"Hey," she said with a sputter, cranking her neck so that she could see properly.
Josiah. The big guy was sweaty from the heat and most likely beer. A big grin swept across his face. "I didn't know you were coming out," he said, leaning forward. Sabrina puckered her nose. Definitely beer.
"I kind of got roped into it."
"Well I'm not going to complain about that." Josiah grinned and then swayed a bit. "Can I get you something? A drink?"
"No," she said, taking a step back. "Thank you but I'm heading out anyway."
"You can't," he said, making a grab for her other arm. "Come on Bree. Dance with me first. I like this one."
Bree. No one called her that. No one but Brent.
Anger flashed through her. "No, Josiah. I need to get back." And suddenly she did. It was all too much. The people. The noise. This big man who suddenly didn't seem to understand what the word ‘no' meant.
His grip was hard and Sabrina pursed her lips. People were starting to stare.
"Josiah, please."
He held her hand for another moment or so and then let it go. "Hey, sorry. I didn't mean to come off like a goddamn Neanderthal."
"It's okay," she replied, taking a step back. It really wasn't but Sabrina didn't feel like arguing the point. She just wanted to leave.
She made her way to the bar, upset and not really knowing why. Sure, Josiah had acted like an idiot, but still, she'd been able to handle him. Biting her lip, her gaze wandered across the bar, resting on the couples slowly dancing to the song that fell from the overhead speakers.
The song was beautiful. A slow, sensual love song that was perfect for a hot summer's night.
She saw Tucker and Abby, moving together in the dark, their love for each other so obvious and so genuine.
And this song, damn but it made her heart hurt.
Sabrina turned blindly and pushed her way through the crowd. By the time she reached the doors, her chest was tight with emotion, and when she finally made it outside, she exhaled, drawing in great gasps of fresh air.
She made her way to the parking lot and leaned against Teague's truck, eyes on a midnight sky that was lit up with a million stars. Her chest was tight. It felt as if there was a ball of something in there that needed release.
"You okay?"
The words slid from the dark. Teague.
"Yes," she answered after a while.
"Liar."
Eyes still on the sky, she froze when he approached. He turned his head upward and followed her gaze. For a moment there was nothing but the muffled sounds from the bar, the people and the music.
"Funny how the sky looks the same no matter where you are," Teague murmured. "Alaska. Hawaii. Afghanistan. China. Different perspectives but basically the same."
Sabrina exhaled and glanced at him. He didn't look as angry as he had earlier. In fact he looked kind of relaxed.
"Why are you out here?" she asked. "Thought you'd be inside with your girlfriend."
He arched an eyebrow, but ignored the dig. "I don't like crowds. I don't like the unpredictable."
He turned to her suddenly. "You okay?" he asked again.
Her eyes slipped away. "No," she whispered, feeling the heat of tears sting her eyes. "I don't think I'll ever be okay again."
"You have to want to be okay. That's the first step."
"Really." She found his gaze again, shivering at the intensity in them. "How's that working for you?"
A heartbeat passed.
"I don't know how to be okay." His answer was so brutally honest. So very much like the man. Was it that honesty that had her opening her mouth and disclosing her secrets?
"I love to dance and I don't think I will ever dance again."
Teague stared at her for a long time. So long in fact that by the time his gaze slid from hers, Sabrina's cheeks were flushed. Something had just changed. The energy in the air was different. It was hot and dark and full of needful things.
Teague reached into his front pocket. He retrieved the keys to his truck and unlocked the vehicle. He fired it up. Got out his phone and a few seconds later, a love song about want and need and pain filled her ears.
A ballad with a haunting melody that made her ache even more than she already did.
Teague slid from the truck and stood in front of her. His white button down shirt made his skin look even darker, and those eyes … those dangerous, intense eyes never left hers.
He held out his hand. "Dance with me," he said. There was nothing coy in his tone. Nothing playful or flirtatious. But there was danger there and she'd be crazy to poke the tiger.
Sabrina slowly exhaled. Was she crazy?
"We don't even like each other," she said softly.
"That's a little strong, don't you think?"
She shrugged. She had nothing.
"Doesn't matter really. We don't have to like each other to dance."
"No," she whispered, after a few seconds. "I guess we don't."
Chapter Nine
Sabrina Campbell smelled like the sweetest honeysuckle ever. It reminded him of the vines growing in his mother's gardens, of hot summer nights and cold iced tea. She was so damn small next to him, so fragile and feminine. And so incredibly sad.
What the hell was he doing out here with her?
Sure she was cute as hell, but that didn't matter because a woman like Sabrina wasn't a good fit for a man like Teague. She had kids. Responsibilities. A family that she needed to answer to.
None of those things interested him. He'd always been a lone wolf. Always been the guy to leave. Nothing had changed. Even after the hell he'd been through, nothing had changed.
He should have gone home with Candace. Then he wouldn't be out here in the dark with Sabrina. And he sure as hell wouldn't be slow dancing in the parking lot of some country bar.
And yet here he was, pulling her into his arms and settling her against him like she belonged there. The top of her head fit just below his chin and he slid his arms around her small waist.
"Relax," he breathed into her hair. She was strung so tight he could feel the muscles bunched in her back.
She didn't say a word. Hell, he wasn't even sure she took a breath. But eventually he felt her relax and after a few moments she turned her head and rested her cheek against his chest.
The song was about lost love, of mistakes and redemption and of finding your way back. Funny. He knew the song but he'd never really listened to the words before. Never took notice of the meaning.
But right now, under a night sky that made him feel about as relevant as a gnat, he listened to the message behind the music. He wanted to say that the words gave him hope, but in truth they just made him feel empty.
He would never have that kind of love because that kind of love demanded sacrifice, and Teague Simon had nothing left to sacrifice.
But maybe he wouldn't think about that right now. Maybe he would just enjoy this one moment that shouldn't have been.
So he moved slowly, eyes closed as he enjoyed the feel of Sabrina against him. His hands moved down her back until they settled in the hollow.
He fought the urge to let them wander lower, and it was harder than it should have been. She smelled too damn good and she felt even better. When the song ended, she stopped moving and for several moments they didn't speak. They did nothing but breathe each other in.
"Thank you," she said, her voice so low he barely heard her.
Reluctantly Teague let her go and she took a step back. He shoved his hands into his front pockets because he needed to do something with them.
"What for?" he replied.
She shrugged and opened her mouth but no words came out. After a while she cleared her throat and attempted a smile. "I should go home."
"I'll give you a ride."
"No. I'll call a cab. Tucker and Abby are still inside."
Teague reached for his cell. "Don't worry about them."
"But-"
"It's not up for discussion. I brought you to town and I'll take you home."
She climbed into his truck while he sent his brother a text. The ride back to the cottage took less than ten minutes, but it was nearly ten minutes of low music and no talking. Sabrina sat as straight as a rod, eyes forward and hands folded neatly in her lap.
She had small hands with delicate wrists and fingers.
Teague pulled up to his place, cut the engine and glanced over to Sabrina. She was watching him and he felt a jolt when they made eye contact. Her tongue slid between her lips and licked the bottom one. It wasn't meant to be seductive, but Teague's body tightened at the sight.
"Thanks for the ride home."
"No problem," he replied.
Several more moments passed and then Sabrina yanked on the door handle. She slid from his truck and Teague was rewarded with a glimpse of a lot more creamy skin than he was supposed to see when her skirt rode up.
She paused just before closing the door and like an idiot he was still sitting inside his truck.
"Your hair looks really nice by the way." Okay. Now he sounded like a damn high school kid looking to score.