Page 23 of Mateo & Nicole

Nikki shook her head. “I couldn’t ask you to do?—”

“If this is about having someone to go with, I can ask my cousin Aria. She’s great with kids. And so is Daniel. They could tag team it since they’re hanging out tonight anyway.” Sophia moved closer, giving Nikki her best puppy dog eyes.

This couldn’t possibly work.

11

Nikki

Nikki could feel her resolve waning. She had to admit that going out for the evening sounded really nice. She hadn’t had a chance to just let loose in a very long time. After having Paxton, she’d spent a lot of her time focused on being a mother. He had become her whole world. Even after she’d met Dennis, she’d continued with the status quo.

Dennis would take her out, but he was the one who planned their outings. He’d picked what they did and when. She didn’t fault him. On the contrary, she’d been the sort of person who was happy to let her husband choose what they did. He made the money. He liked to take charge, and it was a way for her to show him how much she cared for him.

Now, Sophia was presenting her with endless possibilities. What if she didn’t want to go to the country club? Sophia would probably tell her that everyone needed a night out once in a while—that was who she was.

Who was Nikki kidding? She wanted to go out dancing. She loved dancing when she was younger. So why was she hesitating?

Nikki’s eyes shifted to Mateo. She couldn’t read his expression no matter how much she wanted to. How would he feel if she accepted Sophia’s offer? Her eyes locked with his. “I wouldn’t want to put you out?—”

“It’s no trouble,” Mateo said, almost too quickly.

She bit back a smile. “Are you sure?” Her question was to both of them this time. The last thing she wanted was for either of them to resent her for needing their help.

“Of course.”

“Absolutely,”

They spoke at once, dredging a small laugh from Nikki’s throat.

Sophia went on. “Aria loves kids. So does Daniel. They’ll make sure Paxton doesn’t even miss you.”

Nikki nodded. It was easier to agree knowing that Sophia would be coming along with them. “Then I guess there’s nothing more to discuss. I’d love to go see what this country club has to offer.”

“It’s a date!” Sophia blurted, earning a sharp look from her brother—one that Nikki didn’t miss. He didn’t want this to be a date, and she couldn’t figure out why that made a flicker of disappointment bloom in her chest.

She didn’t want to go on a date with her boss either—but the boy she’d known in high school? The boy she’d had a crush on all those years ago? There was a little girl in her heart who wanted to take advantage of the fairytale, no matter how wrong it was—no matter how unbelievable.

And that was exactly what this was—unbelievable.

She’d foolishly allowed herself to believe that he might like her more than as just an employee—as more than just an acquaintance. Her embarrassment only continued to drag her down as she sat beside him in the truck on the way to the country club. Rubbing the hem of her shirt between her finger and thumb, she forced herself to push aside all the buried feelings she had for Mateo.

He’d practically been manipulated into taking her this evening by his sister, just like Nikki felt she’d been manipulated into coming. It was a stretch, but if anything could occur from spending time at the same location with him that wasn’t her workplace, it might be possible to rekindle the friendship they once had.

Nikki nodded sharply as if the movement alone would be enough to get into the right headspace.

Friends. That was all this would ever be.

She turned her head to look out the window, and the ride remained quietly uncomfortable. She itched to get out of her seat and expend some of this nervous energy. The second the truck pulled to a stop before a beautiful building where throngs of people were heading inside and out, she launched herself from the confines of the vehicle and shut the door with a final snap of her wrist. Sophia was at her side in an instant, grinning like she’d won the lottery. Her excitement was infectious, and it allowed Nikki to ignore the swirling, tumultuous feelings that threatened to overflow within her.

Sophia linked her arm through Nikki’s and practically dragged her toward the club. “This place isn’t like anything you’ve ever experienced. There are no membership fees for dance nights or dining at the restaurant. All the profit they make is put into their equine therapy services. The guy who owns the place is practically a saint, and he’s completely loaded.”

Nikki raised her brows and glanced around at the place the second they crossed the threshold. Right off the entrance was a space dedicated to the dance nights. Tables and chairs lined the edges of the room, and on one side a bartender served drinks. Everything from the immaculate wood floors to the decorative lighting made it clear this place had been designed to impress. And yet, there was no feeling as though one didn’t belong here.

Those in attendance were dressed in everything from jeans and fitted t-shirts to dresses and button-downs with ties. Music played over the speakers, and it looked as though a DJ was the one choosing the tunes.

Chatter hummed all around her. She’d never been to a place quite like this one.

“Pretty cool, huh?” Mateo’s voice grazed her ear to her left, and she jumped at his closeness. His warm body brushed against her arm, sending waves of goosebumps scattering across her skin. It wasn’t even cold, and yet she couldn’t shake the chill that wracked her body.

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