PROLOGUE
Beth
“Tell me again why I need to be here?” Gretna and David had begged me to come out with them; in reality, it was Gretna who’d done the begging. I’d planned a night in with a movie and popcorn, after a hellish week of satisfying Julia’s every whim I was probably a little too looking forward to the night in.
“Well, it won’t kill you to let your hair down for one night.” Gretna stated as a matter of fact, before taking a sip of her outrageously pink cocktail.
“I can do that in my pajamas, on the couch, Grets.”
“Yes, you could but sitting around in a t-shirt eating popcorn and watching chick flicks isn’t the same as wearing a cute little black dress with killer heels, drinking cocktails and checking out hot guys. Now, is it?”
“Argh, you’re right, these babies did need out of the box,” I take the opportunity to admire the newest addition to my expansive shoe collection. I called them Dorothy because they were red and sparkly. “You only wanted me here so you had someone to sit with waiting for Dave to turn up.” Turning my attention away from my shoes, I glance back up to meet Gretna’s gaze. “Admit it, my being dragged out here was just to keep you company until my brother arrived.”
“Oh yes, you caught me, but you’re always such great company!” She rolls her eyes at me. “Oh look, David is here now.”
Gretna is one of my oldest and best friends, and she also happens to be dating my brother David. For as long as I can remember I’ve had trouble saying no to her – I admit it, when it came to her I was a pushover, so when she insisted I come out with her tonight and against my better judgment I couldn’t refuse.
I watch as David heads toward our table, and my eyes are immediately drawn to the tall and incredibly attractive man who flanks him on his approach. I’m not the only one to have noticed him either judging by the flock of women ogling him. Dressed in an expensive looking suit, with no tie and his top button unfastened, coupled with the grace and arrogance of which he moves he’s approach is smooth and deliberate. How could he not know the attention he was drawing. My lady parts blush just from the sight of him.
God damn pretentious jerk.
“Hi honey, sorry I’m late. We got held up at work.” David plants a kiss on Gretna’s forehead before turning to me, while I’m doing my best to drag my eyes from the stranger that arrived with him. “Hi, Beth. Ladies this is Nash. Nash, this is Gretna and my sister Beth. Nash and I work together.” David explains as he makes the introductions.
I can feel his eyes on me, well on my legs and breasts anyway. Pervert.
“Hey, arsehole, my face is up here!” I clap my hands to bring his attention back to my face.
“Beth!” I can hear Nash chuckle as David scolds me like I was a naughty school girl.
“Sorry, let me buy you a drink to apologise?” His voice is deep and rumbling, whilst his lips are all smirk, leaving his apology sounding as sincere as a vet’s euthanizing a rabid dog.
“I have one already.” I take a sip and close my eyes as I swallow the drink down to accentuate the point, savoring the taste of my drink for Nash’s benefit.
When my eyelids flutter open again, I find his eyes are on me as the tip of tongue trails along his bottom lip. Feeling the flush creeping up my neck to my cheeks I’m horrified as I come to realise the sudden feeling of being curious about what that tongue could feel like. I push the drink back across the table; my reaction a sure sign that I need to slow down on the alcohol consumption. “I’m going to the bar for some water, anyone want anything?”
“Let me get that for you, Beth.”
“Thanks, Nate, but I can manage.”
I get up and walk away from the table but without encouragement Nash follows behind me.
“I don’t doubt that Beth, and it’s Nash.”
“Huh?”
“My name. My name is Nash not Nate.”
“Yeah okay, Nash. Sorry.”
I order my water and Nash orders a round of beers. Twisting on my heel, I survey the rest of the room, an attempt at showing him I’m no longer interested in engaging further in conversation with him.
“Can I ask you something, Beth?” He either can’t take the hint or has some sort of over-inflated confidence when it comes to the female gender like we are a mountain to conquer.
I sigh, turning my face to the bar but not to Nash. “Sure. Why not?”
“Are you always so friendly? Or maybe you’re just a little antisocial tonight?”
“I don’t see how that is any of your business.” I try to get the bartenders attention again, I need my order and to get away from this man as soon as humanly possible. “And for the record, I am friendly, I can be very friendly.”
He laughs, “I am sure you can, Beth.”
I narrow my eyes at him as his innuendo sinks in. “I beg your pardon?” Finally the bar tender comes back with my water. In the same movement, as I turn to make my way back to our table, the inebriated guy next to me sways and staggers, knocking me slightly off balance, my ankle twisting under me.
