Chapter Five

BAILEY

We pull up in front of my home and again, Nero tells me to wait so he can open the door and help me from the car. I’ve never been treated this way before.

“You want to come and have a drink?” I ask him, the alcohol during dinner giving me the confidence to ask him, otherwise I would have kept my mouth shut.

Nero looks a little shocked. “Sure.” He grins, following me to the front door.

I step inside first and turn to see Nero following, his strong broad shoulders very nearly hitting both sides of the doorway. Usually, my entrance hall feels a good size when I’m alone but now Nero is here the area feels so small and we almost touch.

Nero follows me into the living room, and he almost hits his head on the low beams. I can’t hold in my laughter anymore. He looks at me in question and I wait for my laughter to calm. “I’m sorry, but you look so big in my house.”

He looks around the place with a humorous look. “It’s like a doll house.”

This makes me laugh even more and Nero watches me with a huge sexy smile. When I manage to get a hold of myself, I enter the kitchen and show Nero my selection of chilled alcoholic drinks. He grabs a beer whilst I pour myself a glass of wine.

“Seems we like the same brand of beer.” Nero ponders, taking his first drink.

“Oh no.” I laugh, holding my wine glass fondly. “Rosa stocked those for some reason, I’m a wine girl.”

“They were here when you moved in?” He looks suspicious, of what I don’t know.

“They were in the fridge when I first moved here. I didn’t know what to do with them. I don’t drink it, but I also didn’t want to throw them away.” I shrug. “I would have felt bad.”

“It’s like she knew I would be here.” He mutters quietly.

“Or that I would bring other men back?” I laugh and suddenly Nero doesn’t look so happy. He wanders over to the patio doors leading out to the garden deck.

I follow him outside and look up at the starry sky. Since I’ve lived here, I have noticed how pretty the night sky is.

“Here.” I hand him one of my blankets and start the fire pit with a simple flick of a switch. I grab a blanket for myself and take the seat next to him. I take a sip of my wine and notice that Nero is looking over at me. “It’s a pretty night.”

“Very.” He nods, his intense gaze heating me more than the fire and blanket.

“This is actually one of my favourite places in the house.”

Nero nods. “I can see why.” He looks from me and up to night sky. “This, and the bedroom.”

I almost spit out my wine, but I manage to swallow without causing a scene. “My bedroom is another.” I nod and I get a surge of bravery. “I can show you later, if you’d like?” Nero grins as he drinks his beer and nods. “So, have you taken a lot of girls to your restaurants?”

Now he laughs. “Wow.”

I immediately feel bad. “Sorry, you don’t have to answer that.” I take a big drink of my wine, embarrassed that I asked him such a question.

“It’s fine.” Nero assures me, reaching over and placing his large hand over mine. He squeezes slightly. “You are you first person I’ve taken there.”

“Oh.” I’m surprised.

Nero smirks. “I see my restaurants as my own space. I go there to escape and think things through. You’d be surprised what you discover hidden in the shadows.”

I feel special knowing that he took me there not just because I’ve just found out I’m the first woman but it’s his place and what it represents to him.

“Now it’s my turn.” Nero teases. “Do you want to settle down with someone?”

I’m slightly thrown by his question. I drink some more wine as I think for the answer. “Yes, I do but I think I have bad luck when it comes to relationships.”

Nero frowns for a second and leans forward with his hand still covering mine. “Maybe that’s because you’ve been with the wrong men and now it’s time for the right person to enter your life.”

I don’t know how to respond to that, but I don’t think I need to. We look at one another, staying silent but the silence speaks enough. We lean in closer to one another and my heart speeds up as Nero’s mouth lands on mine. I sigh as his kiss sweeps me up and I feel it in my heart.

Suddenly my head feels like it’s going to explode.

“Bailey?” Nero asks but I can’t see him. My eyes are closed as I place my head in my hands and try to ride the pain.

“My head.” I wince. “It feels like it’s splitting in half!”

Tears appear behind my closed eyelids, and I feel Nero’s arms around me. I’m able to tell that we’re now inside from the warmth but I just want this agony to end.

Strong arms envelope me and my discomfort eases a little, enough for me to open my eyes and see Nero and he looks really worried.

“I’m sorry about this.” My tears now fall down my cheeks. This is so embarrassing.

“You don’t need to apologise.” Nero frowns, shaking his head.

He sweetly lays me down on the sofa and runs off towards the kitchen. “Nero?” I ask, wondering what he’s doing but he quickly comes back with the tablets Rosa gave me with a glass of water.

“Take these.” He orders urgently. “They’ll help.” I sip the water as Nero helps me with the tablets. The pain gets stronger, but when Nero picks me up in his arms it oddly eases slightly. He feels so warm too and I snuggle closer. “Seems I will be seeing your bedroom.” Nero jokes as he carries me upstairs.

I’m still in a lot of discomfort but having Nero so close does help and I begin to feel sleepy. Lately, I always feel tired and that’s because I’m not getting enough sleep due to my weird dreams.

Nero lays me down on my bed and thankfully my PJs are already on the bed so I don’t have to go far to change.

“I’ll lock the door behind me when I go but call me if you need me.” Nero smooths my hair from my forehead and with one last smile, he leaves me.

I listen to his footsteps disappear as my eyelids get heavier. No longer worried that I’m still in my black dress, I fall asleep.