Chapter 3
Nash caught the slaughter by water out of the corner of his eye.
He held his breath, waiting for the fallout.
Addison Benedict was as high-maintenance as they came.
No way she’d let the kid get away with it, even if it was friendly fire.
Not that he minded the result of the accident.
He let his gaze roam over each womanly curve emphasized by the wet dress. Nope, he didn’t mind, not one bit.
Addison threw her head back and laughed. Really laughed.
Nash blinked. What? No fake smile. No shrieking.
She grabbed the water blaster Cade’s nephew had dropped on the ground and took aim.
Nash grinned. Wow! The ice queen continued to surprise him.
He never would have pegged Addison as a chill woman. This was a woman who always looked her best. Was gorgeous and knew it. Around him, she never cracked a smile, though he had tried.
She was one of the few women who never batted her eyes at him or laughed at his jokes, funny or not. Deep down, that was one of the reasons he was drawn to her.
Oh, he lusted after her lush body and those perfect bow lips, but it was her sharp tongue that stirred something in his gut. The chemistry was there. She had to feel it. Otherwise, why would she avoid him like a rotten fish in a hot car?
Addison ran her hands down the front of her dress, flicking the water away.
Nash’s stomach ached. Fuck. His body tightened with desire.
Never in his life did he want a woman who didn’t want him. Nash made his play last spring, and she turned him down flat. He wasn’t stupid. He could take a hint. She wasn’t interested—end of story.
A soft touch on his arm pulled his attention back to the woman smiling at him. Nash had forgotten all about Cade’s neighbor. She was a woman who was interested. She batted her eyes so much Nash at first thought she’d had a medical condition.
She’d said something about looking under her hood. He didn’t think she was talking about her Volkswagen.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Addison heading for the patio door. “Will you excuse me for a minute?” He slipped away before the woman could say another word.
Following Addison wasn’t the smartest thing Nash had ever done. The woman had made it clear—she’s not into him, but something inside him urged him to pursue.
He grinned at the trail of water as he opened the door.
Nash leaned against the doorway. Standing in the kitchen, facing the sink, was the most beautiful woman Nash had ever laid eyes on. Bugger if he didn’t want to wrap his arms around her, wet dress and all, but that would open a can of whoop-ass of epic proportions.
Nash smirked. He was a glutton for punishment.
“That’s a good look on you.”
Addison stiffened. Her spine snapped stick-straight in one swift move.
She snatched the hand-towel from the oven handle and wiped off her face, buying herself some time.
It had been months since she’d been face-to-face with Nash Steele, but the way the hairs on her neck tingled, she knew it was him before he spoke a word.
Marginally more composed, she blotted her dress with the towel and then turned only her head to look at him. Damn, he was a fine-looking man.
She suppressed the spark of heat whirling in her belly and threw her haughtiest look his way. “The wet T-shirt look?”
“I bet you won more than a few.” He chuckled, rich and deep.
She locked her knees at the sound.
“I was referring to the relaxed look. Not perfect, but happy. It makes you more approachable.” He pushed off the doorframe and closed the door.
“Is that so?” Addison hesitated, not sure if that was a sincere compliment or a backhanded one. She pivoted on her heels, fully facing him. “What does that mean?”
“Nothing bad. I never heard you laugh like that before… relaxed, carefree. It’s a good look on you.” He fumbled a little, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Addison blinked at his awkward movements. Not what she’d expect from a charmer like Nash. A serial dater. And she’d bet her favorite shoes he had a line of women waiting for that smile to turn their way.
One look at him and she had him pegged. He was gorgeous, with a body that screamed “daily gym habit.” It was a temple if she’d ever seen one.
Then there was all that thick, dark hair.
Not to mention those deep blue eyes that could mesmerize any woman in seconds.
Nash had the kind of eyes that made a woman want to strip all her clothes off with a mere blink.
And they were staring at her now. Shit. What was he saying?
Little crinkles bracketed those gorgeous blue pools.
She tore her focus from him and frowned. He was smiling. Her reaction to him didn’t go unnoticed.
Time to make it clear—nothing would ever come of this silly attraction. Ever. Except in my fantasies.
She pushed back her wayward reactions and looked him dead in those panty-dropping eyes. “Well, don’t get too used to it.”