With lightning quick reflexes Nash wraps his arm around my waist to stop me from falling in an embarrassing heap on the floor. His touch is like fire on my skin which causes my breath to hitch in my throat. His voice is a low whisper in my ear, filled with concern, “You okay?”
Unable to get any words out, I just nod. Nash helps me stand again and keeps his arm around me until I am steady on my feet. “Thank you.” I finally force out.
Twisting out of his arms, I head in the direction of the table, Nash falling into step easily beside me. “You sure?”
“I’m sure.” I reassure him, I was no damsel in distress.
I feel the heat of his hand on the small of my back as we make the rest of our way back to David and Gretna.
“So Nash, what is it you do at Montgomery and Walker?”
“I work in the marketing department, so I am responsible for concepts and promotion.”
“So basically a glorified salesman?” I bite out, aware my tone sounds impolite. Save from the Knight in Shining Armour bit a moment ago, Nash and his attitude were already like spurs under my skin.
“Beth!” Gretna and David chastise me in unison.
“What?”
Nash laughs, “Pretty much, but lots of travel, it is grueling but exhilarating as well.”
Gretna gives me a stern look as I screw up my nose before continuing the conversation with Nash. “Travelling, wow.”
“It isn’t as exciting as it sounds, mostly I have seen the insides of hotel rooms, although I made a point on my last trip to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower.”
“Nash, that sounds amazing.” I’m struck dumb by Gretna’s reaction to him, the girl is practically swooning.
I listen as David, Gretna and Nash talk some more about his work. I do my best to act disinterested but all the while listening to the sound of his voice, all I can think was how alluring it sounded. I have the feeling that Nash could make ordering a chicken sandwich sound sexy.
Gretna stifles a yawn and apologises. “I’m sorry guys but I think I’m going to have to head home. I think this week has just caught up with me.”
“Oh come on! You practically forced me to come out tonight and now you’re piking out early.” I couldn’t contain the disbelief, Gretna was bailing on me after the trip she’d placed at my feet when I was already committed to movie night.
“Sorry Beth, don’t hate me.”
“I don’t hate you but I’m not ready to go home just yet either.” I do my best pout, hoping to guilt her into staying out with me.
“Beth, Gretna wants to go home, and to be honest, that sounds like a really good idea. I’m going to grab our coats, are you leaving with us or no?” David empties his glass and turns to me, waiting for me to make up my mind.
“You guys go, I don’t mind keeping Beth company a while longer.” Nash acts the saint as if his offer is the answer to all my hopes and dreams.
David just shrugs and leaves the three of us at the table in search of the cloakroom.
“I don’t need a damn babysitter. Thanks all the same, Nash.”
Nash leans in close to me so only I can hear him. “I was actually hoping you would keep me company tonight.”
“What! Like a prostitute?” Horrified I answer him, my voice louder than I had intended.
The sound of his laugh does funny things to my insides. The feeling is like a drug, waves of excitement rushing over my body. “God no! I just meant here in the bar.”
“Oh okay.”
“Don’t sound so disappointed, Beth.” A ghost of a smile plays on his lips.
David returns to the table, his arm draped in their coats. “Ready?” Gretna nods.
“Well, it was lovely to meet you, Nash. Beth, I will call you in the morning. Love you.” Gretna leans in, placing a chaste kiss on my cheek.
“Love you too, Grets. Bye, Dave.” I wave to them, watching them take with them any hope of enjoying the night out with my brother and best friend. Instead, here I was, left alone with a man I was quickly developing a distaste for.
I wake up and I’m instantly disoriented, my head hurts and my mouth feels like I’ve been sucking on cotton wool. The sun streaming in through the gap at the bottom of the blinds wreak havoc on my sensitive eyes while dread fills my stomach – I’m in a bed that isn’t mine, in a room that I’ve never been in before and worst of all, I’m not alone. Squeezing my eyes shut quickly, I pray it’s my hungover mind playing tricks on me; a reaction to too much alcohol and an overactive imagination. It’s not uncommon, right?
Grasping at what I can only hope to be courage and not stupidity, I open one eye, sneaking in a look at the warm body in the bed next to me. Nash, holy hell.
Quickly and quietly I lift the thick crisp doona just high enough to check my level of undress, underpants but no bra. Great holy mother of divine Pixie Dust, I was practically naked!
