Little Secret, Red Hot Scandal (Las Vegas Nights 4)

“I mean that crush she had on him was, like, seven years ago. And it’s not as if he encouraged her. Nate said he deleted every one of her texts.”

“Wait...” Mia shook her head and tried to assimilate what Melody was saying. “Ivy had a crush on Nate?” Why hadn’t he ever mentioned this to her?

“I thought you were glued to her every second of every day.”

Mia rolled her eyes. “Now I am. Seven years ago I was finishing high school, like every other normal eighteen-year-old, while my twin sister was singing and acting on Broadway.” That had been around the time when Mia’s life stopped being normal. “Tell me what happened?”

“Apparently she got ahold of his phone number and sent him a bunch of texts, telling him how much she loved his music and begging him to come visit her in New York. Didn’t Nate tell you?”

“No.” Why not? Was that why Ivy had gotten so excited about the prospect of working with Nate? Because she’d had a crush on him a long time ago? “Did he go to New York?”

“Ohmygod, no. He wasn’t interested. She isn’t his type. He said he had to talk to your dad before it stopped.”

Was this a contributing factor to why Mia had had to rush to New York and take a GED exam instead of graduating with her class?

“You should ask Nate about it,” Melody continued.

“I will. And speaking of Ivy, Nate said she wants to record some of your songs.” Mia was relieved no grief sounded in her tone. Although she was sad and disappointed that Ivy no longer wanted to record her songs, the fact that Ivy and their father had made the decision and not bothered to tell her was what really hurt.

“Which ones?”

“I have no idea.”

“I guess I’d better decide which songs I want for my album or Ivy will snap up all my best stuff.” Melody laughed, but there wasn’t much humor in it. “Tell Nate I’m thinking about him.”

“Will do.”

After Mia hung up, she picked up her overnight bag and headed into the bedroom. Nate was propped up on the pillows, his eyes alert and intense. Mia tried to keep her gaze from lingering on his bare torso, but his broad shoulders and muscular arms awakened her hormones and stirred up her desires. His lower half was hidden by the sheet and she prayed that he was wearing pajama bottoms.

“I’m going to change,” she murmured awkwardly, heading into the bathroom.

“I’ve seen—” he began signing, but she was through the door before he could finish. One nice thing about his inability to speak was that all she had to do to get in the last word was not look at him.

She took her time changing into pajamas. She wasn’t primping, but hoping that he might fall asleep while waiting for her.

He hadn’t. And as she stepped into the bedroom and saw the glint in his eye, she wondered if either of them would feel rested come morning.

Four

“Sexy,” Nate signed, grinning as Mia’s expression contorted into chagrin.

She dodged his mocking smile and glanced down at her bright blue sleepwear. “What did you expect?”

If she thought covering herself from chin to ankle was going to distract him from her luscious body, she’d underestimated her appeal. Then he sighed. Isn’t that what she always did? Undervalued her worth.

“Something see-through and short.”

“Ha. I didn’t ask what you wanted.” She set her bag on the chair next to the window and circled the bed like a wary alley cat confronted by a rival tom. “You’re here to recover and I’m

here to make sure you get lots of rest.”

“Boring.”

“I suggest you appreciate the peace and quiet. You’re going to have my sister in your recording studio for the next month.”

“Come here.” He motioned her closer. “I don’t want to talk about your sister.”

Mia crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head. “Why didn’t you tell me Ivy had a thing for you seven years ago?”