Gemma raised her eyebrows at Selena before winking and then leaving.
“That’s more like it,” Nick said, with a laugh. “Get some carbs in you.”
Selena smiled and there was a moment of awkward silence.
“So, we’re here,” she said. “This is what you wanted.”
Nick held her gaze intensely as he replied, “Well, this is great, but it’s not exactly what I intended. Breakfast was your idea, remember? Next time, we’ll sip cocktails into the night.”
“What makes you so sure?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.
“My lady prefers champagne?” he asked with a laugh. “Why did you come this morning?”
“I—I don’t like to disappoint people.”
“Hmmm.” Nick replied with a sarcastic nod of agreement. “Yeah, so it’s nothing to do with the connection we obviously have?”
Selena smiled and played with the spoon on the table, avoiding his gaze.
“Why pretend there’s not something there?” he asked softly, still smiling.
“It’s just, look at you. And, look at me,” she said, rolling her eyes and laughing.
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
Selena rolled her eyes. “You’re so good looking, and I’m...” Selena replied, her cheeks colouring slightly as she dropped her gaze to the table and ran a hand along her scar, as if suddenly remembering it was there and trying to hide it.
Was she bloody serious? “What the hell?” Nick sat forward. “You’re stunning.”
Flustered, Selena said, “Look, thank you. But you know there’s a difference between us. And Paris. I’ll chalk that up to me getting an assist by the city. But I don’t think I’m the kind of girl you usually date or what not. And I don’t want people talking. There will be people who think you’re with me out of pity. And let’s face it, I’ve got to keep a clean image. Shades of Chic is in my hands and I don’t want gossip getting in the way. If they see you with me, they’re bound to just assume you’re only with me for money, or whatever, because I’m not the supermodel type you would probably be with.”
His voice went quiet. “That’s not what I was expecting you to say,” Nick said, scratching the back of his head. “First of all, who are they? And why do you care so much about them? Who cares what other people think? You’re amazing at your job, any idiot can see that. It has nothing to do with your personal life. And secondly, if people think I’m after you for your money, they’ve got it so wrong. I didn’t struggle all my life just to ride on someone else’s coat tails.”
Selena’s face softened as her eyes met his. “What kind of struggles have you been through?” she asked.
Nick shifted in his seat. How much did he tell her? If she ran a mile after his Oliver Twist tale of grief, poverty, and his brother’s crimes then so be it. It would hurt like hell, but he had to be true to himself, to an extent.
“Where do I begin?” He said with a sigh. “I’ll give you the highlights. My dad ran off, my mum married again and he died, leaving me and my little brother to be her crutches. She’s been severely depressed ever since. I’ve asked her to move into my flat so many times, but she won’t leave the house. It’s in a really bad area, but it’s where she and Mike were happy together. It’s as if she doesn’t see the junkies shooting up in the stairwell or hear the smashing windows. Her kitchen window is boarded up, for Christ’s sake.”
“That’s terrible,” Selena said, shaking her head gently.
“As soon as I saw my way out, I took it. I got a scholarship to Westford Academy. I erased any evidence of my history, of where I came from. Walthamstow is different now from when I grew up. The Farlow Estate is still there though, hidden away on the edges of town. I’m not that guy anymore.” He sucked in a breath. “And my brother, I won’t even fill you in on all that, not yet anyway. Let’s just say he gets himself in the most stupid, dangerous situations…” Nick shook his head before continuing. “He—he’s an addict. He’s wanted. I don’t know where he is right now, but I’m trying to help him get out of the mess he’s in. There. That’s the story of my messed up family and why I haven’t been able to get further in my career. But I will.”
Selena sighed and reached out to touch his hand.
“You can run now if you like,” Nick added. “I wouldn’t blame you.”
“I’m not going to run,” she said, “it’s not your fault all that stuff has happened. If it helps at all, my family is pretty messed up too. I mean, you know all about Simon.”
Nick’s back stiffened to hear the name Simon come from her lips. He had been so wrapped up in the conversation he had almost forgotten about that prick. Should he just use this opportunity to tell her everything and call the cops about his fear for his family’s safety? His heart quickened at the prospect of coming clean. He cleared his throat. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh yes?” she said, smiling. The food arrived and her attention was diverted to the juicy bacon and plump, warm pancakes. “I’m all ears.”
He faltered. No words came. She looked happy. He couldn’t bear the thought of twisting that gorgeous smile into upset. “Oh nothing. It can wait.”
She took a sip of her green smoothie—or ‘swamp water’ as he called it.
“It’s full of nutrients,” she said, rolling her eyes and laughing.
They ate, smiling, and catching each other’s eyes every few seconds. When Selena giggled and licked a drop of maple syrup off her finger, it sent a burst of heat through his veins. Watching her eat was a turn on. Damn.
When they finished up, she placed her hands on the table. “We should really get back to the office.”
His heart sank, but what the hell could he do? The hour had been too quick. She was slipping out of reach again. He never even got close enough to smell her.
They walked to the office in silence, tension coiled around them and crackled like a lightening storm. As they entered the building, Nick sucked in a deep breath. They entered an empty corridor and before hesitating he grabbed Selena’s hand and pulled her towards a door.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “Someone will see us.”
He opened the door and checked the room behind it. Empty. Dark. Perfect.
“Come with me,” he said as he tugged her inside. “For once stop thinking about what you should do and start thinking about what you want to do.”
She swallowed, her eyes unsure, but still she followed, frowning and looking around the abandoned room.
What the fuck could he say? This wasn’t a position he was used to. As a matter of fact, he actively avoided situations like this. But he had to try. “Look, I know you’re hesitant, but I want to kiss you just once. I want to prove to myself, at least, that Paris wasn’t a fluke. That what happened wasn’t an accident. That night. It felt real. Fucking incredible. I just need to know that what we felt, that it was real.”
Selena stared at him and her lips parted on a gasp. Before she could say anything, he pulled her close and dipped his head, sealing her lips with his.