“Hey, good morning. Sleep well?” His voice thick with sleep, he’s watching me with a look of quiet amusement on his face. The sick bastard is enjoying the humiliation and horror whirling through my head at the current state we had come to find ourselves in. “Don’t worry Beth, nothing happened between us, well nothing other than the little strip tease before getting into bed.”
“Pardon? You did what? I don’t remember it.”
“Not me honey, you.”
“Oh.” My cheeks burn, as I lift the covers over my head to hide the shame I was feeling.
“Beth, you have a rockin’ body, your moves though could use a little work.”
“Oh my god. Please just kill me now.”
His laughter reverberates through the bed to me. “Want some breakfast?”
“Water! I need some water. Please. And coffee!” My voice coming out muffled.
“Water and coffee. Got it. Eggs?”
Returning from my cave of shame, but holding the covers close to keep my chest covered I answer him. “Eggs sound good. Thank you.”
I feel the bed shift as Nash climbs out, I can’t help but notice he is naked. And that he has a really nice arse.
“You’re naked!”
“Yeah,” He shrugs, “I can’t sleep any other way.” Didn’t he think he could make the exception for this one time? Sleeping naked in the same bed I was practically naked in and he didn’t think it would be the decent thing to do?
“Ah, Nash?” Propping myself up on my elbows, I wait.
“Yeah, Beth?” He pauses halfway across the room before spinning to face me, and it takes all my will-power to keep my curious eyes on his face.
“You won’t tell my brother I was here last night will you?”
“No, sweetheart, it will be our secret. I’m going to order us some breakfast, and then find you some clothes okay?”
“Yep, okay.” Throwing myself back on the pillows, I cover my face with my hands. Shaking my head slightly at the situation I have found myself in.
Something soft with the scent of earth musk fills my nostrils lands on my face, pulling it away reveals a t-shirt and a pair of shorts, thankfully Nash has also dressed, also in a pair of shorts that were hanging low on his hips, showcasing the muscled V, a cliché of the physique of a chiseled God but there he was standing invitingly in front of me with a smile in his eyes.
“Thank you.” He stands there watching me. “Turn around, Nash! Geez.”
Again he laughs but does as I ask. “Suddenly she’s shy.”
A knock on the door has Nash leaving me to answer it. “Beth, breakfast is here.” He calls from the other room.
Leaving the warmth of the bed, I find him sitting at a full-sized table in the next room. I hadn’t realised how big his hotel room actually was, which is no surprise given how much of last night I did remember. The hotel room was more than just a room; instead, a whole series of rooms and the size alone was impressive. An entire suite.
After drinking half the bottle of water and eating close to my body weight I was starting to feel more human. “So what did happen last night, Nash?”
“You really don’t remember?” His cup of coffee paused at his lips, an eyebrow raised in question.
“Would I be asking you if I did?” He was so annoying, with his incredibly good looks and his smug attitude. Not to mention, it would appear his clear head and unclouded ability to recall the past evening’s events.
“Nothing happened, Beth, not that you didn’t try might I add. You’d had a bit too much to drink and wouldn’t tell me where you lived when we got in the taxi because you thought I was some sort of serial killer. So, instead, you came back here with me after you passed out in the cab. I carried you up and you tried to show me what I would be missing with your very seductive striptease.”
“I’m sure it was very tempting.” I pop the last bite of strawberry in my mouth.
“Oh, honey, it was. I’ve sent your dress out for dry cleaning, so if you want to leave me your address I can have it sent to you.”
“My dress? What happened to my dress?” A wave of nausea overwhelmed me, that dress had cost me more than a week’s rent.
“Yeah, after you spilt an entire glass of wine on it I thought it might have been a good idea. It looked expensive.”
Oh shit! “Thank you, Nash, that was very thoughtful of you but unnecessary. I can collect it if you’ll just give me the drycleaners name.” I didn’t need him taking care of me, well, not beyond what he already had.
“Fine, have it your way.” Pushing back from the table, he disappeared a moment before returning with the drycleaners details. He held onto the piece of paper tighter, as I tried to take it from him. “Asking for your number would be out of the question?”
Jerking the paper from him, he releases it without further argument. “I should be going, thank you for breakfast and, ah, being a gentleman?”
“No problem, really it was my pleasure.”
I grab my shoes from the bedroom and find my purse on the table beside the door. The desire to escape is overwhelming. “Well, it was, ah nice to meet you, Nash. Take care.”
“Bye, Beth. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Without a backward glance, I rush out the door, attempting to make my escape without further humiliating myself and with the very last scrap of my dignity intact.