Page 28 of Stick to the Deal
“That, but mostly for my father. His last name is all I have left of him. I’ve recovered some of my mother’s childhood items from my grandmother’s house, but everything of my father’s was lost.”
“I’m so sorry. You were young when they died, right?” She nods. “What was it likewith them?”
“It was amazing as a kid. I told you my father was an artist. He worked on these incredibly detailed animations for a studio in America. Mom stayed home with me and taught the neighborhood kids piano lessons for some extra money. I remember the house was always full of laughter and music. And so much color.”
That sounds amazing. What would it be like to grow up in a family like that? With warmth and shared interest? “That must have been quite the shock after you moved in with your grandmother.”
She gives a dry snort. “You could say that. She wasted no time shipping me off to boarding school. Boy, was I a regular fish out of water! It was Paris, though, so I found an artist community like back home. I made it work.”
“I can see that. You’re incredibly strong, Nic. It’s one of the first things I noticed about you.”
She looks away, her shoulders hunching. I have no idea what I said to upset her, but I find myself wishing I could take the hurt in her eyes away. I scan our surroundings as I search for something to say to restore the lighter mood. Overhead, theaurora borealisdances, giving me inspiration.
“Aren’t the lights beautiful? There are many legends about them. Some say they are a bad omen, others the tails of giant arctic foxes. Most say they are souls. My favorite myth is Norse in origin. King Oden sent his Valkyries to lead fallen warriors to Valhalla. The lights are reflections off the armor of these fierce women.”
“Why is that your favorite?” I glance at her, but her eyes focus on the flowing colors above.
“It’s a story about your worth being defined by your actions, not by the clothes you wear or the things you buy. Rushing headfirst into battle wasn’t enough, you had to earn it with your honor. Every man had an equal chance of being found worthy.”
“That does sound nice.” With a slight gasp, she springs to her feet and runs towards the door.
“Nic? What is it?” Carefully putting down my mug, I rise to follow her, only for her to appear again in the doorway. “Everything alright?”
“You inspired me to take a picture. Stand right there by the railing.” She fusses with the back of the camera. Wadding up her blanket, she sets it as a cushion on the chair and balances the camera with the lens pointing up at me. With the click of a button, she rushes over to me, grabbing my shoulders and positioning me how she wants. “Hold still, it’s only a ten-second timer.”
Her eyes reflect the green lights above as I stare into them. Steam rises between us from our breath in the cool night air. She’s so beautiful. I lean forward… CLICK.
Rocking back, she dives for the camera and checks the screen, tsking. “Not quite right. Your jacket is too bulky. Take it off.” She’s pulling her chunky sweater off as well.
“Pardon? Do you realize how cold it is out here? Do you want me to freeze my bits off? It is technically our wedding night—and you want me to spend it with frozen balls.”
“Oh, shut up,” she laughs, “I’ll warm up your balls when we get inside.” Her sultry voice is enough to ensure blood flow stays squarely in my groin, avoiding any further danger of sperm-cicles. “This one is going to capture longer. You need to hold completely still.”
She squints at me, then up at the sky. Her eyes widen and she rushes back inside, reappearing with a tiny stool which she places in front of me. Flitting back to her camera, she double-checks the angle, clicks the button, then rushes to step up.
I look up at her, waiting for directions.
She bends at the waist until her lips are a whisper’s breath away. Her hands hover just beyond my shoulders, like she’s frozen, reaching for me.
I stare into her eyes. Everything else fades away as emotions dance like the lights overhead. My breaths come faster, the steam rising again. We don’t move, don’t say a word. Simply stand inches apart, staring into each other’s eyes as the seconds drone on. I’ve never felt something so intimate before. No parts of our bodies are touching, but I can sense her within me. A feeling in my chest builds, one I have no name for.
CLICK.
Nic blinks, then dives for the camera to check the shot. She’s beaming as she looks up at me. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” She slinks up to me all sex and confidence. “Come on, hubby, a promise is a promise. Let’s go defrost the family jewels.”
Chapter 17
Breaking the News
The air is oppressive as I wait for the yellow door to open. My hair sticks to my forehead, but my arms are too full to fix it. How is it still this hot in September? The muggy Florida climate is a harsh contrast to the crisp autumn in New York and downright chilly nights in Sweden.
Where the fuck is everyone?
I juggle the packages as I fumble for my phone to text for help, the door finally opens to reveal Bree’s husband, Colin. “About time, Irish. Where’s my niece? I was ready to lean on the buzzer.” Blessed air conditioning caresses my face as I push past the man and into the cool interior of the stylish home.
“I need to have the damn thing deactivated. The doorbell sets off the dog. When he barks, the baby cries, and when she cries, I think I might too.” He wipes a hand down his face, his typical dimples notably absent. Dark circles accentuate his green eyes and brown hair. Still stupidly handsome, but obviously tired.
“Here.” I shove a package full of Toblerone, English biscuits, and strong tea into his hands. As he studies the contents of the box, his signature dimples finally make an appearance.
