Shelby read out the answers. “Okay, this is it, we have The Ick which was coined by Olivia Attwood.”
Tiana and Jenna smiled at Niko, probably relieved that he hadn’t screwed up. There were a few claps from Gianna’s table from her and the woman.
“Fanny Flutters was coined by Maura Higgins.”
More claps from Gianna’s table, and two more relieved grins from Tiana and Jenna.
“And DBS was created by Wes Nelson, and it stands for the Do Bits Club.”
There were no claps from Brock’s table, instead, Bartlett asked, “Who the hell is Jack Fincham?”
Jack Fincham was the V.P. of the Do Bits Club, but not the founder, Niko thought to himself.
Jenna stood, holding up her board up with all the correct answers in triumph. He looked over at Tiana, and the pure, euphoric smile of victory on Tiana’s face was worth exposing his Love Island habit.
“And we have our winners. For the first time in six months, We Thought This Was Speed Dating is our new Quiz Night Champion!”
The room erupted in applause. Tiana’s adorable, gleeful giggle was drowned by the chorus of clapping and jeers, most of them good-natured but all of them loud. Niko, feeling thevibration of the moment like static beneath his skin, rose to his feet. That same impulse seemed to electrify Tiana, and she surged up with him, arms thrown around his neck as if she couldn’t help herself. He didn’t hesitate as his mouth covered hers. But this was not the hard, greedy lip lock of a first day in front of Brewed or the rushed, possessive claiming kiss down by the river. It was a slow, burning possession, a kind of kiss that felt dangerous in its restraint. He felt the shape of her mouth, the press of her body flush against him, the thud of her heart syncing to his in a wild, new rhythm. He let his hand slip beneath her hair and curve around the back of her head, anchoring her there in a universe where only the two of them existed. The rest of the bar faded away, the raucous table of Quizney Princesses, Brock’s death stares, Gianna’s horrified slack-jawed silence, and even the other tables’ cheers and jeers became an ambient buzz, like static on a radio station tuned to a love song.
For several long, breathless seconds, Tiana was the center of his orbit. She tasted like cranberry juice and vodka and something sweet he couldn’t name. Her body melted into him so completely that his knees almost buckled. He had never, not once in his life, wanted anything so much or so fast as he wanted her. The need was primal and urgent, wrapped up in something that felt suspiciously like hope.
He could feel the tension in her body, the way her hands curled at his shoulders, gripping handfuls of his shirt as if she couldn’t bear the thought of letting go. He gentled the kiss, brushing her bottom lip with his thumb, tasting her laugh, feeling her smile. She parted from him only enough to gasp for air, then dove right back in, this time with a hunger that sent every synapse in his body into overdrive. If he had to die in this moment, he would’ve done so a happy man.
The crowd was still cheering, some of them egging them on, but Niko didn’t care. He didn’t even care that he could feel Brockwas glaring daggers at him from across the bar. All that mattered was Tiana. All that mattered was her.
Eventually, the kiss slowed, both of them panting, foreheads pressed together, eyes closed as if to savor the echo of what they’d just done. His hands cupped her face, gentle now, thumbs stroking her cheekbones as he held her there. Around them, the bar fell into a hush, like even the regulars recognized something sacred had happened.
He pulled away just enough to look her in the eyes, pupils blown wide and dark, and whispered, “Let’s go home.”
There was a chance she’d say no, that he’d crossed a line calling it ‘home,’ or she’d tell him she got her lock changed and for him to take her to her cabin, but instead she didn’t say anything, she just nodded. It was the best nod he’d ever received.
15
On the drivehome from JT’s,Tiana was feeling a little (a lot!) buzzed. Her head lolled lightly on the headrest, warmth and a gentle hum of victory pulsing in her cheeks. A tingle lingered on her lips, she was hyper-aware of it, the ghost of Niko’s kiss, the way it had landed with the force of a question she wasn’t sure she wanted to answer. She told herself she was giddy because of the trivia win, but she feared the adrenaline and serotonin rushing through her had nothing to do with her team dethroning The Quizney Princesses.
So many thoughts were racing through her head. They’d left the bar so suddenly. No long drawn-out goodbyes or explanations. Niko suggested they go home, Tiana nodded. He picked up her jacket and purse, thanked Deacon for stepping in, told Jenna it was nice meeting her, and with his arm snaked around Tiana’s back, guided her out of the bar.
As independent as she’d always been, alwayshadto be, having a man take charge, even over something as insignificant as that, was averybig turn-on to her. She’d had to makezerodecisions in that exchange. All she’d had to do was say goodbye,the rest was done for her. She’d had no responsibility for the exit. That might have been just as hot as the kiss.
During her time with Brock, he’d always ask her to make up a reason why they had to leave a social event, or he’d use her as an excuse without her knowledge. She couldn’t count the number of times people had asked her if she was feeling better or if her migraine was gone or if whatever fill-in-the-blank emergency had been resolved. She was put on the spot because she had no idea that he’d gone behind her back and lied about a fake illness or crisis to either get out of attending something or to leave an event early sohedidn’t look like the bad guy, he came out looking like the devoted, caring husband. Looking like. That’s what was always important to him. Optics. Not who he actually was. Niko didn’t seem to care about optics. At least not about headlines. His reputation was not the best, and she’d seen him do plenty of things that could clean it up.
The drive felt like she blinked and they were pulling up the driveway of the Airbnb next to Deacon’s house. Her heart was beating triple time with anticipation as Niko cut the engine. She wasn’t exactly sure what she’d agreed to with that nod, but she would soon find out.
When Niko came around and opened her door like a gentleman, not because he had an audience, but just because that’s who he was, she got nervous and whispered, “Did you see the way Deacon was looking at Jenna and vice versa?”
Deacon wasn’t home, he was still at the bar, and even if he was, it’s not like he’d be able to hear her next door. She wasn’t sure why she was whispering. It felt conspiratorial, the kind of schoolgirl secret you only shared in the middle of the night at a sleepover. Was that what would happen tonight? Would she and Niko have a sleepover? Last night she’d barely agreed to stay in his guest room, and now she wanted him in her bed. Oh, who was she kidding? She’d wanted to be in Niko’s bed years ago,the vodka she’d consumed had just given her inner desires a microphone and voice.
Niko’s eyes widened, a knowing glint cutting through his lingering predatory gaze. “You caught that too?”
Tiana’s chin dipped in a nod as she stepped down from the SUV and was once again overwhelmed with Niko’s height, his voice, his scent, his nearness. “How could you miss it?”
The walk to the door was silent yet filled with a thick anticipation. He waited for her to go inside before stepping in himself and then closing it. As they took off their shoes and jackets, her mind raced wondering if he was going to bring up the kiss or, better yet, if he was going to kiss her again.
Instead, he hung up his jacket and stared at her with an expression she couldn’t quite put her finger on. He looked confused, or like he was trying to work something out. She’d had two drinks, so maybe it was because her brain was a little fuzzy and he wasn’t looking at her strangely at all.
His brows furrowed. “Have you eaten anything tonight?”
“Huh?” The question came so out of left field. She’d been expecting him to kiss her or at least address the kiss that she’d heard one of The Big Quizowskis refer to as so hot it could have “set off the sprinklers in the bar.”
