Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108751 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“She would have loved Vera. Telling me she was smarter than I deserved,” Nico added.
Nico’s hand slipped around my waist and held me close, and I had to remind myself that this was what he got out of the marriage. A happy picture to portray to his ailing grandpa. He’d been attentive all day, but I had to remember that it wasn’t real.
“I can see how much you care for each other.”
I looked away, unsure of lying to an old man I’d grown to like in the short time we’d been chatting.
“Be kind to your hearts through it all. Love is a dangerous game with many rewards. So, when you have it, fight hard to keep it.” He looked down at the ring decorating my finger, probably remembering it on his wife’s finger. “It’s precious.”
His love filled the room and warmed me from the inside out. His was the love a girl dreamed about.
How a man like Nico—marrying a woman for convenience, full of arrogance, and missing a good dose of empathy—came from a man like Charles, I could never guess.
“We’ll do our best,” Nico promised.
“If not, you come to me, and I’ll knock him into shape,” Charlie promised with another wink.
“I look forward to it,” I said, smiling at Nico.
“Thanks, Grandpa. Aren’t you supposed to be on my side?”
“Nah, I raised you to be a good man, and I know you can take care of yourself.”
Nico stood a little taller, and for a bit, despite his towering frame, I saw a little boy, putting every ounce of pride in his spine, rising up under his grandpa’s praise. Charlie was a man Nico respected and loved, and it was a side I’d yet to see from him.
This wasn’t the arrogant businessman or the devious flirt—this was just a man—a good one. If I had a camera, I would have taken a picture and tucked it away to pull out when I wanted to imagine Nico as my prince charming. Instead, I tucked it away mentally, wanting to remember this softer side of him.
“Besides, I’m looking for any reason for this beautiful young woman to come visit me, so I can share all the ways to beat you at cards—I can tell you all his secrets.”
Nico stiffened, and Charlie laughed, softly smacking his hand against Nico’s chest. “Loosen up, Nicholas. You’re nervous like a girl bringing home her first boyfriend.”
Nico’s cheeks turned a ruddy color and leveled Charlie with a disapproving glare, but Charlie met him with one of his own. The duel stretched until it became abundantly clear another conversation took place without words.
Finally, Charlie broke the staring contest with a huff. “I won’t spill all your secrets.” Nico’s jaw twitched, and my eyes flicked back and forth like watching a tennis match. When the tension became almost too much to bear, Charlie winked at me and turned back into the flirt. “Not yet, at least. Although, I’m not sure how much longer I can hold back telling Vera about the year you refused to wear pants.”
Nico groaned, and I laughed—the tension fading. But I pocketed away the staring contest next to all the other tidbits I’d learned about Nico, unable to ignore that maybe Charlie was hinting at secrets Nico didn’t want me to know. Part of me wanted to prod more and roll the information around to study it at all angles, but the ambiance around us had me saving it for another time.
That, and Charlie telling me more stories of Nico as a boy that had him reaching for a tumbler and trying to hide his blushing cheeks. I found it terribly adorable and promised Nico I’d never let him live the embarrassing stories down.
Soon after, Charlie left, and the night moved in a blur, people dancing and eating and laughing. Deals were made at the open bar as can only happen at a wedding with mostly business associates. Raelynn managed to drag Austin out on the floor and danced around him in a way that made him blush. I laughed when Austin danced with Nova, and Raelynn glared when she thought no one was watching.
By the end of the night, everyone was laughing and having fun. Nico—a surprisingly good dancer—twirled me around, pulling me right back into his arms.
Another round of clinking glasses at the end of the night had his lips on mine again. Only this time, when he pulled away, he hefted me in his arms. I yelped, holding on tight around his neck.
“It’s time to go, wife,” he whispered.
He made his way to the exit, nodding his farewell to everyone we passed.
“Nico. This is rude, and oh my god, what are they going to think?”
“That I’m taking my brand-new bride to our suite, so I can tear you out of this dress and fuck you as your husband.”