“N-no. She told me no over the phone.”
His rage simmered down a notch. “I better not see you ever again. And if you go anywhere near Lily, you will find yourself in hell. And I’ll be the one driving you there. I’ve got five brothers my size to back me up. How you like those odds?”
“She’ll never be happy with you,” Trevor spat. “She’s got a lifestyle.”
Nico shook him again. “I’m gonna keep this real simple for that little hamster-wheel brain. Get out of here before I kick your ass.” He tossed him to the pavement. Trevor glared at him from the ground, but made no move to get up.
Just to show Trevor how much of a non-threat he considered him, Nico went about getting the spare tire from the trunk. Trevor was still lying on the ground, holding his wrist.
Nico lifted out the spare tire. He stopped next to the slashed tire, set the spare down, and lurched suddenly toward Trevor. “Get lost!”
Trevor took off at a run.
~ ~ ~
Lily turned down Trevor. For the last time. She was very firm and told him her answer was final. The whole thing happened over the phone while Nico was at the auction. She’d finally returned Trevor’s call after he’d left twenty increasingly pathetic messages. She’d never loved him.
When Nico had told her about the auction and that her dad would be bidding, she immediately knew she wanted to bid on it. That car belonged with Nico. So she bought it for seven hundred thousand, chiming in over the phone on the auction, taking the top bid away from her own father.
And then Nico came home, told her the good news about the high bid, and informed her she’d be getting the check in two days. Saying simply, “It belongs to you.”
He had such a generous nature. She was feeling all warm and gooey toward him until he took off his long-sleeve Exotic and Classic Restorations shirt for bed that night, revealing a long, thin scratch with dried blood across his beautiful bicep.
“What happened?” she asked in alarm. A closer look revealed a deeper cut on one end. And then she realized this wasn’t the T-shirt he’d left in this morning. It was the same logo work shirt, but long-sleeved.
He glanced down at his arm. “It’s nothing. I don’t even need a Band-Aid.”
“You do so need a Band-Aid and antiseptic too.” She grabbed his arm and stared at the cut that veered off above the elbow. How could he not have mentioned this? They’d had a normal dinner and several hours together talking and watching TV. “Why were you hiding this?”
“I wasn’t hiding it.”
“But you changed shirts before you came home.”
He lifted one shoulder up and down. “My T-shirt got a little blood on it, so I changed. I had a spare shirt in the car.”
She wondered how much blood there’d have to be before he’d mention it. “Do you even have antiseptic?”
He rolled his eyes. “Yes, in the medicine cabinet.”
“Come on.” She gestured for him to follow her to the bathroom. “Did you get this from working on a car?”
“No.” He pulled the antiseptic and Band-Aids out of the medicine cabinet, and she took them. First she carefully cleaned off the cut with a wet washcloth. Then she dried it and applied the antiseptic. He didn’t flinch once.
Instead he leered at her. “What a pretty nurse.”
“What happened?” She got out the biggest bandage for the deepest part of the cut and peeled off the wrapper.
“I guess I should tell you. Just in case he tries anything else.”
“Who? What?”
“Your pal Trevor threatened me with a knife in the parking lot. Slashed my tire too.”
Her jaw dropped, and her hands started shaking uncontrollably. Nico had a knife pulled on him? What if it had been worse? What if he’d been…killed?
“Hey, sit down.” He guided her to the closed toilet seat lid. “Don’t you pass out on me, or I’ll be forced to call you the worst nurse I’ve ever had.”
He took the bandage from her and slapped it on. “It was nothing. He was drunk. Your dad promised him help becoming governor if he married you, and he was pissed that you turned him down.”
“I’m going to kill him,” Lily said fiercely. “And then I’m going to kill my dad. I knew he must’ve promised Trevor something. It didn’t make sense how much he wanted to marry me.” She frowned. “He kissed me once and wiped his mouth after like it was gross.”
He pulled her up and gave her a smacking kiss on the lips. “His loss.”
