I let it all out over dinner, and once it was out there, I had to admit, it felt good. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders to finally tell someone.
“I don't want to sound arrogant, but I really am the only one who keeps that diner up and running,” I said. “My dad comes in when he wants. I have to call and beg the other employees to cover for him when he's too drunk to work the grills, and more often than not, I'm doing everything. And he just – sends me away. On a whim. For money. Who does that?”
As I spit it all out and unburdened my soul, I was full-out crying and attracting attention from nearby customers. People were staring at us, and I felt bad for ruining this dinner with Nico. I felt bad for laying this all out on him, and even worse for assuming he was a monster to begin with.
I stood up, preparing to excuse myself when Nico took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I'm so sorry, Sophia,” he said. “I knew something wasn't right with how easily he agreed to my proposal. But I had no idea it was this bad for you. Had you not wanted to come, I would have –”
“No, stop that,” I said, walking over to him. He stood up and cupped my face in his hands. “Stop that. I'm so happy I came. This has been the best day of my life. And I really mean that. Nobody has ever showed me the kindness, compassion and consideration you have, Nico. And you have nothing – absolutely nothing – to be sorry about.”
Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was the emotional moment we'd just shared. But I didn't stop myself from kissing him this. I stood on my tip-toes and pressed my lips to his. At first, he seemed shocked, like he might pull away, but after a moment, he pulled me to him and settled into the kiss, his tongue moving past my lips and dancing with mine.
Nico pulled back. “I'm sorry,” he said. “We shouldn't – I mean, I shouldn't –”
He excused himself and rushed toward the restroom, leaving me there alone with my tears and feelings of guilt and surprise. And the heartache of him rejecting me hurt more than anything in that moment.
I sat down at the table, feeling like a fool for pushing it, for kissing him. God knew I wanted to kiss him, but I shouldn't have done that.
Nico wasn't into me like that. He was better than that, and he deserved better than me. I'd been a fool for thinking otherwise.
CHAPTER SIX
“I'm sorry, Sophia,” Nico said in the limo back to our bungalow.
I could hardly look at him, without feeling ashamed. We'd barely exchanged any words since the kiss, but he didn't have to say anything. I knew he regretted it. And the shame that filled my heart was overpowering.
“Listen, the wine was flowing, and so were my emotions,” I said with a shrug, still not managing to look at him. “It's my fault, I shouldn't have done that.”
“No, I shouldn't have done that,” he said. “I shouldn't be taking advantage of you like that. You deserve better.”
“Take advantage of me? But why would you –”
“I told you. I'm not expecting you to do anything with me. Not in that sense,” he said, stopping me before I could say anything else. “And I mean it. Nothing. I don't expect anything but your companionship and don't want you to feel like you have to –”
I turned and looked at him, he was clearly emotional. “I don't think that, Nico. Maybe I worried about it at first, but not anymore. I promise you that,” I said. “You've been nothing but a gentleman, and have nothing to be sorry about.”
“Still, I should have kissed you.”
I laughed. “You didn't. I kissed you, Nico,” I said. “Not the other way around. If anyone should be sorry, it’s me.”
The limo stopped and so did our conversation, at least for the moment. Daniel opened the door, letting us out, and we walked toward our private bungalow. Nico was keeping his distance from me, and it hurt me to see him acting like that. It was as if he suddenly felt like he had to watch himself around me.
I grabbed his hand and forced him to stop and look at me. Reluctantly, he turned and looked into my eyes and I could see the sadness and worry in his face.
“Nico, I kissed you at the restaurant, you didn't force yourself on me. Is that what you're thinking?”
With the waves crashing around us and cool, ocean breeze blowing through my hair, he looked down at me and I felt my pulse race. He was gorgeous. So incredibly gorgeous.
And I had to resist the urge to kiss him again, knowing what happened the last time.
“I feel bad,” I continued. “For coming on to you, when clearly, you're not interested. I shouldn't have –”
“Not interested?” he scoffed. “Is that what you think?”
“Well, yeah,” I said. “I mean, look at you. You're rich, sexy as hell and a complete gentleman, what woman wouldn't want you? Gorgeous, intelligent women. But me, I'm just –”
Before I finished my thought, Nico pressed his lips to mine and kissed me. This time, there was no hesitancy, no pulling back. He was all in, as was I. We stumbled toward the bungalow, kissing and laughing as we went. And once we were inside, he kissed me long and hard, pressing me up against the door.