Page 10 of Built of Illusions

The kids exchanged a quick look and the twenties disappeared from his hand. He hoped the extra insurance wasn’t wasted.

He pulled out his phone and texted Josie. Buzz me in. Which apartment?

The answering text took long enough that he wondered if she’d already left, but she finally answered. 402.

He walked through the door when it buzzed open and confirmed there was no elevator. Taking down the furniture was going to be a pain in the ass.

Nico jogged up the steps and was about to knock on the door when it opened. Josie wore soft jeans and a black t-shirt with DISCO printed across her chest. He grinned at the shirt. “Nice shirt. I didn’t know you were a Star Trek fan. I love Discovery.”

Josie’s dusky skin flushed but she hadn’t smiled yet. “I told you not to bother.”

He grinned and shook his head. “Is that what you were calling after me last night? I didn’t quite catch it.”

She rolled her eyes but her lips quirked. “As if you didn’t know.” But she did step back and open the door to let him in. Progress.

It only took a moment to realize her entire space would probably fit in the living room of his house but that every single part of it was sparkling clean. Like her appearance, Josie’s apartment presented as fresh and shiny.

He grinned at the stack of boxes. “You’re organized. How many big pieces of furniture need to go?”

“Not many. Just the bed, table, those two chairs, and a couple of shelves.”

No couch? Interesting. Instead of remarking on its lack, Nico nodded and handed her a coffee. Taking a sip gave him time to realize the only space he couldn’t see was the bathroom. A tiny studio space so there was definitely no couch hiding anywhere.

His phone buzzed with a text and he grinned. “Joe and Roman are on the way. We can take a couple of boxes down and then head up for the bigger pieces with them.”

“What?”

Nico tried one of his charming smiles. “You never ask for help, so I did it for you. You’re welcome.”

“I don’t want to ruin anyone’s weekend. I’m sure they had plans. And you too. Text them back and cancel. And you can go too. I’m fine.”

“Do you ever do anything the easy way?”

Her face showed shock at the comment, so he took advantage and continued. “You did us all a huge favor a few weeks back. You gave up your Christmas and your art time to fly to Vermont with us to help someone you’d never met. We all appreciate it and this is a way we can at least pay you back at least a little.”

“I was glad to help. You don’t owe me.”

Nico kept his voice patient and kept his eyes serious. “Friends don’t owe each other. We help each other out. Are you telling me we’re not friends?”

She blinked a few times and Nico knew he’d won this round. Josie might not be used to having friends, but she was stuck with them now.

Because if he couldn’t have her in the ways he dreamed about, he could at least be her friend.

Josie hadn’t realized Nico was such a master manipulator. She’d somehow missed that, probably because she’d been spending all her time trying to hide her attraction to him. But he’d maneuvered her into doing exactly as he’d planned.

Which had the end goal of helping her out so she shouldn’t be pissed. Okay, she was a little pissed that she hadn’t managed to stick to her guns, but she told herself it was a good thing.

She’d been focusing on her career and financial goals for a long time. Now, she had her own house and was growing her name in the art world.

Friendships were the next logical goal.

It didn’t take the four of them long to bring down all her worldly goods. Everything fit in the back of the two trucks Joe and Roman had driven with another two boxes in the trunk of Nico’s car. After a double check of the empty space, she turned in her keys to the landlord and met the guys on the sidewalk.

Joe and Roman were leaning against their trucks while Nico was talking with Juan and Paul from the building. He shook both their hands and shoved his wallet back into his pocket.

Roman pushed off the truck. “Looks like we’re ready to go. What’s your castle’s address, Josie?”

She forced herself to smile. It was her castle, but these men were several ranks above her financial status. What were they going to think?

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