Back To Country (Country Love #4)(14)

"Your life sounds anythin' but borin'. My life? That's probably as normal as you can get. I lost my ma at an early age and...."

Her hand covers mine instantly. "I'm sorry, Nash."



 I smile, not able to stop myself. She's so carin' and hell if I don't love when she touches me, for any reason. "Thank you. I was pretty young so my memories are few but Pa really did his best to give me everythin' I needed growin' up. Then I lost him, and I felt like my world had fallen apart. Manuel stepped in, which was comfortin' since he'd been around most of my life." Reachin' up, I rub the back of my neck, all the memories kinda bittersweet. "Not sure what I would have done without him."

"No wonder he's so special to you," she replies, sadness fillin' her eyes.

My smile grows. "Yes, as well as helpin' me through those times, he's become such a great friend." I take a drink, ready to continue my story. "After that...."

"Tina!"

I close my mouth as I watch Tina's eyes move slowly to the doorway. She looks back at me and smiles. "Um, sorry. I'll be right back," she says as she stands. I take another drink then finish the sandwich as I watch her walk over to the doorway. "Yes?" she whisper shouts.

"Can I take a break?"

I watch silently as she closes her eyes briefly and in just the little time I've known her, I can tell she's tryin' not to roll her eyes. She forces herself to put on a smile.

"Since you've only been here an hour, how about we wait a little longer?"

The new girl has only been here for that short of a time and already wants a break? Somethin' tells me she won't last here very long. As Tina walks back over, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I look down and take a look, seein' that mysterious phone number again. Swipin' ignore, I look up just as Tina sits down. "I'm so sorry. Now, where were we?"

Can't help but let out a chuckle. "It's perfectly fine. I can't imagine runnin' such a place. I'm sure it keeps you very busy." I finish off my cup and set it down.

"Tina!"

This time she can't help but roll her eyes at the doorway then catchin' herself, she smiles as she looks at me. "Would you like another cup?"

"No, but thank ya. I think I'd better be goin'," I say as I stand. She gets up and walks me to the doorway. Turnin' abruptly, I grasp her arm, my free hand cuppin' the side of her face as my fingers cover her soft hair. "See what you can work out 'bout comin' for supper one night." We stare into each other's eyes, and I watch her lips part. Damn, I want to kiss them so badly. Instead, the gentleman I am, I lean in and kiss her forehead. Her skin so soft and delicate. I lean back, her eyes closed and mouth still open slightly. "Goodbye. For now." Her eyes open, her breathin' comin' out in small pants, tellin' me that by just one kiss makes her want me. I did that. No one has ever looked at me the way she does. And fuck if I don't want to kiss her again. On those pouty lips. Longer. Harder. Puttin' on my hat, I raise my hand and tip it slightly, givin' her a wink as I turn around and walk outta the room. That gal, Loren, has three customers. Not sure what all the hollerin' was about.



       
         
       
        

Walkin' out the door, I stop at the grocery store and get a few of the things I know we're out of, and then I get in my truck. I'm 'bout to pull out when my phone dings, my heart racin' that it could be her, wantin' me to come back or tellin' me when she can come over for supper. When I swipe the screen alive and go into my texts, it's that same mystery number. Who in the hell are you? I feel a little weirded out, not normally answerin' when I don't know the number.





Unknown: It's me. Grant. Dammit! Answer your phone!





I chuckle to myself, worried over nothin'. Startin' up my truck, I pull out and begin the long journey home. I figure after supper I'll go see Manuel for a bit. I feel like I'm runnin' on fumes. Still smilin', I hit call on my phone and listen to the ringin' through my Bluetooth in my truck.

"Nash. Why in the hell haven't you been answering your phone?" He sounds exasperated.

I concentrate on the road as I laugh. "Because I didn't know it was you?" I hear him sigh, loudly.

"Well, who in the hell did you think it was?" Huh. Good question. "Anyway," he continues. "How'd you like some company in that big place of yours, in the near future?"

I decide to play his game. "Oh? Who? You're not tryin' to fix me up again, are you?" I have to clamp my lips from laughin'.

