He pressed his lips to her forehead, her cheek, her mouth. “You’re not. I’m kissing you.”
“And that’s okay?”
“Is it?”
She bit her bottom lip, furrowing her brow as if unsure of her answer. He traced his thumb across her mouth, tugging her lip from the grasp of her teeth.
She leaned into him. “I guess it’s okay this time.”
He kissed her again, allowing himself to get lost in her essence, just for a moment, as she held him tight. This was further than he’d gotten with her when they’d attempted to date three months ago. The way she pressed her hips into his arousal made him harder by the second. The passion, the intensity at which she kissed him…Had she finally gotten over her fear of commitment? Could they attempt a relationship again?
A knock on the study door brought him back to the present. “Ms. Sanders? The truck is here to move the furniture.”
She smiled at the contractor, never removing her hands from Trent’s ass. “Thanks, John. This is the homeowner, Trent Austin.” She released her hold and gripped his bicep instead. “He’ll be the one making all the decisions from here on out.”
“Any special instructions, Mr. Austin?”
Trent ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his pants. “Just get it all out.”
“And the stuff on the shelves?”
“Box it up and put it in storage with the furniture. I want everything gone.” He might go through his uncle’s belongings later. Or he might not. He felt no attachment to anything inside the house. Except for one thing. “Leave the coat rack, though.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And the rocking chair in the baby’s room.” Tina gave him an apologetic look. “If that’s all right with you. It looks like it might be original to the house, and with a new cushion, it will make a great staging piece.”
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked at the contractor. “Leave the coat rack and the rocking chair. Everything else can go.”
The man nodded and left the room.
Trent rested his head on top of Tina’s, inhaling her sweet floral scent. “I’ve missed you.”
She slid from his grasp and smoothed her sweater. “Me too, but…we should probably get some work done. Can I see that painting you found in the basement? I might make a good staging piece too.”
“I don’t think it will, but I’ll show it to you.”
* * *
Tina followed Trent into the basement, silently berating herself the entire way down. That kiss had felt so good. So…right. She’d lost herself to the moment, melding to his body, fitting in his arms as if she were made to be there.
Then he said he’d missed her.
As soon as he’d uttered the words, her fight or flight instinct kicked into full flight mode. Truth was, she’d missed him too…and Tina didn’t miss men. Her feelings for Trent ran way deeper than anything she’d felt before, and the only thing she could think to do was run.
He deserved better. He deserved someone who would stick around, and Tina wasn’t the sticking around type. If they continued on the path they were heading down, she’d only break his heart. It’s what she always did. She didn’t know how to have a relationship. She’d never wanted one before.
Did she want one now?
He flipped on a light switch and motioned toward a canvas and easel standing in the center of the room. “It’s here, but I don’t think it’ll give the warm and inviting feeling you’re hoping for.”
She stepped around the painting and inhaled a sharp breath. The haunting faces of the people in this picture were a far cry from the cheerful smiles in the photograph. And what was up with the background? The smoky-black mist hovering behind the girls made her shiver. Creepy.
Trent stood behind the canvas and shoved his hands in his pockets. “You mentioned death certificates. Do you know what happened to them? I’m not going to find their bodies buried in the backyard, am I?”
“That, I don’t know. You did say your uncle was crazy.” She smiled at him, and he chuckled. Her chest tightened at the musical sound of his laugh. “The little girl died from an aneurism. Her mom died a month later from heart failure.”
“That would be enough to drive anyone mad.”
“Yeah, I guess it would.”
He held her gaze for a moment. “Let’s go have a look at that rocking chair. I didn’t notice it before.”
She took one last look at the sad portrait and followed Trent toward the stairs. As she reached the fourth step, a thud sounded from behind her. She turned around to find the painting lying on the floor beside the chair. “That was weird.”
“The central heat kicked on. It was probably a draft.” Trent continued up the stairs.
“Yeah. A draft.” Though she didn’t feel the slightest breeze. There weren’t even any air vents down here. She shivered and continued up the stairs.
Trent stepped around the movers as they carried the red velvet sofa out the front door, and he headed up to the second floor. For assuming it was a draft, he sure seemed to want to get the hell away from that basement.
“Hey, Trent.” She caught up to him on the stairs. “Did you talk to Logan yet about checking for spirits?”
He stopped on the landing. “It’s an old house. It makes noises. It’s creepy. The more I think about the things that have happened, the more it feels like they were in our imaginations. Doesn’t it?”
“I guess so. It still wouldn’t hurt to have it checked out. Even if there aren’t any ghosts, Allison can clear the residual energy from the walls. Take away the creepy factor.” She stepped onto the landing next to him, so close her shoulder brushed his. Warmth spread through her body at the brief contact, and she pressed her back to wall as he took a step toward her.
“I’ll talk to him. And in the meantime, I promise to keep you safe. Okay?” He trailed his fingers up her arm, raising a row of goose bumps with his touch.
God, she wanted to kiss him again. Her mouth watered at the thought of his soft, full lips pressed to hers. To feel his hands on her body. His tongue gliding across her skin. She wanted this man, but she cared about him. And that was exactly why she couldn’t have him.
