Deeper Than Love (Brooks Family Book 6) Page 2

  Nina didn’t have to work, and so far she hadn’t since he passed away four and a half years ago—not traditionally, anyway. Not knowing what she would do with her life and how her future would unfold made her restless and apprehensive. People expected that she would take over her father’s hotel business, but she wasn’t sure it was something that she was capable of handling.

  The whole idea of running a multimillion-dollar hotel empire was terribly intimidating, and she was more than happy to let the executives and Board of Directors continue their work. But her father had envisioned that she would take the reins one day and had arranged for two consultants to work with her. Instead, she’d started traveling the world.

  Nina walked back to the master suite, and as she opened the door, the scent of a familiar perfume hit her nose. She broke out in a grin.

  “Surprise!” Lindsay, her older half-sister, popped up from a chair by the window and flung her arms wide.

  “Heyyy!”

  They rushed into each other’s arms. Nina squeezed her sister hard, needing a hug more than she realized. She and Lindsay had talked often while she traveled, and she’d been back a few times in the interim, but they were as close as two sisters could be, going so far as to having the same tattoo on their left biceps: My sister is my best friend. Having her here was the perfect welcome home.

  Nina stepped back. “Is that my scarf?” she asked, pointing at the Ankara-print scarf Lindsay had tied around her head, with blonde braids peeping out the top in a secured bun.

  “Yep. I went shopping in your closet while I waited. Don’t I look fabulous?” Lindsay angled her head one way and then the other.

  Nina was convinced there wasn’t anything her sister couldn’t wear. Lindsay was gorgeous, with hazel eyes and a complexion that was a shade lighter than Nina’s.

  “Yes, you look fabulous. Don’t forget to return it, please.”

  She was actually teasing. They’d been borrowing each other’s clothes and accessories for years, though nowadays it was mostly accessories. They were both busty women, but that’s where the similarities in body shape ended. Her sister was tall and voluptuous, while Nina was shorter and slender.

  Lindsay returned to the chair and crossed her long legs. “I told the front desk to let me know when you arrived. What took you so long to come up? I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”

  Nina picked up one of the bags the bellhop had brought up earlier. “I got sidetracked. I ran into Reese downstairs.”

  “Oh. I bet that was interesting.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Nina muttered, taking the suitcase into the walk-in closet, a room almost the same size as the bedroom, with garments and shoes arranged on the shelves and racks in color-coordinated order.

  “What happened?” Lindsay called out.

  “He wants to talk.” Nina returned to the room and plopped onto the bed.

  “You knew that was coming.”

  “Yes, but not so soon. I just got back today.”

  “Did you tell him about Andy?”

  Nina met Andy von Trapp on an organic farm in New Zealand, and they quickly connected, both surprised when they learned of their mutual ties to Atlanta. It was uncanny how in sync they were.

  “It was hard to slip into the conversation. The timing wasn’t right.”

  Seeing Reese had thrown her completely off guard. She’d been so unprepared for his appearance, she hadn’t told him she was in a serious, committed relationship with another man.

  “You better make time. You’ve had other boyfriends in the past, but since that kiss, Reese has changed. He’s not going to take your new relationship well. I’ve told you before that he still has feelings for you.”

  “There you go again.” Nina rolled her eyes.

  “I’m not wrong. That kiss changed everything. Made him think he has a chance.”

  There was definitely some truth to her sister’s words, all the more reason to stay away from him. Remaining friends with an ex presented its own set of challenges, and the kiss only complicated their relationship.

  On the first anniversary of her father’s death, Nina had found comfort in his arms. They hadn’t gone any further than kisses, but she recalled each one in vivid detail and regretted their hot and heavy make-out session. She’d enjoyed his touch way more than she should, which had reawakened feelings and desires that scared the hell out of her.

  Lindsay jumped up from the chair and walked over to the bed. She took Nina’s hand and pulled her up. “Listen, this is not the time for moping or being upset. The Winthrop sisters are back together. I’m getting married in two weeks, and you’ve found a man who you’re a great match with. By the way, where is Andy?”

  “In New York, visiting his dad. He’ll be here next week.”

  “Great, so we have the whole weekend to spend time together and celebrate. Have you had lunch?”

  “No, but now that you mention it, I’m starving.” Nina patted her stomach.

  “Perfect. Let’s grab a bite to eat. On me.” Lindsay headed for the door.

  “Where are we going?” Nina asked, following.

  “How about that salad place? I can’t eat too much if I want to fit into my wedding dress. Can you believe I’m getting married?”

  They walked down the stairs and out into the hallway. Nina hooked her arms through her sister’s. “I definitely can. You’re Lindsay, the Sexy Diva.”

  That was her moniker for a popular podcast on sex, dating, and relationships, which had turned into a book deal and launched a two-hour call-in radio show once a week.

  Lindsay let out a throaty laugh. “Who knows, maybe we’ll be planning a wedding for you, too soon,” she said.

  “That would be nice.”

