Page 38 of Nathan

The door next to Dex’s apartment opens, and a woman in her late sixties steps into the hallway wearing a floor-length, pale-green nightgown, with a white bow no less, and a head full of hair curlers. I suppress a grin. From the glower on her face, I guess she won’t welcome my winning smile.

“What is going on out here? Do you know what time it is, young man?”

I lower my head. “Sorry, ma’am.”

“Sorry won’t help me fall back to sleep without a cup of hot milk now, will it? It’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that Dex doesn’t want to talk to you. Go home. Come back tomorrow at a more reasonable hour.”

She disappears inside with a huff, slamming her door behind her.

Well, shit.

“Dex,” I hiss through the door. “Open up, will you, before Jessica Fletcher comes out and chastises me again.”

I hope slipping in some humor might soften her. I need to find out what the hell she meant about Sharla. She’s obviously been fed some misinformation, and I can’t allow that to fester. I’ll stay out here all night if I have to.

Finally, the chain rattles, and the lock turns. I get one look at her and know I’m in trouble. Her arms are crossed under her chest, and she’s got one hip cocked out to the side.

Humor didn’t work, then.

“Can I come in?”

“Sorry. My vagina isn’t open for sympathy fucks this evening.”

I hold back a grin. God, she’s infuriating but also magnificent. Angry Dex definitely turns me on, although right now probably isn’t the best time to share that thought.

“Let’s talk.”

I take a step forward, testing the water, my eyes locked on hers.

She exhales through her nose, then spits, “This should be good,” before she wheels around and plunks herself on the tiny sofa.

I close the door and sit beside her, my ankle resting over my knee in a show of nonchalance, even though I’m anything but. I try to pinpoint when this thing between us moved from having a bit of fun to something much… more. Where I care. A lot. But I can’t. All I know is that I need this woman in my life.

“Okay, let’s start with you telling me what is going through that gorgeous head of yours.”

Her lips flatten into a thin line. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this with throwaway compliments.”

I offer her a crooked smile. “As soon as I know what I’m supposed to be trying to get out of, I’ll adjust my approach accordingly.”

A hard glare is followed by a sigh before her chin drops to her chest. “Is something going on between you and Sharla?”

“No.”

“Liar.”

I clench my jaw. “I don’t lie.” Not directly, anyway. Keep secrets, yep, absolutely. But I do that for my brothers, to protect them and Mom’s memory. “But in the spirit of full disclosure, Titch, we did sleep together. Once. Over two years ago. What I’d like to know is… who told you?”

She lifts her chin. “I heard a couple guys talking when you were doing that scene. The one where you kissed. They basically implied I was only there as a way to get Sharla to sleep with you.”

She almost turns green. I like the fact she’s jealous because it means she gives a shit, but regardless, if I find those two fucks, I’ll rip them a new asshole.

I graze my knuckles down her bare arm. “Titch, TV and movie sets are hotbeds for gossip. You can’t believe anything you hear.”

She inches her head forward so her hair covers her face, and I tuck it behind her ear to get a better look at her.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier to just ask me instead of all this… drama?”

She twists her lips to one side. “Probably.”

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