His gaze slid down her mouth, and she swallowed hard. “Trent?”
“Hmm?” He leaned in, and she scooted away.
“I don’t think we should do this.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to hurt you.”
“What makes you think you’re going to hurt me?”
Because I hurt you before. Because it’s what I do. She let out her own sigh, pleading with him silently. Please don’t make me explain.
“All right, I can take a hint. Let’s have a look at that chair.” He brushed past her on his way to the child’s bedroom.
“It’s not that I’m not attracted to you, Trent. I just think we should try staying friends for now.”
He stopped in the doorway and flashed a fake smile. “You’re absolutely right. I hired you to do a job, and we need to maintain a professional relationship. I won’t make a move on you again, if you promise not to make one on me.” He turned and stepped inside the room, leaving her alone in the hallway.
“Okay.” She followed him through the door.
“This chair is beautiful. Look at the craftsmanship.” He ran his hand across the intricately-carved wood and sat in the seat. “Definitely needs a new cushion though.”
It appeared their discussion about their relationship—or lack thereof—was over. Well, if he wanted it to be all business, she could certainly oblige. It was better than the awkwardness she thought she’d have to endure. “I think we should keep this a baby’s room for the staging.”
“I agree. This is definitely the baby’s room. It has that feeling to it.” He ran his hands over the arms of the chair and leaned his head back.
Why did he look so comfortable in that chair? In this house? Her mind flashed back to her experi
ence in the room the day before. To the overwhelming sadness that had suddenly engulfed her. Why was this scene so familiar? She shook her head and stepped into the hallway before the emotions could overcome her again. “And these other rooms can also be set up as children’s rooms. I think a neutral beige for the walls would be nice.”
She padded into the next room and turned on the light. “A bed in that corner. A dresser against the far wall. What do you think?” She turned for Trent’s opinion, but he hadn’t followed her. He wasn’t in the hallway either.
“Trent?” She shuffled back to the baby’s room and found him sitting in the rocking chair, head leaned back, eyes closed. Was he sleeping?
“Trent?” She stepped closer and rested a hand on his chest. It rose and fell steadily with his breaths, but he didn’t move when she gently shook his shoulder.
“Wake up, Trent.” She shook him harder.
“What?” He opened his eyes and stared wildly around the room. “I wasn’t asleep.”
“Yes, you were. Are you still sick? Do you need to go home?”
“No, no.” He rose to his feet and straightened his clothes. “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? What was wrong with you yesterday?”
He flipped a hand in the air. “I think I ate something that didn’t agree with me. I’m okay.”
“I can take you home if you need to rest.”
He touched her shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“Okay.”
“I need to get started cleaning this place, anyway. I couldn’t find a maid service within fifty miles that was willing to do it.”
“Really?”
“Seems crazy Uncle Jack had a nasty reputation. As soon as they looked up the address, they couldn’t get off the phone with me fast enough.” He left the room and started down the stairs.
“Wow.” She followed after him. “Well, I’ll help you. If we work together, it shouldn’t take too long once all the furniture is out.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
But she did. She owed it to him for being such a flake. “I want to help.”
He continued down the stairs, refusing to look at her. “Why?”
“We’re friends, aren’t we? I hope we are.”
Stopping by the coat rack, he rested a hand on the top and held her gaze, his eyes searching hers for…something. “Yeah. We’re friends.”
“So, friends help each other. Let’s get started.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Trent spent the rest of the afternoon with Tina, scrubbing floors and cleaning out the kitchen cabinets. He tried his best to ignore the emotions raging inside him, but damn it if that woman wasn’t bending over to scrub something every time he turned around. He peeled his gaze away from her heart-shaped backside for the umpteenth time and cursed himself for giving in to his whims.
She’d rejected him again, like he knew she would. But when he wanted something, he had to go after it. It was his nature, and he’d wanted Tina from the moment he saw her. He’d moved too quickly last time—like he always did—and scared her away. He was about to scare her away again if he wasn’t careful.
The dust rag slipped from his hands, and he bent down to pick it up, only to drop it again. He was so goddamn tired; he couldn’t even focus his thoughts on berating himself, much less on cleaning this shit hole. He would not fall asleep in front of her again.
He tossed the rag on the counter and pulled out his phone. “I’ve had enough of this for today. I’m calling Logan to pick me up.”
Tina brushed her hair away from her face, leaving a smudge of oven grease on her forehead. “I can take you home.”
“It’s all right. Logan owes me one.”
She dropped her rag on the counter and stepped toward him. “Don’t make him drive all the way out here. Stop being a stubborn man and ride with me.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’m not stubborn.”
“All men are stubborn.”
“I’m not all men.”
She grinned. “We’ll see. Let me grab my purse.”
“Hold on.” He caught her by the hand and yanked a paper towel from the roll on the counter. “You’ve got a little smudge there.” She seemed to hold her breath as he wiped the soot from her skin, her gaze never leaving his face until he released her.
