Back To Country (Country Love #4)(21)

I pull into the parking lot, which is really a big area filled with dirt and gravel. Walking up the porch steps, I remember when the guys built the house. Grant's friend designed it, then Trevor, Memphis, Colby, and Nash set out to build it as quickly as they could. The times I came over bringing beers and snacks, Nash would have his shirt off. His skin glistening in the sun and beaded with sweat.

"Oomph!" Did I just walk into a wall?



       
         
       
        

"I'm sorry, Tina. Are you okay?" My hands are pressed against Nash's broad and very firm chest. His strong arms wrapped around me, his hands holding firmly on my back as I look up into his eyes. "You looked like you were in another world." He smiles.

"What are you....? What are you doing here?" I whisper.

"Prie asked if I could come fix a couple of things. Then we got to talkin'." His eyes search mine, and I find I don't want to let go of him.

"Miss Tina? Can I help you cook today?"

Breaking me from my stupor, I look over Nash's large shoulder and see one of the little girls who has helped me in the kitchen before. I smile. "Yes, Mary. Go on ahead, and I'll be there in a minute." She jumps up and down, smiling, then turns and runs away. I look back up at Nash. "I guess I need to go." I thought he'd just release me and tell me goodbye, but it seems as though he doesn't want to let go of me either. I start to move when his mouth covers mine, his hand moves up my back, cupping the back of my head, pulling me against his lips harder. I'm finding I love when he does that. Everything around us evaporates. I become unaware of where I am and what I was going to do. I don't even care. He moves his head the other way. His tongue slides into my mouth. Coffee and him. What a great combination.

Giggles ensue inside the house, bringing us back to reality. We both smile at each other, and he gives me a playful wink. "Always somethin', huh?" I let out a big sigh then draw in some much needed air. Even though spring is much closer, the breeze is still brisk. I shiver. A look of concern washes over his handsome face. "Oh. Where are my manners? You must be freezin'." He kisses me again, his lips cooler than I remember. "Go inside and get warm." He finally releases me, reluctantly. I turn, watching him walk down the steps and across to the other side of the parking lot, noticing his truck there. Huh, didn't even see that when I'd pulled in. Of course, in the world my mind was in at the time, I was only thinking of one thing. Him.





  Chapter Nine





Nash

Man, I didn't want to leave. Didn't want to let go of her, pull my mouth away from hers. Fuck, I want her so badly. What is it about this woman that makes me lose all control? It amazes me still that she's single, yet I'm thankful she is. I have no idea how experienced she is, or if she's had boyfriends, but damn she can kiss. I get in my truck, put it in reverse when there's a tap on my window. Trevor's standin' there smilin'. I put it back in park and roll the window down. "Hey, Trev! What's got you all smilin'?" Thank fuck. Prie must have told him. His smile fades. A look of worry and concern replaces it. "Look, man. Everythin's gonna be okay. We'll do whatever we need to do to help." After everythin' they've been through to have to go through this, it makes me upset for them. Can't they catch a break? 



He folds his arms over his chest. "I know ya'll will. I just don't want her to go. Who knows how long it'll take. It's not fair to ask ya'll when ya'll already do so much." What? He's makin' no sense. Go where? "Don't get me wrong. I'm glad Grant's movin' here but to ask Prie to go home with him and help him gets things packed and moved is too much." He is? He did? Does Grant not know Prie's pregnant and is high risk? What in the hell is he thinkin'? And how can Trevor let her go knowin' that? "The only thing that's good about it is she'll get to visit her family's graves."

I open my mouth to speak, to voice just how confused I am about all this when Prie comes runnin' over to the truck. "Trevor!" She runs up and as he leans down, she kisses him quickly. She turns to me. "Oh! Hi, Nash!" She turns back to him, smilin'. "Gladys just drove in for her riding lesson." He smiles at her, looks at me and nods, then kisses her again. Turnin' my head out the window, I watch him walk away. That was the craziest conversation, and I'm totally confused.

"Nash." I look back and see Prie step up to my truck, placin' her hands on the door.

"Did you tell Trevor yet?" She bites her lip, shakin' her head. "Why in the hell not? And what is he talkin' about Grant movin' here and you goin' home with him?"

