Something I couldn’t put my finger on, but that had me stopping all the same. As soon as I did, Nash dropped his gaze, then turned back to the bottle.
The next time you see Nash, look at him. Really look at him. No matter what he’s saying, or doing. Just look. And then look some more. At some point, you’ll see it.
“I guess I’ll see you in the morning. We need to leave for the airfield around nine,” I said as I watched Nash carefully.
“Fine.”
“Will we be meeting up with Agent Simmons?” I asked.
Nash didn’t look at me, but he didn’t need to. The truth was in the way his body shifted as he once again drummed his fingers on the counter.
“No. He’s been… reassigned.”
“Another agent, then?” I said.
He still didn’t look at me. “No.”
“Surely you want to take some time for yourself while we’re home,” I offered as I watched him like a hawk.
“Not necessary.”
“I could talk to the director about having Agent Simmons come back here with me. You wouldn’t have to put up with Gage anymore… or me.”
“No.”
It wasn’t the word itself, but the way he said it that had something lighting up inside of me. Could Gage be right? Was it possiblethat Nash was interested in me as more than just his latest assignment?
Yeah, because you’re such a catch that you’ve got two gorgeous guys after you.
I forced myself to ignore the cruel inner voice.
“I’m sure Simmons wouldn’t mind?—”
“He doesn’t like to travel,” Nash cut in, his voice growing angrier.
“Someone else, then,” I offered.
Nash let out a rude snort and then looked at me. I expected him to be pissed, and he was, but there was something else there too.
Frustration, maybe?
Irritation?
I tried to put my finger on what emotion I was seeing, but it continued to elude me. “I could just follow through on declining protection and then it wouldn’t be an issue anymore,” I offered.
As Nash barked out a swift, “No,” I finally realized what the emotion was.
Desperation.
Holy fuck, Gage had been right. How had I never seen it before? And what else had I missed? I’d only ever heard Nash’s words, but I’d never thought to look at what was behind them.
Maybe I was wrong… maybe I was reading into something that wasn’t there because Gage’s words had planted the seed.
But what if he wasn’t wrong? What if Nash was interested in me? Where did that leave me? I was too old for him, of course. Not to mention I was still as drawn to Gage as I’d been from the moment I’d met him, more so, even. Last night had been proof of that.
Fuck, all I had was more questions than answers.
“I guess I’ll say good night,” I murmured, since I had no idea what else to say to Nash. I turned to go, but stopped when Nash spoke.
