CHAPTER THIRTEEN
NASH
Click.
Click.
Click click.
I frowned at the amber sconces. I’d adjusted the lighting in the living room no fewer than ten times.
I couldn’t get it just right. Having Clara and her best friend over for dinner was a big deal.
No, it was an enormous deal. We were bringing Zoey into our ruse, a woman who’d known the ins and outs of Clara for far longer than I had. I wanted to make a good impression.
Strictly for the arrangement, of course.
My frown deepened. I was tired of thinking about Clara. I’d stupidly thought that three days of space would help silence the obsessive thoughts about those kisses, her lips, the little sounds she’d made as I pulled her into me and pushed my tongue into her mouth…
But no. I only wanted more.
And now I’d get more.
Yet that somehow didn’t satisfy me, because I wanted the capital-M More. I wanted to fuck her. I wanted to consume her. I wanted to finish what we started four years ago and—
God damnit, Nash. You aren’t supposed to be thinking about this shit.
I knew better. I knew why getting close to people was dangerous. I had room for Archer, because we might as well be conjoined twins. And my mom. Hell, that was it. Small circles were safe circles, because whenever more relationships entered the chat, shit always went south. Always.
I learned not to trust most relationships from day one. My own father had lied about everything—his name, his life, his intentions—and then vanished when shit got real. His lies became the blueprint.
Growing up, I watched my mom get burned by men who promised her the world and delivered nothing. Then Archer and I started making money, and suddenly we had plenty of "friends." The kind who needed loans they'd never repay, who had investment opportunities that were really just schemes.
Romantic relationships were the worst. Women who swore they didn't care about the money, right up until they did.
Women who pretended to want me while strategically positioning themselves for a ring, a payout, or a story to sell.
I got good at spotting the lies, but it didn't make them hurt less. It just made me tired.
Every relationship felt like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting to discover what they were really after, what they'd been hiding, how long they'd been lying.
The name of the game now was contractual, short-term arrangements or bust. At least then everyone knew the score from the start.
I resumed arranging the finer details of my grand entry hall, trying to see the place from their eyes.
I knew they’d love it. But would it come off as sterile?
The place needed more greenery, which I knew Clara would agree with.
Maybe she could recommend an action plan.
Maybe we could go to a greenhouse together and pick out the perfect plants. Maybe she could just…
Jesus, Nash.
I felt manic. After the past three chaotic days, nothing in my life felt secure. Archer and I had the rug pulled out from under us on our biggest project of the year, and now I was anxious about spending time with Clara’s loved ones, because what if they didn’t like me?
It didn’t need to matter. This was a job. Even if I forgot that small detail whenever my mind drifted to the way Clara’s body had felt against mine.
My phone vibrated with a text.
CLARA: We’re on our way. I told Zoey this was Mia’s first time at the penthouse. We need to act like I’ve already seen it.
CLARA: Just make sure I don’t mess up too much in front of her. I’m so nervous.
That sounded like she needed distracting, which I could absolutely handle. I didn’t like that this situation put her into a bind with her bestie, but we’d figure it out.
Now that the girls were en route, it was time to finish the once-over and stop getting lost in my damn head.
I walked the length of the living room, drifting toward the freshly set up play area.
Since Zoey was coming, Clara had decided to bring Mia.
She’d seemed torn about it, even though I assured her it was totally fine.
But she was convinced that Zoey would suspect something was amiss if Mia didn’t come, and apparently tonight’s only goal was to convince Zoey, even if it meant bringing Mia around more.
I was prepared. I’d had Marina help me pick out all the best things for a three-and-a-half-year-old girl, which had been delivered that morning.
Chopping sounds from the kitchen distracted my once-over. I drifted into the huge space, finding Henri furiously slicing a root vegetable. When he’d finished his perfectly even slices, he grinned over at me.
“Have the guests arrived yet?”
I checked my phone, finding a message from Marco. “My driver just dropped them off downstairs. So any minute now. Henri, you’re gonna knock this outta the park, you know that?”
“Pressure is on,” Henri said, though his voice was faint as I headed for the main door. Butterflies swarmed my belly, which I tried to ignore. The truth was, when I was around Clara, I felt grounded. Things made sense in a calm and easy way. It had been that way even the first time I met her.
