Page 12 of Golden Touch
It’s probably Nash. I’m not so eager to see him, but I’ll take Nash over my ex any day. Even if Nash doesn’t fire me, I’m still indanger. The scary dude Jennie found on her porch last night is still out there somewhere.
The noise grows louder and then stops when the engine cuts outside the window. I rise from my chair and watch Nash Giltmaker swing his leg over the bike.
Okay. Well. At least he isn’t one of Razor’s minions.
A moment later, he knocks twice on the door, then tries the knob. It’s locked, of course.
I cross to the door and open it. And I’m immediately jolted by his larger-than-life attractiveness. Those clear brown eyes. That strong jaw.
For a split second, my heart pauses onwhat if. What if I hadn’t ditched him that night? Would that be a fond memory? Would we have become friends?
He frowns. “Can I come in?” he asks. “My sister said I could stay in the bunkroom upstairs.”
“Startingtomorrownight.” I’m clinging to this detail, because I’m trying to get my head around the idea that this sexy creature and I are supposed to be roommates for six weeks.
He grins suddenly, and his face transforms from hot and grumpy to hot and devastating. “Sure thing, pussycat. You call my hospitalized sister and ask for her keys so I can stay at her place tonight like we planned.”
“Hospitalized?” I yelp.
“Yeah. They’re trying to figure out if she needs a c-section.”
Oh! Poor Leila. And of course I’m not going to bother her right now. “Maybe your dad’s place, then?”
“Uh-huh,” he says with a smirk. “Dad has a cat, and I’m allergic.”
“Oh.” I sigh. And then I have an alarming thought. “Wait—who’s taking care of Smokey?”
Nash tilts his head to the side and smiles again. “Aw, Livia. It’s heartening to know that you care about our animal friends. My mother took in the cat. But the dander is still all over Dad’s house.”
“Right,” I say, stepping back from the door and waving him in. My kitchen area isverysmall all of a sudden. “Look, I’m sure you’re used to nicer digs than this. Maybe you’ll find yourself a nice Airbnb.”
His grin widens. “Doubt it. I took a leave of absence from my job to volunteer for my dad. Not hurting for money, exactly, but it would burn me up to spend a lot of cash while I’m here. And I’m not a picky guy. Even if it’s a disaster upstairs, I plan to give it a whirl.”
“Fine. It’s your funeral.”
He chuckles. “You seem awfully eager to get rid of me. Can I ask why you offered to host me upstairs?”
Because I don’t really have a choice?
And because it never occurred to me that a successful brewing executive would look anything like him. I’d expected a nerd in a suit. Not a muscular bad boy with ink showing at the V-neck of his T-shirt.
I don’t feel like sharing either explanation with him, so I say between clenched teeth, “Just feeling neighborly.”
His smile fades, and his intelligent brown eyes dart around my kitchen and living areas. “This place was a crumbling dump last time I was here. You must have spent some hours fixing it up, yeah?”
I shrug. He’s right, but I don’t really want to discuss it.
“My dad probably likes having you on the property,” he says, rubbing his chin. “You’re always at his beck and call that way.”
“It’s convenient,” I grudgingly agree. “And it saves both of us money.”
“I bet,” he says. “Cheap place to live, and he probably pays you less as part of the deal, right?”
That’s exactly right. I just nod.
“Huh. Wonder how the tax accountant feels about that.” He frowns, and I quail inside. Then he pats the saddlebag over his arm. “Just gonna drop my bag upstairs. Back in a jif.” He turns to head up the stairs on long legs.
I shouldn’t notice how his ass does an admirable job of filling out his jeans, but I’m only human. He’s the hottest man I’ve laid eyes on in years.
