Page 13 of Wicked and Claimed

“It’s okay. It looked like you were dealing with a lot. Did you expect him to…”

“No. Honestly, I thought he’d look right through me. I thought he’d—”Act as if I didn’t exist. “That kiss doesn’t mean anything. He wasn’t exactly sober.”

“Were you?”

Haisley wanted to write off her behavior as too much tequila, but she didn’t feel buzzed in the slightest. “Did you go home?”

“Right after you. I wasn’t in the party mood.”

Something was definitely up with Charli, and Haisley felt guilty for being so out of the loop. “Same. Listen, how about Sunday brunch? I’d love to catch up, one-on-one. It’s been too long.”

“That would be great.” Charli sighed. “Daniel will probably be at work, so I’ll be alone with the laundry I’d rather avoid.”

“We’ll avoid laundry together.” They set a time at one of their favorite restaurants. “We’ll have fun. It will be like old times. Mimosas, sugar, and shenanigans.”

“That sounds perfect.”

If that was true, why did Charli sound near tears?

After the call ended, Haisley locked up and wandered upstairs and took off her makeup. Then she indulged in a hot shower to ward off the winter chill before slipping between the sheets with her tablet and her latest steamy read. Unfortunately, even the erotic antics of the story’s main couple couldn’t hold her attention.

What was she going to do about Nash? How would she handle bumping into him again without unraveling?

Maybe she’d caved so easily and been rendered breathless tonight because seeing him had been such a surprise. She’d be better braced in the future, right?

Haisley turned out the lights and closed her eyes with a sigh. But Nash refused to go away, lurking in the dark corners, peeling off her clothes, blowing her mind, then holding her close as he pried open her heart with each wicked touch. Every time she tried to clear her thoughts, he appeared, reminding her of how she’d fallen so hard and hopelessly for him…

* * *

August

Three and a half years ago

The sun beat down from the super-blue Louisiana sky, the humid summer heat sweltering and oppressive. But that wasn’t what had Haisley hot and bothered.

Nash Scott was here.

She should have guessed he would be. This town wasn’t all that big, and they had more than a few friends in common.

When she’d seen him last a few weeks back, he’d escorted her and Madison to the Houston hospital where her bestie’s dad was receiving cancer treatment. The hunk of warrior had homed in on her, watching her with those shiver-worthy dark eyes that made her heart pound and flirting with a good-natured smile until her knees felt like goo.

He never bothered to hide how much he wanted her, and he constantly challenged her with one-liners that got under her skin. Still, she did her best to ignore him because if she let him too close, he’d be lethal to her heart.

Even knowing that, Haisley found herself rooted in place when he arrived at the pool party. She stared, helplessly drawn to him. How did that man get hotter every time she saw him?

“I’m here, y’all. Let’s get this shindig started!” Nash set a couple of six-packs on the kitchen counter, shook hands and backslapped a few of his pals. Then he sauntered her way with a grin. “Haisley. You look gorgeous, as usual. Wanna mess around?”

Oh, how she was tempted.

She sent him a saucy hair flip. “You wish.”

“You know it.” He looked her up and down. “What are you wearing under that cute little dress?”

Her bathing suit, like most everyone at this party. “That’s a rude question. Are your brains in your tighty-whities, horn dog?”

“Nope, but whenever I’m around you, something mighty stiff is. Wanna a peek, baby?” He winked.

Haisley rolled her eyes and faked disinterest. “I typically pass on anything I need a microscope to see.”

---