Keeping You

by Jessie Evans

  “Hey, good to see you, man,” Nash said, taking Mason’s offered hand in a tight clasp and giving the other man an affectionate pat on the back.

  He and Mason had fallen out of touch for a while, but the other man had been one of his best friends back when they were working construction together. When Mason had come back to town a few months ago, they had fallen back into their close friendship without a hitch.

  “You, too,” Mason said. “I’d invite you to join us, but I know you and Aria don’t mix well.”

  “That’s one way of putting it,” Nash said in a flat tone.

  Mason smiled. “Yeah. And I’m not sure if she’ll be on her best behavior tonight. She just got some bad news from her ex.”

  Nash’s eyebrows lifted. “Oh, yeah? What kind of news?” he asked, surprised to find himself curious. But then, why shouldn’t he be curious? He considered himself a nice guy, but even nice guys enjoyed tales of the suffering of evil ex-girlfriends.

  “He’s suing for full custody of the baby,” Mason said, looking genuinely troubled, proving he had plugged into his future family, and that their problems were now his problems. “Even though he hasn’t seen Felicity in six months, and never sent Aria a dime, the bastard.”

  “That sucks,” Nash said, meaning it.

  Evil ex or not, Aria obviously loved her baby girl, and Felicity adored her mama. What her ex was doing was cruel, and hardly in the best interest of his daughter.

  Mason’s scowl deepened. “Apparently the asshole got remarried and decided that means he’s better for Felicity than her single mom, which is fucking ridiculous.” Mason sighed and glanced over his shoulder at the exit. “But don’t say anything about it to anyone. I probably shouldn’t have said anything, but—”

  “Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t share your private business, man,” Nash said. “So why aren’t you riding? Afraid of rollercoasters?” he asked, trying to lighten the moment.

  “I get motion sickness,” Mason said.

  “Wimp,” Nash said, making Mason laugh.

  “Totally,” Mason said. “The only ride I get on is the carousel.”

  “Well, I’ll let you get to that,” Nash said. “Just wanted to say hi, and ask if you planned on taking the boat out tomorrow. If not, I thought I might go fishing.”

  “Let me get back to you later,” Mason said. “Lark wanted to go picnicking on that island in the middle of Lake Elsie, but after what happened with Aria I don’t know if she’ll—”

  “What about Aria?” The light, feminine voice came from the ramp behind Mason.

  Nash looked up to see Aria March and her two sisters pushing through the exit gate, looking so gorgeous together that the other people near the exit turned to stare.

  People in Summerville always talked about what all-American beauties the two younger March girls were—with flawless fair skin, tawny blond hair, and big, soft brown eyes a man could melt in—but Nash had always thought Aria was the most stunning of the three. Even when he hated her, he couldn’t deny looking at her made his heart beat faster.

  Tonight was no exception.

  Even in a simple pair of cut off shorts and a green tank top, with her hair pulled into a ponytail, she managed to look stunning, exotic, a little too fine-looking to be wandering around a backwoods Georgia town. Aria had a flair about her that reminded Nash of actresses and rock stars and other people with too much charisma for their own good.

  He hadn’t been surprised to hear she’d run off to Nashville with a record producer. He was surprised to learn that the guy had replaced her so quickly. Even back before she had grown into her long legs, or learned that self-assured way of holding herself, Aria wasn’t the type of girl who was easy to forget. After their summer fling, Nash hadn’t seriously dated another girl until over a year later. Some part of him hadn’t been able to get over Aria March, no matter how badly he wanted to.

  “Did I hear my name?” she asked, stopping beside them, sharp green eyes moving back and forth between Mason and himself.

  Mason’s face was unreadable, but Nash could guess his own expression was guilty. He felt guilty, knowing Aria’s private troubles when there was obviously no love lost between them.

  “I was just telling Nash that Lark and I may cancel our boat trip tomorrow if you and Lark have work to do,” Mason lied with a smoothness that was impressive.

