by C. J. Thomas
“Insecurity is not attractive,” I teased. “And not something I’d expect coming from someone like you.”
The crinkles around his eyes deepened into an amusing squint.
I watched as he slid his tongue over his lips before taking the first step in my direction. He slid over to me, so smooth, like he was skating on ice.
And once again, he had me under his spell.
With each inch he closed from the gap that kept us separated, my confidence eroded away like a riverbank during a flood.
There wasn’t anything I didn’t like about him. His confidence was dominant, and what woman wouldn’t like a man who knew exactly what he wanted? The way he dressed was exceptional. He had fashion and style and wasn’t afraid to accentuate his most desirable features and make them available for the entire world to see.
But I still wasn’t sure I could fully trust him yet.
One more step and I held my breath until he was . . .
Here.
My eyes darted across his face, scurrying through the sexy stubbly shadow that made me swoon.
He was silent as he studied me, looking at me as if it were his first time meeting me.
When his hand reached out to grab mine, I flinched.
He chuckled a low rumble that had my insides set ablaze. Slowly, his heated grip drifted up my arm before taking my face between his hands.
My heart pounded in a low rhythm as I waited anxiously to see where he would take me next. I loved this about him. The way I never knew what he’d do next. It was impossible for me to anticipate his next move, and the excitement of the unknown thrilled me to the core.
He lightly brushed the pads of his fingers over my cheeks, finding a second to touch my temples just before he tugged playfully at my ears.
My eyes hooded over and I swear that he knew something that other men didn’t; could do things to women that other men couldn’t.
I also loved how there was a gentler side to Nash—the side he was showing me now—that I hadn’t ever seen before.
Could that be the first sign of trust? I wanted to believe that it was.
Talk about timing. Because what he was doing to me now—how he was making me melt closer to his imposing body—was nothing short of what I’d consider perfect. He pulled on my heart strings exactly when I needed to know that maybe, just maybe, we could be more than just fuck buddies.
He hooked a finger under my chin and I pressed my face deeper into the palm of his other hand. I didn’t know that my tongue had curled out of my mouth until it landed at the point of my upper lip. My body shivered, sending pleasant waves down to the base of my spine.
He felt my quake, and smiled.
We locked eyes, and I got lost in his dark mysterious abyss, loving how his gaze roamed my face like it was his own.
I held my breath and silently begged him to kiss me.
Kiss me, Nash. Claim my lips like you have so many times before.
He tilted his head to the side and leaned forward.
My eyes hooded over and I tilted my head back, hooking my fingers to the inside of his waistband, pulling him slightly closer to me.
Then, there was contact and my world spun sideways on its axis.
He licked his lips and glided his over mine, kissing me gentle and sweet, as if he knew just how tender my heart really was.
Who was this man who just surprised me, yet again?
“You’re right. I did miss you.” He squeezed my shoulders, adding fuel to the fire he’d started. “But there’s also something I need to know.”
My knees nearly gave out. My gut told me that I’d said too much too soon.
“The money you found.” His voice was a raspy whisper.
My throat constricted and I closed my eyes.
I didn’t want to talk about it.
Didn’t want him to know.
It wasn’t anybody’s business but my own.
But it was my fault that I let the cat slip out of the bag before giving time for the dust to settle.
He peered down at me, a friendly grin curling his lips. “I need to know where you found it.”
His voice was compassionate enough to make me believe that it was safe for me to tell him the truth. But despite that sense of security, I desperately wanted to peel his fingers off me and run away.
“Alex.” He dropped his head closer and I stared at his lips, wanting to shut him up with my tongue. “The money wasn’t yours.”
My breath labored.
“And there are some very bad people who want it back.”
The room closed in on me.
Quickly.
He used his finger, still resting beneath my chin, to bring my gaze up off the floor. “Tell me where you found it.”
This was bad. I knew that I needed to tell Nash everything before things got a whole lot worse. But, again, I struggled to know if I could truly trust him with the information I hadn’t told anyone. Not even Kendra.
I fought to swallow the stone stuck in my throat and words began to croak out of my mouth. “You remember that night—”
And just when I was about to tell him everything, there was a knock on his door.
I was saved by that bitch, Val.
46
Nash
MY CHEST TINGLED as I let out a heavy sigh.
Just when she was about to spill the beans, Val interrupted our conversation, asking if she could have a moment alone. “It’s urgent, Nash.”
I held up a finger to Val and curled my fingers over Alex’s shoulders. “You keep that story fresh in your head,” I whispered close to her ear. “It’s important you tell me the truth. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
She shivered and I smoothed out her gooseflesh as I let her go.
I’d do anything to protect her from the evil that I knew was waiting around the corner.
The more I learned about this missing money, the less I liked what I thought might be lurking in the dark shadows.
And by the way she was looking at me now, with big round doe eyes, I knew she finally grasped the reality of what she’d done.
I found the money.
