Page 21 of Naughty and Nice
“Fuck, they’re like a Red Sparrow network.”
“The Russian sex spies?”
A laugh bubbled from my throat. “I think you’re missing your calling.”
“I watched the movie with Jennifer Lawrence.” Her eyes opened wider. “You think I should be a sex spy?”
“No, I think you run a sex spy network here. I need to talk to Jano and Mia, but damn, I think there’s a system here that we haven’t fully exploited.”
Liliana’s eyebrows knitted together. “You want to exploit the residents more than they already are?”
I lifted my hand. “Wrong word. Utilize.”
She plucked a grape from the container of fruit and popped it between her lips. “Choose your words wisely.”
Reaching across the table, I laid my hand on hers and tried to ignore the way hers froze at my contact. Looking at where we touched back to her beautiful eyes, I smiled. “I’m choosing these words carefully. Listen closely.”
Liliana nodded.
“You’re beautiful, Liliana. You’re brave and much more intelligent than you know. I enjoy being with you, talking to you, and when you’ll let me…touching you.” My gaze went back to our hands. A smile spread across my lips as she turned her hand, bringing our connection palm to palm, our fingers intertwined. “I’d like to marry you. I also think you deserve someone better than me, but I’m damn selfish, and I don’t want to think of you with anyone else.”
“Nick.”
“Shh,” I scolded. “I’m still working on choosing those words.”
She inhaled and nodded.
“I’d like to take you to el Patrón’s today to discuss this with him and Mia. You don’t belong in this building twenty-four seven. And with the new threat of Cabezõn’s men on the streets, you can’t be alone in your apartment. I can help you.”
“And I’m helping you?”
It was my turn to nod. “Our marriage will get Em, Jano, and my parents off my ass.”
“Your parents…” She looked down. “Nicholas and Maria.”
“Nearly two years,” I said with conviction. “That’s how long you’ve been widowed. Mia remarried after six months.”
“She didn’t have a choice.”
“You do.”
Liliana looked up, meeting my stare. “Do I?”
“I mean, it’s a shitty choice. Stay here for an indefinite amount of time, move in with Aunt Valentina, move in with Mia, or marry me and we live in your apartment.”
Her cheeks rose as her soft brown eyes took on a new shine. “When you put it like that…”
“What’s your choice, Liliana?”
There was a sparkle to her eyes. However, it seemed as though she was trying to convince herself instead of me. “We like one another. That’s more than I had before.”
“I like you a lot. It could be more. Even if it’s not, like you said, it’s more than last time.”
“My choice is?—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the door to Liliana’s office opened and banged against the wall. Releasing her hand, I stood, creating a barrier between her and the door, intuitively reaching for my gun.
Em stood in the doorway, eyes blazing with his hands up in surrender. “The fuck, Nick. I’ve been trying to reach you. Answer your fucking phone.”
