refilled and chugged did she chance a glance across the table.
Somehow, someway he knew she’d been thinking about him. It was written all over his face. However, instead of the smug, arrogant look he’d been giving her all day, this expression came dangerously close to mirroring the tender one he’d given the blonde.
The honesty of it took her breath away.
God, what’s with these mushy, emotional thoughts and feelings?
She had to get away from him. Since dinner hadn’t arrived, she excused herself and practically ran to the ladies’ room.
A large sitting area situated directly inside the door provided much needed privacy.
She dropped into one of the chairs and stared at the ceiling, hoping to either find answers in the vast white space or allow the blankness to suck her up and take her away.
She closed her eyes and fought the dizzy spins. She’d had entirely too much to drink and instead of making her numb and immune to Adam, it was making him more appealing. And sexy. God, was he ever sexy.
For the past year and a half, she’d been telling herself he was an overbearing asshole who needed to be avoided. She did not need to see this nice, personable side of him.
If she thought she could have quick, meaningless sex with him and then move on, she’d do it in a heartbeat. But it wouldn’t be quick—somehow she knew he would take his sweet time and it would be a long, memorable experience. And, despite her attempts to block him from her life, she already cared for him so it wouldn’t be meaningless. Her only hope of surviving the weekend was to resume her campaign of avoidance.
With her resolve back in place, she took care of business then washed her hands. She flung open the bathroom door and yelped when she saw a dark figure looming in the hall.
Nate was leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom door, his arms crossed and a concerned expression on his face. “Shit, Nate. You scared me.” She glanced around the hallway and saw they were alone. “What are you doing?”
“We were worried about you. The back room is safe but we didn’t want you walking through this dark hallway without someone watching you.”
“Where’s the babysitter?”
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“He thought maybe it would be best if I came back and checked on you, since you seemed upset.”
“I’m fine. But I’ve got one question for you. Why did you insist Adam come with me? Why him of all people?”
Nate didn’t hesitate in answering. “He’s the only other person I trust with your life.
Besides me, there’s nobody else I’d rather have protecting you.”
Nikki’s breath caught in her throat. She knew Nate thought a lot of Adam but she didn’t know he thought that much of him. “You don’t know what you’re saying, Nate. I don’t think you know him as well as you think you do.” No way could he know about Adam’s secret perversions and still be so gung-ho on having him be her bodyguard.
Nate’s expression became unreadable and an uncomfortable silence squeezed in on them as he studied her. Finally, he sighed and said, “Yeah, Sis. I do know what I’m saying. I know him very, very well and I’m telling you, I trust him completely.”
Nikki’s feet were rooted in place. Nate was trying to tell her something without coming right out and saying it, which wasn’t like him. It was the Kincaid Curse. They always said what was on their mind—without much prior thought—and never left anyone wondering where they stood.
But right now she definitely wondered, and what he’d implied left a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Did Nate know about Adam’s lifestyle and, if so, was it something he condoned?
Before she had time to consider all the implications, Nate motioned for her to go ahead of him. “Our food’s getting cold, let’s go eat.”
She sat at the table and looked at the mostly empty bottle of wine. It must be the wine making her paranoid and silly. Nate