Page 23 of Until Now

I hear someone skipping down the stairs winding along the side of the house. There’s only one person I can think of and I hope I’m wrong. I carefully sip the steaming coffee and scan the pages of the book in my hands. Hearing footsteps approach, I don’t have to look up to know my suspicions are correct. His cologne permeates the fresh mountain air — Ralph Lauren Polo Black, the same one he’s worn for years.

Lee clears his throat, but I turn a page refusing to acknowledge him. “Oh come on, Nina. You’re not going to ignore me, are you?”

Yes.

“You can’t just avoid me.”

Actually, I can.

“We can’t keep acting like we don’t know each other.”

“I would prefer it, actually,” I finally say without looking up.

“Come on, Dove.”

“Don’t call me that.” I sigh heavily, bookmarking the page. “What do you want, James?”

Lee rolls his eyes at the use of his formal name. “Well, I was going for a walk, enjoying the morning breeze, and I thought—”

“And that walk just so happened to lead you right to my balcony, where you know I sit every morning. Interesting.”

“Would you like to join me?”

“No.”

“Can’t we at least try to be friends?”

“Hard pass.”

“Look, I just—”

“Everything okay out here?” A shirtless Nick steps out of the bedroom with his steaming cup of coffee. His muscles flex and his jaw tightens, eyes hard on Lee before he leans down to kiss the top of my head.

“I was just asking if Nina wanted to join me for a morning walk.”

“Take the hint, Lee.” Nick’s tone is stern. He’s tired of Lee’s attempts to corner me. Honestly, I’m a little concerned what it might have been like if I had come alone.

When Nick doesn’t stand down, Lee storms up the steps and I can hear the door slam above us.

I pull the blanket aside and Nick gently lifts my feet before letting them relax in his lap. “If I have to keep saving you, you might need to take back the whole, ‘I’m not a damsel in distress’ thing.”

“My Prince Charming.” I roll my eyes over my mug.

“Not Prince Charming,” Nick says repeating the same phrase he used when I invited him. He gently squeezes my leg. “You okay? You kept tossing and turning all night.”

“Fine, just stressing over this job.”

“Nina—”

I put my hand up. “I’m letting Michaela handle it, but the client is a lot. He’s not happy. He’s one of those people who have to find a problem in everything.” Rubbing my eyes, I yawn. “What did you want to do today, Fossette? I figured you might want to decide since Eileen and I have kept us all pretty busy. I’m starting to run out of things. At this rate, I’m gonna have to take you over to Mt. Sopris.”

“Whatever you want, Dee. I’m just here to have a good time and get paid.”

My heart wrenches.To have a good time and get paid.I have to remind myself that’s all this is to him. A job. “Biggest payday of your life.” I try to smile, but it doesn’t quite reach. “You know, I think I’m gonna work on this project today, you should see if Kai is busy.”

“Nina, I don’t want to leave you to work.”

“Duty calls.” I reach my arms up into a long stretch letting my spine align. I close my eyes and take a deep breath feeling more of my vertebrae click into place. Just before I open my eyes, I feel the ghost of his touch at my sides. Heat radiates through me when his fingers graze the bare skin of my sides and I can’t contain my laughter as his fingers tickle me. I try to push him away, but his hands are bigger than mine and slip out of my grasp with ease. I can’t hold off their assault. And then, tickling turns into a soft caress. His grip tightens on me and he pulls me close. I try to catch my breath, but my heart feels like it might beat out of my chest as he leans forward and runs the tip of his nose along my jaw. His breath dances across my collarbone.

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