It’s almost one in the morning when a rap at my door drags me out of sleep. I tried to stay awake, waiting for Nash, but I must’ve drifted off.
My energy levels haven’t been high for weeks. Matthews’ unexpected visit and what he said about Dad drained me completely. I suspected from the start that Dad didn’t only send me here to recover, but suspicion and confirmation are two different things.
Scrambling out of bed, I pad across the room, shuddering when my bare feet touch the cold floor. My knees almost buckle as I unlock the door. Nash is in gray tracksuit bottoms and a black t-shirt, his damp hair a feast for the senses.
Without waiting for an invitation, he steps in, stormy eyes scanning me from head to toe as always, but there’s something disturbing in his stance.
I instinctively draw back.
He closes the distance between us in two swift strides, taking my face in both hands before his mouth takes mine in a hungry, greedy, passionate kiss, so intense my toes curl.
He smells fresh, spicy, all red-blooded man. The tang of mint on his tongue wakes me up further as he deepens the kiss, my ass filling his strong hands as he lifts me off the floor.
“Hey,” I whisper, catching a breath when he sits on the bed, lowering me to straddle his lap. “You’ve been gone a long time.”
“My car broke down.”
“What ha—”
“Not important,” he clips, tension seizing his tone and muscles. “Tell me what your dad wanted.”
“It wasn’t my dad. He sent Officer Matthews.” I pinch my lips, wondering how much I trust Nash. Jonathan and Dad both said I shouldn’t trust anyone, but I’ve never felt safer than when Nash is close. I snatch Dad’s note off the bedside table. “Something bad is happening. They won’t tell me what, but I’m not here to heal... I’m here to hide.” I hand him the note. “Jonathan took me for a walk but—”
His eyes snap up, rendering me paralyzed and speechless. Little torches burn in his gaze, the passion gone, replaced by anger so potent he growls out the next question.
“How well do you know him, Hailey?”
“Um... quite well, apparently. Why are you mad?”
“Was someone else with you?”
I swallow hard, sensing where this is going. “No.”
“Andwheredid you go with him?”
“Are you jealous? Nothing happened, Nash. He’s my dad’s age. We went for a walk through the forest—”
“You went for a walk through the forest with a man you don’t know.” He tosses the note aside, both hands grasping my hips, the intensity of his touch making me shiver. “You could’ve been hurt, lost...” He drags his hands up, cinching my waist. “Youdon’tknow him. Why do you trust him?”
“Dad introduced us at the hospital. He trusts Matthews enough to send him here even though no one’s supposed to know where I am...” I steady my voice, feeling like a misbehaving child. “I’m okay, aren’t I?”
I drop my gaze and immediately grab his right hand, inspecting the scrapes on his knuckles. “What happened?”
“I told you my car broke down. I fixed it on the side of the road.” He tilts my chin back up. “Don’t change the subject. You were alone with Matthews in the forest. He could’ve hurt you and no one would’ve heard you scream.” He pinches my chin between two fingers, frustration evident in his squared shoulders. “Why are you so fucking reckless?”
“You’re making a big deal out of nothing. What would you have me do? Tell him we’ll only talk with the dean present? He wouldn’t tell me anything.”
“Smarter, Hailey. You need to be smarter. Did you call your dad to check he sent him before you followed him blindly into the woods? Did you tell anyone where you were going?”
He’s got me there. I saw Dad’s note and checking with him didn’t cross my mind.
“You didn’t,” Nash huffs, massaging his temples.
“You’re overreacting.” I weave my fingers through his hair, resting my forehead against his. “I’m fine.”
Instead of arguing, he pushes a few breaths down his nose, his jaw ticking. “Don’t ever do that again.”
A smile breaks out across my lips. I can’t help it, no matter how hard I try to force my lips into a thin line.
