Page 67 of Seduction in Spades

“I’m not sure how Ifeel about you being so good at packing a suitcase for me.” I hang the last of the tops Nolan packed for me next to the five others.

He asked me to make a list of items and clothing I needed from my apartment and came through not missing a thing. This is the second trip he made to my place for clothes.

Trey and Nolan set up a babysitter rotation, which only makes me feel more guilty for taking time away from their jobs. Nolan drives me to work and walks me up to security, and Trey picks me up at the end of the day. I have dinner with him and sometimes Nora and Drake, then when Trey goes downstairs to work, Nolan comes up and checks on me.

I’m usually in the living room watching home improvement shows. Not that I have a home or a budget to decorate or renovate. He tries to make polite conversation, and I make the situation completely awkward by either giving him the cold shoulder or snapping at him.

Because of me, the casino could be a target. Because of me, my brother’s life could be in danger. I’m sure Nolan resents me, which is evident in his standoffish behavior. Like he’s a bodyguard for a stranger, not someone he’s made call out his name dozens of times while bringing her to orgasm. I miss our banter. Our jokes. Our flirting.

His touches. His kisses.

“You asked, and I delivered.” He leans against the door frame watching as I unpack. Since I moved into Trey’s room, he hasn’t crossed the threshold, hasn’t entered this personal space of mine. I respect him for it, but it only confuses me more.

He wants me. He’s made that abundantly clear every time we’re together. But for the past four days, since we found the knife stabbed into my pillow, he’s put up a wall.

To be fair, so have I. My wall is from guilt. For putting my brother and his friends in danger. And, to protect my heart. While I don’t doubt Nolan’s interest in me now, when things go sour, he’s the type to stick it out to avoid confrontation with Trey. I’d wonder every day if he truly wants to be with me or if it’s his guilt that doesn’t allow him to end things. It’s better to keep our distance.

These are the lies I tell myself, or I’ll go insane with needing him. Wanting him.

Nolan’s wall confuses me. He must resent me for doing this to them. He must think of me as a spoiled, selfish brat, which I’ve sort of been. At least, from his eyes. If he understood why I continue to push him away, maybe he’d think differently.

I think about him going through my lingerie drawer. I purposely added my sexiest bras and thongs to the list. I’m a complete contradiction. I push him away and yearn for his companionship.

I dangle one of my bras from my fingers and swing it around. “It would have been awkward to ask Trey to get these for me.”

Nolan clenches his teeth and looks away. I mentally berate myself for being a tease. Every night I’ve stayed in the penthouse, I’ve longed for Nolan to come into my room and make love to me.

Scratch that. To pin me up against a wall and make me scream his name.

I’m a terrible, rotten, selfish human being, and Nolan is one hundred percent the kindest, most generous soul I’ve ever met. I shove the lingerie in my drawer and slam it shut.

“Thanks again. I’m, um, going to turn in. See you tomorrow.”

He gives me a curt nod before disappearing down the hall.

The rest of the week is more of the same. Trey has never been much of a conversationalist, but even for him, our dinner conversations have been quiet and uncomfortable.

“Any closer to finding out who did it?” I stab my asparagus and take a bite. I don’t need to clarify what I’m talking about.

“No.”

“Any other break-ins?”

“No.”

“Threats?”

Trey lets out a heavy sigh and pushes his plate away. “I’m not talking about this with you, Aves.”

“Don’t treat me like a child. This is all because of me. I have a right to know the progress of the case.”

“Can you just trust me on this?”

“I do trust you, Trey. But I’m going out of my mind here. I’m secure at work and up here in this ivory tower, but you’re exposed every day at The Club. Who’s protectingyou?And if you pull the indestructible man card, I’ll stab you with my fork.” I grip my fork in my hand and pretend to stab him.

“I appreciate the concern, sis.” He stands, taking both our empty plates with him to the kitchen.

The front door opens, and Nolan enters. He’s wearing his usual work clothes. Tailored dark-gray suit, black button-down open at the collar, and a sexy as sin five o’clock shadow. He’s about to say something to Trey when his phone rings.

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