Page 31 of Perfect Enough

“That’s because you date the ones who throw themselves at you. If you would just admit your feelings for…” I let my words drift away when my cousin shot me a warning look.

Nathan pointed a finger at me. “Donotbring up Haven.”

Sighing, I said, “Why are you so against her?”

He gave me a look. “Why? Because she’s been infuriating me since we were in middle school. She’s a snob.”

“She’s not a snob, and you know it.”

“Then she’s judgy.”

“Are you talking about the comments she made about your womanizing?”

“Yes. Why is it any of her business?”

I adjusted my jacket sleeves, started out of my bedroom, and headed toward the kitchen. “I’m just throwing this out here, but could your problem with herreallybe that one time in the barn when things got heated and you freaked?”

He laughed. “I did not freak.”

I glanced over my shoulder. “Are you really going to stick with that story? Remember, I was the one you came running to after it happened.”

When he said nothing, I opened the refrigerator and grabbed two beers. Handing him one, I raised a brow.

He closed his eyes and scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s complicated, Josh.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really, smart ass. I freaked out. Happy now?”

“So you got spooked. Does that mean you have to keep pushing her away?”

He suddenly looked torn. “She’s too good for me.”

“Wow, that’s being honest.”

Nathan took a long drink of his beer and set it on the counter. He shook his head and said, “Things just happened that night, and if I could do it over again, I would. But I freaked out.”

“You regret not sleeping with her then?”

His eyes met mine, and when he said, “Not at all,” I knew he was lying. The truth was, Nathan felt something big for Haven—and that scared him.

“My mom said she’s doing great with her new business.”

He nodded, then took another drink. “Good for her. Still think it’s ridiculous, but she always did love animals.”

“Pretty damn smart of her to start that business, if you ask me. Heard she brought on someone to help her.”

Nathan glanced up. “She did?”

I forced myself not to smile. “That’s what Mom said.”

“Do you know who it is?”

“No clue.”

I watched as Nathan finished off the beer. I wasn’t sure why he ignored his feelings for Haven. All I knew was they were at the barn one time alone. Something about Haven trying to save a kitten and they found themselves on the bed in the office of Nathan’s parents’ barn. The only thing he’d told me was they had almost slept together but he stopped it. Since that night, something had changed with Nathan. He went out of his way to avoid Haven like the plague, when before, he’d always enjoyed their sparring matches.

“I should get going before your date gets here,” Nathan said as he tossed his beer bottle into the recycling bin. He smiled,and suddenly my carefree, easygoing cousin was back. “Have fun tonight.”