Twelve Nights of Temptation

by Barbara Dunlop

  “What for?” The question was out of Matt’s mouth before he realized it was none of his business. It was after five, and Tasha was free to do anything she wanted.

  “Meeting some guys.”

  Guys? What did she mean guys? He wanted to ask if it was one particular guy, or if it was a group of guys. Were they all just friends?

  “Hey, Tasha.” TJ appeared at the rail beside him.

  “Hi, TJ.” Her greeting was casual, and her attention went back to Matt. “Alex will fill the fuel tanks first thing. The clients are expected at ten.”

  “Got it,” Matt said, wishing he could ask more questions about her evening. Or better still, invite her to join them, where they could talk and laugh together.

  Not that they were in the habit of friendly conversation. Mostly, they debated. But he’d be happy to engage her in a rollicking debate about pretty much any subject.

  As she walked away, TJ spoke up. “I may just take another shot.”

  “Another shot at what?” Matt asked.

  “At your mechanic.”

  “What?” Matt turned.

  “I like her.”

  “What do you mean another shot?” Matt was surprised by the level of his anger. “You took a shot at her already?”

  TJ was obviously taken aback by Matt’s reaction. “I asked you back in the summer. You told me to go for it.”

  “That was months ago.”

  “That’s when I asked her out. I suggested dinner and dancing. That might have been my mistake.”

  Matt took a drink of his beer to keep himself from saying anything more. He didn’t like the thought of Tasha with any guy, never mind TJ. TJ was the epitome of rich, good-looking and eligible. Matt had seen the way a lot of women reacted to him. Not that Tasha was an ordinary woman. Still, she was a woman.

  TJ kept talking, half to himself. “Maybe a monster truck rally? She is a mechanic.”

  Caleb joined them at the rail.

  TJ tried again. “Maybe an auto show. There’s one coming up in Seattle.”

  “You can’t ask her out,” Matt said.

  The protest caught Caleb’s attention. “Why can’t he ask her out?”

  “Because she’s already turned him down.”

  “I could be persistent,” TJ said.

  “I really don’t think dinner and dancing or persistence was the problem,” Matt said.

  “How would you know that?” TJ asked.

  Caleb’s expression took a speculative turn. “You have a problem with TJ asking Tasha out?”

  “No,” Matt responded to Caleb. Then he reconsidered his answer. “Yes.”

  TJ leaned an elbow on the rail, a grin forming on his face. “Oh, this is interesting.”

  “It’s not interesting,” Matt said.

  “Is something going on between you two?” Caleb asked.

  “No. Nothing is going on.”

  “But you like her.” TJ’s grin was full-on now.

  “I kissed her. She kissed me. We kissed.” Matt wasn’t proud that it sounded like he was bragging. “She’s a nice woman. And I like her. But nothing has happened.”

  “Are you telling me to back off?” TJ asked.

  “That’s pretty loud and clear,” Caleb said.

  TJ held up his hands in mock surrender. “Backing off.”

  “She said she was meeting a guy tonight?” Caleb raised a brow.

  Matt narrowed his gaze. “She said guys, plural. They’re probably just friends of hers.”

  “Probably,” said TJ with exaggerated skepticism, still clearly amused at Matt’s expense.

  “It took you long enough,” Caleb said.

  “There is no it,” Matt responded. It had taken him too long to notice her. He’d own that.

  “Have you asked her out?”

  “We’re a little busy at the moment. You know, distracted by criminal activity.”

  “That’s a no,” TJ said. “At least I took the plunge.”

  “You got shot down,” Caleb reminded TJ.

  “No risk, no reward.”

  “She’s gun-shy,” Matt said. He didn’t know what made her that way, but it was obvious she was wary of dating.

  “So, what are you going to do?” Caleb asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “That’s a mistake.”

  “I’m not going to force anything.” The last thing Matt wanted to do was make Tasha feel uncomfortable working at the marina.

  He wanted her to stay. For all kinds of different reasons, both personal and professional, but he definitely wanted her to stay.

  * * *

  The Edge Bar and Grill in the town of Whiskey Bay was a popular hangout for the marina staff. It also drew in the working class from the local service and supply businesses. The artsy crowd preferred the Blue Badger on Third Avenue. While those who were looking for something high-end and refined could choose the Ocean View Lounge across the highway. While the Crab Shack was becoming popular, drawing people from the surrounding towns and even as far away as Olympia.

  Tasha liked the Edge. The decor was particularly attractive tonight, decked out for the season with a tree, lights and miles of evergreen garlands. A huge wreath over the bar was covered in gold balls and poinsettia flowers.

  As was usual, the music had a rock-and-country flare. The menu was unpretentious. They had good beer on tap, and soda refills were free. She was driving her and Alex home tonight, so she’d gone with cola.

  “Have you heard of anybody having any unexpected engine problems lately?” she asked Henry Schneider, who was sitting across the table.

  Henry was a marine mechanic at Shutters Corner ten miles down the highway near the public wharf.

