Lost Innocence

by Jannine Gallant

  Nina smiled. “This is pretty new, as in our friendship escalated quickly into something more last night after we got home. And since he has a young daughter to consider, it may get a little complicated. Right now, we’re just getting to know each other better.”

  “You said his daughter—”

  “Keely. She’s six.”

  Paige didn’t even pause to take a breath. “Is out of town. I hope he’s not just having a fling while—”

  “No, of course not. Teague’s a really nice guy. Honestly. We weren’t planning to start anything, but after my stalker struck again—”

  “Stalker! What the heck are you talking about?” She set down the bag of groceries. “What stalker?”

  “Those are going to get wet. It’s starting to drizzle.”

  “I don’t care. Tell me what happened.”

  “Some creep broke into my house and pawed through my clothes last week. Nothing was stolen, and I got my window fixed afterward.”

  “Did you report it?”

  Nina nodded. “Yeah, I talked to Chris Long. He thought it was a random act, maybe someone looking for cash or drugs. Then, after Teague and I got back last night, I discovered someone had searched my car. No damage other than a dead battery since the rear door wasn’t shut properly.”

  “That’s seriously scary. Jesus, Nina.”

  “Yeah, it is.” She clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides. “I was freaked out, so I spent the night at Teague’s. At first, he was a perfect gentleman, but I sort of instigated a little more.”

  A half-smile curved Paige’s lips. “Don’t distract me from the main point. How do you know this vandal is a stalker?”

  “Just a guess. I did a magazine interview that published a couple of weeks ago. Teague came up with the idea some psycho saw it and became obsessed with me, since all he’s actually done is touch my things.”

  “And what do the police think?”

  “Chris agreed it’s a possibility. They’re going to schedule frequent drive-bys in my neighborhood. I also called a security company. After I told them about the break-ins, they promised to have a system installed and functional by tomorrow.”

  “That’s good, at least. Why didn’t you call me? You could have stayed at my place.”

  “It was late, and Teague volunteered to keep me safe. I was good with having a big strong man around. Does that make me sound pathetic?”

  Paige grinned. “No, since I would have done exactly what you did. But if you need a place to sleep tonight, you’re welcome to stay with me. I don’t want you alone in your house until they install that security system.”

  “I’m too big a chicken to stay home by myself, but I suspect I’ll have company.”

  “Good for you.” Paige stepped over her bag of groceries and gave her a quick hug. “If Teague makes you happy, then I’m a fan.”

  Nina couldn’t hold back a smile. “He does, but it’s early days yet. We’ll see if what we have is more than just chemistry.”

  “There’s certainly nothing wrong with hot sex.”

  “No, there isn’t.”

  “Then you go, girl.” Paige patted her arm. “If anyone deserves happiness, it’s you.”

  Nina squared her shoulders and nodded. “I guess we’ll see what happens, but for now, I plan to enjoy myself.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Frustration simmered as Teague used the chamois to polish every water spot off the bright red finish of the fire truck. Nina was making him crazy. And not in a good way. He couldn’t decide if she was only interested in sex, or if she—

  “Are you trying to scrub the paint off, O’Dell?”

  “Huh?” Teague glanced over at his coworker, who stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

  Mateo Torres was probably his closest friend at the firehouse. Also in his mid-thirties, the man had made him feel immediately welcome in the tight-knit group of firefighters.

  “If you rub any harder, you’ll be down to the undercoat. What’s with the scowl?”

  “I was thinking about something.”

  “Nothing pleasant, obviously.” Mateo flashed a grin. “I have a proposition for you that might just change your mood. My girlfriend has an old roommate in town. Want to go out with us tonight? Your daughter isn’t back from her trip yet, is she?”

  “No, Keely doesn’t get home from Hawaii for a few more days, but I think I’ll have to pass on tonight.”

  “Dude, I promise Sabrina’s friend is a looker, and she’s funny. I wouldn’t set you up with a dud.”

