Read Online Stealing the Billionaire's Heart by Melissa Hosack - Free Book Online Page A

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 make me late for work because I do stupid
things like get my shoe stuck in a parking garage grating. My 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 important guy. 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 my boss, so…so I tried
returning it without anyone knowing.”
    “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 know it was unwise
and had I realized you were home, I never would have…”
    “I’m glad you did,” Nick whispered.
Putting 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,
completely ignoring the comment about how stupid her little adventure had been,
and gave 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 smiling at each other
until the sound of boots crunching on the gravel driveway outside drew their
gazes to the bedroom window.
    “Are you expecting company?”
    “No,” Nixie said in confusion. She
strained her ears, listening for a greeting from the visitor. The thing she
heard next made her blood run cold. The sound of a gun firing invaded her ears
a moment before the windows shattered and bullets sprayed around the room.
Nixie gave 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 hammering 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 minute, but it felt like forever to her. While she
cowered against Nick, the gunner finally retreated.
    The sound of footsteps receded and
then they heard a car door slamming, followed by the squealing of tires.
    Nick didn’t let her go once the car
peeled off. He continued to hold her, his arms shaking in fear. “We’re okay.
We’re okay.”
    “Nick,” she said softly, evenly. “Get
me out of these cuffs.”
    He jumped back. “Of course.” He
rushed over to his pants and began fumbling around for the keys. He rushed back
to her side and grimaced. “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