Page 26 of Beyond Enemy Vows

"Good point."

"Anyway, on to more fun things. Where are you going tonight?" she asks.

I shrug. "No idea. He never tells me. Full of surprises."

"Damn. Dangerous and mysterious. This is like date what, ten?"

"No, five," I correct her with a laugh.

"Well, you look stunning. Have fun and call me tomorrow. Tell me everything. I'm living vicariously through you, so, you know, toss in some sex."

Heat floods my cheeks instantly and I gasp. "Keira!"

She smiles wickedly. "Kidding. Maybe. Okay. Love you."

"Love you too," I say, ending the call with a smile that quickly fades as the screen goes black.

My heart thunders in my chest. It's been like this for days now, this constant anticipation, this feeling of being pursued. No matter how I try to dismiss it, something about Niko feels different, like I'm caught in the eye of a storm I can't escape.

And with each passing day, each nice gesture and feeling he gives me, I'm not entirely sure I want to.

I'm finding that the thoughts of what scared me, like my brothers finding out, are now almost giving me a thrill. I don't do stuff like this, but the secrecy of things is starting to stoke a fire I'm not used to being lit.

I stand and spray some more perfume on my wrists and neck, jasmine and vanilla. As I slip on my heels, the doorbell rings, exactly on time.

When I open it, the sight of Niko steals whatever composure I'd managed to gather.

He's devastating in a perfectly tailored black suit that fits him like it was crafted specifically for his body. The fabric stretches across his broad shoulders, and the white shirt beneath is open just enough to show a hint of olive skin. Even the few strands of hair that have come untucked from behind his ears add to his look.

In one hand, he carries a bag. The other is tucked into his pocket.

God, he looks good.

Dangerously good.

He doesn't speak right away. Just lets his eyes move over me slowly, lingering with intent. His jaw muscles twitch as his gaze moves.

"You look..." he begins, then stops himself, as if whatever he was about to say was too much, even for him. "I don't even have the right word."

I step back to let him in, enjoying the way his eyes never leave me. "Thank you," I say. "And you clean up okay too."

He smiles. "Just okay?"

I close the door behind him. "Well, I can't tell you you're handsome all the time. Can't allow confidence to slip into cockiness."

"Oh, I see. Should I temper my responses then?"

"Nope," I smile. "Don't worry about me getting a big head. Women can never get enough compliments."

"Good. I wouldn't stop anyway," he says as his eyes flicker to my lips and then back to my eyes.

"So, where are we going tonight?" I ask, trying to inject some lightness into my voice even as my pulse races.

Niko sets the bag down on the kitchen counter. "Actually, nowhere. I'm cooking for you."

The surprise hits me like a physical thing, warm and unexpected. "What? Really?!"

He nods, the corner of his mouth lifting in a slight smile. I've noticed he does that when he's pleased with himself.