Page 59 of The Texan's Secrets

“I know your rationale,” Misha said. “But it should have been a night in jail or a few months’ probation at most.”

“But that’s not the way it went.” His voice came out harsher than he’d intended as he came to his feet. He tried not to dwell on the past but, every once in a while, it chafed Nico to recall how power and money had swayed the justice system and saddled him with a ridiculously harsh sentence.

“I’m saying it wasn’t fair.” She was right about that.

He moderated his tone. “And I’m saying it’s in the past.”

None of it, not the past or the present, was in any way Misha’s fault. She’d stood by him when few others had, and he’d always be grateful for her love. He’d do anything for her, anytime, anywhere. “I’m also saying don’t worry about it. I’d do it the same way all over again.”

His friend Dylan and his wife had three little girls down in Austin now. He was an outstanding father with a wonderful family. When Nico found himself resenting the justice system, he thought about Dylan’s life, and it eased the sting.

“You’re a good man,” she repeated.

“Saint Nico of wedding cake procurement,” he joked.

She smiled. “It’s not nothing.”

“I just happened to think of the right person.”

“Let me know when you hear back? I can’t wait to give Maggie the good news.”

“I’ll call right away. You should get back to work. The shareholders are counting on you to make a profit.”

She grinned. “Get out of here.”

“Yes, ma’am. Love you, sis.”

“I love you too.”

“They absolutely loved the idea,” Nick said to Emilia as they waited for their pizzas and drinks at Central Snacks, a take-out eatery on the town square, while taking a lunch break from filming.

“I thought we were going to edit the video before we showed anything to them.” Emilia was unnerved by the idea of anyone getting the raw footage. Her delivery was improving, but she still stumbled on the odd sentence and had to redo parts of the workshop.

“I sent a few clips as samples.” He took in her expression. “Don’t worry. They were great. You looked very poised and very smart.”

The young woman from the kiosk slid their pizza slices and soft drinks across the counter.

“So long as I don’t look like an übergeek.”

“You could never look like a geek. Can you carry the drinks?” Nick balanced the two oversize slices on their paper plates.

Central Snacks bordered on a small grassy area with picnic tables and shade trees, and they headed that way.

“I’m short, nerdy, wear glasses and talk about SQL and syntax. It’s the very definition of a geek.”

“You’re not short.” His grin gave away the fact that he was teasing her.

She rolled her eyes.

“And, like I said, I only sent the good clips.”

They came to a vacant table and sat down.

“I better not find myself on the internet messing up the phrase ‘compliant with multifaceted commitment capability.’”

He smiled, obviously remembering. “You did struggle with that one.”

“I have trouble enunciating alliteration with multisyllabic words.” She paused, her eyes glittering with amusement. “I can’t believe I just spit that out right the first time.”

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