Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79898 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 399(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 266(@300wpm)
No one had ever inspired such divisive feelings in me, and I was glad. People like Nico made me feel unfocused and unsteady, unsure of myself and the world around me.
The whole group of us – the makeup and hair people, plus Nico, his assistant, Nell, and myself – took two cabs to his condo, which was a penthouse right in the middle of Manhattan. I had to admit that it was beautiful: high, lofty ceilings with wall-to-floor windows and stained dark hardwood floors that I could tell had recently been polished. It was easily the nicest apartment I’d ever been in, and yet it almost looked like a model home, like a place where no one actually lived.
Nico emerged from the hallway with several suits on hangers.
“These are great,” Nell said. “You’ve really got an eye for this, Nico.”
Nico snorted. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you the truth,” he said, glancing at me over the top of Nell’s blonde hair. “But my buddy and I picked this stuff out last night while we were blind drunk.”
I couldn’t help it – I burst into raucous laughter and even snorted. Nell gave me a strange look and I immediately clenched my teeth together to keep from laughing even harder.
“I was thinking we might shoot in my office,” Nico said casually, and the whole group of us went into his home office. When I saw that his desk was clearly the same desk he’d once used at work, I blushed hotly. It was too easy to look at the beautiful piece of furniture and think of the dirty, naughty things that I’d done with him that day.
Nico smirked at me as he sat down at the desk. I could tell that he, too, was thinking about what had happened between us and I took a deep breath and stared up at the ceiling as he mugged for the camera. Nico changed from one suit into another and posed by the windows, staring moodily out at the darkening sky with a tumbler of whiskey in his hand. The photographer took careful snaps of Nico’s tie collection, his box full of cufflinks, and even his closet, which was so carefully arranged that I wondered if he had a cleaning person.
At the end of the evening, Nico changed into flannel pajama bottoms and leather slippers. Shirtless, with his beautiful chest exposed, he pretended to gaze into his cigar humidor as the photographer snapped one shot after the other.
It was too much – even though this was manufactured artifice, it still felt like seeing Nico exposed, Nico at home.
Nico unguarded.
It was so domestic and so sexy at the same time, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly aroused as I watched the photographer work his magic. Nico was a natural – it was clear that he loved the camera as much as the camera loved him, and just watching him was making my heart pound in my chest.
The only thing that made me feel better was knowing that soon, this would be over and for the second time in my life, Nico Ulrich and his unfortunately sexy smile would be long behind me.
11
Nico – Saturday
The evening was winding down and I felt relieved. I’d been almost giddy about having Harper in my condo for the first time, like a kid from junior high on his first “date” with the hot girl from his math class. Other than noticing my desk – and blushing deliciously – nothing out of the ordinary had happened, though.
Then again, it wasn’t like we’d been alone. Harper’s boss and coworkers had filled the small space with boisterous talk of online edition this and spread that. And having Portia around hadn’t really helped matters, either. She’d bustled nervously from my kitchen to my living room, bringing everyone drinks and food that I’d had delivered ahead of time.
“That’s a wrap, Nico,” the photographer finally called. He grinned at me and set his camera down. “We got some great material here.”
“Excellent!” I turned to see Harper’s boss, Nell, walking over to me and suddenly, I remembered the cryptic email that she’d sent me days before.
Why on earth would she think that I had a problem working with Harper?
Had Harper said something?
At any rate, no matter what had happened, this was my chance to find out.
“Can I speak with you?” I asked Nell.
She nodded, her brow furrowing with concern. “Is everything all right?” She asked. “Did we push you too hard?”
I chuckled. “All I’ve done is sit around in clothes,” I deadpanned. “It would be hard to think of anything less taxing than that.”
Nell didn’t seem relieved. If anything, she seemed nervous and tense.
“It’s about the email you sent the other night,” I said casually. “Why would you think I have a problem working with Harper? She’s been nothing but professional.”