He seemed to be examining my every feature.
Oh crap. My hair was no doubt a disaster. I probably had crease lines in my face and maybe drool since I’d slept harder than I ever had in my life.
I touched the corner of my mouth. Nothing. Thank goodness.
Automatically, I dropped my hand back to his stomach. Amusement flickered in his gaze, yet that intensity remained.
“I didn’t want to move you last night.” His voice was deeper, roughened with sleep.
“This is my favorite place to sleep.” The confession was out before I could stop it. Miss Adeline knew it. The dogs knew it. But no one else did.
Amusement turned to curiosity. “Hope that means you didn’t mind no pillow or covers.” Discreetly, he pulled me closer to him.
Except I was already glued to his side.
I liked his warmth. I liked the safety of his hold.
I like waking up to him.
Oh no. I could not be thinking crazy things like that.
He brushed his thumb over my temple. “Whatever is going on up there, just stop.”
“Are you telling me how to think?” There was no bite to my words. My lips even tilted upward. And strangely enough, he had quieted my mind.
“I wouldn’t dare. Just try not to overthink.”
Ash licked him in the face in a sneak attack. He laughed and kissed the top of her head.
Bark. Bark. Bark.
He stuck his finger in his ear and winced. “Pretty sure that’s our cue to get up.”
He slid to a sitting position before getting to his feet.
I placed my hand in his and he easily lifted me to stand.
Neither of us moved, even as Sadie barked. That intensity was back with a vengeance. I just had no idea what it meant.
He squeezed my fingers and kissed the top of my head.
This man always got to me with the way he treated my dogs, but his simple affections were a double punch to the heart.
“Should I feed her? Before we all lose our hearing?” He grinned.
“Good idea.”
I grabbed the food out of the refrigerator. He wiped out one of the clean bowls drying on the counter.
“This scoop in each bowl.” I pushed the container toward him and set the measuring cup on top.
He set to work filling and I distributed. It was never like this. We’d had volunteers over the years, and occasionally, they’d helped with the feeding, walking, and even playing with the dogs. But this felt different. As if we were a team. In sync.
“The queen first,” I said as Sadie jumped on me to get to her bowl. I snapped my fingers and pointed down. She ignored me and kept her big paws on my leg. Stubborn thing. “Fine. You win. Again.”
Teague and I worked together like a well-oiled machine. Miss Adeline popped in and took another dog out to walk. We were seamless. Didn’t get in one another’s way.
I could get used to this.
How many times had I thought that when he was around? It had been a slow battle to let Miss Adeline completely in. I’d never felt comfortable enough to be myself around anyone but the dogs. Maybe that was because they’d accepted me when I’d been at my worst. They’d never judged. They’d been genuinely happy to be around me.
Even if I couldn’t pinpoint why Teague was different, every time I was around him, I became more aware that he was. My initial stop! stay back! reaction had been normal. I hadn’t liked him. Yet even when he disappointed me, he still managed to redeem himself.
“Why do you keep coming back?” I blurted before I could think better of it. Seemed my subconscious determination to keep people away was still very much alive and active.
He hesitated mid-scoop but quickly continued. “I guess my father taught me one good thing. Don’t ever give up.”
I winced, hating I’d brought his father to the forefront of his mind. Obviously it was painful for him, though I wondered if the man wasn’t always there anyway.
I tilted my head, considering the brief time we’d known one another. Only one time had I seen him seem to give up. But it hadn’t taken him long to go back at it . . . with me at least. Maybe when he’d conceded to his father it wasn’t really that at all.
“If you don’t have much to do with him, how did he teach you that?” I became a sponge, eager to know whatever information I could glean about Teague.
He offered me a full bowl. “Growing up, he showed us that every single day.” His face hardened. “Except with the most important thing.”
My fingers trembled at the menace in his tone as I took the bowl. “What was that?”
His features were like granite, hatred etched into every facet of them. “Finding out who murdered my mother.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
Teague
The words that shall not be spoken.
My mother’s murder was a known fact. It had been covered by news organizations all over the world.
Yet in my family, it was no-go territory.
We could mention she was gone. But not the specifics.
Yet here I was airing personal business to a practical stranger.
Pepper gasped.
Judging by her reaction, she didn’t know my mother was murdered. I’d wondered after my entire family had barged into her space if she’d looked us up. Dug deeper to find out who we were. Although, given how busy she was, would she have had time? Would she have bothered?
My father had done an excellent job of burying those old stories of my mother’s death, but they were still out there.
She dropped the bowl and grasped my arms. “I’m so sorry.” She looked down a minute, but when her gaze lifted back to mine, I’d never seen such earnestness. “I know that doesn’t do any good, but I am.”
Somehow her sorry meant something. Some of the ones I’d heard had been heartfelt, yet most had been hollow.
“I appreciate that.” My voice was scratchy. “I should be past it by now. It was a long time ago—”
“You never have to get over it.” The firmness of her tone as she shook me caught me by surprise.
No one had ever said that to me.