I pulled the huge front door open to the hallway that abutted the penthouse elevator. Digital numbers flashed on the readout as the elevator car zoomed to my floor.
Ding.
The doors swept open. I registered three people but I only really saw one.
Clara.
She smiled coyly at me from inside the elevator, holding Mia’s small hand in her own.
She stepped out first, looking stunning in a simple black wrap dress that was among a new selection of clothing I’d sent to her house that morning.
Mia bounced beside her in a pink dress and tiny ballet flats, clutching a stuffed elephant.
Zoey followed them, big brown eyes already laser-focused on me.
“Welcome, ladies.” I offered my biggest grin as I held the door open for them. As soon as Clara got close enough I pulled her into my arms. She giggled with surprise, her feminine, floral scent washing over me in the same way a sigh cleanses the body of anxiety.
“I missed you, beautiful,” I murmured into her ear, squeezing my arms extra tight around her. When I released her, I stepped back, looking her up and down. “God, this looks so good on you,” I murmured, enjoying the deep flush of color in her cheeks.
Then I got down on one knee to greet Mia, who watched me with pure awe on her face. “Miss Mia,” I said, offering a hand. “You are looking absolutely lovely tonight. Who did you bring with you?”
“Her name is Stella,” she whispered, her blue eyes bigger than ever.
“Hello, Stella.” I shook the elephant’s small foot. “I’ll make sure we set a place at the table for her.” I rose and stuck out a hand to Zoey, who was grinning bigger than ever now. “And you must be the incredible best friend Zoey I’ve heard so much about.”
She placed her slim, brown hand in mine, eyeing me up like she knew a secret. “I am. And you are the incredible Nash I’ve heard so much about. Not to mention seen in the magazines.”
“That’s me. Though I don’t stand by whatever you might have read about me. They have a certain obsession with me and Archer that I don’t understand.”
“I understand it,” Clara said as I led them inside the penthouse. “You two are upending the way things are done at the top. People notice that.”
“Mmm, you’re probably right,” I said, reaching for her hand. “But that’s why I like having you around, because you’re usually right.”
Clara giggled again, and I caught the secretive glance Zoey sent her way.
“Come on, ladies, it’s time for the tour, since Zoey’s never seen the place. But before we go too far, I have to show Mia something.”
Mia looked up at Clara with excitement as they followed me into the great room off the foyer. Zoey whistled low as they took in the chic, modern design of the room. I headed for the little play area I’d set up, urging Mia to follow.
“Check this out, Mia. What do you think?”
She gasped when she spotted the toys, rushing toward the dinosaur plushies and princess doll house I’d set up for her.
"You got all of this for Mia?" Clara asked at my side, her voice soft with wonder.
"Of course. But Marina helped," I said, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “I wanted to surprise you both. I was worried Mia would get bored tonight.”
“Bored in this huge wonderland?” Zoey said, craning her neck as she inspected a huge piece of artwork on the far wall. “It seems impossible.”
“Stranger things have happened,” I remarked, pressing a kiss to the top of Clara’s head. “Shall we tour the residence?”
The ladies giggled at my droll, hoity-toity accent. Mia scampered along with us as I led them around the great room, into the kitchen—where I paused to introduce them to Henri while pouring the ladies a crisp Chardonnay, followed by an apple juice for Mia—and then through the rest of the house.
“Can we see upstairs?” Zoey asked, nodding toward the staircase near my office and some of the guest rooms.
“Of course. It’s got the best view of the entire place.
” We went up the flight of stairs, which ended in my loft bedroom with two full walls of floor-to-ceiling windows.
New York City was bathed in the mesmerizing amber glow of dusk, where the sunset ricocheted off every steel and glass angle beneath us.
Zoey gasped. Mia pressed her nose to the nearest window.
And Clara simply gravitated into my embrace.
“It’s Clara’s favorite spot in the penthouse,” I added after we’d all been admiring the view for a few moments. “For a variety of reasons,” I added in a low murmur just for Clara, which caused her to stifle a laugh.
“I can see why,” Zoey said, finally ripping her gaze off the view. She took a deep breath. “That shit just hits different from up here.”