Page 77 of Full House

Victoria smiled. “Only if you feed me.”

“Deal.”

Victoria moaned over each forkful of cashew chicken she put into her mouth. She looked up at Nate to find him staring at her, his plate relatively untouched. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Not for food after that display.” She saw Nate not so subtly adjust himself under the table.

She shrugged a shoulder. “It’s good.”

“Apparently.” Changing the subject, he said, “After dinner, we need to make that list for Smith.”

Mouth full, she mumbled a positive reply, adding a nod in case he didn’t understand her. She swallowed then took a sip of water. “I can’t imagine anyone I know being involved.”

“You can’t leave anyone off and that includes your BFF Alec Throne. You were just in Vegas two weeks ago. Did you see him then?”

She was surprised at the irritation and even hint of anger she heard in his tone. Neither of them had mentioned Alec since her birthday, and honestly, she’d thought Nate had brushed the whole thing under the rug. But apparently not. He seemed to have been keeping it on a back burner.

She set her fork down. “You know we’re just friends, right? Only ever been friends.”

He reached a hand up and rubbed his eyes then pinched the bridge of his nose. “I know. But that doesn’t mean I like it.”

Victoria took another sip of her water. “I think you guys would like each other. You’re a lot alike.”

“You’re not making me feel better. In fact, it’s having the opposite effect.”

Victoria held up her hands. “Then, by all means, let’s go back to the subject that I know makes you even angrier.”

He glared at his plate, stabbing at his food before taking a giant bite.

Victoria internally sighed. She knew why he was angry, hell if it were his life being threatened, she’d feel the same way. She softened her voice when she said, “Listen, in a short week’s time, we’ll be out of here, away from harm. No one will know where we are. In the meantime, I’ll keep a low profile, double check all emails I receive, and never go anywhere alone. Okay?”

He set his fork down and looked across the table at her, apology in his eyes, and his tone was, once again, calm when he said, “Yeah, okay.”

She stood from her seat and walked around the table to his side, nudging his arm with her hip until he got the hint, scooting his chair back so she could crawl in his lap.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You know, I know how you feel.”

“You have no idea what I’m feeling right now.”

“I do. You’re angry because this situation is out of your control. Angrier because you feel helpless and feel as if you’re not doing enough to protect me. And angriest because what you really are is scared. Scared whoever’s doing this will succeed and you’ll lose me.”

He reached a hand up, raking his fingers through her hair to cradle the back of her head while his thumb traced a pattern along the shell of her ear. His eyes locked with hers, staring intensely for a full minute before he said, “How do you know all that?”

“Do you want the complicated answer or the simple one?”

“Complicated.”

“Because I pay attention. I’ve watched your expressions and mannerisms in numerous situations. I’ve seen the way you behave when you’ve felt your control over something slipping, and the fast action you took to rectify it. I’ve seen how when you care about someone, the lengths you’ll go to protect that person. I’ve seen your integrity, using the power you wield for good rather than evil, and I’ve seen your heart, in many forms, from any of your numerous generous displays. So, when I say I know how you’re feeling, I do, because I see you.”

His hold on the back of her head tightened, and he dropped his forehead to hers before whispering, “And the simple answer?”

“Because I love you.”

He took a ragged breath. “Fuck, you have no idea how much I love you.”

She hugged him tighter, placing her lips next to his ear. “Yes, I do.”

The ringing of her phone woke Victoria from a dead sleep. She cracked open her eyes, the sun, shining through the blinds, telling her it was morning.

---