Andrew answered the door when Chris knocked twenty minutes later. Good, so someone stayed with Taryn today. “Hi Chris! Looking for Taryn? I'm kicking her butt at chess.”
“Oh, finally. Something Taryn isn't good at. Maybe I have a chance at winning something against her after all.”
“I heard that! Has it occurred to you I might be letting Andrew win?”
“I hope not! I'm really good at this game and want real competition,” Andrew protested, whirling around. “Oh yeah, come on in, Chris.”
Taryn grimaced. “I'm not the best at chess. I'm not letting you win, but I'm also not good competition. Sorry.” She sat on one side of a card table, the chess board smack dab in the middle.
Andrew turned to Chris with hopeful eyes. “And you?”
“I might be a bit better than Taryn.” Chris pinched his fingers together. “Just a smidge. What have you been doing today?” He directed that one at Taryn.
“Getting my butt kicked at chess, playing a few video games, some of which I won … Andrew swears his dad didn't send him to babysit me.” Taryn arched a brow.
“He didn't!” Andrew insisted. He scooted around Chris to sit down, making his move on the board.
“He told you to say that if I made a babysitting comment, too. But you know what? We had a good day today.”
“Good. Did you get a call or a visit?” Chris bent to kiss her.
“Yes. All in the clear.”
“I know what's going on, so you don't have to avoid saying what call or visit, just so you know,” Andrew said to Chris. “My dad tells me stuff. It's all part of the trying to be open and honest thing we have going on.”
“Good way to go.” Chris pulled up a chair and scooted it closer to Taryn. There was so much he wanted to say, but he wouldn't in front of Andrew. So for now, he settled with watching her get her ass handed to her as Andrew won the game.
“Next?” Andrew's eyes twinkled with glee as he looked at Chris. “Do you accept the challenge?”
Chris shrugged. “I warn you, there's no competition.”
“That's okay. I think Taryn's a little chess'ed out.”
Taryn laughed. “I will knock you over at the arcade, boy. Don't think I won't.”
“I'm counting on it.” Andrew smirked, then proceeded to kick Chris' ass at chess, too.
*****
“What? She got a text, too?” Taryn sat across from Chris after Matt came to pick up Andrew. Now that the two were alone, it was time to get to the nitty gritty.
“Yep. Just one. Same thing as yours.” Chris scratched the side of his face. “Puzzling, huh?”
“Add childish and stupid to the mix. God, I hope these incidents aren't related.” Taryn leaned back, careful not to rest any weight on her elbow.
“The only connection is me,” Chris muttered. “I should go ask Serena, but if she knows nothing of this, I'm going to come off as a weirdo.”
“Is there anyone else?” Taryn demanded. Not that she wanted to know, but at this point, she needed to know.
“There were two others, early on when I came to Harmony's Echo.”
She blew out a breath. Not as many as she'd initially thought.
“Taryn...”
“I'm not judging,” she swore.
“That's good. But I still feel...”
“Still feel what? You have a past. So what? I'm in no position to judge. I had a slight wild streak in my teen years, before I got together with James.”
He stared at her with wide eyes. “You? Miss big shot teen drummer on tour with Kyra? Never would have guessed.” His tone came out sarcastic, but he wore a smile.
She swatted at him. “I'm serious! I had a few one night stands of my own. There were some pretty hot roadies on tour with us.”
“So then why the weird face when I told you how many?”
Tears threatened to overtake her again. “Because I'm not that same girl, and knowing how many you've been with lately...”
“Bothers you?” he finished.
“Yes, but you already know why.”
He knelt before her. “We've got to find a way to stop this. I don't want you uncomfortable around me. Ever.”
“But sex is a-”
He kissed her, hard and intense. “Sex is sex. We'll get to that point if and when we get to it. Don't make yourself sick with worry. I've enjoyed getting to know you and doing all of the stuff we've done far more than I enjoyed meaningless sex with anyone. Got it?”
She opened her mouth, prepared for an argument.
Chris slid a finger over her lips. “Got it?” he whispered, his expression and eyes pleading with her. “I need you to get it. I need to hear it, Taryn.”
“Got it,” Taryn whispered back.
“I can't imagine the incidents being related, but we'll be cautious. There's really nothing else we can do.” Chris moved back. “So until then, we should change the subject. How's your elbow?”
“I think I'll live. I'm tired of the tingles on and off, but time will tell if I did anything serious.” Taryn rubbed her elbow.
“Let me see it,” Chris instructed, reaching out for her arm.
Taryn didn't argue, but her brows rose.
He inspected it, pressed his fingers on certain spots around her elbow, then moved down to her hand. With little warning, he kissed the palm of her hand.
“What was that about?”
“Giving you a different kind of tingle.” He grinned. “Or at least, I hope. Did it work?”
Her eyes lit up. “It worked.”
“Good. What do you say to getting something to eat and spending the evening together?”
“Only if it's the arcade. After getting my butt kicked by a fifteen year old at chess, I need to play something I'm good at.” Her eyes lit up. Hopeful, fun-loving.
