When I opened the door, it was to a woman who looked like Georgie but with blonde hair. She looked even more like Georgie’s sister, Raisa, but taller. All three of them had a similar bone structure. Delicate and strong all at the same time, their Russian heritage screaming from their noses and chins. “You must be Mrs. Leskov,” I said, sticking out my hand.
“It’s Manya, yes. And you are Daniella?” she asked and then hugged me. It was unexpected. “Thank you for getting me here for Georgie. I do not have enough words.”
The driver came up with her bag, and we left it in the hallway as I led her through the house to the backyard. Georgie and Mac were talking to Ava, Eli, and Raisa. It took a moment for Georgie to realize who I had with me, and then she was running toward us and wrapping her mom in a fierce hug. Her sister followed behind with a matching surprised expression on her face.
“You’re here. How are you here?” There were tears in Georgie’s voice, which brought a corresponding set of tears to mine as I stepped away.
Mac and I passed each other. “Thank you, Gooberpants.”
It was said with a tease, but I heard the choke of emotion in his voice as well. “Stop with the Gooberpants before I arrange a toast for tomorrow that will ensure Georgie’s the one running for the hills.”
He just laughed and kept going.
I was walking toward Ava and Eli when my whole body started tingling. I knew before I even turned my head back to the house that Nash had arrived. He walked out the French doors and sidled up to Mac, but his eyes met mine over the distance. Just like we’d found each other so many times before.
I looked away, but it was too late. His dark, muscled body clad in a pair of jeans and a button-down, not unlike my brother’s, embedded itself into the photo album of Nash pictures I had stored in my head. The civilian clothes on Nash’s muscled body looked molded onto him, accentuating every single line. Thankfully, we didn’t have to say anything to each other because the planner was calling out for us to take our places. Truck and his wife, Jersey, had called to say their connecting flight had been delayed. They would make it in sometime tonight, but it wouldn’t be in time for the rehearsal. Which meant my brother-in-law, Vinnie, was taking his place temporarily. At least I wasn’t stuck with Nash. He was walking in with Raisa behind me.
The early October air had held on to summer, leaving everyone sweating and ready to jump into the pool hidden beneath a temporary, parquet dance floor by the time the rehearsal had barely started. I could feel Nash watching me, but I refused to glance his way. I wouldn’t let myself be drawn in by his sex appeal again. It was just sexual frustration. At least, that was what I was telling myself. Unfortunately, there was so much of it building up between us that we’d barely hit the relief valve. It was still ready to explode.
I made it through the rehearsal and to the club without talking to him. I was sitting down for the first course in the club’s private ballroom before I patted myself on the back. Even better, Nash and I were seated on opposite sides of Mac and Georgie, and the conversation flowed without us having to acknowledge each other.
Unfortunately, Bee and Thomas were on my other side, and Bee had focused in, once more, on me and my lack of a job. “Have you even put out any résumés?”
“I don’t understand why this is so important to you,” I told her with a small frown. “It isn’t your life.”
“Can’t I care about my sister? I don’t want you sitting around getting depressed. After everything that happened last year, it’s the last thing you need.”
“Oh, hell,” Gabi said from two seats down.
My body tensed, as it did whenever the incident was mentioned. I thought Bee had gotten the message to not talk about it when I’d gone with her and Gabi to their girls’ night. “What happened with Fenway has nothing to do with why I left Washington. Nor is it the reason I haven’t gotten a new job.”
“Well, what are you waiting for then?” Bee asked, the small frown I knew was going to someday leave a permanent mark on her face returning.
The table had gotten oddly quiet. The conversation had been in a natural lull, which made Bee’s voice stand out all the more. “Something not here,” I said.
“Well, that narrows it down a lot,” Bee replied.
“There’s a spot open at the Naval Academy. I think it’s more fundraising than anything else.” Nash’s voice cut through the room and coasted over me. I bristled, and I couldn’t stop the words that poured out.
“Look, I don’t know why everyone is so worried about me and my job situation. I’ve worked an endless number of hours over the last twelve years. I think it’s okay for me to be taking a minute to just let myself unwind,” I said and then turned to the other side of the table, meeting Nash’s gaze. “I think you should be worrying more about yourself and what you’re going to do when your SEAL career is over.”
As soon as I said the words, I knew they sounded harsh. It sounded like I was saying they were going to kick him out of the military, and that wasn’t what I’d meant. I hadn’t thought through my words before I’d spit them out. Nash was the only one who had that effect on me.
I heard Mac draw in a breath next to me, and his eyes narrowed on my face.
Mom cleared her throat, turning the conversation deftly with years of experience. She looked at Georgie’s mom and said, “Manya, how was your flight?”
The room picked up with chatter.
“What the hell was that about?” Mac asked quietly.
I didn’t respond at first. My nerves were on edge from being around Nash, because even though we hadn’t said a word, it still felt like he was standing right next to me. I gathered myself together and then said, “Nothing. I’m just tired of everyone trying to shove a job down my throat. I’ll find what I want soon enough.”
I pushed back my chair and headed for the ladies’ room. I stood there, staring at myself in the mirror again. Public restrooms and I were not friends anymore, because I always flashed back to the restroom at The Oriental. But as bad as they were, restrooms weren’t as hard as elevators. I refused to let myself go down that route tonight as we celebrated Mac and Georgie. I was determined to have a smile on my lips.
I washed my hands and left, only to run straight into Nash. His hands settled on both my arms in an attempt to keep me on my feet, scoring me like a knife.
I stepped back, pulling away, as he took in my entire body. I was in one of my favorite halter tops and a flowy skirt which reminded me of Georgie more than me. I’d bought it in an effort to debusiness-ize my wardrobe. The longer Nash stared, the more it felt as if I had shed my clothes and was standing there as naked as I’d been the weekend before.
