The Country Duet(21)
“Why can’t you right now?” I ask.
“It’s complicated.”
I crook my neck, staring at her, waiting for her to elaborate, but she never does, so I begin to talk.
“I’m not perfect, Teale. I’m just a man who, right now, wants a woman who keeps giving me pieces of herself, then pulls back.”
“Can we just be?” she asks.
“We can, but know this. I want all of you. Remember, Teale, we all have our pasts and demons locked far away in dark closets that we battle daily. My closet right now is full, and it seems you are the only person who can bring light to it.”
“I’m scared,” she admits.
I run the pad of my thumb over the apple of her cheek. “Scared of what?”
“You,” she whispers. “You make it all disappear with one simple kiss and touch.”
“Then let’s forget together.”
Gripping her waist tightly, my lips capture hers, and we kiss until everything fades into nothingness, leaving just the two of us in this moment. An overwhelming sensation to take her to my bedroom thrums through my body. Her tongue plunging in and out of my mouth grounds me to the place we are.
We pull apart breathless, and I can’t help myself when I swipe a trail along her lips with my tongue before grabbing her by the hips and tossing her up on the counter. I settle between her legs, reaching over and scrolling through the shared Pinterest board for the recipe.
Teale’s fierce stare at each of my movements invades all of my senses. A thick tension is created between us that I’m pretty sure will never fade away.
“Found it.” I quickly read over the recipe before stepping back. “Want to cruise Pinterest or Weed Management textbook?”
She answers by grabbing the MacBook, settling it in her lap. Teale chatters on about clothes, boots, and jewelry while I get everything put together. Boy, would this woman get along with my mom. I have a feeling they’d shatter a few bank accounts together.
Placing the lid on the pot, setting the timer, and locking it in place, I step away and clap my hands. “Twenty minutes until dinner.”
This causes Teale to pop her head up. “That thing was raw, right?”
I answer with a jerk of my chin, take the MacBook from her, and then settle between her legs, pulling her sweet center to me. “Magic.”
“I don’t do rare, especially rare pork.”
“Do you trust me?”
She bites down on her bottom lip. I move fast, flicking her lip free with my thumb, rubbing her worry away, and ask her the question again and wait for her to answer.
Teale barely nods, and it’s all I need. I kiss her again, pouring everything I want from her in one damn kiss, then force myself to step back. I prepare our two plates and grab two Mountain Dews from the fridge.
Teale goes to take a seat at the dining room table. I manage to grab her by the arm and lead her to the couch. We settle in with no room left between us.
“This is like falling apart and delicious,” she announces around a mouthful.
“Trust,” I reply.
I have lost my damn mind trying to convince a girl to trust me through a damn pork loin.
Chapter 8
Hunter
“You aren't wealthy until you have something money can't buy.” –Garth Brooks
I don’t think even Dave’s piss bottles could change my mood today. Waking up next to Teale in my bed has me walking on air. Who knew only kissing and holding a woman next to me would fulfill me.
I wipe my greasy hands off on a rag. “Frank, got a question for you.”
“Not getting a raise,” he growls with his head down in an engine.
That makes me relax when I’m about to broach a topic that he may not want to talk about either. “What is Teale so scared of?”
I blurt it out before even thinking about it. There’s no easy or right way to bring up his daughter. Frank rises slowly, at the same time going stiff as a board. Asking for a raise may have been a better idea.
“What about her?”
I roll my head from shoulder to shoulder. “We’ve been out on a couple of dates. She seems interested, but she’s also pulling back at the same time.”
Fuck, where am I going with this? And two dates? That’s pushing it.
“I don’t know what I’m asking here, Frank. Don’t want to hurt her, but I also want to be with her. Something I should know?”
This is all fucking wrong to be asking her father, but Teale is a closed book at every single chapter.
“Hunter, Teale is trying to put her life back together. Back in California, her mom played some real head games with the girl.” He takes two steps closer to me. “Some shit went down, and it was ultimately why I divorced her mom. Not good shit.”
“Well, you might be vaguer than Teale.”
“Some things you can’t get over, son. Give her time, and she’ll come around.”
I think better of asking my next question because something inside me already knows the answer. Yes, Teale will shatter me. And no, I don’t have the willpower to stop it.
Frank goes back to work, not giving me any more information. Head games could be anything. Teale is intact—just afraid to trust. These bits of information only make me more curious. The time at the shop flies by. I’m in much need of fresh air and a little hunting. Dave may think he pays me well, but it’s shit. I’ll take advantage of his ponds to hunt. Probably won’t be shit out there, but that’s not the point.