Page 48 of Crazy in Love

“I remember that night. Iknewsomeone was there. Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Uh, you were buck naked. I was nineteen, and you were sixteen, and I didn’t want to get in trouble.”

“That was a decade ago. I’m surprised you remember.”

“Remember?” He huffed. “The image was seared into my brain. Even then, you were hard to forget.”

They pulled to the curb at her house, and she flashed him a sultry look.

“Don’t do that,” he said.

“Why not?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.

“Tess would kill us.”

“She did make a good argument for why we shouldn’t get involved,” Faith said. “You’re leaving soon. I’m terrible at men. You might get hurt.”

“We had a similar conversation. I only love my job. You don’t do relationships well.Youmight get hurt.”

“All valid points,” she said but continued to stare at him.

“So, that settles it then.” He didn’t look away. “No getting involved.”

He was right. She knew that. But she also had an overwhelming desire to kiss him again. And if she read him accurately, he was just about to do so when Tess came bounding down the walkway.

“Where have you guys been?” she said as Nick opened the door. “When I stopped by the bookstore, Irene said you’d gone to confront Jesse about stealing books?”

“Yeah. We got about half back,” Nick said, unfolding from the car. “And found out Faith’s got a pretty mean right hook.”

“You punched him?” Tess’s eyes went wide.

From the driver’s seat, Faith shrugged. “Nick can tell you the story. I’m gonna get these books back to the store.”

“You’re still going to the watch party for Maddie’s show, right?” Tess asked.

“Crap. I forgot all about it. But, yes, of course, I’ll be there.”

Nick cast a parting glance that she took to mean they weren’t finished with the conversation. It was a good thing Tess had interrupted them. Faith’s self-control was no match for Nick Walker. Even a gimpy leg didn’t diminish his commanding presence. Broad shoulders and the air of complete confidence had him oozing alpha. And to Faith, that was like a drug. A highly addictive one.

The only way to keep her promise to Tess was to keep her distance from Nick. Which was fine. She had enough going on in her life without adding forbidden love to the mix.

She dropped the books at the bookstore, stopped by to ensure her father ate something and check on Hope, and then drove to Max’s inn for the watch party.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Whew. That had been close. If Tess hadn’t interrupted, he would have kissed Faith. Again. Ever since that first kiss at the coffee shop, Nick found himself thinking about her in ways he shouldn’t. Especially after his chat with Tess. The one where he promised he wanted nothing to do with Faith.

Although, in fairness, Tess should have known that making Faith taboo made her all the more desirable. Who doesn’t want something they can’t have? He wondered if there was a name for that. Like Murphy’s Law or the Pythagorean theorem? If not, there should be.

He followed Tess up the walkway and into the house. She pestered him for details as he recounted the confrontation with Jesse.

“And she hit him?” Tess said. “I don’t believe it.”

“Saw it with my own eyes. Popped him right in the nose.”

“Go, Faith.” Tess laughed. “Hey, you wanna come to the watch party? Max and Jenny are hosting at the lodge.”

“Sure. Why not?” He took a shower and retreated to his room—Faith’s room. Maybe being in here with her stuff was what was making him crazy. He’d have to see how he felt about her once he was back at his parents’ house after his surgery next week.

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