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I suppose there’s only one way to find out…
“Want to get out of here?” I nod toward the door. “Maybe get some coffee or something? Somewhere far away from downtown?”
His smile dims. “I definitely want to get out of here, but I still think we should call Nash.”
I frown. For a second, I can’t imagine why he would want to call his brother, and then I remember—duh, because Nash is the captain of the Bliss River police.
I press my lips together and shake my head, but before I can speak, Nick pushes on, “I’m sure he’d meet us at the station and make everything go as smoothly as possible. You really should report this asshole, Mel. It’s not just about you. Think about your sisters, my sisters, all the other women you care about. Guys like that don’t just attack a woman once. It’s a pattern and reporting it could help make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else.”
My muscles tighten up all over again. He’s right, but for some reason, the thought of reporting the attack to anyone—even Nash, who’s one of the nicest, most compassionate people I know—makes me want to dig a hole in the ground and hide inside it for the rest of eternity.
“Can I think about it?” I ask. “I just, I know you’re right, but…I need some time. To get used to the idea.”
“Okay,” he says. “I won’t push it anymore, but could you at least tell me the guy’s name?”
I peer up at him through my lashes. “Why do you want his name?”
“Just in case,” he says, the tension in his jaw betraying his casual tone.
I prop a hand on my hip. “In case of what?”
“In case you decide not to report him,” he says, heat creeping into his eyes. “And I need to give him an off-the-record reminder not to touch a woman without permission again, and not to get within ten feet of you or I’ll fucking kill him.”
My eyes go wide. I don’t know what’s scarier—that Nick sounds so convincingly menacing, or that I like it so much. I’ve never been a fan of violence—I’m a turn-the-other-cheek kind of girl all the way—but I can’t deny that the thought of Nick pounding Seth into a bloody pulp makes something savage inside me extremely happy.
The thought of doing it myself isn’t too bad, either…
Which means there’s only one responsible choice to make.
“All right,” I say, my voice shaking a little. “Call Nash.”
“Really?” He hugs me closer. “Are you sure? I feel like an asshole for pressuring you, but I just—”
“No, you’re right. It’s something I should do, and I don’t want to put you in that kind of position. Better to let the police handle this. If you got hurt because you felt like you had to take this into your own hands, I’d never forgive myself.”
“I know I don’t have to anything, I want to,” he says. “I want to rip this guy’s dick off and feed it to my pet snake.”
I cringe. “You have a pet snake?”
He nods. “I do. Her name is Clare. But don’t worry, she’s not the jealous type. She’s more than willing to share me with the right girl.”
“Good to know,” I say, wrinkling my nose.
Ew. Snakes. What’s wrong with him?
“Not a snake fan?” he asks.
“How could you tell?”
“Everything you think shows on your face,” he says with a laugh. “But I like that. At least Clare and I will always know where we stand with you.”
“Clare and I aren’t going to stand anywhere together. I’ll stand on the floor, and she can slither around her very secure glass enclosure, which is never opened in my presence. Yes?”
“Absolutely.” Nick’s expression grows serious again. “I’ve got your back, Mel. You can count on me any time you need me. Even if this—whatever it is—between us doesn’t work out.”
My forehead pinches. “Can we call the whatever it is dating? Does that work for you?”
Nick’s dimple pops. “Yeah. That works for me.”
“Me, too.” I grin.
“And I’m sorry about the other night,” he says, an almost shy note in his voice that makes my heart squeeze. “I shouldn’t have asked you to come home with me. That’s not how I want it to go with us. I just…I kind of lose my ability to think straight when I’m kissing you.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I say, my lips tingling. “I can’t think straight when we kiss, either.”
“So maybe we shouldn’t kiss?” Nick arches a teasing brow.
“Yeah, right.” I shake my head as I loop my arms around his neck. “I’m not in this just for the friendly conversation, mister. I want the bennies. All the bennies.”
“Those are pretty nice,” Nick agrees, his lips moving closer to mine, making me ache for a taste of him. My pulse is already picking up, anticipating the way he makes my blood rush when he adds, “But maybe we should just put a few limits in place.”