“But why did he come after you? How did he even find you?”
“Must’ve read about me in one of the articles about the auction. I’m glad he did. Because if he came after you, I would’ve had to kill him, and I don’t think prison would agree with me.” He grinned.
She smacked his chest. “How can you joke about this?”
“It’s fine. I sent him running, tail between his legs.”
She buried her head against his warm chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
He kissed her hair. “Nothing’s going to happen to me. Promise. You’re stuck with me.” He turned her and smacked her ass. “Now go get naked. That’s the only thing that will make me feel better after this horrifying experience.”
His teasing tone calmed her immediately. She left the bathroom, Nico hot on her heels, stripping as she went. She headed for the sofa bed and squeaked when he grabbed her from behind. He nuzzled her neck and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Lil.”
She melted, all the tension leaving her body. “I love you too.” His sweet words got her every time.
~ ~ ~
Which was why she totally fell for it when the next day Nico put on a button-down shirt, dress pants, and Italian leather shoes and said he was taking her someplace nice for lunch. She hadn’t been home in two weeks, so she only had the clothes she’d brought with her on the trip. Of course, she could’ve stopped back home when her dad was at work, but she’d needed a clean break for her fresh start. She put on the one dress she had, the purple wrap dress that showed off her cleavage, did her makeup, and headed out the door, blissfully ignorant of what waited for her.
When they pulled up to the Tudor-style home she grew up in, she turned to Nico, equal parts shocked and hurt. “You tricked me!”
“I said we were going someplace nice. This is nice. C’mon. We’re heading for neutral territory. The gazebo.”
She didn’t move.
Nico pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “You know I would never hurt you.”
Her throat got tight, and she nodded.
“I know you’re not happy. Your dad called and asked me to bring you by to talk. Either way it goes, at least you’ve heard each other out. Then you can move on.”
Her head snapped up. “He called you? When?”
“Early this morning. You were still sleeping like the dead.” He gave her a slow, sexy smile. “Your boyfriend must really be wearing you out with all his sweet lovin’.”
She shook her head, unable to help a small smile. “But why would he call you? What does he want?”
“It’s Father’s Day. Maybe he thought a little more about what it means to be a dad.”
“You talked to him at the auction yesterday, didn’t you?”
One corner of his mouth lifted. “I told him to man up, and he did.”
She burst out laughing. She could just imagine the tall, manly Nico telling her own tall, super-solid dad to “man up.”
He grinned. “Come on.”
She took a deep breath and got out of the car. Nico held her hand as they walked to the backyard. Her dad was sitting in the gazebo, head bowed, hands folded in his lap. She’d never seen him like that. Almost vulnerable looking.
She stopped at the front step of the gazebo. “Hi.”
Her dad stood and looked down his nose at her. He wore his “casual” outfit—sports coat over a button-down shirt, tailored pants, and loafers. “Lily,” he
said in a formal tone. “Nico, can we have a moment?”
Nico inclined his head and headed to the patio in back of the house.
“Have a seat, please,” her dad said, indicating the wooden bench near where he’d been sitting.
She crossed her arms. “I’ll stand.”
He took a seat. “All right.”
She stood there, staring at him. He looked older, his shoulders stooped, bags under his eyes.
“How are you?” he asked.
“Fine.”
He nodded. “Good.” He pursed his lips. Sour-lemon look was back. She stifled a sigh. She just wanted to leave, she was so tired of all this—
“I refuse to accept you disowning me,” he said. “I’m your father. I raised you—”
“Ha!” Lily was done with his haughty edicts. “I had a series of nannies who raised me! God forbid you let anyone stick around long enough for me to get attached. Mona hated me—”
“She did not hate you.”
“Well, she certainly didn’t love me. I know I look like my mother. I can just imagine how horrible it must be to see that reminder day in, day out. Of course I didn’t know about Taylor as a kid. I just thought I was unlovable.”
He leaped to his feet, a spry move that surprised her. “I love you.”