  “It isn’t that. I’m seeing someone.”

  “Oh, yeah?” Mateo rocked back on the heels of his boots. “Anyone I know?”

  “Maybe. Nina Hutton. We’re neighbors.”

  His jaw dropped open. “Nina? Seriously? Half the men in Siren Cove have tried to date her and been shut down. I’m impressed.”

  Teague shrugged, feeling like an idiot. “Don’t be. Anyway, I’m not sure what we have is going anywhere. She’s keeping her distance.” Except in bed.

  “Sabrina and Nina are friends. The woman is . . . I don’t know . . . cautious. She’s friendly enough, but she doesn’t exactly exude warmth.”

  Teague gripped the chamois a little harder. “Yet every single guy in the vicinity wants to date her, despite the lack of encouragement?”

  “Some of the married ones, too.” His buddy gave a low laugh. “Christ, I don’t have to tell you how gorgeous the woman is.”

  “No, you don’t. Anyway, I’ll pass on the double date tonight.”

  “Not a problem. Sabrina wanted me to ask.” He glanced at the big, black watch strapped to his wrist. “Hey, our shift is about over. I’ll catch you later.”

  “Sure.” Teague finished drying the truck before heading inside to his locker. He nodded at a couple of the guys coming on duty, but he wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. Once he’d changed into jeans and a T-shirt, he hurried out to his pickup, determination firming his lips into a tight line. He and Nina needed to have a talk about what exactly she expected from him. Keely would be home in four days, and he wanted to be clear on where they stood.

  When he pulled into the driveway a few minutes later, Nina’s car wasn’t parked in its usual spot. True, they hadn’t technically made plans for the evening. But since they’d spent the last five nights together, he’d just assumed . . .

  As he stepped out of his truck, a movement in the trees edging the street caught his attention. When a figure clad in a dark jacket turned and hurried away, he ran a few yards in pursuit but stopped when Nina’s Mini rounded the bend. He waited while she parked and got out.

  “Hey, you beat me home. How was your day?”

  “Okay.” He frowned. “Did you see that guy bolting out of here when you drove up?”

  “What guy?” She reached into the car to pull out her box of paints.

  Teague’s frown deepened. “You must have seen him. He had on a dark jacket with a hood. I didn’t have a clear view.”

  “That was a woman, not a man. She had on a long denim skirt.”

  “Oh. That’s a relief. I only caught a glimpse of the person from behind.” He walked around to the other side of the car to maneuver her easel out of the passenger seat. “Since we don’t get much foot traffic down at our end of the street, I thought it might have been your stalker retuning to, well, stalk.”

  “Not unless a woman is creeping on me instead of a man. I didn’t see her face since her head was turned, but she seemed vaguely familiar.”

  “Probably just someone from the neighborhood out for a stroll. Toss me your keys and I’ll take this upstairs for you while you get the rest of your stuff.”

  She reached in her pocket and threw him the key ring. “Thanks. Don’t forget to punch in the security code after you unlock the door.”

  “I won’t.” A few minutes later, he made a return trip to carry in the canvas she’d been working on, which was stretched across a four-foot frame. He studied the burs
ts of greens and blues in the seascape before following her up the steps to the porch. “This is really beautiful. Are you finished with it?”

  “Yes. I finally had a sunny day to work, which is what I needed to get the colors just right. That one’s been an ongoing project for a while now.”

  “Worth the effort. It would look perfect hanging over my couch.” He turned sideways to ease through the door. “How much?”

  “Since I like you just a little, I’ll cut you a deal and let it go for five grand.”

  He nearly choked. “Apparently original art isn’t in my budget.”

  “I’m kidding, Teague.” Her tone grew serious. “If you like it, it’s yours. But I’ll frame it for you first.”

  “I can’t let you give me something that valuable. I had no idea . . .” He stopped speaking as he reached her studio. “Where do you want me to put this?”

  “On the long table in the back. What, you thought I was just a hack?”

