Mari turned away from me again and walked to the windows. Her shoulders were stiff, and I wanted to turn her around and pull her into my arms. Somehow, I knew that was not the right move, not at this moment.
“What are we doing, Nash?”
When she turned and held my gaze, her blue eyes steely and uncertain at the same time, I knew I needed to say precisely the right thing. There was only one glaring problem—I didn’t know what that was because this thing between us had caught me in its current just as rapidly as her.
“Mari, I didn’t even expect to meet you. Let’s just—.”
Vulnerability flickered in her eyes as she lifted her chin and pushed her shoulders back, visibly battening down the hatches around her. She took a shuddering breath, her eyes softening as she looked at me.
“You’ve been nothing but gracious, welcoming, and beyond helpful. There’s no way I can ever really thank you for everything you’ve done after I unexpectedly showed up at your office. But I am coming out of a disastrous relationship. Sure, we’ve gotten much closer than I expected in the last few weeks, but still. My judgment leaves more than a little to be desired. I think it’s best if I go stay with Max and Harlow right now.”
The only way I could describe the emotion drafting through me and settling like icy cold air around my heart was fear. All of this—Mari, the way I met her, the depth of our passion, and everything tinged by the cold, dark, danger left in the wake of her ex—had me off balance. I felt as if I were on a boat during a stormy day and trying to catch my footing with waves rocking me and wind whipping relentlessly.
“Mari—” I began, starting to feel like I couldn’t ever get more than a few words out when she cut me off.
She shook her head slowly. “Nash, I need some time. Within a matter of weeks, my life has been turned upside down. You have my number. I’ll call you when I get to Max’s.”
She began to turn and walk out of my office, but I caught her lightly by the elbow. “Please stay.”
“Nash, what do you want?”
“Time,” I heard myself saying, realizing the minute that single word passed through my lips that it fell far short of her question.
Chapter 24
Mari
Three weeks later
“Oh my God! You do not have a monopoly on making bad decisions when it comes to men,” Harlow said with a hard roll of her eyes.
I looked across the table at my sister-in-law and let out a soft sigh. Harlow was awesome. I adored her. Yet, it was easy to feel intimidated by her. She was beautiful with her glossy dark hair and vibrant brown eyes. Oh, and let’s not forget the fact that she was a hotshot firefighter. She was a total badass. And my brother was beyond in love with her.
“Okay, maybe I don’t have a monopoly on it, but lately it feels like it. Max was completely right about Brett.”
Harlow wrinkled her nose before pausing to sit for coffee. “Somewhat. He could just as easily have been wrong. Brothers seem to have a nasty habit of announcing their opinions on sibling relationships. I’ve told him more than once that it doesn’t help at all when he butts in like that.”
“How’s it going, girls?” a voice interrupted.
Glancing sideways, I couldn’t help my automatic smile when I saw Janet James standing there. Her silvery dark hair was twisted into a braid, and her round face was plumped up with a smile. With Harlow and Max dividing their time between Willow Brook, Alaska and San Francisco, I didn’t get up to Alaska as much as I would like. I typically visited them when they were in San Francisco. The few times I’d been to Willow Brook, we always came to Firehouse Café. Janet was the owner and somehow made me feel as if she’d known me forever.
“If you want to top off my coffee, I’ll take some,” I said. lifting my mug and nudging my chin toward the coffee pot she held in her hand.
Janet chuckled. “That’s why I carry the coffee pot around. It’s amazing it hasn’t attached itself to my hand. You too?” she asked when she glanced at Harlow.
“Always,” Harlow replied as she flashed a quick smile. “Just put this on our tab.”
Janet topped off both of our coffees. “Of course. Max just paid it off the other day.”
Harlow snorted. “Of course he did. He can’t help himself. I’m here more than he is, but he insists on always paying for everything. I tried to surprise him and beat him to it, but I’m not the most organized about remembering things like that.”
Janet squeezed her shoulder before she turned away. “Let him take care of you, hon.”
“I don’t care so much about Brett,” Harlow started while I added a little cream to my coffee, looping right back to where we’d been in conversation. “Tell me what the hell is going on with you and Nash.”
I felt heat crest on my cheeks and bit back a sigh. Harlow knew me pretty well. Hedging, I replied, “What do you mean?” I silently prayed she hadn’t shared her suspicions with Max.
“I mean, every time Max says his name, you look pretty darn interested. And, you’re blushing now,” she said with a pointed look.
I gulped my coffee and narrowed my eyes. “All right, if I talk to you about this, you cannot tell Max. I don’t need to hear about it from him.”
“Cross my heart.” For good measure, Harlow made a cross with her index finger in front of her heart and nodded solemnly.
“Well, I guess we had a fling.”
“A fling with Nash Reynolds couldn’t be a bad thing. He’s totally hot. I mean, Nash is not my type, but just sayin’. I have eyes. I think anyone who sees Nash would think he’s pretty hot.”
I rolled my eyes, but then the whole story tumbled past my lips in a rush. I ended with, “…and I don’t know what to do. I think I was feeling like such an idiot after everything Brett did. It felt amazing to have someone want me. Still, I needed some space, and I didn’t quite know what Nash felt for me. Plus, I figured I didn’t have to worry about anything here. No one can exactly show up without getting noticed pretty quick in Willow Brook.”
“Have you talked to Nash since you got here?” Harlow asked.
Harlow was clearly undeterred by my subtle attempt to change the topic back to Brett and the fact that he had a loan shark tailing me in New Orleans.
When I narrowed my eyes at her, she grinned with a sly gleam in her eyes. “I didn’t miss your attempt at a detour. We don’t need to discuss all that. It’s been three weeks, Brett’s been arrested and charged, and Max and Nash coordinated with the police to deal with that loan shark. You’re in the clear and you’re totally safe. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good story, but not a new story for me. I’m glad you’re safe, and I’m glad you’re here. However, what I really want to know is what you plan to do about Nash.”
“I don’t know,” I said, lifting a hand and letting it fall. “And no, to answer your question, I haven’t talked to Nash since I’ve been here. Actually, that’s not true. I texted him when I landed.”
“Hand me your phone.” Harlow reached between us and snatched up my phone before I could respond. “What’s your password?”