Page 40 of Canvas of Lies
The man gave Erin his most charming smile and nodded. “I was, actually. I have a date with a dumpster.”
Erin’s bafflement was evident, but she returned the smile. “I’ll just go check on our auctions,” she said, moving away from the pair of us. “Nice meeting you, Nico, and I’m glad you’re feeling better, Kat!”
Nico waited until my assistant had closed herself in the office before turning to me. “Been talking about me?” he asked, eyes wide with mock innocence. “I’m flattered.”
“Shut up,” I muttered.
He couldn’t hold back a broad grin at my discomfort. “Don’t get all shy on me now. What did you say? That I’m tall, dark, and handsome? That you’ve been dreaming about making love to me since you were sixteen? Give me just one morsel to get me through my lonely dive into that dumpster.”
I glared at him. “I told her you were a worthless swine. I hope that will keep you company, darling.”
“You’re adorable when you’re annoyed,” he murmured.
His hand tangled in my hair as he tugged me against him for one last kiss. Even an expert grudge-holder like me couldn’t resist the lure of his mouth. I melted into the embrace so quickly I might have been embarrassed, had it been anyone other than Nico.
“Better get to work, you’re already off schedule,” he teased when he released me.
“And whose fault is that?” I replied, shooing him toward the door.
He threw a wink over his shoulder as he went outside, leaving me standing there in the silence I usually appreciated but now found curiously empty. After a few calming breaths, I grabbed my breakfast and the gift bag containing my new phone and joined Erin in the office. My assistant had booted up the laptop and was pretending to be busy checking the filing cabinet when I dropped into the chair behind the desk.
“Please, please tell me that you weren’t really sick and actually spent the weekend banging that gorgeous hunk of man-flesh out there,” Erin said immediately, clasping her hands to her chest like it was the most romantic thing she’d ever heard.
I lowered my head to the desk with a groan, which Erin clearly took as confirmation.
“Oh, thank god. He is just beautiful. Andbuilt. And clearly way better suited to you than that dusty old professor, anyway. I’m so glad you ignored me about texting him so you could sleepwith Nico instead. You’ve only been in love with him for what, ninety-five percent of your life?”
“Please stop talking,” I begged, not bothering to lift my head.
Erin huffed good-naturedly. “Fine, but my sex life is a pitiful desert right now so you could really do a girl a favor by sharing some exciting details in the near future—and don’t even bother trying to convince me that a man like that doesn’t have some amazing tricks up his sleeve, because I could see it in his eyes when he looked at you. Definitely a step up from the professor.”
The problem, I realized, was that even after Erin left me alone, those little details my assistant had mentioned continued to play through my mind. A tremor crept up my spine as I sipped at my coffee.
Tricks up his sleeve, indeed,I thought, allowing myself to savor the memories for two solid minutes before forcing my focus back to my work.
I’d finished breakfast and done some research on the items from the yard sale when I heard Nico talking to Erin out in the warehouse. After giving myself a quick, bracing pep talk, I rose to join them.
Nico looked only mildly disheveled, but I could smell him from across the room. He grinned when my nose wrinkled.
“Not the most glamorous aroma, but I found the phone. You might want to, ah, sanitize it first.”
“I’ll do you one better,” I countered, grabbing a plastic baggy from one of the shelves. I held it open for him, thenzipped the foul odor inside. “I’m afraid I don’t have any bags big enough for you, so you’ll have to go home and shower.”
“Shame you can’t join me,” he murmured, “but do try to enjoy your day, Kitten. Don’t work too hard.”
He raised a hand in farewell to Erin, who smiled radiantly as she waved, then he winked at me one last time before leaving the warehouse. I stared after him for a moment, just long enough for Erin to start laughing to herself across the room.
When I shook myself out of the trance Nico managed to put me in, I shot a useless glare in Erin’s direction and we both got down to work.
Chapter Fifteen
Nico
Freshlyshoweredbackathome, I was seated at my kitchen table when a text from Kat popped up on my phone. I grinned—before turning over the new device, I’d programmed myself into her contacts.
This is quite an upgrade. Hope you’re not expecting to be paid in sexual favors.
I laughed aloud.Well shit, there goes my afternoon. Much better camera on this one, perfect for sending appreciative, scantily clad selfies. Or so I’ve heard, anyway.
