Page 56 of The Moment He Couldn’t Walk Away

The truth was, they’d never liked each other, and Nina guessed that was because SJ saw her as competition. Which was crazy considering the differences between them. SJ’s boobs were lopsided and her tan fake, but not the natural-looking type. The orange tinge made her look older than she was.

“Fuck you, Nina,” SJ snapped, grabbing the hand mirror to look at her brows. “They’re crooked.”

“Well then, now they match your boobs,” Nina snapped.

SJ snarled, and Nina did the same.

“JD should fire you because you’re shit at your job!” SJ snapped.

“At least I have a job,” Nina snapped back.

If she hadn’t been watching, she wouldn’t have seen the tears that suddenly welled in the other woman’s eyes. Stepping closer, Nina put a hand on her shoulder. “Shit, I’m sorry, SJ.”

“Fuck you,” she said, stepping back. “And if you think Finch McAllister could be interested in someone as scrawny as you, think again.” After those words, SJ ran from the room.

Nina tidied away her things, cursing herself for speaking like she had, even if SJ deserved it. She may not like the woman very much, but she was a local. Maybe she’d talk to Libby because she seemed to get along well with her.

Did SJ like Finch? Was that why she’d said what she had?

Memories of the night they’d had together were never far away. She’d fallen asleep after amazing sex, using his warm, hard body as a mattress, and woke to find him gone.

Nina could get used to being with that man. No, absolutely not. He had more baggage than she did, and between them, they’d need a full-time therapist.

She left her room, passing the door to reception. Birdie was sitting behind the counter wearing a Christmas headband with sparkles all over it.

“What are you doing here?”

“Penny is sick today, so I’m filling in. You have Jonathan next. He’s having the works.”

“Okay. He should be good for a laugh.”

“How’s Finch doing, Birdie?” Birdie was her friend, so she could ask the question, besides she really wanted to know.

“It’s hard to say because the man is closed up tighter than Fort Knox. But Blue and I both think he’s better.”

“It will take time to adjust to the changes in his life,” Nina said.

“He needs something to focus on. Some kind of project, or a woman.”

The shock she felt at those words didn’t show on her face, thankfully. “You sound like his mother.”

Birdie laughed. “You’ve met my mother. She wouldn’t speak like that, and maybe that came out wrong⁠—”

“Not sure how it can come out right, to be honest with you, Birdie. Your brother’s life has had one hell of a shake-up. Maybe let him figure out the next steps,” Nina said, then wished she hadn’t as Birdie studied her intently.

“Do you care about my brother, Nina?”

“What? Absolutely not. I mean, he’s a friend, but nothing more than that.” Did she sound panicky? “Look, I get you love him, Birdie, and want him to be happy, but he’ll figure it out,” she added quickly.

“Nina!”

“All right, keep your Turnbull & Assers on!” Nina yelled back, relieved JD was calling her. “Gotta go.”

“Nina.”

She looked at Birdie. “Yeah?”

“Thanks for caring.”