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Honey grabbed it and, with a small shrug, handed it over to Nash. “So much for the secret part.”
“I’m touched,” he said dryly.
“Just open the damn thing.”
Cheeks pink again, this time with embarrassment, she scooped up her cup and took a step back, aware that everyone was watching their boss open his gift. A gift they all knew was from Honey. She didn’t do well with attention, and she pretty much wanted to die.
He tore off the ribbon and carefully peeled back the fancy wrapping paper. He stared down at the item in his hands while Susie and some of the other girls clamored to know what it was. He held it up, and everyone laughed. The black tie was shiny, and the pink Wonder Woman design was bold.
He looked at Honey, and she cleared her throat. “It’s because of the, ah…” An image of him and Tink flashed in her mind.
“I know,” he replied, looping the tie loosely around his neck.
“Because of the what?” Susie asked with a giggle. She’d obviously had more than her share of eggnog.
Nash ignored the young woman. Instead, he pulled out a tray of eats and set the large platter on the table. Someone turned up the music, and within a few minutes, an impromptu dance party was rockin’ in the middle of Nash’s place.
“You don’t dance?” Cam asked, sidling up alongside Honey. She was off to the side, a wall at her back, the exit in plain view. She glanced up at him, a little annoyed—she’d been enjoying the scenery without the talking.
“Not unless I’m drunk.”
“Well then,” Cam said. “I guess I’m going to have to get you drunk.”
“Not gonna happen.”
“What? The drinking or the dancing?”
“Both.”
Cam laughed. “You’re no fun.”
Honey took another sip of eggnog. “You and Nash seem to be getting along.”
Cam shrugged. “He’s not being a dick, if that’s what you call getting along.”
Honey grimaced. There must be something wrong with her, because she preferred Nash being a dick to the vanilla sort of relationship they now had. At least when he was being a dick, she felt like he knew she was alive.
By the time midnight rolled around, the boisterous party was well underway, and it took some convincing for the revellers to head home. The large limo bus that had deposited them hours earlier was waiting outside. Cam had left an hour ago. He’d received a text message and split—leaving only Honey to help clean up.
“You’re okay to drive?” Nash asked as he closed the door behind Tiny and the rest of the crew.
“I had one eggnog. I’m fine.”
“You can head out,” Nash said, piling platters and dishes up onto the counter. “I got this.”
Honey should have left. That would have been the smart thing to do. But she couldn’t leave Nash with this mess. At least, that was what she told herself. If she were being honest, the thought of heading home to an empty apartment wasn’t exactly appealing.
If she were being super honest, she also hated the strain between her and Nash. It was the holidays, after all, and maybe it was time for her to swallow her pride and admit that she may have been a bit dramatic after their hookup.
“It’s fine,” she said. “I’ll help with this and go.”
Nash didn’t say anything. He shrugged and got down to the business of tossing leftover food in the garbage and washing up serving trays. While he did that, Honey vacuumed and mopped. Less than thirty minutes later, the place sparkled, though Nash was decidedly grumpy.
He’d not said one word to her, and she was beginning to think the entire exercise was futile. He disappeared upstairs to what she assumed was his bedroom—without so much
as a thank-you—and just as she was gathering her things, he reappeared in a low-slung bathing suit. Seriously. The damn thing looked like it was about to fall off, and the impressive amount of skin and muscle and skin and abs and…well, it made Honey’s mouth water.
Nash Booker was hands down the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on. He had that something that made a woman look twice. That something that made a woman think of sex. That something that made a woman’s lady parts roar to life.
