Why was she shaking? Was she nervous? To talk to Niko Costas?
Apparently, yes.
Her heart rate was definitely elevated. It was embarrassing. It had to be because of the dancing misunderstanding and not because of her attraction to Niko. No, that had nothing to do with anything. She just had a silly crush.
She saw she’d gotten another text from Jess G. asking if Tiana wanted her to troll Gianna’s socials. As she was trying to swipe up on the screen to open a different message, the phone slipped from her hands. She fumbled it, tried to catch it, but failed. She expected it to crash to the ground, instead, Niko recovered it.
His large hand easily swooped beneath it and caught it mid-fall. When he handed it back to her, his fingers slid along her wrist. The contact was totally innocent, but her lady parts did not get the memo. They were lighting up like the Vegas Strip.
“Thanks,” Tiana managed a breathless response of appreciation. “Good reflexes.”
“I learned from the best.” He motioned over to Tabitha, AKA Princess Ninja Flower.
“Right.” Tiana smiled. It should be against the law for one man to be that good-looking, charismatic, charming, athletic,andgood with kids. Her ovaries were literally aching. Throbbing.
No.She had to focus. No more being distracted by eyes she could drown in and a dimple she wanted to crawl into and hibernate for the winter and a voice and personality that could impregnate her without penetration.
“Um, okay.” Forgoing the password, she opened her phone using her face ID and then pulled up the photo. Before she showed it to him, she began, “I don’t know if you know this, but my ex is?—”
“Brock Bartlett,” he interjected.
She looked up, just the mention of her ex completely changed Niko’s demeanor. It actually freaked Tiana out. She knew all too well how someone could present themselves in one light and be a totally different person behind closed doors. She hoped that wasn’t who Niko was. She thought she’d seen his hidden side, which was generous, caring, empathetic, strong, supportive, and a champion for those who couldn’t be a champion for themselves. Had she gotten It wrong? Or did Brock just bring out the worst in everyone?”
“Right. I know you guys have a…history.”
“That’s a very PC way to put it.” His jaw clenched.
She licked her lips. “AJ mentioned that you two saw your ex in town.”
“What does G have to do with this?”
G?He still had a nickname for her. She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
“Um, well, I got a text from my ex-mother-in-law letting me know that he’s here with his family and they will be staying here until after Christmas. Every year he picks a different holiday destination, this year he chose Hope Falls.”
“He has family here?”
“Yeah, they’re staying at Mountain Ridge.”
He grinned. “No, I mean, does he have family that lives here?”
“Oh, no.”
“Who does he know here?”
“Me.” Me and Pops, but he never warmed to Pops, and the feeling was beyond mutual.
“So why is he here?”
“It doesn’t mat…” She shook her head. “I’m only telling you because he just posted this.”
She showed him the photo Jess G. had texted her that Brook posted of him cuddling up with Gianna.
Niko’s eyes didn’t reveal any emotion he might be having about his ex sitting on his enemy’s lap.
“We’re not together, so she can do anything she—” Niko began.
“I know, but do you two talk? Would she listen to you?”
