Teague handed over his menu. “Carnitas tacos.”
“Great. Your food shouldn’t take too long to arrive.” He hurried away, leaving silence in his wake.
Nina swallowed a mouthful of icy-cold margarita before facing her dinner companion. “Why am I telling you all this? I certainly didn’t intend to.”
“The same reason I explained what happened to Jayne. We’re getting to know each other, and these tragedies in our pasts made us who we are now.”
“I suppose so.” She ate a chip she’d dipped in salsa and coughed. “Wow, that stuff really is hot. Where was I? Oh, Keith wanted me to move to Germany with him, but then he got stationed in Afghanistan instead. I stayed in France until word came he’d been killed.” Her voice broke. “I didn’t ever find out how it happened since he was on some top-secret mission.”
Teague reclaimed her hand. “I’m so sorry, Nina.”
“Yeah, it was rough. Anyway, I moved back home to Siren Cove afterward. I needed something familiar to hold on to.”
“Having family around helps.”
“I had my best friends, Leah and Paige. They were rocks for me. Still are, actually. My mom moved away from Oregon while I was still in college. She married a widowed clergyman from the Midwest and lives in Kansas now.” She ate another chip, maybe so she’d have an excuse for her watering eyes. “I see her every couple of years.”
He sipped his beer. “What about your dad?”
She was grateful he didn’t offer any sympathy that surely would have shaken her composure. “I never knew him. He left my mom when I was just a baby, which was the reason behind all her early warnings to act like a lady. She didn’t want me to repeat her mistakes.”
“I admire the hell out of you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah.” He turned her hand over and squeezed her fingers. “You are one tough lady. A survivor who can still face life with grace and kindness.”
“Bitterness isn’t very productive. I tried that for a while and didn’t like the person I’d become.”
“I know what you mean, but I had Keely to inspire me to get my shit together in a hurry. I’m not sure I would have managed without her.”
She smiled at him. “You definitely would have because you have a solid inner core of strength. You wouldn’t be able to run into burning buildings without a strong heart.”
He didn’t respond, just released her hand when the server returned with their steaming plates.
The man stepped back from the table. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“This looks great. Thank you.” After he departed, Nina picked up her fork and glanced across the table at Teague. “No more depressing topics, okay?”
“Deal.” He took a swallow of his beer. “Nina?”
She scooped up a bite of black beans. “What?”
“Thanks for sharing so much of yourself with me, but I’m afraid you’ve shaken my resolve.”
She frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Our plan to be just friends.” He set down the bottle with a thump. “We might have to rethink that.”
Chapter Nine
Teague pulled into his driveway, turned off the engine, then glanced over at Nina. Not that he could see her in the dark of a moonless night. Maybe that actually made the whole situation easier. During the drive home, he’d had three hours alone with her to decide if he wanted to push their relationship in a new direction, but his head and heart—not to mention other parts of his anatomy—were still at odds.
He settled for the mundane. “We’re home.”
“Yes, we are.” She was quiet for a moment. “Thanks again for driving me to Portland.”
He covered the hand resting on her thigh. “Hey, having you along on the trip made dropping off Keely tolerable.”
“I’m glad.” She let out a breath. “Well, I’d better haul all my stuff across the street.”
“I’ll help.” He released his seat belt and opened the door, then blinked in the glow from the interior light. From the direction of the house, barking erupted. “Just as soon as I free Coco from imprisonment. Stella promised to stop by midafternoon to take her out and feed her, but I’m sure she needs to pee again by now.”
“If all that excited yapping is anything to judge by, I’d say you’re right.”
Coco did sound like she was about to lose it. He pulled the keys out of the ignition, then headed toward his house as the insistent barking grew louder. The second he unlocked the door, the dog shot through. After bounding down the porch steps, she strolled around the yard before squatting to pee. Hurrying back to his truck, Teague lifted the rolled canvases and long strips of framing material out of the cargo area while Nina grabbed the miscellaneous bags from the rear seat.
“Do we have everything?”
“I think so.” She slung her purse strap over her shoulder and shut the car door with her hip. “I need to set down this load to get out my keys.” Leading the way, she crossed the street and hurried up her dark walkway to the front door. “If I had half a brain, I would have left the porch light on.”
“Do you need help?”
“Nope, I’ve got this.” One bag hit the wood planking with a thud before she managed to get the key into the lock. A moment later she pushed open the door, then flipped on the outside light along with the one in the entry. “Now we can see what we’re doing. You can bring those inside.”
He brushed by her with his armful of canvases. “Where do you want me to put them?”
“If you don’t mind carrying them up to my studio . . .”
“I don’t.” He headed toward the stairs.
She ran ahead, turning on more lights, the heavy bag filled with the paints she’d purchased bumping against her leg with each step. “Here we go. Just lean them in that corner, please.”
He carefully released his load and stepped back.
“Thank you so much for your help.”
“You’re welcome.” He followed her from the studio but slowed to glance into her bedroom. Everything in him wanted to back her toward the shadowy bed and strip off her shirt to cup warm breasts—
Frantic barking from outside disrupted his fantasy. A shudder slid through him as he tamped down feelings that had grown further out of control during the long drive home filled with easy conversation and laughter.
