Page 92 of Made in Love and Blood

“Which is...?”

Nico laughed and pulled away, heading for the remaining box in the hallway. Over his shoulder, he said, “Marry me someday, and I’ll tell you anything you want to know, Frankie. That’s how it works.”

She froze. “What?”

He carried the box in, stopping alongside her to give her a chuckle. “What did you think I meant in bed when I said, in theory, I could tell you things.”

“I didn’t really think about it,” she admitted.

Nico nodded once. “Okay, well that’s what I meant. That’s how it works,” he repeated pointedly.

“Well, I’m not going to marry you just so you’ll tell me every detail about your day.”

“Damn. That’s cold.”

Frankie scoffed. “Please, it probably didn’t even sting.”

“Not really. But you didn’t say never, either. So...”

“Uh—”

“Nope, too late. The option is still there.”

“For what?”

Nico leaned in close enough to kiss her grinning cheek, his green eyes gleaming with something like delight and pure pleasure. “That you’re gonna marry me someday.”

He dropped the box onto the other one, immediately opening it to pull out two things. First, he handed her the item that wasn’t wrapped in brown paper. A package of Egyptian cotton sheets. Cream in color, and still in new packaging.

“And if you don’t know how to make your own bed,” he joked, “don’t worry, it’s not hard. I’ll teach you.”

She smacked his arm lightly. “Mean.”

Nico laughed. “There’s also towels, dishes, a set of pots and pans, and some other necessities for your place. Between the boxes and bags.”

Frankie sighed while surveying the items in the foyer. “I can’t believe you really went shopping for me. I’m not incapable, Nico.”

“I know, but I think you coming here was just a reaction to a bad situation. You weren’t ready, which is also probably part of the reason you haven’t gone out to get any of this yourself.”

“Fair enough.”

“Mmhmm. Furniture next, okay? Shit, we can even do some of that on our phones tonight. They’ll probably deliver it tomorrow while you’re walking the stage. I can set it up with the doorman to give the delivery guys access, if you want.”

She pressed her lips together to keep from smiling.

“What?” he asked, noticing.

“You’d do all that?”

“Babe, that’s not even...anything. It’s not big or hard. It’s just something you need.”

“But you think about that, do you? About things I need.”

He didn’t look away from her when he replied, “Lately, all the fucking time, Frankie.”

She liked that far more than she probably should.

“So, what’s that?” she asked, pointing at the other item he held.