Easy This Time - JH Croix Page 0,23

in Brett’s eyes again. When he opened his mouth to speak, I shook my head. “You heard her,” I warned. “Get the hell out of here.”

“Fuck you both.” With another muttered curse, Brett turned and stalked across the street. I was relieved there were still people milling about because it minimized the possibility of him making more of a scene.

I could feel a subtle tremor running through Mari where I held her hand. “Let’s get inside,” I murmured, releasing her hand to slide my palm down her back and coax her gently forward.

Inside, I confirmed with the security guy at the desk that all was locked down for the night already. I also made a mental note to call the main security center as soon as I left the building tonight to make sure they ran a full scan and confirmed everything was in working order. At least here, Mari was protected by one of her brother’s high-end security systems. I knew I would need to alert Max about this development with Brett, but that would have to wait.

I’d meant what I said earlier and intended to give Mari her space tonight. Although there was no way I’d have turned down dinner with Mari, I’d been planning to use the time tonight to do some more research on Brett’s situation. I knew his financials were poor because I had my usual report drawn up when he’d asked to meet, but I hadn’t dug deeper because there’d been no point then. Since Brett had shown up to find Mari, there was both a reason to delve further and a sense of urgency behind it.

After the elevator took us to the top floor of the building where all the condos were, Mari glanced up at me as she keyed in the lock combination. “I don’t want to think about this, but I can’t figure out how Brett knew I was here.”

I’d been hoping Mari wouldn’t contemplate that detail. “Let’s get inside,” I commented as another couple stepped out of the elevator and began walking down the hall in our direction.

Mari quickly punched in the combination, and we stepped inside. She walked over to the windows, letting her purse slide off her shoulder and dropping it on the couch as she walked past it. I stopped at her side, and the magnetic pull to wrap her in my arms was strong. Between my awareness of her three margaritas and our very recent encounter with Brett, I didn’t think that was a good move.

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and looked out across the glittering skyline of New Orleans and the dark ocean in the distance beyond.

“Between your brother and me, we’ll chase down what’s going on with Brett. This building is completely secure. Not sure how he found out you were here, but I’m going to double-check with security. It’s staffed twenty-four-seven already, and the building locks automatically after eight p.m.”

I heard Mari’s breath escape in a slow sigh when she turned to look up at me. “I feel like I’m turning out to be an awful lot of trouble for you, Nash.”

“You’re no trouble, none at all.”

She looked away, out to the skyline again. My eyes traced the elegant arch of her brows and the angle of her cheekbone. They snagged on her plump lips, and the urge to kiss her was piercing and sharp.

When she looked back toward me, her brow was knitted with worry, and her eyes were troubled. “I feel like an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot. There’s nothing wrong with trusting someone. It’s just that untrustworthy people take advantage of our trust. You already knew things weren’t going well with Brett, but you gave him a chance. The way others treat us only tells us something about them. Brett’s the asshole here. You’re not an idiot. Let Max and I see what we can do. We’ll make sure he can’t keep screwing with your money.”

Mari murmured something indecipherable under her breath. I didn’t realize I’d stepped closer until my eyes landed on the rapid flutter of her pulse in her neck. Her eyes met mine again. “I hate when I can’t clean up my own messes.”

“Someone taking advantage of you and screwing you over isn’t your mess.”

With Mari’s bright blue gaze holding mine, I let my fingers trail through the ends of her silky dark curls. She had this way of snatching my thoughts from me. Perhaps, it was more that she wiped out my ability to think