Page 84 of Seduction in Spades

Nora opens the door, and I spot an imposing man standing in the private lobby. He gives Nora a curt nod. “Miss Winters, Miss Baxter. Is everything okay?”

“We’re good. Just heading back to my place.” Nora gives me another hug and wiggles her eyebrows. “Those SEALs.” She fans herself with her hand. “Sucks to be guarded by them, huh?”

I laugh and watch as she crosses to her and Drake’s door. I’m still standing in the doorway when Hugh clears his throat.

“Miss Baxter, can I get you anything?”

I glance around the empty lobby. There isn’t even a chair for him to sit on. “You don’t have to stand guard out here. Would you like to come inside until Nolan or Trey return?” Whenever that will be.

“No thank you, ma’am.”

I furrow my brow, step inside, then come back out with a dining room chair. Hugh sees me struggling with it and takes it from me.

“Miss Braxton? What would you like me to do with this chair?”

“You can sit in it.” I go back inside, make a plate of cheese and crackers, fill a glass of water, and carry them out on a tray. “In case you get hungry.”

A slight lift of his lip tells me he’s amused.

“You can eat on the job, right? If Nolan gives you any crap, send him my way. I’ll handle him.”

“Lock up behind you.” Hugh winks and plucks a grape from the plate I made him.

Too wound up from my visit with Nora, the extra sugar, and worrying about Nolan, I curl up on the couch and channel surf while I wait for him to come back.

I click past the action-adventure movies, not needing the extra trauma. I think of Nolan out there going vigilante on the bad guys. If life was a movie, I’d be turned on at the thought of him out there fighting to protect me.

But this is real life, and I won’t be able to live with myself if Nolan gets hurt because of me. I’m not hisjob.He’s not on active duty anymore with the Navy and him protecting me isn’t even part of his job with the casino. He’s protecting me because I’m his friend’s sister.

I drift off to sleep while a British cooking show plays in the background.

The room is dark, the television off, when I feel strong arms lift me from the couch.

“Nolan.” I wrap my arms around his neck and snuggle into his chest as he carries me to my room.

He turns down the covers and lays me down, then turns to leave.

“Wait. Don’t go,” I say to his back.

“What do you want, Avery?” His voice is raw and rough.

It’s a combination of stress, delirium, and raw honesty that has me whispering, “You.”

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