  “No, of course not, but . . .” He set down the canvas and turned. “I guess I didn’t realize how in demand your work is.”

  Nina set the stool she carried next to the easel. “I’ll paint more than a dozen pictures for the art fair in July so I have a decent selection, but I’ll be lucky to sell two or three of them. Yes, I make good money off each purchase, but to say my paintings are in high demand is a stretch.” She shrugged. “Maybe one of these days. I used to be thrilled when I sold a single painting at one of these events.”

  “Well, I’m impressed.”

  She headed toward the door. “And I’m in awe, knowing you risk your life to pull people from burning buildings. Admiring each other’s strengths is a good thing, right?”

  “I suppose so.” He followed her down the stairs and into the kitchen.

  She paused with her hand on the refrigerator door. “What do you want to do for dinner? Unless you have something else going on? If so, I can—”

  “I don’t have plans. If a work commitment had come up, I would have let you know.” He took her by the arm and led her to one of the barstools at the counter. “Can we talk? Something has been bothering me.”

  “I’ve been trying not to pressure you. I know our relationship is new, and we’re both figuring out how it’ll work. Maybe we’ve been spending too much time together. I understand if you need more space.”

  His heart sank as she pulled away from him. “Is that how you feel? You want space?” He leaned back against the counter. “I’m beginning to think the only time you expect to spend with me is in bed. I’m not sure I like that a whole lot.”

  “What?” She practically toppled off the stool in her haste to get to her feet. “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “We don’t go out together, not since our trip to Portland, though I’ve suggested it a couple of times. We eat, maybe make out on the couch, and then head upstairs. You take off in the morning like you can’t wait to escape. It’s starting to bug me.”

  “Oh. My. God!” She clenched her fists at her sides. “You’re kidding, right?”

  With an effort, he managed to keep his cool. “Maybe some guys would be thrilled, but sex isn’t the only thing I want from a woman.”

  She closed her eyes, and he was pretty sure she was counting beneath her breath. Finally she opened them again. Anger simmered in their depths.

  “I was trying to be considerate of your time. We live next door to each other. I didn’t want you to feel trapped.”

  “I like hanging out with you, Nina. If I wasn’t comfortable with how often we’re together, I would have said something.”

  “I was hoping to avoid that by not pressuring you to begin with.”

  The hint of pain in her voice tore down all his defenses. Stepping closer, he slid an arm around her waist and left it there even when she stiffened. “Let’s go sit down and discuss this. I feel like we’ve been at cross purposes, and I’d like to know why.”

  After a brief moment, she nodded and let him guide her into the living room. He pulled her down with him onto the couch and turned to face her.

  “Let’s be clear about this. I want to spend time with you. I haven’t been looking for an out, and I don’t need you to run off every morning. The fact that you think I’m an asshole who expects so little from you is fairly insulting.”

  “I don’t think that at all.” She leaned back against the cushions, her thigh pressed against his, and cleared her throat. “Keith used to complain about me clinging. I didn’t want to get off on the wrong foot with you.”

  His mouth fell open. After a second, he closed it. “You don’t cling. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a more independent woman who totally has her life together.”

  “Maybe I’ve changed. Toughened up. I certainly didn’t intend to make you feel like a prime piece of meat.”

  He snorted and choked on a laugh. “I wouldn’t go that far.” Taking her hand, he squeezed her fingers. “I don’t want you to think I’m bitching about spending time in bed with you because I’m not. But once Keely gets home, we’re going to have to back off a little on that front. I guess I was worried we wouldn’t have anything in common left between us.”

  “My feelings are engaged and have been from the start. I’m not used to caring so much, which is probably why I went overboard in an effort not to screw things up. Because you matter to me.”

  Relief dispelled the knot of anxiety that had tightened in his chest. “I can’t imagine not spending time with you. I know this is still new, but I want to give what we have together a real chance to grow.”

