Her eyes sparkled with humor. “You really do love your wine.”
“Well…yes,” he admitted. “But I try to keep track of my monthly intake as much as possible. Too much of one thing is never good for the body, you know.”
“I don’t see your body complaining at all.”
He propped his hand on his jaw. “Is this your way of telling me that I’m fit?”
Emily turned her head to see if anyone had heard him. Then she locked eyes with his dark and dangerous ones before tearing her gaze away, glancing down at the table. “You’re no good for my health. You always say things that send my heart racing, and frankly, I don’t appreciate it.”
He snickered, leaning back, his hand removing itself from his face. “This isn’t something you’re supposed to be saying so early in this relationship,” he said, sounding so serious she almost choked, “Still so many places to see, so much for us to do. You say you’re already feeling faint? Darling, I promise you this is just the beginning.”
“Is it just me or is it hot out here?” She fanned the side of her face, trying to change the topic.
“It’s just you.”
Right. It’s almost winter after all.
Still desperate for a switch in the conversation, she reached into her handbag and gave him the gift she’d gotten earlier. It was a small reproduction ofThe Birth of Venus.The goddess stood poised on a scallop shell, gracefully radiant. She was surrounded by Zephyr, his companion, and Hora.
What made Nicolas freeze wasn’t any of them; it was the signature in the bottom corner.
His eyes widened. “Where’dyou get this?”
She couldn’t help but grin at the excitement that slipped through his voice. “I noticed that a few pieces you had looked familiar. Went and confirmed with the source himself.”
“You know the artist Leon Ellis?” he sputtered. “I thought he didn’t do autographs.”
“Sadly, that goofball has been my friend since we worked on a humanitarian project together years ago. He was the artist in charge. I was the global ambassador. The autograph’s a non-negotiable.”
“Wow,” Nicolas blew out, staring down at the artwork. He swallowed, then looked up at her. “Thank you.”
Something similar to pride swelled inside her chest. He’d been the giver this entire time so she was happy to do something for him in return.
As she opened her mouth to tell him it was no big deal, someone cut her off.
“Emily, dear, is that you again?”
Her body stiffened as she whipped around to see her mother. Rather than being alone, this time she was accompanied by none other than her father.
Oh God.
“Emily…” Nicolas’s deep voice drew her attention away from them. “Aren’t they your…”
Juliet and James Pinault observed the man that was having dinner with their daughter keenly.
“My…” She was having a hard time with what was happening right now. “My parents.”
Nicolas stood up fast,standing on firm feet and offering a hand. “Nicolas Re, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Emily’s mother was quick to shake it. “Juliet Pinault.”
On the other hand, her father stood stiffly, arms crossed, his narrowed eyes flicking between them.
Juliet jabbed her husband in the side with her elbow. “James…”
He coughed and took Nicolas’s hand and was sure to give it a mighty good squeeze from the veins that stood out.
James scoffed when Nicolas didn’t even flinch.
