Nick grabs my left hand and kisses my ring finger. “Can’t wait to put one here.”
He’s really rubbing it in, and what I hate the most about it is how damn believable it is.
“Julie, baby,” Craig whispers, using that stupid nickname he gave me, “I’m not giving up.”
“On what?” Nick asks, searching between us, dropping my hand, and pulling me into his arms. “What am I missing, darling?”
“Craig thinks he’s going to steal me from you,” I say.
Nick chuckles as he runs his fingers through my hair. “I’m not letting you go,Julie, baby. Especially not for your trash-can forever ex, Craig.”
I’m not sure what happens next, but Nick leans in, and I lift on my toes. His mouth gently slides across mine, and everything changes.
The kiss is brief. Just enough to make a point, but it completely resets my brain chemistry. A moan escapes me as heat slides straight through my veins. My pulse pounds so loudly in my ears that I almost miss the quiet, satisfied sound Nick makes as he tastes my pumpkin pie ChapStick.
When I pull back, we’re both breathing a little too hard. I don’tknow what just happened. Nick’s thumb gently traces my cheek, and it takes everything in me not to lean into him and capture his lips again. It shouldn’t have felt like that.
“Bye, Craig,” Nick says, not taking his attention from me. His eyes are soft and unreadable as Craig stays planted.
“We were having a conversation,” Craig says.
“It’s over. Leave my girlfriend alone,” Nick tells him, glaring before returning back to me. “Apologies. I was going to come earlier.”
“I’m just so damn glad you’re here now,” I say, meaning every word. I can’t imagine how this would’ve gone had Nick not shown up.
Craig’s jaw clenches hard enough that I see the muscle twitch from my peripheral vision. Craig stares daggers into Nick, then storms out.
I laugh as Nick pulls me into his arms. I’m not sure what just happened, but we stay locked together and giddy. Our eyes meet, and he’s wearing his signature smirk.
“You can let me go now,” I whisper, half hoping he won’t.
“You’re right; Icould,” he says, his gaze dropping to my lips before meeting my eyes again. “But maybe I don’t want to.”
5
NICK
My arm is still around her waist, and neither of us moves. The scent of coffee and baked goods mixes with her sweet perfume that’s been on my skin since she fell asleep in my arms.
“Thank you for showing up at the right time,” she whispers, her voice shaky. “I seriously owe you.”
“Nah, he needed to fuck straight off,” I say, still not happy with how overbearing he was being. “You were uncomfortable. I saw it on your face.”
Before Julie can respond, Blaire screams from behind the counter with excitement, “Oh, it’s Nick. For five seconds, I thought you were kissing Craig!”
Her hands clasp together, bracelets jangling.
“Blaire.” Julie’s cheeks are pink.
She straightens her apron, glancing around the coffee shop, making note of the audience size. All eyes are still on us and have been since the moment I entered. But that’s not anything new. I’m used to people staring. That’s what happens when you’re revealed as the love child of a well-known and highly followed billionaire.
“I saw the sparks,” Blaire whispers.
Julie tenses beside me. Without thinking, I slide my arm tighteraround her, pulling her closer against my side. She relaxes, melting into me like she was made to fit there.
“Oh, hush.” Julie tries to hide her embarrassment, and I chuckle, finding it adorable.
She turns to me. “Wait for me, okay? I’m about to get off.”
