“Hey. What’s up?” I tried to act casual and unaffected.
“Nana asked about Lucia. When are you taking her to Palm Vista?” He was talking about the assisted living facility Nana Bea lived at. Nik gripped the back of his neck, showing off his massive bicep. His aviator glasses may have made seeing his eyes difficult, but I sensed his black depths were locked on me.
It was a strange question, but it seemed genuine. So I gave an equally honest reply. “I work a double shift tomorrow so maybe Saturday afternoon. I’m not sure.”
“Are you going to introduce us?” Julian’s voice startled me. I had totally forgotten about him.
“Oh, sorry. Julian Thompson, Nik Tevez. Our grandmas are best friends.”
“Good to meet you, Nik.” Julian extended his hand, but Nik shoved both his hands into his jean pockets. His frigid attitude was so thick, I’d need a blowtorch to melt all the ice surrounding Nik.
“I need help making Nana’s favorite, lasagna. Think you can help me later today so I can take it to her tomorrow?”
I gaped at his request. Nik wanted my help cooking? Shocked didn’t begin to explain how I felt. Why wasn’t his girlfriend helping him?
“I hoped to take you to dinner.” Julian cut in and put his hand back on my knee.
“Oh… um…” I wasn’t prepared for this situation—both guys wanting me to do something with them on the same day. I chewed on the corner of my lip, unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to have dinner with Julian, but I also didn’t want to hurt his feelings. Being alone with Nik could be fantastic or a disaster.
“Rita?” Nik’s commanding tone shot straight into my panties, heating me in ways no man had done before. “You gonna help me or what?” His jaw ticked as if at any moment, he would lose all control.
I feared, sort of, what he might do if I said no, so I didn’t. “Yeah, sure. What time?”
He exhaled. Was he relieved?
“Four. We’ll go to the store to get what we need first. I work tonight…”
“Okay. Sure.”
Nik gave me a short nod and left.
“What about dinner tomorrow night?” Julian asked.
I rolled my eyes.Nice going, Rita.
“Sorry, Julian. I’m busy…”
Nik strode straight into his house and slammed the door.
Damn. My neighbor was impossible to read.
6
Rita
I LIED TO Granny and told her I was going out with Toni. Guilt flooded my lungs. I hated lying. But what would she say if she knew I was going to Nik’s?
“She’s here,” I hollered so Granny could hear me over the telenovela she was watching. She could speak and understand Spanish as if it were her native tongue. Nana Bea had taught her, and in return, Granny taught Bea how to speak Portuguese. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Call if you need anything.”
She waved me off. “Go on, I can take care of myself.”
Stubborn old woman. I bet she could, but she was all I had left in the world. I couldn’t risk anything happening to her.
I ran across the street to Nik’s and knocked on the door. Nervous energy rushed through my veins. I kept looking back at my house, praying Granny didn’t see me. Praying I didn’t make a fool of myself with Nik.
What was taking him so long? I rang the doorbell a few more times.Hurry up!
“I’m coming!” He flung the door open. “Jesus, woman, have some patience.”