Jody
My meeting with Ashley went well. Anxious to tell Nash, I rush back to the ballroom in my shimmering evening gown.
He’s standing at the bar, looking dapper in his black fitted suit. Laurie is beside him, batting her eyes and playing with her hair. She touches him on the arm. An instant desire to walk over and push her out of the way breaks inside me.
What’s this all about?
I’ve seen women hit on Nash before. So this is not something new.
He nods at what she’s saying and turns in my direction.
His eyes catch mine.
He smiles. I feel it straight to my toes.
He sets his drink down and heads my way, leaving Laurie behind.
“Hey.” His eyes roam over my body. “How’d it go?”
Unable to contain my happiness, I squeal, “I got it!”
“You did?” His smile widens. “That’s great!” He picks me up and spins me around.
“I can’t believe it. She loved my pitch, and she was impressed with my strategy!”
“I knew you could do it.” He lowers me back to my heels.
I slide against his hard muscular body.
On solid ground, I look up into his dazzling green eyes. “Thanks for everything, Nash.”
“No problem, Walker.”
Walker. He’s back to playing the friend card. I wish I was okay with it.
After this weekend, I’m not sure what I want. It scares me.
I nudge to the bar. “You want to get back to your company?”
His arms remain around my waist. He glances at the bar. “I’m good where I am. Besides, I promised my best friend there’d be no flirting this weekend.”
“I got what I wanted. Your fake boyfriend role is almost done. If you want to go back and talk to her, I’m okay with it.”
He glances over his shoulder at Laurie, then back to me. “She’s pretty, but I’m not interested.”
I laugh. “You think every girl is pretty.”
“That’s because they are.”
“Really, you truly believe that?”
“Yes. It’s your brother’s fault. Why do you think he loved everyone, and he was loved by all? He said if you paid attention long enough, you’d find at least one thing pretty about someone.”
I lower my eyes to his chest. “So, you think I’m pretty.”
“Oh, Walker.” His hands lock behind my lower back. “You’re the exception to the rule.”
“Oh,” I whisper to the floor. I knew it. He’s not into me. Everything he’s made me feel this weekend has been out of friendship.
Still, my heart breaks into a million tiny pieces.
Can’t he find one single thing pretty about me? Not one?
“Yeah.” He places his finger beneath my chin and guides me to look up at him. “When someone’s smile is pretty, when their eyes are pretty, when they open their mouth and pretty shit comes out of it, there’s just way too much pretty.” His head bends until he’s level with my face. “You’re not pretty, Jody.” His eyes move to my mouth, and the finger under my chin pulls me toward him. “You’re beautiful.”
His lips melt into my flesh, and once more, I’m confused, but somehow it all gets lost to the magic of his kiss.
He slowly draws his lips away, keeping them close enough to mine so they’re almost touching.
“Nash?” Hands on his chest, I carefully peer up at him. “What’s happening here?”
His unreadable veiled eyes shine down on me. The vibrant color blinds all meaning and masks any feelings.
His lips tug into a wolfish grin, the kind he gives to other women that makes their toes curl.
“I’m just showing off my boyfriend skills.”
“Well…” I pat his chest and swallow hard. “You’re doing a really good job,” I say between clenched teeth.
His lids lower more. “Thank you.”
The pieces of my heart are now dust and blowing in the wind. I push away from him. “I need a drink.”
He grabs my wrist and yanks me back against his body. “Who’s Trent?”
“What?” My eyes flash to his. How does he know about Trent?
His left eyebrow lifts. “The firefighter?”
I don’t know what’s going on, but the cockiness in his voice and the watchfulness in his eyes warn me that whatever he thinks he knows, he’s not happy about it. “He’s a friend.”
His face hardens. “Like we’re friends?”
I stare at him, unsure what he’s asking. What he’s expecting to hear.
Apparently, whatever he thinks he knows has pissed him off.
I’m done playing the fake boyfriend game. I lift my chin. “Yes.”
“Then why isn’t he here with you?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he should be.”
