Down to You (The Bad Boys #1)(20)
Author: M. Leighton

Nash sticks with polite chit chat on the way back, which is fine. I don’t have to think too much to participate. I can just…be. And bask. And fantasize.

I can easily imagine what it would be like to be heading home from a date with Nash. A real date. If he were mine. To have such as dashing, successful man at my side, one who turns me to mush with a look and sets me on fire with a touch. Nash is like the best of both worlds. But unfortunately, he belongs to a world I don’t fit into.

But Marissa does.

“So how do you like working for my brother?”

Cash.

Just the thought of him, of his name, causes my stomach to twitch with excitement. The look he gave me as he bent his head to take the lime slice from between my lips was nothing short of predatory. Spending virtually any amount of time with a guy like that would be the ride of a lifetime. But then he’d leave me brokenhearted.

They always do.

“I gather by your silence that it didn’t go well. Do I need to extend my apologies on my brother’s behalf, too?”

I’m ashamed of myself for thinking of Cash when his equally gorgeous, equally hot twin is sitting in the seat beside me. And he was just kissing me in ways that Cash didn’t, yet I still think of Cash and get all gooey.

Ohmigod, you are a head case! A whore and a head case!

“Olivia?”

I jerk back to the present. “Oh God, no! It went fine. I’m so sorry. I was thinking about work actually. I have a shift on Wednesday.”

“So you’re enjoying it? And he was…all right to work with?”

There’s something about his tone…

“Why do you ask? Did you expect that he might not be?”

Nash shrugs. “No. Not really.”

“Not really?”

“Well…”

“Well what?”

“Cash is sort of a…a…”

“If it’s got someone as eloquent as you at a loss for words, I can only imagine what it says about him.”

“No, it’s not like that. It’s just that I figured Cash would like you.”

“Well, I’m glad he did. It’s going to save me a lot of time and gas money.”

Nash tosses me a look of exasperation. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

“What did you mean then?”

“Olivia, you’re beautiful, smart, funny. Any man would want you. And my brother is no different. He’s just a little more…aggressive about what he wants. I didn’t want him to run you off.”

I think back to my banter with Cash about sexual harassment. I don’t doubt he pushes the boundaries, but never once did I get the impression he might force himself on me or make unwanted advances. I just hope to God he doesn’t know that his advances aren’t unwanted. I just wish they were.

“Well, you don’t need to worry about Cash. He was a perfect gentleman and I have no reason to believe that might change. I work for him. He’ll respect that.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Nash look at me like I’m crazy. I ignore him.

Our conversation is cut short when we pull into the lot outside the apartment I share with Marissa. I feel a sigh lurking in my chest. I know Nash won’t come in. Because I won’t ask him. And that’s for the best.

It just happens to suck.

As I suspect, he puts the car in park, but leaves the motor running.

It’s for the best. It’s for the best.

“Thank you,” I say, meeting his dark, fathomless eyes. They look like points of onyx in the glow of the dashboard lights. “I had a really good time.”

His laugh is a disbelieving bark. “No you didn’t.”

I smile. “Okay, I had mostly a really good time. Thank you for bringing me. And I really hope—”

“Ah ah ah,” he begins, cutting me off. “Not another word. None of what happened was your fault. I should’ve expected nothing less from a bunch of vapid trophy wives. Not your fault at all.”

I can’t help but think it’s funny he uses two of the same adjectives I used for them earlier. Great minds…

“Well, the night would’ve turned out much differently if Marissa had been able to go with you. She’d have known exactly what to wear and…” I trail off, for the first time realizing that I’ve been sabotaged. There is no doubt in my mind that Marissa knew exactly what would happen if I turned up dressed like I am.

“And what?” Nash prompts.

I look over at him. He deserves so much better. So much more. I just wish I could give it to him. But I’d be career suicide for a guy like him.

“Oh, uh, just that she’s much better suited to that kind of thing, that kind of crowd. I’m just a country girl.”

Nash leans forward and cups my cheek with his hand. He cocks his head slightly as he considers me. “Don’t do that. Don’t ever make it out like you’re less. Because you’d be gravely mistaken.”

He looks straight into my eyes, as though he wants me to see the truth of his words, as if he wants me to see his sincerity. And I do. It’s there. It just doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t change that he’s with Marissa.

He’s not that kind of guy. And I’m not that kind of girl.

“I appreciate that, Nash.” I know I need to go. No matter how much I want him to kiss me again, no matter how much I want him to come to my room with me and finish what we started, I know I can’t. I shouldn’t. I won’t. And neither will he.

But if he did…

I speak right over top of that thought. There’s no point in going there, because he won’t.

“Goodnight, Nash.”

His lips twist into a wry smile. I wonder what he was expecting. “Good night, beautiful Olivia.”

Walking away from the car, away from Nash when there might be some small chance he would come with me, is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

It’s not until the next morning I even remember Nash told me his father was in prison for murder. That’s pretty bad when my hormones can block out a homicide.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN – Cash

I’ve never really found it hard to stay away from a chick before. Hell, I’ve never had reason to try. But this time I do. There’s something different about Olivia. I want her in my bed. Like, now. But she’s…I don’t know. I get the feeling she requires a gentler, more careful touch. She’s a challenge.

And damn, if I don’t love a challenge!