into her mind this time?
No telling.
Courtney took a deep breath and went ahead and keyed the words in. She's trying to set me up with your brother.
Nick had been answering back within seconds but now there was nothing from his end.
Courtney waited. And then she waited some more. And then she texted a prompt. Nick?
Yeah?
Ugh. Sometimes it was like pulling teeth with him! What do you think about that?
Garrett's out of town, so I'm assuming she means Damian?
Yes.
His reply came swiftly. She's either out of her mind or she knows something's going on between us.
Courtney stared at the words and swallowed hard. Well, it was true. She and Nick both knew it; there was something going on between them. But had Justine figured it out? Was she trying to throw Damian into the mix to force a confession from Courtney? Or a confrontation with Nick? She took a deep breath and thought about it. There was no question; Justine could be wily when she wanted to be.
Christ. Poor Damian. He was caught in the middle of all this. Courtney almost cringed with embarrassment. Did he even know what his mother was up to?
She waited too long to respond and her phone vibrated again with Nick's response. Whatever. Don't move out of the penthouse.
Looking at the last box she intended to move that evening she sighed. I'm already doing it.
Best not.
I am.
No answer. Courtney loaded the remaining box in her car and pushed the ignition button. Just as she was about to pull out of the parking spot, her phone vibrated again.
She slid the bar across and stared at Nick's text. Stay the fuck away from Damian.
She studied the words and a combustible heat spread through her limbs at the jealousy Nick couldn't contain, even via text. She struggled to control the pleasure that was invading her bloodstream because, really, there wasn't anything good about jealousy. She quickly lost the battle, and a tiny smile she couldn't control broke out on her lips.
But still, she didn't dignify his text with a response.
****
Nick landed at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and forty-five minutes later parked a couple of houses down from his mother's newly refurbished home. The party that he'd declined to attend looked to be in full swing, with lights blazing and the circular driveway full of top-of-the-line vehicles.
He wasn't in the mood for a party. He wasn't in the mood for idle chitchat. He wasn't in the mood to deal with his mother or her friends.
So why the hell was he here? He trusted Damian. But Nick had never really come straight out and claimed Courtney for himself, had he? Damian couldn't know his intentions. So it was probably best to head off that particular collision if he could.
Walking around to the back of the house, he slid in through the back door and made his way around the secondary staircase and came to the point where the living area merged with the rear hallway. He could see the guests from here, but they shouldn't be able to see him unless they were looking at the exact spot where he stood.
It wasn't his intention to join the party. It was only his intention to observe. And from his vantage point, he could plainly see the living room and the front entrance.
He glanced around and spotted Courtney immediately. She wore a bright yellow sundress that made her skin and hair look luminous. The material clung to her torso, and accentuated the curves of her breasts. Even from this distance, he could see that she was wearing the charm he'd given her all those years ago. That was no surprise, to the best of his knowledge, she always wore it.
As she chatted with a female friend of his mother's, he watched as she picked up the charm and fingered it lightly.