Page 94 of Defending her Heart

“Nash is my student’s father.”

“There’s nothing wrong with dating him,” she says.

I do everything I can to ignore Nash’s chuckle. “It’s not like that. I help him watch Paisley when he’s working. Dinner is, uh, a thank you.” Dinner and orgasms.

“Oh.”

I see the disappointment in my mother’s eyes.

“I won’t be gone long.” I give my mother and sister a hug and brush past Nash to get my coat from the closet.

When we’re in his car and at the end of my road, he turns to me. “Tonight is not athank you.”

“Would you rather I have told her we’re in a friends that fuck relationship?”

Even through his winter coat, I can see Nash’s chest rise and fall as he lets out a deep breath. “You’re more than that. We’re more than that.”

Not wanting to get into it with him right now, I don’t argue. We turn out of the city in the opposite direction of his house. “Where are we going?” I figured he’d feed me then fill me with his cock.

“There’s a new Thai place in Danvers that I’ve heard good things about.”

“What’s wrong with your kitchen?”

“Nothing.”

We’re quiet the rest of the way to the restaurant, and it isn’t until after we’re seated and have ordered that Nash speaks to me.

“Your mom and sister seem really nice.”

“They are. Which is why I don’t like lying to them.”

“What are you lying to them about?”

I give him a deadpan glare. “Really?”

“Your mother is correct. This is a date.”

“No. A date is when you ask someone out and they agree. Youtoldme you were picking me up.”

Nash rests his elbows on the table and leans forward. “You could have said no.”

“You would have showed up anyway.”

He grins. “You didn’t have to dress up for me.”

I glance down at my sweater and jeans. “I didn’t.” Another lie. By six o’clock I’m usually in my sweats, makeup free, and donning a messy bun. Instead, I showered, reapplied my makeup, and went through eight tops before deciding on my cream cashmere sweater, a gift from Riley last year.

“That’s true. You always look beautiful whether you’re trying or not.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere.”

“The only place I want to be is here with you.”

Fucking butterflies. I refuse to let them mess with my head. “Laying it on a little thick, Potato. I’m a sure thing. No need to wine and dine me.”

“Why is it so hard for you to believe I want to spend time with you? I genuinely like you, Kendall. Besides, you’re the one who came up with friends with benefits. Friends go out to dinner together.”

Well, shit. Maybe I’m looking too much into this. Maybe Nash just wants a friend right now. He’s a good guy, so I’m sure he feels guilty about using me for my body. Not that I have any problems with that.

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