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Chapter 8


The act of shaving Nick’s head had in reality taken all of ten minutes and for the second time that morning Nick was glad to see how early it was. The clock on the dash of Rachel’s car read 8:17. Nick was astonished that he’d already accomplished so much this morning and it was still early enough to order off the breakfast menu at McDonalds. Rachel was right; the day really was just beginning.

Nick’s face was now beaming with excitement and his mind was filled with all kinds of ways he could spend his “sick day”, as Rachel called it. Rachel watched his eyes flutter from side to side as his mind raced. As she looked at him, she couldn’t believe how different he looked, and it had noting to do with his recent loss of hair. His eyes seemed lighter, his smile was wider, and even his complexion seemed brighter. It was like he had been transformed.

Every time Rachel had seen Nick up to this point he looked as if he were carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders but suddenly, along with the weight of his hair, the heaviness of the world was gone as well. Rachel could tell by the twinkle in his eyes that she’s made the right decision by dragging him out today and, although she’d been looking forward to this day already, she was now filled with excitement over the possibilities that it now had to offer. “So where to next?” she asked.

Nick grinned, “First things first, I need an egg mcmuffin,” he said.

Rachel laughed but didn’t hesitate to pull out of the Supercuts parking lot in the direction of the nearest McDonalds and, seeing as how there’s a McDonalds on practically every street corner in this country, it was just minutes later that Nick sat in a booth inhaling his 3rd greasy sandwich. Rachel sipped her less than excellent coffee, wondering how Nick could eat that way and not be sick.

Spencer had already eaten his Cheerios earlier and played happily on the deserted play gym. “Look at me, Mommy!” he chanted every few seconds, after he managed to climb just a bit farther into the maze of colorful tubing.

Nick smiled, watching Rachel interact with her son. Her entire face lit up as she waved to him. He wondered what it must feel like to have someone in your life that you truly loved unconditionally. Without taking his eyes off of her Nick began to wonder if he would ever be so lucky. Most of the time the thought of kids scared the hell out of Nick, but he knew that one day, many, many years down the road, it was something he wanted. But the thought of ending up like Rachel scared him too. He wondered how she had the strength to raise a child on her own and realized that that was just one more thing that intrigued him about her.

Spencer squealed with delight and then scampered off again and Rachel turned her attention back to Nick. She was surprised at the intense stare she was getting from him. Though the look on his face wasn’t lustful, but more one of admiration, she still blushed under his gaze. She nervously cleared her throat snapping Nick back to reality. “Any ideas on what you’d like to do today?” she asked.

Nick thought for a moment and then asked, almost shyly, “Did you really have no plans for the day?”

“Just you,” Rachel replied sweetly. “Like I said, today is your day so I am at your mercy.”

When Nick heard that he grinned. “Let’s go to the beach!” he suggested then corrected himself, “Let’s go surfing!”

Rachel looked at Nick like he was crazy. “It’s October. Do you know how cold it will be at the beach?”

Nick frowned. Normally the cold wouldn’t stop him, but he didn’t want to risk getting little Spencer sick or anything so he sat for a minute trying to think up a new plan. Then suddenly his eyes flickered with excitement. “It won’t be cold in Cabo,” he suggested.

“Cabo?”

“Cabo San Lucas?”

“As in Mexico?” Rachel questioned.

“Sure,” Nick smiled. “We’re not that far from the Santa Monica Airport. I bet it wouldn’t be that difficult to get someone to fly us down there for the day.”

Rachel laughed the same way she had when Nick suggested she go with him to the AMA’s. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Look,” Nick said intensely, “I know you said you don’t want to do the whole celebrity thing, and I respect that, but come on. We’re not talking screaming fans and red carpets here. Its just a nice relaxing day at the beach.”

“But,” Rachel began to argue but Nick cut her off.

“Whether you like it or not,” he said, “that’s who I am. I’m Nick Carter, baby!” he teased making Rachel laugh but then became serious again. “I can’t help it if I’m a freaking millionaire. When you’re with me, you get spoiled. And besides, you said this was my day to do whatever I want, and I want to go surfing. I never have time to go surfing. Come on Rachel be spontaneous. Get a little crazy and let’s go to Cabo!”

Rachel still looked a little skeptical but Nick could see a tiny spark of excitement behind her eyes and he could tell that deep down she wanted to go. He didn’t understand what the big deal was but Rachel seemed almost scared to say yes. He figured she didn’t have many opportunities like this. She was a little rough around the edges and used to being on her own. She may be a doctor, but had to work very hard to get where she was. Nick was sure being spoiled was a concept she was not used to. He hated to make her do something that she might be a little uncomfortable with but she was just going to have to get used to it. Nick already cared a great deal for her and wanted to do all the things for her that she couldn’t do for herself.

