***
Nic stood inside the front door of the hotel, checking out the formally attired crowd.
“Are Aunt Grace and Uncle Frank gonna be here soon?” Toni stood on his right, looking much older than her twelve years in small heels, a tiny bit of makeup and a midnight blue gown that bared her shoulders and covered her legs.
Annie had sprung the fact that Toni was coming with them this morning. Turns out, Mags had called and asked if Toni could tag along, as she’d been driving Mags nuts about it since that day at the garage.
He could’ve said no. Could’ve told Mags he didn’t want the kid anywhere near him for fear of her getting hurt, but he couldn’t do that either. He’d missed Toni and, truthfully, he didn’t think she was in any danger. Especially not tonight, at an event this large.
“They should be here soon. Bored already?”
In answer, Toni gave him a discreet shot in the side with her elbow. He and Toni exchanged a smile that he’d been told by Mags was identical.
His parents arrived then towing Jimmy, Janey and Mal. He put up a hand, catching their attention.
“Hello, sweetheart.” His mom looked perfectly put together from her bright strawberry blond hair to her black evening gown to her shiny black pumps. Even in heels she didn’t reach his chin, so he leaned down for her kiss. “Did you enjoy the week without us?”
He controlled the impulse to give himself away by glancing at Jimmy, who looked pretty damn good in a tux. “I don’t think I screwed up the office too bad while you were away.”
Turning to shake his father’s hand, he looked closely, but Frank didn’t look any worse for wear in his custom-made tuxedo. Then again, his father had never looked sick, even right before open-heart surgery.
“Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” His dad looked into his eyes then glanced at Grace. “I didn’t know you bought him a ticket.”
Grace’s brows raised. “I didn’t.” She turned to Toni. “Hello, beautiful, how have you been?”
Grace could still get a hug and a kiss from Toni and so could Frank, apparently.
Janey curled her arm around Nic’s waist and he drew her close with a squeeze, careful not to mess up her sequined dress. She’d always been his ally against their mom’s uncanny knack for reading their minds. “I can’t believe I don’t have a stack of files on my desk to be typed. Did you learn since I’ve been gone or are you letting Annie handle that for you?”
Okay, maybe his family was in cahoots. Or maybe Jimmy had ratted him out. He shot his brother a look but Jimmy just shrugged.
Luckily, or maybe not so luckily, Annie’s mom chose that moment to arrive. On the arm of Colin’s partner, Sean.
Nic felt the walls closing on him, and it wasn’t his claustrophobia kicking in.
Luckily, after everyone said hello, they took their seats on the first level closest to the floor. Grace and Beatrice behaved like old friends, including Toni in their conversation. Frank, Jimmy, Mal and Sean discussed the latest local scandal, leaving Janey to stare at him.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s up or do I have to drag it out of you?”
Intimidation had never worked well with his sister, but it didn’t hurt to try. He flicked a glance at her. “Nothing to tell, brat. How was your trip?”
She paused. “Fine. You know Annie’s going to tell me whatever’s going on. So why don’t you just cut your losses and ’fess up now.”
He felt a smile forming. “You know you’re as bad as Mom, right? Maybe it’s none of your business.”
“That never stopped you before,” she teased. “Come on, Nic. You’re talking to me.”
When she laid a hand on his sleeve, Nic had a flash of memory. Janey at six, tagging along with him and Jimmy in Florence. They’d just moved there and their parents had been too busy to take them sightseeing yet.
They’d knocked off school and Jimmy had forged a note from their dad to excuse Janey. She’d overheard them planning their day and had blackmailed them into taking her along. She wouldn’t accept a straight bribe. And Nic hadn’t minded.
They’d spent the day traipsing all over the city, checking out the Piazza Della Signoria and the gorgeous sculptures; the Gallery of the Academy and Michaelangelo’s David; and the Uffizi Gallery’s magnificent collection.