  Nina slid her hand behind his neck and leaned over to kiss him. “I’d like that, too.” She pulled back a few inches. “Since I’m totally not in the mood to cook, do you want to go out tonight? Oh, and for the record, the only reason I preferred to stay in when you asked is because I’ve been beat. Expending so much creative energy drains a person.”

  “I get that, but I still owe you a real date. I’ll go take a shower and . . . crap!”

  She reared back. “What?”

  “I forgot about Coco. Damn.” He levered off the couch. “I’d better go check on her. Thank God I put in that new doggy door or I’d have a real mess to deal with. I’m just surprised she didn’t bark when I came home.”

  “Probably busy digging another hole in your backyard. I’ll change and be ready to go whenever you are. Stop by after you’ve dealt with the dog and taken a shower.”

  “Right.” He tugged her to her feet and dropped a kiss on her lips. “I’m glad we cleared up any misunderstanding. Communication is always key.”

  “You’re right about that. I shouldn’t have made assumptions. You’re not like . . .” She pressed her lips together. “Never mind. Go take care of Coco.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a half hour or so.” As Teague headed across the street, he wondered about what she hadn’t said. I’m not like her dead fiancé? Is that a positive or a negative? Time would tell.

  He unlocked the door and walked inside. “Coco, where the heck are you?” When there wasn’t so much as a yip in response, worry shot through him. Long strides took him straight past the kitchen to the door at the end of the hallway leading to the backyard. When he gave the newly installed doggy door a push, it swung freely.

  He released the dead bolt to open the door and stepped out into the fenced yard. The dog was nowhere in sight.

  “Coco.” He yelled a little louder. “Coco!”

  A breeze stirred the branches of the big pine standing in the back corner of the lot. Nothing else moved.

  “Well, shit. How the hell did she get out?” He circled the fence line, searching for a hole beneath it. When he reached the gate that opened to the forest behind his property, he paused. “Damn it.”

  The gate was pushed shut, but the latch wasn’t fastened. When he gave the wood panel a shove, the gate swung open. Coco could be anywhere in the woods, completely lost. If he didn’t find the dog, he wouldn’t be able to face his daughter.

>   “Coco, here, girl. Coco. Want a treat?”

  “Teague?”

  “I’m in the back. Follow the fence,” he shouted.

  A few seconds later, Nina rounded the northeast corner and waved. “I forgot something in my car and heard you yelling. What’s wrong?”

  “Coco got out somehow. I don’t have a clue where she went.”

  “That’s not good. Did you leave the gate open?”

  “I don’t think so. The latch is a little stiff, so maybe it didn’t shut all the way. If Coco pushed on the gate, it might have swung open.”

  “She’s so little. You think she has the strength?”

  “I don’t know how else she would have gotten out. I can’t imagine anyone came back here and took her. She’s not show dog quality, by any means.”

  Nina turned to scan the thick forest, dense with fir trees, huckleberry bushes, manzanita, and ferns. “She might not have gone too far. Let’s start looking.”

  They split up and pushed through the woods, shouting and calling with no luck. When his phone rang twenty minutes later, Teague pulled it out of his pocket and frowned at the unfamiliar number before answering.

  “Hello.”

  “Do you own a little cream and tan dog named Coco?” A woman’s voice spoke in a distracted tone before growing muffled. “Kids, leave her alone.” A moment later, the connection sharpened. “I called the number on her tag.”

  “You found her?” Relief nearly weakened his knees. “That’s great. I’ve been looking for her.”

  “She showed up in my yard a while ago and started digging in my flowers. When I tried to grab her, she took off but came back later. This time I got a hold of her. She’s muddy but seems fine.”

  “Thank you so much. I’ll come get her if you’ll give me your address.”

  “I’m at 320 Spruce Lane.”

  “I’ll be right over.” He hung up, stuffed the phone in his pocket, and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Nina, I found her!” His shout echoed through the woods and was followed by a faint reply. By the time he reached the back fence, Nina was waiting for him.