A chorus of more voices echoed the greeting.
Going up on tiptoe so she could see over Nico’s shoulder, Gigi noted the Senior Citizens’ walking club passing by at a snail’s pace. So many knowing smiles cast her way. One or two members taking not so discreet photos of her and Nico in a clinch on their phones. Merciful Lady. She lifted her hand from Nico’s shoulder, giving them a wave and a smile of her own in return.
Finally shifting her gaze to his, she looked rueful, a wry smile lifting the edges of her lips. “Well, you delivered on the requested audience. Congratulations, it’s official, we’re an item. That little display we put on should keep everyone happy and focused for a good week or so.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that. Most couples are pretty full on in the beginning, and we don’t want anyone getting suspicious.” He leaned back towards her, teasingly. Unsurprised when her finger came up to block his lips. Thank all the Saints. Just what the hell was he doing? Kissing Gigi? Teasing her? Acting like they really were in a relationship. Acting, yes, that’s all it was. What do you know, he was a natural.
“Come on, Casanova. Let’s get your stuff packed. I have a feeling my store is going to be very busy today with a lot of relatives popping in to buy something, and not so subtly interrogate me on what’s going on between you and me. I foresee a very long day ahead.”
“On the bright side, at least this faux relationship looks like it’ll prove profitable for you.”
“Hah, look at you, Mr Gloomy, end-of-world-is-nigh prophet, being all optimistic. I must be rubbing off on you.”
Frowning, Nico ran fingers through his hair. On the bright side? No, he just wasn’t doom and gloom all the time. He was a realist. A horrible feeling of dread abruptly chilling his gut. Cookies crumbled, didn’t they?
Chapter Eight
“Okay, Yanez, you’re going to have to pick a lane. Either be less charming. Or way more brooding and standoffish.” She sounded insane. Gigi was very aware. But her feet ached. It had been, as predicted, an incredibly long day. A headache was threatening. And her jaw was throbbing, thanks to hours and hours spent smiling and gritting her teeth.
Nico, glancing up from the small oval dining room table, covered currently with stacks of antique looking books, pamphlets and even the odd scroll, surveyed Gigi from head to toe for a moment. “You look like you could use a drink. Here.” He pushed her down gently onto the nearest chair, before ducking into the kitchen area, grabbing two glasses and a bottle of pinot gris from the fridge. “You’d better get those shoes off and put your feet up.” He advised. Pouring out the wine before resuming his seat.
“I was wrong. I thought you’d pick the brooding standoffish route.” Gigi grumbled, taking a large gulp of wine.
“Tough day?”
“The worst. I swear, if one more person, just one, tries to give me relationship advice, I will leap across the counter and throttle them.”
“So the news of our liaison is out, huh? And everyone wants details?”
“Details? No. That would have been fine. I could have played it coy and a little lovestruck. Sent them on their way with some innocuous details concerning our first date. No, instead I spent the entire day listening to everyone’s opinions on whether or not you’re good enough for me.”
“They don’t think I’m good enough for you?”
“Currently the family appear evenly divided. Half adore you. So charming. Handsome. Sexy. And that accent of yours is to die for. That you exude a little air of mystery but they can tell you have a good heart. Blah. Blah. Blah.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask, what do the other half think?”
“That you’re a broken loner. Carrying around too much baggage. Completely unable to make any sort of commitment to a woman at this stage in your life. Not bad or evil, just completely wrong on every level for me. How they just can’t see us working as a couple. Too different.” And how a large majority of that group were absolutely convinced Gigi was going to get her heart broken by Nico.
Which was beyond ridiculous, and downright irritating. She was a grown up. She had four, no, five semi-serious relationships under her belt. But her relatives appeared intent upon depicting her as some naïve waifish innocent, and painting Nico the big bad wolf who would gobble her up and spit her out when he was through with her.
“Wow.” Nico blinked, taking a large slug from his own glass. “And you say half your relatives think that?”
“Yeah, it was a pretty evenly divided. I know they only want what’s best for me—”
“Clearly that isn’t me.”
“You’re not upset by what they said, are you?” Had she heard a tinge of hurt in his tone? Nico?
“Of course not.”
“It’s just they’ve known me my entire life. Watched me grow up. Even the ones who don’t think we make a good couple respect you. And they’re certainly impressed by what you’ve accomplished with the Five Alarm Bar.”
“Respect me?” Choked out Nico, beginning to laugh. “Thanks for the reassurance. Putting all that aside, did anything else happen today, related to our deity threat?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. Same old, same old.”
“Perhaps I should call Darcy, find out if there’s any news?”
