Page 37 of Defending her Heart

He doesn’t.

He slams his palm on his steering wheel and curses, then opens his door and paces beside the Range Rover. He stops by the hood and rests his palms on it. I watch him for a moment through the windshield before I leave the car and stand on the other side of the hood.

Keeping his head down low, he says, “The vision of you dancing with Buck at the wedding and the other times I’ve seen you at the bars hanging out with us jumped to the forefront of my brain, and I hated myself for falling victim to...to my...need for you.”

This is turning into quite the apology. Rowan’s advice is saving me from coming up with a response. Because what do I say to that?Yeah, I want to fuck your brains out as much as I think you want to fuck mine?

“I was wrong on so many levels. As fucked up as an excuse goes, it’s one hundred percent a me not you issue. I’ve beenfreaking out at how badly I want you, so I tried to convince myself you were...not for me.”

I lean against the side of his car and tilt my head, trying to get a look at his face. “I don’t understand, Nash. Why do you need to convince yourself of that?”

He lets out a deep sigh then lifts his head, and my heart nearly breaks at the sadness in his eyes. “Any free minute I have is for Paisley. I don’t have time to date or have a girlfriend. I’m not that desperate where I want a random hookup. But I...hell.” He chuckles out of frustration. “I’m a guy. I have needs, and they haven’t been met in a long time, which is no excuse for my behavior, but the male douchebaggery you’ve seen in me may have something to do with that.”

Well, I’ll be damned. Nash Humphries is sex deprived. Who would have thunk? I don’t know why that makes me a little giddy inside. Before I splay myself over the hood of his car and tell him I’ll help him cure his drought, I force myself to take Rowan’s advice.

“I need to get going. I’ll walk myself to my car.”

“Wait. Kendall.” He rounds the hood but keeps his distance from me. “That was a lot. I know. I’m sorry for the way I’ve treated you. I’m a private person so talking about this isn’t easy, but that’s no excuse for how I’ve treated you.”

The urge to wrap my arms around him and offer comfort scares the crap out of me. I’m not supposed to forgive him so easily. He should have to work for my respect.

“Please let me at least drive you to your car.” He opens the passenger side door for me, and I slide back into the seat.

It only takes a few minutes to reach my school again and I hop out of the car as soon as he parks, hoping to avoid talking. It’s been pure torture biting my tongue and letting Nash take over the conversation.

As soon as I unlock my door, Nash is by my side.

“I don’t know what to do or say now. Next steps. I want to grovel, but I don’t even know how. I don’t know what you like or how I can get in your good graces.”

I almost laugh at how pathetic he sounds, but I’m not into kicking puppies, especially when they’re mopey.

“I guess that’s the true test then, isn’t it?” I slide into my car and force myself not to look in his direction as I back out of my spot and drive home.

I wasn’t looking forward to Nash’s apology, but I sure as hell am looking forward to his groveling.

CHAPTER TWELVE

NASH

The silent treatment from Kendall Wentworth is worse than sparring with her. Hell, I’ve come to enjoy sparring. Now that I’ve learned a little more about her, I feel like fucking horse shit. If my mother ever learns how I spoke to Kendall, she’ll disown me and plead with a judge to take my daughter away.

And I can’t say I’d blame her. If ever a man ever treats Paisley the way I’ve behaved, I can’t say I’d handle it as well as Kendall has. The fact that she even agreed to give me the time of day to explain myself proves she’s way out of my league. A much better person than me.

Besides my parents and my sister, she’s the only one who’s ever interacted with Paisley like she cares about her. More than a teacher should. She nurtures and adores her, and the feeling is mutual.

Hell, it’s three-way. At least, I like her. I can’t say she feels the same about me. It’s time to start groveling. Women like flowers, right? Kendall’s scent has floral notes to it, but I know jack shit about flowers.

After dropping off Paisley at school, I stop by the nearest florist and start my sniff test.

“Good morning. Can I help you with anything in particular?” A sweet lady who reminds me of my mother asks from behind the counter.

“I hope so.”

“Let’s start with the occasion.” She takes out a pad of paper and holds a pen above it.

“I’m in the doghouse and I’m trying to get out.”

She smiles at me and passes no judgment. “I see. We do many floral arrangements for just the occasion.”

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