by Zoë Lane
I narrowed my eyes at her. She laughed.
“I…”
“What do you have to be afraid of? It’s only for what? A week at most? Unless you have future mother-in-law duties on Saturday, we’ll go apartment hunting. Then you can move in as soon as she leaves.”
Sounded reasonable. But if his mother was anything like mine, she’d probably stay an extra week to help with wedding planning.
Wedding planning… my mother would miss it all. I hadn’t thought of that since she had died. I hadn’t wanted to jinx my engagement to Diego by thinking of her at all.
I sucked in a breath. I looked down at my left hand and then held it up for Siobhan to see.
She raised a brow. “What? Oh!” Her eyes went wide. “You don’t have an engagement ring!”
“Exactly. His mother will know this relationship is fake.”
“Send Nico a text. He’ll probably have his jeweler send it to his place.”
“His jeweler? You think he has one?”
“A guy like him? Have you seen him out of his uniform? Everything is platinum.”
That was true. He probably wore more jewelry than I did. I sighed while sending him the text. “You see? This is already way too complicated.”
“Oh hush. It’s only for a few days. You’ll get to eat amazing Italian meals. It’ll be better than any restaurant. You’ll get to sleep in a nice place—”
“In a bed where he’s probably sexed half the cheerleading squad.”
Siobhan shuddered. “Ew. Don’t even think about that. But we’ll wash the sheets when we get there.”
My phone chimed. Nico had texted back. And then again. And again.
“Geez, what’s he saying?”
My eyes rounded. “He said he was already on it. He’s sending pictures of engagement rings,” I breathed. “And they’re gorgeous!”
Siobhan squealed. She moved her chair next to mine and we oohed and ahhed over the carats, the settings…
And then I choked on the price tag of the least expensive one: two hundred thousand dollars. “He can’t be serious.”
Siobhan sputtered. “He does realize he might not be able to return it once he’s bought it.”
I groaned. “I’ll tell him.”
“While you’re doing that, I’m sold on number three.”
“Uh-huh…” I stared at the four-point-five-carat, princess-cut diamond surrounded by stones in infinity loops.
The perfect ring.
“Well, he definitely has good tastes.”
Are you crazy! You can’t spend that much on a ring! Get me something cheap.
Are you crazy??? My mother would break anything less than a four-carat with her incisors.
But…this is a fake relationship!
You can keep the ring. Pawn it and take that vacation to the Caribbean. After my mamma’s visit.
“He’s being too generous.” Guilt wound its way through my stomach.
“Remember, he’s doing battle against his mother. This is probably money well spent compared to the damage she could do to his ego.”
I bit my lip. I couldn’t argue with that perspective. So I sent him another text.
Okay, then I really like the third one.
Can’t wait to propose, he texted back with a kissy face.
4
VERONICA
“No, he didn’t!” Siobhan exclaimed.
We saw it from down the street. My stuff scattered on the lawn in front of the first-floor apartment I used to share with Diego. The leather cover of the steering wheel squeaked beneath my tightening grip.
“The nerve of the guy. Oh, Vero… it just rained this morning. I hope nothing’s damaged.”
I couldn’t think about the ground being wet. I focused on how the sun had been out for hours and the grass had to be dry.
Had to be. Because a lot of my shoes were designer, as well as some of my clothes. They’d be ruined.
Nico had hired a moving truck for me, and it stopped behind us next to the curb. It didn’t look like I’d need it, because from my vantage point, most of the items looked like clothes.
We got out, and Siobhan immediately began loading clothes into her arms. I asked the driver of the moving truck to wait while I tried to wrestle with Diego to get the flat-screen I had bought, and the bed, as well as my dining room table and chairs. None of which were on the lawn.
Before I reached the door, a woman dressed in painted-on jeans and a crop top stepped out of the apartment. “You must be Veronica,” she said in a thick accent.
