“So, what’s the suit for?” she asks when I go back to an almost-burnt breakfast.
I quickly scoop the scrambled eggs out of the skillet. “I have this gala I have to go to for the UFC. Figured it’s a good time to get a new suit.”
Then something occurs to me, and I spin around.
“Come with me,” I blurt out.
Her eyes widen. “What?”
Suddenly giddy about the idea, I tug her off the barstool and into my arms. “Come with me. Be my date.”
Her confusion shifts to nervousness. “Nico…I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why not? They’re not that bad. And it will be way more fun with you there.” But when her tension finally registers, I try to dial back my excitement. “What’s wrong?”
She can’t meet my eyes. “I just…I don’t think you should be seen with an escort.”
I blink at her.
“Okay, first of all, you’re not an escort when you’re with me.”We’ll deal with the unspoken part of that statement later.“Second of all, why would anyone think you’re an escort?” I narrow my eyes playfully at her. “Are you telling me I couldn’t pull a woman as hot as you?”
It successfully breaks the tension, thank God. Her lips lift in a small smile.
But then reality intrudes, and it drops from her face. “I’m just saying, at a place like a gala, there’s a chance we run intosomeone who knows I’m an escort. Iwantto go, but it’s too risky.”
“So I’m supposed to just hide you away for the rest of my life? Excuse my language, but fuck that. I’m not okay with that.”
She sighs and pushes away from me. “You can say that all you want, but that’s just not the world we live in, Nico. People are going to judge you for being with me.”
“So I don’t get a say in this?” I demand, my voice tinged with frustration. “If it’s my risk then I’m the one who gets to take it.”
“Ofcourseit’s your decision. I just—” She lets out a frustrated exhale of her own. “I hate the idea of hurting you or your career.”
Immediately, all fight goes out of me. A warm feeling starts to grow in my chest.
Taking her in my arms again, I tilt her face up and press a light kiss to her mouth. “You’re sweet for worrying. But let’s leave that to me, okay? Let me handle that if it comes up.”
She still looks skeptical, but eventually I get a small nod. It makes me grin and kiss her again, this one more forceful.
“So…suit shopping?” she asks when I sit her back on the barstool.
“We could go dress shopping, too,” I offer as I plate our breakfasts. “If you want.”
I have no idea where her head is at while she mulls it over. After a moment, she says, “A new dress is probably a good idea. But I’m not dress shopping with you.”
I give her an affronted look. “Why not?”
She shrugs, smiling slightly. “Because it would take away from the big reveal. And a lady always makes an entrance.”
I want to argue with her about the way she worded that, but suddenly all I can think about is Scarlett doing a grand dress reveal.
I have to clear my throat once, twice, before I’m capable of speaking. “Whatever you think is best.”
Before I can say anything else, I notice her eyes dropping to my chest. I’m shirtless, wearing only joggers, so her gaze travels over my muscles, heat flaring in them with every inch. I quirk an eyebrow and wait for her to voice her thoughts.
“I wonder if you’ll look hotter in a suit than you do right now.”
I almost choke on my own spit. Scarlett flirting isn’t anything new, but there’s something new aboutthis. She seems…liberated. Comfortable.
