Page 2 of Line of Resistance

Nate was still just as frustratingly good-looking today as he was all those months ago. Still had the same gosh darn dimples that literally had her tripping all over herself the night of the Christmas party at Alaskan Security.

At least tonight he wasn't dressed like he was ready to star in Mission Impossible. Not that his well-fitting jeans and the T-shirt hugging his biceps were any less appealing.

"It wasn't hard." Naomi pressed her lips together before adding on. "He practically ran for the door when he realized it was you we were going out with."

Her heart skipped a little beat. Clearly it had learned nothing from the past two years because it still got all fluttery at the sight of another poor decision.

And that's what Nate was. A poor decision.

"So is he staying, or is he going?" Naomi hooked her arm through one of Eloise’s. "Because I'll send them both home if you'd rather turn this into a girls’ night."

Eloise peeked Naomi's way. "It could be just you and me?"

Naomi nodded. "Absolutely."

The offer was tempting. She could spend the night licking her wounds instead of forcing herself to pretend she was fine, which was what she would do if Nate stayed. She would act like the evening's events hadn't affected her. Like she wasn't so embarrassed she wanted to cry. Like she wasn't considering the very real possibility that she just might not be the kind of girl men ended up with.

Eloise sighed, her shoulders slumping a little because she knew she couldn't do that to Naomi. She and Tyson so rarely had a night together and they'd gone to a lot of trouble to arrange for a babysitter for Emmett. "It's okay. They can stay."

Once again she would suck it up. Slap on a smile and power through.

Then tomorrow she could wallow. Sit at home in her pajamas all day, eating piles of crap and watching romantic comedies that didn't remotely resemble her love life.

Maybe the comedy part, but only because it was becoming laughable how hard it was for her to keep a man.

Naomi lifted her brows, expression serious. "Are you sure?"

Eloise forced on a smile. "I'm sure. It will be fine."

Naomi didn't look convinced. "If you change your mind, just tell me and I will throw him out of this place so fast it will make him see Jesus."

Eloise’s smile turned a little more genuine because she knew Naomi would make good on her offer if she asked her to. "Is that why you really brought him here? Because you hoped I would let you throw him out?"

Naomi's lips lifted in a sly smile. "He deserves it for what happened at the Christmas party."

Eloise accidentally glanced Nate's way again, the memory of that awful, embarrassing moment putting a damper on the tiny bit of optimism she'd almost managed to grab. "It's fine." She stood a little taller, lifting her chin. "I'm over it."

A greater lie had never been told, but honestly what choice did she have? There was no way she could admit that there were times she still lay in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, face burning from the lingering sting of the holiday humiliation.

When Nate made it clear kissing her under the mistletoe wasn’t on his list of life goals.

“You ladies ready to go in?” Tyson moved in close at Naomi’s side, resting one hand on her back in a possessive touch that really only added insult to injury.

No man had ever touched her like that and not a single one looked at her the way Tyson’s dark eyes held Naomi’s, filled with adoration and attachment.

“I think so.” Naomi turned to Eloise. “Are you ready?”

She forced on a yet another smile. “Definitely.”

Naomi studied her a second longer, as if she was looking for any sign of the lie Eloise just told. Her dark eyes barely narrowed before shifting to Nate, lingering until he shifted on his feet.

She shouldn’t love his obvious discomfort, but damned if it wasn’t turning out to be the highlight of her night. Not that it was difficult to claim that spot.

Naomi finally turned to Tyson, taking the arm he offered before falling into step with the crowd filtering through the open auditorium doors.

“Eloise.” Nate’s voice was close.

Close enough to send her side-stepping in surprise, nearly colliding with a woman juggling an infant with one arm and towing a toddler with the other.

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