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“You’ve been there?”
“A few times. When I was little, I used to pretend it was my home and I was a princess,” I answer, a small smile playing on my lips from the warm memories. “It overlooks the ocean, and the view is so beautiful that you could stare at it for hours and hours and never get bored. The oceans in Greece are prettier than here.”
“You should come with us. I’ll have some down time. We can explore the countryside there together.”
“I would but my aunt and my cousins are coming in, so I have to play hostess,” I lie.
My father’s family is coming in, but that’s not the reason I’m staying home. Truthfully, I dread seeing them all. My father’s family are greedy and never stop trying to get me to talk my father into giving them more money. I’m convinced that’s the only reason any of them talk to me. I’m dreading visiting with them like the plague. I know my father does. I think that’s why he arranged this meeting. He thought if he told them he was going to be out of town, they would change their minds about coming. I could have told him that it wouldn’t. They come in to work our staff to death making dinners and cleaning up after them. They treat our house like it’s a luxury hotel and the staff are paid to wait on them hand and foot.
I curl my nose at the thought. Dad’s already apologized to everyone and gave them bonuses, but I don’t think it’s enough.
“You don’t sound happy about their visit.”
“My father’s family is…special,” I allow, not really wanting to get into it.
“I’ve heard,” Niko replies dryly.
Apparently, my father confides in Niko more than I realized. Still, I doubt Niko understands just how bad they are. For that matter, neither does my father. I haven’t told him how they’ve been since my engagement to Niko has been announced. They’ve gotten worse. They want me to do something to push Niko out of my father’s favor. They’re convinced that with our marriage, Niko will take over my father’s position and the purse strings will begin to tighten. I don’t know how they became people who didn’t work for their own survival and income. I’m glad I skipped that particular gene in the family make-up. I’ve told Zoe before that except for my father, the only one who seems to care for me in both my blood family, and “the family” in general is Dante. It’s weird to say that, considering the past, but he’s been pretty harmless since dating my cousin. He still weirds me out, though. I downplay it to everyone, but there’s just something about him that is unsettling. Still, it’s the truth. If I ran away tomorrow the only ones who would miss me would be my father and Dante. I could possibly add Niko to that list. Of course, he would probably just be more relieved that he didn’t have to marry me.
“What’s that look for?” he asks, bringing my attention back to him. I can’t say how long I’ve been lost in my own thoughts. That’s nothing new to me. When you are used to spending your time alone, it just happens naturally that you retreat into your thoughts.
“I just dread them. They’ll spend their entire trip bumming for money and trying their best to have me talk to my father about increasing their allowance.” I should feel guilty for telling Niko that. I’m not. I might be slightly embarrassed but nothing else. I believe in loyalty—but only when it’s shown. My father taught me that.
“Your family needs to be dealt with. Your father mentioned your cousin Angelina will be coming, too. It appears there are rumblings of an engagement happening soon.”
“With her and Dante? Probably. My aunt sees it as a match that will be…profitable.”
He frowns. “All the same, I’m giving Victorio orders that you are not to be alone with Dante.”
“I don’t need anyone giving Vic orders. I am an adult and Dante is fine. He’s in love with Angelina. He knows I’m engaged—however reluctant I might be.”
His lips thin out, his face hardening. He doesn’t like what I said. I don’t know what it is about Niko that makes me braver than normal. I still fight panic at times around him, but I don’t feel like I need to fear him. He wouldn’t hurt me—at least not physically.
We spend the rest of our dinner making small talk, which is usual for us. I won’t say it was a great time, but it had moments of being nice. There’s something about Niko that makes me feel more alive. As we exit the restaurant, he surprises me. He keeps his hand on my back, standing closer than normal. My nerve endings spark to life, and I try to breathe slowly to calm myself. I start to move toward the limo, and he stops me by applying more pressure on my back and bending so his lips brush against my ear.
“Let’s walk along the boardwalk, Em.”
My heart squeezes in my chest. “Em?” I squeak.
“Mmm,” he breathes, his voice deeper than normal.
I swallow, my brain trying to figure out the sudden change in the usually distant Niko. “It’s l-l-late,” I stutter.
“Not really. I want more time with you.”
“You do?” I ask, tilting my head so that I can look at him. Something lodges in my chest because, maybe for the first time ever, Niko is…smiling.I’ve always thought he was handsome, but with a smile that makes his eyes twinkle in the night, he’s breathtaking.
He doesn’t answer, just keeps directing us toward the boardwalk. Eventually, as we take the path that leads out to the pier, his hand moves away. Before I can breathe easier, his hand returns to capture mine, threading our fingers together. I look down and then back to him.
What is going on?
“Stop worrying, Em. We’re engaged. This,” he says while pulling our hands up, “is allowed.”
“I didn’t think it was. I mean, it hasn’t happened since I found out we were to be engaged, and apparently, you and my father had it figured out way before then.”
I know I’m deliberately prodding him. I want him to go back to the Niko I’m used to. The one who wouldn’t think about walking the boardwalk with me, let alone holding my hand. I don’t know how to react around him right now. I need to change that. I’m feeling out of my depth, and I don’t like it.
“That was before you told me you were attracted to me.”
