Page 83 of Inked Athena

Samuil pulls me from my thoughts with a gentle caress against my cheek. “That’s behind you now, Nova. Time to enjoy this moment.”

“You’re right.” I give him a huge, fake smile and point to my face. “This is me, enjoying the moment.”

He thumbs my bottom lip. “Cute. Now, come inside with me.”

“But right now, I’m enjoying the view.”

“You can admire the view later. After I’ve given you your gift.”

“‘Gift’?” I tug my hand out from beneath his. “I thoughtthis—” I gesture to our surroundings. “—was the gift.”

“It’s one part of your gift,” he admits, tugging me towards our suite. “The other part is waiting for you on the other side of this door.”

I’m not sure my nerves can take any more surprises. One or two more whelms, and I’ll be firmly in overwhelmed territory.

But Samuil looks so handsome smiling at me, and I don’t want to disappoint him after everything he’s done. So I throw the door open, prepared tooohandahhover whatever brand name gown, world-class meal, or chest of gold he’s got waiting for me.

But absolutely nothing prepares me for what’s waiting on the other side.

“Hey, babe.”

Hope is dressed in a tartan skirt and a fuzzy white sweater, leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed casually over her chest. So calm, cool, and la-di-freaking-da that I want to scream just looking at her.

I promptly hurl myself forward and we collide in a tangle of hair and limbs. “Don’t ‘hey, babe’ me, all cool! What in the hell are you doing here?!”

She laughs and squeezes me back just as hard. “What, you think I’d let you live your best Julia Roberts life without me? Please.”

“I can’t believe you’re here!” My voice breaks embarrassingly, but I don’t care. I just keep squeezing her until she wheezes, but it still isn’t enough.

Is she real? Am I? Is this really happening?

“I flew in a few hours ago. First class, no less. It’s almost enough to make me forgive your man for keeping us apart all this time. When I give him the knee to the balls he deserves, I’ll be a touch gentler.”

Yeah, it’s Hope, alright.

I twist to look at Sam, finding him leaning against the wall with that infuriating half-smile that makes my knees weak.

The bastard planned this perfectly.

“You’re welcome,” he drawls.

All I can do is laugh.

30

NOVA

I peek around the corner like a creeper.

I’m pretending to rifle through my half-dozen bags’ worth of Harrods haul—courtesy of Samuil’s AmEx black card, which is still sizzling hot from how many times I swiped it today. What I’m really doing, though, is playing voyeur to the scene unfolding in the doorway.

With the boss man tied up in meetings, Myles got stuck playing tour guide and watchdog toHope and Nova’s Great London Adventure,coming soon to a theater near you.

What that means for yours truly, however, is that I was instantly demoted to “third wheel,” and my best friend and bodyguard each promptly forgot all about my existence.

Not that I’m complaining. Watching Hope and Myles slink around each other all day like cats in heat has been almost as fun as the shopping.

Since we got back to the suite ten minutes ago, they’ve both been loitering in the doorway, neither willing to say goodbye just yet.

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