Everything about it had me concerned for her—from who was involved, to the lies and alibies that didn’t add up. I was afraid for her. She’d unintentionally placed herself in the middle of something much bigger than any one of us would have liked to see.
The blood drained from her face. Alex nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. I knew she was trying to keep it together, maintain a strong poker face, but I knew that real worries plagued her thoughts.
“We’ll talk about this later,” I said.
She nodded and turned on a heel, brushing past Val on her way out.
I ran a quick hand through my hair and waved for Val to come inside.
My heart went out to Alex. She was so innocent and young and vulnerable, and somehow she’d found herself stumbling over a temptation too great to pass up. And who could blame her for taking it? However she came across it, anybody in her situation would have done the same.
Even me.
Val closed the door behind Alex and I watched her departure, wondering to myself, how in the world did she make me care so damn much in such a short amount of time?
There was no denying it. I really fucking cared for her.
And it wasn’t just because I now knew about the money. I could give two shits about the stash of loot.
No, it was because I genuinely liked her.
“Thanks, Nash.” Val was light on her feet.
“What’s up?” I rooted my hands on my hips and my gaze drifted down her body. She was wearing a rain coat that tied at the waist and stopped just above the knee. What the fuck was that about? It was sunny outside.
Her cheeks blushed the color of a pink rose petal.
I’d seen that look on women before and I had a feeling that maybe she was here for something other than strictly professional advice.
There was somet
hing on her mind but she played it cool, refusing to jump right to it. I watched as she tucked her hands away inside the coat pockets and sidestepped to the wall—the same wall of photographs that caught Alex’s attention only minutes ago.
“You know, there’s a lot of talk about who you’re going to give the Assistant Director’s seat to.” She glanced over her shoulder at me.
“I’m sure there is.” I rested my tailbone on the edge of my desk.
“We’re all getting anxious to know more.”
“And I’ll shed more light on the matter when the time is right.” My eyes cast down to her calves. They were smooth enough to catch the light’s reflection.
She turned around briskly and closed the gap between us. “How about now?” She settled the space between her thighs close enough to my knee, I could feel the heat radiating off of her. “Can you tell me?”
She tried to play cute with me, but my gaze was unwavering. I wasn’t going to fold. Not today.
She cast her gaze down to her feet. “You know I’m a hard worker, am intelligent, and am extremely ambitious.” She rocked back and forth on her heels as her eyes sparkled a heated mischief up and over my body. “You know that, right Nash?” She bit her bottom lip.
My hands rested on top of my thigh. “I’ve seen some of that. Yes.”
“So, you think I have what it takes?” Her fingers slowly began to untie her coat’s belt. “Because I do.” She opened the coat to reveal her naked body to me.
My heartrate slowed to a near stop—she was beautifully young.
The way her cheeks heated between feelings of embarrassment and excitement, and how her nipples pointed sharply at me, it was a temptation that needed to be swallowed down quickly before I did something stupid.
“I want the seat, and I’m willing to do anything I have to for you to give it to me.” She straddled my thigh. The heat of her mound was hot against my pants.
I didn’t move. Not even a flinch as my eyed drifted across her exposed body.
She was attractive, and I could see where her confidence came from. She’d taken a ride at this rodeo before, played this same game with other cowboys. There weren’t too many men who could push this cowgirl away, especially with how aggressively she came on to me.
But I could.
Her hand rested on my shoulder as her eyes drowned in their own lust.
And as I sat there admiring her young, tight-skinned body, my mind went back to Alex.
Val was too late.
Alex was the one I wanted. The one body I craved.
And with the situation I knew she was in, I felt a sense of responsibility to make sure nothing bad happened to her before it was too late.
She touched my face.
“This isn’t the way to go about it,” I said.
Her sharp fingernails grazed my chin. “I’d be good to you, Nash.”
“Val,” I clasped my fingers around her wrist and pulled her hand away from my face, “go put some clothes on.”
Her body froze in place as unshed tears filled her eyes.
“Hey,” I reached out and grabbed her. “You’re right.”
She stared straight into my eyes.
“You’re all those things you said you are. And if you keep them up, you might just be able to take that seat you want.”
She nodded and wiped away the tear that streamed down her cheek. “I’m sorry. I just thought that things could be different between us.”
Most women did.
My reputation would make them believe I’d fuck just about anyone. And maybe I would. Maybe I already had.
But today it wasn’t about Val or quick ways to get off. No, today was about securing the money before Wes caught wind of what I now knew to be true.
I stood and tugged Val to the door by her elbow. “Don’t ever do that again.”
47
Alex
NASH DIDN’T WANT anything bad to happen to me.
And I didn’t want anything bad to happen to me, either.
I kept my head down as I moved through the hallways and across the set.
I knew I shouldn’t have taken the money. All the original nightmares that plagued my thoughts in those early days when I’d first found it were now quickly becoming my new reality.
