Taking Nicole (Vegas Mates Series)(#4) by Krystal Shannan

anything.
    “I’m done getting dressed. Did you pick out shoes, too?”
    Tempe nodded and grabbed a pair of zebra-striped stilettos from the floor next to the vanity.  
    Nicole took the shoes and walked to the door.
    “Aren’t you going to put them on?” Tempe asked, worry lacing her voice.
    “Not till I get downstairs.” She opened the door and glanced up, expecting to see Aaron’s soft brown eyes staring down at her. Instead, blue eyes watched her intently from the face of a guard she’d never seen before.
    “I’m walking you down to breakfast. Aaron said to tell you he’ll be back with you shortly.”
    “Oh.” Nicole nodded and shut the door behind her. “Thank you.”
    She strolled quietly behind the large werewolf shifter. They took the closest elevator to the bottom floor. A smile tugged at her lips each time he glanced at her bare feet and then to the heels hanging from her right hand.
    He paused in front of the dining room doors and glanced once more at her shoes.
    She nodded and slipped on the beautiful, but torturous, heels. Whoever had invented stilettos should be shot, drawn and quartered, resurrected, put back together, and then made to walk around in them for hours.
    “I’m ready.”
    He nodded and pushed open the white lacquered doors, revealing her grandparents at the large table, along with the four suitors from last night.
    What the hell are they doing here?
    “They want you,” her wolf drawled out slowly.
    Shut up.
    Only the delicious scents wafting from the trays of eggs, bacon, and biscuits kept her sharp tongue from sharing her inner thoughts. Food was the way to any shifter’s heart. Apparently that concept was not lost on royals, either. But, again there were no donuts.
    “Maybe Greeks don’t eat donuts.”
    That’s a terrible thought, but I’m beginning to wonder.
    “Ah, Nicole darling. Come sit here next to me,” Carlotta said, gesturing to the empty chair on her right. “So glad you finally made it down. I was worried I’d have to send someone up to help Temperance get you out of bed.”
    Nicole flashed a quick smile at her grandmother and hurried to the chair.
    The four suitors stood until she was seated.  
    “The extra sleep agreed with you, Nicole. You look stunning this morning.” Renaldo’s thick Italian accent was like velvet on her ears.
    “Thank you,” she murmured.
    Of the four men vying for the right to mate her, he would be her choice ... if she had any input. Unfortunately, like her wolf had already pointed out, he was too kind and easygoing to survive in the arena against men like Masterson and the other two who appeared to have trained years for this opportunity.
    “Please forgive me for keeping you waiting. You didn’t have to hold breakfast for me.”
    “We didn’t,” her grandfather’s voice growled from the end of the table.
    “You mean you didn’t, Reginald. You never wait for anyone,” Carlotta spat back.
    Nicole and the four men stared silently, waiting to see if the angry words would escalate further. She was playing a part. If they had been her parents, she would have told them to go finish their fight elsewhere so everyone could eat in peace. But she held her tongue. Again.
    “Do you have plans today, Signorina? We thought you might enjoy a walk down to the coast. Your grandparents own a beautiful stretch of coastline just a half-mile north of the palace,” Renaldo offered.
    “Really?” Surprise got the better of her and her voice held true excitement.
    The four men smiled in unison and nodded, turning to Reginald for approval. Her grandfather waved toward Carlotta and they focused their attention on her instead.
    “Of course. As long as Aaron and Henr ...” Carlotta glanced at the door, realizing her slip. “As long as Aaron and Karl accompany her. She is not to be without her bodyguards at any time.” She glared pointedly at the two men standing next to the dining room doorway.  
    Nicole looked up. She hadn’t even