Page 62 of Shattering Nash

Nash: Meeting is done. I should be down in about fifteen minutes.

That was perfect. It would give her plenty of time to drop off the bread and get back to her apartment before he showed up.

Charley: I’ll be ready.

She tapped the smiling emoji and hit send. Then gasped. Her intent was a simple smiling face. What she sent had hearts foreyes.Shit!She frantically started to tap the screen in hopes of editing the message. Seconds later, it showed Nash had read it.

Dammit!!!!

Charley rushed out of her apartment and to the elevator. She rode up to the seventh floor and walked halfway down the hallway. She sucked in a breath and lifted her hand, gently knocking on the door. This time she hadn’t heard voices, but seconds later she got the same greeting as the first time.

“Who the hell is it?”

She flinched but regained control, gripping the plate tightly. “Hi, Inez. It’s me, Charley from three twenty-two.”

Charley barely finished her sentence when the door flew open. Inez was standing in the doorway, scowling with a cigarette hanging from her mouth. She quickly glanced down at the plate Charley was holding, and her brows dipped deeper, forming two sharp lines.

Instinctively, Charley raised the plate and smiled. “I made you banana bread.”

A flash of confusion crossed over her face.

Inez eyed the plate suspiciously. “Get in here.”

Charley stepped inside and waited for Inez to close the door. She followed her down the short hall that opened up into the kitchen and living room. Charley glanced around and locked eyes with the man on the other end of the breakfast bar. What the heck was Nash doing here? Was Inez his old friend? Two people couldn’t be more opposite.

“Hi.” Her voice hitched.

Nash straightened, and his jaw squared when their eyes met. He lowered his chin but gave no greeting. She shifted her gaze to Inez, who was staring between them in suspicion.

“You two know each other?”

Charley smiled. “Yes.”

As of two hours ago, they knew each other quite intimately. The silence in the room had her veering her eyes to Nash who stood silently. He seemed just as on edge as when she walked in and been far less than forthcoming to Inez’s question. Did she speak out of turn? That thought had her backpedaling.

“Not really,” Charley blurted, and Inez jerked her head, squinting.

“Well, which is it?” Inez snapped.

Charley cleared her throat, knowing she had made this even more awkward. “I work for Elle, and he works for her husband.”

The corner of Inez’s mouth hiked, and a grin emerged. It was a strange sight. She’d only met the woman one other time but couldn’t imagine her with a genuine smile.

“Herhusband?”

“Yes. Um, Oz?”

Inez slapped the counter and bent over laughing. It was a strange reaction to a simple fact. It was a minute before she straightened with a gleaming smile. She rested her hip against the counter and looked over at Nash.

“Looks like the boss has got a new title.Elle’s husband?”

“Inez,” Nash said, and it came out as a warning.

Their interaction was hard to follow. It was as if they shared an inside joke that Charley wasn’t privy to. And Nash didn’t find it amusing. The whole vibe was off, and Charley was eager to get out of there. She waved her hand, catching both of their attention.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt” —She pointed to the door— “I should be going.”

Charley only made it two steps before Inez’s voice echoed through the room. “Get your ass back here.”

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