Page 19 of A Little More

“What is it?”

She licked her lips and took a deep breath. “Can I look inside the house at some point? I know that’s probably a rude thing to ask, seeing how this is a business relationship, but if you don’t mind?”

“Sure thing. By the way, where are you staying?”

“I tried the bed and breakfast as you suggested, but they were closing for renovations.”

He’d forgotten about that.

“So, I found the Magnolia Motel in—”

“No.” No way any woman, alone, would stay at the roach motel. “You can stay here.”

Panic covered her features. “I can’t stay with you, Nash. That wouldn’t be appropriate on any level. With Julien coming down tomorrow, geez, he’d fire me on the spot. I really don’t want to lose this job.” She sucked in a big gulp of air like she was deprived of oxygen.

He rested his hands on her shoulders, squeezing them gently. “Calm down. I meant you could stay down here, as in with my mom. She loves company.” Although, now that she’d put that image in his head, he had a hard time getting it out. It was his turn to take a deep breath.

“Oh. That’s a nice offer, but I’ll be fine. Besides, I don’t want to impose on her.”

“Seriously? It would make her day. Here. I’m going to put her on speakerphone and ask. You’ll see how much she loves company.” It would also keep her close to him. Another plus.

“Nash,” she said, her plea sounding intimate like their relationship went beyond the simple label she’d slapped on it. Why did he want so much from her when she was so against it? He’d never been a man that liked to chase women.

He selected his mom’s name to dial and placed it on speakerphone.

Lexi moved a touch closer, her arm brushing against his. “I don’t want to—”

“Hello.”

“Hi, Mom. I have a favor to ask.”

“Can it wait until two? My soaps are on.”

“It won’t take long. I’m sure Victor or Nikki or whoever can wait.”

“What is it, son?” Her annoyance so evident in her voice, Nash smiled.

He watched Lexi’s face, her focus on his phone. “Lexi is here, but she had plans to stay at the Magnolia Motel.”

“Oh, no, she won’t.” His mom’s angry voice tugged a smile from Lexi’s lips. “You send her right down here. I’ll get her settled in your old bedroom. That sweet child doesn’t need to be at that seedy motel alone. Or ever. I don’t know why they haven’t torn it down yet.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say.” He grinned at Lexi. She watched him a moment before focusing back on his house. The lines of her profile captured him. He ran his free hand over his head instead of running his finger down the smooth curve of her cheek.

“You and your father always did have a soft spot for women.”

He didn’t need to get into that conversation. “I’ll be by later to get cleaned up.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” He hung up the phone, intensely aware of Lexi’s proximity. He glanced down, her eyebrows raised. “What?”

“It’s not every day you hear a guy tell his mom that he loves her.”

Nash shrugged. “We always have.”

“It’s sweet.” Was sweet a good thing? With a last look over her shoulder toward his house, she started back. “Let me know when I can peek inside your house. I sort of have a thing for older homes.”

“If by old you mean in need of some major repair, then this will be right up your alley.”

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