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As she and Nash jumped apart and whirled to face the blonde—a friend of a friend she barely knew—the woman heaved and unloaded her booze-laden stomach into the unsuspecting soil two feet from them.

Talk about a mood killer.

But maybe that was a good thing. Now that Nash wasn’t touching her, she could breathe again. And think.

She didn’t dare succumb to a player like Nash. He’d probably thrash her heart until it felt like he’d shoved it through a meat grinder.

Nope. No thanks. She was too smart for that.

She just had to remind her libido of that.

The aching parts of her protested, but she did her best to squelch the throbbing between her legs and pretend that Nash’s kiss and his wandering thumb didn’t have her so needy she was ready to scream.

Maneuvering around the upchucking party guest, she distanced herself from Nash. “I’ll find her boyfriend so he can take care of her.”

He frowned. “After that, you’ll come with me?”

Even with someone retching and moaning between them, she was still tempted. That was scary as hell—and her reminder of all the reasons she’d been avoiding him in the first place. He was like every other guy she’d been involved with. He’d hit it and quit it. While casual sex could be fun and she wasn’t looking for forever, she didn’t like being treated as if she was disposable.

“Actually, I think I’m partied out. See you around, hotshot.”

Before he could talk her out of it or—god forbid—touch her again and make her lose her head, she dashed off, whispered a quick word to the upchucker’s boyfriend, then hauled ass to her car.

That night, sleep was a long time coming, and erotic dreams of Nash plagued her.

Back in the present, her feelings were every bit as stirred up. Haisley turned off the lights with a sigh, worried as hell she was doomed to repeat their dangerous cycle now that she had returned to town.

CHAPTER FOUR

Present Day

To let his buzz wear off and his desire cool, Nash hung out at Highrise with Trees, Laila, Zy, Tessa, Ethan, and Kane as the New Year’s Eve festivities wound down. Drinks flowed as readily as the laughter while everyone enjoyed the party vibe, swapping stories and finishing their drinks.

Nash wasn’t in the mood for any of it. His thoughts kept wandering to Haisley and the searing kiss they’d shared.

How the hell could he get through to her? Coax her into talking to him again? Find out what the hell went wrong between them?

Despite two years apart, their chemistry remained an undeniable force. No doubt about that. Two hours after their blazing kiss, Nash’s body still thrummed with insistent need, the echo of Haisley’s soft whimpers and the taste of her ripe berry lip gloss lingering on his tongue. No amount of booze or pretty, two-legged distractions could possibly dull the fever she ignited in him.

Was Haisley lying awake right now, too, replaying the feel of his hands skimming her curves? Remembering how perfectly they’d fit together?

Shortly after midnight, the crowd started thinning. Ghost and Trevor split for someplace less hip. Melancholy Charli called it a night a few minutes after Haisley’s abrupt exit. Something was up with that girl…

Trees and Laila headed for home around one to relieve their sitter. The rest of the happily married crew followed suit over the next twenty minutes.

Once Matt and Madison left, Gracelyn, Haisley’s perky brunette gal-pal, gravitated to his table and started a surprising flirtation with Kane. The team’s lone wolf eye-fucked her hard in return.

With an inward grin, Nash watched the sparks flare between the two. Kane deserved someone warm and bubbly like Gracelyn to counterbalance his stoic nature…but did she know what she was getting into? Nash had heard whispers about Kane’s proclivities, and they were all filthy. Then again, maybe under her good-girl exterior, Gracelyn liked it down and dirty. He certainly wasn’t one to judge.

About quarter till two, Ethan left arm-in-arm with a barely legal college girl he intended to sex up for the night, Kane hit the can, and Nash found himself alone with Gracelyn, who’d looked a bit tipsy. If Madison wasn’t going to talk…would one of Haisley’s other friends?

Maybe he should feel guilty for taking advantage of her inebriated state. But his need to gather intel on Haisley outweighed any qualms.

“Having a good time?”

She smiled, her eyes slightly glassy. “Yeah, I don’t usually let loose like this, but it’s been great catching up with everyone. So…what do you know about Kane? I can’t believe we’ve never met. He seems like a solid guy.”

Wow, she didn’t waste any time. Good. He couldn’t afford to, either.