Restoration of Love Read Online Free Page A

to wait until morning to speak to her. She pulled into the garage and pushed the remote to close the huge door behind her. When Tia heard the sound of the door closing she opened her eyes.
         “What the hell!”
         “Don’t you even say a thing, Missy. Get your butt out of this car and into the house and you’d better hope you can make it because I, for one, am not carrying your drunk behind!”
         Tia gave Nikki an apologetic look and got out of the car without saying a word. Upon entering the house, she turned to Nikki. “Nik, I….”
         “Not another word,” Nikki snapped, cutting her off. “Go to bed, Tia. You can sleep in the guest room. We will talk in the morning. Now, go.”
         Tia shrugged and walked slowly down the hall like an obedient child. Nikki, exasperated, went to the fridge and poured herself a glass of water. She picked up her cell phone. No calls. Placing her hand on her now aching head, she noticed the red, blinking light on the house phone answering machine and walked over to it. She sat down and took off her gold, strapless sandals while listening to her messages.
         Nikki cringed at the sound of her mother’s voice, “Well daughter, I’ve called you three times. I guess you’re out although I can’t imagine where at this late hour.” Nikki rubbed her aching temples as she listened.” Well, call me as soon as you have a chance. Bye.” Nikki listened to the other two messages, both solicitors. She looked at the caller I.D., thinking that maybe Brandon had called on that phone instead of her cell and, for whatever reason, did not leave her a message. Nikki could not help but feel a little disappointed that his number was not there. Exhausted, she lay down on the couch. She had barely closed her eyes when the phone rang. She looked at the green light on the front of the CD player in front of her to check the time. It was 2:38AM. “Who on earth would be calling at this hour,” Nikki thought, worrying. She picked up the phone quickly, “Hello?”
         “Hello, pretty lady. Just calling to make sure you and your friend made it home safely.” Carlos’s voice was even sexier on the phone than in person.
         “How did you know I didn’t just dump her on the side of the road?” Nikki quipped, still angry with Tia.
         “Because you don’t seem like the kind of woman that would leave a friend stranded, drunk or not,” Carlos answered.
         “Oh, and just what kind of a woman do I seem like?”
         “Like the kind of woman I want in my life.”
         Nikki pulled the phone away from her ear and stared at it. Into the silence that followed Carlos said, “Nikki?”
         “Look, Carlos. It’s late and I’m tired. Why don’t you give me a call tomorrow,” Nikki suggested.
         “Okay, beautiful. I’ll do just that.”

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
         Still tired the next morning, Nikki decided to sleep in. She had wanted to run errands today, but after last night decided that her errands could wait. She sat up in bed and thought she smelled bacon frying. She glanced over at the digital wall clock and it read 8:10. Who could be up so early and frying bacon? Then she remembered that Tia was there. Tia. God, the last thing she wanted was to deal with her right now. She didn’t want to see her because she hadn’t decided which way she was going to kill her first for last night! She lay back down on her pillow when she heard a soft knock at the door.
         “Nikki, you awake?” came Tia’s timid voice through the door. Nikki hoped if she didn’t answer, Tia would go away. No such luck. “Nik, I know you’re awake. Please, I just want to talk to you about last night. Well, what I can remember of it anyway.” When Nikki still refused to answer, Tia pleaded, “ Come on. I made you breakfast. Your favorite, blueberry pancakes.” Even though Nikki was still furious, she knew she could not resist