Staccato (Magnum Opus #2) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,109

long as you need, of course. We did not have the intention of disrupting your entire life, but the email stated you were looking for a change in career.”

Nik opened his mouth to correct him until he remembered he no longer had a career. He’d been ousted from what he’d thought was a solid position by some small-town upstart who felt like royalty in their city. He licked his lips. “Can I have some time to think about it?”

“Certo che sì. Perhaps we can talk again in two weeks?”

He clearly thought highly of Nik’s abilities—probably too highly. But, what did Nik have now beyond time to compose? “I think I can make that work,” he said. He felt Adam stiffen beside him, and he was ripped violently into the present, into his problem of being madly in love with a man who was trying to set down roots.

“How long would I be in Rome?” he chanced.

Alessio hummed. “Forever, if you like it there, but three years, at the minimum.” And Nik sucked in his breath. “No need to worry about your visa, of course. We handle all of that. You’ll be under my employ, and you won’t worry about housing.”

“What’s…” he started, but his voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “What’s the ideal timeline?”

“For me, a lifetime,” Alessio said with another delighted laugh. “We need one year to finish the composition, to perfect it, to find our stage players. Six months to bring it to first curtain. If it is anything like Nicolas’ compositions, we will want to tour at least London, Paris, and several cities here. And any adaptations to symphony you are to conduct—if you choose it.”

Once upon a time, he had dreamt of this moment. Once upon a time, he would have given nearly anything to have this all laid at his feet like it was something he deserved—had earned. And now he was facing giving it all up for Adam and this small town. His heart felt like it was twisting around himself, the pain so great that for a second, he thought it could kill him.

Then, Adam’s hand drifted to the back of his neck and pressed gentle fingers there. “It sounds amazing.”

Nik’s entire body went lax. “It does. I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything just yet.” He heard Alessio slap his palms on his thighs, and then the motion as he and his companion both stood, so Nik followed and offered his hand out. Alessio’s palm was just as warm as the first time, just as firm as it held tight, like he wanted to be there. “Give yourself time to think. This is a big thing I’m asking you to do. It isn’t easy.”

Nik bit his lip, then asked, “Have you made this offer to anyone else? To just leave and go with you to do all this?”

“Once before.”

Nik swallowed thickly. “And…what did they say?”

“He said yes. And then he agreed to stay with me forever,” Alessio said, and let out the sigh of a man who was madly in love. “You’ll meet him soon.”

Nik said nothing else as he showed them to the door, and when they were gone, he turned and sagged against the wood. He had dealt with his life being turned upside down—he had dealt with the death of both parents, of falling in love and nearly losing it. He had dealt with his first career fizzling down to nothing and his second ripped out from under him.

But he had never expected this.

“Nik?” Adam was a few paces away, and for the first time since they’d met, Nik couldn’t get a read on his tone.

“I can’t believe he did that. I can’t believe Van would…”

“I can.” Adam sighed and his footsteps came closer—closer, until he was wrapping a warm hand around Nik’s wrist. He didn’t pull him away, but he leaned in to give him the support Nik was so desperately craving. “He tracked me down one day when I was having lunch with Evie.”

“Who tracked you down?” Nik demanded.

“Your brother.” Adam huffed a small laugh and squeezed his fingers a little tighter before letting go. “He gave me the shovel-talk, told me you deserved better and that I shouldn’t stand in your way. I didn’t think I was.”

“You aren’t,” Nik said, desperation filling his tone. He lifted his hands to reach for Adam, but Adam stepped away, and Nik’s fingers curled in on themselves. “Adam…”

“He warned me. I think he was saying he’d done this