Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
“You know…” Sylus leans in, his voice a low whisper meant for me, “… I always thought I’d make a good magician too.”
Sylus and I stand slightly apart from the main crowd at the exhibit about illusions. You can still hear the music and the crowd’s chatter, but it’s quieter here.
“You?” I huff out a quiet laugh, glancing at him skeptically. “Somehow, I can’t picture you on stage doing card tricks.”
“Oh, I could show you some tricks later. Real magic.” He nudges me with his shoulder, raising an eyebrow suggestively, the corner of his mouth quirking as he theatrically announces, “And for my next trick… watch me hide the sausage.”
“Behave,” I warn, though I can’t stop the smile from breaking through.
“Sure, sure. I’ll be good.” He lifts his hands as if in surrender, and he slightly straightens. “Heads up,” he intones with a lift of his chin. “Harrington is walking over here. Alone.”
“Is he in hearing range?” I murmur, my gaze fixed ahead.
“Not yet.”
“Remember to call me in ten minutes.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sylus grins, his eyes flicking back to Nicholas before meeting mine again. He counts down just loud enough for me to hear. “Three… two… one.”
Showtime.
In a louder voice, Sylus asks, “So, you back at Fitness First on Monday?”
“Probably.” I shrug, making no move to acknowledge Nicholas’s arrival.
“I could come along…” Sylus leans closer with exaggerated charm, “… show you the ropes.”
I give him a curt smile and take a pointed step away, then swing my attention to an artifact behind me. “I’ll probably go early. Too early for your taste.”
“I’ll be there.” He winks, undeterred, before turning and swaggering off, leaving me to my real objective.
I roll my eyes, muttering under my breath, “I’m definitely going in the afternoon now.”
A chuckle pulls my attention, and I turn, feigning surprise at the sound. Nicholas stands there as tall as Sylus. His green eyes glint with amusement, a smile blooming on his lips.
So effortlessly handsome.
It’s the first time I’ve been able to get a good, close look at him with a relatively clear head, so I instantly catalog things I didn’t have the time to take in earlier like the slit through his eyebrow, which gives his face a rugged charm that contrasts beautifully with his otherwise almost model-like features.
His dark brown hair is cut shorter on the sides but left a bit longer on top, and as he turns his head to regard me, I notice a glint of metal in his ear.
It hangs from his left ear, the opposite side of his bisected eyebrow.
Nicholas steps closer, his eyes locking onto mine. The silk of my dress suddenly feels tight against my body, and I have to force myself not to tense at his proximity. With a subtle inhale, I sink deep into character.
I know how to do this.
“Oh, hey,” I say, letting a hint of embarrassment color my expression as if I’ve only noticed him.
“Hey again,” Nicholas replies, his gaze lingering. “Not a fan of Sylus Walker?”
That’s his last name?
My answering snort is genuine. “No comment.”
Curiosity flickers in his eyes. “Why do you seem to be with them tonight, then?”
I hesitate, the question cutting deeper than it should. Why am I really here? Is it only about the job, or am I starting to care about what happens to these people?
“I’m… sort of the twins’ cousin.”
“The Lanes?” He sounds genuinely surprised. “I’ve never seen you.”
“Yeah, we reconnected recently. After Uncle Oscar’s death, you know?
” I look away for a moment, feigning a hint of sadness.
“They offered me a job as their personal assistant. I’m from Phoenix, and working and living in Vegas sounded…
good. Plus, I thought it might be nice to get to know them better, as I don’t have any other family left.
” I sigh. “Honestly, this lifestyle isn’t for me.
And the twins?” I glance back at Nicholas, scrunching up my nose. “Total assholes.”
Nicholas laughs, the sound soft and genuine, but there’s also understanding in his expression.
He likes what I said.
“Why are you still here, then?”
I shake my head, giving a slight shrug. “I don’t know. I thought I’d give it until their birthday, see if it got any better. But they made me organize all of this tonight. Told me I could have some fun, but they’re the fun police, glaring at everything I do.”
“That’s… not very nice,” Nicholas agrees, a sympathetic smile playing on his lips.
“Yeah, I know.” I huff. “Honestly, I’d rather be… anywhere, really.”
“I get that.” His eyes soften, curiosity lingering. “What’s your name?”
Fuck.
I hadn’t even thought of that. Think quick, Nova.
“Rosie,” I blurt out.
Nicholas tilts his head, a frown forming. “Wasn’t their sister named Rose?”
Right. I try not to let my panic show as I force a small, awkward smile onto my face. “Yeah… uh, we’re a… weird family.”
He studies me for a moment before breaking into a grin. “I bet my family could out-dysfunction yours.”