I’d been expected to move on. Pretend it hadn’t happened.
Yet I lived with it every day. It never went away.
I didn’t need her permission to feel whatever it was that I did, but having that acknowledgment loosened something inside of me.
“I was there.” The whisper sounded as if it had been yanked from the depths where I’d buried it deep.
“Teague.” Her fingers dug into my arms.
The memories that usually plagued my sleep flashed across my brain.
“I was five. She was loading me into the car after we’d stopped at our favorite deli.”
Pepper disappeared from in front of me. I was back in the front seat of Mom’s Cadillac.
“Should we set up a picnic for supper?” She grabbed my seatbelt and leaned over me.
“Yes! Lincoln and Beau and Dad will love that.” I pumped my fist in the air.
She laughed. “They will. Should we stop by Daddy’s office and drag him home?”
“Can we?”
“We can.” Click. “All safe now.” She kissed my forehead. “Love you—”
Pop. Pop. Pop.
Her eyes went wide. “Teague,” she whispered before she fell.
Her head landed in my lap.
“He shot her in the back.”
The pain in my chest I always had when I woke up from that nightmare flared to life. Except this time, this was no dream. It had happened in the day. When I was awake.
“I saw his face. But I—” I hung my head. I’d looked at picture after picture the police had presented me. Endured my father’s agitation that none of them were who I saw. That I just couldn’t remember other than the blurry image.
Her slender arms wrapped around me. She buried her head against my chest. Although she was cradled to me, it felt as if I were the one in her arms. That she was bigger and
I was small.
It was the hug I’d needed from that horrific day. One I’d never gotten from my father and just wasn’t the same from my brother or sister.
I sank into her embrace. The fog of the memory slowly evaporated until my head was clear. She hadn’t bothered with words of support. She simply showed me.
I wouldn’t forget that.
She pulled back quickly, despair and worry written on her face. “Your friend. You have the funeral . . .”
Pepper couldn’t articulate what she was attempting to say, but I understood. She recognized that death and funerals had an impact on me beyond what a person might normally feel. Not that there was a normal.
Death was hard.
While it would have been easy to cast aside the idea that would be presented later today and that I’d heard countless times, that Cassano was in a better place, I chose not to. I couldn’t.
It gave me some solace believing those I’d lost were somewhere better, even if I wished they were still here.
“My sister is going with me,” I finally said. What would I have done if she were in London?
Pepper nodded, satisfied, though her mouth remained in a flat line. “I’m glad you have them.”
“Me too.” I shook off the cloud around us. The day was going to be difficult. I couldn’t dwell on it. “Want some breakfast? I make a mean omelet.”
Red crept up her cheeks. “I don’t know if we have any eggs.”
“Are you good to go down here?”
“I think it’s under control . . . sort of.” The flat line of her lips turned up.
“Mind if I go rummage in your kitchen?”
“Go for it. Though I can’t promise Miss Adeline won’t come get in your way.” The affection in her voice every time she spoke of the woman was present again.
“She could probably show me a thing or two.”
“I definitely could.” The woman appeared with a smug look. “Looks like you could give a lesson in taking things at a snail’s pace.”
Pepper closed her eyes in embarrassment. “Woman . . .”
“I don’t want to hear any excuses.” She waved us off. “And I like my omelet extra done.”
“Got it.” I saluted.
She ambled away to take another dog out for a walk.
“Feel free to ignore her,” Pepper said.
I tapped my lips. “I don’t know. She may be onto something.”
She shoved at me. “Not you too.”
“Fine, fine. I’ll go cook breakfast.”
Bark. Bark. Bark.
“I thought you already fed her?” I asked over Sadie’s shrill barks.
“You said the B word.” She mouthed breakfast before she pointed in the dog’s direction. “And you already ate, little piggy.”
That only seemed to encourage her.
“Maybe she wants an omelet.”
The girl stood there barking as if she wouldn’t stop until her voice gave out. A few others joined the chorus.
Pepper shook her finger at Sadie. “See what you’ve started.”
“Remind me not to make you mad.” I held up both hands in surrender.
She planted a hand on her hip, but there was zero menace in her glare. Damn, she’s beautiful.
After a second of my staring, she appeared uncertain. “What?”
“What what?”
“You’re looking at me funny,” she said, glancing down I guessed to check to see if she had something on her clothes.
“Not funny.” I stalked toward her. “Not by a long shot.”
And then she was in my arms, I’d hooked her by the waist, and pulled her flush. We hadn’t known each other long, but I’d had a few moments when she’d been in my arms. Her skin was soft to touch. When I held her, it felt perfect. But right now, I needed to know if her sweet lips were as soft as they seemed.
I bent my head and found her lips with mine before I could overthink it. She blinked at me in surprise but didn’t push me away.
Her mouth was soft, yet when she finally kissed me back, it was strong. She wove her fingers through my hair and held me in place. I cradled her face. That perfect pale skin was smooth underneath my touch.
I’d hugged her, held her, but this was a mistake.
