Page 39 of Shattering Nash

“She’s really pretty.” Charley said.

Keely whipped around and snapped, “Noelle is an asshole! We don’t like her, Charley.”

Oh.

Charley hiked her brows and darted her gaze to the other woman then back to Keely. “We don’t?”

“No! She’s Dahlia’s friend or whatever she is. She never says hi to me and is always giving me this look like she thinks she’s better than me. Like she’s too good to be associated with a bar back.” Keely twisted her lips. “I once complimented her shoes and asked where she got them? That bitch had the nerve to say ‘you can’t afford them.’ Who the fuck does she think she is? My accountant?”

“That wasn’t nice at all.” Charley rested her hand on Keely’s back.

Penny burst out laughing, shaking her head. She slipped between them and grabbed hold of their wrists.

“A bar fight is not on my bingo card, so don’t start shit, Keely.”

Bar fight?

“I’ve never been in a bar fight before.” Charley swayed against Penny, who released her arm and placed her hand on Charley’s back. She didn’t realize it, but Penny was trying to steady her.

“No shit?” Penny chuckled, leading them to the end of the hallway.

Charley had lost her bearings and expected to see the main club, but they continued toward a large metal door.

“Hey Penny.” Noelle smirked, glancing between Charley and Keely. “How much do you get for babysitting?”

Charley was confused by the question, but Keely wasn’t. She yanked her arm from Penny’s hold and stormed up to Noelle. She tripped slightly but regained her balance.

“Well, isn’t that the cat calling the kettle orange.”

The cat. Calling the kettle. Orange?That didn’t sound right.

“Noelle.” The sharp growl from behind had Charley looking back. Caine was a few feet behind them, glaring. “You were told to leave.”

Noelle ignored Caine and pushed off the wall, clucking her tongue, “First time you get into the club, and you can’t even control yourself. I wonder what your brother would think about this, Keely.”

Charley sucked in a breath. Even in her drunken state, she knew this wasn’t good. From what she could recall, Keely’s brother had no idea she was coming to the club. He wouldn’t be happy if he found out.

“Oh yeah?” Keely rushed forward, but Cyrus stepped between the women. “If I wasn’t controllingmyself, my fist would be in your face.”

Charley gasped, covering her hand over her mouth. Keely had always been feisty, but she’d never heard her friend threaten anyone. It was out of character.

“Nobodywill be punchinganyonein the face.” The masculine demand had everyone in the small space frozen.Except me.

His voice. It only amplified her drunken state, putting her on new heights. Nash stalked forward with another man at his side.

Penny rushed forward, looping her arm around Keely’s waist and pulling her into her side.

“We were just leaving.”

Charley leaned forward, poking her head around Penny and blurted. “We closed down the club.”

Nash slowly shifted his gaze to Charley. She may have been imagining it, but his face seemed to soften a little. “I see.”

“Let’s go,” Penny said, leading them farther down the hall.

Charley smiled at him, but when she started to move forward, lightheadedness kicked in. She reached for the wall, but her hand landed on a man’s chest. She glanced up to find Nash standing in front of her. It was like magic. One minute he was a few feet away, and the next he was there. Not only was this man beyond handsome, strong, and smart…he’s a friggin superhero.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” Nash asked.

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