My heart stops. “Morelli Holdings?” I don’t even know why I’m asking. I know the answer, but the news nearly steals all thought and reason from me.
“Lucian and I go way back,” Nick says, his hands still rubbing my shoulders. “And I felt I owed him the respect of going to him before he hears it from someone else.”
I turn to face him, my eyes searching his. “You told him about me. About my relation to the Morellis?”
“Yes. It’s just a matter of time until that entire family knows.”
“I didn’t want them to know about me,” I say, feeling anger rise inside of me.
“That’s not possible. Your name is the topic among many right now.”
My heart falls to the floor at the thought of him visiting one of my brothers or cousins who I doubt even knows I’m alive. I can barely breathe as I ask, “What did Lucian say?”
Nick takes a deep breath and a large step backwards. “It’s a long conversation for you and me to have, maybe another time. I’m tired from the flight, and you’ve been cooped up for days. I want to take you somewhere. Clean up and meet me outside in five minutes.”
“You can’t just tell me that you spoke with Lucian and leave me hanging,” I say, still not able to breathe easily.
“I’ll fill you in on everything soon enough. I promise. But right now, we’re leaving.”
I stand there, not sure what to think or say. I may not know Nick all too well, but I know him enough to know there is no pressuring him to do something he doesn’t want. And he clearly doesn’t want to talk about his meeting with Lucian Morelli. “Where are we going?”
“Just go get cleaned up. Wear jeans and meet me downstairs,” Nick says, leaving the room.
When I walk downstairs, I find Nick in the foyer speaking with a man I recognize as Harrison from Wonderland.
“Are we all set for Wonderland tonight?” Nick asks the man.
“Like always. It should go smoothly. Are you sure you’ve had enough rest to attend?” Harrison asks Nick.
“I’m fine.”
“When’s the last time you slept?”
Nick pats the man on the back and smiles. “You know me, Harrison. I don’t need sleep.”
“Maybe we should reschedule the meeting tonight,” Harrison offers. “If you’re tired—”
“Make sure everyone is there,” Nick says. “I’ll be there in a couple of hours.” He then turns to me and says, “You look beautiful.”
All I’ve done is wash the dust from my hands, brush my hair, remove my dust-splattered dress, and yet I can feel myself flush at the compliment. There is something so strong inside of me that wants to please Nick. I can’t explain it, and I most certainly don’t understand it.
“Are we going to Wonderland tonight?”
Harrison and Nick exchange a look, and Harrison shrugs. “It’s undecided if you’ll be attending tonight or not.”
“I’d like to,” I say softly, the idea of returning to Wonderland excites me, especially since my last experience was cut short. Plus, I’d like to spend time with Nick. I didn’t realize until seeing him just how much I missed him.
He just nods and with a hand splayed at my lower back, leads me outside where a motorcycle the color of midnight is waiting for us on the circular driveway.
“Are we going to ride that?” I ask.
“Have you ever been on the back of a bike?” Nick asks.
“No. It’s dangerous.”
“Come on. I’ll help you on.”
“But…” I don’t want to appear to be scared, but I am.
He hands me a leather jacket and a helmet that is resting on the seat. “I know you’ve figured out you are in Bishop’s Landing, so I figured we’d go drive around some so you can see it.”
The only way he can know I’m aware we’re in Bishop’s Landing is that he was in fact monitoring my conversations with Sasha since we had spoken about it. I consider confronting him about the invasion of my privacy, but at the same time, I had expected he would, so it’s not really shocking or even upsetting.
“I don’t know how to ride a motorcycle,” I say as I put on the jacket, my heart skipping at the idea of going at fast speeds with no metal protection around me. “Maybe we should drive in—”
“Good thing for you I do. You just need to hold on,” he interrupts.
He reaches out and pushes my hair over my shoulder, running his fingertip along my collarbone as he helps me put on the helmet. From the heat flaring in my face, the tightness of my nipples, and the grin he gives me, I have no doubt he knows the effect he has on me.
He turns and swings his jean-clad leg over the seat. Reaching out, he offers me his hand, his smile and his absolute confidence giving me the courage to place my palm in his. With little effort, he pulls me onto the motorcycle and settles me behind him. My heart ceases and fear paralyzes me as I desperately cling to Nick, trying my best to control my breathing.