Page 37 of Love to Hate You

A sliver of hope fills me.

“I want to help you, Nash, but you need to let me know what’s going on.”

“How do you plan on helping me?” I ask in a dry voice.

“I am the matchmaker queen. And I’m telling you right now, you and Charlie would be hot together. Totally combustible.”

“Tell me about it,” I mumble.

“Oh, my God,” she exclaims. “Have you two-”

I raise a hand. “I really don’t want to talk about my sex life with my little sister.”

“Holy shit, he already slept with her,” Tanner says.

I look from one to the other and give in completely. “Okay, fine, yes. Last week after a successful new client presentation, we went out and celebrated. After a few drinks, we ended up back at my place and had sex. There. Everyone happy?”

“Combustible sex?” Sierra asks.

“Mind-shattering,” I say and extend my fingers, mimicking an explosion, on either side of my head. “This is a weird conversation to be having with the two of you but being with Charlie was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. I mean, don’t get me wrong. Sex is always good, but this was on a whole different level. I don’t know if either of you has experienced that kind of connection before, but we were both shaking afterward.”

Sierra shakes her head no and Tanner suddenly looks sad and a million miles away.Oh, fuck.I forgot about his old girlfriend who he never got over.

“Sorry, Tan,” I say.

“Don’t be. I get it and if you’re lucky enough to find that, don’t lose it like I did.”

“She’s pushing me away, though.”

“Because she’s scared,” Sierra says. “You’re also the enemy, Nash. Don’t forget that. She was happily in charge one day and the next, we all come storming in, ready to take over. She probably feels threatened and confused. You need to put yourself in her shoes.”

That makes sense.“When I worked there while Dad was alive, we hated each other. Charlie and I never saw eye to eye, and everything was a battle. That’s why this thing between us is so confusing. We’re both different people now and there’s this undeniable heat that wasn’t there before.”

“You’re both unsure and why wouldn’t you be,” Tanner says.

“But I know I want her,” I say.

“For how long, Nash?” Sierra asks. “That’s what she’s probably wondering. Is this a fling or are you developing genuine feelings for her?”

I heave out a sigh and watch my ice cream melt. “I want more,” I admit. “I’ve never wanted more with a woman before.”

“You’re falling in love,” Sierra gushes.

“I didn’t say anything about love. But, yeah, I really want to see where this can go with her.”

“He’s falling,” Tanner says.

“Fuck!” I exclaim, a little too loudly and several customers look over. “That’s bad, isn’t it?”

“Why is falling in love bad? You’re so lucky,” Sierra says.

Tanner grunts and I remember how the woman he fell in love with nearly destroyed him when she left.

“I’m not used to feeling this vulnerable.”

“Of course, not because you’re usually the cool, charming bachelor with his pick of bitches.”

“Sierra…” I say and shake my head with a chuckle. “Whatever man is in your future has his work cut out for him.”

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