Page 69 of Seduction in Spades

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“You haven’t said aword the entire flight.” Nolan states the obvious, and I continue to ignore him, feigning sleep.

Hell, I haven’t talked to him in two days, not since he and Trey had me cornered with this stupid idea. I don’t need a babysitter twenty-four seven. I would have been completely safe, locked away in the penthouse while Nolan is in Ohio and Trey is at work.

The next evening, I asked Trey why I couldn’t hang out with Ryder all weekend, to which my brother said some extremely not nice things about him being a man whore and how he would not let me fall into his sex god trap.

I mean, Ryder is totally a sex god in that funny, charming, and adorable way. He’s not a man you take seriously when he dishes out compliments. He’s smooth, he’s polished and crude and makes me laugh until my stomach hurts.

“Finally. A smile. I like it.”

“I’m thinking about Ryder.” I don’t have to open my eyes to see his scowl. My grin grows a little more.

The pilot announces our descent, and I bring my seat upright. I don’t understand how a two-inch recline makes much of a difference, but I’m a rule follower, so I sit up and stare out the window.

“How would you like me to introduce you to my family?”

“Probably by my real name, Avery Baxter.” Somehow Nolan used his ninja SEAL magic and got me a fake ID. I’m not going to remember to answer when someone calls me Daisy Storm. “And I don’t appreciate being named after Nora’s dog.”

“Pure coincidence. I didn’t give my guy a name. I let him choose.”

“Hmph.”

“That’s not what I’m referring to though. My parents and sister are going to know what... what we are.”

“I’m your friend’s sister.”

“Sure. So why did you come to Ohio with me?”

I shift in my seat and turn to him. “Because you’re on babysitting duty.”

A sad cloud floats over his eyes. “Okay.” Nolan stares at the back of the seat in front of him.

“Does your family know about the threat?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to worry them.”

“Do they know what happened to Nora last year?”

“No.”

I can’t be that person, the one who brings danger and worry to a sweet, innocent family in Ohio. They must have lived in fear, or at least worry, every day Nolan was deployed. I understand why he wouldn’t want them to know of any possible danger to him, his friends, or the casino.

“Fine. You’re not my babysitter or bodyguard.”

He doesn’t respond right away. I twist my fingers together in my lap and stare out the window. We don’t speak again until we’ve made our way to our rental in the parking garage. Nolan starts the car and rests his wrists on the steering wheel.

“My sister is a meddler. Truth be told, so is my mom. And my dad pretends not to be.”

“Okay.”

I fasten my seatbelt, unsure where he’s going with this.

“They’re going to assume... you and I... we’re together.”

“Oh.”Oh.I don’t want them to think we’re together, but telling them I only tagged along because someone may be trying to kill me is not the first impression I want to make either.

Not that I care about impressing Nolan’s family. They’re my brother’s friend’s family. No meaning to me whatsoever.

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