I crossed my arms. She looked like me with darker hair and overplumped lips. Cheap fillers. Always a mistake. “I am. Who are you?”
“Teresa.”
“Well, Teresa, where’s Diego?” I attempted to sidestep her, but she blocked me.
“Excuse me, but you can’t come in.”
“My stuff—”
“You. No. Longer. Live. Here,” she said pointedly and then smirked.
I got in her face. “My stuff is in that apartment, and I have a right to get it.”
“Not according to the lease,” she said smoothly.
“According to my receipts!”
She took a step forward and I had to lean back or our noses would be touching. “If you don’t get your clothes off the lawn and leave, I’m going to call security.”
“Call security,” I spat. “I’m going to get my stuff.”
She gestured her long talons to the clothes on the lawn. “Your stuff is right here.”
“My bed, my television, my table…”
“You’re going to have to take that up with Diego. He told me that was his stuff and I’m welcome to it.”
So he had a new woman. Or maybe she’d been around a while and I hadn’t seen the signs. I looked her up and down again as though seeing her for the first time. Her closed-mouthed grin got bigger. I was sizing her up and knew she was the clear winner.
I pulled out my cell. “I’m going to call Diego.”
“You do that. Except, he’s got a new number so I don’t know how successful you’re gonna be.” She snickered.
He had just texted me this morning! I jammed my phone into my back jeans pocket. “I’m coming in there to get my things.” I shoulder-checked her, shoving her aside.
“Veronica!” Siobhan yelled.
A hand clamped around my arm whirling me back. I cried out and tumbled to the ground.
I squinted against the sun to see Diego. His black eyes flashed fury. He stood over me, his lips curled up, showing teeth like a snarling dog.
“Don’t you put your hands on my woman!”
“Woman?” I screeched. “Since when? Today?”
Diego chuckled. “Oh Mami, you’re so blind and stupid.”
I winced as though he had hit me…again. Clearly I was blind and stupid. My gaze darted to Teresa and back to Diego. “How long?” I gritted.
Diego rubbed his chin, his gaze to the sky.
Oh, that long, huh? With a grunt, I scrambled to my feet. Teresa moved behind Diego’s imposing form. “How dare you put your hands on me,” I hissed. I looked at Teresa. “He’ll probably do the same to you.”
Teresa’s shrill laugh grated my ears. “My man cherishes me. You deserved what you got.”
“I’ve called the police,” Siobhan said, holding her phone up. “They’re coming. You’re going to get arrested for assaulting her!”
Diego’s expression darkened as he stared at my friend.
“Then I’m calling security.” Teresa pulled out her phone.
“Siobhan, let’s just go,” I mumbled and began to grab shoes and stuff them into shoeboxes. Did they dump the shoes out?
“No, he can’t—”
“Please!” I gave her an entreating look. Her shoulders slumped, and she began picking up more stuff.
Diego grabbed Teresa by a butt cheek and dragged her to him, placing a solid kiss on her lips. He whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. Then he jogged down
the sidewalk to his car.
Teresa stood near the door, watching our progress, her phone to her ear. Siobhan told the dispatcher not to send a car, but Teresa hadn’t done the same with security. By the time Siobhan and I loaded the car, a security vehicle pulled up beside our car. The driver rolled down his window.
“I just came to get my stuff,” I told the driver and hopped into my car. “We’re going.” I had already told the movers I didn’t need their help after all and put my car into gear to follow them out of the complex.
“Ma’am, if you could just wait—”
“You’re not the police!” Siobhan yelled from the passenger side.
I slammed on the accelerator and drove away. “He probably got my license plate.”
“So what? Next time we come back, we’ll use my car.”
Tears obscured my vision and tremors threatened my grip on the steering wheel. Siobhan’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sorry, Vero. We’ll get your stuff. We’ll think of a way.”
I shook my head. “I… he’s been with Teresa for…”
“I wouldn’t think about it,” Siobhan cautioned. “It doesn’t do any good. Believe me. She’s a poor man’s Veronica.” She smiled at me.
