Page 13 of Mine This Time

Chapter Twelve

Mari

I sighed as I set down my fork and looked across the table at Nash. “Oh my God. I think I could live off biscuits and gravy.”

Nash’s lips curled in a slow grin, and he winked.

Butterflies took flight in my belly, spinning madly as heat prickled over the surface of my skin.

Nash Reynolds was dangerous. Everything he did felt like a seduction.

To make matters worse, I didn’t think he was purposely trying to seduce me—at least not constantly.

“I know I could,” he drawled before lifting his coffee cup and taking a swallow.

He had called me this morning from his office, announcing day two of my NOLA experience.

This time, he took me to a diner on the outskirts of town.

Gulls called, and a soft breeze gusted off the Gulf waters as we enjoyed breakfast out on the deck of this little diner.

All they served was breakfast, and they closed at noon.

After Nash set his coffee cup down, he added, “I promised you a thorough NOLA experience. Biscuits and gravy are a big part of that.”

“Well. Thank you. I doubt I would have found this place on my own.”

“My pleasure.” He dipped his chin in acknowledgment.

At the word pleasure, my pulse skittered wildly, and I could manage nothing more than a shallow little breath. “Do you need to get back to the office after this?” I asked, grasping for something to talk about, anything to get my mind off of thinking naughty thoughts about Nash.

“I’m yours for the rest of the day, darlin’. I did promise I’d give you the week.”

Oh dear God. Every time he called me darlin’, my toes curled, and my belly flipped. A little thrill also raced through me at the word promise. It was just words that were getting to me now. “Don’t you need to go back to work?”

“That’s the advantage of owning my own company. If I feel like moving things around, so I have time to spend with you and make sure you enjoy New Orleans, then that’s what I’ll do. This week, you’re my priority.”

“Oh.” I snatched my coffee up and took a quick swallow.

Mentally trying to do anything to stop practically panting over Nash, my mind latched onto Brett. Thinking about Brett was sure to pour cold water on anything. “Brett left me a message this morning.”

Nash’s gaze sharpened immediately. “What did he say? Did you call him back?”

“Of course not. I certainly don’t want to talk to him. I wanted to delete it, but considering the weirdness, I thought I should save it. Here.”

I fished my phone out of my purse and tapped my screen to pull up the voicemail before handing it to Nash. He hit the speaker button, and Brett’s message played again. Just the sound of Brett’s voice grated on my nerves.

“I don’t understand why he’s calling. At all. He screwed me over big-time. Whatever. It’s stressing me out that he knows where I’m staying.”

Nash eyed me for a long moment before he nodded, almost as if to himself. “I need to tell you something. I have a friend who’s a private investigator, top-notch. I asked him to do a little digging. Not only did Brett run up every credit card of yours, but he opened four accounts in your name.”

Anger flashed hot inside. “What? Are you kidding me?”

“This is not the kind of thing I would kid about.”

I shook my head and let out a shaky breath. “All right. I’m trying to wrap my brain around the fact you hired someone to dig into this behind my back, but thank you. Is there anything else I should know?”

Nash took a breath and rolled his shoulders.

“Brett also applied for a business loan under your name and put a tracker on your phone. Don’t worry; my friend rerouted it to a burner phone that he carries.

He’ll drop it off every evening with the security guard where you’re staying.

That way, it’ll look like you’re in the building where Brett expects you to be. ”

I felt sick, and my gut churned. I was suddenly hot and cold all over. Oh my God. I immediately pulled up my phone, swiping through the screens to see whatever Brett had put on there.

“You’re not going to see it, Mari.” Nash paused, studying me.

His gaze felt as if it were boring into me, and I didn’t like how vulnerable and unsettled I felt.

“I haven’t spoken to Max about this, but I think we should tell him today.

My buddy’s good at tracking things down because that’s his job.

But your brother has more tools at his disposal. ”

I took a deep breath, letting it out in a gust. “I know, I know.” I took another sip of my coffee. “I’m guessing it wasn’t easy for you to wait to call Max.”

Despite my distress and anxiety around what the hell Brett was doing, warmth curled around my heart at the knowledge that Nash didn’t try to run roughshod over me and let Max know himself. I sensed that holding back wasn’t easy for him.

“Hell no,” Nash said bluntly. He paused, his gaze holding mine for a beat. He appeared to be considering his words carefully. “Of course, I wanted to call him right away. The only reason I didn’t was because I like you.”

“What?”

