Seth's Cravings: An Endless Series: Book 2 (20 page)

     Okay, joking over. Scowling at Blake I set my hands on
Nadia’s shoulders in a gentle but possessive manner. She stiffened and looked
up at me in surprise. Fuck, her eyes were fucking dazzling, but they were more
than beautiful, they were alive. It was as if she operated at a higher level
than other people, vibrated to a faster beat.

     “Can I get you something to drink, Nadia; vodka, beer,
soda, water…vodka water?” I inquired with a grin.

     She relaxed slightly and her lip twitched. That’s the
thing with Nadia, I could depend on her to find the humor. “What about me being
underage and everything?” She asked trying to look grave.

     “If you were driving somewhere tonight I wouldn’t be
offering, let’s just leave it at that.” I drank while underage so I wasn’t
going to get on her case about it…at least not again, and I’d only been
attempting to get some information out of her at the time.

     “I think I will have one drink, more than that will
have me nodding off. A vodka with 7-up or coke, if you have it?” As I turned to
walk away she called after me. “And some chips or veggies to snack on maybe.” Humor
coated her suggestion.

     Damn, she was sassy.

     While I was in the kitchen getting her a seven and
seven—with snacks—Nic and Carrie walked in. “Seth, that Nadia is a hoot and a
half.” Nic strolled over to grab a beer for himself and a soda for Carrie. “Not
putting down Melissa or anything, but Nadia is way better for you than she was.
But that’s just my opinion man.”

     I frowned. “What do you mean?”          

     “She draws you out more. I’ve seen you smile and
interact with her more today than all the times I saw you with Melissa…and
that’s with Nadia holding back.” Nic handed Carrie her soda with an ass pat.
She swatted at him in playful aggravation.

     “What do you mean, ‘holding back’?” I asked curiously.
What did Nic see?

     Nic grinned. “It seemed like every time you weren’t
looking at her she was watching you, but whenever you turned to stare at
her
she made sure her attention was elsewhere. It was a bit comical in a “
I
don’t want him to know I like him’
kind of way.”

      I couldn’t hold back my pleased grin. It was good to
know that I wasn’t wrong in my belief that Nadia did indeed feel something for
me. 

     “I have to admit I like her better than Melissa too.”
Carrie looked guilty as she admitted this. “I don’t know if it was me, but I
don’t think Melissa liked me.”

     “Did she say something to you? You should have said
something, Carrie.” I could hardly believe that Melissa would do that, but
Carrie wouldn’t lie.

     Nic had straightened with a frown and I knew he didn’t
like the idea of anyone making Carrie uncomfortable in any way.

     Carrie shook her head vehemently. “No, no, she was
never mean or nasty to me; she just had this…somewhat aloof manner around me,
like she didn’t really want to know me better. Maybe she’s a bit reserved with
everyone though. I mean, a few months ago people most likely labeled me that
way.” Nic rubbed her shoulders, probably to offer her comfort for why she’d
been that way.   

     I raised my brows at her assessment. I’d never noticed Melissa
acting that way, but I knew girls were different around other girls. I had two
sisters, and I saw more than several sides of their personalities growing up. 

     “Huh.”

     Carrie smiled at my short response. “Aside from my
feelings about her I also think the same as Nic. Not to sound poetic or
anything, but you kind of blossom around her.”

     “Like a sunflower searching for the sun.” Nic said in
dreamy mockery.

     I snorted while Carrie slapped at him again with a
grin. “I’m serious.”

     “So am I, couldn’t you tell.” Nic hauled her forward
and kissed her…and kept kissing her.

     I went back to putting some carrots, grapes and chips
in bowls for Nadia…and everyone else. When Nic and Carrie were done exchanging spit
we headed outside and I nearly came to a furious stop when I saw Blake sitting
next to Nadia. They were talking and his arm was on the back of the chair
behind her.    

     Dude better not be making a move on her or I was going
to have to rearrange his priorities.

     Continuing forward with Carrie and Nic we all deposited
the food I’d prepared on one of the patio tables. Then walking over to Nadia I
stood in front of both of them and offered out her drink while scowling at
Blake.

