Free Stripped by Lauren Dane Page A

out.
    Or maybe not. Gah! She thought too much, she knew that. If she overthought the thing between them, she’d ruin it.
    * * *
    â€œSo how are things with Dahlia?”
    Nash looked up into his personal assistant Amy’s face and shrugged.
    â€œDon’t tell me you’re dumping the poor woman! Nash, you shouldn’t have pursued her if you didn’t mean it. From your stories, she seems too sensitive for you to toy with.”
    â€œDoes everyone think I’m a total cad or what?” He stood up, scrubbing his face with his hands. “It’s been a month. I’ve never been with a woman this long before, not on an exclusive level. And I like it. I like having her in my life. I like waking up with her. If I’m not here I like knowing I’m going back to my hotel room and calling or e-mailing her. It’s a completely new thing for me.”
    â€œI don’t think you’re a cad. But I do think you go through women like potato chips. But in your case, most of them seem to be okay with that. I have to say it cheers me to hear this one is different.”
    Sitting next to her, he squeezed her shoulders briefly. “She’s smart and funny and sarcastic as hell, and, well, I’ve told you what she’s like onstage. But she’s also shy and so scared of herself. Of all her power. She doesn’t trust me like I wish she would.” He told her briefly about the situation with Warner.
    Amy sneered. “Bill Warner is an ass. But, Nash, honey, you have a reputation. And it’s well deserved. I know you’re a good person beneath the trail of discarded women, but she sees those women and imagines herself as one of them. It hurts to be tossed aside. And she has this history of being misjudged. You can’t avoid that.”
    â€œI don’t want to toss her aside, Amy. I think I’m falling in love with Dahlia. I had this moment this morning when she told me to lock up behind myself at her place. It was so normal. My body started to freak, but then my heart realized how good it felt to belong to someone like that.
    â€œShe’s got class issues and I don’t know how to handle it. She’s concerned that she’s not in my circle. But I couldn’t care less about that! I want her, not her bank account or the tag in her clothes.”
    â€œWhich is easy for you to say.”
    â€œWhy does everyone say that?” Nash moved off the couch and began to pace. “I’m not a snob.”
    â€œNo, you’re not. But you are a man who vacations in Italy. You think nothing of the class issue because why should you? You’ve never struggled. I know you work hard. You’ve built this business up from nothing and made Emery Incorporated into something your father would be very proud of. But she’s working from nothing. She’s on the outside, Nash. You’re inside wearing Gucci loafers and lounging on a leather couch. Cut the girl some slack. And it’s about time you fell in love. It sounds to me like she’s worthy of you. And I know you’re worthy of her. When do I get to meet her?” Amy stood up and began to gather her paperwork.
    â€œStay for another few minutes. She’s coming over for dinner before work.”
    Amy smiled. “Oh, good! And how does William feel about it?”
    Nash sighed. “He likes her well enough. She’s one of the big draws at the club. But he’s a product of our household and while I may not be a snob, my mother is and so is William. He sort of thinks it’s just a fling and as long as he thinks I’m just having a fling, he’s fine. I need to talk to him more seriously about her and soon.”
    â€œAre you going to your mother’s for Christmas and New Year’s?”
    â€œYeah. Since Dad’s been gone, it’s become really important to her. She may be totally demanding and manipulative but I believe how lonely she looks. I don’t