His eyes are sparkling when they meet mine. Not only do I think he means much more than just the research, but now I can add “charming” to his list of deadly attributes.
FIVE
Nash
I bring back the first armload of books and set them on our table. A couple of them contain direct references to the Gambino crime family case. Marissa thinks it will be most helpful, as it details the successful prosecution and imprisonment of a crime family based on the RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act.
I don’t mind researching case law to keep myself busy for a while, but it’s not nearly the distraction Marissa will be. Pursuing her will give me something to focus my . . . intensity on until all of this mess is settled. She’s just the sort of release I need.
I could take care of things my own way, Cash be damned. But despite the lingering resentment over him taking over my identity, I still care about him. He’s my twin, for God’s sake. And I know he was misled, that Dad didn’t tell him I was alive. In his way, Dad was trying to protect us both. And I guess we both did the best we could in a bad situation.
It’s still hard to sit back and wait rather than act, though. That’s why Marissa’s presence is so timely. I’ll have something to do in the meantime. She’ll be a challenge. She’s used to a certain kind of man, a man that’s nothing like me, so she’s in unfamiliar territory. And I’m just ass**le enough to take full advantage of that before she changes her mind and runs back to the life she had before she met the Davenports.
When I find Marissa within the stacks again, she’s four aisles over, at the back of the room. She’s holding three more books in her arms. But she’s not alone.
An impeccably dressed blond guy has cornered her. He’s nearly as tall as me, just not as muscular. He’s dressed in a dark blue suit. It’s custom cut, I’m sure. He’s smiling down at Marissa. And she’s smiling back.
I stop a few feet behind them and clear my throat.
Marissa looks at me. “Oh, Jensen, this is, um . . . this is . . .” The guy, Jensen, turns toward me and smiles politely. I can see that his eyes are a startling blue and his skin is tan. And not too tan, either. Or too even. Nothing like what he might get in a tanning bed, which I’m convinced is for pussies. No, his color makes me think he spends a good bit of his time outdoors.
Probably playing polo or some hoity-toity shit like that.
Marissa is still stammering, so I step forward and offer my hand. “Cash Davenport.” It makes sense that since there’s already a Nash Davenport in this “circle” that I be the rebellious brother.
I’m surprised that I don’t trip over the name. In fact, it comes out a little bit too easily. I guess that’s how Cash felt the first time he tried to pass himself off as me.
Marissa falls right in line with my deception. “Yes, you remember Nash Davenport, right? This is his twin brother, Cash. He owns a club across town.”
Jensen extends his hand. “Jensen Strong. I work at the DA’s office. Met your brother once or twice around at some functions, I think. So, a club, huh?” He nods his head appreciatively. “Nice.”
“It pays the bills,” I say simply.
We fall into an easy silence for a few seconds before Jensen speaks again. “Well, I guess I’d better run. I’m actually in court today. An unexpected witness gave me an idea, so I thought I’d come over and check on something during recess.” He nods to me and then turns his full attention to Marissa. “It was great seeing you again. Let me know if I can help with what you’re working on. Prosecution is kinda my thing,” he says charmingly. Marissa smiles and he continues. “Maybe we can do dinner sometime soon. Catch up.”
I’m a guy, so I know what he’s really saying is that he wants to get in her pants as soon as possible. I also know by Marissa’s reaction that she isn’t exactly saying no.
“That sounds great,” she replies. Her smile widens. It’s both flattered and maybe a little interested, which pisses me off. I can’t have her attention divided until I’m done with her. I’m not jealous by any far stretch of the imagination. I couldn’t care less who she sleeps with or who she’s interested in. I just want her to wait for a few days. Until I’m gone. Right now, I need her to focus on me so that I don’t go apeshit while I’m waiting on the go-ahead to tear someone a new ass.
I have no doubt I can give her more than enough to keep her mind and her body busy, but another guy in the picture just complicates things. And I’m dealing with too many complications already. I don’t need bullshit from my biggest source of stress relief, too.
“I’ll call your office, then.”
“Okay. See you later.”
With a nod as he passes me, Jensen leaves the aisle. I wait until he’s around the corner and out of earshot before I speak. “Looks like they’re lining up already.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It was no secret you and ‘Nash’ were an item, right? And it’s probably no secret that he dumped you. I mean, shit like that spreads like wildfire. One secretary finds out and suddenly it’s common knowledge.”
“And you think they’re coming out of the woodwork to console me?” Her laugh is wryly amused. “I don’t think so. I’m sure anyone who knows about it knows I’m far from devastated. I can hardly be crushed when ‘something’ that was never anything is over.”
I eye her skeptically. Could she really have such a . . . a . . . guy-like attitude about it?
“So you didn’t really give a damn about my brother?”
Marissa shrugs. On her face is uncertainty, but I think it’s more that she doesn’t know how to respond.
“It’s not that I want to see him hurt or anything. I’m not a monster. I don’t wish him ill. I guess I’m more . . . ambivalent than anything else. The only emotion I felt over the breakup was wounded pride. Feelings like that go away very quickly. The bottom line is: Cash and I were convenient and useful for each other. That’s pretty much it.”
I can’t help but laugh. I wonder what Cash would say if he knew that the whole time he was with Marissa, he was getting played as much as she was. I suspect there might be some wounded pride on his end, too. But then again, he’s so head over heels for Olivia, he might not give a damn.
“Good God, you’re like all the best parts of a woman without all the annoying parts.”