And that fuckin’ scared the shit out of me. Big time.
Just when it seemed like my life was making a turn for the better, this had to happen. I knew it was too good to be true. Nothing in this life came easy. Especially not financial security.
Nash knew I had the money.
Sure, I told him I’d found it, but I didn’t realize he’d actually been listening and taking me seriously enough to dig deeper into the unknown. But, boy was I sure glad he did. If one thing was for certain, it was that I was in way over my head with this one.
I glanced over my shoulder just as I rounded a corner, looking back at Nash’s closed office door. All I could think about was what a bitch Val was.
She had some nerve to imply I was sleeping my way to the top. Especially with Nash only a few feet away. She didn’t give a shit that he might have heard her as I walked by on my way out. She hated me as much as I hated her.
Jesus, I hoped to God he heard her.
My body tensed with anger pulsing through my veins.
She really would do anything to ensure her spot next to Nash, acting as his Assistant Director. It was a position we all wanted, and many of us were willing to work hard to show just how much we wanted it.
But Val was different. She’d do things none of the rest of us would. And that was what really had me thinking.
What could be so urgent that she needed Nash alone, and with the door shut?
Fuck that two-faced bitch.
I picked up my pace, and as soon as I turned my head back around to face front, I hit a brick wall.
Wham!
I stumbled back. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry.” I reached out and offered a steady hand to the intern I’d just nearly knocked to the floor.
Kate looked up at me. “Christ, Alex. Watch where you’re walking.”
“Are you okay?” I helped her regain her balance.
“I’m fine, thanks.” She brushed herself off. “Hey.” She stood on her toes and peered over my shoulder. “You haven’t seen Val, have you?”
“Yeah. She just went into Nash’s office. Why?”
A smile crept across her face. “No fucking way. She actually did it.”
“Did what?” My nerves were raw.
Kate hung her head and covered her mouth with her hand as she continued to roll through controlled chuckles of disbelief. “Nothing.”
“C’mon.” I grabbed her by the shoulder. “What did she do?”
Her eyes sparkled in playful amusement. “All right, you promise not to say anything?”
“Yeah.” My gaze darted across her face. “I promise.”
“Val is totally in love with Nash.” Her face was as animated as her voice when she talked. “You know the rumors that swirl around him and all.”
My ab muscles clenched, preparing for the punch she was about to deliver. I released her shoulder, suddenly feeling extremely weak.
“Well, get this.” She leaned closer to my ear and dropped her voice to a whisper. “She just went in there to uncover the truth for herself.”
She pulled back and must have seen the blank, pale look on my face.
“Alex,” her eyes grew wide, “she’s going to seduce him.”
48
Nash
VAL HAD ME THINKING.
I had to get it out of my system before I continued on with my day.
That ache between my legs only intensified with her placing her naked body so close to me. It took everything I had to not give in and take her on my desk—the way I’d taken Alex—but I couldn’t do it.
At least, not with her.
I wanted Alex. I knew she wasn’t far.
I scurried through the set before I found her working with c
amera. “You free?” My fingers curled around her arm.
“Yeah. I guess.”
“Good.” I began escorting her back to my office.
“Nash, about the money.” Her voice bounced with each step we took.
“Save it for the office.” I picked up the pace.
The heat of her arm against the palm of my hand was almost unbearable. I was pulsing for her and on the edge of explosion. There was so much I needed to tell her but I wasn’t sure that I had the patience to wait before I buried myself inside her.
I reached out for the handle and pressed it open. Alex’s feet slid across the floor as I spun her around and pressed her back up against the door, closing it.
My arms lifted and I took her face inside my hands, brushing my lips against hers. “You’re incredible.” I combed my fingers through her hair, breathing her in. “God damn, you’re incredible.”
Her amazing eyes filled with life as they darted across my face.
“I need you to know that.”
She hooked her leg around my thigh, pulling my aching crotch into her pelvis.
I trailed my fingers lightly over her marbled cheekbones before nipping at her full lips.
Her tongue darted out and moistened them. “So are you.” Her eyes held mine. “But I’m not sure I can believe you.”
My hand slid across her neck before cupping the back of her skull and bringing her closer to me.
I wanted to tell her everything I’d been thinking. Like how amazing she is. How her ideas are pure genius, and how we should team up together and be a power couple in this industry. Because I knew that if we teamed up together, we’d create something special. But admitting the truth of what hid inside my mind came with a cost.
A cost I couldn’t afford to lose—my reputation.
So I kept my thoughts and feelings to myself and said, “You have competition.”
Her eyes closed as she sighed heavily. “Val.”
I rested my forehead against hers and nodded, my ego getting the best of me.
“Did you do it?”
I leaned back and furrowed my brow.
“She wanted to seduce you. That’s why she was in your office.” She shifted her weight off me and put more of it on her back against the door. “Someone told me that’s what she was doing in your office.”