Exactly the reaction he was looking for. She wanted him. So why was she fighting it? He tossed the towel in the trash and turned around to find her still staring at him. She licked her lips, and he stepped past her as quickly as he could. He’d given in to the temptation too many times today. It wouldn’t happen again.
“Let’s get out of here. All this cleaning is giving me a headache.” And if he didn’t get some rest soon, he might collapse right in front of her.
He grabbed their coats from the rack. He was certain it had moved a good two feet from where it was before, but the movers could’ve bumped it while they were taking out the furniture. Or hell, he could’ve imagined it. Between the fatigue and the racing thoughts tumbling through his head, he wouldn’t have been surprised if he started hallucinating too.
Neither of them said much on the ride back to Detroit, but it was just as well. He was having a hard enough time keeping his eyes open. Small talk would’ve only made it worse. Tina put on her blinker to take the exit toward his house, and he cleared his voice. “I’m, uh…staying with Logan for a while.”
She cast him a sideways glance and changed lanes. “Why?”
“Kitchen fire. It’s being repaired.”
She turned off the freeway and crossed the bridge to Grayhaven Island. “You burned your house down?”
“I didn’t burn it down. The fire stayed in the kitchen.”
“What happened?”
He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes for a long blink. “A grease fire that spread too fast for me to put it out.”
She grasped his arm and glanced at him before focusing on the road. “Trent, you could have been killed.”
He rolled his eyes. He’d been scolded for this enough already. “I’m still alive.”
“You should have told me.” She returned her hand to the steering wheel and gripped it as if she were trying to choke it.
“Why should I have told you?” So she could worry about him too? Or worse, think him incompetent? “It’s taken care of.”
“Well, because we’re friends. I could have helped you.”
He shrugged and stared out the window. “I called Logan. He helped me. Why would I need to call you too?”
She rolled the car to a stop in Logan’s driveway. “I would have liked to have known. I care about you.”
“Do you?” He slid out of the car and slammed the door. She couldn’t have it both ways. She couldn’t expect him to act like they were more than acquaintances if she didn’t reciprocate. Her back and forth attitude grated on his nerves. He was tired of playing games. Hell, he was just so goddamn tired.
“Of course I do.” She slammed her own door and caught up to him. “And why is your car here? You said it was in the shop.”
Shit. “The mechanics finished it early and dropped it off.” He picked up his pace. “I don’t need you to walk me to the door.”
“I’m not. I want to see Allison. She lives here too.”
He groaned inwardly at the thought of how that conversation would go. “Fine.” He turned his key in the lock and pushed open the door. Logan and Allison rose to their feet as he stormed inside.
Tina stopped in the threshold. “What’s your problem?”
“No problem.” He marched into the living room and mouthed the words, “Don’t say anything,” to Allison. She’d said Tina told her everything. Hopefully, she wouldn’t reciprocate in this case.
She nodded and looked at Tina. “Hey girl, how’d it go?”
“Fine, apparently.” She crossed her arms and glanced at Trent before turning to Allison. “Have you had dinner yet?”
“I’m getting ready to make so
mething. Do you want to stay?”
“I want to go out. I need some girl time.”
Trent shook his head and plopped onto the couch. Thank goodness she didn’t want to stay here. He couldn’t handle spending another minute with the impossible woman. Hell, it was all he could do to keep his eyes open.
Allison turned to Logan. “Do you mind if I go out with Tina tonight?”
Logan grinned and cut his gaze from Tina to Trent. “Nah. I’ll order a pizza. Looks like I might need some guy time.” He swept her into his arms, lifting her feet from the ground as he kissed her.
Tina caught Trent’s gaze for a moment before rolling her eyes. “Come on, Allie. You’ll have plenty of time for hanky panky later.” She picked up Allison’s purse and handed it to her.
Logan released his hold on Allison and kissed her cheek. “Stay safe, my love.”
“Always.”
A look of surprise flashed in Tina’s eyes, like she remembered something. She gave Trent a quizzical look before quickly shaking her head as if dismissing the thought.
Whatever she was thinking, it couldn’t have been more pressing than the sleep threatening to overtake him any second now. If she didn’t get her fine, curvy ass out that door, he would fall asleep in front of her, and he couldn’t let that happen again. He took a deep breath and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
“Bye, Trent,” Allison said. “We’ll, um…talk later.”
“Yeah.”
Tina followed her friend out the door without saying good-bye.
“Fuck.” Trent leaned back on the couch and stared at the blank television screen.
“It went that well, huh?” Logan turned on a basketball game and sat in the chair next to the sofa.
“That woman.” He rubbed his forehead and closed his eyes.
“Wake up, man. Pizza’s here.”
Logan’s voice roused Trent from sleep. He opened his eyes to find himself still on the couch, in the same position he’d been in when he closed his eyes. “Sorry about that. How long was I out this time?”
“No worries. About half an hour.” Logan jerked his head toward the kitchen, so Trent followed him to the breakfast table. “Feeling any better?”
To Stop a Shadow Page 9
