Page 41 of Falling for Nicole
Lilly puts a slight halt to my confusion when she comes over, throws her arms around my shoulders and whispers in my ear that I’m going to be really happy here. I nod at her and watch as she says goodbye to Dec and disappears out the front door.
I stare at the back of the door for long minutes as my brain refuses to take all this in.
I’m eventually dragged back to reality when I hear a voice behind me. “Nicole.”
I turn and find him just a step away from me. The emotions I’d been battling to keep locked down come barrelling back.
“What the fuck, Dec? Is this just another way for you to try to get into my knickers? To piss me off so I’ll do whatever it is you want because, I can assure you, I won’t fall for that again.”
“No, this is nothing like that. I sort of hoped you’d be happy, not get pissed off by it. I helped Lilly out in the hope of making up for everything…for ruining your date and then for taking advantage of the situation.”
“You didn’t take advantage, Dec,” I say reassuringly, because he looks genuinely regretful. “I allowed that to happen, I was as much a willing participant as you were.” My comment makes his eyes darken and a small smirk appear on his lips. I regret saying it instantly.
“Is that right?” He takes another step towards me. His body heat makes my temperature soar.
“Back to this,” I say, gesturing around the room.
“Lilly told me you’d fallen in love with it and asked if I could call in a favour to get the price dropped, as I know one of the estate agents it was listed with. She managed to convince the owner to drop the price and I put your name down on it.”
Utter disbelief is the only thing I can describe in those few minutes. “You did this forme?” Maybe Lilly’s right; maybe he doesn’t totally hate me after all.
“Yes. I did this so you could have somewhere to live that isn’t my sister’s spare room. So you could properly restart your life.”
“Wow.” Running my hands through my hair, I spin around again slowly as I allow everything to settle into my brain.
Declan called in a favour to get me this house for a price I’m happy to pay. Why would he…
“Who’s the estate agent?”
“Here, let’s celebrate,” he says, handing me a glassful of bubbles.
I ignore his outstretched hand and stare at him until he’s forced to answer. It’s not long before he lets out a giant sigh. “Georgia.”
“Are you fucking shitting me? She had a hand in this? What exactly was the favour she owed you? If this house is some kind of fucked up sexual bargaining tool, there’s no way I fucking want it.” The second I see the look of pleasure on his face, I know I’ve fucked up. It takes him a few seconds to form his next words and the whole time I wish I could take everything back.
“Jealous, are we?”
“Of her? Never.”
“Of what she’s had?”
“No, she can keep you. You two deserve each other.”
I go to walk away but his fingers circle my wrist and I’m pulled back until I’m pressed up against his chest.
He stares down at me, his hot breath tickling my face and causing goosebumps to run down my neck. “It’s been over with her for a while.”
“Don’t lie to me. You’ve been fucking her in your office.”
“No, I haven’t.”
“You’ve had her in there twice in the past week—that I know of. What the fuck else was going on? And don’t forget I’ve already found her underwear there, so you can’t tell me it hasn’t happened.”
Dec takes a step back like I’ve just slapped him. Fuck knows why he’s offended by my accusation. It’s obviously true. “This was going on,” he spits as he points at the floor. “I was trying to negotiate a deal on this place.For you.”
“Oh.”
“Yes, fucking oh! You want to try getting your facts right before you start accusing, Ginge.”
