Page 61 of Past Due

Rina clearly had connections because the moment she approached a staircase guarded by two bouncers they stepped aside so we could pass. Climbing the metal stairs in heels wasn’t easy, but I made it to the top without slipping. The VIP area on the second floor had nice seating areas, bottle service and a smaller, more private area to dance.

A handsome blond spotted Rina and jumped to his feet. She grinned and took the hand he held out, letting him draw her in close. He sat back down on his velvet couch and tugged her with him, tucking her in and sliding his arm around her shoulders. When they kissed, I looked away, not wanting to intrude on her intimate moment.

“Niklas,” Stefana clued me in as she led me toward a pair of slipper chairs. “He’s a German entrepreneur who set up shop in Tirana. Hiking tours,” she said as she gestured for a bottle service girl.

Not sure I wanted to know the answer, I asked, “Does Luka know?”

Stefana laughed. “What do you think?”

As she ordered champagne and stouter booze for our group, I glanced back at Rina. She smiled as she rested her head against Niklas’ shoulder, and he lovingly kissed the top of her head. My promise to not keep secrets from Besian seemed suddenly more complicated. If I didn’t tell him about Rina’s boyfriend and he found out later, he would feel as if I had broken my word. Yet, the secret wasn’t mine. It was Rina’s.

“Don’t worry about it, Marley. That relationship will fizzle,” Stefana interrupted my thoughts. “He’s used to more liberal girls. You understand?” She gave me a look, and I nodded. “Rina isn’t like that. She’ll wait until she’s married. It’s a matter of honor for her.”

“And you think Niklas won’t wait?”

“I think Niklas isn’t brave enough to ask Luka for permission to marry her,” Stefana replied, sitting forward to take a champagne glass from the tray the bottle service girl carried. “He’d have to explain to Luka how long he was dating Rina behind his back.”

I grimaced. “That won’t go over well.”

Stefana sipped her champagne. “No, it won’t.”

“What about the guards?” I glanced around, noticing they hadn’t come up with us. “Won’t they tell on her?”

“As long as she doesn’t try to sneak off with him, the guards won’t say a word to Luka. That’s trouble they don’t need,” Stefana reasoned.

I started to ask her how Niklas and Rina had met when I noticed an unexpected and familiar face by the VIP bar. At the same time I spotted him, Andres noticed me. He grinned and patted his friend on the back before striding toward me. I stood up to greet him, making sure to turn my face so he couldn’t kiss my lips. Even though it would be a chaste, friendly kiss, I didn’t want to give a mixed signal.

“I thought you were leaving Albania!” I said, smiling up at him.

“We had a change of plans.” He glanced around, probably expecting to see Besian. “Where’s your friend?”

“Fiancé,” I corrected gently. “We’re getting married.”

“Oh.” There was no mistaking the shock and disappointment on his face. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” Hating that it was awkward, I apologized. “I’m so sorry if I led you on or gave you the wrong signal. I thought I was single, but—”

“But you were still in love with him,” Andres finished for me.

“Yes.”

“It’s okay. Really,” he insisted. “I understand. Love is complicated.”

“Yes, it is.” I glanced back as Stefana touched my arm. “Oh! Sorry! Stefana, this is Andres. We met hiking near Valbona. Andres, this is Stefana. She’s a friend.”

Stefana’s eyes gleamed with interest as she rose to shake his hand. “Why don’t you come sit over here so we can get to know each other better?”

Taken aback, Andres laughed. “Okay.”

Amused by Stefana’s take-charge attitude, I picked a seat on the other side of Stefana so Andres could have mine. The pair quickly bonded over their similar careers, and my guilt over the way things had gone between Andres and me faded. The spark between Andres and Stefana flashed brightly, and I had no trouble seeing the two of them together.

“Look at your matchmaking skills!” Rina remarked as she settled onto the wide arm of the leather chair where I was sitting. “Where do you know him from?”

“We met hiking a few days ago.”

“Niklas should advertise his hiking tours as a Tinder alternative,” she joked and finished her cocktail. She placed the empty glass on the table on the other side of me. As she leaned over, she said, “I know I have no right to ask—”

“I can’t keep secrets from Besian,” I interrupted apologetically. “We promised each other we wouldn’t.”

---