Page 8 of Naz & Roz

THREE

“Hey, wait up!”

Roz smiled even as heat climbed up her cheeks. She couldn’t remember a time when she had seen Nazio speechless like he was outside, so she … took a shot. It paid off big time. It wasn’t like her to be so bold, but Catherine gave her the idea.

Naz slid in beside her as she headed down the hallway back to where the engagement party for his sister and her fiancé was in full swing. “Are you still at that school in England for music?”

“For now, yeah.”

“It’s been a—”

Luca pressed in between the two, and darted in front of them. Probably to go find their father, but who knew? Roz didn’t miss the way her brother glanced over his shoulder to give the two a look, and then shook his head. Roz had never been the type to go after her brother’s friends, and she was sure Luca was going a little crazy right now.

Oh, well.

She smiled back at him.

Luca darted around a corner, and out of sight. It left Roz alone with Naz in the back hallway.

“Anyway,” Naz said, drawing in Roz’s attention again. “It’s been a while since I talked to you.”

“Three years, actually.”

“That’s a shame. I missed out, huh?”

Roz’s gaze darted up fast to find Naz staring at her the same way he’d done outside. Like he was seeing her for the first time, trying to take everything in at once, and didn’t have the first clue what to do with it.

It was there—in his eyes—where she found a mix of softness, fire, and something else entirely. She didn’t know what it was, but she loved that he was looking at her like that. That it was because of her.

Swallowing the nerves in her throat … she refused to show them … she asked, “Missed out on what?”

Naz’s lips curved at the edges with a sexy smile. Easy, lax, and lazy all at the same time. Yet, it took his strong, handsome features and softened them just enough. He truly was a beautiful man, if that was the right way to describe it.

“Missed out on you, Rosalynn.”

Jesus.

His words came out like a murmur. It felt like fingertips gliding over bare skin, and sent a shiver racing through her bloodstream. And the way he said her name? She thought it sounded even better than the music that played constantly in her mind.

How?

He only spoke two fucking sentences!

Those butterflies were back in her stomach. Beating faster with every second that passed. Making her feel a little too light on her feet, and taking her breath away. She only realized it then but the two of them had stopped in the hallway, and were staring at one another.

A few inches apart.

She wasn’t even blinking.

What was air again?

“Missed out on me,” she echoed.

Naz grinned in that way again. “Yeah.”

“Maybe you should …” Now or never, she thought. “… catch up, then.”

At first, he said nothing. Simply kept staring at her like he was waiting for her to do something. Although, she didn’t know what. Finally, he said, “That’s definitely the plan if you want me to.”