Page 75 of Texting the CEO's Obsession
“Bruno and I were just having a discussion,” Nick says stiffly, glaring at his brother.
If you call Bruno threatening, not so underhandedly, to get rid of me adiscussion, sure.
“Right, sorry to break up the reunion,” I say, shooting Bruno a fake smile before turning my attention back to Nick. “Can we talk?”
He shoots his brother one more dark look before stepping away, pulling me down the hallway along with him. “The garden’s nice this time of night. Private.”
I let him take my hand and tug me down seemingly endless hallways until we reach the back door. It opens into an expansive garden, perfectly groomed shrubs and blooming, fragrant flowers edging the pathways that wind through it. Crickets chirp and birds coo through the dusk.
Nick’s shoulders lose some of their tension as soon as the door closes behind us, and he leads me toward an outcropping of flowering vines that twist between high trellises. When we’re far enough away from the house, he stops me, squeezing my hand in his as he turns to face me.
“How’d it go?” he asks, blue-gray eyes flitting over my face.
Now that Lucy’s pointed it out, it’s like noticing his nerves is easy. I reach up and cup his face with one palm, both to center myself and soothe him.
“She told me everything,” I murmur. “I thought she was joking at first, but she was pretty… descriptive.”
Nick winces just slightly, a soft laugh falling from his lips. “Yeah, she’s got a way with words.”
I chuckle in agreement.
“Thank you for trusting me.” Pulling him down to rest our foreheads together, I toy with the hair at the nape of his neck. “Is that why you wanted me to come tonight?”
Nick reaches up to tug my hand free of his hair, twining our fingers together as he stares into my eyes.
“I’ve never brought anyone home, never trusted anyone enough. I’m sure Ma told you that.” I nod, and Nick smiles softly, squeezing my hands and taking a deep breath like he’s steadying himself. “You matter to me, Riley. I wanted you to know thetruth of who I am, who Iwas, no matter what. Now that you do, the ball’s in your court, Princess.”
My heart trips over itself at the open trust shining in those steely eyes, and hope blooms bright in my chest.
“What do you mean?” I ask, whispering the words in the scant space between us.
“I’ve built up a lot of walls to protect myself,” he explains, his voice melding with the humming of the crickets. “This—my family, my life—it’s the last wall I’ve got, Riley. And I’m tired of having anything between us.”
For someone who claims not to be good with words, he’s got me breathless with these ones. Sure, it’s not like he’s laying it all out for me, but I can read between the lines enough to know what he’s saying. He’s asking me, in his own way, to break down the final wall between us.
The fading sunlight casts a golden glow across his sharp cheekbones, his dark hair shining like the night sky, and my heart swells so much I feel like I can’t breathe. I want to break through that wall. I want him to let me. I want to stay by his side through it all, prove that he made the right choice trusting me.
I want to tell him I love him.
If ever there was a right time, this has to be it.
I don’t even get the chance to open my mouth when my ringing phone cuts through the quiet night air.
We both jolt in surprise, and I wince when I realize it’s the ringtone I set for Taylor.
“Jesus,” I say with a laugh as I pull my phone out of my pocket. “Sorry, it’s Taylor. She only calls when it’s an emergency. I’m not running off, I promise, just let me find out what’s going on.”
I don’t want to leave him hanging, not now of all times, but Taylor knows where I am. If she’s calling right now, knowing that I’m meeting Nick’s family, it has to be important.
“Hey,” I answer, planning to ask if she’s alright, but she starts talking immediately.
“I’m on my way to your apartment,” she says, sounding frantic and upset. “You need to read the link I sent you. It’s… fuck, Riley, it’s not good.”
Worry sinks like a stone in my gut.
“What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just read the article and come home,” Taylor insists. “I sent an Uber to Nick’s place for you. Call me back when you’re on your way, okay?”