  With regard to relationships, she and Reese were on the opposite end of the spectrum. True enough, they were practically kids when they had their love affair, but she was older and wiser now. Not the same naïve, foolish teenager she’d been when she fell for him.

  Reese could push all he wanted, but she refused to fall under his spell again because she knew better. Not only could he not be trusted, but she wanted a husband and kids. Reese, on the other hand, didn’t want to get married, and children were a no-go. That’s why Andy was perfect for her. They were in sync about what they wanted out of marriage and life.

  Nina glanced at her sister’s smiling face. Lindsay appeared to be happier than she’d ever seen her, and Nina became a little jealous.

  She’d be happier, too, if she hadn’t run into Reese.

  Chapter 3

  Arms crossed, Nina turned in a slow circle in the middle of the office her father used to occupy. The two management consultants standing nearby didn’t speak and allowed her to make the inspection in silence.

  She’d spent the better part of the day walking through The Winthrop Hotel Group headquarters, greeting members of the staff, and reacquainting herself with the layout of the offices.

  If she decided to move into this office and take over the role of CEO, there was some work to be done. Most of the furniture was gone from the room. Only a gray couch, a desk, and an executive chair remained. She would have to add her touches—her own desk and chair, perhaps group some sofas and a table over to the side to create a sitting area. On the walls, she’d place photos from her travels and awards she had received for her work in the community.

  “What do you think?” Thomas asked.

  He was the elder of the two consultants, with mahogany skin and his hair sprinkled with gray. As far as Nina was concerned, he was overdressed in a three-piece suit, but she had never seen him in anything less.

  “It’s a possibility,” she said, scanning the large windows that took up two walls of the corner office.

  They’d discussed moving her in here or finding another one in the building, but she wasn’t sure what she would do.

  “There’s no rush,” said the other woman in the room. Misha worked for the same firm but was younger than Thomas, wi
th ivory skin and chestnut-colored hair. She always wore black glasses, a black suit, and her hair in a tight chignon, as if her entire look was a uniform.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll take my time. I’ll see you two on Monday?” Nina said.

  “That’s correct. We’ll meet you in the conference room.” Misha looked at Thomas for confirmation, and he nodded.

  Nina smiled gratefully at them. They’d held her hand since she returned a week ago, and she trusted their advice. Her father had done well by hiring their firm to assist her in the transition to managing the company—assuming that’s what she wanted to do.

  “Good. I’ll see you both before the Helping Hands presentation.”

  The Winthrop Helping Hands Program was an idea she’d tossed around with her father years ago, which she hoped to implement company-wide. The concept was very simple: pay employees to do volunteer work in their communities. It was for sure a radical premise, which over the past year had been rolled out among the east coast hotels.

  The whole idea made her nervous because she knew what people called her behind her back—The Heir. The nickname was not a compliment. They saw her as useless, someone who got in the way and came up with ideas that created problems for staff, and it didn’t help that she looked younger than her twenty-nine years. The purposely cruel nickname demonstrated that her seat at the table had been handed to her, and she hadn’t earned her place there. But she believed in this project and kept her fingers crossed that it would be as successful as she hoped.

  The consultants exited the room, and after calling her driver, Nina made her way downstairs. Philippe stopped in front of the building, and she climbed into the back of the black Mercedes with tinted windows.

  “Going straight home?” Philippe asked, looking at her in the rearview mirror before returning his eyes to the road.

  He was from Guadeloupe, with caramel-colored skin and kind eyes. When Nina’s father passed, he had become very protective of her. During the three years she’d been overseas, Nina kept Philippe up to date on her travels, and when she returned to the States last week, she hired him away from the family he’d been working for in the interim.

  “Yes.”

  “Have you eaten?” Philippe asked in his accented English.

  “Philippe, you’re not my father. I’ll get something to eat at home,” Nina said, softening the words with a smile.

  “Okay. Don’t mind me.” He laughed, keeping his eyes on the road.

  Nina watched the buildings go by. She hadn’t talked to Reese since her arrival, and surprisingly, he hadn’t called. At some point, they needed to talk, but at least for now he let her set the pace.

  Less than an hour later, she relaxed in her apartment, barefoot in shorts and a T-shirt, her thick hair scooped up into a huge, bouncy Afro puff on top of her head as she wound down with a glass of wine and watched the news. Room service should arrive soon with her lobster ravioli.

  The phone chirped beside her on the sofa, and she answered when she saw Andy’s name.

  “Hi, my love,” he said, his preferred greeting for her.

  “Hi! Are you back?” He should have been back from his trip by Wednesday, but his father had asked him to stick around and help with some projects.

  “I have bad news,” he said.

  “Oh no, what’s wrong?”

  Andy let out a frustrated sigh. “My father wants me to stay through the weekend and attend a networking thing with some investors. It’s full speed ahead on his plans to expand into resorts, the way my mother wanted before she passed.”

  His voice dropped a little at the end. He still had a hard time talking about his mother, who’d passed away while they were both overseas. She’d flown back with him six months ago to attend the funeral.

  “I hate to disappoint you, but I won’t be back until next week.”

