AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He cuts quite the dynamic figure with his height and build, and the black T-shirt molds into his chest when he moves, the dark blue jeans showing off his long legs and very hot ass.
Girls cut drooly looks at him and size me up and guys just give a glare if the look comes from their girls.
Not, I suspect, one of them would pick a fight with Nicolo. He carries himself like he can take on anyone or anything, and with him, I feel safer than I ever have.
And yet . . . a thrill races through me every time he touches me.
Inside we get some food and drinks and he’s funny, he’s smart. He swears a lot but I kind of like it, because it says he’s not trying to be anyone he’s not.
“You tell stories,” I say to him, aware his hand rests near mine, “but nothing really personal. Nothing about your family.”
He shrugs, picks up his beer, and takes a long swallow. “Nothing personal to tell. No family.”
“You say that like you do but not—”
“You wanna add fucking investigative reporter to that?” He moves his hand away from mine and hooks it on the chair next to him as he half smiles. “I grew up in the system, Avah. My parents died when I was young, and I got into a lot of trouble, and then I met some people who took me in, gave me a real start, and now I’m what you see. It isn’t much. And the past is exactly that, the past.”
“There’s a lot more to it than just that.” But I hold my hands up. “It’s your story. So.”
“So?” His brows rise. “You’re just giving up?”
That slow light tease is back, and it curls in my stomach. “For now.”
“That’s myTesoro.”
I frown. “Are you going to tell me what it means?”
And he grins. “Nah, not yet. C’mon. Let’s play pool.”
He says this with ease, but his tiger eyes harden as we get up. I follow the direction of his gaze and my gut lurches.
Nicolo’s looking at a guy with a white ball cap pulled down.
One who I think I saw a few times already this evening.
And for the first time, the spark of fear over everything flares up.
Is that guy following me?
ChapterFive
NICOLO
That asshole who I let trail us, who I led on a merry little tour of Dallas is here and it’s not a coincidence.
Avah definitely seems to have a stalker. Of some kind, though I’m not sure of which. Given her family, there might very well be a fucking link to that, but she’s with me, and I’m going to make it known who she belongs to.
Me.
There isn’t danger in here, and I’m not sure what this fucker wants or who he works for. Because I’m thinking he must be working for someone.
I weave through the crowd with Avah, my hand at her waist, fingers just beneath the pretty little red shirt, resting on silky, warm skin I want to explore.
“Um, Nicolo,” she says, voice low and hits my ears like pure silk, “I don’t know how to play pool.”
“Not a problem.” I grin and nod to the table. “I’ll show you.”
We get to a table that’s just been vacated, and I introduce her to the cues and chalks, and set up the balls, all the while keeping an eye on the fucker in the corner from my peripheral.
