Page 58 of Midnight Whispers

I fork a strawberry. “Have you already eaten?”

He nods. “I’ve been up for about an hour.”

After placing my fork down and grabbing a pastry, I take a bite and moan. Nero’s eyes grow heavy, and he watches my lips with intent.

A chuckle leaves my lips. “Sorry.”

He leans against the headboard, fingers linked behind his head. “By all means, continue.”

I laugh again. “I don’t think I should. I have to get ready to go to work soon.”

“At the bar?”

I nod with a mouth full of pastry.

“Have you given any more thought to what I said about quitting T&T’s?” he asks.

I appreciate the space he’s given me to try to sort myself out. “I have, but I don’t know yet. It’s taking me a bit to get my bearings. Going from having no options in my life to being able to decide for myself is a lot. But I promise I’m trying to come to a decision.”

One thing that keeps coming to mind is how much I enjoyed teaching Dahlia to dance. But I’m not sure what that means quite yet.

Nero looks as though he wants to press the issue, but he presses his lips together and nods instead.

“You brought me enough food to feed an army. Are you sure you don’t want any?” I change the topic of conversation.

He holds up a hand. “I’m good.”

“Your loss,” I say and pop a grape into my mouth.

“How are you feeling about last night now that you’ve slept on it?” he asks.

I tilt my head. “Why do I feel like I’m in a therapy session?”

He rolls his eyes. “I’m just checking in on you. Want to make sure you don’t regret it.”

When I finish chewing, I give him a chaste kiss. “Nero, I don’t regret any of it.”

A slow smile tilts his lips. “Glad to hear.”

I think of how much my life has changed since this man brought me back here on New Year’s Eve, and it almost seems unfathomable. “I don’t think I have thanked you enough for letting me stay here. I hope you know how appreciative I am.”

He coasts his knuckles down my cheeks. “No thanks needed.”

“I don’t know about that.” I shake my head and grab a blueberry.

“Do you miss living in your family home?” His eyes fill with concern.

A frown tilts the corners of my lips. “I do. Though the more time that passes, the more I realize that maybe I was just trying to hold onto a time that was already lost. It’s not like living there would bring my parents back, but I felt close to them there. Being away from it for a couple of months, I can see what a terrible situation I was in, and I know neither of my parents would’ve wanted that for me. I’ll keep them in my heart and honor their memory without living in that house.”

Nero takes my hand. “Good. I never want you to have regrets, especially when it comes to us.”

Late that night, I lock the door of Black Magic Bar and step out into the cool night air feeling less burdened than I can ever remember. I’m about to head to my car in the parking lot when something catches my eye.

There’s a large FOR LEASE sign on one of the store fronts across the street. I’m pretty sure it’s new, otherwise I would have noticed it before.

Hiking my purse up on my shoulder, I hustle across the road to take a look. I bring my face right up to the glass and put my hands on either side of my face to cut down on the reflection of the streetlight across the road.

The unit is a large open space and in need of some TLC. It was a thrift shop for a few years, but I don’t know what it was before that. An idea takes shape in my mind—what if I could turn this place into a dance studio?

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