Page 38 of Love to Hate You

“That’s right,” she says, and Tanner and I exchange amused glances. “Any man who wants in my bed is going to have to work for it.”

“My little sister, ladies and gentlemen,” I say and roll my eyes.

14

CHARLIE

It’s been almost three weeks since I slept with Nash, and I wish things were getting easier but they’re not. In fact, they’re getting harder. I go out of my way to avoid him and it’s getting more difficult because he’s not taking no for an answer.

To be honest, I don’t know what the hell he wants from me. In a moment of weakness, we succumbed to our desire and now it should be over. But, for some reason, it’s not. He wants to talk about things, and I don’t. There’s nothing to discuss and I had hoped a quick round of hot sex would get him out of my system.

Unfortunately, it’s done the complete opposite and he’s all I can think about. Every time I turn around, he’s there, watching me intently with those cobalt eyes. I smell his tempting sandalwood scent before I even see him. I’m obsessing, wanting a man who isn’t good for me, and no matter how hard I try, I can’t get him out of my mind.

Nash Beckett is impossible to forget. The memory of his lips and tongue, his kisses and hot explorations, leave my knees weak. Remembering the naughty words, he whispered and the way he pumped his cock inside of me makes me instantly wet.

I’ve never wanted a man this much before in my life and it’s a bad situation. Even though we’re not arguing right now, only because I’m avoiding him, nothing could ever work out between us. He wants to usurp my role and take over the company that I’ve put my heart and soul into, and I can’t let that happen.

I have to stay focused and keep working hard. Especially since I’m working hard on the big presentation for Square Enterprises now. If I do a better presentation than Nash, I will remain right where I am and not have to feel threatened by him any longer.

But no matter how much I try to dive into work and forget about Nash, it’s impossible. He’s everywhere and it’s getting harder and harder to avoid him. He’s giving me space but always watching and offering to help. I’ve never seen this side of him and it’s throwing me.

How am I supposed to ignore him when he’s being sweet? The other day, he sent my dry cleaning out with his and had it all cleaned and back in my closet before I’d even realized it was gone. The fridge is stocked with Diet Coke and the cupboard is overflowing with the chocolate-dipped granola bars I like. And every morning, there are a dozen glazed donuts in the kitchen. I swear, I’m going to gain ten pounds if that’s my breakfast every day, but I don’t even resist anymore. He even sits in his “office” most of the day now even though it’s a tiny, cramped closet. The sign I hung up on the outside of the door with his name handwritten in marker is still taped there, too.

Even though I’m confused, at the end of the day, he’s still my competition. That hasn’t changed. I already gave into his charms once. It can’t happen again if I want to maintain my position as President.

Then an awful thought hits me. Is he playing mind games with me? Seducing me in order to distract me from the ultimate goal– beating him? Is he hoping that I’ll fall for him and then gracefully bow out and let him take over while I cry and try to piece my broken heart back together?

Oh, God.What a depressing thought.

I feel like such an utter fool. If he just used me and I’m only a pawn in his game…

Swallowing hard, I feel the foreign prick of tears. I don’t ever cry, and I keep my emotions on lockdown at all times. I’m not a sappy person, I don’t believe in signs or Fate, and I certainly never cry over men.

But here I sit, eyes stinging, feeling like I may have fallen for the oldest trick in the book.Keep your friends closer but your enemies closer.Did I sleep with the enemy? Suddenly I feel like Nash has beaten me at my own game.

I need to get out here. Standing up, I decide to take a much-needed break. I’ve been working on the Square presentation all morning and my inspiration needs a boost. Actually, I need some food. I’ve been running on empty and could use some fuel. Technically, I’ve been running on a glazed donut, but that’s hardly nutritional.

Fresh air will probably do me some good, too, so I grab my purse and decide to walk down to a nearby deli that I like. Even though I know that I shouldn’t, I take the back way so I can walk by Nash’s office. I suppose the joke’s over, and I should probably find him a real office.

The door is open, and I glance in as I pass, but he’s not there. He’s probably working in the conference room, and I guess I can’t blame him. That closet would make anyone claustrophobic. I could always switch a couple of people around to make room for him. Hell, Thomas’ office is sitting there empty and the easiest thing to do would be for me to take it and then Nash can move into my office.

As Interim President, I should be in the President's office, right? I hadn’t planned on moving in there until the title was officially mine but now that I think about it, I may as well enjoy it while I can. Who really knows what’s going to happen in less than two months? I’ll probably be out on my ass.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. As I walk down the sidewalk, I decide to move into Thomas’ old office this afternoon. Nash should be happy about it because then he can be in a real office and not stuck in a dusty, cramped closet or in the conference room.

After ordering a sandwich, salad and iced tea, I sit down at a small table outside and eat. Normally, I take my lunch back to the office and eat at my desk, but I need some time away to clear my thoughts. Dealing with so much lately has me suddenly thinking about a vacation. I don’t take vacations but the idea of getting away from the office, city life and all of my current problems sounds wonderful.

Unfortunately, it can’t happen right now. But the sudden urge to flee has me thinking of white sand beaches and tropical drinks with plenty of alcohol in them.

After eating, I head back to work and decide to get started right away on my move into the corner office. I walk down to the spacious room full of windows and realize there’s a lot to go through and move. Thomas has tons of stuff all over the place and it’s going to take me hours to go through everything and get things situated.

My gaze moves over his desk and just as I’m figuring out what to tackle first, I hear a sound in the attached bathroom. The door is closed, and I really didn’t think anything of it. No one should be in there and when it seems quiet again, I decide that I’m probably hearing things.

With a shake of my head, I wander over and open the door up. And to my utter embarrassment, someone is in there, completely naked, and stepping out of the shower. Not just any old someone either. It’s Nash and he’s reaching for a towel.

I freeze when he looks up and pauses, hand on the towel rack. My gaze automatically dips and a scorching heat arrows straight down, exploding between my thighs in wet desire. He’s just as well-endowed as I remember and the sight of that gorgeous cock of his reminds me of the way he felt moving inside me and the glorious soreness I experienced the next day.

“Sorry,” I mumble and spin around, planning to make a run for it. But Nash moves fast and he catches me, hand at my waist.

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