  “No, you weren’t,” Aria said, lips quirking on one side. “You can fool most of the people most of the time, Mason Stewart, but you can’t fool me.” She hiccupped, and giggled as she pointed a finger at Mason’s face. “You were telling my tale of shame and woe to my old friend, Nash, weren’t you?”

  She was drunk. She had to be, or she would never call him an “old friend” let alone be amused that Mason had told Nash her business behind her back.

  “Sorry,” Mason said, looking ashamed as Lark widened her eyes at him. “I’m just pissed, and Nash is a friend and…I didn’t think.”

  “I swear, you boys are worse gossips than Nana’s friends at church,” Melody said, coming to wrap her arms around Aria’s waist in a show of solidarity.

  “It’s okay,” Aria said, waving one hand unsteadily through the air. “Everyone will know soon enough. Stupid small town. Stupid talking.” She hiccupped again. “I need more beer. Let us away to the beer tent, my ladies!”

  Melody raised her eyebrows as she met Lark’s gaze over Aria’s shoulder.

  “I think we should hold off on that for a little while,” Lark said in a casual voice. “Why don’t we head over to the agriculture building and check out Nana’s watermelon before it gets too late.”

  Aria’s lips pushed into a pout. “No. Beer. Then watermelon.”

  “I don’t think you should, Ra,” Melody said. “I think you’ve had enough.”

  “Well, I don’t,” Aria said with a brittle smile as she detangled herself from Melody’s arms. “And I’m sure I can find someone around here to buy me a beer.” She turned, pinning Nash with eyes as green as a cat’s, and twice as crafty. “What about you, Nash? Would you buy me a beer?” she asked, tipping her head back to smile up at him.

  It was a tipsy smile, but still bright enough to dazzle.

  Buy her a beer?

  Well…why not? Why the hell not?

  “Sure. I could use a beer myself,” he said, smiling reassuringly at Mason and the other March girls. “Aria and I will get a drink and meet y’all in the Ag building.”

  Lark’s forehead bunched. “Are you sure? Aria, are you sure you want to go with Nash?”

  “Yes, mother.” Aria rolled her eyes and looped her arm through Nash’s with an unexpected familiarity, while Nash tried to ignore the flash of awareness he felt when her warm hand gripped his bare arm. “We’ll be fine. I’ll see you later. Goodbye family.”

  She started off toward the beer tent, towing Nash behind her. He glanced over his shoulder at Aria’s sisters with one last reassuring look, even as he wondered what the hell he was doing.

  Chapter Three

  Nash was even bigger than he used to be. Huge, in fact, with muscles popping out all over and a powerful physical presence that made people turn to look—and then take a step back—as he walked by.

  “You realize your forearm is as big around as a fully grown boa constrictor,” Aria said, voice slurring the slightest bit.

  She was…a little drunk.

  Okay, she was a lot drunk, or she would never have suggested she and Nash go anywhere together. Ever.

  She hated Nash Geary. Mostly. Except when he was being sweet to Felicity at the BBQ a few months ago. And when he looked at her with that sort of pained, hopeful expression as he left that night, almost as if he remembered, just for a second, that they hadn’t always been enemies.

  “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Nash asked, glancing down at his arm.

  “Neither. Just an observation,” Aria said. “Have you ever seen a boa constrictor? In real life?”

  “Can’t say I ha
ve,” Nash drawled, taking a long pull of his twenty-four-ounce beer.

  Aria had been worried when he ordered the extra-large—they had to stay in the beer tent until their beers were finished, and she really didn’t want to linger at the sticky wooden bar surrounding the perimeter of the tent with Nash all night—but at this rate he would be done with his drink long before she finished her twelve ounces.

  “I have,” she said. “My ex has a pet boa constrictor in his basement. Next to his guitar collection. If he gets custody of Felicity, I’m going to sneak in there and kill it.”

  “You should,” Nash said, with an intensity that surprised her. “What kind of asshole has a boa constrictor and a baby in the same house?”

  “A stupid asshole,” Aria said. “The stupidest asshole who was ever an asshole kind of asshole.”

