Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Iawaken late the next morning, and it takes me a moment to realize where I am.
Nero’s room.
Last night after the Ritual Room, we came back here and showered—well, he showered me—then Nero applied lotion all over my body and combed my hair out before helping me into my pajamas and tucking me in.
I fell asleep with him wrapped around me and slept the most soundly I ever have.
I roll over to see Nero, but his side of the bed is empty. Frowning, I sit up. “Nero?”
He doesn’t answer, which means he’s not in the en suite or his walk-in closet. My shoulders deflate. I thought we were over the disappearing acts.
The bedroom door opens, and Nero steps in holding a tray filled with breakfast foods. He’s shirtless, his defined muscles and large raven tattoo on display, with a pair of low-slung gray pajama pants on. Basically, he looks like a girl’s wet dream.
“Good morning,” he says. “Ready for breakfast in bed?”
I smile. “Only if you’re joining me.”
He steps to my side of the bed and places a chaste kiss on my mouth. “Try to stop me.”
Nero sets the tray over my lap and rounds the bed to his side, crawling in.
The breakfast tray is filled with all my favorites, including the pastries I’ve gushed over since arriving at the manor.
“This is very sweet. Thank you.” I give him a kiss.
“You deserve that and so much more,” he says.
I chuckle. “Why? Because I performed so well last night?”
He shakes his head. “No, because you’re you.”
My stomach swoops. If I’m not careful, I’m going to completely fall for this man. If I could trust the universe to let me keep him, there would be nothing better. But what if it ends up like my parents, and the person I love most gets ripped away from me?
The closer Nero and I get, the more these kinds of doubts creep into my head even though I tell myself to enjoy the moment and stay in the present. But the fact that Nero still hasn’t mentioned his engagement nags at me. Why is he still keeping things from me?
“Eat up,” Nero says.
I fork a strawberry. “Have you already eaten?”
He nods. “I’ve been up for about an hour.”
After placing my fork down and grabbing a pastry, I take a bite and moan. Nero’s eyes grow heavy, and he watches my lips with intent.
A chuckle leaves my lips. “Sorry.”
He leans against the headboard, fingers linked behind his head. “By all means, continue.”
I laugh again. “I don’t think I should. I have to get ready to go to work soon.”
“At the bar?”
I nod with a mouth full of pastry.
“Have you given any more thought to what I said about quitting TT’s?” he asks.
I appreciate the space he’s given me to try to sort myself out. “I have, but I don’t know yet. It’s taking me a bit to get my bearings. Going from having no options in my life to being able to decide for myself is a lot. But I promise I’m trying to come to a decision.”
One thing that keeps coming to mind is how much I enjoyed teaching Dahlia to dance. But I’m not sure what that means quite yet.
Nero looks as though he wants to press the issue, but he presses his lips together and nods instead.
“You brought me enough food to feed an army. Are you sure you don’t want any?” I change the topic of conversation.
He holds up a hand. “I’m good.”
“Your loss,” I say and pop a grape into my mouth.
“How are you feeling about last night now that you’ve slept on it?” he asks.
I tilt my head. “Why do I feel like I’m in a therapy session?”
He rolls his eyes. “I’m just checking in on you. Want to make sure you don’t regret it.”
When I finish chewing, I give him a chaste kiss. “Nero, I don’t regret any of it.”
A slow smile tilts his lips. “Glad to hear.”
I think of how much my life has changed since this man brought me back here on New Year’s Eve, and it almost seems unfathomable. “I don’t think I have thanked you enough for letting me stay here. I hope you know how appreciative I am.”
He coasts his knuckles down my cheeks. “No thanks needed.”
“I don’t know about that.” I shake my head and grab a blueberry.
“Do you miss living in your family home?” His eyes fill with concern.
A frown tilts the corners of my lips. “I do. Though the more time that passes, the more I realize that maybe I was just trying to hold onto a time that was already lost. It’s not like living there would bring my parents back, but I felt close to them there. Being away from it for a couple of months, I can see what a terrible situation I was in, and I know neither of my parents would’ve wanted that for me. I’ll keep them in my heart and honor their memory without living in that house.”
Nero takes my hand. “Good. I never want you to have regrets, especially when it comes to us.”
Late that night,I lock the door of Black Magic Bar and step out into the cool night air feeling less burdened than I can ever remember. I’m about to head to my car in the parking lot when something catches my eye.
There’s a large FOR LEASE sign on one of the store fronts across the street. I’m pretty sure it’s new, otherwise I would have noticed it before.
Hiking my purse up on my shoulder, I hustle across the road to take a look. I bring my face right up to the glass and put my hands on either side of my face to cut down on the reflection of the streetlight across the road.
The unit is a large open space and in need of some TLC. It was a thrift shop for a few years, but I don’t know what it was before that. An idea takes shape in my mind—what if I could turn this place into a dance studio?
I know the answer as soon as the question hits my brain—yes.
It wouldn’t be huge, just one studio, but that’s all I would need.
Looking inside, I picture a small desk at the front when you walk in and mirrors on three of the walls, a ballet bar in front of each of them.
My stomach fizzes with excitement. I step back then fish my phone out of my purse to take a picture of the phone number to call. I tell myself not to get too excited as I shove my phone back in my purse and walk back across the street. Who knows what the rent is? Maybe they’re asking for a crazy amount that I won’t be able to afford. I have some money saved now that I no longer have to give Louise or Lisa a portion of what I make, but will it be enough?
And renovations to get the place in shape won’t be cheap.
The buzz of excitement I felt fades as I unlock my car and slide inside. My shoulders sag, but I raise my chin before I pull out of the parking lot.
Whether I can afford this place or not, one good thing has come out of it—at least I now know exactly what I’d love to do with my life.