  “Unexpected how?” he asked.

  “We had some water in the fuel with no apparent cause.”

  “Loose cap?”

  “Checked that, along with the fuel source. The water separator was full.”

  “There’s your problem.”

  “I swapped it out, but I couldn’t figure out how it got that way.”

  Henry gave a shrug. “It happens.”

  Alex returned from the small dance floor with another mechanic, James Hamilton, in tow.

  “So, no reports of anything strange?” Tasha asked Henry.

  “Strange?” James asked, helping Alex onto the high stool.

  “Unexplained mechanical failures in the area.”

  “There’s always an explanation,” James said. “Sometimes you just have to keep looking.”

  “You want to dance?” Alex asked Henry.

  “Who says I was through dancing?” James asked her.

  “Dance with Tasha.” Alex motioned for Henry to come with her.

  He swallowed the remainder of his beer and rose from his chair.

  James held out his hand to Tasha.

  She gave up talking shop and accepted the invitation.

  James was younger than Henry, likely in his late twenties. He was from Idaho and had a fresh-faced openness about him that Tasha liked. He was tall and lanky. His hair was red, and his complexion was fair. She didn’t think she’d ever seen him in a bad mood.

  It wasn’t the first time they’d ever danced together, and he was good at it. He’d once told her barn dancing was a popular pastime in the small town where he’d grown up. She knew he’d left his high school sweetheart behind, and she got the feeling he’d one day return to her, even if he did prefer the West Coast to rural Idaho.

  As the song ended, a figure appeared behind James. It took only a split second for Tasha to recognize Matt.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked him, her guard immediately going up. She assumed this was too simple, too low-key to be h
is kind of place. “Is something wrong?”

  “Dance?” he asked instead of answering.

  James backed away. “Catch you later.”

  Matt stepped in front of her as a Bruce Springsteen song came up.

  He took her hand.

  “Did something happen?” she asked. “Was there another breakdown?”

  “Nothing happened. Can’t a guy go out for the evening?”

  She struggled to ignore his light touch on her back and the heat where his hand joined hers. It was a lost cause. “This isn’t your typical hangout.”

  “Sure it is.”

  “I can tell when you’re lying.”

  He hesitated. “I was worried about you.”

  “Why?”

  “There’s a criminal out there.”

  She almost laughed. “If there is, he’s focused on your company. It has nothing to do with me.”

  “We don’t know that.”

  “We do.”

  He drew her closer as they danced, even though she knew getting more intimate with Matt was a big mistake.

  But the words didn’t come. Instead of speaking, she followed his lead. It was the path of least resistance, since their bodies moved seamlessly together. He was tall and solid and a smooth, skilled dancer.

  She told herself she could handle it. They were in public after all. It’s not like they would get carried away.

  “I know you like to be independent,” he said.

  “I am independent.”

  “The truth is, people are less likely to harass you if you’re with me.”

  His words were confusing.

  “Nobody’s been harassing me. Nobody’s going to harass me.”

  Matt glanced around the room with apparent skepticism, as if he was expecting a gang of criminals to be lurking next to the dance floor.

  “See that guy in the red shirt?” She pointed. “He worked at Shutters Corner. And the guy talking to Alex? He’s Henry’s coworker. They’re local guys, Matt. They’re mechanics. There are a lot of local mechanics here. And I’m talking to them all.”

  Matt’s hold on her tightened. “Are you dancing with them all?”

  She tipped her chin to look up at him, seeing his lips were thin and his jaw was tight.

  He looked jealous. The last thing she wanted him to be was jealous. But her heart involuntarily lifted at the idea.

  “No.” The sharp retort was as much for her as it was for him. “I’m here asking questions. I’m gathering evidence, if you must know.”

  “Oh,” he drawled with immediate understanding.

  “Yes, oh. If anybody’s having the same problems as us, these guys are going to know about it.”

  “That’s a really good idea.”

  She put a note of sarcasm into her tone. “Why, thank you.”

  “I’m not crazy about the dancing part.”

  “You asked me,” she pointed out.

  “What? No, not with me.” He canted his head. “With them.”

  She wanted to point out that he was dating other women. But she quickly stopped herself. Matt’s romantic life was none of her business. And hers was none of his. The more women he dated, the better.

  His voice lowered. “You can dance with me all you want.”

  “We’re not going there, Matt.”

  “Okay.” His agreement was easy, but his hold still felt intimate.

  “You say okay, but we’re still dancing.” She knew she could pull away herself. She knew she should do exactly that, but he felt so good in her arms, she wanted to hang on just a little bit longer.

  “The song will be over soon.” He went silent for a moment. “How are you getting home?”

  “Driving.”

  “You came alone?”

  “I drove with Alex. Matt, I’ve been going out at night on my own for the past six years.”

  “Not while my boats were being sabotaged all around you.”

  “We don’t know that they are being sabotaged. Honestly, I’m beginning to regret sharing my suspicions with you.” The last thing she’d expected was for him to go all bodyguard on her.

