Page 30 of Duty and Desire

“Until tomorrow.” I got out of there before Claudia could decide she wanted to interrogate me, not looking back as I exited the bar. I was buzzing, and while it could have been the aftereffects of two cocktails, I knew better.

It was Nick.

Chapter Ten

April 10

Nick

Ilaid out my snorkeling gear on the coffee table, doing a last-minute check. I’d already messaged Gio to tell him there was enough equipment for both of us.

Another day with Gio.

An unexpected surge of warmth accompanied that thought.

I knew I shouldn’t let my guard down, but my senses told me Gio was exactly what he claimed to be.

And if he wasn’t, Franz would have told me by now.

Franz was on the ball twenty-four/seven. And speaking of Franz…

We need to talk.Preferably before the afternoon’s snorkeling trip.

Claudia came out of the bedroom. “You’re in a good mood this morning.”

“What gives you that idea?”

She let out a wry chuckle. “Let me see.” Shecounted off on her fingers. “You were singing in the shower. I may not be a fan of Pink but even I recognize “Get The Party Started”. Then it was “Under The Sea” fromThe Little Mermaid.Which wassocute, by the way.You dropped an egg on the kitchen floor while you were making breakfast and you didn’t even let out one expletive. And when I asked you for more coffee, you simply got up and made a fresh pot.” Her eyes glittered. “That all adds up to a very good mood.” She folded her arms. “You really like this guy.”

If there was one person I could be honest with, it was Claudia. “I passedlikesometime yesterday.”

“Well, now I’ve seen him, I can understand that. He’s a good-looking man.” Her brow furrowed. “I don’t have to ask you to be careful, do I?”

I gave her a warm smile. “I think I’m safe.”

“And what is Franz’s opinion? Assuming you’ve asked him, or that he’s at least volunteered that information.”

“I don’t know, and I haven’t asked. It’s none of his business.”

Except it was, of course, and denying it was a waste of breath.

Claudia perched on the arm of the couch. “So this guy…Gio… He isn’t part of your rebellion?”

I arched my eyebrows. “That’s what you think?” I could comprehend how she might arrive at that hypothesis, however.

Claudia had witnessed a few of my rebellious acts in the last six years.

She shrugged. “It was a consideration. Because youknowword will get back.”

I snorted. “If Franz likes his balls where they are, it had better not.”

“He would have told you if anyone was sniffing around, right?”

I gestured to my face. “They wouldn’t recognize me with the beard. Hey, evenyouhad to look twice the first time you visited here.”

“That was more the hair. I’d never seen it so long and… untamed.” She smirked. “And I’m sorry, but by no stretch of the imagination canthatbe referred to as a beard. Give it another fifty years and it might pass.”

“Hey!” I stroked my chin. “I think it looks great.” It made me unrecognizable from the clean-shaven, neat-haired young man who’d left home three years ago.

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