As Nick stared her down he decided that Rachel probably needed to live life as much as he did and he was not about to go through this change all by himself. If there was something he could do to help Rachel, then he was going to do it. After a lot of contemplation, Nick put his foot down. “That’s it, it’s settled,” he demanded, “You’re at my mercy today, remember?”

Rachel’s lips finally cracked into a smile, making Nick jump up from his seat like a ball of energy. “Come on little man! It’s time to go!” he yelled up to Spencer.

Spencer giggled feeding off of Nick’s playful attitude. “You can’t get me!” he sung from the top of the play structure.

“Wanna bet?” Nick laughed and then dove into the tube in front of him.

Rachel couldn’t hold back her laughter as she watched Nick chase Spencer around. The little guy obviously had the advantage over Nick’s large figure and taunted him relentlessly. Once Nick’s inflated ego had taken enough of a beating he called to Rachel for assistance. “Spencer Jonathan Philips!” she said sternly, “It’s time to come down now.”

“OK Mommy!” Spencer chimed, “I’m coming down the slide. Catch me!”

As Spencer slid into his mother’s arms, Nick reached the top of the slide. “I’m coming too!” he yelled, “Catch me!”

Nick flew himself down the slide and Rachel stepped out of the way. Both she and Spencer laughed hysterically when he landed sharply on his rear. “Ow,” he whined through his laughter.

Rachel propped Spencer onto her hip and held out a hand to Nick. He took it and pulled himself up rubbing his sore tailbone with his other hand. Rachel laughed again and this time Nick laughed along with her. He took Rachel’s free arm in his and practically skipped out of the restaurant.

Three short hours later Nick, Rachel, and Spencer found themselves standing on the most beautiful beach Rachel had ever seen. In all her life Rachel had never dreamed she would be able to visit a place so beautiful and now here she was just spending the day here on a whim and the feeling was a little overwhelming. “You’re unbelievable Nick Carter,” she said shaking her head.

Nick watched her take in the scene as if it weren’t real. He could see the wonder and amazement in her expression and was filled with joy knowing he’d done something special for her. He pulled her close to him as they stared out at the crystal clear waves. “So what do you think?” he giggled.

“Nick it’s incredible! I’ve never seen anything like it!” she said breathlessly.

“This is nothing,” Nick shrugged. “One of these days I’ll take you to Figi. Now that’s beautiful.”

Rachel blinked knowing that, although his voice suggested he was kidding, he may not have been joking. “I don’t need to go to Figi,” she laughed, “this place is more than beautiful enough for someone like me.”

Nick heard a tiny hint of sadness in Rachel’s heart and he immediately focused all his attention on her. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked.

Rachel smiled and shrugged her reply. “I’m a simple girl from a simple town in nowhere, Kansas.”

Nick stared at her in disbelief. For the first time since he met her he saw some of her insecurity and it broke his heart. It was then that Nick realized that everything had been about him since he’d met Rachel. He hadn’t really stopped to think that she might be struggling internally as well. In Nick’s eyes she seemed to have a perfect life, but then, the majority of the world probably thought that very same thing about him. Nick nearly felt sick at the thought of Rachel suffering in any way. She was the most amazing person he’d ever met and he wanted her to know that.

Once again Nick was lost in his own thoughts and making Rachel blush from his stare. She nervously looked down at Spencer who was playing with a pile of sand toys nick bought from a woman off the street. She could still feel Nick’s eyes on her and she nervously began to smooth out the wrinkles on the brightly colored sarong Nick insisted she get to match the new bikini he picked out for her when they got there. She tried to refuse, but she couldn’t exactly spend the day on an exotic beach in the jeans she’d been wearing when they left.

Nick saw her tugging at the new outfit, that just happened to be very pleasing to look at, and it turned his train of thought a different direction. When he’d pulled the outfit off the shelf Rachel’s face instantly went white. She was obviously a little self-conscious about her body. True, she was no Jessica Alba, but she was still very easy on the eyes. She had a little extra padding in her tummy, but she’d had a child and Nick thought that, if anything, the extra weight made her look soft, and in a strange way, sort of inviting.

Nick couldn’t help but wonder how often men approached her. Skinny girls with toned bodies always knew they looked good, and while they flaunted their beauty, their attitude screamed ‘look but don’t touch’, but Rachel wasn’t like that. She wasn’t intimidating.

Since he was already thinking about it, Nick took a moment to look her over once more. In her own way, she was beautiful and despite the qualities that some might see as imperfections, Nick was glad she’d agreed to the two-piece swimsuit. He also couldn’t help but think that he had good taste. “What are you smiling at?” Rachel asked when she finally looked up and saw the smirk on his face.

“I knew coming to the beach was a good idea,” he teased, as he playfully looked her up and down.