Good. Her voice didn’t even waver. She turned to the sink, giving him her back. Yup, we’re done here.
Strong hands gripped her shoulders. She hadn’t even heard him move.
He turned her back to face him. Heat radiated from his hands, shooting down her body.
Okay, maybe they weren’t completely done. Toughening her resolve, she scowled at him.
He relaxed his grip. “Listen, I don’t know how we got off on the wrong foot, but we should try to get along for Cade and Laney. Don’t you think?”
“Oh, that’s a low blow, using our friends’ happiness against me.
” She closed her eyes and willed herself the strength not to punch him in that toned stomach.
Addison exhaled. She couldn’t let him be the only adult here.
She opened her eyes and looked into that sickeningly attractive face. “Fine. For Laney and Cade.”
Nash’s face lit up, and he stepped back and held out a hand. “Good. Friends then?”
She looked at his hand like it was a snake that would bite her. This was a bad idea, but she shook it. Skin to skin, a spark of attraction arced. Whoa. Too much… power.
She severed the connection, rubbing her palm on her dress. “I don’t know if friend is the right word, but I can be civil.”
“It’s a start.” His words were low, but she heard them. Nash didn’t move, his body a wall of muscle and temptation inches from her. She should run, but couldn’t. Something in the way he stared at her with those captivating eyes had her pinned in place.
This was definitely a bad idea.
She swayed closer to him. The man had a powerful force field, one that tugged at her core.
The back door flew open. “Hey, Addison.” Marti walked in. Her focus ping-ponged between the two of them before she added, “Laney said help yourself to anything in her closet.”
“Thanks.” Addison stepped back from the magnetic man in front of her.
Her friend’s smile turned wicked. “Unless Nash will lend you his shirt?”
“No!” She cleared her throat. “I’ll go check out Laney’s closet. Thanks.” The last thing she needed was Nash taking his shirt off.
“Bummer.” Marti blew him a kiss, then ducked out the door.
“I better go find some dry clothes.” She skirted around him and made a beeline for Laney’s room.
“Addison.”
She stopped at the hallway, turning just enough to see him with his hands in his pockets, relaxed.
At first, Nash didn’t speak. Not in words, but those eyes conveyed way more than Addison wanted to hear. It felt like hours before he broke the visual connection and gave a subtle head tip. “See you outside.”
Addison held stiff until he slipped out the backdoor. At the sound of the latch, she slumped against the wall. If she wasn’t careful, Nash Steele would be the end of her.
Five minutes after Addison left the kitchen, Nash still stood with his feet glued to the ground. The current from Addison’s proximity still flowed through him. It crackled like a bug zapper on a Minnesota summer night.
There was something about that woman. He snagged a cherry tomato from the tray on the table and popped it into his mouth. With one last look at the house where Addison was changing right now, he bit back the pull telling him to go back inside. Instead, he returned to his post at the grill.
“Did you bring me a beer?” Sawyer, Laney’s brother, asked as he flipped the burgers with the ease of a short-order cook.
Nash detoured to the cooler and snagged two beers, tossing one to Sawyer.
“Burn any?” Nash eyed the patties.
“No, but I take requests. One or two?” Sawyer placed two in the center of the grill, as Nash indicated, moving the rest of the burgers onto the tray to be taken to the food table.
Nash liked his burgers just this side of briquettes. Davey did two. Like father, like son.
A couple of kids ran by with squirt guns and water balloons. A sadness festered in his gut. He wished Davey was here. His son would have had a blast, as there were several kids his age at the party.
Moms started corralling their kids to come grab a plate of food. Nash chuckled. Herding cats would have been easier.
The hair on his arms rose. He didn’t need to see her to know that Addison had reentered the party. Like a magnet, his attention was drawn to the door. Their gazes met for the briefest of moments before she turned away. Her perfect smile was now in place.
“Is it me? Or did the temperature just drop from the cold shoulder she gave you?” Sawyer asked.
“I suggested we try to get along for Cade and Laney. She begrudgingly agreed. I think she just needs time to warm to the idea.” He watched as she helped little Jimmy, Cade’s nephew, get a plate.
Sawyer nodded. “I don’t know what you did, but I haven’t seen Addison give anyone the ice princess routine in a long time.”
“What can I say? I’m special.”