“Oh, I’d take that bet,” I reply, feeling the tension ease as I let myself smile back. “However, I don’t know if either of us wants to win that one.”
“Touché.” Nicholas laughs again. “So, Rosie, tell me, do you always have such terrible taste in company?” He gestures vaguely in the direction Sylus had gone, and given he’d rescued me from Belmont earlier, the question is legit.
I let out a dramatic sigh, pretending to consider it. “Sadly, it seems to be a running theme lately.”
“I might know a thing or two about avoiding bad company,” he offers, his smile gentle but knowing. “If you need a change of scenery, I’d be happy to help.”
“Maybe you can,” I reply, letting just enough curiosity show. “What’s your name?”
“Nicholas.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Nicholas.”
“Please, call me Nico.” He gives me a bright, sincere smile that lights up his entire face. It’s the kind of smile he hasn’t shown all evening, though he’s offered many. It makes something in my chest tingle unexpectedly.
I shove the feeling away and smile back. “Nico.”
We walk along the exhibits in unspoken agreement in the direction that takes us farther away from the party.
As the sounds of laughter and conversation from the main hall fade into the background, Nicholas’s casual confidence also melts away.
He tucks his hands into his pockets as he glances at the artifacts lining the hallway, and his demeanor shifts into something more approachable.
It’s not the image of a rich, arrogant man.
It’s something more fragile, yet kind of pleasant.
“You know.” Nicholas breaks the silence. “I’d rather be anywhere else too.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, tilting my head, genuinely curious.
“My mother dragged me here like a fucking schoolboy,” he mutters, rolling his eyes.
“She knows I can’t stand these kinds of things.
Even less so when it’s in their building.
” His gaze shifts toward the distant noise of the party, his expression darkening.
“But, as always, she doesn’t give a fuck what I want. ”
There’s tension around his eyes, a frustration that runs deep. Levi made him out to be an arrogant jerk, but right now? He seems human. Hurt, even.
“Aren’t you…” I raise a brow before continuing, “… old enough to say no?”
He chuckles bitterly. “Yeah, you’d think so. Except it’s not that easy.” He shakes his head, his jaw flexing. “With my mother, saying no isn’t an option.”
I nod slowly, sensing the heavy weight behind his words. “Sounds rough.”
He exhales sharply like he’s been holding it in. “You get used to it.”
“So, you don’t care for the twins? Or just their building?” I ask, wanting to know if the animosity is mutual.
“There’s… some history there.”
It’s a shorter answer than I’d like, and his mood visibly darkens to the point where I know I need to change the topic if I want him to associate this conversation with good feelings.
So I nod sympathetically. “Well, I believe you without needing the details. I mean, I tried to like them. But yeah, let’s talk about anything else. ”
There’s a beat of silence, the kind that should feel awkward but somehow doesn’t. Slowly, he smiles, the tension easing from his face. “Like what?”
This would be easier if I knew what he was into.
Now’s as good a time as any to find out.
“We could discuss the big questions in life.”
“Oh, the big questions, huh? All right, here’s one for you…” There’s a playful gleam in his eyes as he pauses for dramatic effect. “Would you rather eat ten gallons of cookie dough or ten gallons of ice cream?”
I snort. “That’s your big question?”
Is Nicholas Harrington fun?
“Hey, priorities.” He shrugs, but there’s that sweet smile again. “It says a lot about a person.”
“I don’t know…” I bite my lip, pretending to weigh the options as if it’s some life-altering decision, which it is. I need him to like me. “What’s your answer?”
“I asked you first.” He smiles.
“It’s so hard.” I pout.
“Fine…” He pauses, giving me a look before finally giving in. “Cookie dough, obviously. It’s the best part of ice cream, so why not skip the middleman?”
“Ten gallons of cookie dough ice cream, then,” I say, grinning like a dork. “Checkmate.”
Nicholas stops walking and laughs heartily. “You can’t choose both. That’s not how this works.”
I shrug. “Nobody makes me choose between two good options.”
Still chuckling, he challenges, “Fine. Give me two bad options then.”
“All right.” I tap my chin, pretending to think. “Would you rather have Cheetos dust on your fingers for a year or have to walk around with wet socks for a year?”
Nicholas lets out a groan. “You’re bringing out the hard ones.”
“Come on, answer it.” I cross my arms, a sassy grin spreading. For a second, I forget to play my part and let myself be me.
If it’s ever safe to be myself, it is with the guy who is a mark and nothing more.
Nicholas’s smile softens as he looks at me, something akin to affection in his gaze. “I think I like the way your brain works.”