Page 46 of Mine This Time
“Unlike you, I suppose I’ll tell you everything. I’m frustrated because I called Max while I was waiting when you said you were calling the police. It sounds like you’re keeping him more informed than me.”
Fuck.
“Mari, I didn’t want you to get any more stressed than necessary.”
I reached her side just as she spun around. “Do you realize how stupid I feel when I learn my own brother knows more than me about what’s happening?”
“Mari, if it wasn’t?—”
She cut in. “Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on between us. I already let things go too far. At this point, I’m relatively sure that while it feels like we have more going for us, I’m obviously mistaken.”
When my pulse kicked up this time, it wasn’t for the usual reasons when I was in proximity to Mari. A sense of unease slithered through my veins at the distance Mari was putting between us and the admittedly annoyed look in her eyes.
“Mari, I wasn’t keeping anything from you.”
“Okay. How come Max knew more than me about the status of the police investigation?”
I mentally berated myself. The truth was I had glossed over the details with Mari, but my intentions had been good, if misguided. I didn’t want her to worry anymore than she already was. “I just gave you the broad strokes. But you’re right, I was more detailed with Max. Not because I was trying to cut you out, but because he’s been coordinating with us on the online side of things.”
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 Twenty-Four
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.”
