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Nikolas eyed her over the rim of his glass. “Are you sizing me up or questioning my fashion choices?”
“You’re surprisingly charming.”
“Surprisingly?” He set the glass down. “Most women just tell me I’m charming.”
“Under your spell, no doubt,” she added dryly.
“But of course.”
She fought the grin at that and kept to her underlying point. “What changed your mind?”
“About what?”
“Before. In your office. You were cautioning me about trying to get into the Coltons’ world.”
Their waitress returned with their food and, once again, Nikolas showed his discretion by waiting until they were alone before picking up their conversation. “It’s my responsibility to show you the options and the angles.”
“So you think it’s a good idea?” she pressed, curious to realize how badly she wanted him to say yes.
“I don’t think it’s any sort of idea. But I do know you came a long way and I do know you’re Ace Colton’s daughter.”
“You believe me?”
“I do, but that’s beside the point.”
Nova reached for a fry. “Why’s it beside the point?”
“Because you look like him. A small, petite female version, but the resemblance is clear. The same nose and chin. Same arch to your eyebrows. You’re Ace’s daughter, all right.”
Chapter 3
You’re Ace’s daughter.
Those words had raced through her mind, over and over, like her new favorite song. Only Nova didn’t think she’d ever tire of hearing them.
Lunch passed quickly, the fish and chips as amazing as advertised. And she hadn’t had even the slightest hint of a negative reaction to the delicious food, which she took as yet another good omen on the day. The baby had also quieted down, seemingly sated by finally having a solid meal after their limited fare over the past few days.
Nova figured he or she would start back in with the afternoon gymnastics session she’d come to love and look forward to around 4 p.m. each day, but for now, she had a few hours of quiet from the sweet little baby inside.
Which would allow her to focus fully on Nikolas’s idea of seeking out Ace’s family.
In for a penny...
“Do you have a place to stay tonight?” Nikolas asked, breaking into her post-lunch food coma.
“Hmm?”
“Where are you staying?”
“Oh, I’m good.”
Her lunch date stopped being easygoing as Nikolas halted midstride, turning toward her right there in the middle of downtown. “How long are you going to keep up this ‘I’m fine’ routine you’ve got down?”
“I am fine.”
“No, you’re not. You didn’t have any food for lunch and I know what you were doing by saving half of your lunch for later.”
“Just because I’m pregnant doesn’t mean I have to overeat.”
