Solving For Nic (3 page)

This wasn’t a simple dance. Nothing was simple about being in Nic’s arms. She forgot reality. The connection between them felt so real it was easy to forget it was an illusion.

“I’m in town for a few days.” The music slowed. “Let me take you out to dinner.”

Her forehead hit his chest as every cell in her body screamed yes. YES! Then she remembered what her father had said. “My life’s kind of complicated right now.”

Nic flinched. “That’s my line. It’s a good one too but it won’t work this time.” His mouth brushed the top of her head. “You know as well as I do it’s only a matter of time.”

“Can I think about it?”

He nodded with a wry smile. “Yes. Think about where you’d like to go to dinner.”

She glanced sideways as Jen and Stefan moved past. They both had their eyes closed and were lost in each other. Her chest tightened, and she blinked back tears. She loved them both and she was happy for them, but things would be different now.

“They seem happy.” Nic’s hand stroked up her spine, soothing her into him again.

“They are,” Lizzie agreed. “Finally.”

“Finally?” He sounded surprised.

She took a deep breath, not wanting to think about how Judge Robicheaux and his granddaughter Madlyn had tried to break up Stefan and Jen. Anyone could see they were made for each other.

“Jen’s been through a lot. Her entire family was killed when we were kids.”

“I know about the accident. Madlyn was engaged to Robert Taylor when he was killed.”

“Madlyn?” Lizzie missed a step and he paused. “You know Madlyn Robicheaux?”

Nic’s smile was bland, but his eyes narrowed on her. “Yes, for a long time. She introduced me to your brother and Rogan when I first invested in their company.”

All the magic around her started to die. She hadn’t known Stefan and Rogan had met Nic through Madlyn. “You’re friends with her?” Lizzie choked the words out. “Do you know what she did to Jen? She lied to her, tried to convince her Stefan didn’t love her. She and her grandfather have been conspiring to take over Jen’s Trust. How can you be friends with—”

His mouth touched hers, cutting her off with an electric shock.

Lizzie tried to push back from him, unable to believe anyone would want anything to do with Madlyn Robicheaux after the things she had done. “They tried to have her committed,” Lizzie hissed, lowering her voice as her anger rose. “I can’t believe you’re friends with the Red Queen.”

Nic’s hold tightened. A tiny chill licked up her spine, sparking off a strange heat that streamed through her. He could be dangerous, she realized. Excited when she really shouldn’t be.

“She knows you call her that but I’ve never understood why.” He said it like they were discussing the weather. “I know she can be intimidating but I don’t think she’s ever decapitated anyone.”

“Not the Queen of Hearts.” Lizzie tried one last time to pull back.

“Not going to happen,
bella
,” he said softly, ramping her up from turned-on to nuclear meltdown.

What the hell was wrong with her? He was scaring her and she liked it? Maybe she had walked through the looking glass.

His smile told her he knew everything she was feeling. He opened his mouth but Lizzie beat him to it. “Don’t you dare tell me to relax.”

He leaned down until all she could see were his eyes. “
Bella
, the only thing you should be afraid of is getting blood on your dress if your father slips the short leash your mother currently has him on.”

She bit back a smile. “That’s not funny.” It might not be funny, but it was ridiculous.

“Don’t worry.” His smile turned gentle. “We’re all mad here.”

Lizzie caught her breath and couldn’t help returning his smile as he quoted the Cheshire cat, one of Lizzie’s favorite characters from Alice in Wonderland. “You know the difference?”

“Yes, but I don’t see how Madlyn compares to the Red Queen. Is it because she always wears red?”

“The Red Queen is the chess queen not the card queen. She may appear to be helping you but she has her own agenda. She’s cold and calculating and will make any move she wants to.”

“Ah.” Nic’s smile widened in appreciation. “True. You have to watch yourself around Madlyn. You might lose more than your head.”

“Exactly,” Lizzie whispered, not used to anyone catching on to her strange logic.

“You should tell Madlyn. She’ll love it. We can discuss it more at dinner, but right now I want to hold you a little longer.”

She made the mistake of looking up. He smiled that slow, sexy smile and Lizzie was lost. Why did he have to be so heartbreakingly beautiful? Why did she have to be such a sucker for gorgeous fallen angels with dangerous smiles?

“Okay.”

He brushed his mouth across hers. “Any more and I won’t stop,
bella
.”

She nodded and melted into him, knowing there was no way she would ever get him out of her system. She floated in his arms, drinking him in and enjoying a temporary slice of heaven. This tiny moment of perfection was all she would allow herself. She couldn’t go to dinner with Nic. Walking away from him when the song ended would be hard enough. Dinner wouldn’t stop at dinner. How would she be able to walk away then?

Nic watched Lizzie work the room. He couldn’t seem to stop. He was fascinated by the way she interacted with her family and friends. She was all smiles and laughter but her demeanor changed depending on which generation she talked to. With her elderly relatives she asked questions, nodded and listened to their answers as if she hung on every word. With her parents’ contemporaries she answered their questions politely and smiled while they hung on her every word, laughing as she floated to the next group.

With her friends she let down her guard. Laughing, kidding around, and making everyone laugh, she was a human ray of sunshine who somehow escaped being annoying. There was a kindness in Lizzie, a sweetness. He’d let himself taste it in the past. Now he wasn’t sure a taste would be enough.

“I kind of love her, Nic.” Pam nodded toward Lizzie and her father.

