Down to You (4 page)

Then there’s me. I’m an accounting student
slash bartender slash farmer’s daughter. Yeah, stealing Nash isn’t
an option, even if I was the type to attempt it.

Fortunately, that makes a car ride with him
even more harmless.

After rolling up the window, I climb out of
the car and lock the door before heading for the plush, cool
interior of Nash’s BMW. I say nothing about the satisfied smile
he’s wearing when he slides in beside me. It’s better if he thinks
he won.

“Now, was that so hard?”

I try to keep my smile slightly on the
tolerant side, squashing my exuberance. “I guess not. You drive a
hard bargain.”

“So I’ve been told.”

“I’m sure you have,” I mutter. When Nash’s
head whips in my direction, I smile innocently. “What?”

He looks suspicious. “I thought you said
something.”

“Nope. Not me.”

I smother my grin as he backs out of the
lot.

CHAPTER SIX- Nash

I watch Olivia from the corner of my eye as I
steer the car toward interstate. I know I’m asking for trouble,
going to such lengths to spend a little more time with this
girl.

It’s not that I wouldn’t help any female
stranded in a similar situation. But would I go this far? Probably
not. And would I insist upon it? Definitely not.

Why couldn’t you just wait with her until a
tow truck showed up and then leave?

I don’t know the answer to that, but it seems
like there’s just something about her…

She’s great looking, no doubt, even though
she’s not necessarily my type. She’s the complete opposite of
Marissa in practically every way, physical and otherwise. And, even
though Marissa fits everything in my life to perfection, I don’t
feel drawn to her like I do this girl.

And that’s not good.

And I know it.

Yet here I am. Driving her half way across
the state to drop her off at work. While my girlfriend is waiting
for me.

Oh, shit! Marissa!

As I accelerate up the entrance ramp, I turn
to Olivia. “Do you mind if I let Marissa know?”

She smiles and shakes her head.

I click a couple buttons on the console to
turn off the Bluetooth. I don’t want Olivia to hear my conversation
with Marissa.

“Where are you?” Marissa asks as she answers
the phone.

“Olivia’s car wouldn’t start. I’m taking her
to work and then I’ll be there.”

“Olivia? My cousin, Olivia?”

“Of course. Who else?”

“And you’re taking her all the way to work?
In Salt Springs?”

“Yes.”

Silence greets me. I know what Marissa is
like to others. I’m fully aware of the comments and the tantrum
she’s suppressing for my benefit. She’s very good at maintaining
her carefully forged façade. She knows our relationship would cease
to be if she didn’t. For that reason, she doesn’t speak until she
has her temper under control.

“That’s awfully nice of you to do that for
her. Just know that I don’t expect it. She’s related to me, but I
would never ask you to go out of your way like this.”

“I know you wouldn’t. I don’t mind.
Really.”

Another pause.

“All right. I guess I’ll see you in a couple
hours then.”

“See you soon.”

When I lay my phone in the cup holder, I see
Olivia watching me.

“Something wrong?”

“I was wondering the same thing. Is she
mad?”

“No. Why would she be mad?”

“Do you even
know
who you’re
dating?”

I can’t help but laugh. “She’s not all bad.
She was fine with it.”

“Hmmm.”

“Obviously there’s no love lost between you
two. So why are you living with her?”

I glance at Olivia and I see her face
crumble.

“I sound like an ungrateful witch, don’t I?
And she
is
your girlfriend. I’m so sorry!”

Damn, I’ve made her feel bad.

“Please don’t apologize. It wasn’t my
intention to make you feel bad. I was just curious how it all came
about.”

“Marissa didn’t tell you?”

“No. She doesn’t talk much about it.”

“Figures,” she murmurs. I act like I don’t
hear her. But it makes me want to smile. “Well, the roommate I’ve
had for the last two years up and followed her boyfriend to
Colorado without telling me. It was time to renew the lease and I
didn’t have the money to continue it on my own, so I had to make
other arrangements. My best friend offered me her couch, but she’s
getting married next month, so that’s just not gonna happen. That
left me with the dorms. Until Marissa’s father offered to let me
stay with her. He isn’t charging me as much as I’d have to pay for
room and board at school, which is great because that would’ve been
a huge problem for me. I’m on a pretty tight budget, even though
Tad pays me really well to bartend.” She looks to me and I nod my
head in understanding. “It doesn’t sound like it, but I really am
grateful. I’ve just had a rough week.”

