Chapter 29 – Rae
Cherry Pie was still gone. Three days. Three blasted days without my baby sitting in the garage.
I was fit to be tied. The problem was, I couldn’t dump the bowl of soup on Nico’s lap at lunch.
I had to act like nothing was wrong, keeping my facial expression neutral, and stay calm through the whole meal.
The moment the family left the dining room, I wanted to bolt.
Chase him down for a change. But there was the cleaning up that had to happen first. By the time the formal dining room was spotless, the dishes loaded into the washer, and Franky was done with me, I nearly burned a hole in the bottom of my soles.
“Quit your pacing, it’s giving me a headache,” the cook grumped.
I didn’t need to be told twice.
Carrying a supply bucket, pretending to be on a mission to clean some other part of this godforsaken mansion, I rushed from the back quarters. If Nico left again, I was going to scream.
He wasn’t in his room. Nor the lounge areas. Or on the back patio.
I slammed open the library door, not even bothering to knock. “You have something that doesn’t belong to you, and I want her back!”
Nico peered up from behind his laptop. That face was drawn and haggard. His eyes lacked their usual fire. But it was the sigh that passed his lips that punched me straight in the gut.
“I’m too tired to fight right now, cherry-bomb.” Nico pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll get your keys, and Luigi or AJ can drive you to pick up your car.”
Just like that, the pent-up anger dissipated. I’d been stewing for days, but his exhaustion made my chest pinch tight.
Closing the door almost the whole way, I stood there, watching him. Something happened. And damn me, I wanted to know. I wanted to help.
“Can I bring you anything?” I asked quietly. “Tea? Coffee?”
Nico dropped his hand. His tired smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I haven’t had enough water today, but don’t trouble yourself. I’ll get it as soon as I’m done here.”
I shook my head rapidly. “No, just wait.”
Setting the cleaning supplies down, I bolted from the room before he could stop me.
And ran right into the housekeeper.
“There you are.” Sanderson frowned. “I need you to turn the sunroom.”
“Okay, just a minute,” I said quickly running past her.
Her hawkish gaze bored into my back, but she didn’t try to stop me. I burst into the kitchen, making the cook jump. He cursed as coffee spilt from his cup.
“Can I not have five minutes of peace, Rae?”
“Sorry,” I muttered.
Cathy, placing the ramekins of proofed dinner rolls in the oven, gave me a concerned look. “Watcha doing, honey?”
I put ice in a glass but stopped. While the rest of the family enjoyed the frigid water, I remembered Nico never drank it at meals.
Dumping the ice in the sink, I turned on the faucet. When the filtered water seemed to be about room temperature against my wrist, I filled the glass.
“Rae?” Cathy pressed.
“Mr. Dominico requested a glass of water,” I explained, lifting the cup.
Cathy frowned. “Odd. He usually gets things himself.”
“That boy is nothing if not self-sufficient.” Franky sipped his tiny cup of inky black swill.
I should have lied. Rushing around might get me caught.
“Yeah, well, I don’t think he’s feeling well,” I said lamely.
My co-workers didn’t comment. I escaped the kitchen without any more questions. The halls were clear. I hurried along, careful not to spill. What was I doing? This uncharacteristic behavior was going to raise suspicions.
I’m serving.
That was what I was here to do. No one was going to read into it. Pushing into the library, I pulled up short.
“Magnolia! We knock before entering a room,” Sanderson barked.
Nico’s gaze was murderous. I didn’t want to be the housekeeper for a million dollars.
“I’m sorry, I was just—”
“I have a headache, Francesca,” Nico snapped. “Rae was kind enough to fetch me some water instead of finishing dusting the shelves.”
The housekeeper looked between us. Her lips thinned. “She’s not supposed to be doing that when the family is present.”
“I barged in on her,” Nico growled. “I forbade her stopping.”
Sanderson nodded but didn’t make a move to leave.
I kept my spine straight as I crossed the room and set the glass on a coaster. I forced my movements to seem natural, even though it was the farthest thing from the truth.
“Magnolia, return that glass to the kitchen and put some ice in it,” she sniped.
Nico’s gaze met mine for a split second. “Actually, I hate ice.”
I knew it!
Nico’s voice was clipped. “Have a good day, Francesca.”
“Sta meglio, Signor Dominico.” With that, the witch left. She didn’t close the door all the way.
“I should go.” I looked over my shoulder. “She’s probably listening.”
“Mmm….” The sound was a low rumble that shot straight through me, making my toes curl. “Thank you for the water, Rae.”
I couldn’t help it. I reached out and brushed my fingers along his face. He turned into my touch.
“I’m just glad I guessed right. About the ice.”
