Page 96 of Best Man
“Soyou better keep her. Don’t fuck it up, okay?” his sister warned.
Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about,he thought.I might have already fucked it up without even knowing it.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he murmured.
“I’m just kidding, Sasha. I know you won’t fuck it up.”
From the corner of his eye, Niko noticed the door swing open again. In stepped Jax. Niko’s spine straightened in an instant. “That’s them!”
Jax held the door open for the girls. Piper stepped in first. Then—
My God.
Every time he saw Paulina, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. Tonight was no exception to the rule. She stole his breath away, moving with such natural and easy grace in high heels. Her little black dress hugged her sexy curves.
“They’re here,” Niko blurted, and quickly slid out of the booth to wait for his woman. He smiled like a fool, his heart leaping in his chest.
Katerina and Derek slid out of the booth to wait for their dinner company, too. Katerina elbowed Niko and whispered, “Holy smokes. Your girl’s a hottie, Sasha.”
He smiled. “Right?”
She wore her sleek hair down, wavy and tousled. Her flawless skin glowed in the dim restaurant. Truth was, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever laid his eyes on. He couldn’t wait to be with her again—alone.
The hostess led the new arrivals to Niko’s table. Was Paulina as nervous to see him as he was to see her? It looked like it—she walked behind Piper, almost as if she were using her body as a shield, her smokey eyes sweeping the restaurant.
Shehadto be as nervous as he was! He could see it in her face. It struck him as cute. Didn’t she know she had absolutely nothing to be nervous about? He wanted her so badly.
They neared, at last, and Niko rushed to greet her. She hurried to meet him in the middle, her lovely breasts jiggling, and she bounded into his open arms. He squeezed her tight, her body electric in his arms.
“Hi, Paulina,” he whispered. Her familiar scent returned to him, driving him wild.
“Hi, Sasha,” she said, almost shyly.
“My God. Look at you.” He pulled back just enough so his eyes could sweep up and down her body. “You are stunning.”
“Thank you,” she said—again, shyly, almost shamefully as she lowered her gaze to the floor. Was something wrong? “You look handsome, too.”
He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, wishing she would give him her eyes again. “You’re really here,” he said, as if he couldn’t quite believe it yet.
“I know!” She looked happy—for a moment—before her brow furrowed and a sphinx’s smile creased her lips. He knew it then: somethingwasbothering her. What the hell was it …?
Katerina butted in, stealing Paulina away with a hug. “Hey, sister!” she squealed happily. “Welcome! We’re so excited to have you here!”
After everyone had greeted, the group took their seats at the booth.
“After you,” Niko said, letting Paulina slide into the booth first.
He sat next to her. Beneath the table, he reached into Paulina’s lap for her hand. She accepted his hand and their fingers interlocked. She squeezed his hand as tightly as she could—as if she were silently telling him something. Nikoknew,without a doubt, that something was on her mind.
“Everything okay?” he whispered, concerned.
She nodded—but there was still a pain in her eyes! What was it? He caught Piper closely watching them, too. He wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but the way her eyes quickly darted elsewhere was a telltale sign that Piper knew something he didn’t.
The fear, deep in his core, worsened. He didn’t want to have dark thoughts, but something here wasn’t right.
“Look at us!” Katerina sang. “Three athletes and two sets of siblings! This isgoing to besomuch fun.” She held up her wine glass. “We should have a toast.”
***
