Page 75 of Nails

Nails rubbed the back of his neck, looking like he didn’t want to answer her.But then a little smirk formed on his lips.“Yeah.”

She groaned as she covered her eyes with her hands.She then peeked at him from between her fingers.“Did anything happen between us?I mean…did we…?”she asked cautiously.

Nails gave her a sympathetic smile and shook his head.“No.I’d never take advantage of you.Not even if you begged and promised me free beer for life.”

A small smile tugged at her lips.

“Thanks for not being creepy.”

He reached and brushed her hair behind her ear.“I won’t lie, though.That was probably the hardest night of my entire life.”

“You mean because I was—”

“Trying to undress me in public.Moaning about how I smelled so good.”He smirked, but his eyes were full of something deeper.“I never thought the first night I’d spend in bed with you would involve me fending you off like you were a horny koala.”

Riley shook her head.She could feel her cheeks burning.She rolled her eyes and swatted his chest lightly.

“You’re impossible.”

“And you were insatiable.”

She dragged the blanket over her face.“Okay, just stop!”

Nails laughed, but there was a tenderness in it.He reached over and gently tugged the blanket down just enough to see her eyes.

“You scared the hell out of me,” he told her.

The warmth in his voice sobered her instantly.She looked up at him, and the guilt crept in despite knowing none of it was her fault.But then reality hit her.

She sat up a bit and looked at Nails.“If you hadn’t been there…”

Nails shook his head.“Don’t,” he said, cutting her off gently, but firmly.“Let’s not go there.I was there, and I took care of you.”He paused for a moment, appearing to struggle with what he wanted to say.Then he placed his palm against her cheek.“I promise that I’m going to find out who did this to you.”

She reached for his hand and squeezed it.“Just don’t do anything stupid to jeopardize the mission.”

“I won’t.But I promise that whoever did this won’t get away with it.”

She didn’t know what to say to that.So, instead, she lifted up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

“Thank you, Nails.”

And for once, he didn’t smirk.He just nodded, like he’d do it a thousand times over if she needed him to.

He leaned over and pressed his lips against her forehead.“No thanks needed.Now, how about some breakfast?”

She smiled.“Food and coffee sound good.”

As soon as Nails opened the bedroom door, the smell of coffee and bacon hit him.

He followed Riley down the hall, where they found the team sitting around.Bear was leaning against the kitchen counter, sipping his coffee.Playboy was standing at the stove, flipping something in the pan.Snow and Aussie were sitting on the couch, looking at something on the laptop, while Duke, Joker, and Jay Bird all sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and talking.

Riley gave them a sheepish wave.“Good morning.”

Bear looked up and smiled.“Morning.You guys hungry?”

“Starving,” Nails replied as Riley nodded beside him.

Duke set his phone down and glanced at Riley.“How are you feeling?”