Gift (Enchanted Ardor #2)

Chapter Six

Nick followed Liv, fingers entwined, down to the breakfast hall where other couples from the party lingered.

Neither of them mentioned the inevitable parting, but their constant need for some small contact spoke volumes.

His eyes strayed to her face again and again, often meeting her gaze as she sought him out in return.

I can’t let her go… but I can’t keep her either.

There was no room in Nick’s world for a love he knew she would offer, should she want him in return.

That kind of magic wasn’t meant for him.

Their night together was all that he could have.

“As soon as the roads are clear enough, I can drive you home.”

Her blue eyes lifted from her plate, over their small table, searching his face. “If it isn’t out of your way, I’d like that.”

He nodded.

Nick had no idea where she lived in relation to his hotel, but didn’t care, he’d drive as far as he needed to see her home safe. And to greedily take all the extra time he could steal, before he had to let her go.

Eyes fixed on her plate, her fork poked at the fruit. “Your flight is early tomorrow?”

“Very.”

She nodded.

Breakfast finished, they made their way to collect their coats, where Quinn met them with sparkling eyes, handing each of them a card. To Olivia she said, “A few downtown businesses to consider. Tell them I referred you. Just…remember your reading.”

Turning to Nick, she held his gaze a long moment as she considered her words. “Please… remember to stay the course.”

Reaching out she took each of their hands, drawing a deep breath. “I have so much hope for each of you.” She squeezed their hands and released them. “Safe drive home.”

“Thank you for the wonderful evening, Quinn,” Olivia smiled back at their hostess.

Nick led Olivia down the broad front step to where a valet had delivered his rental, cleared of snow and ready to go.

Olivia’s attention turned away from the vehicle, frowning at a figure lingering in the shadows at the edge of the building, too far to observe detail beyond the nondescript sense of the staff uniforms. Nick reached to open the door for her to get in before rounding to the driver’s side. “Is something wrong?”

She turned her gaze to his eyes, her expression cleared, replaced with a brilliant smile. “Everything is just perfect.”

As soon as they were on the road, Nick noted Olivia’s attention drifting toward the passing scenery, Quinn’s card flipping over and over in her hands, and murmured, “That was… cryptic. ‘Remember your reading’?”

“Hmm? Quinn O’Clery? Yes, a unique woman.” She smiled at Nick. “She read my tea leaves the other day. ‘Love and a warning’, she’d said, then invited me to her party. I think maybe she still needs a little practice with her predictions.” Her gaze turned inquisitive. “Stay the course, huh?”

Love?

Nick lifted a brow.

Quinn had said that she was one of the Fates. That tingling sensation worked its way up Nick’s nape again.

What is she up to?

“Yeah, reference to my work.”

Olivia turned her full gaze to his profile as he drove. “You’re thinking of changing careers?”

“Retirement would be nice.”

Retirement.

Nick dismissed the mixed feelings that specific word brought.

She laughed, eyes trained on his face, assessing. “Surely you’re not old enough for that.” Her bright eyes swept his features. “No, wait, never mind. I’m forgetting myself. I know better than to be so quick to judge something like that.”

Nick laughed then, as he recalled her comment the previous night about the special status of the other guests. “Look at us still keeping our secrets close to the vest.”

“Who says I have secrets?” Olivia challenged him. “I’m an open book.”

“Me too.”

She snorted and laughed. “You’re anything but.”

He glanced her way. Her eyes shone with challenge.

“An exchange then. You go first. I know you’ve been around much longer than you look.”

She nodded considering this. “As have you.”

“I have.”

“How long?” She lifted a perfect blond brow.

“Longer than you. What are you? Two, three hundred?” He threw the numbers out there, expecting less than half that. “You don’t look a day over twenty-five.”

“Not bad. Five and a half centuries, thereabouts. I lost track after midlife.”

Nick laughed. “No kidding? But not a shifter? I thought I detected a subtle hint of dragon signature on you.”

“Funny, I’d have asked the same of you, though I didn’t think that was right either.”

“So, you do know some dragons?”

Olivia shrugged. “Maybe one or two may have rubbed off on me somewhere along the way.”

“Intriguing, you’ll have to tell me about that some day.”

Her expression turned solemn, her voice soft. “Some day.” Her attention flicked back to the window.

One night.

Nick sighed.

“My longevity was the gift of a djinn, a long, long time ago. And yes, it involved a dragon.” She turned her direct gaze back to his profile.

He met her eyes.

The truth in her words knocked around in his chest.

Intriguing.

Now he really wanted to hear that story.

“Your turn.”

“Former warrior. A little too much raiding. Gave up my weapons for a magic bag.”

It was her turn to lift a brow, waiting for more.

He pointed at his chest, fingertip landing on the silk tie his crew had given him.

Olivia’s wide eyes dropped to the cheery Santa heads. “You’re not freaking serious.”

“I am.”

In seconds, her expression altered several times, from delighted shock, confusion to concern. “But you want to retire and Quinn wants you to ‘stay the course’?”

“She does.”

“Who would replace you?” Her voice went up.

“No idea.”

“But, you don’t want to do it anymore?”

“Never really did.”

“Then…how?”

“Atonement.”

A soft “Oh.”

“Yeah.”

“So you don’t believe.” She swallowed. “You don’t believe in the work that you do?”

“I know it has a purpose. I’m just not the true guy for the job. Not my calling.”

His gut twisted when he caught the sadness in her expression, and he couldn’t help feeling like he’d just let her down somehow.

“It’s just—so important.”

The twist wrenched a little deeper. Nick rolled away the discomfort creeping into his shoulders.

This was a bad idea.

Their perfect night was being tainted by the reality of daylight.

Silence fell between them until they reached the city limit and she had to guide him to her neighborhood with muted directions.

He pulled up in front of her building.

She reached for the door handle, pausing. “Thank you for last night, Nick.” Her blue gaze met his. “It was… special. And for the ride. I hope it’s not too far out of your way.” She rushed through the last words.

Nick’s hand shot out to grasp her left hand before she opened the door, staying her movement.

I shouldn’t touch her anymore…

She looked down at their hands, his fingers caressing hers. “Yes, it was special, Olivia. You’re special.”

He met her blue gaze. Her pale cheeks flushed as she dropped her gaze back to their hands.

He didn’t tell her that his hotel was only a few blocks away. It didn’t matter.

It was just one night.

They wouldn’t see each other again.

Pain shot through his heart as he searched her solemn face, still turned downward to their hands.

His thumb eased over the backs of her fingers, reluctant to let her go just yet. Or ever.

When she finally lifted her gaze to his, her blue eyes were clear and determined. “If you’re serious about moving on, I would do it.”

“Do what?”

“The job.”

He blinked, heart flipping through several beats. “You would replace me?”

She nodded. “If you no longer wish to do it, and there is no one else. I would… do it. Whatever that means.”

He squeezed her fingers, a smile touched his lips. “That’s kind of you.”

She glanced out of the window up at her building. “You know where I live now. Give it some thought, though I imagine there’d be a lot of training involved.”

Nick didn’t laugh.

She was serious.

He lifted her fingers, pressing his lips to them one last time before he released her. “I will certainly give you thought.”

She nodded, left the vehicle and dashed in through the front doors of her building, her red stilettos dancing over clumps of wet snow and icy puddles.

He stared after her, long after the glass doors drifted closed.

A car horn honked, urging him to give up his space in front of the building. Throwing the SUV into gear, he navigated to his hotel, lost in thought.