I tossed him a towel from the rack. “Wipe down anything you dripped on.”
“I already did.”
“Of course you did.”
His eyes narrowed slightly. “You sound suspicious.”
“I’m suspicious. Competence in men is how disasters begin.”
“I’ll try to become less useful.”
“Don’t you dare.”
I changed into soft shorts and a loose teal tank from the rolling rack, then twisted my hair over one shoulder. The mark still showed if I turned too far. Fine. I owned mirrors. I understood evidence.
Nico watched me but didn’t look smug.
That gave him points.
“We’re not fixed,” I said.
“No.”
“I still don’t trust you with my bar.”
“I know.”
“I like the mark.”
His gaze cut to my neck.
Heat moved through the room again, slower now.
I pointed at him. “Don’t look proud.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“You’re failing again.”
“I know.”
“I also still owe money to your terrifying uncle.”
His face changed at that. His jaw set, and the warmth in his eyes cooled.
I grabbed my keys from the desk. “There he is.”
“Nella—”
“No. I’m not ruining my own post-shark-sex hydration by pretending the debt left because your mouth did fun things.”
“I didn’t think it did.”
“Good. Then you can help me carry two cases of tequila from the storage room, and after that you can tell me what parts of this mess you’re allowed to say out loud without your uncle sprouting gills in my office.”
He held my stare for a second.
Then he nodded. “Yes, boss.”
