“It’s such a beautiful day,” she said. “I was just thinking what a nice day it would be for a bike ride. You wouldn’t have a couple of bicycles, would you?”
He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d ridden a bicycle—other than the stationary type at his health club. “No, I’m afraid not.”
She shrugged. “Some other time, then. But we really should get out for a while this afternoon. I just heard a radio weather guy reminding everyone that this gorgeous, unseasonable weather isn’t going to last much longer. That cold front is coming through soon.”
Andrew wasn’t in the least interested in a weather report. He was nearly consumed with the urge to know who she’d been enjoying the beautiful weather with so far that day.
Nicole suddenly grimaced. “I’m sorry. I’m taking a lot for granted, aren’t I? You probably already have plans for the afternoon?”
“No. I had thought we could spend the day together,” he said, trying not to sound stiff. Knowing he did, anyway.
The mild barb apparently sailed right over her head. “Great!” she said with a smile. “What would you like to do?”
He was suddenly hungry, having missed both breakfast and lunch. “I was just about to eat lunch. Martha kept it warm for me.”
She looked surprised. “You haven’t had lunch yet?”
“I wasn’t hungry before. I am now. Er, have you eaten?” he asked, thinking she might tell him where she’d been.
She cocked her head and frowned at him. “Of course. I told you I was having lunch with my sister.”
She’d been with her sister. Some of the weight lifted from his shoulders.
But when had she told him? “You did?”
She nodded. “In the note I left you. I meant to tell you last night, but—well, I got distracted,” she murmured with a blush and a smile. “And then this morning, you were sleeping so soundly that I didn’t want to disturb you, so I left the note. You did find it, didn’t you?”
He shook his head, trying to hide his mixed emotions. “I didn’t see a note.”
“I left it on my pillow. What in the world could have happened to it?”
She turned and hurried out of the room. Andrew followed curiously, Buffy still prancing at his heels.
They found the scrap of pink paper on the floor beside his bed. It was crumpled and a bit ragged, with several canine-looking perforations in the paper.
“Looks like Buffy found it first,” Nicole said apologetically, glancing at the dog as she handed the note to Andrew. Looking suspiciously innocent, Buffy hopped onto the bed, curle
d into a fuzzy ball, and went to sleep.
Ignoring the animal snoozing on his designer bedspread, Andrew read the words Nicole had scribbled in her loose, looping handwriting.
Andrew—I forgot to tell you that I’ll be in church this morning and then having lunch with my sister and our cousin Nate. Back early afternoon.
It was signed “Nicky.”
She had left him a note. She hadn’t simply walked out, oblivious to his feelings. She’d felt he had at least some right to know where she’d gone. The realization made his throat tighten in relief—and something else he couldn’t quite define.
“I, uh, must have slept heavier than usual,” he said, keeping his gaze on the note. “I didn’t even know the dog was in my room until my father called and woke me around ten.”
“You were really out of it when I got up. Something tells me you don’t get to sleep late very often.”
“No,” he admitted. “I’m usually in the office by eight.”
“Even on weekends?”
“Most of them.”
Nicole touched his arm. “You work too hard.”