Page 71 of This Bitter Sweet Temptation
But I take another bite and moan.
Hello, flavor town.
Yeah, okay, so maybe this pizzawillmake me feel better after all. That doesn’t mean it’s a magic cure for our problems.
“But what if somethingdidgo wrong?” I ask when I’m halfway through a second slice. “There are so many things that could derail, and—”
“Exactly,” he interrupts, polishing off his slice. “A thousand things could misfire, and there’s no point in worrying about them. Do you hear me?”
I blow out a breath. “I do.”
“If anyone ever knew his shit, it’s Leonidas Blackthorn.” Holden presses back into the sofa, grabbing another slice off his plate. “There’s zero chance he left you an underwhelming inheritance. I watched him run circles around the biggest geniuses in real estate more times than I could count. No one ever would’ve pulled one over on the old man.”
Very true.
I love how easy it is for Holden to find the magic words to make me feel better. I don’t understand how he does it so effortlessly.
“What if it wasn’t his fault, though? I’m sure he did some checking, but he never had it looked at or appraised by an expert. Not that we know anyway.”
Holden shrugs. “Then he made an honest mistake. I don’t think he did. He knew what he was doing, and you meant too much for him to risk you running around on anything less than a sure thing. Hell, I’d like to think he wouldn’t send me on a wild goose chase either, but…”
He doesn’t finish that thought.
I smile.
I get up and refill my wineglass.
I don’t know if it’s the alcohol or Holden, but my nerves dull, draining from my system.
The pizza helps a lot. When I’m hungry, I’m only half human.
He hands me a third slice without asking, and I take a big bite.
“What about you?” I ask with my mouth full. “He must’ve left you something good?”
“Close enough.”
“What does that mean?” I press. “You’re still on payroll, right?”
He nods slowly. I can practically see his hesitation, avoiding saying too much, but why?
Never a man of impulse.
“He left me a decent payday,” he says. “Enough for my family. That’s all that matters after this gig. Kit, she’s bright, and she deserves the best college she can get into. Whatever she chooses. My folks are old, and they’ve got their health issues. Nothing wrong with having a little backup there for a rainy day. I just have to finish this job to collect it.”
I’m touched.
“That’s a little disappointing.” I press a hand to my chest like I’m wounded, my voice lilting. “You mean this isn’t a favor for little old me?”
His eyes glaze over.
The death stare makes me laugh.
“We both know you’ll miss me someday,” I say.
“If it helps you to think that, Nile, be my guest. Can’t wait for you to run off and make some other boy bald with stress,” he growls. But his eyes soften and he looks back at me, sipping his wine. “I’ll miss today. That museum field trip wasn’t half-bad, even if you walked us into a porno flick.”
My throat squeaks when I swallow.