“Yeah, maybe.” His thin lips morph back into that annoying grin. “But I guess before that happens, you’ll need to dump my ass. Ya know, seeing as everyone at work thinks you belong to me.”
“We can make that happen.” I march off to the bar and down four whiskey sours.
Screw Nash!
Thankfully, the cocky jerk keeps his distance for the next two hours. I flirt with Dillon. Nash watches from across the ballroom while casually sipping on his drink.
He infuriates me!
Laurie joins in on the conversation. Dillon’s eyes pace back and forth to Nash’s until he walks away. Damn Nash. He scared him off!
Laurie glances at Nash. He smiles, raising his glass to her with a wink.
Asshole! If he wants her, I’ll hand her right on over.
“You like him?”
Laurie’s eyes flick over to me. “Who?”
“Nash,” I nudge. “Take him.”
“What? No. I—”
“It’s okay.” I wave a drunk hand. “Our relationship is over. It has been for a while.”
“Really?” She turns to me with slanted eyes. “You two seem perfect together, and the way he looks at you—”
“Ah, it’s all for show.” I pick up my glass, finish the last of it, and order another. “If you want him, go for it.” I nod. “You have my blessing.” I toss a wobbly arm in the air.
Her head tilts as if thinking about it. Can’t blame her. Nash is irresistible to most women. And I know Laurie, she won’t say anything. While she might be hitting on my boyfriend, she keeps to herself at work.
“I just started this job. I’m really not looking to get into any work drama or anything.”
“Well, he’s all yours if you want him.” I press my finger to my lips. “I won’t say anything if you don’t.”
“Let’s go.” Nash grips my arm. I look up and meet his angry eyes.
“Nash.” I laugh at his scowl as the bartender goes to hand me my drink. “Thank yoooouu,” I slur, reaching for it.
Nash swipes it from the guy’s hand and sets it far away from me. “You’re done.” He pulls me up from the stool. “Laurie.” He bids her a farewell nod.
And my coworker scurries away.
“I want to finish my drink.”
“I understand, but I know you, Walker. If you keep drinking, you’ll make an ass out of yourself in front of your friends.”
I lean into him and whisper, “These aren’t my friends.”
“Even more of a reason to call it a night and go to bed.”
“But—”
He latches his arm in mine and moves me toward the exit. I wave to Ashley and smile as we walk by.
“Good night,” she calls after us.
“Nighty-night,” I say in a high pitch, still waving like an ass. All right, perhaps it’s time for me to leave the party.
I let Nash guide me back to the room.
He flicks on the light.
“I was having fun, ya know.” I sneer at him.
I reach for the zipper on my dress with a huff.
It was easier to get it on than off. I drop my shoulders, too drunk to deal. “Can you help me with this?”
Scowl resting comfortably on his stern face, he walks over and unzips me.
“Thanks,” I pull the dress down and step out of it. “Oh.” I put my hand over my mouth, standing in nothing but my skimpy G-string.
Nash’s eyes hit every inch of my mostly naked body. I flush all over, and this time, it’s not from the alcohol.
He doesn’t say anything. My body responds to his quite heated gaze. My boobs swell, and my skin tingles for his touch. I want to feel him against me, his lips brushing over all of me. I want what every other woman has gotten from him.
I want it all.
“Ya know…” I bite my bottom lip. Openly checking out his masculine capable form with my eyes as my feet move toward him. “There’s one boyfriend duty you haven’t yet performed.”
His gaze drops to my boobs. The lines on his forehead deepen.
“I’m not fucking you, Walker.”
The alcohol pulses in my blood and swirls in my illogical brain. “Why not?”
His jaw flinches. “You’re drunk.”
“So?”
He walks to the bed and picks up my pillow.
“Take Mr. Snuggles and go to bed.” He shoves the pillow at me, turns around, and heads for the door. “I’m going back for another drink.”
I squeeze Mr. Snuggles against my chest. Hurt and neglected, I lash out. “Fine! Why don’t you go look for Laurie while you’re at it?”
He looks at me from over his shoulder. His eyes run down my body. “Maybe I will,” he says before the door slams shut behind him.