Million Dollar Mistake

But not with Raven. Never with Raven.
When it came to facing his emotions, to opening himself to the full extent—he
was terrified. He should have talked straight as soon as he’d discovered he was
falling in love with her.
He’d said the words, “I love you”. But he hadn’t given her the rest of it, the
rest of himself—his deepest feelings and emotions, his fears and terrors.
He’d remedy that right now.
With a firm, determined stride, he left the room, walked down the hall,
descended the steps to the foyer and looked around for signs of her luggage.
Seeing none, he quickened his pace and headed for the drawing room. A quick
scan from the doorway revealed no Raven inside.
Instead Nana said, “If you’re looking for Raven, she’s gone.”
Nicholas glanced toward the windows to where Nana stood, straight as a tiny
sentry, with a smiling Lorianne beside her.
“Where is she?”
Nana ignored him and moved toward him, shaking her finger as if he was a
naughty child. “What do you think you’re doing, young man?”
He met her halfway and tried to smile. It fell flat. “Hell, if I know,” he
muttered.
Nana bobbed her chin, sharply. “I’d agree with that—and then some.”
He glanced over at Lorianne, who still stood by the windows watching them,
then gave Nana a somewhat wry glance. “I’m sure you would.”
“For a man with so many skills, you’ve showed remarkably few in your
dealings with Raven.”
“I know,” he said again, feeling like a six-year-old being scolded for stealing
cookies.
Nana turned to include Lorianne in the conversation. “From the minute I saw

---

the four of you together, I’d anticipated some fun and,” she grinned, “some
fireworks.”
“I hope you weren’t disappointed,” Nicholas said dryly.
“Not at all. It reminded me of my own courtship. Impulsive, misunderstood,
romantic.” Nana sighed, walking over to the fireplace mantle to pick up a
photograph. “It was wonderful.”
Nicholas wasn’t sure what to say, but Lorianne knew. She strolled over to
Nana and gave her a hug. “I wish I could have known him.”
“You would have been fascinated, dear.” Nana smiled, eyes sparkling. “He did
that to everyone. My parents didn’t want me to marry him, threatened to disown
me, but I didn’t care. He was mine. I knew that the minute I saw him. Like
Raven, he had a charm and a charisma that captivated anyone within two feet.”
She chuckled. “I had to beat women off him with a stick half the time.”
Nicholas laughed. “I’ll bet you were up to the task.”
“That I was. I couldn’t live without him,” Nana agreed. She replaced the
photo and turned to face him, her expression determined. “But this is about you,
Nicholas.”
Nana walked over to him. She only came up to his heart, he thought, looking
down with a slight smile, but she scared him silly. “From the first minute it was
obvious to everyone that you and Raven, and Lorianne and Jackson belonged
together. Somehow you got off track, no thanks to my son, J.R., so I decided to
help a bit.”
“Thank you,” Lorianne inserted. “I think it’s working.”
Nana gave her an amused glance. “Of course it is. Men always want another
dog’s bone. Jackson is no different.” As she turned a stern gaze back to face him,
Nicholas had to fight the impulse to run. “Neither are you, Nicholas
Demetrious.”
He frowned. “That’s not why I want Raven.”
“Why do you want her?”
“She’s Raven. That’s enough for any man.”
“Then you should have done a better job keeping her.”
“It’s complicated.”
“No, it’s not. It’s very simple.” Nana sent Lorianne an amused glance. “It’s
just like a man to make it complicated.”
Taking him off guard, Nana attacked, her words sharp and staccato, “Could
you live without Raven?”
At her fierce look, his voice raised until it was almost a shout, “No. I’m in
love with her, goddammit. Now where is she?”
“Jackson took her to the airport,” Lorianne said.

---

Alarmed, he glared at her, then Nana. “What? When?”
“About ten minutes ago,” Nana answered, looking well satisfied with herself.
As Nicholas swore, long and fluently with strung-together words seldom used
in polite company, Lorianne blinked, but Nana just laughed. “Oh this does
remind me of the good old days.”
But she was talking to air. Nicholas had already left the room and was
slamming the outside door behind him.
Nicholas left his car haphazardly parked in the short-term lot and raced to the
small airport terminal. He almost ran over Jackson, who was on his way out as
he was coming in. Grabbing his arm, Nicholas demanded, “Where’s Raven?”
“Buying a ticket.”
“She’s not gone then?”
Jackson sent him a meaningful look. “Not yet.”
Nicholas stared back at him for a minute. “Right. Thanks.”
“Nicholas.” Jackson grabbed his arm to stop him as Nicholas started past.
“What?”
“Groveling is probably a good idea.”
Nicholas eyes crinkled. “You think?”
“Oh, yeah. From what she had to say about you on the way to the airport, it’s
definitely the best approach.”
Nicholas grinned. “I don’t grovel well.”
Jackson sent him an answering one. “Yeah, tell me about it.”
“Then, I guess we’d both better start learning, huh?”
With a gloomy glance, Jackson agreed. “Such is the fate of man.”
Nicholas chuckled. “We should put that on a plaque.”
“We’d probably make a fortune.”
“No doubt.”
They stared at each other for a moment before Jackson said, “Thanks for
helping me get my head straight about Raven and Lorianne.”
“No thanks needed. If it hadn’t been for you, Raven and I would still be
circling each other.” Nicholas extended his hand to shake Jackson’s. “Good luck,
Jackson.”
“You, too, Nicholas. You’re going to need it.”
With Jackson’s parting words in his ears, Nicholas went to look for Raven.
He found her standing in a long line at the main ticket counter for a western
airline. For a moment, he just absorbed her, staring at her as if he’d never seen
her before. Perhaps he hadn’t. Looking through the eyes of love changed things.

---

Her posture was a mixture of pride and dejection, he thought, and her hair
raged around her head like a whirlwind. He wanted to hold her, comfort her and
reassure her. She wasn’t perfect. Far from it. But then, neither was he. He’d
certainly proved that all too recently. No, she wasn’t perfect. She was reckless,
impulsive and damn near impossible. But she was Raven. She might make
mistakes, but she had heart. Heart and humor and passion. Heaven and angels