Page 91 of The Wrong Vintage
I don't know how to respond to that so I just…shut up. He does, too. The house creaks softly, settling around the argument like it wants no part of it.
"I…don't like seeing her with you…it makes me insecure," I admit softly.
Nico puts his hands on my shoulders. "Because she wants you to doubt me. Stop giving her that upper hand."
I look up at him, feeling very close to tears.
I'm hungry. I'm thirsty. I'm overtired.
"She wants it to look like she belongs beside you." I sniffle sorrowfully.
He cups my cheek and winces when a tear flows down my cheek. "Ah,dolcezza,she isn't worth it." He licks the tear and kisses the corner of my mouth. "I used her to keep you at a distance."
"You used her to hurt me." I can't keep the anguish out of my voice.
He kisses my lips this time. "I did. I'm sorry. She means nothing. She's just someone who works for me—someone I don't like very much. Would it help if I told you that after our engagement, she made a pass at me and I threw her out?"
I straighten. "Where did you throw her out of?"
That makes his lips twitch into a smile. "My hotel suite."
“What was she doing in your suite to start with?” I hiss.
He grins now. "It was in Mallorca. She tried to?—"
"Seduce you?"
He thinks about it, and I slap his chest. He laughs, takes my offending hand in his, and brings it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles.
"Today, I told her if she ever tries to insinuate to you that she and I have anything going on besides Public Relations for the House of Alighieri, I will fire her."
I glower at him. "Why can't you fire her now?"
He leans close and nuzzles my nose with his. "Because she's good at what she does and as long as she behaves, I'm not letting go of someone who knows our media and industry as well as she does."
I understand making business decisions without letting personal influence affect it.
He kisses my forehead and holds my gaze. "I don't want you to ever wonder about her. About anyone. I choose you now, tomorrow, and the day after that."
Does he mean he chooses me forever? And what does that mean?
I close my eyes for a moment.
When I open them again, he's watching me like he's afraid I might disappear.
I love you, I think, and the realization is so sudden, so complete, it almost knocks me over. I don't say it out loud to him, though. I’m not ready.
But I step into him, wrap my arms around his waist, and rest my cheek against his heart.
"I need a shower. I need food. I need some sleep."
He laughs softly. "Cara, I can help with all of those things."
21
NICO
I was scared that she'd kick me out, that I'd lose her.
