“A couple? Boyfriend and girlfriend? Lovers? In love? Those are some of the things you might call it. And who says?”
“What about just friends? Women and men can be friends. Look at us.”
“That’s different. And you know it. Why ask you to join him in that village for Carnival? He wanted you with him.”
“So, what? I want you and Templeton with me.”
“Yeah, but you don’t want to kiss us. Not like that.”
“No, I don’t. You’re right. And let’s remember it’s me that wanted to kiss him in that alleyway. Not the other way around.”
“Uh-uh. He wanted to kiss you. I can tell by the way you described that scene. I can see it. He would have if his nieces hadn’t showed up.”
Nico sighed, rolling her eyes.
“Poor man. He must have it bad. He didn’t even care that you had a moustache!”
“You’re reading into this. Also, are you forgetting what I told you happened in that village? It might have been Mickey who pulled me away.” Nico held up her palm like a traffic cop when Charles opened his mouth. “And before you say something to the effect that I give the man too much power. That’s exactly what I plan onnotdoing. Don’t you getit? If he’s around and he sees that I have feelings for Rocco, he might try to get at me through him.”
“How?”
“I don’t know how. And I don’t want to find out how.”
Charles narrowed his eyes. Nico did likewise.
“And what about him inviting you to come to the town he grew up in and stay with his family? A man doesn’t do that if he doesn’t have feelings for a woman.”
“He didn’t invite me. His nieces did. And I’ve already told them I have plans.”
“What plans?”
“Hanging out with you and Templeton. We’ll go out, eat junk food, coffee ice cream, and chocolate. Invent new cocktails and watch movies. It’ll be fun.”
“He’s made no mention of your joining him for a visit?”
“No. Just because his nieces want me to visit doesn’t mean he does.”
“He hasn’t mentioned it because he thinks you have plans.”
“He can’t know that. We haven’t talked about what we’re doing over the break.”
“His nieces told him.”
“You don’t know that.” Nico stood up. “Are we going or what?”
Charles groaned. “Okay.”
They walked silently down the hallway and into the elevator.
Charles looked her up and down as they descended. “You really are in grifter mode.”
Exasperated, Nico huffed. “Just because I’m made up like I would be if I were going to con someone doesn’t mean that’s what I intend on doing.”
Charles sighed as the elevator doors opened. “Guess there’s no need to when you’ve already conned yourself.”
Rocco leaned against a marble column in the Salle Empire. Three arched windows opened out onto a large terrace that overlooked Casino Square and a portion of the circuit they’d raced earlier today.
He watched, waiting for the moment he would find her alone.