It’d been the best day the three of them had spent together. But they’d lost track of time, and when they’d arrived home, Frank had been ready to enlist every American agent in the city to look for them. Nic was sure his parents were going to ground him for a month, but his mom took one look at Janey’s smile and the green pistachio gelati stains on her shirt and had cut off his father before he’d been able to speak.
“Did you have a good time, Janey?” she’d asked.
Janey had started to babble, repeating almost word for word what Nic had read to her from the guidebook he’d bought.
And his mom had turned to him with a smile he’d never forget. She’d ruffled her fingers through his hair, which had been long even then, and told him to help Janey with her bath while she sent Jimmy up to do his missed schoolwork.
Janey snapped her fingers in front of his face. “Hey, Nic, where’d you go?”
Now he did smile. “You remember our day trip in Florence? You might not, you were only six—”
“I had the best time that day.” Her tone held remembrance and pleasure. “Mostly because I was with my big brothers. But don’t try to change the subject. I know you, Dominic. Tell me what’s going on.”
And why the hell shouldn’t he? He wasn’t ashamed of their relationship. “I’ve got a situation and I’m staying with Annie.”
Janey blinked. “Say that again.”
“I’m staying with Annie. For now.”
It took Janey a little longer than usual to think of her next question, but he let her formulate, knowing she’d never let him off the hook easily.
“What’s the situation?”
Okay, not what he’d expected first, but he could deal with it. “I got some threatening calls. They all mention Annie.”
Janey glanced at their parents, still involved in their various discussions, paying no attention to them. “Has the contact been only through calls or did something else happen?”
“So far just calls but none for the past week. I don’t have anything to go on. Jimmy’s been trying to trace the calls but he’s getting nowhere.”
She huffed. “And why haven’t you asked me to do that? You know I’m much better than Jimmy at that stuff.”
“Didn’t want to worry you. Or involve you in any way. I don’t want to give this nutjob any more ideas.”
Janey’s expression shifted. “Alright, I can see your point. But you will give me the information tonight so Mal and I can help.” Under her breath, he heard her say, “I can’t believe you thought Jimmy would be more help than me.”
Suddenly the lights dimmed and a voice welcomed everyone to the competition.
Nic lowered his voice to a whisper. “Of course he’s not, brat.”
Shrugging, she pinched his arm. “And you’re going to tell me exactly what’s going on with you and Annie, too.”
He didn’t answer that one because he still wasn’t sure what to say.
Instead, he turned his attention to the floor, where the dancers were now gathering. There had to be more than thirty couples crammed onto the floor, outfitted in sparkling sequins and bright, revealing costumes for the women, while the men wore black pants and shirts that matched their partner’s dresses.
He looked for the bright flash of Annie’s long hair, frowned when he didn’t see it. This time, he sought out Colin and found him. And realized why he hadn’t seen Annie.
She’d cut her hair. How the hell had she hid that from him?
Thinking back, he remembered that she’d come out of the salon with a scarf wrapped around her head and had kept it on until she’d gone backstage.
Instead of the thick golden mass that fell to the middl
e of her back, her hair barely touched the top of her shoulders and feathered around her face. Hell, his hair was longer.
He wasn’t sure he liked it. It was a hell of a change. But the cut accentuated her sharp features and bared her slender neck. That he liked.
The more he looked, the more he realized it was sexy as hell.
As was her barely there outfit—hot pink, sleeveless and cut to her navel, with not much of a skirt to speak of.
From that moment, he was blind to everyone but Annie. A nuclear bomb could’ve exploded next to him and he wouldn’t have noticed.
She was beautiful and she was his.
Janey leaned over and whispered in his ear, “So, have you told her yet?”
“Told her what?”
“Told her you love her, idiot?”
He didn’t answer and he figured that told Janey all she needed to know.
She smirked and he knew he deserved it.
***
Third-place trophy in hand, Annie couldn’t stop smiling.
Everyone she loved had been in the audience tonight, and she and Colin had had the best performance of their lives and had done better than she could’ve hoped.
