Page 50 of Seduction in Spades

CHAPTER NINE

Ilift my hands abovemy head and stretch my body. I’m a sound sleeper, but I’ve never felt this satiated in the morning. The brush of the sheets against my naked skin reminds me I didn’t fall asleep in my usual leggings and T-shirt.

Rolling to my side, I crack open my eyes and see the empty space next to me. For all I know, Nolan could have spent the night. We had the slowest, most passionate sex I’ve ever had, and it was wonderful. He was in no rush, and for the first time, neither was I.

I roll out of bed and use the bathroom. After shrugging on a robe, I go out to clean up the dinner mess. Only there isn’t any. The plates we left on the table are cleared, and the sink is free of dishes.

Somehow Nolan washed, dried, and put away the dishes while I slept not far away. “Hell, that man wiped me out.”

A smile forms on my lips as I remember how gentle he was with me. I’ve never been one for gentle sex. I’ve always kept emotions and sex separate. Mixing the two can only lead to devastation and distraction.

Somehow, Nolan slipped through my protective barrier and made me care about him. If he’d stayed the night, I would have woken up angry and kicked him out. If I’d heard him cleaning up, I would have pushed him away, not wanting the domestic familiarity.

Granted, I cooked for him already. Not that it had been pre-planned. More like he stuck around while I made my dinner, so I did the polite thing and let him stay. We crossed the line last night in more ways than one.

Dinner. Conversation about past relationships—or lack thereof. Gentle sex. Possibly making love, although I don’t want to admit that what happened between us was anything more than no-strings sex.

It’s the domesticity from last night that has my hands shaking. Nolan is a good man. He’s sweet. Loyal. Trustworthy.

And I’m falling for him.

There could be worse things. Worse people. I slide down the wall and sit on the floor, wrapping my arms around my legs. Most women would kill to be in my shoes.

A gorgeous, kind man who wants more than just sex? And does the dishes? And makes love like a freaking god?

I lower my forehead to my knees and groan. Why does this have to be so complicated? There’s a part of me screaming to just do it. Try the dating thing with Nolan and see where it leads us. And then the pessimist in me shoots off flare guns warning of danger ahead.

He’s my brother’s business partner and close friend, and Nolan’s sense of loyalty is incredibly strong. If we start dating, he’s the type of guy to stay in the relationship even when he wants out of it, due to his loyalty to my brother. If I end things with Nolan, Trey will blame him for hurting me, thus ruining their friendship and partnership.

No good can come from this. Casual, secret sex is the only answer.

I push myself to stand and go through my morning routine. My workday is long and busy, which helps keep my mind off Nolan.

Sort of.

At five o’clock, I pack up my bag and head out.

“In case no one has told you yet, you’re doing great. No one would believe you’re new around here.”

“Thank you, Marcy. That means a lot. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with my training. You’re an excellent teacher.”

I lucked out by being assigned to her as my mentor. She’s super sweet and incredibly intelligent. The number of degrees hanging on her wall were earned through hard work and a great deal of dedication.

We ride the elevator downstairs, and I hold the door for her as we exit the building. “Busy night of sports for you?”

“Kaden has a football game and Lizzie has soccer. Matt’s heading to Lizzie’s game since it’s closer to his work. They should make it back for the second half of Kaden’s game.”

“I don’t know how you manage it all.”

“Kids make life busy and messy. Wouldn’t trade them for the world.” She presses the button for the crosswalk, and we wait with the rest of the nine-to-fivers rushing to get home for the weekend. “You must have lots of plans for the weekend, a pretty woman in the city. Boy, do I miss those days.”

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