Chapter 13
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Hours after I finish the night’s work on the website, I’m unable to sleep.
I’ve done little more than toss and turn since I powered down my laptop.
It has nothing to do with the website—that’s coming along swimmingly since Blakley put a rush on editing photos last night.
But it does have everything to do with what happened in Nolan’s kitchen.
I’ve been attracted to the man since I first laid eyes on him. I’ve wanted to do the dirty tango with him just as long.
I was fine having a little innocent fun.
Yes, he might be my boss—temporarily. But we’re both consenting adults, and the extra curriculars have not negatively affected my work in any way. In fact, they’ve only amplified my creativity.
Everything was going great until he kissed me.
Now I feel things.
“Why do I feel things?” I groan into my pillow.
There’s a knock at my door, and my first immediate feeling is excitement that Nolan’s arrived with coffee—and more orgasms. God that man is talented in the orgasm giving department. Then dread, because I’m not sure I’m ready to face him yet.
“Bree?”
But it’s not Nolan’s voice, it’s Nana’s.
“Yeah?”
“It’s noon, honey.”
Shit.
Nolan has a lunch meeting on the itinerary for twelve-thirty, at The Iceberg.
Though I still loathe schedules, I’ve been trying to be better.
This meeting, per the itinerary, is an important one.
Though it could function just as well without me, the crew is expecting an update on their website. And for once, I have one to give them.
“I’m up,” I call back.
I hear the click of the door opening, and Nana adds, “Why don’t you grab a shower, and I’ll walk with you to your lunch meeting?”
Apparently, Nana has also read the itinerary.
It occurs to me, as I towel dry off, that Nolan hasn’t come by my room today. He hasn’t called or emailed, either.
Maybe he’s avoiding me now.
Maybe it was the rash way I insisted I had to get back to the hotel to work last night, minutes after he came all over my ass—which was way hotter than I ever thought it could be.
Or the way I profusely turned him down when he offered to relocate my work set up to his house, in a room with a view of the ocean.
But, if I had to guess, it was the way I turned my face so his lips planted a kiss on my cheek instead of my mouth. The flash of hurt in his eyes has been haunting me for hours.
Doesn’t he understand that I can’t keep kissing him?
Not if I want to keep myself from falling fast and hard for him.
Which I absolutely cannot do. No matter how much the wives have been hinting that I might just find a reason to stay in North Haven, I can’t.
I don’t do the winters. And, if I’m being totally honest with myself, I don’t know that I’m any good at the commitment thing.
Not really. I’m too flighty and unpredictable for something long term and serious, and I like it that way.
And yet, I’m desperate to see Nolan.
“Everything okay?” Nana asks as we stroll downtown, headed toward The Iceberg.
I take a long sip of my coffee to give myself time to answer. Because, honestly, I don’t know how to reply without outright lying. So, I avoid the question entirely.
“The website’s finished,” I tell her.
“Finished?”
“Well, unless they want any changes.”
“That’s great news! That means you’ll have two full days to actually play tourist. Though, that would require keeping your clothes on.”
“Nana!”
“Oh, don’t think I don’t know what you’ve been up to with Nolan. I was young once, too, you know.”
“You’re still young.”
“I know,” she coos as we turn the corner, half a block away from the bar and grill.
“But your flattery will not distract me. There’s a spark between you and Nolan.
And before you try to tell me it’s just a fling or lust or some bullshit like that, I know what real looks like.
I was married to your grandpa for forty-three years, God rest his soul. ”
I’m about to tell her all the reasons it could never work between Nolan and me—namely the fact that he hasn’t expressed any interest in me actually staying beyond this weekend—when a tall, bulky man marches across the parking lot like he’s got a vendetta to carry out.
Shit. I recognize that man.
“Chad?” I mumble, freezing several feet back from the entrance, hoping he doesn’t turn his head and spot me.
“No fucking way,” Nana hisses.
Well, shit. Here I thought hacking into all of Chad’s dating profiles to add some accurate details about who he really is and what he’s looking for—ones that no doubt got him reported and kicked off said sites—would be the end of this. Apparently, it only angered him.
“How did he know you were here?”
“Instagram,” I answer with a sigh. “I forgot about Instagram.” Though I blocked the account from the other day, I forgot to put my own hacker safeguards in place to prevent him from ever finding me, on any account.
Chad dramatically yanks open the front door to the bar and grill, and stomps inside.
“Should we go back to the hotel?” Nana asks. “He hasn’t seen you.”
“If I hide, he’ll just keep looking.”
Reluctantly, I follow Chad inside the restaurant, sincerely hoping he doesn’t cause a scene. But he’s already pushed past the hostess stand, searching the crowded bar and grill for signs of me. And I know it’s me because he’s calling my name.
“So much for not causing a scene,” I mutter before calling out to Chad.
“You bitch!” he shouts, spotting me and marching over.
I force a brave front, a hard expression.
But if I’m being honest, inside I’m shaking a little.
I dismissed Chad as pathetic, completely ignoring the fact that he might be unhinged.
“You fucking ruined me. You were just supposed to be a good, submissive—”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” Nolan says, stepping in front of me before Chad can reach me.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“I’m your worst nightmare if you don’t get on a plane and go back to wherever you came from.”
My lady bits tingle, overriding the fear. Of course I’d be turned on when in peril. But dammit, why is this protective vibe of Nolan’s so fucking hot? Why did I ever fight it? Why am I fighting my feelings for this man at all?
“See,” Nana whispers, her tone giddy despite the situation. “He cares about you, Bree.”
“You think I’m intimidated by you?” Chad spits at Nolan. “You’re just one guy in a suit. I could take you in my sleep.”
A chirp of laughter escapes my throat at that ridiculous notion. Chad might have size and stature on his side when it comes to me, but Nolan’s solid muscle.
“You think I’m alone?” As if on cue, six members of the J-Squad and Ben Ashburn file in beside Nolan, creating a wall of badassery.
“Why are they all married?” Nana complains.
“Okay, I’m not done with the website,” I tell Nana, feeling suddenly inspired by the united front. “There’s one more tweak I need to make.”
“What the fuck is this?” Chad barks.
“This is what you’ll deal with if you don’t leave Bree alone,” Nolan growls, that protective tone making me hornier by the second. “No more phone calls, no more DMs, no more contact period. If you ever step foot in North Haven again, there’s a solid chance a bear will get you.”
“Her name’s Xena,” Jasper pipes up.
“You’re not welcome here,” Nolan adds. “So leave.”
“Fine,” Chad spits. “But first, she needs to fix my phone.”
Nana looks at me, as though to ask what I did. A couple of the J-Squad looks back at me too. But some secrets I’m taking to the grave. Especially the illegal ones that could get me thrown in jail. So, I just shrug like I have no clue what he’s talking about.
“We’ll escort you back to the airport,” Jasper says.
“I’m not leaving until she fixes my phone.”
“Not happening,” Jaxson says as he and Jasper grab Chad by both arms and lead him outside.
Nolan turns to me, his arms crossed and his eyes cold and fierce. It’s a mixture of intimidating and sexy. But what isn’t some polarizing combination of feelings around this man? “You’re checking out of the hotel. Right now.”
I don’t have to ask where I’ll be staying.
I already know.