“And you’re going to be staying at Aidan’s?”He asked thequestion like he was worried about the response.
At least she could ease his mind about one thing.Theywouldn’t be stuck together.No forced proximity for them.“Nope.I’m going hometonight.I bought my house a couple of months ago, and I’m working onrenovating it.”
“All right, I have to ask.How did you afford a house?You’re barely twenty-five, and from what I can tell you haven’t had a steadyjob since you left college.”
What had he heard about her?She might have to rethink thebelief her brother actually liked her.“I’ve always had a job.It’s just Ihopped around a lot.”
“Did your parents give you the down payment?”
It was another one of those stories she probably shouldn’tshare with him.But it wasn’t like they were dating.“No, they didn’t.I cameinto some money a while back when I happened to stumble on a sex traffickingoperation.I saved a couple of young ladies, and their families insisted ongiving me a reward.I used it for a down payment on my house, but I still havea mortgage.”
Nate’s head turned, his jaw dropping.“You did what?”
“It wasn’t a big deal.I was dating this guy who turned outto be in the business, so to speak, but I always carry around some strips totest drinks.When he drugged me, I only pretended to be out, and he didn’trealize I was carrying one of the twins’ phones because they needed to show upas partying downtown to fool some foreign spy agency, so I called and thepolice raided.”She thought about it for a moment.“You know, it’s kind of atheme for me.”
“I’m sorry.So what you’re telling me is the guy you weredating was going to traffick you?”
“I think they called it an auction,” she explained.“Ididn’t get very far into it.Sometimes I wonder what my opening bid would havebeen.”
He shuddered, and his hands tightened on the wheel.“Youneed a keeper, girl.”
She got that a lot.“Anyway, everyone freaked, but I made acouple of friends and I got to give Aunt Serena a good idea for a book, so itall worked out.But I do need a paycheck.I couldn’t go home last night becausemy bodyguard was on vacation.He came back early so he could start the job.”
Nate huffed.“So you’re making some bloke with a family staywith you twenty-four seven because you refuse to stay with your family?”
She was starting to get the feeling Nate didn’t like hervery much.“No.My father is making some bloke stay with me.I would be fine onmy own.I have a security system.I have had some self-defense training.Myfather is being overly protective.”
“Or you aren’t taking the threat seriously enough,” Natereplied.
“We don’t even know there is a threat.I might not have totestify.We know very little about…” She sighed.“I don’t want to argue.I canbe quiet until we get to the office.I’ll be working on another floor, so youwon’t have to see me.”
He was quiet for a moment.“Why wouldn’t I want to see you?”
“I don’t know since I thought we were kind of friends.Yourparents are pretty much family.”
“We’re not family, Daisy,” he said quickly.“I wouldn’t callus old friends either.We don’t know each other.Aidan and I kept up.He’s cometo Australia a couple of times.The one time I visited here, you were out oftown.”
It had been years before.“It was my senior class trip.Look, I know when I rub a guy wrong.It’s cool.You don’t like me.”
“Never said I didn’t like you,” he replied.
Not in so many words, but she’d heard him loud and clear.“You literally called me selfish.”
“I was merely pointing out that if you stayed at Aidan’s,Brian wouldn’t have had to cut his holiday short.I could look after you.”Hesaid the words casually, like it wouldn’t be the end of her world.
It wouldn’t be.Not the end of her world.But the end of herpeace of mind because she was pretty sure she would make an absolute fool ofherself if she was around this man for any amount of time.“Where would I sleepwhen Cooper eventually comes home?”
“Apparently you could stay in Tristan’s room since he hasn’tbeen back in months.You could move right in.It would make your dad feelbetter.It’s not like I’m doing anything.”
“Cool, then you can move into my place.”She stopped, takinga long breath because she hadn’t meant to say that.He was flustering her.“Ididn’t mean that.I certainly don’t think you want to hang around metwenty-four seven.I’ll talk to my da.He’s being unreasonable.”
“So you’re going to be stubborn,” Nate grumbled.
Maybe he wasn’t so gorgeous.“It’s nothing you should worryabout.Like I said I’ll be out of your hair the minute we get to the office.I’m sure my da will be thrilled to give me a ride home.”
And numerous lectures on how she was going to give him aheart attack.
“Maybe I should be the one to have a long talk with yourda,” he muttered under his breath.
