Page 97 of Best Man
While everyone else enjoyed an entertaining night of nonstop laughs and engaging conversation, neither Niko nor Paulina were great dinner guests. The pair stayed mostly silent, unable or unwilling to contribute, consumed by the awkwardness that remained between them.
The others, having noticed, began to poke fun as the night wound to its conclusion.
“You were awful quiet tonight, Niko,” Derek said as they waited for the waiter to bring the bill.
“For once,” Jax chimed in with a grin.
Niko shrugged. “Sorry.”
“It’s not just Sasha—Paulina is quiet, too,” Katerina observed. “Honestly, though, can you blame them? They’re probablyrearingto get out of here so they can finally be alone.”
The group laughed.
Niko hoped she was right … but the look in Paulina’s eye wasn’t at all like, say, the night of the wedding, when they badly needed each other. Tonight, he did not see that insatiable desire burning in her eyes. Instead, he saw something else. Fear, or apprehension, as if she had bad news to break.
His paranoid mind scrambled for possibilities.
Does she hate Dallas?
Did she fall out of love?
Did she cheat on me?
God … wouldn’t that be the worst.
The waiter brought the bill. Niko quickly snatched it up before anyone else could. Beat to the punch, the other men grumbled. But you had to have quick hands if you wanted to pay, and no one in the league had quicker hands than Niko.
“That brother of mine. Always so generous,” Katerina said, although it was more of a complaint than a compliment.
“You’re welcome, Katya,” he murmured sarcastically as he left a generous tip and scribbled his signature.
“Thank you, Sasha,” she replied, equally sarcastically. “I just wish you’d let us get the bill for once.”
“You can pay next time, okay?” he lied.
“Uh-huh. Sure.” She turned to Paulina. “I’ve been badgering this boy foryearsabout how he spends his money. Sure, he has a big contract, but with the way he throws his money around? He’ll blow through it all before he even retires.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Niko muttered, earning a kick under the table from his sister.
With the bill paid, the group left the restaurant together and said their goodbyes on the sidewalk. Derek and Katerina walked one way, and Piper and Jax walked the other. Niko turned to Paulina—they were finally alone. This was the moment he’d been waiting weeks for, and yet, now that it was finally here, he felt like he couldn’t enjoy it. Something wasn’t right. But what was it?
“So … what would you like to do now?” he asked, reaching for her hand.
“Hm. I don’t know.”
They wandered aimlessly down the sidewalk. He didn’t want to pressure her into coming home with him, since he had no idea what was on her mind. He started throwing out ideas instead. “Would you like to see a movie? Get some coffee? Walk around and explore?”
She quietly mulled it over as they walked, her heels clicking on the pavement.
“Honestly,” she began at last, “would it be okay if we just went back to your place? I’d love to have a quiet night. Just curl up on the couch and watch a movie or something.”
He was both surprised and relieved. “Of course. This way.” He turned around and walked her to where he was parked.
“Sorry to be so lame,” she murmured self-consciously.
“No, it’s not lame at all. I’d love a quiet night, too.” He let out a heavy breath. Now that they were alone, it should be easier to talk—and maybe she would warm up to him again in time? “I was afraid that maybe you wouldn’t want to be with me tonight at all.”
“Aw, Sasha. Why would you think that?” she asked, clutching his arm.
