Page 81 of Ciao, Amore

Dani grinned, that deep dimple he’d fallen in love with on day one making its welcome appearance.

“I only meant places with beds or couches. Walk with me.”

31

AMSTERDAM ZUID

DANI

Magic.

The meaning of that word had been lost on Dani ever since they’d left the village of Positano, which now seemed like years ago. Nico had filled her life with magic then. But his appearance here now was an even greater feat of magic. Wizard level.

But as much as she’d missed him, deep in her body in a way that was visceral, his sudden appearance in her life didn’t necessarily mean that they could simply pick up where they left off. The heady sensation of desire, of losing herself in him before they’d talked things through and understood each other, would most likely end the way it already had—disastrously. The time apart, while brutal, had served a purpose after all in allowing her time and space to see that.

They reached the block where Amber lived. “I need to change. Wait for me?” Dani asked, lifting the hem of her long bridesmaid’s dress.

“Of course. You look beautiful. Beautiful and cold.”

They reached the building and went upstairs to the apartment on the third floor of a building that used to be one private house but was now split into three. There was no elevator, but at least it had upped her fitness game naturally.

Silent, Nico followed her up the stone staircase. Dani glanced down at him as they passed the second level to see that his eyes were fixed on her ass. Great. Her body pulsed all over in response, a deep flush that warmed and shocked her after being out in the biting cold.

Maybe this was a bad idea, bringing him here even for a few minutes. And God, did it make her feel like a thirsty hoe for wanting him to rip her dress off the second they were inside, despite her moment of bravery in saying they shouldn’t get physical.

But she could control herself.

Hopefully.

On the top floor, the white stucco walls reflected the old wrought-iron lamps hung on the walls in the hallway. She took a deep breath as she kicked off her heels and put them in a tall wood cubby near the door. With a soft grin, Nico did the same. This part of the hallway was a close squeeze, and Dani could feel the heat emanating from him through his open navy wool coat.

Turning away through sheer force of will, she unlocked Amber’s front door and stepped inside. Right behind her, Nico suddenly crowded her space, his arms around her waist pulling her against him abruptly.

Pressed together, head to toe, Nico whispered, “Tell me you didn’t miss this and you’re a fuckin’ liar.”

Before she could answer, he bent his head and kissed her, with touching tongues and sighs of suppressed longing finally finding release. Moaning, he ran his hand up the nape of her neck into her hair, cradling her head so he could take more of her lips, more of everything, his body tight and thrumming against hers. Forcing his way back into her heart, to a place he’d never truly left.

“Nico.” Even though it almost physically hurt not to let him keep touching her like that, Dani tore her mouth away, gazing into his eyes. “I need to talk to you. Really talk to you. Please. If we go down this road where we express everything like this, as good as it is, we’ll be right back where we are now. We won’t make it.”

Nico’s chest was laboring. His grip on her was still tight, and the struggle was written all over him. The intensity in his eyes almost took down her resolve, but finally, he laughed wryly and dropped his hands.

“Okay. Talking first. I’ll wait here on your couch, if you don’t mind.”

“Be my guest. I’m warning you, though. It’s not comfy cozy.”

Dani smiled at him and went to Amber’s room, grabbing a sweater and her jeans from her suitcase on the way. Her heart raced a mile a minute, and once out of his sight behind the safety of the old, heavy white wood bedroom door, she slumped against its sturdiness. Fuck, she was weak for him, wanted nothing more than to strip, go back out there, and give him whatever he wanted.

But she had to stay strong. This was her heart on the line; this was their everything at stake. And with all her heart, she wanted,needed,this to be made right.

Dani changed as quickly as she could, and after a stop in the bathroom, she was ready to go. In the living room, Nico stood up immediately at her reappearance. He put a hand to his lower back, looking at the couch with a frown.

“You weren’t kiddin’ about that couch. It’s fuckin’ awful. How have you been sleeping on that thing?”

“Who says I’ve been sleeping?”

Dani meant that as a joke, of course, but it was true. She could honestly count her last good sleep back to the night before the final dinner, the final fucking fiasco at the villa. Pining for a man could do that, she’d discovered. She tried not to let herself blame him, not to let resentment for her grief get the better of her. Tried hard not to let fear take over that they’d leave each other tonight not having learned or resolved anything.

“Where are we headed?” Nico asked.

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