“When you say it like that, it sounds stupid to argue,” I retorted but didn’t let it go. “I still could argue it.”

He nabbed the remote on the table beside him, hit pause on the program and looked back at me.

“Right, I got this whole season taped. We watch a couple more episodes tonight. You find something you like that I can DVR, I’ll set it and we’ll watch it tomorrow. Then we’ll compare.”

From what I’d heard (since obviously I had no real experience), this was a surprising offer from a man, especially a man in your life (as it were).

“You’ll try something I like?” I asked to be certain I’d heard him correctly.

He was holding me so I felt as well as saw his shrug.

“Sure.”

I liked that.

I liked it so much and I was so comfortable in Nick’s hold in Nick’s place after eating Nick’s pork chops, I smiled at him. It was small but it came right out.

And his eyes dropped right to it.

As did his touch, like it was a gift but he feared it was a mirage that if he didn’t touch it, it’d fade away.

So he touched it, his hand to my face, his thumb sweeping over my lips while his eyes watched.

Of course, with his intensity, the smile withered to nothing.

He lifted his gaze to mine.

And my heart squeezed at the look in his eyes and the quiet, sad tone of his voice when he whispered, “Sometimes you kill me, baby.”

To get away from his sudden sadness, something I hated that I’d forced on him after he’d been laughing, which was something I loved giving him, I allowed my eyes to drift away.

He wasn’t done.

“No. A lot of the time.”

I drew in an unsteady breath and leaned forward. “I’ll take the plates to the sink.”

He didn’t let me go.

In fact, his hold tightened.

“Olivia,” he called.

I braced before I looked back to him.

“Leave it,” he ordered. “Relax,” he kept ordering.

Then he gave me a squeeze, turned his attention back to the TV and again grabbed the remote.

He rewound until we were back to where I’d started talking and he hit play.

I left the dishes. I relaxed. And over two and a half more episodes, I watched a lone, ex-special forces, ex-CIA operative and his gay, deaf hacker sidekick get closer to saving the world from a lunatic who managed to get his hands on five nuclear warheads.

They got so much closer, the next four nights, along with the documentary I chose (which, frankly, was not nearly as fascinating), we watched the rest of the season.

Plans for nuclear obliteration of London, Tokyo, Rome, New York and Sydney were thwarted.

And I had to admit, when they were safe, I was relieved.

Not only that they were safe.

But that the program had been picked up for a second season.

* * * * *

11:54 – Friday Night

I planted my chin smack in the middle of Nick’s pecs and lifted my eyes to his.

He had his head propped on several pillows, his neck bent and his eyes were already on me.

“Did they have casualties?” I asked.

I watched his head give a slight jerk as his brows inched together.

“What?” he asked back.

“The…your…” I felt funny but for some reason persevered. “Your boys. You were talking to one at the club the week before last. You spoke of casualties. Was…were…” I wanted to trail off and let it go, but like before, I couldn’t stop myself from pushing forward. “Did it all come out okay?”

His lips hitched up.

“Is Olivia Shade asking me a question, sharing concern about my business and my boys so, by extension, doing the same about me?” he teased.

I looked away as I shifted to get my hands to the bed to push up, murmuring, “My mistake. Time to leave.”

I didn’t push up.

My back hit the bed and I couldn’t move because Nick was covering me at the same time grinning down at me.

“No casualties,” he declared. “The reinforcements got there on time. The bad guys showed, saw they were fucked, didn’t try for the girl and instead retreated after my boys engaged. They were probably waiting for their own reinforcements. When they retreated, my team moved her out and put her in a different safe house. We found out her brother has a big mouth and that’s how her first location was discovered. Now the job’s done, she’s safe and I got paid,” he shared.

“I’m glad,” I returned snappishly.

He didn’t stop grinning, in fact, he started quietly laughing as he replied, “You sound it.”

“Though, your story over, it’s now really time for me to leave.”

He stopped grinning and laughing.

“Get off me, Sebring,” I ordered.

He studied me.

In the middle of doing it, he lifted a hand and trailed a finger down my hairline as I held my breath because that, like most everything from Nick, felt nice.

After that, without another word, he got off me.

We dressed.

He walked me to my Evoque.

We kissed hard and rough at my driver’s side door.

I got in my car.

And in my rearview mirror I watched him jog up the steps to his place as I drove away.

Chapter Thirteen

Beauty Bound

Olivia

3:48 – Thursday Afternoon

“Just text the ingredients, Olivia,” Nick said into my ear as I drove to the warehouse.

“I’ll bring them,” I returned.

“Babe, I’m goin’ to the grocery store before I hit home.”

“And I have to drive to your place before I hit your home so I can stop by the grocery store.”