Page 22 of Dangerous Kiss
Chapter Eight
“Nicco will be here tomorrow morning,” Cosimo told her a week later. “He’s coming down on the bus. I said I’d send a car for him.”
“He’s just showing his independence. Let him.”
“Yes, oh wise one.”
Biba chuckled, nudging him gently in the ribs as they stood in the craft services line. Cosimo wasn’t one of those directors who demanded to be served first. When they had their meal, they sat down with Rich and Gunter. Gunter was in the middle of one of his rants.
“But why zey exist at all? Zey are just demons disguised as fluffy bees but without ze fluff. Zey are the devils.”
Rich looked bemused. Biba grinned at him. “What’s he talking about?”
“Wasps. Damn wasps.”
“Demons.”
“They’re just wasps, dude.”
Gunter grumbled to himself, and Cosimo grinned. “You have a strange relationship with the insect world, Gunter.”
“I just don’t know how zey make a life.”
Biba scooped a spoonful of granola into her mouth. “Cosimo’s son is coming to Tacoma tomorrow.”
“Cool. What are you going to do?”
Cosimo smiled. “Biba’s in charge of the day’s activities. I like to call it ‘The How-to-Amuse-a-Teen Challenge.”
“I got you covered, Cos,” Biba said, marveling at how easily they could be ‘just friends’ in front of everyone else. When they had been alone this past week, they’d struggled not to break their new rule. More than a few kisses had sneaked through their ‘holy line of demarcation’. “Nicco is going to be so impressed; he’ll tell all his friends what a cool dad he has.”
Cosimo snorted. “When hell freezes over maybe.”
“Cosimo?” Stella appeared, glancing at Biba with a very frosty look. Biba crunched her granola and ignored her. “Can I borrow you for a sec?”
“Sure.”
Cosimo followed Stella away from the group. Stella turned to face him. “What are you doing with Biba?”
“Excuse me?”
“The late-night talks, the hanging out. She’s twenty-one years old and impressionable. I worry that she has a crush on you.”
God, I hope so. “Don’t be ridiculous, Stella. She’s my employee. I’m making sure that she is okay after the attack and that the studio’s liability isn’t put in jeopardy. Biba could sue us for what happened.”
Stella snorted. “She wouldn’t do that. I know her. She’ll forget it easily enough.”
“How well do you actually know Biba?” Cosimo was curious.
“Well enough. Leave her alone, Cosimo. Look for someone your own age.”
Cosimo’s sense of humor failed him then. “Stella, for one thing, my friendship with Biba is not your business. Secondly, don’t lecture me on appropriateness when you brought Damon Tracy to this set.”
He stalked off towards the manor, feeling more guilty than angry now. The truth was…he was falling for Biba, and he wasn’t doing a whole lot to stop himself. He meant what he said to Stella—it was none of her business—and at least her suspicions had stopped her over-the-top seduction routines. She’d gotten the message; he wasn’t interested in her. Cosimo hoped she wouldn’t take her disappointment out on Biba, but he knew that was a very real possibility.
He went to his suite and stripped off, going into the bathroom and cranking on the shower. He had to get over this thing with Biba. For her part—save for the odd kiss—she had resolutely stuck to their agreement, and he was grateful that it hadn’t affected their friendship.
Tomorrow, she would meet his son, a boy she was so much closer to in age and experience that Cosimo wondered if it would make a difference in his feelings for her. He didn’t think so.