  “We don’t know that they’re not. And don’t you dare hold anything back.”

  She stopped dancing. “Matt.”

  His hand contracted around her shoulder. “I didn’t mean for that to sound like an order.”

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

  Had there been some development? Was there a danger she didn’t know about?

  “I heard TJ ask you out.”

  The statement took her completely by surprise. “That was a long time ago. You can’t possibly suspect TJ.”

  Sure, she’d turned TJ down. But he and Matt were good friends. He wouldn’t take out his anger with her by harming Matt. Plus, he hadn’t even seemed to care that much. He was still friendly to her.

  “I don’t suspect TJ.”

  The song changed to a Christmas tune. It wasn’t the best dance music in the world, but Matt kept leading, so she followed.

  “Then why are we talking about him?”

  Matt seemed to be reviewing their conversation so far. “It was Caleb.”

  “You suspect Caleb?” That was even more outlandish than suspecting TJ.

  “Caleb’s the one who got me worried about the sabotage. He’s worried about Jules, which got me to thinking about you. And then TJ mentioned that he’d asked you out.”

  “Caleb worries too much. And TJ was months ago.”

  “So, you’re not interested in him?”

  Tasha was more than confused here. “Did he ask you to ask me?”

  One minute, she thought Matt was romancing her, and she braced herself to shut him down. And then he seemed to be TJ’s wingman. Their kisses notwithstanding, maybe she was reading his interest all wrong.

  Before Matt could respond, she jumped back in. “TJ’s not my type.”

  Alex appeared beside Tasha on the dance floor.

  She took Tasha’s arm and leaned into her ear. “James offered me a ride home.”

  Tasha pulled back to look at her friend. “Is that a good thing?”

  Alex’s eyes were alight. “You bet.”

  Since Alex had a done a whole lot more dancing than drinking, Tasha wasn’t worried about her. And Tasha had known James for months. He seemed like a very upstanding guy.

  “Do you mind if I bail on you?” Alex asked.

  “Not at all. I’ll see you later.”

  Alex grinned. “Thanks.” Her walk was light as she moved away.

  “So, you’re driving home alone,” Matt said. “I’ll follow you.”

  Tasha rolled her eyes at him.

  “I’m serious.”

  “Thanks for the dance,” she said and pulled back from his arms.

  She was going to have another drink. She was going to chat with Henry and the other mechanics. She didn’t need a bodyguard.

  Four

  Matt hung back as Tasha approached her compact car in the Edge’s parking lot. It was in a dark corner, and he moved out of the building’s lights so his eyes could adjust.

  It was obvious she knew he was there, knew he’d waited for her to leave for home. She’d shot him a look of frustration as she’d headed for the front door and he’d risen from his seat at the bar.

  Now, she shook her head with exaggerated resignation and gave him a mocking wave as she slipped into the driver’s seat.

  He didn’t really care how she felt. Caleb had him worried about safety. He headed for his own car at the opposite side of the parking lot. The bar was only half-full at ten o’clock. But even on a weeknight, the crowd here would keep going until midnight, when the place shut d
own.

  Tasha’s engine cranked. Then it cranked again. But it didn’t catch and start. A third crank was followed by silence.

  Matt turned back.

  She was out of the car and opening the hood.

  “Need some help?” he asked as he approached.

  She laughed. “You have read my résumé, right?”

  “I’m not questioning your technical skills. And it’s obviously a dead battery.”

  Her annoyance seemed to fade. “That’s exactly what it is.”

  As they gazed at the cold engine, a thought struck him. “Could this be sabotage?”

  “No.” Her answer was definitive.

  “How can you be sure?”

  “Because it’s related to my having an old battery. I’ve been limping it along for a while now. Do you have cables?”

  “In my BMW?”

  “BMWs run the same way as any other car.”

  “My battery’s under warranty. And I have roadside assistance. You don’t have cables?”

  Tasha was a be-prepared kind of woman. Jumper cables seemed like the kind of thing she would carry.

  She looked embarrassed. “I do. Usually. I took them out of my trunk to help Alex move her stuff.”

  “Come on,” he said, motioning to his car.

  “I’ll call a tow truck and get a jump.”

  “There’s no need.” He wasn’t about to leave her standing in a dark parking lot waiting for a tow truck. “I’ll bring you back tomorrow with your jumper cables.”

  “I can take care of it.”

  His frustration mounted. “Why are you arguing?”

  She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin but didn’t answer.

  “Well?” he prompted.

  “I don’t know.”

  He couldn’t help but grin. “Pride?”

  “Maybe. I don’t like to be rescued.”

  “But you’ll accept help from a random tow truck driver.”

  She dropped the hood down, and the sound echoed. “He’s paid to help me. But you’re right. I’m wrong. I’d appreciate the ride home.”

  “Did you just say I was right?”

  She locked the driver’s door and started walking. “I did.”

  He fell into step beside her. “It’s fun being right.”