“But Diego and I have been sleeping together! I don’t know what that girl has.” I squirmed in my seat as fear snaked its way from my spine to my womb. What if she had some STD and I had caught it from Diego? I might not know for weeks!
Siobhan sighed and rubbed her forehead. “I know. All you can do is get tested. At least you’ll be able to answer that question.”
I wiped at the tears on my cheek. “You’re right.”
“How’s your arm? He turned you around so fast I thought you got whiplash.”
I rotated my head. “Neck feels fine.” I lifted my elbow to get a better look at my arm. “Arm still aches.”
“Looks like a bruise is coming in.” Siobhan lightly rubbed over the area. “Pretty warm. It’s going to be tender for a couple of days.”
I knew well enough, being a nurse. The bruise was the least of my worries. Diego wouldn’t let me get my things without a fight. I tried not to think about how much sex he and Teresa would be having on my mattress, or if Teresa would use her catlike nails to scratch up my dining room table. It had been a gift from my uncle, who had a woodcarving business back in New York. The whole family had been proud of my landing a nursing job with the Rhinos, and that I’d be moving to Richmond, Virginia. Well, not exactly the moving part. And my uncle gifted me that table so I would have one less piece of furniture to buy. I loved that table. The veins and the deep stain my uncle had added: it was wood with character.
In half an hour, we arrived at Nico’s building, which happened to be not far from Casper and Siobhan’s place. We walked into the lobby and after I gave my name, the concierge handed me a key card and had someone escort us to the elevator.
“He’s on the top floor,” Siobhan whispered as we rode the elevator up. “That’s gotta be pricey.”
“They have a concierge. That makes it pricey.”
The elevator opened at the top floor. Only four condos, each having a corner of the building.
We entered Nico’s. With an open floor plan, we saw the living space and kitchen right away.
“Well, this isn’t what I expected,” Siobhan said, hands on hips and observing the room with wide, approving eyes.
I silently agreed. Nice, rich brown leather couches and chairs, simple pieces of art on the wall, an overall Mediterranean design. I felt like I was walking into an expertly staged home.
“Did you think he was this clean?”
I shook my head. “Not with all the girls he’s been known to be with. But…he does always look like he showers.” And he smelled amazing this morning. “Uses way too much hair gel,” I said while wrinkling my nose. “No, you’re right. His appearance is immaculate. Sometimes you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
“And a gorgeous cover at that,” Siobhan murmured, her hands lingering on the granite countertops in the kitchen. “Mm-hmm. Let’s be thankful you’re not rooming with a hoarder.”
We laughed and continued to the bedrooms. Two large ones with their own bathrooms looked to be for guests. A third one was fashioned into a theater, with overstuffed chairs, a large screen, a bar, and a pool table.
And then the master…
“That bed has to be like…an extra king size.” I spread my arms wide, as though my arm span could match the length of the bed. It came to about half. Massive. Long and wide.
“He is tall.”
“But he’s not five hundred pounds. What does he need with all this space?”
I gave Siobhan a sideways glance. She shivered. “Eww. I don’t even want to think about how many girls he can fit onto this bed at once.”
“Half the cheerleading squad,” I grumbled.
I set a few bags down near the open closet door and walked inside. The closet went on forever, with other visible doors. I needed a map to find my way back to the main doorway. He had his clothes organized by type and color. He was a certifiable neat-freak.
Siobhan scanned the closet and whistled. “At least he has the space to store all of your clothes. You two have love of clothes in common.”
Veronica remembered the linen suit and bright blue top Nico had worn to Dr. Kavoska’s party. He had to have known how good he’d looked. If he could pull off an eighties style suit, he could certainly wear whatever he had in his closet.
