Page 20 of Innocent Bratva Twins

“It’s notherethat I’m worried about. It’s him.”

“He’s back at home, sulking with his tail between his legs,” I giggle.

“He better be.” Nico is still pissed off about the Drake incident. I decide to change the subject.

“I haven’t had a chance to try the coffee from the guy in the park. I keep meaning to.”

“It’s amazing. He makes it just the way I like it. You’re in for a treat.” As we cross the road and turn a corner, the park comes into view. Nico’s hand brushes down my back, pushing me gently away from the edge of the walkway so that he can continue to walk on the outside of me.

I grin. Girls joke about this sort of thing, but having a man actually do this for me makes me realize why it ever became a topic of discussion in the first place. He’s a gentleman. Protective and caring.

The further we get away from the office, the less professional this moment is, and the more my nerves taunt me.

I’m alone with Nico, and it has nothing to do with work.

My eyes constantly drift towards him, even though I try to keep my face forward to hide the fact that I’m watching him.

“The park is busier than I expected,” he remarks as we step onto the wide stone pathway that leads through the park. The trees are mostly bare, their leaves dropped for the winter.

“I told you, there’s nothing to worry about. I’m more likely to shiver to death than have problems with anyone out here.”

“Are you cold?” he asks, instantly stepping closer to me and wrapping his arm around my shoulder. I tense up, my nervous energy rocketing higher. Nico has his arm around me. My heart pulses quickly, my body sparking with desire.

“I’m better now,” I answer, leaning into him.

He looks down at me with a smile on his face, his amber eyes bright and unreadable.

If I tried to kiss him, would he push me away?

My stomach knots.

I’ve been rejected before—the sting of my ex’s nasty words, his taunts, is still fresh in my mind even though it happened a while ago. I chew on the inside of my cheek. I never want to experience that again.

I might be confident and capable in my job, but when it comes to understanding guys or having confidence in approaching them, I’m completely useless.

I glance at Nico again; he’s looking ahead. “I can smell the coffee from here,” he says, excited.

He has a square, angular jaw, strong and solid, with a dark shadow of stubble across it. His black hair makes his eyes seem even brighter, especially outdoors in natural light instead of in the overhead lights of the office.

Every time I look at him, he gets more handsome.

I want him.

I wish I were confident enough to do something about that.

“You’re staring,” he grins, glancing at me. Our eyes meet, and my face ignites in instant flames of red.

“I, I, I—was thinking about something. Lost in thought. I—um—"

I’m tripping over my words, dying of embarrassment.

“I asked you if you want coffee or hot chocolate?” he grins, looking pleased with my reaction.

“Hot chocolate, please. I’ve had one too many doses of caffeine today, and at this rate, I’ll be up all night.”

“There are ways to burn off excess energy—to help you sleep deeper than you’ve ever slept before.“ He raises one brow, and the mischievous grin on his face sends my mind right off the edge of a cliff and into the naughtiest flood of thoughts I’ve ever had in my life.

I press my lips together tightly.