Page 70 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
I fight the urge to give him the biggest hug.
I have to avoid liking the thought ofthatway too much.
In the end, the urge wins.
Leaning against his arm, I rest my head on his shoulder for a frenzied second. My face feels like it’s melting but I don’t care.
“I’m sorry again. About yesterday. You’re not so bad sometimes,” I whisper. “And I guess it’s not the worst thing in the world to be stuck with you.”
He huffs but doesn’t move away.
“Should I get that in writing? Cleo Blackthorn agrees I wasn’t assigned to piss her off, and she won’t produce another unflattering drawing.”
“Shut up. Let’s enjoy the truce.” I’m laughing, suddenly giddy.
But he goes quiet as his lips turn up.
He lets me enjoy him.
Finally, we find a little unexpected peace in the dark, uneven chasms between our emotions.
By seven o’clock,I’m worried.
Jasper Fairfax still hasn’t called.
All the warm, fuzzy feelings from The Met visit have faded with the sunset, and all that’s left in its place is this waxy anxiety.
Lots of anxiety.
Holden shoulders the door open and steps through, carrying a pizza box and a bottle of wine. “Nile, stop pacing and come eat. You’re making me dizzy.”
“And you just got back and I’m starving.”
My inner hangry ghoul takes over the instant a whiff of good New York pizza hits me in the face.
My eyelids flutter shut in bliss.
While we sat around, waiting for the call, Holden insisted on getting some food in me. At the time, I wasn’t that keen on pizza, but now, I’m ravenous.
“Nothing from Fairfax?”
“Nope.” I grab a couple plates and two glasses from the kitchen.
“Dammit, what’s the holdup? He promised us a call.”
“Do you think it’s a bad sign? Maybe he found out the egg’s a fraud and he’s just figuring out how to let me down easy.” I pour us both wine and accept the enormous pizza slice he plates up. Classic pepperoni. “What if it’s not authentic? Or something’s wrong with its condition? Honestly, I never looked at it that closely. Crap… What if it’s illegal to even sell it? I don’t want to get arrested.”
“Nile, switch off. If he had any concerns about it being stolen, they would’ve been front and center. Eat some pizza.” He pushes my plate into my hands.
Good advice I can’t ignore.
“How are you not freaking out over this?” I ask around a bite.
We sit on the sofa together.
“Why bother? You’re doing plenty of that for both of us.” He shoves the slice into his own mouth and tears off a bite, practically folding the thin slice to down it in a few chomps. And I thoughtIwas starving. “You’ll feel better with a full belly. Trust me.”
“I’ll feel better with more wine,” I mutter.
