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“Yeah, I mean, I know I don’t stand a chance with her if that’s what you mean.”
“Sure you do.” He was surprised at her sudden agreeableness. “Maybe I could help you, cowboy.”
“You?” That was a joke. “What can you do? Pass her a note asking her if she likes me? After what you did?” He laughed, wondering why he was suddenly making Eva Trout his confidante. “She probably thinks you and I have a thing now. She already thinks I’m a player, so yeah, I’m sure she’s not that interested.”
Eva’s fingers tightened over him as she stared over at Emily. “No—she likes you. I have a sense for these things—even if she is a little goody two-shoes.” Eva’s face lit up. “She’s probably more intrigued than she was before. I saved you because, well… honestly, she seemed so stiff, but… she won’t stop looking at you now.” Eva covered a giggle with her hand and dragged Nash away before he could embarrass himself and look back over at her. “Hey, I’ve got an idea,” she cried. “If I help you win her, thenyouhelp me.”
That was ridiculous. Nash already knew what that required, and his brother would kill him if Nash helped Eva get to him in any way—not to mention her daddy would kill West for giving in to his daughter. This party would turn into a slaughter house. Nash shook his head. “No, no, no.”
“You’ve got to fight for what you love,” she said. That was something that Eva knew something about, he supposed. “That’s the problem with you Slade men. I love you both desperately, but you give up too easily.” Was she referring to West’s distaste for igniting her father’s temper by going for a much younger woman? Nash had a feeling that West would fight for Eva more if he held any regard for her. Sadly.
Their conversation was cut off as they reached West, who was in a deep conversation with Lacy Lynch. Nash must have spent too much time in this city because he hardly blinked at the large bodyguards surrounding Lynch. A guy either had to have the most integrity in the world to need that kind of security or he’d cheated a lot of people. Nash already knew it was the latter.
This was a sleazy party meant for questionable business deals. Now he watched Eva with new eyes, wondering why her father allowed her here if he was so protective. Was he hoping she’d catch the eye of some corrupt investor? And here she was latching onto the Slade men. What a disappointment she must be.
He smirked, but not for long. West broke from his conversation to study Nash’s flushed face and then glanced over his shoulder at the stage. “Huh, that was faster than I thought. Did Emily just discover that you’re no good for her?”
Nash glowered at him. What was his brother’s game tonight? He remembered that West had promised Emily to be in the spotlight tonight, and it would be West’s doing somehow. What did he know that no one else did? “It almost sounded like you planned for me to be out of the picture.”
“No, I just knew it would happen,” West said.
“Anything else you know, fortune teller?”
West watched him like he was crazy. He’d always been the king of gaslighting. “No, but you should probably make it up to her. She’s going to be mad about Eva.” He turned to Lynch, who watched on with a creeping smile. “How about you take Nash while I work my magic?” West told Lynch. “He can listen to your deal tonight. You’d better make it good. He’s not easily impressed.”
“I’ll be sure to sweeten the deal then,” Lynch said.
“See that you do. He’s concerned with looking good in front of a lady tonight.”
Nash gaped at him. His brother made it seem like Lynch could help him with that… and that was the last thing Nash wanted. He didn’t need Eva or West or Lacy Lynch to help him get closer to Emily. No, actually, the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he should stay far away from her. With the company he kept these days, he’d only drag her down.
“I’m fine,” Nash said firmly.
And still the cloud of worry in Emily’s hazel eyes over her upcoming performance played at the strings of his heart.
Lacy Lynch grumbled out a smug laugh. “Oh, I know how to impress the women. Come with me, Nash. You look like you need a good drink in you.”
Nash was going to kill West for this. Eva had other ideas. Her arms left Nash to slither around West. “Oh, West. How thoughtful. Now ask me to dance.”
West’s eyes darted around the room. “Where’s your father?”
“Daddy’s not coming tonight if that’s what you’re worried about. We can finally be alone.”
He gave her a tight smile. “How about you say ‘hi’ to Meredith Murkle. She asked after you.”
“No, silly. I want to be with you!”
West fought away her hands, his eyes glittering with annoyance. Whatever he was planning for Nash to do must be worth foregoing Eva’s babysitting for the night. Nash just wished that his brother would tell him about it, instead of ambushing him like he always did.
Nash hated surprises, and West’s were always worse. The fact was that his brother had better watch his back this time because Nash would do everything in his power to stop him from messing up Emily’s performance tonight.