“Let me put it more directly. I want you. I want a chance with you. And no, it’s not just about how much I want you. I want you. Badly. But I respect you, so I waited to ask you before I called Max.”

“What if I want to call him first?” I retorted, flushing with an acute awareness at just how bluntly Nash told me what he wanted.

Coming off of my shitty not-really-a relationship with Brett and feeling unwanted, I felt betwixt and between with how direct Nash was about his feelings toward me.

I thought all he wanted was sex. I didn’t even know what to think now.

Nash’s eyes took on a gleam. He leaned across the table, resting one elbow on it. He curled his hand around mine where it sat on the table, his thumb brushing lightly across my knuckles and sending little licks of fire chasing over my skin and radiating outward.

“Well, darlin’, then I would tell you to call him right now. Because I’m not waiting any longer.”

I let out a startled laugh. “Now?”

“Yes. Now.” He spun my phone on the table to face me again. “Put him on speaker.”

My heart was drumming a fast beat in my chest, and Nash had me all flustered with the subtle brush of his thumb. I swallowed and looked away, relieved to escape from his probing eyes. Pulling up Max’s number, I tapped to call.

Max answered immediately. “Hey, Mari. What’s the update?”

“Nice to talk to you too, Max. Can we start with how are you?”

My brother didn’t even bother to conceal his sigh. “How are you?”

“Well, I’m kind of freaking out, and you’re on speakerphone. I’m here with Nash.”

“Hey, Max,” Nash chimed in.

“Glad you’re there, Nash. What’s the update?”

I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair, gesturing with my free hand toward Nash. He didn’t let go of my other hand and slightly tightened the curl of his fingers around my palm.

Nash quickly summarized what he had shared with me a moment ago, ending with, “You may have already done this homework yourself. Any updates for us?”

Max’s voice was tight when he spoke. “I chased down the financials, but that’s it. Mari, you need to put a freeze on your credit now.”

“I will. I’ll call as soon as we finish this.”

“I wouldn’t suggest calling. Go back to Nash’s office and do it from there.

Cell phones are notoriously insecure. Thank you for asking your guy to look into this, Nash.

Mari, give us a few more days before you respond to Brett.

I’d like to see if I can suss out why he’s doing this.

He’s not particularly sophisticated, so I’m hoping it’s just for money.

In the meantime, please tell me you’re gonna stay put.

I trust the security at Nash’s building. ”

I glared at the phone. I never appreciated my brother getting all high-handed with me.

My irritation at this moment was layered.

Regardless of my frustration, I felt frightened by what Brett was doing.

He’d gone from being just an asshole who made me feel like a fool to someone who was committing real crimes.

I didn’t want to need anyone’s help, but I did.

“Max, you don’t need to get all bossy about it. I’ll stay put. I don’t like you trying to tell me what to do, but it’s totally unnecessary since safety is more important than my pride. Nash has offered me a place to stay, and even if Brett knows where I am, I feel safe there.”

I looked up and collided with Nash’s waiting gaze. The look there sent my pulse off to the races. He squeezed my hand, and the intensity held in his eyes stole my breath.

I didn’t even hear half of what my brother started to say—but I quite clearly heard the irritation in his tone—and quickly yanked my eyes away from Nash’s gaze to look down at the phone. “What?”

“Did you hear anything I just said?”

“No, the connection got a little staticky,” I lied. When I dared a look at Nash, his lips curled in a sly, knowing grin. I wasn’t about to fess up the connection had been totally fine, unless you counted the static in my brain created entirely by Nash and his sexy eyes.

“I said something to the effect of thank God you’re being sensible,” Max said.

“What Max means is he’s glad you have a place to stay, and he’s sure your visit to New Orleans will be lovely,” Harlow chimed in.

There was a rustling sound, and Harlow laughed. I guessed she’d snatched the phone from Max.

“Mari knows I’m worried about her,” Max said defensively in the background.

“No one likes a lecture, Max,” Harlow countered. “Enjoy your time there, Mari.”

Max’s tone was warmer when his voice returned at full volume. “Okay, apologies for the lecture. I worry about you, and I want you to be safe.”

“I know you do, and I appreciate it. I’m sure we’ll head back to Nash‘s office?—”

“We’re going right now,” Nash interjected.

“And I’ll take care of the credit freeze right away.”

Nash spoke again. “As soon as Brett realizes he can’t use any of those shiny new credit cards, he’ll figure out that Mari knows what’s up.”