With a heavy sigh, I swallow my pride and make the drive to the address he gave me.
When I pull into the parking lot, Nathan’s leaning on the side of the building. His dark hair falls into his eyes, making his chiseled face seem less imposing. He’s still wearing the jeans and T-shirt he had on at lunch. By comparison, my form fitting red dress and heels are overly formal and completely ridiculous. I pull to a stop beside his car and he pushes off the wall, looking mildly apologetic as he opens my door.
“The afternoon took an unscheduled detour.” He clears his throat and laughs humorlessly, almost daring me to challenge him as I stand, and he closes the door.
Laughing to myself, I pinch the bridge of my nose and stare at my feet. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m really sorry. I know this puts us in a difficult situation, but this afternoon was important.” There’s a vulnerability in his voice I’m not expecting. An almost gentle energy sits in his half-smile and softens my outrage. Suddenly, Nathan seems less like a villain and more like…
Hold on now, Mina. You’re falling right into his trap. I square my shoulders and lift my chin, adding as much outrage to my voice as possible. “More important than this?”
“Yes. More important than—” Nathan finally looks at me and his lips curve into a gentle smile that transforms the atmosphere of the parking lot. “Woah.”
His voice is hushed. His nostrils flared.
I meet his eyes for a few uncomfortable seconds before looking away. “Everything okay?”
Nathan’s gaze traces my face, trailing across my cheekbones, caressing the divot between my collarbones. My breath catches and a blush warms my cheeks, my throat, then flames across my chest. I wanted him to choke on his impression, but I didn’t expect it to feel like this.
My heart races as a smirk twists his lips.
“You’re wildly overdressed.”
“If only there was something you could have done to save me from this predicament. Something like staying at the restaurant to talk through the evening…” I tap a finger against my lips. “No…that must not be it. That would be asking too much of you, I’m sure.”
“Are you done?” he asks.
“With you,” I reply, then immediately wish I could stuff the words back in my mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m done now.”
“Get it all out of your system?” Nathan lifts one playful eyebrow.
I nod sheepishly. “First things first, I guess. Your jeans and my dress work together just about as well as you and I do.” Though he does look damn good in them. That is an ass I’d like to sink my teeth in, for sure. “Should I change? Should you? Assuming we’re still doing this thing…”
“We’re doing it. And honestly? I’m not that worried about us having a solid story. My family probably won’t talk to you much anyway. They’re not exactly interested in me being in a relationship.”
“Then why am I even here?” I pop a hand on my hip as a couple rounds the corner, drawing up short when they see us. I don’t know if it’s the clash in our attire or the tension thrumming between us that puts them off more.
Nathan takes my arm and leads me to his car, leaning close. Secretive. Intimate.
“We’re planting a seed,” he says in a low voice. “They think I’m sleeping around. I’m tired of them thinking that way.”
“Maybe if you just stopped sleeping around…” I find myself saying, then bite my tongue. I promised I was done with the snark and promises mean something to me. “You know what? It’s fine. Whatever happens tonight, happens, but if I end up humiliated, you owe me. Big time. Like maybe an extra couple percent big.”
Nathan’s smile disintegrates. The light in his eyes fades. It’s like watching a cloud cover the full moon, plunging the night into oblivion.
“Of course.” His voice is hard and distant. “I’ll tack another five percent onto your fee, if that makes you feel better.”
And suddenly, I’m dealing with The Prince of Darkness again. Every ounce of vulnerability I thought I saw in the guy disappears and I’m left standing next to a cold-hearted jerk. Wordlessly, he opens the passenger door on his car with an air of expectant exasperation.
This is gonna be a long night.
ELEVEN
Nathan
Nick specifically told me not to bring a dazzling and spectacular woman to my birthday party tonight. So of course, Mina shows up looking like someone hanging on Dom’s arm. Her red dress is a feast for the eyes. Her silky black hair begs for my fingers. Her ass is round and luscious and I want to grab it with both hands as I bury my face in her neck and breathe in her citrus perfume. I don’t like her, but my dick doesn’t care. There’s no doubt I’m attracted to her. At least I won’t be lying to my family on that count.
Mina pauses as we approach my parents’ house, her gaze wandering the premises with what I hope is appreciation. I try to see my childhood home through her eyes. It’s big enough for our family of six, but not overly so. It’s elegant without being pretentious. But I grew up here. Maybe I don’t see it the way the rest of the world does.
“Everything okay?” I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets to keep from brushing them against the small of Mina’s back. I don’t know what it is about that dress, but my hands want on her body. Even knowing she’s only here for the money can’t dampen the desire.
“This house.” Mina’s brows draw together, and she chews her bottom lip. “It’s not what I expected.”
“Tuck in, blue eyes. My family doesn’t exactly fit into a box.”
Dom says people are most comfortable when everyone plays their expected roles. If Mina’s outfit says anything about her expectations, she’s in for an uncomfortable evening. I take a gross amount of pleasure in that thought. When did I get so mean?
“Plus,” she says with a crooked smile, “I’m about to meet Collin and Harlow West. I grew up listening to them. I mean, they’re icons, right? And I’m just gonna spend an evening in their home. No biggie.”
Great. Not only does Mina bring out the absolute worst in me, but she’s a lifelong fan of my parents’ music. Probably one of those wackos who dissolve into tears the moment she meets them. Lord knows I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime.
“They’re also just people. Come on. The faster we get this over with, the better.” I wrap an arm around her waist and draw Mina close as we near the front door. She tenses and peeks up at me, clearly uncomfortable. I get it, but we have a lie to sell.
I lean down and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. The intimate gesture sends a jolt of desire through me. I linger longer than I expect. Longer than I should.
“Game face on, Hot Mess,” I whisper, breathing in her citrus perfume. “Time to pretend you like me.”
“Believe me,” she whispers back, “my game face has been on since lunch, Sweet Prince.” Her smile says I’m the love of her life, though her eyes look mildly murderous.
We pass through the foyer into an open floor plan barely large enough to fit my extended family. My cousins, aunts, uncles, brothers and sister all greet me, calling out happy birthday and raising glasses as we pass. Inevitably, their smiles fade when they see Mina. She’s wildly overdressed. To their eyes, the epitome of the shallow women I’ve been swearing were for Dom, instead of me. My parents catch sight of us, exchange a concerned glance, then quickly cross the room. I get the distinct impression they’re running defense.
Mom wraps me in a tight embrace, tossing Mina a polite though chilly smile. She smells like lilacs and her silver-blonde hair is swept off her shoulders in a messy updo. Even though she’s wearing jeans and a loose-fitting linen top, she pulls off an understated sophistication I’ve always appreciated. Mom gives me the onceover, motherly love glistening in her blue eyes before she cups my cheeks, the star tattoo on her wrist blurring in front of me.
“Happy birthday, Nator Tot! I was just starting to wonder about you. You’re not the kind of guy who runs late.”
Fuck me.
“Mom. Please. With the nickname.”
I glance Mina’s way, silently begging her not to have heard it.
The wicked grin lifting her lips says she not only heard it, but she’ll have no qualms dragging that arrow from her quiver if the need arises.
Dad gives me a back thumping hug and wishes me a happy birthday, his gaze flicking to Mina. He’s not happy to see her, though he’d never let her get wind of that. He spent too much time feeling unwelcome in some of his foster families to pass that feeling on.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet Mina Blake. Mina, these are my parents, Collin and Harlow West.”
I brace for the gushing. The teary-eyed revelations of a lifelong fan that shift the atmosphere from cordial to awkward in a heartbeat.