Now, standing in the lobby of the hotel, after having congratulated all of the other winners and getting hugs and kisses from her mother, the DeMarcos, Sean, Toni and everyone else she knew or was even acquainted with, she looked up to find Nic on the outskirts of the crowd.
She smiled at him and watched his lips kick up at the corners. God, the emotions that man could evoke with just a look. She wanted to leap into his arms and devour him.
Which, of course, she couldn’t do because everyone would see. And question.
She tried to keep up with the conversations around her, but she couldn’t take her eyes off of Nic. And when he started toward her, she drew in a breath and held it.
She could have sworn the conversation around them came to a screeching halt but that couldn’t have been right because Janey continued to discuss the last rumba with Grace and her mother while Frank and Jimmy and Sean and Colin held their own conversations. Toni stood in the center of the crowd, watching everyone around her.
Nic stopped beside. “You ever going to stop grinning?”
She knew he was teasing, could hear it in his tone. “Maybe in a few days. So, were you bored stiff?”
His expression sobered quickly and he shocked her by lifting one hand to brush the short hair away from her cheek. She’d almost forgotten she’d had it cut and she lifted her hand self-consciously.
“I love this, by the way.” His low tone sent a shiver across her skin and deep into her body. “It suits you.”
Pleasure spread at the words. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure you’d like it.”
“I don’t think there’s anything you could do that I wouldn’t like.”
Her heart flopped over in her chest. “Nic—”
“Dominic.” Grace stepped up beside Nic. “Annie. We’re going to be leaving. Nic, would you like us to drop Toni off at home?”
Nic straightened but didn’t move away. “No, thanks. I was going to take her and Annie out for something to eat.”
Grace looked into his eyes, smiled. “Have a good time, honey. We’ll see you later.”
Okay, that was way too easy. He was definitely going to get the third degree later.
He didn’t let it bother him as he got the girls in his car and drove them to Pastaria. The popular restaurant was known for opera-singing waiters and Toni was looking forward to her first adult night out.
Since it was Friday night in Philadelphia, Nic was lucky to find a parking space only two blocks away. They’d have to walk, but the night was warm and it wasn’t that far.
“I’ve never seen dancing like that before,” Toni said to Annie as they stepped into the street when the light turned green. “It looks like so much fun.”
“It is,” Annie agreed. “You really should take a few classes if you’re interested.”
As the girls continued to talk, the tic of an engine caught Nic’s ear and he turned to look up the street.
And saw a pair of headlights bearing down on them.
CHAPTER 16
Nic knew the driver was gunning for them the second the car pulled away from the curb.
He felt it in his gut.
Without thought, he grabbed Annie and Toni around the waists. Even though it wasn’t far to the curb, he didn’t think they were going to make it.
He felt hot metal pass inches from his legs as he jumped onto the sidewalk, nearly knocking the girls over in his haste.
He could feel the rush of air as the car barreled around the corner. Torn between making sure the girls were okay and running down the car, Nic chose Annie and Toni.
Nic placed one hand on Annie’s cheek to lift her face.
“Are you okay?”
He heard fear in his voice and took a deep breath as Annie’s gray-green gaze caught his. When she nodded, he turned to Toni, staring up at him with wide eyes.
“Nic,” Annie said.
That had been way too close. He’d let his guard down. Again.
“Nic.”
This time, they could have been injured. Or killed. Someone had actually tried to kill them.
“Nic.” Annie’s insistent tone finally caught his attention and he focused on her. “Are you okay? Were you hit?”
He shook his head.
“That guy must have been wasted.” Toni huffed. “I hope he doesn’t take out anyone else. We should call the cops. I didn’t get the entire license plate but that Lincoln Continental shouldn’t be that hard to find.”
Shit, was Toni right? Had their close call merely been an accident?
“So, I’m starving,” Toni continued. “You are gonna feed me, aren’t you, Nic?”
