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Nixie felt her heart swell Leaning up, she stared into his blue eyes “Nick, I…I love you” She couldn’t believe she was telling him this It was too soon It was irrational… It was the truth “I tried not to, but…” She shrugged again, feeling helpless “It’s so hard because you think I’m a bad person”
Nick’shim
“I want you to know I never robbed you Ever The night I broke into your house, I was there to return your necklace I swear it” She gave hiave you an empty box,” she said in explanation “Remember when I dropped all those boxes on the floor?”
On his nod, she continued “I also dropped your box I got it mixed up with an empty one By the time I realized it, you had left” She fiddled nervously with her fingernails “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of clumsy”
“No,” Nick cried, feigning disbelief He brought his hand up and rubbed her head where she’d cracked it on the counter “I’d never have guessed that”
Nixie laughed and swatted his hand away “Well, I am, and it tends to etMy boss told me I was pretty much on my last screw up When I switched those boxes, I was so afraid of getting fired You’re an iuy If I would have driven away such an esteemed customer, and if you would have raised a fuss, it would have been bad for business I was too afraid to tell ”
“You risked getting caught and going to prison to save your job? That’s just silly”
Nick’s reasoning made her realize how senseless of an idea her plan had been “I was desperate I also thought you weren’t going to be home”
“You’re lucky I was,” Nick stressed “You’re lucky I found you and not the cops They are far less forgiving”
Nixie blushed “I knoas unwise and had I realized you were home, I never would have…”
“I’ his hand on the back of her neck, he drew her to him for a slow kiss “And I believe you”
Nixie let out a happy sob, her eyes searching his “You do?”
Nick nodded “Yeah” He gave her a crooked grin “That story is too stupid to be a lie”
Nixie gave a cry of delight, co the coave him a passionate kiss “So you don’t hate me?”
“Just the opposite,” Nick said with a goofy smile “I do believe I love you”
They both sat s on the gravel driveway outside drew their gazes to the bedroom
“Are you expecting company?”
“No,” Nixie said in confusion She strained her ears, listening for a greeting fro she heard nextinvaded her ears a moment before the s shattered and bullets sprayed around the rooave a terrified shriek and Nick scrambled out from under her
“Get down! Get down!” Nick yelled
Rolling over, Nixie went to dive off the bed when the handcuffs pulled her forcibly back into place “I can’t!” she cried “Uncuff me! Uncuff me!”
Nick went to reach into his pocket but seemed to realize his pants were halfway across the room directly in the path of the bullets “I don’t have the keys!” He dove toward her, covering her with his body
Nixie buried her face in his shoulder, her heart ha wildly in her chest as a storm of bullets rained down in her apartment
“It’s okay It’s okay” Nick repeated the words over and over as bullets tore through all of her belongings
Nixie could feel his body tense as he waited for a bullet to hit him, yet he still covered her, still protected her It barely lasted a ainst Nick, the gunner finally retreated
The sound of footsteps receded and then they heard a car door sla of tires
Nick didn’t let her go once the car peeled off He continued to hold her, his ar in fear “We’re okay We’re okay”
“Nick,” she said softly, evenly “Get me out of these cuffs”
He juan furimaced “I am so unbelievably sorry If I would have had any idea…”
“Just get me out of here!”
Nick jammed the key into the lock and a second later her hands were free
She fell into his arms the instant she was loose and burst into tears She sobbed, breathing in gulping heaves