  She took another swig of light beer, and wished it were something with a little more kick. She didn’t want to think about Liam taking Felicity away from her anymore. She didn’t want to think at all. At least not tonight.

  Nash cleared his throat. “Sorry about what you’re going through,” he said in a softer voice. “I can imagine how hard it must be.”

  “Thanks.” Aria swallowed the lump trying to form in her throat. Kindness from Nash was harder to take than his sarcasm.

  Kindness lowered her defenses and made her think about stupid things like leaning her cheek against his solid chest, feeling his strong arms around her, and hearing his husky drawl telling her “everything is going to be all right” in a way that made her actually believe it.

  “Whatever,” Aria said, banishing the ridiculous fantasy with another drink. “It’s fine. I’ve got a month before the hearing. I’ll figure something out.”

  “I’m sure you will,” he said, watching her out of the corner of his eye.

  “Seriously, Nash, I don’t need you to feel sorry for me,” she said, still fighting the urge to cry. She didn’t want to lose control in front of him. It would be too mortifying. “I wish Mason had kept his mouth shut.”

  Nash grunted. “Well he didn’t so…just so we’re even…” He took a deep breath. “I broke up with someone, too. About six weeks ago. Tonight, she told me that she’s engaged to marry a loser I used to play football with in high school.”

  Aria blinked, confused. “How does that make us even?”

  Nash shrugged. “I don’t know. Quid pro quo—I know your pain, you know mine?”

  Aria took a thoughtful sip, relaxing a bit as the alcohol started swirling through her head. “I think mine is worse.”

  Nash’s lips curved in a bitter smile. “Would it help if I told you I lied, and told her I was about to propose to someone, too?”

  “So you’re not about to propose?” Aria asked.

  “Hell, no,” Nash said, eyes rolling up to study the roof of the tent. “I don’t even have a girlfriend. I haven’t dated anyone since Rachael left.”

  Aria snorted. “That is pretty embarrassing.”

  “I know.”

  “She’ll know you’re lying by tomorrow,” Aria said, giggling. “I mean, in this town, she might know by tonight.”

  “I know,” Nash said, color flushing his cheeks. “What can I say? I lost it.” He looked down at his beer. “Too bad my friend, Sandra, moved away.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “She’s crazy, and always hated Rachael. I probably could have convinced her to marry me for a few months. Just to save my damned pride.” He laughed beneath his breath. “But she went to hike the South American rainforest or something with her new girlfriend, so…guess I’m out of luck.”

  Aria’s smile vanished. Her heart squeezed, her head cleared, and suddenly she felt stone-cold sober.

  But she wasn’t sober. If she were, she would never have had the guts to say—

  “I’ll do it.”

  “What?” A line formed between Nash’s eyebrows, an exclamation point that seemed to emphasize the insanity of what she’d just said.

  “I’ll do it,” Aria repeated, setting her beer down as her arm began to tremble. “My ex is saying he’s a better parent because he’s married, and has a house of his own without any perverts like my dad living in.”

  “I saw in the reports that your dad was arrested the other night,” Nash said, a hard note entering his voice. “Can’t say I was sad to see it.”

  Aria waved a hand, determined not to bring Daddy into this. “Whatever. What I’m saying is, if we got married, then my ex wouldn’t have a case. He wouldn’t have a case, and your ex would never have to know that you were lying about getting ready to propose.”

  “And then,” Aria pressed on, ignoring the frown still creasing Nash’s forehead, trying not to think about the fact that she and this man had loathed each other for over a decade. “A few months from now, or however long it takes for Liam to get bored with suing me and move on, we can amicably divorce.”

  “Since when do we amicably do anything?” Nash asked.

  “Since tonight,” Aria said. “Since we became each other’s best chance to get what we want. I keep my daughter, and you rub your happiness in the face of this woman who cared so little for you that she is marrying someone else less than two months after you two split up.”

  Nash’s jaw clenched, but it looked like he was at least considering what she’d said.

  “What about your daddy?” he finally asked. “What would he think about you marrying that white trash boy he saved you from when you were fifteen?”