  “I am disappointed, but I understand. Your father wants you to learn as much as you can, and you’ve been gone for a while, so it takes time to catch up.”

  “I knew you’d understand. Hey! Why don’t you fly up this weekend and come to the networking event with me, let me show you off.”

  As disappointed as she was, she did not want to go to New York to network with investors. “Can I take a rain check?”

  “Sure. We’ll just be working anyway.”

  She couldn’t tell if he was upset but hoped he wasn’t. “When exactly will you be back?” she asked.

  “Sunday for sure.”

  “I guess I’ll see you then.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  Nina hung up the phone and tried not to dwell on her disappointment. She’d been spoiled while they were overseas and had to get used to him splitting his time between her and his obligations. Andy had been lucky and grateful that his father let him go back on the road after his mother’s passing, but now he had to take on the tasks left mainly unattended by her death.

  At the sound of gentle knocking, Nina jumped up and skipped down the four steps at the front. Thinking her food had arrived, she swung open the door.

  Her heart made an involuntary stutter at the sight of Reese leaning his shoulder in the doorway.

  “Reese.” She breathed his name in surprise. Her voice came out huskier than it should, and she quickly followed up the greeting by clearing her throat.

  His eyes traveled over her in an inappropriately slow review that spent way too much time on her breasts before dropping to the dip in her waist and her bare legs in the skimpy shorts.

  “Hi,” Reese said, letting male appreciation drip from the two letters.

  Heat crawled up Nina’s neck. “I, uh, I thought you were room service.”

  “I could tell you were expecting someone else. Can I come in?”

  She hesitated for a second, unsure if allowing him inside her apartment was a good idea. But then she shook off her reservations. She could handle Reese, and the sooner they had their talk, the better.

  “Sure.” She stepped back, and he strolled in, crowding her at the foot of the stairs as he towered over her. That little space had never seemed so small before, and there was nowhere for her to go except back into the wall.

  He pulled a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. “For you.” Bright reds, oranges, and yellows burst with contrast against the light blue of his shirt.

  Her stomach tightened unexpectedly. She loved flowers—loved to receive them, give them, smell them—particularly ones as lovely as these.

  “What’s the occasion?” she asked.

  “Just because,” he replied.

  Nina took them. “Thank you,” she said, doing an excellent job of resisting the urge to lift them to her nose. She didn’t want him to know how much she appreciated the kind gesture.

  “After you.” Reese stepped aside and extended his hand so she could precede him.

  He followed her up the stairs, and she became very conscious of her butt in his face because he was right behind her. In the living room, she placed the flowers on a side table and watched Reese take a look around the room.

  “So, are you settled in?” he asked.

  “Pretty much.”

  “Then why didn’t you call? Tomorrow makes a week since you’ve been back.” Before she could answer, he added, “Still running?”

  “I’m not running.”

  “Could’ve fooled me.”

  “Well, I’m not. I’ve been busy. As a matter of fact, I was at the office today trying to decide whether or not I want to take on the responsibility of running my father’s company.”

  His face shifted into a concerned frown. “And?”

  Nina shrugged. “I’m not sure yet. One day. Maybe.” She waited for a judgmental remark, but none came.

  Reese nodded. “I get that. I have a work decision to make myself.”

  “What about?”

  “The chief information officer of SJ Brands is retiring at the end of the year. My mother wants me to take over,
but I’m not sure that’s what I want to do.”

  SJ Brands was the multibillion-dollar conglomerate his mother built over several decades that included fashion, makeup, and furniture lines, while SJ Media was her film company that funded documentaries and produced independent films.

  “That leaves about six months to decide.”

  He laughed a little. “Not that much time. She wants a decision within the next couple of months so that if I turn down the offer, they’ll have time to find a replacement.”

  “Makes sense.”

  They both fell silent.

  Nina wrung her hands together but stopped when his gaze locked on the motion.

  “Nina, you don’t have to be nervous with me. We’ve known each other forever.”

  “But we haven’t always been friends,” she reminded him. There was a period of over a year when she’d cut him off.

  “And I regret that. I regret that because of what I said and did, I can’t touch you right now. You’re standing so far away from me like you’re afraid of me. Are you, Nina? Afraid of me?”

  “No,” she lied.

  She kept a safe distance from him because she couldn’t think when he touched her, and unfortunately, Reese was the affectionate type. A hugger like his father, very touchy-feely. That was one of the things she loved—used to love—about him.

  Her favorite place in the world used to be inside one of his hugs—kissing, laughing, cuddling. She’d sought that same comfort on the first anniversary of her father’s death.

  “I missed you.” He spoke in a husky voice, his purposeful stare so heavy she almost collapsed under its weight.

  “Reese.”

  “Let me finish.”

  “I can’t let you finish because I have something to tell you. First of all, we should not have kissed, and I take full responsibility for initiating it.”

  He angled his head to the side, looking completely unmoved by her statement. “Are you done?”

  “I want to repeat what I’ve already said in the past, which is that it didn’t mean anything.”