He smiled and shrugged. “I don’t know what kind of magic you hold, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you all morning. I think you’ve put a spell on me.”
My spirits soared as he said those words. I hadn’t done anything of the sort, but to know he was thinking about me after our time together last night thrilled me.
“No spell. I’m just little old me, Tia.”
Nico slid his arm around my waist and nuzzled my neck. “Well, little old you has possessed my mind.”
As much as I loved the feel of his body next to mine, I pulled away, unsure Grace should see us together like that. Instantly, his expression darkened from disappointment.
“I don’t want to confuse her, Nico. She already had to leave her home to come here to yours where she didn’t know anyone. I think it’s incredible how kind you were to her about her bag of leaves, but to see us together like a couple might not be something she understands.”
He didn’t like what I was saying, but he nodded anyway. “Fine. While we’re around her, no touching. But tonight, you should expect me to be all about the touching and more.”
After glancing at Grace and seeing she was getting close to the road, I gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “That’s a down payment for tonight, okay? Right now, I have to run after a five year old who wants to make a card.”
Nico smiled as I ran away and called after me, “Eight o’clock. I’ll pick you up in the kitchen.”
I beamed a grin of anticipation for what would happen in just a few hours from now, but I hoped Grace didn’t hear him say that. I didn’t know how I’d explain it to her.
Chapter Eight
Tia
After hoursof card-making with Grace and then dinner with her, I put my favorite little girl to bed with a bedtime story about a princess who loved nature and her kingdom full of leaves of every color in the rainbow before walking to my room next door. I didn’t have anything to wear to this date, but even more, now I realized if we were going out to a restaurant, who would be here with Grace?
I didn’t feel right leaving her with Agatha. That woman could ruin all the progress I’d made with the little girl in one night. A single horrible grimace from her and who knew what would happen with Grace.
No, Nico would just have to understand that if we were getting together tonight, it had to be here at the house or I couldn’t go.
On my bed, I found an envelope with my name written on it. I opened it up and saw he’d left me instructions for our date. Happily, I wouldn’t have to cancel after all.
Dear Tia,
Since I didn’t think you’d be willing to leave Grace with a sitter yet while I took you to a restaurant, I brought the restaurant to us. Feel free to wear something comfortable. Easy to get off would be best because I don’t plan to let you stay dressed for long. Meet me on the lower level of the house.
Nico
For a few moments,I marveled at the change in the man. He’d gone from being an insufferable bastard to someone who took into consideration my need to be there for Grace. I wondered what had brought about this sudden change, but I didn’t want to jinx it.
Better to be thankful it happened at all and not question it too much.
So he wanted me to be comfortable? That I could do perfectly well.
I chose my favorite black yoga pants and my nicest purple T-shirt with the black butterfly outline design to go over my best black bra and panties set. I only wore it on special occasions, and I almost didn’t pack it when I was getting ready to come live here.
As I spun around to check myself out in the bathroom mirror, I smiled at my inability to pack light for anything. Thank God for that, though, or I’d be wearing my boring old white bra tonight.
After slipping into my most comfortable clothes, I took one last look in the mirror and tried to calm my nerves. Last night when I approached him, that had been a spur of the moment thing. I didn’t think about it at all. I just went for it.
Tonight was different, though. Now I couldn’t stop myself from shaking and overthinking everything. Doubts filled my head, and I felt like I might throw up at any moment.
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath as I walked away from the mirror. He liked me well enough last night, and I looked pretty much the same as tonight. Everything would be fine.
As long as I didn’t get sick all over the table.
I’d never been to the lower level, so as I walked down the stairs, I wondered what it looked like. Our house back home had brown wood paneling on the walls from the seventies in the basement and a dart board my father claimed was in some famous Prohibition era speakeasy at one time. Nobody believed that story, but the dart board fit in with the lame décor perfectly.
The heavenly scent of fresh baked bread filled my nose and pushed out any thoughts of my ugly childhood home’s basement. It smelled buttery, like the kind of rolls my mother always made for holiday dinners.