I sighed. My mother’s choice of words—following him—didn’t make me feel better. “I guess I am, but I’ve only known him for a few months. And then there’s the job problem, and I’d need a visa, but we’re not getting married, so I don’t know if I could get one…”
I closed my eyes and shook my head. “Mama, what made you decide to elope with Papa?”
“He was leaving Texas, and I decided I didn’t want to live without him.”
“That’s it?” I asked.
“I’m not saying it was easy. My family depended on me to do my share at the ranch, and they didn’t speak to me for a long time after I left. I’m just saying that in the end, being with your father is what mattered the most.”
I frowned. Could I be happy following in my mother’s footsteps, my life shaped by following a man I loved?
“But you’re not the same person as me,” my mother added. “I don’t know what feels right for you.”
“That’s the problem,” I said. “None of my options feel right.”
*
When we walked through the heavy wooden doors the next evening, I understood immediately why Niklas had chosen this restaurant. The old tavern was dimly lit, with dark wooden walls, deep red curtains and brass railings. The bar and a few round tables took up most of the front room, and if I had only glanced into the place, I would have assumed the establishment ended there. But Niklas asked to be seated in back, and the hostess led them through more double doors. The place opened up into a maze of little nooks, each with space for only a couple tables. We passed other diners, but no one looked up, deep in their own conversations.
“Like it?” Niklas asked as we wove our way through the restaurant.
I nodded.
“Private. Perfectly designed for you,” I said.
“Forus,” he said, his hand finding my rear. “Plus, we have enormous burgers. We go here as a team sometimes.”
“I think I could eat a burger,” I said. I had stayed in the office all morning, hoping to avoid any more interactions with Niklas’s sexy housekeeper. At this point, I was starving.
Just as we turned the corner to another dark nook, Niklas’s hand clamped around mine. I glanced up at him and followed his gaze to the table in front of us.
Bauer.
We quickened our pace. But just as we were about to turn into the next room, Bauer looked up. His eyes first registered surprised before they glittered with amusement. Next to him, a well-styled blond woman clung to his arm.
“Niklas, nice to see you out,” he said, gesturing at me. “I see you’re going the extra mile for this one.”
I heard all the thinly veiled insults in his comment. That I was just another one of Niklas’s conquests. That Niklas’s intentions with me were the same as his intentions had always been with other women—I was just harder to catch.
Anger radiated from Niklas, so easily tapped. I looked back at Niklas, his jaw clenched in his search for a reply. Before Niklas had a chance to respond, Bauer continued.
“Caroline, right?” he said. “We had a nice talk back at the rink.”
Bauer winked at me, hinting at much more than our actual conversation had covered. He managed to pull this off while keeping one hand on his date’s leg. A shiver ran through me. Underneath Bauer’s easy-going façade, I felt cold, hard competition in the look he gave Niklas. This guy knew exactly where he was pushing, going for the vulnerability that he so easily found in Niklas: me.
Everything inside of me froze. Were these doubts exactly what Bauer was after? Was Niklas a threat to his position on the team? Did he want to drive a wedge of uncertainty between me and Niklas, provoking Niklas’s well-known temper? My mind raced to figure out what Bauer had to gain from provoking us both. Finally, I decided I didn’t care. Niklas and I just had to get away from him.
No one had spoken for too long. I looked over at Niklas’s clenched jaw. He had let go of my hand, I realized, and his was balled into a tight fist by his side. Niklas seemed to be just as aware as I was of Bauer’s intentional provocation, but I wasn’t entirely sure he would be able to stop himself from rising to it.
I covered his fist with my hands, laying my fingers gently over his knuckles. Heat radiated from his skin, and I stroked the thick veins that pulsed over the back of his hand. After another beat, I felt the tension of his fist ease a fraction.
“What are you looking for, Bauer?” Niklas’s voice was low and unsteady, and Bauer had the nerve to chuckle.
“Heard a rumor the offer came through,” he said. “You’re back on the team.”
“Got my offer today.”
What? Why hadn’t Niklas mentioned the offer yet? But now I understood. This is why we were here at a private restaurant. I couldn’t decide if I should read the location as a good sign or a bad one.
