Virgin Seeks Bad Boy (Bliss River #3) - Lili Valente Page 0,31
I glance down at the screen, I see Nash’s name.
“Did you catch the bastard?” I ask as I lift the phone to my ear. “Can I tell Melody you’ve got him in custody?”
“Unfortunately, no. There was no sign of the guy at the bar or his apartment, but we’re still looking,” Nash says, before adding after a slight pause. “I actually called to talk about something else.”
“Okay. What’s up?” I ask, instantly wary.
Nash has that “big brother” tone in his voice, the one that usually leads to the two of us getting into a fight. For brothers born almost a decade apart, Nash and I have always been close, but we do our share of clashing, too. Nash is a rule-follower from way back; I’m a serial rule-bender. Nash believes in doing things the way we were taught by our parents; I refuse to let my parents, society, or anyone else tell me how to live my life.
“Is there something going on between you and Melody?” Nash asks. “Something more than you just being there for a friend?”
I pause, not sure how I feel about Nash sticking his nose into my private business without an invitation. He certainly wouldn’t have liked it if I did the same. Back before he was married, Nash refused to talk about the women he dated with me or anyone else. He considers that shit private—one of the few things we agree on.
But Nash also came through for Melody in a major way tonight, and I can’t see the harm in coming clean. Our families were going to find out Melody and I are dating sooner or later.
Still, a part of me wishes we could have put this part off for a while. I’m not ready to share her, this, us with anyone else. It’s still so new.
“Nick, are you there?” Nash asks, irritation creeping into his voice.
“Yeah, I’m here. And I heard you. Why are you asking?”
“I’m asking because Melody’s sister is my wife,” Nash says, in a patronizing tone that makes me silently vow to apologize to Melody again for having been a condescending dick. “I’ve never commented on your dating choices before, but Melody isn’t just another girl. She’s my family, and I care about her. She deserves to be treated well by a man who respects her.”
“And who says I don’t respect her?” I ask, frowning so hard a boy in a red hoodie waiting at the bus stop takes a few steps away as I draw closer.
“Who brought her in tonight?” I continue in a softer voice. “Who held her hand and was there for her while she talked to the cops?”
“I’m her brother-in-law, not the cops.” Nash curses beneath his breath. “Does this mean what I think it means?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I roll my eyes, fighting the urge to tell my brother to leave me the hell alone.
If I’m honest with myself, I can’t blame Nash for thinking I might not be good for Melody. I didn’t think I was good for Melody either…until tonight.
Tonight, everything changed. I’m not sure why. I just know I’m not the same person I was before Melody ran out of the bar and into my arms. I don’t want to fight the connection between us anymore or push her away when being with her feels so right.
“Nick, I’m your brother, and I love you,” Nash says. “But I swear I—”
“Save it, bro,” I say, cutting him off. “Nothing’s going on with Melody and me. She’s a sweet girl, and I happened to be around when she needed help. That’s it. We’re friends.” I clench my jaw. It doesn’t feel great to lie to Nash, but better to lie than to have my shot with Melody ruined before we’ve even gone on our first real date.
Nash is quiet for a moment. “Okay. Good.”
“But thanks for the vote of confidence,” I snap, unable to resist the dig.
Nash sighs. “You haven’t given anyone much reason to have confidence in you when it comes to girls, Nick. When’s the last time you dated someone for more than a month?”
I bite the inside of my cheek. I never told Nash about Sarah Beth. I never told anyone in my family about her. A part of me was so certain it was going to end badly that I didn’t want anyone to know that things were getting serious.