Page 99 of Defending her Heart

“No, they didn’t.” Nash holds out my coat for me and helps me into it. “They needed to get going, and I reassured them I’d get you home safely.”

“I’m sure you did.”

He stares down at me with a frown. “Did I do something to upset you, Kendall?”

“No.” He hasn’t. He’s been the perfect gentleman. “Let’s go.”

He doesn’t say anything until we’re a few miles from the restaurant. “I didn’t sabotage your ride, Kendall. I’m sorry if it upsets you that they left without you. I’m taking you home with no expectations.”

“And that’s the issue,” I mutter under my breath.

“What’s the issue?”

Or maybe it wasn’t under my breath. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Being so nice.”

Nash glances at me before focusing on the road. “I’m a nice guy.”

“Not when we’re naked.”

He pulls over to the shoulder and slams on his brake. “Kendall. If I’m too rough or do something you don’t like, you need to tell me. You can have a safe word—”

“Jesus. That’s not what I mean. The sex is amazing. I love the dirty talk. The roughness.”

I squirm in my seat, and I’m not a squirmer. Talking about sex is easy for me. But with Nash, it’s so much more than that. There’s the starting of feelings.

“It’s what’s happening outside of the bedroom that has me confused.”

Nash turns in his seat. “Let me clear the air then.” He reaches for my face and strokes the back of his fingers along my jawline. “I like you, Kendall. I like you a lot. I said this the other night. I don’t want to only spend time with you when you have an itch to be scratched.”

“Me? What about your itches?” I cringe at how stupid that sounded.

Nash chuckles. “Myitchis being scratched right now.”

I blink at him in confusion and open my mouth to ask what he means, but he interrupts my thoughts.

“I’ll take you home.” He rubs his thumb along my bottom lip then puts his Range Rover in drive.

We’re quiet the rest of the ride and as Nash pulls into my driveway and walks me to the front door. “Sweet dreams, Kendall.” He kisses the corner of my mouth then retreats before I can press into him and beg for more.

Damn, he’s good. He’s got my heart twisted and my vagina crying for him.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

KENDALL

Nash doesn’t text me on Monday, and when his parents pick up Paisley, they look frazzled and are in such a hurry that they don’t even say hello. It’s nothing personal, I know this, but still, I feel like I’ve been snubbed.

When Tuesday passes without a flirty text or a stupid GIF from Nash, I begin to worry that I pushed him away with my lack of response to his sweet words. By the end of the day, I’m distracted and on edge with my class.

And when Mindy appears in my classroom doorway, my first thought is something happened to Nash’s parents. My throat swells and my head swims with the most dreaded possibilities.

“Mindy? Are Beth and Joe okay?”

She smiles at me, and my racing heart slows. “They should have landed in Seattle by now.”

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