The size of the bathroom rivaled the closet with a Jacuzzi tub, a standup shower with the most gorgeous onyx tile, granite countertops nestling double ceramic sinks, a dressing area, and another walk-in closet. My fingers traveled along the smooth granite while my eyes took in the beauty of the city skyline through the windows that overlooked Richmond. Taking a shower naked in front of the city? I shivered at the feeling of being exposed. I was too vulnerable for that.
“He probably doesn’t bring anyone back here,” Siobhan said when we stepped back into a kitchen with high-end appliances and fixtures. “It’s too nice. Any woman would want to stay, and that would hurt his image.”
“Yeah. I want to stay, and I don’t even like him.”
Siobhan laughed.
“You don’t have to like me, but you definitely better act like you love me.”
5
NICOLAS
Her tawny cheeks darkened into the most beautiful rosy color. Siobhan’s lips were sucked in as she tried to stop her laughter. Neither of them had heard me come in, and I smiled at their reactions. Siobhan quickly excused herself and left Veronica staring at her feet. She had changed out of her scrubs into faded jeans that hugged her hips and a fitted t-shirt. Hair had slipped from her bun and had fallen around her shoulders. Physically, she looked beautiful, but the bags under her eyes and the drooping corners of her mouth gave away her exhaustion.
“So you like the place?” I asked, trying to keep the mood light. I wanted her to feel safe and comfortable—staying in the home of a man she didn’t know.
“Mm-hmm. It’s stunning. Did you decorate it yourself?”
I snorted. “No. Mom did. There a few things that I tossed because they didn’t mesh with my style.” He winked.
“Ah.” She had a funny look on her face.
“What’s that look?”
She sucked in her lips and shook her head.
“No, tell me.” I crossed my arms reading her like an open book that was interesting and entertaining. “Lemme guess, you think I’m a mamma’s boy?”
“You’re Italian. Isn’t that a given?” she asked dryly.
I smirked. Snarky. I liked that. “True, but the leash has plenty of slack in it.”
“I’m sure,” she muttered.
I understood her disbelief. I was the one who had to lie to his mother about being engaged. All we had to do was survive a week or so and it’d be all good and I could get back to doing what I wanted: living my life with no strings attached. “Have yo
u eaten? I’m going to order—”
“Italian?” she asked with a cheeky grin.
I narrowed my eyes. “You’re done. No, I was thinking Mexican.”
She crossed her arms, her lips thinning. “You know I’m Puerto Rican.”
I laughed. “No, I just wanted Mexican.” I laughed even harder at her embarrassment. She rolled her eyes and turned away, but not before her cheeks gained a deep rosy color.
“Where’s your stuff?” I looked around the living room. “I thought you’d have more than this. Need help bringing it up?”
“Thank you for hiring the truck, but it turns out we didn’t need it. Diego is keeping my stuff.”
I paused midstride on the steps into the living room. “Wait…what?”
She shrugged her shoulders and climbed a barstool. “Had my clothes and shoes on the front lawn but not much else. A skank guarded the door and wouldn’t let me in. Diego showed up and told me to leave. They called security. I grabbed what I could from the lawn and Siobhan and I left.”
I raced back up the steps and was in the kitchen in two seconds. “He wouldn’t let you have your stuff? The things you legally own?” My hands fisted by my sides. I should’ve done more than punch him one time.
She slicked her hair back with one hand and let out a labored breath. “I mentioned receipts, but it didn’t matter. He physically blocked me.”
“Explain.” My eyes dropped to her arms, and that’s when I saw it before she tried to use her hand to cover it up.
I took her arm in both my hands and lifted it to the light. A bruise that looked to be in the shape of…fingers. “Did he do this?” I yelled.
She flinched and yanked her arm back. “It’s nothing.” She slid off the stool and walked around the kitchen island.
My head snapped back. “Nothing? Veronica, he hurt you.” I said the words as slowly as I could so she’d understand what I meant.
She refused to meet my gaze. “I’ll handle it.”
“No, I’m going to handle it. And this time, I’ll make sure he doesn’t get back up off the floor.”
