Page 51 of Falling for Nicole
I drop my head on to my arms. “I’ve no idea what the fuck I’m doing right now,” I admit quietly.
“I think you’re enjoying yourself and falling in love in the meantime.”
My head snaps up. “Falling in love?” I ask in shock. Lilly’s eyebrows rise and she just stares at me. “Falling in love,” I repeat as the idea settles in to my head. “Damn it.”
Lilly just laughs at me as she takes a bite of her cinnamon swirl.
“You still okay for this weekend?” she asks as she grabs her bag to leave.
“This weekend?” I’ve no idea what she’s talking about.
“Molly’s hen, remember? Weekend at the hotel, spa, champagne…” My blank stare must clue her in to the fact that she forgot to invite me. “Crap. Those bloody twins frazzle my brain. Any chance you can get the weekend off?”
“I’ll see what I can do. I might have to blow the boss or something to get it approved.”
“Ew. Nic, that’s gross.”
“I’ll let you know later.”
* * *
The second I walk in the office, Dec is on his feet and striding towards me. His hand grabs onto the back of my neck and he pulls my lips to meet his. He kisses me like he hasn’t seen me in months, not hours.
We’re both breathless when he pulls back. Questions fill my eyes but he doesn’t answer any of them, even though he must be able to read them. Instead he asks, “Are you feeling better?”
“Yes. I’m sorry about last night.” I try to look away but his hand comes up to my cheek and stops me moving.
“Don’t be. Thank you for trusting me with it.”
I open my mouth to say something but no words come out. I guess I did trust him. As he stares into my eyes, I can’t help but feel like something’s changed between us. I already felt like whatever it is we have here is stronger after last night but this…this feels real.
I clear my throat before telling him that I need to organise the weekend off. He looks kind of stunned that I might have plans, but I guess I shouldn't really be surprised—it’s not like I have some crazy social life here. After telling me it won’t be a problem, I give him a quick kiss before turning and walking out to start work.
I’m almost at the bar when I hear him. “Nicole?”
I spin around to find he’s right behind me and I crash into his chest. Both his hands come up to my hair before he dips down to kiss me once again. Everything surrounding us fades away and we may as well be alone in my bedroom instead of standing in the middle of a packed café at lunchtime.
When he pulls back, he winks at me. “What? You wanted everyone to know. Now they do.” He gives me one last heart melting smile before he walks through the tables full of staring customers and out the front door like nothing happened.
Once I come back to myself, I find that I’m the focus of attention for almost every person in here—staff and customers alike. I want to run and hide from their gazes but I’m stronger than that, so instead I walk behind the bar and grab a notepad to get to work taking orders.
“You lucky bitch,” Emily says when I get to her.
“I told you something was going on there,” Freya chips in. “Is he as good as everyone says he is?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell them that he is and then some, but at the last minute I remember he’s their boss and I’d only be feeding the gossip around this place.
“I couldn’t possibly say.”
“Oh, look at the smile on her face,” Emily points out. “He so is!”
* * *
Before I know it, it’s Friday morning and I’m getting ready to drop Bailey off with Dec so I can spend the weekend celebrating Molly’s hen. I can’t remember the last time I did something like this, forgot about the world and just enjoyed myself because I can. I’m so excited right now it’s not even funny. I’ve been up since the crack of dawn with a belly full of butterflies about my girly weekend. I was even up to say goodbye to Dec before he went surfing, which is unusual.
It seems him sleeping here has become a bit of a habit. It’s kinda like he moved in the day I did, although none of his stuff is here. But to be fair, it’s not like I’ve really moved any stuff in, either. I still only have a bed for furniture. I do now have a fridge, freezer and a TV, but everything else won’t be delivered for a couple of weeks. I don’t really have any issue with us having to hang out on the bed—it’s convenient. However it does make me wonder why we never hang out at Dec’s place. He’s got a huge, fully furnished house sitting there, so why we’re always here is beyond me.
Grabbing the bag I packed hours ago, I slip my shoes on and lock the door, and Bailey and I head off for our weekend away. It’s the first time anyone else has looked after him for more than a few hours, but I know he’ll be fine with Dec. I’m sure he’ll have a whale of a time spending a few days in the bachelor house with the lads.