“So you bartend?”

“Yep.”

“Can I ask why you drive so far when there
are probably dozens of bars in the city that would hire you?”

“Tad pays better than any of the places I’ve
checked. He has a lot of girls that call in for their weekend
shifts, so he pays me extra to work every weekend. I’ve worked
there for two years and I’ve known him half my life. He knows I’ll
always show up.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I forced you into
letting me bring you then.”

She grins at me. It’s a cute, sexy little
grin that makes me want to kiss her.

And that’s not good.

“I guess I owe you one.”

“I’m sure I can think of something you can do
to pay me back.”

Dude, now you’re flirting?

Even to my own ears, my comment sounds
suggestive. The sad thing is, it was meant that way. There are
literally a dozen things I’d love for her to do for me. Or to me.
Or let me do to her.

Her grin widens into a smile. “Just let me
know when you think of something then.”

Great! Now she’s flirting back!

I should mind. I should be opposed to it. But
I’m not. Far from it!

I need to change the subject. “So, I don’t
know how much my brother pays, but I’m sure he’s very competitive.
Why don’t I talk to Cash about you? He might have an opening.”

I see panic on her face. “No!”

“O-kay,” I say, a little shocked by her
reaction. “May I ask why not?”

She sighs and leans her head back against the
head rest, closing her eyes. “It’s kind of a long and very
embarrassing story.”

“Does it have something to do with you taking
his clothes off?”

Her head jerks up and she turns wide eyes on
me. “Did he say something about it?”

“No, you mentioned it that first morning,
remember?”

Her expression calms. “Oh yeah. That’s
right.”

“So just because of one little incident like
that, you’d refuse a job offer that would keep you closer to home
and probably put more money in your pocket?”

“Well, the more money in my pocket thing
remains to be seen. You don’t know how much he pays.”

“I can almost guarantee it would be enough to
make it worth your while. His club is pretty big.”

“Hmmm,” she answers again.

“You should at least think about it. Unless
you want me to force you again. I could carry you in there, you
know.”

She looks over at me and smiles. And I want
nothing more than to pull over and drag her into my lap.

“On second thought, maybe I’d rather you make
me force you.”

What the hell are you doing, man?

She picks up her head off the head rest then
cocks it to one side. “Are you flirting with me?”

I shrug. She’s very direct. I like that.

“Would you mind if I was?”

“Marissa is my cousin, you know.”

“But you can barely stand her.”

“That’s not the point. I’m not
that
girl.”

I look at her. And I don’t doubt her for one
second. She might think Marissa’s a cold bitch, but she would never
purposely do anything to hurt her.

“Believe it or not, I know you’re not. I’m a
pretty good judge of character and I have no doubts you’re not
that
girl.”

Her brow wrinkles. “Then why are you flirting
with me?”

She’s serious. She’s not smiling or teasing,
but she’s not judging me either. She’s just curious.

I’m fascinated and, for one second,
completely honest with her.

“I can’t seem to help myself.”

CHAPTER SEVEN- Olivia

How in the world did I let him talk me into
this?

I’m standing in front of the main door of
Dual. I look long and hard at the sign. I have to smile. Dual.
Double. Two. Twins. It appears Cash is cheeky in every aspect of
his life. And clever.

Dammit.

It’s broad daylight and the parking lot is
empty. I’m having serious reservations about what I’m getting ready
to do. Nash has pestered me about letting him get me a job at the
club since Sunday night when my dad dropped me back at the
apartment.

