Foolish Expectations Read Free Page A

woman tried to kick him in the nuts…and actually grazed one of them.
    Sonofabitch.
    Nash maneuvered her back against the tailgate of a nearby pickup. He took it easy on her, but he also had to protect himself until she calmed down. Both of them were already breathing heavy. “Are you done trying to kick my ass yet?”
    She glared at him, fire burning in her eyes. “Are you so hard up for a woman that you have to chase one into the parking lot because you can’t accept that she refused your advances?”
    “Sweetheart, I haven’t even begun to make advances on you. If I had, we’d be in my bed screwing instead of standing in this parking lot.” He blocked her attempt at hitting him again and chuckled softly at her indignation. “Would you stop hitting me already? I told you I wasn’t going to hurt you. I only came out to make sure—”
    “God, you really think you’re something special, don’t you?”
      Well, I am a Sutherland…
    He rolled his eyes at the thought. That was exactly the way his father looked at things, not Nash. He had more respect and pride in himself than that.
    Aaron Sutherland wielded the power of the family name and flaunted their fortune every chance he got. But Nash didn’t want anything to do with it. As far as he was concerned, his father could take his inheritance and shove it up his ass…which was exactly what he’d told him the last time they’d spoken. The prick.
    “I don’t think any such thing,” Nash said, scoffing at her remark.
    “Oh, really? Well, why else would you come all the way out here to give me one last chance to sleep with you?”
    That’s what she thought I was doing? Christ.
    He sighed. “You have it all wrong. I came out here only to make sure you were okay.” He released her and backed away to make sure she understood he was no threat. “You were being followed…by someone other than me.”
    She stilled and her eyes widened. “What are you talking about?”
    The sound of the country music grew louder and they both looked up to see Richard slipping through the front door, heading back inside the bar. Nash glanced back at her to make sure she fully understood the situation.
    Momentarily stunned, a soft little “oh” whispered past her parted lips. Her eyes glazed over, but it wasn’t anger he saw there. It was something different, something that grabbed his attention and held on tight. Fear.
    “I…I only wanted a beer,” she said, her voice trembling. “Just a cold beer.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “But apparently wearing a stupid dress in that bar declares hunting season officially open with me as the big game trophy.” Sniffling, she wiped away a stray tear with the back of her hand. “And believe me, I didn’t come here with any intention of being mounted or stuffed.”
    Silently, he stared at her for a full minute. Then he pushed himself off the tailgate and stepped back, shoving his hand in his right pocket. He pulled out his keys and motioned with his head. “Come on.”
    She stood there dumbfounded, twisting her fingers together, as he crossed the parking lot and climbed into his gold Chevy truck. She hadn’t moved a muscle, so he started the engine and shifted into reverse, backing across the parking lot until the truck was even with her. He motored down the window. “You coming?”
    She glanced down at her feet, then shifted uncomfortably. “I, uh…where are we going?”
    “You said you wanted a cold beer. I know just the place.”
    Her gaze met his once again, but her blue eyes had dulled to an ashy gray as if her confidence had diminished. He hated that. Nash wanted to see that fiery spark she’d had when she’d let him have it in the bar. So he added, “You want it or not?” He grinned sinfully and arched one brow, knowing it came off as a double entendre.
    She scoffed at his remark. “Yeah, I want it. The beer, I mean.”
    Nash grinned as she opened the door and lifted her leg to climb inside…until the hem of