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“Yes. She looks as surprised to see you as you are that she is here,” his sister-in-law added in her lightly accented lilt.

“Wait. You’re talking about some ex of yours?” Lissa stomped her little stiletto. “Seriously?”

“Yes.” The only one of his exes he gave a shit about, in fact. Haisley had always mattered—even when he’d told himself she didn’t. Despite two long years apart, he couldn’t deny that anymore.

Hands on hips, Lissa gaped at him. “You asked me to spend New Year’s Eve with you. I didn’t turn down three other invitations so you could gawk at someone you used to fuck. It’s her or me.”

It probably wasn’t smart, but Nash didn’t hesitate. “Her.”

In fact, he didn’t care if he ever saw Lissa Hollister again. Honestly, he couldn’t figure out what the fuss was about. Sex with her hadn’t been that great.

His date’s jaw dropped as indignation spread across her face. “Unbelievable. Don’t ever call me again, asshole.”

“Don’t worry,” he muttered as she spun away and stomped for the door. “Zero chance of that.”

Trees both winced and laughed. “That’s one way to lose a date. Now you’ll have to find someone else to kiss when the clock strikes midnight.”

Laila glanced at her phone. “You have less than twenty minutes to accomplish that.”

Normally, he wouldn’t need even half that much time. But he didn’t want anyone except Haisley. And that woman was as unpredictable as she was sexy. She tied his balls in knots and twisted up his heart. Always had.

“Working on it. You two lovebirds find a table.”

Trees snorted. “I doubt that’s possible, but we can take a hint. Besides, Zy and Tessa should be here soon, so we’ll keep an eye out for them.”

Absently, Nash nodded, his thoughts already fixed on Haisley. If she was here with Charli and Gracelyn, her lifelong bestie, Madison Montgomery, wouldn’t be far behind. Which meant her husband Matt, another of his coworkers, would be here, too. Nash figured that his housemate, Ethan Garrison, would probably follow, since he was always up for a party.

So everyone would be around to witness this eventful reunion…where he’d probably crash and burn. Fucking fantastic.

Nash could still feel Haisley’s stare on him, so he let out a breath and slowly turned. Instantly, he clapped his gaze onto her. Their stares locked. Jesus, he couldn’t fucking breathe.

Damn it, why did she have to look more beautiful than ever?

Suddenly, someone clapped him on the back. He whipped around with a scowl, wondering how anyone had managed to sneak up on him. But he knew. Haisley still knocked him off balance.

Nash smoothed out once he saw the interloper. “Hey, Kane. You came, huh?”

He was surprised EM Security’s loner had joined them for tonight’s bash…but not enough to keep his stare off Haisley.

“Yeah. Thought I’d…” Kane’s dark gaze followed his as he fell silent. “Never mind. I see your brother. I’ll leave you to her. Good luck.”

“Thanks,” he said absently, not even blinking as he visually devoured Haisley.

Her hair was longer, fiery curls now flirting with her elbows. He’d always loved wrapping his fists around her tresses when he’d bound her to his bed and thrust deep like he owned her. Her mesmerizing blue eyes—a blend of Caribbean Sea and pure, cloudless sky—were stunning when they went wide with orgasm.

The longer their stares fused, the more color drained from her cheeks. And those plump lips he missed under his or wrapped around his greedy cock were parted softly as she gaped. Her strapless black sheath hugged every one of the curves he’d memorized and ended high on her thigh, showing off the gorgeous legs he’d loved having wrapped around him.

Could he lose his damn mind just looking at her? He sure as fuck felt in danger. He needed to touch her again. It wasn’t a desire or an impulse but a primal, biological imperative.

She licked her glossy lips and dropped her gaze—guiltily?—before focusing on Gracelyn, who whispered something in her ear. Then, with a nod, Haisley spun around and headed to the bar with her girls.

That was it? No hello. No conversation. No…nothing except a wordless dismissal.

Nash let out a rough breath. Anger ignited. If that woman thought she could sweep their unfinished business under the rug, she was fucking mistaken. She might not have anything to say, but he sure as hell did.

As soon as he collected his thoughts.

Matt and Madison walked into the packed nightclub moments later, their hands raised in greeting. Nash waved back, not surprised to see Ethan in tow. Ghost and Trevor had come, too? Great… Nothing like rubbing elbows with his fellow operatives while he tried not to look like an idiot over Haisley’s shocking return.