“So we’ll date.”
Wait. What? Date. “You think we should date?”
Why did she sound so confused? They were on the same page, weren’t they? Maybe they weren’t. Crap. He had to save this. Had to convince her. Hurriedly moving closer, capturing one of her small hands, so close now only inches separated them. “Look, I know we didn’t start off on the best of footings. And that was all on me. I was too busy patting myself on the back, dealing righteously with killing Kristiah, to realise that I was being smothered by a decade of guilt. Of not being there on the Merry Maverick that day to save everyone. For taking ten years to cure my brother and find my sister. I’ve come to the realisation that I did my best. I never shirked my responsibility, and never once gave up. Knowing that several deities have been behind thescenes pulling threads, causing all this to happen to my family. It both helps and horrifies to know so much was out of my hands. But fighting back against Qetesh’s curse, that really opened my eyes to the fact that I’ve been a fool.”
“No.” It was reflex for Gigi to protest, she didn’t like hearing Nico put himself down.
“Yes. Just look at my behaviour. Lone wolfing it. Trying to sweep you aside in the beginning of our partnership. Insisting I could handle everything all on my own. But when I went mind to mind with Qetesh, and she attempted to drag my soul down that long tunnel and wall it up, you were a lifeline. Not just because you offered me some immunity to her power by your proximity. But because you’re you, Gigi. Strong willed. Decisive. Determined. Caring. Always with a plan and a smile. You helped me break a mind destroying curse, and for that I’ll always be grateful. I’ve spent the last week avoiding you, you know. Not because I didn’t want to see you but because I wanted to see you too much. And I was afraid when I did, a torrent of senseless words would spill from my mouth. Am I making sense now?”
All Gigi heard was that Nico, with some twisted idea of honour and gratitude, was profusely thanking her. “Anyone you partnered up with would have done the exact same thing.”
“Hah.” The sound came out as an amused snort of derision. “I don’t think just anyone would have been capable of teaching me what you have. But it took meeting and dealing with the Goddess of Love and Fertility and her two conniving daughters, for me to realise that my idea of what love was, it had been horribly skewed by my experience with Kristiah. Hathor and her kin have twisted what love is, embracing all the negative aspects of it; obsession, possessiveness and worship. Thanks to you, I now understand that we can choose how we love. That it isn’t meant to be used as a weapon, but more of a shield. To protect, to provide a safe haven where support, friendship and respectcan flourish. You understand what I’m trying to say, yes?” He squeezed her hand, willing her to smile, and pronounce she was open to dating him and perhaps one day finding a way to return his love.
Merciful Lady, this big speech of his, it was one big thanks, but I’m trying to let you down easy here, and let’s be friends. Gigi tried to retrieve her hand, but Nico’s grip was too firm. “I should be going, things to do, no more thanks are necessary.”
Damn, Nico released his hold on her, watching as Gigi stood up, his heart beginning to crumble, all his practising, trying to work out exactly what to say, and how to say it, had been for nothing. Mierda, he should have been at her door every day since he left the hospital bringing her gifts, reciting poetry, and professing his love loud and proud. Oh! Nico shot to his feet, catching her hand just before she turned to leave. “I love you.”
That hurt. To hear him all but shout those words. “No you don’t. You’re getting gratitude and love mixed up, that’s all.”
“Gigi.” He stepped in front of her, glaring down, his eyes burnt amber with high emotion. “Do you really believe that I’d say those three words blithely, carelessly? I, who in the past have proudly disdained it. Belittled it. And feared it. I love you, Gigi DeWitt. From the tips of your golden head to the intricate spreadsheets you collate to monitor your sales. I love that you smile, even when you’re afraid and facing major odds. I adore your confidence, not just in yourself, but how you uplift everyone around you because they recognise you believe in them. You’re smart, beautiful, ambitious and sexy as hell. I. Love. You.”
Gigi’s knees threatened to melt as Nico reached out, caressing her cheek with the barest of touches, his gaze holding hers locked.
“It can’t be denied that we’ve shared a unique adventure together. And somewhere along the way, Gigi, between the fake dating, and the best sex of my life, I fell for you.”
“Cursed.”
“What?”
“It was something Darcy said, how we don’t fall in love, but are cursed by it.”
The laugh exploding from Nico was unexpected. “Well, as a man very familiar with curses of late, if loving you is a curse, I don’t want to break it.”
“You love me? It’s not just gratitude you’re getting confused with?” Noting him shake his head. “Oh.” Where did that leave them?
“Now I know you aren’t there yet. That I totally sprung this on you, so I think we should date. Ease back into things slowly. Go out for dinner. A walk along the beach. Hold hands. Kiss, and eventually, perhaps when you’re ready, find our way back to the bedroom, and maybe, along the way love will follow. Yes?” He so desperately wanted her to agree to his plan. It was the only one he’d been able to come up with.
Staring up at him, Gigi tried to think of what to say. Her heart in her throat. He loved her? Nico Yanez loved her. But blurting out she loved him too would achieve nothing, Gigi wasn’t sure he’d believe her. Considering his history with the lying, murderous, manipulative Kristiah, she couldn’t possibly blame him. How could she— “I hear your heartbeat…” Touching her temple and then her heart. “… in here. For several weeks now. I find it incredibly reassuring. It’s like a beacon, calling me—”
“Home.” He finished for her.
“Yes. From day one of working together, I resented you. I thought you were hot, but you drove me nuts. All casual, laid-back, and those crumpled paper napkins you used to take notes, so unprofessional. And you seemed to make it your mission topiss me off. Calling me Cookie. Implying I was helpless and you would take charge, making all the decisions, and insisting that I run at the first sign of danger. Arrogant idiot. But then came that day in the bar, when Qetesh’s curse truly kicked into gear and you were swamped by all those women. We kissed. And it was one of the best kisses of my life. It struck me as beyond unfair that such a grumpy macho butthead should be able to kiss like that.”
“I’m sorry. Not for the kiss, never for the kiss, but all the other stuff.”
“Then we were forced to live together and I slowly got to know you. Understood that under all the big-brother over protective mode that you were just trying to shield me and take on the burden of saving the world on your own, rather than allowing anyone else to get hurt. We got to know each other. Shared meals. Talked. Laughed. Swapped secrets. You have no idea how peeved I was that day on Mount Olympus when the cupid infected you and you went on and on about my business skills and acumen.”
“I was trying to be respectful.”
“I wanted you to admire my ass.”
Nico pressed a warm kiss across Gigi’s knuckles. “You have a spectacular ass.”
“Thank you. Where was I? Oh, yes, so the more we played at happy couple, the more I started to enjoy it, wanting it to be real. Suggesting we include sex in the equation. You have no idea how hard it was to sound casual and like it didn’t matter if you said yes or no. By that stage I was all but ready to rip those tight black jeans of yours off with my teeth. And then, in the following weeks, I know it was make-believe, the amped up faux relationship, but I was starting to get addicted to it, to us. Never wanting it to end, and that began to scare me, how much I was starting to feel for you, thinking you were anti love andknowing there was no future was beginning to tear me apart. And somewhere along the way, the beat started, in my head, in my heart. Your heartbeat. And I knew I’d fallen in love with you. But…”
“You had heard all my blustery declarations and feared it was all one sided! It was the same for me. I knew how important your dreams of taking your Emporiums global is to you and I couldn’t picture you wanting to fit me into that future. Say it again, Gigi, please.”
“I love you, Nico Yanez.”
