Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88153 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“What’s that look for?” he asks, bringing my attention back to him. I can’t say how long I’ve been lost in my own thoughts. That’s nothing new to me. When you are used to spending your time alone, it just happens naturally that you retreat into your thoughts.
“I just dread them. They’ll spend their entire trip bumming for money and trying their best to have me talk to my father about increasing their allowance.” I should feel guilty for telling Niko that. I’m not. I might be slightly embarrassed but nothing else. I believe in loyalty—but only when it’s shown. My father taught me that.
“Your family needs to be dealt with. Your father mentioned your cousin Angelina will be coming, too. It appears there are rumblings of an engagement happening soon.”
“With her and Dante? Probably. My aunt sees it as a match that will be… profitable.”
He frowns. “All the same, I’m giving Victorio orders that you are not to be alone with Dante.”
“I don’t need anyone giving Vic orders. I am an adult and Dante is fine. He’s in love with Angelina. He knows I’m engaged—however reluctant I might be.”
His lips thin out, his face hardening. He doesn’t like what I said. I don’t know what it is about Niko that makes me braver than normal. I still fight panic at times around him, but I don’t feel like I need to fear him. He wouldn’t hurt me—at least not physically.
We spend the rest of our dinner making small talk, which is usual for us. I won’t say it was a great time, but it had moments of being nice. There’s something about Niko that makes me feel more alive. As we exit the restaurant, he surprises me. He keeps his hand on my back, standing closer than normal. My nerve endings spark to life, and I try to breathe slowly to calm myself. I start to move toward the limo, and he stops me by applying more pressure on my back and bending so his lips brush against my ear.
“Let’s walk along the boardwalk, Em.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. “Em?” I squeak.
“Mmm,” he breathes, his voice deeper than normal.
I swallow, my brain trying to figure out the sudden change in the usually distant Niko. “It’s l-l-late,” I stutter.
“Not really. I want more time with you.”
“You do?” I ask, tilting my head so that I can look at him. Something lodges in my chest because, maybe for the first time ever, Niko is… smiling. I’ve always thought he was handsome, but with a smile that makes his eyes twinkle in the night, he’s breathtaking.
He doesn’t answer, just keeps directing us toward the boardwalk. Eventually, as we take the path that leads out to the pier, his hand moves away. Before I can breathe easier, his hand returns to capture mine, threading our fingers together. I look down and then back to him.
What is going on?
“Stop worrying, Em. We’re engaged. This,” he says while pulling our hands up, “is allowed.”
“I didn’t think it was. I mean, it hasn’t happened since I found out we were to be engaged, and apparently, you and my father had it figured out way before then.”
I know I’m deliberately prodding him. I want him to go back to the Niko I’m used to. The one who wouldn’t think about walking the boardwalk with me, let alone holding my hand. I don’t know how to react around him right now. I need to change that. I’m feeling out of my depth, and I don’t like it.
“That was before you told me you were attracted to me.”
I come to a stop, my heart freezing mid-beat. “I didn’t say that.”
“You did.”
“When did I say that?”
“You admitted you want my kiss. That’s the same thing.”
“It’s not,” I deny immediately.
“Don’t make me prove you a liar, Em.”
“I told you that I’d rather you call me Emilia.”
“Too bad. I refuse to call you the same name you let another man call you, so Em it is.”
“Let another man call me? Are you for real?” I huff.
In answer, Niko tugs on my hand and pulls me to him.
“I’m your fiancé. Maybe it’s time we both start acting like it.” His eyes bore into mine and I bite my lip. I’ve never seen this much emotion from Niko. I’m not sure how to deal with it.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to admit this isn’t going to work?” I whisper after moistening my lips and trying to push my panic aside. I’m not afraid of Niko physically, but this is something else entirely.
“Is your basis for thinking this isn’t going to work because you mistakenly think I don’t want you?”
My heart stutters in my chest for the millionth time.
“There’s a lot of reasons,” I finally answer.
“But this one is the one that is foremost in that pretty head of yours isn’t it, Emilia?”