“I know.” He reaches for his phone, but I accidentally flip it to the next picture and stare. Shock fills me from head to toe and I drop the phone on the floor.
Nick sits up quickly, worry flashing through his eyes. “I’m not a stalker, Sky. I just saw your work when I was getting my degree and fell in love with it. I guess when I met the legend and got shunned it hurt a little, so it lessened the sting when you were assigned as my target.” He lowers his eyes like he can’t stand what he’s done.
A Ferro was infatuated with my work? I lift his phone from the floor. “May I?’
Nick swallows hard and nods before getting off the bed and heading toward the window. He slips his hands into his pockets and looks outside at the blue sky and setting sun. Sophie is probably walking down the aisle right now. I push the thought away and take a deep breath. I flip to the next picture, it’s another piece of my work. I flip from image to image, finding a spattering of work from other artists—most of whom are long dead.
My throat is tight, but I manage to say it, “I didn’t give you a folder because I liked you too much. I didn’t know who you were, but I knew I couldn’t be in the same room with you and not…” I stop suddenly, unable to finish. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to him that day. People fall in love with the art, and hope the artist isn’t a jackass. I seemed cruel to him, dismissive. The corner of my mouth pulls up into a half smile as Nick turns around.
His eyes widen and lock on mine. I can’t breathe. Someone stole all the air from the room and I’m going to die. “Finish your story.”
“You finish yours.” My voice shakes as I speak, but the tremor is spreading.
Nick holds my gaze and steps toward me. With each step, he tells me a little bit more. “I idolized you. I watched your Facebook page and Twitter accounts. You appeared funny and smart, kind and talented. When you tossed me out without a second look,” he works his jaw and finally says, “I took it as a challenge. I copied everything you did because it obviously annoyed you and, well, because it was brilliant. Every client I stole gave me satisfaction, because I thought you were the fake. I was all too happy to rip your business to shreds, idol or not. My father applauded me. He didn’t think I had it in me, but I did—and he knows this wedding is your final straw.”
Nick is standing in front of me, a step away like there’s an invisible barrier between us. He takes a deep breath and asks, “Why’d you throw me out? You couldn’t be in the same room with me and not…what?” Fear drips down my spine like ice. I stare at him, wide-eyed, wanting to run, but Sophie glued us in this room. I look everywhere but at Nick, until he kneels in front of me and touches my cheek lightly, repositioning my gaze until I look him in the eyes. “Tell me. Please.”
My jaw hangs open, flapping and gasping. I want to crawl both away from him and toward him at the same time. I’m an emotional mess, overstressed, and this is too much. He’s been trying to destroy my business all this time because he thought I hated him. My God. My voice is a whisper, “I knew I couldn’t be in the same room with you without touching you. I was attracted to you. A lot. So, I threw you out. I couldn’t shoot the wedding of the only guy I’ve ever met whose mere presence made my pulse race like that. It was a bad idea. In the first three seconds you were in my shop I was enamored with you, and the more you spoke, the more I liked you. I had to throw you out. I had to."
“You liked me?” Nick’s voice is soft, surprised. He blinks those dark lashes and watches me like this can’t be happening.
But it is. I nod once and the gentle caress of his hand on the side of my face nearly undoes me. I’ve liked him so much, for so long, that this kills me. “If you don’t destroy me, what happens?”
“I have no job and get cut off from the family.”
“So, being stuck here with me now means that you’re…” Oh my God. I can’t say it.
So Nick does. “I’m ruined. Disowned. Pick one. My family doesn’t accept me the way I am, but you did—even though I wore ratty clothes and was covered in dirt. Skylar.” When he says my name, my skin prickles and my head feels light. He’s so close he could kiss me, but he doesn’t. Instead, Nick kneels at my feet like I’m some sort of goddess and touches my cheek.
“We have to get you down there.” I start to move, but his other hand comes up.
Nick cups my face. “I’m not leaving this room.”
CHAPTER 28