Stay

Hope’s face brightened, and then she frowned. “Mrs. Brookes is older. Conservative.”

Mia pulled the packing slip out of the box and dialed the jeweler. She lowered her voice. “This is Mrs. Brookes calling to check on a delivery from my boss, Mr. Niko Ariastassios.” Mia swung the charm between her thumb and index finger. The heavy gold chain pinched her skin as it wrapped around her finger, and the charm thumped into the back of her hand when it ran out of room to wind.

Hope waved for Mia to hang up.

Mia ignored her. “Good, I’m glad it was signed for. And did you follow my instructions for the piece?” Mia paused to hear the clerk gush about the priceless piece. “Yes, yes indeed, the most expensive one in the shop. Thanks.” Mia hung up, her lips twitching. “How generous.”

“I would never wear that, ever.”

“It’s funny if you think about it.” The charm performed a spinning unwind, releasing the blood flow back to the tip of her finger. “We can hang it on the Christmas tree next to the Virgin Mary and the donkey.”

Hope almost smiled, but her gaze was glued to the gaudy over-sized letter. If it were several inches smaller, it would be cute, but the designer who’d made this didn’t know when to say when. Mia cupped the charm in her palm, concealing the sparkles. Once hidden, its spell was broken, and Hope glanced back at her easel. There were two sure ways to distract Hope. One was Niko, the current cause of her distress, and the other was her work. “What is that?” Mia tilted her head at the circular yellow blob on the canvas. “Nice summer shade. Is it a landscape?”

“Thanks. It’s the sun when you’re looking up at it while laying on the beach.” Hope picked up a brush and resumed painting, pulling streaks throughout the blob, turning it into something bright and beautiful with form.

The front doorbell chimed again.

Niko stood in the doorway like he owned it. Hella handsome, though. His gaze was focused on Hope. Dude had such a thing for her sister. Dude should’ve picked out a gift for her himself.

Mia smirked. “Speak of the devil. What’s up?”

Niko waved and strode directly to Hope. She was like his gravity, though their appearances were opposites. He and his conservative suit. Hope and her casual artist jeans and flowing shirt with a smock over it.

Niko touched the paintbrush in Hope’s blond hair, which was a few shades paler than Mia’s own. Then he kissed Hope’s cheek until he’d distracted her enough from the painting that she turned and gave him her attention. “Anything special arrive today?” He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. His Greek accent was slight, though he was totally from Greece. He’d come here for grad school and stayed.

Hope pulled away and dropped her gaze.

Mia threw on the heavy necklace and turned back to her history homework. What’s going on in ancient Rome? Evidently, it was not all like that gladiator movie. She flagged a paragraph. When Hope moved in with Niko, which she totally would, that would make Hope’s loft essentially hers and devoid of adult supervision. Party at my house. Toga. Toga.

“Show me,” Niko demanded. His slight Greek accent deepened.

Mia snickered. Turning slowly to create anticipation, she held out the necklace in one hand and til

ted it to catch the light. With the other hand, she made what she imagined was an urban gang sign. “What’s up?”

Niko’s mouth dropped open a little, then he shook his head. “No.” He quickly turned back to Hope. “I didn’t choose that. I’ll replace it.”

It was that bad.

“Don’t bother,” Hope said, still looking down.

Call him on his crap, Hope. Tell him the truth. You’d have been happier with a free pink azalea picked off the front bushes. If he’d picked it himself.

“I will replace it.”

“Mrs. Brookes has enough to do,” Hope said.

“It’s hideous.” His voice expressed the distaste of those used to finer things. “Stop playing with it, Mia. Put it away.”

No way. Tell him, Hope. The words poked to escape her, but she held them in. She could show restraint when she had to. Mom was so wrong about that.

“It’s not like, it’s just that… I don’t want a gift from Mrs. Brookes.” Hope bit her lip as if telling the uncomfortable truth had been painful.

There. Finally.

Niko took her in his arms and murmured in Greek. He’d taught Mia a few words, but none he was sharing with Hope. Probably for the best, because mushy love talk was not her thing. Drama over. Mia turned back to her homework. Hope would never punish Niko, even when he deserved it.

Niko left before she reached the end of her chapter.