Page 46
“Listen, I think you are all crazy for pulling a Kevin Costner on me but if you need them for any reason, I want you to have them.”
“Kevin Costner?” he asks, a smile teasing his lips.
“Yeah, you know, The Bodyguard.”
He shakes his head like he still doesn’t know what the hell I’m talking about.
“A movie. With Whitney Houston.”
“Babe, I’ve got no freakin’ idea what you’re talkin’ about.”
I roll my eyes playfully at him. “Man, you ruin all my good movie references. You can’t be my lobster.”
As the words leave my mouth, a strange sensation washes over me as I realize that Nix very well could be my lobster. I’ve never felt anything like I do with him and he heals me a little bit more every day that he’s here.
A totally confused look crosses his face and he says, “Lobster? Em, what the fuck are you talkin’ about?”
I laugh loudly and shake my head. It brings me back to a time when Addy, Daisy, and I would spend all day watching FRIENDS reruns, quoting all the best lines. I push against his chest, putting a little space between us. “Nope, not tellin’ you that one.”
“Stubborn ass woman,” he teases with a huge grin on his face and pulls me back into his arms. The sudden move surprises me and the next thing I know, Nix and I are nose-to-nose, centimeters away from each other. My breath quickens as I look into his alluring blue eyes and see so many things looking back at me.
God, how much longer can I fight this?
Do I even want to anymore?
Nix’s eyes flick down to focus on my lips and his tongue darts out, trailing along his bottom lip. My mouth tingles and my breath comes out in short, sharp pants. Part of me is screaming for him to take me, smash his lips against mine, and kiss me with all the promise I see lurking in his eyes. The other part of me is still hesitant. But, why? Why am I still running from him? I truly believe that he is a really good guy so what is still holding me back?
“I can’t, Nix,” I breathe. He nods and meets my eyes again.
“Soon, baby,” he promises and I know his words ring true. I don’t have much fight left in me and I’m quickly running out of reasons to say no to the man.
* * * *
“You’re thinkin’ awfully hard about somethin’ there, Darlin’,” Moe says, catching my attention and drawing me out of the painful memory that was plaguing me. Shrugging my shoulders, I grab a towel off the bar and start drying glasses and putting them away.
“Naw, not really.”
“Mmhmm,” he hums, clearly not buying my lie as he studies me for a moment. “So, you and Nix are getting pretty close, huh?”
I shrug again, not really wanting to get into it with Moe right now. The truth is that Nix and I are getting close… dangerously close. Ever since I showed him those photos a few days ago, it feels like a barrier has been knocked down between us. “ I guess.”
“Naw, that boy is crazy about you,” he assures me and I have to fight back a smile.
“I don’t know about that, Moe.”
“Mark my words, darlin’.”
I shoot him a look. “Whatever you say, you crazy old man.”
“Emma,” he drawls, looking awfully pleased with himself. “The more you object, the more I know I’m right on the money.”
I decide to not add any more ammunition to his argument and just nod in his direction with what I hope is a placating expression.
“Say, you wouldn’t know anything about his sudden change in opinion when it comes to me, would you?” he asks and once again, I have to fight back a smile. Nix has been asking lots of questions of Moe and our family since he started hanging around me and I tell him stories about Moe from when I was little, hoping he’ll see what an amazing man his uncle is and it looks like it worked.
“Nope, sure don’t.”
“Uh-huh, sure,” he teases, shooting me a wink but I see the sincere gratitude in his gaze. “Thanks, girl.”
