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A small smile pulled on his lips. “Aquila.”
I had a feeling he could name every constellation and each star they were made up of. It suddenly felt like he was completely out of my league. Cop or not.
A sigh escaped my lips. My head was light, my inhibitions unhindered by the alcohol I’d consumed.
“Don’t enjoy parties?” he asked.
“No, I do. Honestly, I’m shallow in that regard.”
He laughed. The sound was deep and rough, and a shiver coasted down my spine. He even laughed like an Adonis.
“How do you know so much about the stars?” I asked.
“Grew up in an old farmhouse in Iowa. Sometimes there was nothing to do but stare at the sky. Got tired of not knowing what I was looking at.”
“Well, that was a decent explanation, but it was a lie. Try again.”
I blinked. That would have never come out of my mouth a year ago. I would have accepted
the lie and moved on. Maybe I only needed to become an alcoholic for the courage to free myself from my childhood chains.
I saw the tiniest smile out of the corner of my eye. “Studied astronomy abroad. Wanted to impress French girls right into my bed.”
“Even more unbelievable. Have you seen yourself?” With that face, this man wouldn’t have to impress anyone.
Another smile. “How did you know the first one was wrong?”
“You’re colder than the Arctic. You don’t become that way in a friendly small town. That’s city living, most likely on your own. No wonder you found yourself on the wrong side of the law.”
Small shake of his head. “Heard a lot about you, Elena Abelli. Can’t say you’re what I was expecting.”
I didn’t even want to know what this man had heard about me. I seemed to be a popular subject, and I didn’t believe it was for any good reason.
“Haven’t you heard? Assuming will only get you killed.”
“Sounds right out of Ace’s handbook,” he said wryly.
A sliver of uncertainty curled in my chest. He knew there was something going on between Nicolas and me, though I didn’t know what myself. What a twisted web I was tangled in.
“Christian, do you drink?”
“I do.”
“I’m going to use the ladies’ room and then make one. What would you like?” I finally looked from the sky to him. Wide shoulders in a navy blue suit outlined the brightly lit horizon.
His presence was comfortable but distant, like he stood on a different terrace another world away. His gaze met mine, and I waited for that zing of chemistry to settle in, but all I felt was scrutinized by icy blue eyes in a handsome face full of secrets.
He ran a thumb over his watch, in a thoughtful tic I’d noticed he had. “I’ll get the drinks and meet you back out here.”
His gaze flicked to the left and so did mine. My papà watched us through the glass in the living room, not with caution but interest. All of a sudden, I knew. This had been set up.
Disappointment sank like lead in my stomach. I wanted control of some things in my life—this conversation one of them—but as my papà gave me a “behave” expression, I knew it had all been contrived.
Although, if Papà was considering Christian, that meant he hadn’t settled on Oscar Perez. The possibility released some of the pressure closing in on me. I would take Christian over that creep any day.
“That sounds great.” I smiled the Sweet Abelli smile.
Feeling tipsy, with too many thoughts on my mind, I headed inside. My feet froze when I saw Nicolas leaning against the hallway wall. One hand was in his pocket while the other held a cigarette he played between his fingers. He wore an expression most people would run from.