Page 33 of Wrangling Nash

“Yes, but I should have been there for Clay, for my dad, even for Wylie. You think he’s wild now? He really went wild back then,” he chuckled. "The sad part was that he never really addressed those emotions he'd felt, choosing to medicate them instead. I think that's why he can't seem to end things with Lana. She’d come into the picture around the time my mom died and it’s almost as if he’s holding on to her in order to remember a part of who he was before then..." Nash sighed, “I wish you could have met my mom,” he said as an afterthought, but my heart froze, listening to his words.

Nash was quiet too, and I wondered if he’d regretted saying that out loud. That was a dangerously close to relationship territory statement.

“I wish I could have too,” I said after a few minutes of silence.

Nash grabbed my waist and spun me around to face his front as he gazed into my eyes. “I’m glad you’re here, Jovie. Clay has really opened since you arrived, and it’s a good thing for him to have a nurturing presence in his life. You even make things better for Wylie. You make things better for all of us.”

My heart swooned at Nash’s tender words, and I wondered if he even realized just how sweet he could be.

I needed to remind myself this wasn’t a relationship, just a short, friends-with-benefits situation. But as Nash pulled me tight against his chest, the rhythm of his heart being the sound machine for my sleep, my mind began to panic, wondering how I was going to survive my impending departure when my heart was falling for him.

Chapter 28: Nash

“Mmm... that smells delicious,” I murmured, walking up behind Jovie, who was still wearing the tiny pajama shorts from last night, a tank top, and no bra.

I pressed my front against her back, ensuring she could feel length against her as she stood at the oven, cooking bacon and eggs.

“Stop it, Nash. I’m trying to make breakfast for you and your brothers,” she chuckled as I spun her around, claiming her mouth with mine. I knew she loved it just as much as I did.

“Hey, you two,” Clay said, walking in behind me and taking a seat at the island.

“I’m surprised you’re up already. Thought the watermelon moonshine was going to cause you to sleep the day away,” I said, grabbing a piece of the bacon Jovie just laid out and popping it in my mouth.

He shrugged, “I didn’t drink as much as usual.”

There was sadness in his voice, and I could tell something was bothering him this morning but figured I’d wait until we were in private to ask. Thankfully, Jovie gave me the opportunity.

“The food’s done if you want to start eating. I’m going to take a quick shower and then meet you in the dining room. Who knows how long Lana and Wylie will sleep with all that yelling they were doing last night.” she stated.

Clay grunted, “you’re lucky you didn’t sleep in the room next to them. That yelling turned into angry fucking fast.”

He grabbed a plate and headed into the dining room and though I would have loved to have some one-on-one shower time with Jovie, I could tell something was off with Clay.

“I’ll see you in a minute,” I said, kissing Jovie’s lips gently as she retreated to her room.

“Hey, Clay, what’s going on?” I asked as I plopped down at the dining room table across from him.

He shrugged; his eyes cast downward as he ate.

I knew my brother. Though we were 10 years apart, I could always tell when he wanted to speak his mind but was holding back.

“What’s on your mind, Clay?”

He set down his coffee mug hard and looked up at me, anger, and sadness behind his eyes, “Jovie.”

Shit.

“Did you really have a thing for her?” I asked.

“Of course not, I’m not dumb. She’s been ogling you since she got here.”

I tried to hide my smile.

“Then what is it?”

He sighed, his eyes shifted out to the window, “she’s the best damn thing that’s happened to our family since Mom died. You're happier, hell even Wylie is less of a dick.”

Fuck. I already knew where he was headed with this.

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