Page 50 of Love Over Time

“Relax. That’s probably the pizza guy.” I got up and peeked through the curtain.

“It’s Dom and two other people.”

With bare feet slapping on the cold marble, she joined me by the window. “Holy shit. That’s Cole and Valentina. Why are they here?”

“Who are they?”

She looked frazzled, tugging at the hem of her top. “Cole’s the one who gave me the money to buy this place.”

“Half of it,” I said out of habit.

“Right.” She winked. “I hope they’re not here to get their money back.” She rushed back to the coffee table, dumped everything back into her bag, and slung it over her shoulder. “Keep them busy. I need to change.”

“Wait. He’s one of your marks?”

“Yeah. We’re friends now.” She raced up the stairs, taking two steps at a time. I stood there watching the tiny shorts and her shapely ass until she disappeared into her bedroom.

Great. Now we were playing hosts to an old mark. I donned my T-shirt and buttoned my jeans before I opened the door.

“Are you guys decent? Took you long enough,” Dom said. “Can we come in?”

“Sure.” I let the door swing wide open.

Cole and Valentina walked into the hotel lobby. Their gazes darted from the eclectic living area Nikki had set up in the middle of the lobby to the bar on the opposite end, and finally landed on the grand staircase.

“I love it. It’s so pretty.” Valentina spoke first. She was tall with big brown eyes and dark hair that fell in thick curls down her back. She was beautiful, which probably explained why Cole kept a possessive arm around her waist. I understood that feeling well.

“Thanks,” I said. “I have plans to renovate it and hopefully open it up again.”

“We’re looking for investors, if you’re interested.” Nikki descended the stairs in yet another one of her bombshell numbers, black this time. The sapphire necklace sparkled over the smooth skin on her chest. Blonde waves cascaded around her shoulders as she kept her hot blue eyes trained on me, inviting me to play along. Jesus, another con. I shook my head once. No way in hell was I going to let Nikki take more money from this asshole.

“Darling.” She kissed Valentina’s cheek, Cole’s, and finally Dom’s.

I could watch her all day. Something about this side of Nikki excited me. It also scared the shit out of me.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” she asked Dom.

He cleared his throat. “I have news. They came along because Valentina wanted to see you.”

“Good news first.” Cole smiled at Valentina.

Valentina bit her lip, no doubt intimidated by Nikki’s bigger-than-life act. Nikki picked up on it, reading Valentina the same way I did. A trick we both had to learn when we were kids, when we realized we couldn’t trust anyone.

“Why don’t you join me for a drink? We’ll let the boys get to know each other.” She wrapped her arm around Valentina’s waist and ushered her to the bar, where she took a seat near the window. She drew the curtains open to let the sunlight shine through.

I turned to Dom and Cole. “I have beer.”

“I’ll take one,” Cole said.

“Me too.” Dom nodded.

I went behind the bar, where Nikki poured white wine in two glasses with aCetched on the globes. “Where did those come from?” I asked.

“They were in the back. So was the wine. It’s fancy stuff too.” She took a sip.

I gripped her arm. “No more cons for today, Nikki.”

“I’m just being friendly. You should try it too.” She pointed her chin at Dom and pressed her lips against mine before she went to join Valentina.

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