by Girard, Dara
“Come in,” Lucian said, and the jeweler came in and laid out his selection.
“Don’t you want to wait a few days?” Dante said, ever cautious.
“I think he should seize the moment,” Basilio said, eager to help his brother make the right choice. “Don’t let her get away.”
Chapter 23
With a ring chosen, Lucian went to Nikki’s room, ready to surprise her. He knocked on the door, then opened it. He stopped when he saw the sight before him. Her bed was made and all her things were gone. He turned when he heard footsteps and saw Callia stroking Pauline as she walked down the hall.
“Have you seen Nikki?” he asked her.
“I saw her going with Monica and J.D. to the helicopter.”
“Was she carrying bags?”
“Yes,” Callia said slowly. “I thought they were her sister’s.” She placed Pauline on the floor. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“I’m sure it’s nothing.”
Callia pushed past him and looked in the room. “She’s taken everything! She’s gone without saying goodbye.”
Lucian patted her shoulder. “Don’t get upset. I’m sure there’s a reason. Go. I’ll figure out what’s going on.”
“She wouldn’t leave us like this.”
Lucian smiled and turned away. She would. She had. She’d taken her things and gone. Maybe it had all been too much for her. He took the ring out of his pocket and stared at it. He’d been as foolish as poor Benjamin. She wasn’t a woman a man could hope to pin down.
“Well, what did she say?” Basilio said when he met Lucian in the foyer.
“She’s not here,” Lucian said, walking past him to go to the terrace.
“She has to be here.”
“But she’s not.”
“Where is she, then?”
“She’s just taking her sister to the mainland,” Dante said, overhearing them. “It was arranged.”
Lucian took a seat. “Was it also arranged that she take all her things with her?”
Dante hesitated, taken aback by the question. “No. But she wouldn’t—”
“It seems she has. She’s gone.”
“There must be some sort of mistake.”
“There’s no mistake.”
Basilio swore. “Women.” He got the attention of one of the servants and said, “Get me a drink.”
Dante lit up a cigarette.
Lucian watched them and wondered which vice he should take up. He held his hand out to Dante. “Give me one,” he said, nodding to the cigarette.
“You don’t smoke.”
“That’s not the point.”
“I don’t trust you with matches.”
Lucian lifted an eyebrow. “Are you trying to be funny?”
“I’m not giving you a cigarette. It’s not a habit you should start.”
“You can’t stop me.”
“No, but you can buy your own pack.”
Callia raced out. “Uncle Lucian! Uncle Lucian!”
He sat up. “What?”
She waved a piece of paper. “She left you a note. I found it in her room.” She handed it to him.
Lucian rubbed his eyebrow and stared at it.
“Open it, for goodness’ sakes,” Basilio said with impatience.
“I will.”
When Lucian didn’t move to open it, Basilio said, “Let me read it if you don’t want to. I’m used to bad news.”
“How do you know it’s bad?” Callia said.
“He doesn’t,” Dante replied. “Lucian, read it when you’re ready.”
Basilio snatched the note. “He’s ready now.”
Dante took it from him. “No, he’s not.”
“Careful,” Callia cried. “You’ll rip it.”
Lucian held out his hand. “It’s mine and I’ll read it.”
Dante gave the note to him, and they all waited as he carefully unfolded it and read it.
“Well?” Basilio said when his brother remained silent.
He handed it to him.
“‘I hope you won’t be angry with me,’” Basilio read, “‘but I couldn’t help myself. I did it, anyway.’” He looked at Lucian, confused. “Did what, anyway?”
Lucian shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I hate riddles.”
Dante took the note. “That’s because they force you to think. I’m sure there’s a clue in here.”
Basilio folded his arms, smug. “Bet you can’t figure it out, either.”
“What would Nikki want to do for you?” Callia asked.
Lucian shook his head, stumped. What else was there that she thought would upset him? She’d done everything for him, and he hadn’t made any part of his life off-limits except… “I think I know what she means,” he said and headed inside.
“What?” Basilio asked as they all followed him.
Lucian didn’t reply until he reached his bedroom. Then he stopped and said, “Wait,” as Callia began to open the door. “I can do this.” He took a deep breath, then opened it. It was just as he’d suspected. Nikki had redesigned his bedroom. There was no more darkness, but bright sunlight filtered in, covering the new flooring and furniture. He stood amazed by all of it, but what caught his attention most was Nikki, who lay on the bed in a silk two-piece with rose petals surrounding her.
She sat up when she saw them. “Oh, I didn’t expect an audience.”
Lucian stepped into the room and shamelessly closed the door behind him so that they could be alone. “Now your audience is only me.”
“It was tricky getting this done. I drew a quick sketch, then had everything shipped in and stored while we were in England. Then, while you were in your office, I had to get everything into place.”
Lucian approached the bed. “Hmm.”
“How do you like the room?” Nikki asked, a little uneasy with his silence.
His gaze swept over her body. “It’s nice.”
“Nice? It’s more than nice. You’re not even looking at it.”
“I am,” he said, his gaze never leaving her. “I really like the bed.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I like how you put yourself in the middle of it.”
“I thought you might. Check the closet.”
He halted. “Why?”
“Just do it.”
Lucian went over to the closet and opened it, to see Nikki’s clothes hanging alongside his.
“We’ll eventually need more closet space,” Nikki said.
“Clearly.”
“Do you like your surprise?”
He took the ring out of his pocket. “Only if you want to make it official.”
Nikki stared at the beautiful symphony of stones.
“I’m not getting down on one knee,” Lucian said.
Nikki held out her hand. “I didn’t expect you to.” She wiggled her fingers and he slid the ring on. “So are you going to ask me?”
“Do I have to?”
“Yes.”
“Will you marry me?”
She playfully bit her lip. “Can I think about it?”
Lucian raised both eyebrows. “Do I look like Benjamin?”
“Definitely not.”
Lucian unbuttoned his shirt. “You have thirty seconds, or I’ll withdraw my offer.”
“You drive a hard bargain.”
He tossed his shirt on the floor. “I’ve been told I can be ruthless.”
Nikki undid his trousers. “But not with me.”
“No, never with you.” He removed his trousers and climbed on top of her. “So, what’s your answer?”
Nikki stared up at him and slid her hand down his thigh. “My answer all depends on you.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Do you love me?”
Lucian paused, and a black river of fear swept through Nikki as his silence lingered. She feared that she’d asked too much of him. That once again she’d ruined a sacred moment between them and broken a bond. That the light in his eyes would
grow dim and the wall that had been slowly falling around his heart would start to go back up. But Lucian cupped the side of her face, his eyes a radiant green, which had her hypnotized, and when he finally spoke, his voice had a tenderness she had never heard before.
“You once told me that love was like water.” His thumb brushed gently against her lower lip and his voice deepened. “But if I could own every sea, river and ocean in this world, it still would not be enough to hold the love I feel for you.”
Nikki was too overcome with sweet joy to form any words, so she just threw her arms around him and held him close.
“Callia knew you would stay.”
“She has a special gift.” Nikki raised her voice an octave. “I’ll let her help me select my wedding dress.”
They both smiled when they heard a yelp of pleasure behind the closed door, but neither left the room for a very long time.
* * * * *
ISBN: 9781459223271
Copyright © 2012 by Sade Odubiyi
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