     “Here you go, Nadia.”

     Surprisingly, the only thing stopping me from cuffing
Blake on the head was that Nadia had been watching me since the moment I’d
stepped out the door. It had been covert, just like Nic had said, but I could
now see what he’d perceived.

     Blake looked up at me with an animated smile not at all
perturbed by my scowl. Yep, priorities rearranged at the earliest opportunity.

     “Seth, you should have said you met Nadia while playing
poker with her. We should set up a game.” He said looking back at her with an
eager expression.

     I did not want to see Nadia flirting with my friends.
Landon stretched my limits. I was about to tell him ‘hell no’ when Nadia spoke
up.

     “I don’t like to set up games with people I like.” Nadia
stood and giving me an enigmatic glance moved toward the refreshments.  

     What the hell! Was she saying she didn’t like me? I
gave her a frown as I sat down in her vacated seat. I gave Blake that cuff on
the head he deserved with a head jerk that said ‘MOVE’. He complied with a
grin.  

     Landon had heard and seemed to take exception to her
words as well. “Damn, Nadia; don’t sugarcoat your feelings for me.” He sat in
front of the fire sipping a beer.

     Nadia rolled her eyes. “
I
don’t set up those
games. Normally I don’t even know whose going to be there. And anyway, I just
started liking you recently, and now it’s going to be a bit awkward when I take
your money.” She looked away from me quickly as she stated her feelings and I
felt that it was kind of interesting that she couldn’t meet my gaze as she
divulged that tidbit.

     “What does it matter?” Blake asked with a confused
frown.

     Picking up a few grapes Nadia shrugged nonchalantly,
but I detected a certain self-consciousness to the movement as well as in her
eyes. “I’m just uncomfortable taking money from people I like.” She popped a
grape in her mouth.

     Ahh, she had principles about who she would gamble
against. Yet
another
noble quality she had that raised my admiration for
her. Hell, I’m surprised it could go any higher. She’d been reaching sainthood
level as it was…in her own distinctive way.

     Blake’s expression showed amused skepticism. “You think
you’re that good, do you?”

     Nadia shrugged once more. “Ask Seth or Landon.”

     Blake looked at the both of us questioningly.

     “She’s basically cleaned me out every single time.”
Landon confirmed.

     “She’s lethal.” I caught her gaze wanting her to see
that I wasn’t just referring to her skill at cards.

     Her eyes stayed with me for a moment before flickering
away. She brought her glass up to her mouth and I watched her lips latch on with
fixated interest. That mouth of hers…I shifted in discomfort.

     “How are you so good? Do you count cards or something?”
Blake asked.

     Amusement flickered over Nadia’s face. “You want me to
tell you how I win…in front of two people I play with?”

     Consternation crossed Blake’s face.

     “I think I’m finally willing to admit, Nadia, that you
are the better player and hold onto the rest of my cash.” Landon acknowledged
with a satirical lift of his lip and beer.

     Nadia pouted which was cute as fuck. “That’s
disappointing to hear because I will miss that money…oh, and your company of
course.” She waved her hand offhandedly then reached for more grapes.

     I watched her in rapt fascination. The attitude that I
had once observed with antipathy and scorn I now saw as exceedingly sexy. To be
honest I’d found it sexy then but I hadn’t wanted to appreciate it at the time.

     “You must be really good at math and statistics, as
well as have a very good memory.” Carrie said.

     Nadia gave her a shrug but the grin on her face said it
all.

     Carrie’s face lit in curiosity. “Ohh…how good?”

     “She’s freaky good.” Luka spoke up with a shake of his
head.

     Nadia sat down in the seat next to the refreshments.
Aggravating girl! “Luka.” She gave her brother ‘the look’.

     “What, it’s true. Show them, it’s cool to see.” He ignored
it with a grin.

     “Yeah, show us.” I wanted to know every little and
weird thing about her.

     She sighed and looked at Luka with exasperation. “Fine,
go ahead.”

