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“Never said you were.”
“Ladies,” Malachi greets when we reach the end of the bar where he and Nico are sitting.
I do my best not to look at Nico but fail miserably. Butterflies start salsa dancing in my stomach at the heat in his stare. And based on the wink he just gave me, he knows exactly the effect he’s having on me.
“You okay, Pep?” Malachi asks me, his brow arched.
“Yeah,” I croak. After clearing my throat, I repeat myself. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“Are you sure because you look a little flushed.” He flattens his hand on my forehead. “Nope, no fever.”
“I’m fine,” I say from behind clenched teeth and smack his hand away.
“If you say so.” He turns to Harlow and wraps his arms around her. “Whaddya say we get outta here? We should pop back in at both casinos, but then we can head home.”
Harlow glances at me as if making sure I’m okay to be left alone with Nico. I roll my eyes at her, and she takes that as a yes.
“So ready,” she purrs. She grabs his hand and practically drags him to the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she calls over her shoulder.
“It’s going to be hard to work together if you keep trying to avoid me.”
I slowly turn around, a sharp retort on the tip of my tongue, but nothing comes out when my gaze lands on Nico. He really is a sexy man. And the fact that I think so is more than a little disturbing… considering.
“You’re staring.”
Yes, yes I am.
Nico slides off his stool and closes the distance between us. Without touching me, he urges me to turn and back up against the edge of the bar. He leans forward and braces his hands on either side of me to cage me in.
He’s close. So fucking close. And I’m wet. My eyes slide closed. So fucking wet.
What the hell?
“I’d love to take care of that for you,” he croons, and my eyes fly open. “Yeah, you said it out loud.”
Nico’s chocolate brown eyes are hooded, and his arms are inching closer to my body. Embers of lust skitter from one nerve ending to the next until my entire being feels as if I’m on fire.
When Nico lifts a hand and tucks his finger under my chin, I swear I hear a sizzle. “This is gonna happen. Sooner rather than later, I’m sure.” He leans forward and lightly presses his lips to mine for the briefest of seconds. “But not here. And not yet.”
A groan escapes me, and he chuckles. “I need to know that you are crystal fucking clear about whose cock is inside you when we fuck. And you’re not quite there, are you?”
Am I? I want Nico, there’s no denying that. But that’s the only thing I’m sure of. And knowing how he feels about me only complicates things. Because even if I could get past who he resembles, that doesn’t mean there are feelings attached.
No, I’m not that cold-hearted.
Nico heaves a sigh and backs away from me. “That’s what I thought.”
“Nico, I’m—”
“Please don’t apologize, Peppermint. I can handle a lot of things, but you saying you’re sorry for doing what’s best for you isn’t one of them. You apologizing for having trauma thatmyfamily caused isn’t one of them.”
And just like that, several bricks fall from the walls around my heart.
CHAPTER12
Nico
After parkingmy car in the garage, I walk around to the front porch, my gun drawn. I carry the 9mm at all times, and right this minute, I’m glad I do. I tiptoe up the steps and stare at the broken glass and ajar front door. Whoever the fuck broke into my house is about to meet his, or her, maker.