Her eyes went wide. He’d never, ever said that. Even when she’d said it, he’d never returned the sentiment.
“I’m not comfortable with…emotions,” he said, “like you are, but…it’s Father’s Day. And you’re my only daughter. You’re the future of the Spencers.”
She let out an exasperated breath. “Why would you set me up with Trevor? You promised him money for his governor campaign. Like I was just some prize to be bartered. I mean, what the hell? What century are you living in?”
His brows drew together. “One hand washes the other. That’s how politics works.”
“I’m not politics! I’m your daughter!” She paced back and forth and finally stopped, pinning him with a hard glare. “I know you always wanted a son, but that doesn’t give you the right to just use me and throw me away on some psycho. He pulled a knife on Nico!”
His head veered back in shock. “What? Trevor isn’t violent. We’ve known his family his whole life. I thought he’d be the son I never had, helping you continue the Spencer legacy.”
That damn Spencer legacy was like a noose around her neck. “Nico’s arm was sliced by that knife. I can show you if you don’t believe me. Is a psycho, politically scheming man the kind of person you want me to marry?”
His brows scrunched together. “This is very troubling. I’ll look into it and be sure he doesn’t bother you or Nico again.”
She shook her head. “I’ve been a disappointment to you from the day I was born. You didn’t get the heir you wanted. You were tricked and then you were stuck with me.”
He stared at her. Not denying it. Why would he? It was all sickeningly true.
She turned to go.
“Wait!” he said. “You’re right. I didn’t get what I expected. You have to admit, though, you’ve been a handful. Not all of those nannies left because I fired them. Some of them quit.”
Her jaw dropped. Sure, she’d run a little wild as a kid, desperate for attention, but she hadn’t known she’d been that awful. He kept talking, so she turned back to hear him out.
“I didn’t want you to take it personally,” he said, “so I told you they weren’t good enough and had to go.” He stared at the ceiling and swallowed visibly. “But I can’t imagine how empty my life would’ve been without you in it.”
He blinked and sucked in a noisy breath. “I imagine as empty as these past several weeks have been.”
“Dad,” she said softly, “you’re not disowned. Okay?”
“Oh. Good.” He looked at her uncertainly. “Should we hug or something?” He held out his arms at an awkward angle and the picture he made, somehow dignified in his sport coat and awkward at the same time, melted that painful vise that had been around her heart.
She crossed to him and stepped into his arms. “Yes, we should hug.”
He thumped her back in an attempt at affection. “Have you been studying for the bar?”
She pulled back and smiled. “I love you too, Dad.”
“Yes, yes, good, but you didn’t answer my question.”
“Ye-e-s,” she said on a long-suffering sigh.
He patted her shoulder a few times. “Proud of you.”
She smiled even as tears stung her eyes and turned to see Nico standing, watching them. She gestured him over. He headed toward them, and she left the gazebo and raced into his arms.
He stroked her hair. “Went okay, huh?”
She nodded. “It went okay.”
“You think he’d like to join my family for our Father’s Day barbecue?”
Her heart surged with love for the generous offer, even when he knew her dad was not the greatest company. “What’d I do to deserve you?” she asked.
He gave her a slow, sexy smile. “You finally got naked.”
She smacked his chest playfully. “I’ll ask him.”
Her dad was surprised by the invitation, but gracefully accepted. “Should I dress for dinner?” he asked.
“What you’ve got on is fine,” Nico replied. “Dinner’s at six.”
“Thank you,” her dad said, offering his hand. “For your part in this.”
Nico shook his hand. “That was all you. Nice job, man.”
Her dad actually flushed pink. He nodded formally and retreated to the house.
Chapter Twenty-One
Lily bit back a laugh later that day as Nico pulled on a blue T-shirt with white letters that proclaimed #1 Son.
“What is that?” she asked.
He jabbed a finger at her. “Don’t laugh.”
She snorted. He grabbed her. “I told you don’t laugh,” he said in a mock menacing voice.
“I didn’t, I swear!”