“I wonder what Coco’s problem is.”
He took a breath before following her down the stairs. “Could be anything from a leaf to a thief to nothing but thin air. Coco isn’t very discerning when it comes to barking.”
“No more thieves, thank you very much.” She glanced back over her shoulder. “I just got my laundry room window fixed.”
“I’m glad. Your house wasn’t very secure with only cardboard to cover that hole.”
“No kidding.” She walked out onto the porch and picked up the party store bag she’d dropped, then turned abruptly to lean over the railing. “Hey, the interior light is on in my car. It’s pretty dim, which is probably why I didn’t notice it earlier. Crap, I hope my battery isn’t dead.”
He stepped up behind her and rested a hand on her shoulder. “If it is, I can give you a jump start in the morning.”
“I might as well find out now.” Turning away from him, she set the bag inside the door and pulled the ring of keys from the lock. “I can’t believe I left that light on.”
As they approached her car, Coco trotted around the bumper and gave one sharp bark.
“What are you doing over here?” Teague stepped across the dog. “It looks like your rear gate wasn’t shut properly. That’s why the light came on.” He pushed against the door until it clicked, and the light went off.
“Except I haven’t opened the back in days, and the last time I parked was in the evening. I would have noticed the light.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms. “Do you suppose someone broke into my car while we were gone?”
He walked around to the driver’s side. “
No broken windows.” When he tried the door, it didn’t budge. “Locked. Do you have the key?”
She nodded and pushed the remote on her keychain. The locks popped without the accompanying beep.
He pulled open the door. “Don’t you keep your car alarmed?”
“It’s too old for that, but I do lock it.” She hesitated. “Usually. Almost all the time.”
“So sometimes you forget?”
“I was carrying my easel the last time I drove anywhere. It’s possible I was distracted, had my hands full, and didn’t hit the remote.”
“But it was locked just now except for the back. Check to see if anything is missing or disturbed.”
“I don’t keep much in my car except a few CDs.” She slid onto the seat, unzipped the case, and flipped through the sleeves. “Nothing’s missing, and the player obviously wasn’t touched.” She opened the glove box and glanced back at him. “That’s strange. The owner’s manual is on top of my registration and insurance card. I just got that card in the mail last week, and I know I threw it in on top of everything.”
He frowned. “That is weird. Nothing’s missing, but someone might have looked through your glove box and opened the rear hatch, then locked the car when they were finished. Why the hell would anyone do that?”
“I don’t have a clue, but I can’t help wondering if it was the same creep who broke into my house. He didn’t take anything, either.”
“Maybe you have an obsessed fan who likes touching your stuff.”
She shuddered. “That’s sick. Anyway, my work is hardly well known enough for me to have a psycho fan. It’s not like I’m a celebrity.”
“But you’re beautiful and sexy.” He issued the compliment in a matter-of-fact tone. “Have you done any interviews for newspapers or magazines in the past?”
“Actually, I did a piece for a regional magazine about the upcoming art fair last month.” Nina stuck the key in the ignition and cranked it. Nothing happened. “Well, the battery is certainly dead. Perfect.”
“We’ll recharge it in the morning.” He slid an arm around her when she climbed out of the car. “I don’t want to alarm you, but someone a few bricks shy of a load could have seen your photo in the magazine and started fantasizing about you. It’s not much of a stretch to assume you have a stalker.”
She pressed her face against his shoulder. “I’m definitely freaked out. What if he tries the direct approach next time instead of slinking around when I’m not home?”
Teague tightened his grip on her. “You can talk to the police.”
“I already called them about my window.” She let out a breath. “For all the good it did. Ugh. This sucks. I’m scared.”
Lifting one hand, he stroked her hair. “Hey, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Do you want to sleep at my place tonight?”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on but didn’t respond.
His heart thumped painfully beneath her cheek. “Nina?”
“Obviously that’s not a long-term solution. I can’t live this way indefinitely, too afraid to spend the night in my own home, but I’ll take you up on your offer for now.”
“Okay. Why don’t you go get whatever you need and lock up your house?” Reluctantly, he let her go. “I’ll wait right here.” He raised his voice. “Coco, get out of there.”
The dog left the flower bed where she was digging and trotted to his side, tags jingling.
Nina actually smiled. “And I thought a gopher was digging up my daffodils. I’ll be right back.”
He leaned against the Mini and stared up into the star-filled sky. Maybe getting involved with Nina wasn’t the wisest move, but the choice to complicate their friendship had been taken out of his hands. For tonight, at least, he was going to do everything in his power to erase the shadow of fear from her eyes.
Anything else they might do was up to her.
* * *
Nina followed Coco through the front door, then jumped when Teague shut it behind them with a thump. Her nerves were shot, and she needed to settle down. If she were home alone, she’d go lie in a hot bath with a cup of chamomile tea to relax. Or maybe a double vodka cranberry. Of course if she were home alone, she’d be a complete basket case by morning.
