Down Too Deep (Dirty Deeds, #4)(57)

Here I was, provoking him again. I couldn’t help it though. I hadn’t planned on telling Nathan about my date with Travis, but now I was oddly grateful for Olivia’s eavesdropping. I needed to know how he felt about this. If we were waiting the two months solely because of the money issue, that was one thing. But I didn’t think we were.

Nathan simply kept watching me. He remained silent.

“Um, did you hear what I said?”

His eyes narrowed playfully. “Yes. Surprisingly, I can hear you up here.”

“Oh, ha ha.” I lightly shoved his chest. “You’re hilarious.”

He smiled at me then. I felt heat burn across my face. I missed this—playing with each other. This was so easy. Why couldn’t we keep doing it?

“Who’s the guy? Do you know him?” Nathan asked.

“Yeah, I do, actually. He’s Jamie’s older brother…you know Jamie, Tori’s fiancé.”

“Surfer?”

“Yep.” I nodded. “I haven’t seen Travis in a long time. Our families used to live within five minutes of each other.”

“Nice guy?”

“Uh…sure, he’s nice.”

“So, he’s a family friend?”

“I guess so, yeah.” I tilted my head, confused. “Why are you asking so many questions about him? Are you interested?”

“Oh yeah. He sounds cute.”

I laughed. Nathan held my gaze for a moment, and then he looked down.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Nothing.” He lifted his head and peered at me. “I was just thinking that there isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t go out with him.”

“Right.” I forced a smile, hiding the disappointment I couldn’t help but feel.

Nathan shifted Marley to his other arm and turned toward the door. He took a step and then paused, looking back at me. “I’m really sorry about this morning, Jenna.”

I didn’t need to force my smile a second longer.

I turned off the light and followed them out of the room.





Chapter Fourteen





NATHAN




One Week Later Hey. I’ll probably be home close to 11 tonight. Got behind on a few things. Is that ok? Yep, no problem!

Thanks

It was twenty after eleven when I finally pulled into the driveway.

I used my key to get into the house and secured the door behind me. The family room was dark, minus the glow emanating from the TV and the light spilling into the room from the kitchen.

I walked around the couch and peered down at Oliver and Olivia. They were at either end, heads on the pillows and eyes closed behind their glasses. Jenna was curled up on the love seat, lying on her side. She was asleep as well.

I turned the volume down on the TV, then moved into the kitchen and headed upstairs to check on Marley. I’d wake Jenna and her kids when I came back down. I didn’t see any harm in waiting a few more minutes. They were obviously tired.

After turning on the hallway light, I stepped into Marley’s room and walked over to her crib. She was asleep on her stomach with her knees tucked under her and her butt stuck up in the air, her cheek pressed to the mattress. I didn’t know how she could be comfortable in that position, but she was. Marley slept like that a lot.

Bending down, I grabbed the blanket she’d thrown out of the crib and tucked the soft satin around her.

I decided to get changed before heading back downstairs and strode into my bedroom, tugging at my tie. I got undressed and pulled on a pair of shorts, tossing my clothes into the hamper against the wall. As my head pushed through the neck hole in my T-shirt, Marley began to cry.

“Damn,” I whispered. I worried I’d woken her when I gave her the blanket. I should’ve left her alone. I couldn’t help it though. What if she got cold in the middle of the night?

I pushed my arms through the sleeves, slid my glasses back on, and moved quickly down the hallway.

Marley was on her knees when I entered her bedroom, gripping the rails as she peered between them. Her crying grew louder and sharper. Tears streamed down her face. They glistened in the hallway light.

“Shh, it’s okay. Come here.” I lifted her out of the crib and drew her against me.

I figured I could rock her back to sleep in the chair, keeping the bedroom light off for that reason, but when my lips touched her forehead, I jerked back to peer into her face and remained on my feet. Her skin was on fire.

Panic quickened the pace of my heart. I forced myself to breathe. She definitely had a fever. Fuck! When was the last time she felt bad and what the hell did I do? My mind went blank.

I began aimlessly pacing in front of the crib as I tried to soothe my daughter with back rubs, which seemed to be doing absolutely nothing for her.

“Okay…shh, it’s okay,” I chanted.

Marley screamed and rubbed her face against my shirt. I began to feel nauseous.

“Baby, what do I do? What do you need?” I asked.

Jenna rushed into the room, staggering a little when she noticed me. “H-hey!” Her whisper was startled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep. I heard her crying on the monitor in the kitchen.”

Relief dipped my shoulders. Thank God she was here.