  Aria’s stomach knotted, the way it always did when she thought about the night she and Nash were caught in the woods. It was a shameful memory, but also a hopelessly sad one. She had been so naively sure that Nash cared about her, and that what they had was going to last.

  But then, she seemed to have a knack for misjudging the men in her life.

  “He’s part of the reason I’m in this mess,” Aria said, hardening her heart, knowing she had to do whatever it took to keep Felicity with her, where her baby belonged. “I don’t care what he thinks.”

  “Well, I do,” Nash said, leaning closer, adding beneath his breath. “If we do this, no one knows it’s fake but us. No one. Not even your family.”

  Aria’s brows shot up, anxiety and hope skittering along her nerve endings. He was talking terms, which meant there was a chance this crazy thing was actually going to happen.

  “Okay.” Aria nodded. “No one knows but us, not even my family.”

  “When we’re out in public, we act like this is the real deal,” Nash added. “Like we’re crazy about each other.”

  “Instead of just crazy,” Aria said, heart skipping a beat when Nash smiled. She hadn’t seen him smile in years, but he had a killer grin—warm and magnetic and sexy as hell, enough to make a girl weak in the knees even if she hadn’t had four beers.

  “Right,” he said. “Instead of just crazy.” He stepped closer, arm going around her waist, making her flinch and her breath rush out.

  “What are you doing?” she squeaked, pulse racing as he pulled her closer, until she was in intimate contact with every muscled inch of the man Nash Geary had become.

  “Acting like this is the real deal,” Nash murmured in his panty-melting drawl.

  “We’re starting now?” Aria asked as she braced her hands on his chest. “Right now?”

  “Right now,” Nash said, and then he kissed her.

  For a second, Aria froze, her mouth motionless against his. Kissing Nash was so completely outside the bounds of how she had expected this trip to the beer tent to go that she couldn’t seem to get her brain and her body on the same page. But then his big hand cupped the back of her head and his mouth angled into more intimate contact with her own and Aria’s mind shut off the way she’d been wishing it would all night, leaving her body to make its own decisions.

  And her body knew exactly what to do.

  With a soft moan, Aria twined her arms around Nash’s neck, pulling him closer as her lips parted and she welcomed h
im in, sighing into his mouth as his tongue moved against hers with firm, practiced strokes that shouldn’t have felt familiar, but did.

  It felt like she’d kissed him yesterday, not twelve years ago. Her tongue remembered exactly how to dance with his, her fingers remembered that spot at the back of his neck that made his breath catch when she dug her nails into his skin, and her heart remembered how to slam against her ribs like an animal desperate to escape its cage, longing to get closer to the thing it craves. Closer to Nash.

  By the time he pulled away, Aria was breathing hard, tingling all over, and aching in places she had almost forgotten were there.

  She and Liam had stopped sleeping together around the fourth month of her pregnancy. At first, she had assumed he was worried about the baby, but then she’d found out about the first affair and the last of her lust for her ex had faded away. Even after Felicity was born, and they were still trying to make it work, she hadn’t been able to bring herself to be vulnerable with Liam. No matter how much she craved physical affection, sleeping with her ex hadn’t felt safe anymore, which meant it had been over a year since she’d been with a man.

  Over a year. The realization boggled her mind. How could she have cut off a part of herself so completely for an entire year? At this moment—still pressed close to Nash, with her pulse racing and her body purring and every beat of her heart begging for more, more, more—it was completely unthinkable.

  And completely terrifying.

  There was no way she was going to be able to live with Nash, day in and day out, while pretending to be in love with him every moment they were in public, without wanting a lot more than kisses for someone else’s benefit. Hell, she already wanted more, was already imagining Nash pushing her back onto his bed, his comforting weight heavy on top of her as they took kissing to the next level, to those places they’d begun to explore as kids, and beyond.

  “That was…pretty convincing,” he said, watching her through hooded eyes, looking so damned sexy it was almost impossible to keep from reaching up and pulling him down into another kiss.