“It’s perfect.” This time his smile had a bit more light to it. “How did you know I hated it?”
I shrugged. “I’ve been watching you, killer.”
“Come here.” His fingers slid down my arm, wrapping around mine as he tugged me.
I shot a worried glance at the door. The housekeeper was poking about out there.
Nico gave me another tug, and I fell onto his lap.
The feel of those hard muscles did things to me. I melted, momentarily giving into the comfort of him.
“I didn’t mean to keep your car away,” he confessed. “Forgive me?”
I smacked his chest. “The paint had better not be scratched.”
He chuckled. “I’ll fix it if it is.”
His fingers drew lazy, long strokes against my skirt. The material hiked up. And then, he found skin.
“Nico,” I warned. “This is dangerous.”
His voice was husky, heavy with desire. “You’ve become my favorite sin, and I was never built for repentance.”
“You’re evil,” I pouted, but my legs shifted, opening for him, inviting him. He slid his touch along my inner thigh, stopping right before he found the spot where I craved him.
“Tell me…why was there was salted finger in your suitcase?”
I jerked.
My heartbeat tripled.
The brat had gone through my things!
“You snooped,” I hissed.
He grinned. “I did.”
“That was uncalled for, Nico. My stuff is private.”
He shrugged. “I think your little stash is cute. Trophies from your time here.”
I stabbed a finger in his chest, making him grunt. “Tell anyone—”
“Snitches get stiches,” he whispered, nipping at my collar bone. “Would it help if I apologized for looking?”
“Are you sorry?” I baited him, running my fingers through his hair.
“No,” he chuckled. “How about I make it up to you?”
Air stuck in my throat at the seductive tone. “I’m listening.”
“I need you to spy at the Midsummer’s Eve party my family is attending Thursday night.”
The way he spoke was warm, just like honey drizzled on a buttered biscuit. It warped my brain to the point that I didn’t register his words. At first. When they finally clicked, I bent over with stifled giggles.
“Yeah, sure. Me. Go to the fancy party,” I gasped for air.
Nico squeezed my thigh, his finger brushing against my panties. “I’m serious.”
“Keep dreaming, buddy.”
“I’ll deliver the dress and mask.”
I perked up at that. Holy shit, he’s not joking!
“Luigi will pick you up at nine,” Nico continued. “He’ll make sure you get inside. Then, just wander around, see what information you can pick up. What do you think? Can you be my sweet little spy?”
I stared down at him, searching his dark gaze. The hunger was back, dominating the exhaustion. “Sanderson won’t let me go.”
Nico smirked. “I’ll have Luigi pay her a visit. She’ll shut her mouth about your absence or else.”
“Me…at a…party.” It felt surreal. “Tell me the truth, is this a pity invitation or do you really need me to spy?”
Nico pressed his thumb into my clit. “I need you, Rae.”
I ached for him.
“Say yes, baby,” he coaxed. “Say you’ll be there so I can watch you all night. So I can plan exactly how I’m going to rip the dress off your body.”
With a shiver, I breathed, “Yes, Nico.”
“Good girl.” Lifting his hand from my thigh, Nico cupped my jaw. “I wish it was me. Picking you up, escorting you, spending the evening together. Someday it will be different. I promise you that.”
Those words set my poor heart hammering.
He believed it. I saw that in his face.
I wasn’t going to tell him it was almost impossible for me to feel the same. A future where I didn’t have to wear a mask seemed far away.
“What kind of flowers do you like?” he breathed.
With a rough laugh, I untangled myself and shot to my feet. “You hate ice? I hate flowers.”
I had to leave. Right the fuck now. The way he was looking at me was too real, too raw.
“Why?” Nico leaned back, clasping his hands behind his head.
As I hurried to the door, I threw over my shoulder, “They die.”
***
This was something out of a movie. I didn’t even want to know how much the dress cost. It was safe to say that my entire wardrobe over the course of my whole life didn’t add up to the way this gown felt.
It was like being draped in hundred-dollar bills from my throat to the soles of my feet—which were in strappy stilettos.
The shimmering onyx dress wrapped around my neck with a beaded collar.
It flowed over my breasts with a cut out window for the gals to say hi.
The back was bare. From my ribs over my hips, it was snug and left no room for imagination.
There was a slit that ran from my left hip—not thigh, hip—to the floor.
Luckily, I had high-waisted, sheer tights that kept my business from flashing as I moved.
I had no idea what character I was, but complete with a black, half-face mask, it didn’t matter. The look was spectacular.
The only thing powerful enough to dampen my spirits was walking through the back door with Luigi and seeing all the other glamorous women. They came in every shape, size, and color—each one a masterpiece replica in their costumes.
At least I fit in.