He laughs and I find I'm not able to contain my own. "Nah. Not this time. Although, there is this one woman over in Pilates that...." I cough. Really loud. "Just kidding ya. I just need to take some time off from work and thought what better place to go but where my friends are." He really should just move here. "Of course I thought  –  I should just move there and be done with all this traveling back and forth." Okay, that was weird. "I mean, every town needs more than one lawyer, right?" I nod as if he can see me. "So, I figured when I'm there, I'll take a look around, see if there's somewhere I can put my office and find a nice house. I believe that if something is meant to be, things will just open up. And if it's not, then I'll just come home, but not before I check in Pilates to see what they might have."

"That's great, man. It would be good to have you close."

"That's what I thought. So, mind if I come stay with you for a week or two?" 

I like Grant. He's funny as hell and a good guy to boot. "Nah, I don't mind. My house is your house for as long as you need." It's not like my house isn't huge with only me in there anyway. It'll be nice havin' the company for a bit.

"Perfect! I'll let you know when as soon as I get everything figured out on this end. Thanks, man."

"Glad to have ya here. Will be great spendin' some time with ya."



 I'm almost home by the time we end our conversation. I feel pretty light-hearted as I pull into the garage and go inside. Still, the hugeness and emptiness of the house is dauntin'. Maybe I need to get a dog. After fixin' dinner, the guys came up, and we had a good time talkin' and laughin'. I opened that package that Bart had told me about, and let out a long sigh when I saw the framed picture of me and Blair. I remembered when this was taken, us standin' in front of our apartment buildin', gettin' ready to go out with our arms around each other's waists, smilin. Why in the hell did she send me this? I put it in a drawer in the foyer table and headed to the hospital to see Manuel for a little bit. 'Course he told me I didn't need to come but I couldn't help myself. I couldn't imagine bein' there alone, with no family to give support and offer company since I'm really the only family he has. Once again, I'm faced with the drive home and my phone rings again, givin' me a feelin' of déjà vu. Lookin' at the number I scold myself for not puttin' Grant's number in my contacts so I'd know it was him.

"Miss me so soon?" I laugh when I answer, expectin' him to say somethin' 'bout me at least pickin' up this time.

"Hey, Nash." The sound of the voice is definitely not Grant's and I cringe when I recognize it. "How are ya, darlin'?" Blair. "It's been too long, baby."

Anger rises inside me. My hands grip the steerin' wheel with such force that my knuckles turn white. Why in the hell is she callin' me after all this time? And why an unknown number when she'd been tryin' to reach me with her old number for so long? She's up to no good, I can feel it.

"Blair," I answer through gritted teeth.

"Aw, sugar. You're stressed. I can tell. I heard about Manuel." Sam must have told Tricia, his friend back in Texas, who in turn told Blair. Great. "Baby." I cringe at the name. "I told you I'd been wantin' to come up and see you. I could help." Pursin' my lips, I stifle a laugh. Blair's idea of helpin' would be tellin' everyone else what to do. "I could cook and clean for you and the boys." It's gettin' harder to contain the laugh that's bustin' to come out. Her idea of cookin' would be to order out and cleanin'? I'm not even sure she knows what that is. She might break a nail or somethin'. "You need a woman to come take care of you." What the fuck?



I just swallowed that laugh and anger comes back full force. "I got me a woman. I don't need any help." I growl. She thinks I'm stressed but I haven't been, not like this, not since back in the days I was datin' her.

I hear the sound of her laughter. "Ain't no woman can take care of you like I can." Visions of her sittin' on top of me, her long blonde hair ticklin' my skin as she.... I shake my head, roughly. "I could take care of you  –  real  –  good." I'll admit, the sex was phenomenal. It's all the bullshit I had to deal with that made it less than appealin'.



       
         
       
        

"Blair. I'm fine. It's over and I have someone. Don't call me again."

I hang up, my body shakin' with anger. Memories of our time together come floodin' back, all the time we spent together. Then I grip the steerin' wheel harder when I remember catchin' her with Michael McFallon  –  in bed  –  in our apartment. Yeah, I admit. I was stupid to give her a key, allow her to live there, but hell, we'd been practically livin' together for over two years anyway. I was plain crazy  –  crazy in lust. And totally blind. For the longest time, I thought she was the one. I'd even gotten to the point where I'd bought a ring, gave it to her for our engagement. I think back and shiver at the thought that if I hadn't walked in on her, we would have gotten married and she'd have cheated on the side. Thing is, it's not like she don't come from money. Her pa is one of our biggest competitors but had become friends with mine. Don't make sense why she'd want my money when she already had more than enough.