Page 26 of Mine This Time

Chapter Twenty-Three

Nash

“Okay, so you’re bringing Brett in this afternoon?” I asked.

“Yep. We already have his location. Considering that he’s on the run from far less savory characters than the New Orleans police, my guess is he’ll come in without any incident,” the detective said on the phone.

“Any suggestions on how to handle the situation with the loan shark?”

The detective’s laugh was dry. “Look, we have plenty of investigations going on with gangs in the area. It’s constant.

In your case, I can’t tell you what to do.

I can tell you they usually don’t play dirty with people who work on the right side of the law.

You have enough sway in this town that I don’t think you’re gonna need to worry about trouble if you decide to pay them off.

They dabble in real estate and prefer not to make enemies. ”

“All right then. I’ll think on it.”

I hung up the phone just as my cell phone screen lit up. Greg was texting to let me know Mari had just entered the building.

An immense sense of relief rolled over my shoulders. When she’d called earlier, I’d almost flipped out and insisted I go out there myself. However, I knew perfectly well Greg was a good fifteen minutes closer than I was because he’d already been out running an errand.

I could acknowledge to myself that I wanted more with Mari. Yet, I was still rattled by the depth of my reaction to her and wrestling with how to handle it.

Moments later, there was a light knock on my door, and then Greg was gesturing Mari into my office. I didn’t have to stand when she entered because I was already pacing in front of the windows.

When I met her eyes, I sensed something was off. I was across the room and in front of her almost instantly. “Are you okay?” I asked as I instinctively reached for her.

Mari took a step back, crossing her arms tightly in front of her chest. “I’m fine.” She stared at me for a moment, two pink spots cresting on her cheeks. Her eyes were weary and unquestionably guarded.

“What’s wrong?”

“Other than the fact that apparently I have someone following me? What the hell do you think is wrong?” she snapped.

While her words were accurate, I knew there was something she wasn’t telling me. “What is it? There’s something else.”

Mari turned away, striding to the windows to stare out into the street, her arms still wrapped in front of her like a shield.

“Unlike you, I suppose I’ll tell you everything. I’m frustrated because I called Max while I was waiting when you said you were calling the police. It sounds like you’re keeping him more informed than me.”

Fuck.

“Mari, I didn’t want you to get any more stressed than necessary.”

I reached her side just as she spun around. “Do you realize how stupid I feel when I learn my own brother knows more than me about what’s happening?”

“Mari, if it wasn’t?—”

She cut in. “Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on between us. I already let things go too far. At this point, I’m relatively sure that while it feels like we have more going for us, I’m obviously mistaken.”

When my pulse kicked up this time, it wasn’t for the usual reasons when I was in proximity to Mari. A sense of unease slithered through my veins at the distance Mari was putting between us and the admittedly annoyed look in her eyes.

“Mari, I wasn’t keeping anything from you.”

“Okay. How come Max knew more than me about the status of the police investigation?”

I mentally berated myself. The truth was I had glossed over the details with Mari, but my intentions had been good, if misguided.

I didn’t want her to worry anymore than she already was.

“I just gave you the broad strokes. But you’re right, I was more detailed with Max.

Not because I was trying to cut you out, but because he’s been coordinating with us on the online side of things. ”

Mari turned away from me again and walked to the windows. Her shoulders were stiff, and I wanted to turn her around and pull her into my arms. Somehow, I knew that was not the right move, not at this moment.

“What are we doing, Nash?”

When she turned and held my gaze, her blue eyes steely and uncertain at the same time, I knew I needed to say precisely the right thing. There was only one glaring problem—I didn’t know what that was because this thing between us had caught me in its current just as rapidly as her.

“Mari, I didn’t even expect to meet you. Let’s just?—.”

Vulnerability flickered in her eyes as she lifted her chin and pushed her shoulders back, visibly battening down the hatches around her. She took a shuddering breath, her eyes softening as she looked at me.

“You’ve been nothing but gracious, welcoming, and beyond helpful.

There’s no way I can ever really thank you for everything you’ve done after I unexpectedly showed up at your office.

But I am coming out of a disastrous relationship.

Sure, we’ve gotten much closer than I expected in the last few weeks, but still.

My judgment leaves more than a little to be desired.

I think it’s best if I go stay with Max and Harlow right now. ”

The only way I could describe the emotion drafting through me and settling like icy cold air around my heart was fear.

All of this—Mari, the way I met her, the depth of our passion, and everything tinged by the cold, dark, danger left in the wake of her ex—had me off balance.

I felt as if I were on a boat during a stormy day and trying to catch my footing with waves rocking me and wind whipping relentlessly.

“Mari—” I began, starting to feel like I couldn’t ever get more than a few words out when she cut me off.

She shook her head slowly. “Nash, I need some time. Within a matter of weeks, my life has been turned upside down. You have my number. I’ll call you when I get to Max’s.”

She began to turn and walk out of my office, but I caught her lightly by the elbow. “Please stay.”

“Nash, what do you want?”

“Time,” I heard myself saying, realizing the minute that single word passed through my lips that it fell far short of her question.