Page 64 of Possessive Mafia Vows

Nick’s glass hovers in front of his lips. “Okay, I believe you.” His tone implies the opposite. “I won’t mention it again.”

“Do you know my father?” The question bursts out of nowhere.

“Your father?” His lips twist into a bewildered smile; I’m sure it’s supposed to be endearing, but inexplicably it reminds me of Kaa the python snake from Disney’sThe Jungle Book. “Should I know him?”

Deep breath. My pulse is racing, pumping some heat back into my body. Or maybe it’s the alcohol that’s making me warm. “You spoke to him outside the gallery one day. It looked as though you knew each other.”

He shakes his head and spreads his hands wide. “I don’t remember speaking to anyone. Perhaps we exchanged a greeting in passing.”

“Perhaps.” It’s entirely feasible, so why is my gut telling me that he’s lying?

“Are you hungry, Sienna? Have you eaten?”

I haven’t, but I can’t face the thought of food.

“I appreciate you bringing me back here, Nick.” I set my glass down on the counter, if I drink more, I’ll be sick. “But I think I should go.”

“Why?” His eyes are wide, and he rubs one hand across his smooth chin. “Where will you go? My offer of the spare room still stands, Sienna. I don’t think that you should be alone, even if it’s only for tonight.”

“I’ll be fine. I just want to crawl into bed and forget about everything for a few hours.” I can’t even summon the energy to smile.

“Please stay.” He moves closer. “I won’t get in your way, I promise. I’ll feel better knowing that you’re not alone, and if you decide that you want to talk, I’ll be here for that too.”

“I don’t know, Nick.”

I want him to leave me alone. After what happened at my father’s apartment, I simply want to go home, pull on somecomfy pajamas, and bury myself under my own comforter, but I still can’t bring myself to be openly rude to him; he’s only trying to help.

“One night, Sienna. Give yourself a break and allow me to take care of you for one night.”

I smile despite my misgivings.

He takes another step closer.

“Nick, I can’t…”

I can’t what?

I can’t share your bed because there’s someone else.

I can’t kiss you because I know how it feels to be kissed by Kyle.

I can’t pretend any longer that you’d be the perfect boyfriend because no one makes me feel the way I feel when I’m with Kyle Murray.

Without warning, Nick slides a tiny box from the pocket of his pants and drops onto one knee. He snaps open the box to reveal a diamond ring that glints as it catches the overhead light. I’m blinded by it momentarily. Not by the diamond itself, all I can see is the glimmer like a star exploding in the palm of his hand, but by what’s about to follow.

“Sienna, will you marry me?”

Yep. There it is. The unexpected proposal by a man who’s so sure of himself that he hasn’t considered my response might not be what he wants to hear.

I’m still staring at the diamond.

What the actual fuck is going on here?

My heart is galloping, making me breathless.

“Nick, I wasn’t expecting…” My brain can’t form a coherent thought and transfer it to my mouth. “I don’t know what to…”

That’s untrue. I do know what to say.

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