CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

Nicole hesitated before walking inside. What would she say? She'd purposefully avoided any contact with them since Jake had left the hospital. Rick and Steven had both called her, but she'd refused to take their calls. She wondered how Rick would view her presence.

" May I help you? "

Nicole smiled politely at the uniformed officer who had walked up to her. She nodded. " I'm looking for Detective Chase."

" Second floor. Stairs and elevator are just around the corner there."

She nodded again, remembering. " Thanks."

While she waited for the elevator, she thought she should have called first. There was no assurance that Rick would even be here. She could always look Steven up, but she doubted he knew where Jake's cabin was.

She needn't have worried. As soon as the elevator opened, she saw Rick sitting across the room, chatting with an attractive woman at the next desk. His new partner? She walked closer, finally clearing her throat to get his attention. His eyes widened in surprise, then that charming smile she remembered flashed across his face.

" Nicole! What are you doing here? "

" Hi, Rick." She nervously tucked her hands into the pockets of her jeans. " You got a minute? "

" Sure. Everything okay? "

Nicole considered the question, then shook her head. " No. Not really. Can we talk? "

He looked at the other woman. " Be right back." He then led Nicole down a hallway and into an empty room. He politely held out a chair for her, then sat down beside her. " You want some coffee or something? "

" No, thanks." She clutched her hands together on top of the table, wondering how to begin. For all she knew, Jake had moved on. It had been four months, nearly five. Plenty of time for her to meet someone up in the mountains, someone who shared her love of the forest. Nicole hadn't allowed herself to consider that possibility before. She wasn't sure what she would do if that were the case.

" Rick, do you hear from Jake? "

Rick smiled. " We talk every Sunday. Well, unless the weather's bad and she doesn't have service. She only has her cell phone."

" So, she's doing okay? "

" I suppose. Although once her therapy ended, she's only left that cabin twice in the last two months."

" Does she... does she ever ask about me? "

The smile left Rick's face, and Nicole could see a hint of anger in his eyes. " At first, she asked about you all the time." Rick shrugged. " But I told her we never heard from you, and she finally quit asking."

Nicole nodded, feeling every ounce of guilt that Rick was unknowingly piling on her. " I'd like to go see her, " Nicole said quietly. " Do you think she'd mind? "

Rick stood and pushed his chair away, pacing. " Why? "

" Why what? "

" Why do you want to go see her? "

" Because I... I miss her."

" You miss her, " Rick repeated. " Well, I don't think that's a good idea."

" Why not? "

Rick hesitated, wondering how much to tell. But hell, it didn't matter, did it? " She's finally gotten over you, Nicole. If you go up there, she's just going to get hurt all over again."

Nicole's heart hammered in her chest. " What do you mean, hurt? "

" Oh, hell, Nicole, Jake was in love with you. It just crushed her when you didn't come to the hospital, when you didn't go see her afterward. Hell, you just faded away, as if she was nothing to you."

Nicole couldn't stop the tears, and she didn't try to hide them. Rick's words went straight to her heart.

" Don't get upset, Nicole. Jake knew the score. She knew she wasn't good enough for you."

" What do you mean? "

" That night at her place, when I found out about you two, she walked me out, she told me she was in love with you. But she said she knew it wouldn't go anywhere because you were a doctor, and she was a lowly detective."

" Oh, God, " Nicole whispered. " But that's not true."

" Isn't it? "

Nicole stood, too, pacing opposite Rick. She wiped at the tears on her cheeks, wondering how she could have been so blind. Yes, that was exactly how it was. She was a psychologist, her so-called friends were doctors and lawyers. And yes, Jake was a cop. As Dorothy once told her, a couple of notches below them. So Nicole had believed her, instead of believing what was in her heart. And yes, she had treated Jake as if she wasn't good enough for her. Goddamn it all.

Nicole turned her tear-stained face to Rick, meeting his eyes. " Rick, I love her. I tried not to. I tried to push her away. But the fact remains, I'm miserable without her." Nicole swallowed. " And I suspect she's just as miserable." She took a deep breath. " Please tell me where she is. I've got to see her."

Rick shook his head. " Why don't you call her and see if she wants you to come? "

" Ricky, I'm in love with her. I want to get in my car right now and drive up there. Now tell me where the hell she is."