Because I only wanted to explore her.
She nudged her tongue between my lips and whimpered when mine dueled with hers. Something in me came to life I hadn’t known was dead. She’d intrigued me from the moment we met, but now that I’d tasted her?
I’m in trouble.
And I kissed her harder. Deeper. Longer.
Sadie’s barks were the background to the most intimate moment of my life. And it was a chaotic perfection.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Pepper
Are we kissing?
Of course you are, crazy.
Why are you even thinking this?
Why are you thinking at all?
Just kiss him.
I couldn’t close my eyes. I needed to see this. Be sure it was real.
Wow.
His mouth on mine felt . . . I couldn’t describe it.
His hair in my fingers felt . . . like it was meant to be there.
His hands on my face felt . . . like I never wanted him to move them.
This wasn’t like the last sloppy college kiss I’d had. It had something behind it I didn’t understand. The feeling was foreign, yet not unpleasant.
Who was I? Some stuffy prude? Unpleasant?
It was spectacular—stars and moon aligning and all the fireworks stuff of fairy tales. And I didn’t believe in fairy tales.
I could barely breathe.
My mind whirled.
And I felt everything.
This was the kiss of a man who knew exactly what he wanted. And if I’d been unclear before about what I desired, it had become abundantly clear.
I wanted him.
My knees went weak at the realization. I pulled back but was still fully in his grasp.
“Is that normal?” My voice was hoarse, as dazed sounding as I felt.
“Don’t think so,” he said, a little in awe.
Sadie’s voice, on the other hand, was not hoarse. She continued to bark her demands in rapid succession.
Oh my word.
I’d just had the best kiss of my life, probably of anyone’s life, to the sound of barking dogs. At least they couldn’t tell Miss Adeline.
“I’d better . . .” I motioned in her direction.
Teague didn’t immediately drop his hand. “We’re doing that again.”
“If you like the barking as mood music, I’d suggest six in the morning or six at night.” Pepper. Was I flirting? Again?
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He smirked. “Um, Pepper? You’ve still got a hand in my hair.”
“Oh.” I dropped it like I realized I’d had my fingers on a burning stove.
“Mind if she tags along upstairs?” He scruffed Ash’s head.
“Nope.” I gripped the straps of my overalls and rocked back on my heels.
Why did I feel so awkward now? And why had he kissed me when I had morning breath . . .
I stared after him when they took off.
Miss Adeline appeared in the empty doorway and whistled. “My stars.” She fanned her face as she used a fake southern drawl.
“Hush.” I looked anywhere but at her for something to do but couldn’t remember what was going on before the kiss.
I tossed Sadie a treat, which she happily smacked.
“Did you think I’d mind if you wanted to have a sleepover?” The woman could not be deterred. “You didn’t have to sleep down here.”
“It wasn’t planned,” I snipped before I let out a long sigh. “We have a big day ahead.”
She squeezed my shoulders. “It’ll all be fine. Always is.”
I wished I had an ounce of her optimism. The glow of the kiss was gone, replaced by worry for the animals we were responsible for.
“And I mean
that on all fronts,” she said before I could respond.
“I don’t want to talk about him.” My exasperation seeped through my words.
“You’re the one who just brought him up.”
She won. Every. Single. Time.
The bell above the front door jingled. I tensed.
“We really need to keep that locked,” I muttered. Unexpected visitors were not on my list of favorites at the moment. Except the Elliotts and Jacobses.
And Teague.
“Heyyy! Anybody home?”
I relaxed as another acceptable unexpected visitor appeared.
“Hey, Beau.” I waved her into the back room. “What brings you by?”
“I just realized what I’m about to ask may get him in trouble.” She shrugged. “You wouldn’t happen to have seen my brother? He didn’t come back to Lincoln’s place last night. Annnd now if you don’t know, I’ve just helped him screw things up with you.”
She smacked herself in the forehead.
“Is he staying at your brother’s?” Miss Adeline asked innocently. She knew how to make someone squirm and get info at once.
“Yeah. Just while—actually I don’t know how long. But he has his own place,” she said quickly. “This was a bad idea, wasn’t it?”
“He’s—”
“Where does he live?” Miss Adeline cut me off like a champ before I could put Beau out of her misery.
She shifted on her feet. “Well, I . . . he just moved and I haven’t been by yet.” Her words poured out in a rush.
Miss Adeline lifted a brow.
“But I think it’s close by here.” Beau didn’t seem the type to easily cave.
But her odd behavior, not that I had more than a few hours of being around her to compare it to, raised my suspicions.
Why was she being so weird about Teague?
“I don’t think he’s ever mentioned it.” Miss Adeline knew damn well he hadn’t.
“He’s pretty private.” Beau hefted her purse on her shoulder. “Sorry to have bothered you.” She looked at me. “Don’t hold it against him. He probably stayed at the fire station. I honestly can’t remember the last time he mentioned a girl.”
Crash: Crash & Burn Duet Book 1 (Shaken) Page 16
