Page 54 of Trapped
A thigh she could have bounced a quarter off. A thigh I’d dreamt about more than once.NOPE. Not going there.
“You’re just a little rough around the edges,” Gran added, with a loving smile.
Nathan’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. He blinked a few times before saying, “Thank you.”
Did he really think he was ugly? Sure, he had a gnarly scar on the left side of his face, but it didn’t detract from his good looks. It did, however, add to his mystery and bad-boy sex appeal.
His scar wasn’t the only new thing since Vegas. The version of Nathan I met, when he called himself Scott, oozed confidence. The man sitting here tonight didn’t.
Nathan met my eyes, turning his head just enough so the scar I’d been staring at was no longer visible. I tried to imagine how I’d feel if my face were scarred. Awful. Hideous. Unlovable. But I could hide it with makeup.
“Any more questions, Ms. York?” He asked, his tone formal, flat, cold. Like he didn’t give two fucks about me or the pain he’d caused.
Way to kill my sympathy, asshole.
“No, Scott, none.” His eyes rounded again at the use of his fake name.
I cursed myself when Gran asked, “I thought your name was Nathan?”
“Scott is my middle name.”
And the only name he’d given me in Vegas. Nathan told me he was undercover, but he shouldn’t have lied to me. If lying was his only option, he should’ve left me alone.
“Oh. What’s your last name, dear?” Gran asked.
His eyes never left mine, as if he thought maybe I’d forgotten it. “Blaszek, Nathan Scott Blaszek.”
“That’s a good strong name, don’t you think, Ashley?” she asked, all smiles.
“I don’t know; it sounds fishy to me,” I answered.
“Pay her no mind, Nathan; judging from the way she’s looking at you, she thinks it’s a fine name.”
Laughter erupted as I yelled, “GRAN!”
Gran had diffused the situation, but Nathan wasn’t laughing. Neither was I.
“Thank you for an interesting evening, but I should go.” Nathan stood and reached down to shake Gran’s hand.
She stood, with his help, and hugged him. The shock on his face was priceless. Almost worth the humiliation I’d just suffered.Almost.
“I hope to see you again soon,” Gran said. “Ashley, be a good hostess and walk our guest out.”
She was bound and determined to put Nathan and me together. I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t say no. “Okay.” I stood and went out of my way to avoid looking at my friends, knowing I couldn’t handle seeing their amused expressions.
They’d never seen this side of me. The good girl who followed orders and doted on her grandmother.
I’ll hear about this sixfold as soon as Gran goes to bed.
I escorted our guest to his truck. As soon as we exited the gate, he scanned left and right, like he were searching for someone. No, I recognized the act. He wasn’t searching for someone; he was checking for threats.
“What are you doing?” I hid my fear by feigning annoyance. His overbearing reaction seemed a bit much for a vase full of flowers.
“What?” he asked, looking down at me.
“Never mind.” I sighed. “Just go.”
He stopped on the sidewalk, turned to me, and said, “Ashley, I’ve already apologized for lying. I didn’t like doing it, but I had to.”
