At that, everyone's eyes landed on me. I fought the urge to squirm or jump to Nash's defense too quickly. It was a good question. How much of that scene had been for me and how much for Nash? I didn't know, I wasn't living in Nash's head, but I could make a realistic guess.
I topped off my glass of wine and took a deep sip before I answered. "I think it was a little of both, but mostly for me." Considering, weighing how much of the truth to tell, I took a risk and let it out. Kind of. "The part that was for me was also for him. I think." I took another big sip of wine. "I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong."
"You're not wrong," Hope cut in. Her eyes on me were assessing. "Are you sure you want him in the house?"
I knew what she was asking. I lifted a shoulder in a faint shrug. "I do," I admitted, my throat tight at what I was saying. "But I feel like I shouldn't."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Quinn complained, looking from Hope to me.
Sterling's eyes narrowed on my face and she jolted forward. "Holy shit, you have a thing for your brother-in-law!"
I covered my face with one hand and wailed, "Don't say it like that! It sounds terrible. He's my brother-in-law! I'm not even divorced yet. I might never be if Tyler gets his way."
"Forget about that. Tell me about Nash! What's he like?" Sterling demanded of Hope. "Is he hot? Is he an asshole? If he's an asshole I'm beating him up."
A giggle slipped out of me at the idea of pint-sized Sterling trying to take on Nash. "He's not an asshole. He's a really good man," I protested.
Sterling waved me away. "I'll get to you. I want to hear what Hope thinks."
"I only know him from our meeting and a few calls and emails since then."
"Yeah but you're good at reading people," Quinn added, "so what did you think? You must have liked him or you wouldn't have offered him a room in the Manor."
"Is he hot?" Sterling asked again.
"Don't you remember from Parker's wedding?" Quinn asked.
Sterling rolled her eyes. "Prentice grounded me for something–I don't even remember what–and he wouldn't let me go."
To stop the questions, I handed Sterling my phone, open to that pic of Nash on his bike in the leather jacket. Sterling let out a low whistle. "Please tell me you've slept with that man. He's seriously hot. Like so, so hot."
She handed my phone to Quinn, who let out a low whistle. "I remembered him being good-looking, but damn."
They both glanced up and spotted the flush on my cheeks. I could feel the heat, my guilt out there for everyone to see. Sterling hooted in glee. "Oh my God, you did sleep with him! When? How was it?"
ChapterEighteen
PARKER
Iclamped my lips together and refused to answer. Hope gave me a pitying look before glaring at Sterling and Quinn. "Stop badgering her."
Quinn leaned into Sterling and said in sotto voce, "Wait 'till she finishes that glass of wine and ask her again."
I didn't have it in me to glare at Sterling. I wanted to talk–I did–but this was a lot. I wasn't sure how I felt about Nash. I definitely wasn't ready to share.
"I like him," Hope said, pulling their attention from me for a blessed second. "He's a tough negotiator, but he made it clear that Parker was his priority. I think–" She bit her lip and stopped.
Quinn nudged her foot. "What? Tell us!"
"This is my gut talking, but I have a feeling he wanted the deal with us, but he would have given more to make this happen. I think he wants to be near Parker."
"No," I said, that idea turning my stomach upside down and inside out. "He said he was still looking for investors, that he was more selective than usual with this one. You were the right fit, that's all. It's a coincidence."
Hope shook her head. "I agree that it's a good fit. We're all satisfied with the way it worked out. But nothing about this is a coincidence."
"You can't know that," I said desperately, not sure what it all meant.
"No, I can't. But they didn't ask what I know. They asked what I think," Hope pointed out.
