Page 18 of Who's Loving You

I don’t know how much time passes, but a warm hand on my lower back pulls me from my conversation.

“There’s my beautiful date.” I look over my shoulder at Nico who stands with a tipsy smile on his face and a drink in his hand.

“Are you drunk?” I whisper through a forced smile.

He shakes his head but continues to stare at me withheavy eyes. “No. Just a couple drinks. I was hoping my date would want to dance with me.”

He sways ever so slightly, and I grip on to his large bicep. I open my clutch and sneak a peek at my phone. We’ve only been apart for an hour, so I’m very concerned about the number of drinks he consumed to get this way in the short time.

I plaster on a smile and take his hand in mine. “If you’ll excuse me. My date would like a dance.”

The couple I’m speaking with smiles and says they’ll find me later to continue our conversation, and Nico pulls me through the crowd. He twines our fingers together and it gives me pause as I stare at them locked in a grip.

I’m not a hand holder. I’m not really much of a PDA person, period. I prefer to keep intimacy of any kind in private and behind closed doors. No one needs to know my business.

We step out onto the designated dance floor among a dozen other guests and Nico holds me snug to him. His hand circles my waist and rests on the small of my back, while he keeps my hand clasped in his. My breasts, covered only in this dress, press against his hard chest.

“Nico. I don’t think you should drink anymore this evening. It’s easy to lose your wits and do something you may regret tomorrow.” I inhale his intoxicating scent of masculinity and danger.

Somehow I know it’s a combination unique to only him.

“How about, you stick with me for the rest of the night and I promise to not only drink any more. I’ll be the perfect date.”

I look into his big amber eyes and feel blinded by his bright smile and that dimple in his left cheek. It’s nowonder Carrigan fell into bed with him. The guy is a lethal combination of charm and sex appeal. If it weren’t for my strong will and extensive knowledge of his escapades, I could see a weaker version of me falling for him.

“Fine. But please, be good and behave. You may like your name splashed all over the internet, but I rather like my life private.”

“Call me a good boy and I’ll do anything you want.” He winks and spins me around while the band plays Sinatra.

Be strong, Val. Don’t let his dreamy face fool you. He’s bad news.

7

NICO

Saint: Yoooo!! Lover boy does it again.

Diva: Does what?

Saint: Well well. Look who finally showed up to the party.

Diva: Yeah yeah. Are you going to tell me what we are talking about?

Saint: The hot ass chick on his arm last night.

Diva: What? Seriously? When?

Saint: Last night! Did you not hear what I just said? Jesus, Diva. Don’t you read the gossip columns.

Diva: No, I don’t. I have this thing called a job. It doesn’t leave much time to troll the internet for pictures of myself.

Saint: I have a job, too. And I don’t just troll for pics of myself. I look for you fuckers, as well. It’s practically the only way I can see you.

Me: Awww. Is Saint Nik feeling lonely?

Saint: The guest of honor has arrived. Who’s the chick, Nic. Hey! That rhymes.

Diva: Good job, genius. Now…what he said. Who’s the chick?