“My stepmom made them for all of us. I have to wear it.”
“Are you number one?”
He narrowed his bedroom eyes. “What do you think?”
She nodded solemnly as she bit back a smile.
“Payback, Lil. Not so much as a snicker.”
She shook her head. Then she shrieked as he tickled her. And she tickled him back. Next thing she knew they were wrestling, each trying to get in a good tickle. But she was in way over her head. He had her under him, flat on her back within seconds. He straddled her and pinned her wrists above her head. Her smile dropped as his gaze turned heated. He slowly leaned down, and her lips parted on a sigh as his mouth claimed hers.
They were really late to dinner.
Which turned out just fine. They missed all the initial awkwardness of her dad showing up at his parents’ house and meeting everyone. By the time they got there, his stepmom ushered them in, telling them they’d missed Gabe and Zoe, who’d already left to spend time with Zoe’s dad. Vince and Sophia were traveling back from their two-week honeymoon in Mexico. Mrs. Marino told Lily it was a well-deserved vacation for them after finishing up the big Clover Park Library addition and renovation.
They followed Mrs. Marino into the living room, where her dad was sitting in Mr. Marino’s brown chair.
“It reclines too,” Mr. Marino said, cranking the lever. Her dad flew back to a reclined position and sat stiffly, his head slightly raised.
“Could you make it go back up?” her dad asked.
“Sure, just put your feet down and lean forward.” He did, rather awkwardly.
“Happy Father’s Day!” Lily exclaimed.
Mr. Marino turned and grinned. “Hey, they’re here! ’Bout time you showed up, you crazy kids!”
Lily’s cheeks burned as Nico’s brothers—Angel, Luke, and Jared—gave them both a smirky, knowing look from where they sat on the sofa.
Then she burst out laughing because all of his brothers had #1 Son T-shirts and Mr. Marino had a #1 Dad shirt.
/> “I love your shirts,” she said.
They all stared at her like she was the weird one.
She got serious and nodded solemnly. “I really do.”
The brothers returned to watching the pregame for the Red Sox on TV. Nico chuckled softly and crooned in her ear, “Payback.”
She shivered.
Nico sat on the floor, leaning back against the sofa, and pulled her down to sit between his legs.
“You a Sox fan?” Mr. Marino asked her dad.
“I don’t really follow baseball,” her dad replied.
Lily stifled a laugh. Her dad liked golf, tennis, and polo, in that order.
Mr. Marino put a hand on her dad’s shoulder. “You are now.” He turned. “Angel, go see if I have an extra cap in my closet.”
Her dad held up a hand. “That’s not necessary.”
“You’ll like it,” Mr. Marino said.
A few moments later, Angel returned with a beat-up Red Sox cap and handed it to his dad.
“There it is. Thanks.” Mr. Marino slapped it on her dad’s head. It was too small and perched high up on his gray hair. He gestured to the cap. “You can adjust it.”
Her dad took off the cap and adjusted the back, slowly putting it back on.
Mr. Marino grinned. “We’ll catch a game up at Fenway. Make a day of it.” He turned to his sons. “Right, guys?”
“Yeah,” they said in a chorus of deep, masculine tones.
Her dad sucked a sour lemon, and she feared he’d say something rude, but he finally said, “Thank you for the kind invitation.” Which was his polite no.
“Good, that settles it,” Mr. Marino said. “Beer?”
Nico nuzzled into her neck. “See how well we all get along?” he whispered in her ear. “Just wait until after dessert when we play the traditional Marino-Reynolds football game.”
She giggled and whispered over her shoulder, “I’m taking pictures of that.”
~ ~ ~
Two days later, Nico came home to find the Mustang Boss 429e sitting in his driveway.
“Lily!” he hollered, taking the steps to their apartment two at a time.
She appeared on the landing wearing a sexy low-cut T-shirt and a miniskirt. He was real glad she’d gotten more of her stuff from home. He loved all the skin. “Do you like your present?” she asked.
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