Was he that easy to read? His first thought had been to get Toni and Annie off the street, locked up tight. But would he have been over-reacting?
Calm down. Take stock. No one was hurt.
“Sure, kid. Let’s eat.”
Nic hoped like hell he could.
And that he wasn’t making a colossal mistake.
***
The ride home was quiet. Nic had too much on his mind to keep up with the conversation but Annie kept up a steady stream with Toni.
He was trying to pick through the details he remembered about the car. It’d been light in color. Beige, yellow…maybe silver or even dirty white.
When Toni finally stopped to take a break, he broke in. “Hey, kid. Did you get a good look at that car?”
Annie’s gaze fastened on him. In the rearview, he saw Toni nod. He should’ve known. She noticed everything with those wide eyes.
“Beige Lincoln, ragtop. A few years old, at least. One guy in the front.” She paused, her head cocking to the side in a motion that was all Mags. “You think he wasn’t just some random guy. That he was aiming for you.”
Such a smart girl. Nino would be so proud. “Not positive but yeah, that’s what I think.”
Toni whistled. “Wow. Who’d you tick off, Nic?”
He controlled the growl that wanted to erupt, didn’t want to frighten Toni or Annie.
But if that car had been aiming for them, was the guy upping his game?
He had a few leads he planned to check out tomorrow, but he didn’t want to leave Annie exposed and alone. He could enlist Mal and Jimmy but that would mean bringing in Janey. Another target. And yes, he knew Janey would cut him off at the knees if she knew he thought she needed to be protected. Which is exactly what he thought.
She was his baby sister, after all. Logic didn’t apply.
“Hey, kid. How’d you like to spend the weekend with Janey and Mal?”
***
They stopped at Mags’ and Nic explained what he wanted to do and why.
Mags took a good, hard look at his face then told Toni to go ahead and pack a bag.
As Toni bounded up the stairs, Mags just stared at him.
&nb
sp; “How dangerous is this threat, Nic?”
He shook his head. “Honestly, I don’t think she’s in any danger, but I’m not taking any chances. I just… I need to know she’s safe. If the guy in the car saw her, then I want her protected 24/7. The guy’s never mentioned her so I have no reason to think he even knows about her but… I just want to make sure. Do you want to go with her? You know Janey would be just as glad to have you too.”
Mags’ eyebrows rose. “You know I have a gun and know how to use it, right? You taught me. You keep treating me like I’m some damsel in distress and I’m gonna use it on you. I’m letting Toni go because I know it’ll make you feel better but don’t push your luck.”
He could see how Mags might think this was overkill. Hell, even he was beginning to believe it. But his dad had always said better safe than dead and Nic respected the hell out of his dad.
“I’ll have this taken care of in the next few days. He made his move and I think I got enough on the car to figure out who the hell he is. I don’t think he meant to hit me tonight. I think he wanted to rattle me. But he fucked up. Now I’m gonna shut him down.”
Mags’ gaze shifted over his shoulder. To Annie. She hadn’t said a word since they’d arrived and he was almost afraid to see what she was thinking. Had he scared the hell out to her?
He’d fallen into Ranger mode. Kick ass first, ask questions later.
Maybe he’d gotten too uncivilized. It’s how he’d always felt around her. Not that he was ashamed of who he was or of being a soldier. It was more that he thought she’d want someone different. Someone less rough around the edges.
Turning, he caught Annie’s gaze.
And was shocked to see complete trust in her eyes.
He wanted to grab her and kiss her until he couldn’t breathe.
Of course, Toni came bounding the stairs at that moment, backpack on her shoulders.
“Janey called. We’re gonna have an all-night movie marathon and eat popcorn and candy till we puke. Can we go now?”
“Nice to know you can’t wait to get out of the house.” Mags grabbed Toni as she walked by and gave her a big squeeze. “Be good for Janey.”
Toni rolled her eyes. “When am I ever not good?”
Spice Box; Sixteen Steamy Stories Page 131