Lizzie was pointing out two men sitting at the Bride and Groom’s table to her father. They’d danced with other people all night, but not with each other when it was obvious to everyone they were together. Mac listened to Lizzie, shook his head in exasperation and stalked across the ballroom. He barked something at the couple and they knocked over their chairs trying to get to the dance floor fast enough to satisfy him. Lizzie hugged her dad, who brushed the whole thing off.

“You should marry her,” Pam announced. Nic choked on his wine. She patted him on the back. “Not today, Maretti, but don’t wait too long.”

“Do you want me to fire you?”

She grinned.

Then everyone was getting ready for the bride and groom’s big exit. Lizzie appeared with a large basket full of bird seed tulle pouches and handed them out to a line of children. Even his nephew, who never stood still for any reason was listening to her as she warned them with adorable fierceness to wait for her signal before they pelted anyone with the contents of their patches. They followed her out like little soldiers.

Pam was laughing and shaking her head in disbelief. “She’s good with kids.”

He sighed and tried to shake off the pesky warm feeling turning him soft. Pam was right. She was too sweet for him but when they danced, the heaviness of his world fell away. Lizzie was different. That difference drew him like nothing ever had. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but she was twenty-one now. No reason he couldn’t find out this time.

He followed the others outside, watching as Jen stood in the back of the red convertible and threw her bouquet straight at Lizzie with such precision it was impossible for Lizzie not to catch it. Although, to her credit, Lizzie did try to sidestep but the bouquet hit her square in the chest then fell down in her arms.

The crowd roared their approval and clapped. Lizzie covered her initial horrified reaction with a bright smile. Then pulled the bouquet apart and gave all the little girls around her flowers.

Pam nudged him with her shoulder. “Seriously, I like her.”

“Seriously, you can be replaced,” he shot back, but there was no heat in his words.

He liked her too. She was a breath of fresh air and so lovely it made his chest hurt. Coming to this wedding had been a huge mistake. Dancing with her had been a critical error. Because for those few short minutes he held her, there’d been nothing but the music, how good she smelled, how soft her skin was and how peaceful and beautiful everything had seemed. It was a seductive illusion. Nic wasn’t easily seduced, but for some reason, this time he had no desire to put up a fight.

Lizzie watched the red convertible slide away in a hail of birdseed and confetti. She swallowed back a strange sinking feeling. Everything had changed without her noticing it. She wrapped the tulle bow around her wrist and decided she was going to get Jen back the first chance she got but not tonight. Not when her friend was swept away on the fairytale she’d almost given up on.

“You need a ride?” Rogan asked as he stepped up behind her. She was turning to say yes but stopped. He wasn’t alone. Angie glared at her with more open animosity than Lizzie was ready for. Nic and his assistant were standing next to her.

Outnumbered, Lizzie smiled. “No, I’m riding with Jared and Adam.”

Nic’s eyes narrowed on her. “Ride to where?”

“There’s an after-party at Stefan and Jen’s. You guys should come,” Rogan said.

“They aren’t leaving on their honeymoon?” Nic asked.

“Not until next month.” Rogan winked at her and Lizzie couldn’t help but smile. He and Jen were up to something. They had a big surprise planned for Stefan. She suspected it had to do with the Iron Man World Championship. Stefan hadn’t been able to run in the New Orleans Iron Man to qualify and he was refusing to try another race. He claimed to be over it but they all knew better.

“Nic can drop me and Zachary home on his way back to the hotel,” Angie said to Rogan. “You go ahead.”

Lizzie flinched as Rogan’s smile died a quick death. “You’re coming too.”

Angie shook her head, glaring flaming daggers at Lizzie. “I’m tired and I —”

“You should go,
cara
.” Nic’s arm curved around his sister’s waist. “We can take Zachary back to the hotel.”

“Yes,” Pam said, looking up. “Stacey and I are taking our kids to the zoo tomorrow. Zachary can go with us. Kevin and Rosy would love to see him.”

Angie’s resolve weakened and Rogan moved quickly. “Sounds like a plan.” He shook the little boy still sleeping on his shoulders. “Hey, buddy, you awake? Zio Nic wants you to go with him.”

Zachary straightened up with a big yawn. Nic stepped up and Lizzie’s heart missed a beat as he held up his hands for Zachary.

“Come on,
mio tigre
.”

Zachary shifted his weight and rolled over into Nic’s arms. “Not tiger. Am boy, Zio Nic.”

“Yes, and a big boy,” Nic agreed.

Lizzie couldn’t breathe. She’d never imagined he would be good with kids, or like them. Now, watching as he cuddled the boy and whispered things in Italian that made the sleepy boy laugh, Lizzie felt her insides melt.

Adam and Jared arrived in time to distract her ovaries from exploding. They’d changed into street clothes and had their guitars over their shoulders. They were scorching hot and should’ve shut down her ridiculous response to Nic holding Zachary. No such luck.

Adam slid his arm around her in an uncharacteristic possessive manner. She leaned into him and pretended not to notice Nic’s reaction. Damn peripheral vision. Her skin felt funny and her heart was ready to break free. Was he angry? She tried to shake it off, then Adam’s arm tightened around her and Angie suddenly became the life of the party.

“Okay, baby, you have a good time with Zio Nic,” she crooned, reaching up to ruffle her son’s hair. “Mind Aunt Pam and Aunt Stacey.”

“You ready?” Adam rumbled, distracting her from watching Nic walking away.

“She can’t ride with you, freak.” Jared laughed. “Not in those shoes. They’re smoking hot, Lizzie, you should change them. We’re playing at Trick’s later and I’m not sure you’ll want to dance in those.”