When Teague settled his hands on her shoulders and kneaded tense muscles with his thumbs, she nearly moaned.
His breath stirred the hair above her ear. “You’re perfectly safe, so relax.”
“I know, but I can’t stay here every night any more than I can move in with Paige or Leah.” Her blood pressure spiked just thinking about the creep slinking back to search through her car. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“You’re going to report what we suspect to the cops in the morning. Unless you want to call them now?”
“Why bother? The person responsible is obviously long gone.”
“Fine. Then you’ll call a home protection company and have their technician come out to secure your house. Until a system is installed, you’ll bunk here or with one of your friends.”
His voice was so calm she could almost believe the solution was as simple as he made it sound. “You think that’ll eliminate my problem?”
He delved a hand into the hair at the back of her neck to massage away the tension. “I do. And if the cops are put on notice, maybe they can catch this guy if he does come snooping around again.”
“That would be ideal.” She hung her head and let her overnight bag drop to the floor with a thud. “God, that feels good.”
“I’m a whiz at back rubs.” His voice was a deep rumble as he found pressure points she hadn’t known existed. “It’s nearly eleven. Why don’t you go get ready for bed, and then I’ll put you to sleep with a knockout massage.”
“Even better than a hot bath. Thanks, Teague. I owe you.”
“No, you don’t.” He stepped back and bent to pick up her bag. “Come on upstairs. I’m afraid I don’t have a bed set up in the spare room yet, but you can sleep in Keely’s room.”
Obviously, he wasn’t making any assumptions. She followed him up the staircase and down the hall, their footsteps muffled by a runner with big pink cabbage roses.
He glanced over his shoulder. “Don’t judge. I’ll rip that thing out when I refinish all the floors. But the kitchen is my first big project.”
She couldn’t hold back a grin. “I’m not judging, although, as your neighbor who has to look at this place, my hope is you’ll repaint the exterior of the house sometime soon.”
“You have something against cotton candy pink?” He paused outside the door to a room furnished in white furniture with a purple canopy over the single bed. “Keely’s décor might make you a little nauseous if you aren’t fond of pastels.”
“No, I like lavender. I actually like pink, too, but for a whole house . . .”
He patted her shoulder. “My eventual plan is blue-gray with a dark cream trim. Does that meet with your approval?”
“Definitely.” She also appreciated his effort to normalize the situation and make her feel less awkward.
“The bathroom is just across the hall. Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks.” Taking her bag from him, she entered a room outfitted with a pedestal sink and a toilet with an overhead tank. “Hey, cool.”
“Yeah, the fixtures are so old they’re back in style.” He backed away. “Yell if you need anything.”
With a nod, Nina shut the door and leaned against it. Teague was being a complete gentleman. She wasn’t sure if she was happy about that or not since she’d kind of hoped he’d make a move. A sigh slipped out. She was a woman with a mind of her own. If she wanted to start something, all she had to do was say so. She was pretty certain he wasn’t going to turn her down.
Nina washed her face and brushed her teeth, then changed into a sleepshirt with Eeyore on the front. Nothing sexy about that. She regarded herself in the mirror and bit her lip. Still, she was glad she’d shaved her legs that morn
ing . . . Flipping off the light, she left the room and only hesitated a moment before letting her feet guide her toward the drone of a voice at the end of the hall. Teague’s bedroom door stood open, and the TV above the dresser was turned to a news station.
He glanced over and stared at her for a long moment. Heat flared in his eyes before he pressed the remote to turn off the TV. “Are you ready for that back rub?”
She smiled. “Is that what we’re going to call it?”
Wearing nothing but a pair of athletic shorts, he levered off the navy comforter covering the bed. His chest was bare, the muscles clearly defined in the lamplight. The man was beautiful. More importantly, he was kind and sensitive to her feelings. The total package was impossible to resist.
“I don’t expect anything from you, Nina. That’s not why I offered you a place to crash for the night.”
“I know. It’s because you haven’t pushed that I’m willing to take a risk. Unless you aren’t interested.” She winced at the vulnerability in her voice. Talk about putting herself out there.
“Jesus, of course I’m interested. You take my breath away.” He touched her cheek before dropping his hand to the curve of her neck. “I realize things between us could get a little complicated, but—”
“We’ll take it one day at a time. I don’t expect a commitment to anything more than tonight.” She stepped even closer, ran her fingers across the warm, taut skin of his chest, and smiled when he sucked in a ragged breath. “We’ve both experienced pain and loss and have every reason to be cautious. But there’s nothing wrong with taking comfort and pleasure from each other, is there? Not when respect and genuine liking goes along with it.”
“Not in the least.” He cupped her chin and bent to kiss her, slowly. Thoroughly. “And I do like you. A lot. Besides finding you incredibly hot, I appreciate your subtle wit. Basically, you’re one terrific lady.”
“Even if what I’m willing to do isn’t the least bit ladylike?”
“That kind of comment is exactly what I’m talking about.” He kissed her again, his teeth nipping at her lower lip in a way that turned her bones to liquid. “So much hotter than a blatant come-on.”
Lost Innocence Page 9
