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couldn’t bear to hear Nate pretend that it didn’t matter—when she knew it did.
    His voice was firm, impossible to ignore. It was as though Nate could read her mind, see the ugly thoughts swirling in her addled brain. Leaning her cheek against Nate’s bare chest, the tufts of dark gold hair tickled her nose. She longed to hold him tighter, cling to him, breathe in his strong masculine smell that made her stomach clench. But she knew she couldn’t avoid this discussion. Remembering Laura’s knowing smirk and the dreadful stories Connor had told her about the devious woman gave her courage. Yes, she was jealous, sick with envy—and fear. But her protective urges stirred, knowing how deeply Laura had hurt Nate.
    She pushed away so that she could meet his eyes. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she lifted her chin signaling her willingness to take him on, frustrated that she couldn’t hide the strain in her voice.
    “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”
    Nate stroked her cheek, then gave it a light pinch. Erin gasped. The soft touch and tiny bite of pain unnerved her. She slammed her eyes closed unwilling to give him that window on her soul. But Nate was firm.
    “Look at me, Erin.”
    When she swallowed again, miraculously finding enough spit to get by the aching lump in her throat, she opened her eyes and met his gaze. The twinkle of amusement was gone. Instead, his frown and the tight lines around his mouth signaled his seriousness.
    “I want to talk about the pain I see in your eyes and the tears that look like they might spill over any minute.”
    She nodded, unable to look away and swiped at the corner of her eye. She hadn’t known her tears were so close to the surface.
    Nate shook his head and pinched her cheek again, his finger brushing away the drop of moisture.
    “Erin, honey, I know this going to be hard. But you need to know something and goddammit, you gotta tell me you know it in your soul. I love you, and I’m not going to let that Machiavellian bitch come between us. Do you hear me?”
    Startled that he went straight to the issue was both heartening and disconcerting. It confirmed that he was as concerned about Laura as she was. Refusing to let her look away, he kept his thumb under her chin.
    “Answer me, honey. Tell me that you understand, and that you agree with me,”
    “I’m scared, Nate.”
    Erin surprised herself. Her thoughts had been incoherent, jumbled, but the words that broke free summed it up. Yes, she was jealous of the stunning woman, but she hadn’t realized until the words tumbled out that at base she was afraid.
    Nate sighed and refused to let her look away.
    “What are you afraid of, Erin?”
    Her sigh was as deep as his.
    “I’m… I’m afraid that she will come between us… and she is so beautiful… and…”
    Erin closed her eyes, and tried to grab a deeper breath to make her voice firmer. But looking up at him, all she could get out was a shaky whisper.
    “She scares me, Nate.”
    Nate guffawed with scorn, not laughter.
    “You’re right about that, honey. She is one scary bitch. But Erin, you don’t have to be afraid of her. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, you got that, baby?”
    She frowned. “I’m not scared for me, Nate. I’m afraid for you.”
    He jerked his head in surprise.
    “Me? Damn, honey, that’s one thing you never have to worry about. If you’re gonna worry about me in a fight, worry about the other guy.”
    “No, Nate. I don’t mean like that. I… I know she hurt you in the past, and—”
    Nate cut in. His voice was sharp. “Obviously, you’ve been talking to my cousin. Wanna tell you, honey, ConnorfuckingFreud worries if the sun is shining. Convinced it means we’re due for rain—someday soon. Erin, Laura is in the past. The forgotten past. And that’s where both you and I need to keep her.”
    Erin reared up twisting so that she could meet his gaze head on. “But, Nate, that’s just it. She’s not in the