So inconvenient.
“That would be...Yes, please. A truce would be amazing,” he repeated as he stood. “Thank you for listening. And yes, there are details that would help you understand me, but another time, when you are feeling better.”
“Good, then I’ll see you soon.”
“One more thing. And you can say ‘no’ if it makes you uncomfortable, but I’d like to pray for you.”
He was so sincere that my heart actually felt like it had melted. “Of course. That’s very sweet of you.”
I waited to see if he’d take my hand, and even though his eyes fell to them, he didn’t make a move. He bowed his head and closed his eyes, so I did the same.
“Father, I ask that you ease Leyla’s migraine. That You let her know that You’re near, always near. That You love her and will never leave her. Amen.”
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I was able to hold them back.
“Thank you, Niko. That was beautiful,” I whispered.
He looked at me again with that lopsided smile, and my heart lit up like a Christmas tree at the sight. What was I going to dowith this man that I have called an enemy for so many years, but prays so tenderly over me? Catching feelings for him would be so inconvenient.
So very, very inconvenient.
When he walked out and closed the door behind him, I slumped in my seat, my heart thudding loudly in my chest.
His willingness to be the bigger person and come to me after that awful scene at Luke’s was almost too much to bear. The fact that my heart was softening toward him and my anger was dissipating was a surprise.
“Oh no,” I whispered. “No, no, no.”
That’s all it was, not attraction, I scoffed, slipping on the headphones. I caught the faint scent of his cologne, which didn’t help my situation.
Pushing play on my favorite violin piece, Canon in D, I tried to calm my floundering heart. As the music filled my ears, my thoughts swirled back to the handsome Turk whose thoughtfulness was as moving as the beautiful, stirring piece.
I closed my eyes, lost in the music and the memory of dark, soulful eyes. This inconvenient truth settled on me like a warm hug as I gasped.
I was starting to fall for my formerly sworn enemy.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Nikolas
It had beenfour days since I brought tea to Leyla. Seeing her pained eyes, something in me woke up, something akin to a caveman. I wanted to drag her to my cave, hide her from the world, and keep her safe. I’d never experienced anything like that before.
The next morning, my headphones were on my desk with a note that read:“Thank you, these made all the difference. –Leyla.”I placed the note in my wallet for no other reason than to have something from this woman that wasn’t an anger-fueled insult. Although the truce would hopefully lead to less tense interactions.
A man could only dream.
Checking my watch, I decided to take a break before Leyla was due to meet me in the lab. Taking a chance that she’d answer, I dialed my sister Defne while I unwrapped a protein bar from my desk drawer.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, big brother?” I could hear the smile in her voice. It had been a few weeks since we’d spoken.
“Hello to you, too, little sister. Just had a few minutes before it got crazy in the lab and thought I’d see what you were up to.” I took a bite, enjoying the salty-sweet combination of the bar.
“Oh, you know. Homeschooling two kids under the age of ten is always a good time,” she jested. Defne had married young, and her two boys were born soon after. She and her high school sweetheart waited only until their second year of college to get married.
“I’m proud of you for taking that on. Not sure I could do it.”
“It has its rewards. Now tell me the real reason you’re calling.” I never could get anything by her. She was only three years younger than me, but we might as well have been twins.
“Mike says I need to tell her.” I swallowed my next bite slowly, feeling it threaten to choke me.
