Falling For Nick Read Online Free Page B

washed the walls.
    And the place still wasn't livable.
    But it was cleaner.
    They didn't go into Maude's room, and they didn't talk about why. Instead, they simply closed the door on their mother's life.
    "I think if you paint the walls, it might help with the smell," Billy said as he surveyed the work they'd done.
    "Maybe." Nick's stomach rumbled. The noon hour had long since passed. "What do you say we take a break and get something to eat?"
    "Sounds good." Billy tied off the garbage bag he held. "I'll take this down on the way."
    They left the apartment together and were on their way down the stairs when a man approached them.
    "Nick Lombard?" The man gave Nick an odd, knowing smile.
    "Who wants to know?" Nick asked, instantly wary. The man looked harmless enough in his polo shirt, tan pants, and suede jacket. He stood on the sidewalk at the bottom of the stairs, holding an envelope out to Nick.
    "If you are Nick Lombard this is for you."
    Nick reached the sidewalk. Cold February air stung his cheeks.
    The man thrust a big yellow envelope into Nick's hand.
    "Have a nice day," the man said, his smile widening.
    As far as Nick knew, Maude didn't have a will. Whatever awaited him in the envelope was sure to be bad news. For a moment he considered chucking it in the dumpster with the rest of the garbage.
    "Who do you think it's from?" Billy asked.
    "No clue."
    "You have to open it, Nick. It might have something to do with John."
    Against his better judgment, Nick tore the envelope open and pulled out two pages of folded paper. Quickly, he scanned the print. "Shit."
    "What's it say?" Billy asked, trying to read over Nick's shoulder."
    "It's a No Contact Order. I'm not to go within one hundred feet of Clea or my son."
    "Jesus, she's playing hard ball," Billy said, a note of sympathy in his voice.
    Nick nodded, too angry to speak. Was Clea across the street in The Coffee House, watching him, waiting? A sharp ache started in his gut. Clea hadn't even tried to talk to him; instead she'd taken steps to keep him away. Part of him could understand why, but a bigger part of him seethed with anger and he wanted to rise to the challenge she'd put before him. "I think I might have to take a rain check on lunch, Billy."
    "Whoa," Billy said. "I know that look. You're not thinking of going over there, are you?"
    "If Clea wants to play hardball, I'll play." Nick started forward, but had to stop and wait for traffic on the street to clear.
    Billy grabbed his arm. "Don't be stupid. Think about it.
    If you go over there, she'll have your ass thrown back in jail. Is that what you want? Do you want to lose your son before you even get the chance to know him?"
    "No." Nick glanced away, fighting to ignore the tightening in his chest.
    Billy squeezed his arm. "Clea's getting to you, just like she always has. Damn her. Think about things before you do something you'll regret."
He'd always been quick to act on his temper, and his
    temper had always gotten him in trouble. Billy made sense. Maybe he should have listened to him ten years ago. If he had, he wouldn't have gone to prison. He'd know his son, be a part of his life. "You're right."
    "I know I'm right. Let's go and get some lunch. You need to think strategy, and I'm going to help you. If you want the chance to know your son, you need to play by the rules."
    "I don't want to mess up his life. I don't want to play games, Billy, not when it comes to John." Something sad pricked his heart as he said the words. Did his son want to know him? That question had kept him awake nights when he'd been locked up. Was John better off without a father? Nick didn't know the first thing about being a parent and would probably do a lousy job, but more than anything he wanted the chance to try, which was more than his own father ever did.
    Billy let go of his arm. "Maybe you need to tell Clea you don't want to make trouble so she can relax." He grinned. "In the meantime, the first thing you need to do is forget