That was easy. Almost too easy.
She wasn’t saying anything. Not a word.
Probably shouldn’t have done that.
Shit. He’d have to apologize now.
He turned around, prepared to do just that. But before he could utter even one word, her knee made contact with his crotch, and he doubled over.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
NICO AND ROCCO
Is he okay?
She should not—would not—feel bad.
I do not. Feel bad.
She sighed.
She did feel bad.
He was still hunched over. “What’d you do that for?” he grunted.
“Do you really need to ask?”
“You could have used words.”
“So could you!”
A burst of breath surged from behind his gritting teeth. “Fair enough. But I didn’t hurt you.”
“Sorry,” she muttered.
She was about to add in a cheeky toneDo you want me to kiss it and make it feel better?But then realized whereitwas. She felt her cheeks burn.
“Are you okay?” he asked, peering up at her with a concerned look.
That made her wonder what her face looked like.
“I’m fine.”Deflect, she told herself. “You?”
He drew another deep breath and stood up, wincing slightly. “I’m okay.” He paused, giving her a pointed look, and added, “Now.” He sighed. “Look, if you don’t want to come, that’s fine. You can go back up to the party. Hey, you might still have a shot at Tiffany Bright.”
She laughed. She didn’t want to. Well, okay, maybe she did.
“I’ll go. But next time, ask.” She walked past him and sat in the passenger seat. “So, whose boat is this?”
“Dario’s parents’,” he said as he sat behind the wheel, started the motor, and they took off. “They know I’m taking it. We’ll dock across the lake, where I have a car waiting. It’s faster than driving around the lake. Carnival’s in a small village north of here.”
Nico gazed out into the distance, trying to catch the horizon, but the lake was like black satin and the sky like black silk. She couldn’t tell where the one ended and the other began.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
The costume—heavy boots, pants, and cloak—kept her warm enough. But her cheeks bristled from the cold bite of the wind. She kept pressing her moustache to make certain it was still there. Glancing over at Rocco, she noticed he didn’t bother with his. And it stayed put.
