Page 85 of Golden Touch
He gives me a sly wink. “Low-cut tops only.”
“Nash.”
He chuckles. “Wear whatever you want. We’re going to invite ourselves over to grill some steaks for Leila and Matteo. Let’s get out of here, or I’ll lose my mind. Be ready at six?”
“Okay,” I say weakly. I can’t believe I have to talk to Razor on the phone.
Tonight.
He squeezes my hands. “I’ll feed you a good meal, so you’re ready to face him. Let me call my sister, and then I’ll run out to the grocery store. Any special requests?”
I shake my head. “I could make a dish, too.”
“Nah.” He touches his lips to mine. “Tonight I’ll spoil you. Hang in there, baby. This will all be over soon.”
I just hope I’m still alive when it is.
The Rossi family owns some of the coolest businesses in Colebury, including the historic brick complex that houses the Gin Mill. Leila and Matteo live upstairs, in a beautiful apartment with comfortable furniture and leaded glass windows.
I’ve never been here before, and I’m a little self-conscious about being Nash’s special guest. So I’m wearing a kickass beaded top and giant silver hoop earrings, just because I need a boost.
It doesn’t help that the first person I see after the door swings open is Nash and Leila’s mom. She’s holding her grandchild in her arms. I’ve never met Mrs. Giltmaker, but she needs no introduction—I recognize Nash’s smile on her happy face. “Look who it is! My long-lost son!”
“I’m not lost, Ma,” he says, setting down his grocery sack andclosing the door. “I’m just very busy. Ma, this is Livia. She and I have been spending some time together.”
Oh God. I can feel my cheeks flushing. Meeting Nash’s mom is not the stress-free vibe I wanted tonight. “It’s so nice to meet you,” I lie. “What a cute baby.”
She really is, too, with chubby cheeks and tiny feet that are swaddled in polka-dot socks.
“I’d hand her over, but she just ate, and I don’t think you want spit-up on that pretty top.” She beams. “Drinks are out on the terrace. Nash, get your girlfriend a glass of wine.”
Girlfriend. We haven’t formally used that word, and I feel my cheeks heat all over again.
Nash just puts an arm around my shoulders and leads me toward the terrace overlooking the river.
“Hey, little bro!” Leila says from a deck chair. Matteo is sitting beside her, and they’re holding hands. They look both exhausted and giddy at the same time. “How’s work? Would you believe that I miss that place?”
“It’s going fine,” I assure her. “Our inventory is still too low, but your father decided to let Nash brew his signature beers. So things are on an upswing.”
She laughs, turning to Nash, who’s standing at the grill. “I can’t believe you got him to share the recipe. What did you say to that stubborn man?”
“Wasn’t me.” Nash pokes at the grill with tongs. “Dad gave me some bullshit about secrecy, and I left his room, fuming. Then Livia talked some sense into him.” He glances up at me and gives me a sly wink. “But she doesn’t like to take credit.”
“Huh,” Leila says slowly. “And here I’d been worrying that you two wouldn’t get along.”
“We, uh, had a rough start.”
“But things are better now?” Leila asks, swigging her soda.
“Oh,muchbetter,” Nash says with a laugh. “You could even say that we’re getting alongsmashingly.”
Leila’s eyes widen. She opens her mouth, and then closes it again.
“Nash,” I hiss.
He shrugs. “Sorry, baby. I happen to like you a lot. Don’t mind sharing that with my family.”
“Fascinating,” Leila says with a little smile. “And here I thought maybe I’d overstepped when I asked Livia if you could stay in the bunkroom.”