"Look. Grant asked me to go home with him and help and I'd like to visit my family's graves so it seems like a great opportunity."

"But Prie...."

"Nash. Grant knows. I'm not going to do anything strenuous, and I'm going to see my old doctor while I'm there. I'd also like her opinion about the pregnancy, see what she thinks. It never hurts to get a second opinion." Her eyes are pleadin' with me to understand.

I place my hand over hers. "That's all good but are you gonna tell Trevor before you leave? He deserves to know, darlin'. Hell, it's startin' to seem that everyone will know but him. He'll be downright angry when he finds that out." She starts bitin' her bottom lip again. "Prie."



 "It'll only worry him more if I tell him and then leave town." My brows lower in concern. She slides her hand out from underneath mine and places it on my arm. "I want to have all the information I possibly can before I tell him, Nash. I want to make sure I know and understand everything. You know I hate keeping it from him, but I need to be ready. I need to be able to make sure he knows everything. How can I do that when I don't know everything yet?" She smiles. "Look, I'm going to tell him just as soon as I get back. Grant has packers coming so I really won't have to do much except help supervise, and I'll only be gone about a week." That does make me feel a little better, but I still don't like that she's waitin' to tell Trevor. She squeezes my arm and smiles. "I don't like it any more than you do. I love how you're concerned for Trevor. You're such a great friend. But really. Just a little longer."



       
         
       
        

I look at her smilin' face, her hand squeezin' my arm again. "Okay. But, darlin'. If you don't tell him the second you get back, I'm going to." She nods and leans inside the window, wrappin' her arms around me.

"Thanks, Nash. You're the best!"

Yeah, she's not gonna to think I'm the best when I tell Trevor if she doesn't when she gets back. It's not right that so many people know and he doesn't. I really don't feel good about this.

Once I get home, I work on the rest of my chores, and by late evenin' and bein' Friday, the guys decided to go over to the Hoedown bar in town. I, however, stayed home to keep an eye on Manuel and my filly Comet. She's gettin' closer to delivery. I'd talked to Dr. Franklin, I mean, Larry, and he wants to buy her foal. Trevor's already gettin' a stall ready in his barn for when she's old enough to go live there. Now, after havin' demolished the rest of Tina's dinner leftovers, cleanin' up the kitchen, and checkin' on Comet, I go into the livin' room and turn on the TV. Another borin' night in this huge house. Alone. I find a good old western and settle into the cushions of my couch. Thought I'd have some company tonight, not exactly the kind I'd hoped but Grant's over at Trevor and Pries place. The movie is about halfway over when the doorbell rings. That's weird. Grant said he was stayin' over at Prie's all night. Maybe he decided to come back after all. I walk to the front door and start to open it. "Hey. I told you the door would be unlocked and you can just c'mon in." Instead of Grant standin' there, it's Tina.

"I hope you don't mind. I was gonna head home from the boarding house and thought you might like some dessert." Probably not the same kind of sweets she has in mind. She leans toward me, looking inside. "Are  –  is everyone here?" Her eyes are wide, hopeful.

Reachin' out, I take the box she's holdin', gettin' a big whiff of the delicious smells that's inside. "Nah. They all went out honky tonkin' and Grant's spendin' the night over at Trev and Pries." She smiles as relief washes over her. "C'mon in. I was just watchin' some TV."

"Sounds like the perfect evening," she says walkin' inside.

I take her coat, hangin' it up in the closet. She walks beside me to the kitchen, and I set the box down on the breakfast bar. "Want some hot chocolate?" I ask her as she removes dishes from the box. 



 "Oh, that would be great. Thanks!" Fillin' the tea kettle full of water, I set it on the burner, turnin' it on, then grab two mugs and put a couple spoonfuls of cocoa mix in them.

"Whatcha got there," I ask, watchin' her take out container after container. Damn, when she cooks, she really cooks. The different smells are making me hungry.

I look up when she laughs. "Well, the kids and I kinda went a little crazy making cookies, pies, and assorted other pastries. They'll have enough to keep them in sweet-land for quite a while."