     He leaned forward in enthusiasm and I felt a rush of
anticipation in what might happen. I could see that everyone else was
interested as well.

     “What’s…two hundred and twelve times…one hundred and
thirty six?” Luka asked.

     There was a very small pause from Nadia before she
answered. “Twenty eight thousand, eight hundred and thirty two.”

     I and everyone else stared at her in shock. Luka
laughed. “Freaky good isn’t she?”

     Evan pulled out his phone and did a quick calculation.
“Shit, she’s right. What’s…three hundred and seventy three times three hundred
and seventy three?” He clicked in the numbers.

     Another slight pause. “One hundred thirty-nine
thousand, one hundred twenty-nine.”

     Damn. I looked toward Evan even though I was sure she
was right.

     He shook his head at her in amazement. We all looked at
her in amazement. “How do you do that?” He asked.

     Nadia shrugged. “I don’t know, it’s just something I
can do. Numbers come easy to me.” She seemed neither boastful nor uncomfortable
with it. It just was. I was coming to recognize that was Nadia. She seemed to
the live the philosophy, ‘It is what it is.’

     Her ability was amazing, but I had to say that I was
more amazed by the other things she’d done with her life; becoming a journeymen
at such a young age, taking over guardianship of her siblings…shit, I was in
awe of her whole damn life.

     “You’re like a savant; you could be a brilliant
mathematician or something.” Amanda said. She had joined the group seconds
before Nadia had began rattling off answers.

     “I’ll stick with being a brilliant plumber, it probably
pays more. It’s mostly a cool party trick anyway.” Nadia proclaimed carelessly.

     “Hell, why don’t you just become a professional poker
player. You’d be set for life.” Blake remarked.

     “Not to disparage my fellow players in the room…” Nadia
gave Landon and me a smile. “But gambling with college kids is child’s play.
They’re there mostly to waste time and money. Professional gamblers would have
some of the same advantages as me; they’re very good at what they do. I’m not
in the game to gamble with my money, I’m there to win.” She stated
matter-of-factly.

     “So, you’re a bit of a con artist.” Landon declared
looking at Nadia with narrowed eyes.

    I leaned forward in my seat with a frown not liking
Landon’s expression or tone. I noted that Luka made a similar move, but Nadia
held out her hand to him.

     “Do you feel that I’ve cheated or tricked you?” Nadia
asked him curiously.

     Landon stared at her intently for a moment before
answering. “I think you might have…misrepresented yourself somewhat.”

     “How?” She asked with a small ‘bring it on” wave. For
the first time she looked provoked.

     Landon frowned. “Well, you…made it seem like you were a
bit of an airheaded flirt when you’re not.”

     Nadia’s lip quirked. “I feel that’s a perception
problem from your end, not something I did. And you didn’t have to keep playing
against me.”

     I chuckled a bit darkly. The perception problem had
undeniably been my issue. “I have to agree with her there, Landon. People see
what they want to see. If we can’t look under the surface than that’s our
problem.” My gaze fixed on Nadia who appeared uneasy for the first time. “Carrie,
didn’t you say something about games.” I announced to get the attention off
Nadia.

     If I hadn’t been watching Nadia so closely I might have
missed how her shoulders slumped faintly. She hadn’t been as relaxed as she’d
looked. And because I was watching her closely I also saw the thoughtful glance
she threw my way.

     I gave her an encouraging smile hoping she would see
that I was now on her side. Hoping she would let me
in
on her side. She
was turning out to be a hard nut to crack.

     I really wanted to find that delectable center. 

Chapter Thirteen

NADIA

     I watched Seth surreptitiously as Carrie divided people
into teams for the game of Trivia she’d brought out to play. He’d said barely a
word to me since he’d come out while everyone else had been peppering me with
questions. Nevertheless, I hadn’t been able to get my attention off of him. He
drew my gaze no matter where he was.

     And every time I looked at him he was staring at me
with that brooding expression of his. It should be creepy, but it wasn’t. What
it was doing was sending jolts and tingles to each part of my body; known and anonymous
places.