Rachel rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you go find a nice little senorita to seduce or something?”

“Why do you do that?” Nick asked curiously.

“Do what?”

“Pretend like you’re not beautiful.”

Once again Rachel rolled her eyes but this time she blushed. Nick grinned mischievously and pulled out a box from behind his back. “What’s this?” Rachel asked when he handed her the box.

Nick smiled. “Oh just something I found while you were trying on swimsuits.”

Rachel slowly opened the box, almost scared to see what was inside. She gasped when she saw the beautiful set of hair combs. They were made from tortoise shells and had exotic flowers on them with pearls strung about them. “Nick, they’re beautiful!” she whispered.

Nick was glad to see that she liked them. “Well so are you,” he replied taking one of the combs from the box.

“This is too much,” Rachel protested as Nick pulled her hair from her face and clipped it back with the new comb.

“Well I can’t take them back and I certainly don’t need them.”

“Especially not now,” Rachel snickered, reaching up to rub his fuzzy head.

Nick placed the other comb in her hair and stepped back to take a good look at her. His smile was now one of pride. Nick was proud that he’d put a glow on her face. “You may be from a small town in nowhere, Kansas, but there is nothing simple about you.”

Rachel tried to shy away from the praise but Nick refused to let her. “I mean it Rachel, you have done more for me in one week than anyone ever has. If anyone deserves this, it’s you.”

“Alright Nick, that’s enough. Stop making me blush,” Rachel said, laughing nervously, but Nick stood his ground.

“I can’t help it,” he shrugged. “I’m happy today. I haven’t been in this good a mood in years and it’s all because of you. You’re incredible.”

Rachel again turned her red face away from Nick. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome,” Nick replied sincerely.

They stood for just a moment in awkward silence, which Nick broke with a giggle. Rachel questioned him with her eyes and he flashed her that beautiful half smile of his. He snatched up Spencer off the ground and went running toward the waves. “Last one in the water is a rotten egg!” He called back to her.

Rachel laughed, and with a shake of her head, headed down the beach toward her two favorite boys in the world.

That day in Cabo had been the most relaxing day both Nick and Rachel had ever had. Nick’s endless enthusiasm mystified Rachel. The quality he seemed to display was almost a childlike innocence. The grin never left his face and everything was fun and exciting. Overall it was an absolutely amazing day, one that he would never forget. He was surprised because he’d been to Cabo many times before but it was like he was experiencing everything for the first time. The water seemed clearer, the sky was bluer, the women were prettier. Everything was just better.

Not once that day had he been worried about what the other guys were doing or whether they would approve of what he was doing. Not once had he thought about an ex-girlfriend, or an agent, or the paparazzi. In fact, he’d even completely forgotten about his afternoon meeting at the studio. The reality was, Nick Carter managed to put his entire life aside and just enjoy himself. And did he ever!

It was nearly 10 pm when Rachel pulled into Nick’s driveway and Spencer had long since passed out from the exhausting day. On the way home from the airport Nick insisted the day wasn’t quite over yet. He and Rachel stopped for goodies and rented Ferris Buler. Rachel laughed when she saw his movie choice, and he told her that he had to know where the inspiration behind the best day of his life had come from. Rachel simply couldn’t refuse him and agreed to stay to watch the movie.

Nick carried Spencer into one of the guest rooms and laid him on the bed. He smiled when he saw the way Rachel was watching the sleeping child. “He had so much fun today,” Rachel sighed. “He’s been so stressed since we came to LA. I think he needed this day as much as you did.”

Nick walked up beside her and slid his arm around her waist. “I don’t think he was the only one,” he said. “You’re looking a good 10 years younger yourself.”

Rachel rolled her eyes, but then rested her head on Nick’s shoulder. “Today was really amazing Nick, I can’t even begin to say thank you.”

Nick smiled proudly to himself. “How about you just call us even then,” he said and kissed the top of her head. As soon as he kissed her, he immediately pulled away from her and began to playfully spit. Rachel wrinkled her nose at the odd behavior. “Your hair tastes like the beach,” he teased.

“Well you smell like seaweed,” Rachel played back.

Nick pulled his shirt to his nose and realized Rachel was right. He smelled like the ocean. “Ok, new plan,” he said, walking into the bathroom that adjoined the guest room. He made sure there was clean towels and soap. “I’m going to go shower. Feel free to do the same. I’m sure there are clothes in the closet. You can probably find something to put on if you want to be clean for the movie,” he said and grinned. “Unless you prefer to be nude. That is not against the rules in this house.”

Rachel swat Nick’s arm playfully. “It is when I’m here! I better not come downstairs and find you naked.”

Nick let out a long playful sigh. “Your loss,” he said and they both laughed.

Nick ran off to rid himself of sand and salt, and Rachel didn’t hesitate to jump in the shower either.