Even though it seems that Cash and Nash don’t
get along very well at all, Nash offered to bring me by and
officially introduce me to his brother. Stubborn idiot that I am, I
refused to even consider the job. But now that the weekend
approaches and I’m dreading going all the way back to Salt Springs
to work at Tad’s, I’m feeling more optimistic about working for
Cash. Unfortunately, Nash had to leave to go out of town again, so
now I’m stuck going in alone. And I’m having second thoughts.
Especially since the reason I’m most anxious to stick around town
on the weekends is to see more of Nash, who is strictly off
limits.

You’re such a dumb ass! Talk about flirting
with disaster!

I sigh and shift my weight from foot to foot,
debating what to do. I look longingly back at my car, the car that
Nash had a mechanic come look at and fix before I even got back
home on Sunday. Turns out it was something simple with a spark
plug, I think he said. But still… He had it fixed.

I sigh.

It’s the possibility of seeing more of Nash,
of him casually dropping by to check on me, that pushes me in the
direction of the door.

I open it and walk into the dark interior.
Even in the middle of the day, very little light shines in through
the small, high windows.

The bar looks totally different without the
wild lights and the wall-to-wall crush of bodies. The high tables
are clean and empty, the black floors are polished to a shine,
there is some kind of instrumental music pouring softly from the
speakers and the only illumination in the whole room is the backlit
liquor display cases behind the bar.

Nash said Cash would be here all day, but I’m
beginning to think I should’ve had him set a specific time. I have
no idea where to look for him.

My flip flops make a hushed flapping sound
against my heels as I make my way across the room. I walk to the
bar and pull out a stool to sit on, hoping Cash is keeping an eye
on the place since the door was open.

I nearly swallow my tongue when Cash pops up
from behind the bar. “You must be Olivia.”

“Holy mother of hell!” I say, grabbing my
chest to still my racing heart.

He laughs. “With a mouth like that, you’ll
fit right in here.”

If I weren’t so surprised, I’d probably take
exception to that comment. Instead, I laugh.

“You bring out the worst in me. What can I
say?”

Cash is wearing a black tank top that
perfectly showcases his muscular arms and the interesting tattoo
that adorns the left side of his chest. I try not to think of him
as mouthwatering, but that’s the word that keeps going through my
head.

Dammit!

He puts his elbows on the bar and leans in
closer to me. “That’s because you haven’t given me the chance to
bring out the best in you.”

His voice is deep and quiet. His brow is
arched, much like it was that first night—in a suggestively
challenging way. I feel my pulse pick up.

Good God, he’s even hotter than I
remember!

Somehow, I’d managed to convince myself that
he wasn’t as appealing as Nash, that because he’s the bad boy of
the two, he’s less attractive. Sweet Lord, was I wrong!

I try desperately to hang onto my brain and
make a better impression this time. I know I’ll only get this one
chance to redeem myself.

I smile politely and respond. “Well, that
won’t be a problem if I start working for you, right?”

He leans back and smiles crookedly. “Already
threatening a sexual harassment suit?”

“No, I… of course not! I... I didn’t
mean…what I actually meant was…” In my head, I hear the sound of an
airplane falling from the sky at terminal velocity then crashing
into the side of a mountain with a loud explosion.

Shut up, Olivia! Please, just shut up!

“Don’t back down now! This was just getting
interesting.”

I exhale. I’m both relieved and a little
irritated.

He’s teasing me!

“Are you always this evil?”

“Evil?” he asks, his expression innocent.
“Me? Nooooo.”

With a grin, he plants his hands flat on the
bar and lifts himself onto it, throwing his legs over and hopping
down right beside me. I actually squeeze my eyes shut for a second
in hopes that the vision of his biceps and triceps straining
against his smooth skin won’t be permanently etched onto my mind. I
think I’m too late, though, because it’s all I can see on the
backdrop of my lids.

Dammit!

“Nash says you bartend, right?”

My eyes open to his. He’s staring down at me,
so close I can see the vague line where black pupil stops and
nearly-black iris begins. Those eyes are amazing!

I see his eyebrows rise, prompting me.

“Pardon?” I ask.

“Nothing. I don’t even think it matters. If
you’re this adorably sexy all the time, no one will care how fast
you get them their drinks.”