Just what he needed.
“Challenge accepted, drummer girl. My treat. Let's go!”
*****
“Home sweet home. I've missed you!” Kyra ran inside the house and threw her arms up in the air the next afternoon. She'd come to the animal hospital to surprise Taryn and her mom, since her flight got in a little early.
“Ahh. Nothing like a good love between a woman and her house,” Taryn teased, trailing in after her.
Kyra whirled around. “Come on! Don't you ever have that feeling after being away for a while?”
“You were gone two and a half days!” Taryn tried not to smile.
“Spoil sport,” her friend growled. “Guess I won't tell you I missed you. Who knows what you'd say then?”
“I'd say I kinda missed you, too.”
“Kinda? Hmm. I'll take it.”
Taryn pulled out her phone, checking for any messages.
“Expecting a call?” Kyra asked.
“I'm looking for any kind of updates from Chris. He's supposed to hear from a doctor in Kansas today, because he found out he's a match. I'm also waiting to see if there's any news on Alice's attacker or anything about the messages we've had from some anonymous person.”
Kyra blew out a breath. “That whole thing makes me extremely uncomfortable, for many reasons.”
Taryn agreed and had already said as much to Chris. She knew exactly what reasons. They were reminders of what Kyra went through a few months ago.
“So, I've heard back, and the remodeling is already being worked on for the tour bus. Next weekend, the photographers are coming out to do the shoot.” Kyra rattled off a list of things that needed to be done.
Taryn was glad for the subject change. She and Kyra didn't need to go down memory lane in a bad way. “How long until the tour bus is done?”
“A month or so, maybe. I'm not sure. But we'll definitely go see it and make sure it suits your needs.”
“I'm sure it will,” Taryn said, mustering up as much confidence as possible.
“Taryn, you need to be completely honest with me. Don't tell me it's okay if there's something you need. I mean it.” Kyra's eyes darkened.
“Is t
his because I fell twice recently?”
“No, it's because you're my friend and I care. Do I worry because you've had a few falls? Of course, but I'd have the same worries if you weren't in a wheelchair. I'm a little more concerned because you are in a wheelchair, but that's because you fell on my bathroom floor last night and no one was around. If the situation with Alice hadn't happened, Matt wouldn't have been over here. That concerns me, because if you couldn't get up on your own, I'd have found you here today when I got home.”
“It doesn't happen often,” Taryn whispered. “It was a bad night.” Embarrassment and shame slammed her.
“I know. Believe me, I know how nightmare nights are. I still have them from the night Brandon tried to kill me.” Kyra held Taryn's hand. “I'm sure you've heard the same spiel from Matt and Chris, and you're tired of hearing it.”
“The first fall was a fluke. I got upset. Last night, I was upset, but at myself.” Taryn wanted to take back the words as soon as they slipped past her lips.
“Why?” Kyra's eyes widened in alarm.
Taryn pursed her lips.
“Don't do that with me, Tar. Finish telling me.”
“I had an … accident.” She looked away.
“An accident?”
“Yeah. I don't have… It's hard to have control of some parts when I can't feel them. I threw off my schedule, had a bad night, and woke up that way. I sat in the shower crying until the water was cold. Like I said, it was a bad night, probably the worst since a year or so after the crash.” Tears choked up her voice.
“And that's why you fell, because you were already upset.” Kyra's understanding tone didn't make Taryn feel better.
“It's embarrassing! It could have happened the night before, when Chris stayed over. And then to have Matt walk in and pick me up like that? God, Kyra. It was humiliating.” Taryn covered her face with her hands. “And it's things like this that make me wonder- am I suitable for touring? Am I dating material? Things that repeat over and over in my mind. When I think I've thought of everything, something new comes up.”
*****
Chris tentatively stepped inside Blaine's dance studio. She wasn't there, but Serena was.
He didn't want to ask what he needed to ask, but he was going to anyway.
“I didn't think I'd see you again.” She stepped into the studio portion from the back, her hair swept in a bun, carrying a bunch of folders. “You haven't called in a while.”
“I know. I'm … kind of dating someone, or wanting to date someone,” he admitted.
“It's a small town. I know. Taryn McAllister, Kyra's former drummer and Baby Stetson's new one.” Serena gave him a half smile. “That's good. I hope you two will be happy.”
“Thanks.” Chris shuffled his feet. Man, he'd made a mess of things. Who knew it would be so difficult to stand in front of a woman he'd seen naked and had hours of pleasure with and have a hell of a time making normal conversation? Would it be easier if he didn't have to ask what he had to ask her?
“So what brings you by? Are you looking for Blaine? She left with Randy hours ago. It's just me.” Serena shot him a pointed look.
“I've got a weird question to ask. You haven't by chance gotten any strange messages, have you?” There. He'd asked. Kind of, anyway.
“Define strange. You're acting strange right now.” Serena glanced down at her folder pile, then set her inquisitive gaze back on him again. She had pretty eyes. A stunning shade of dark blue. Things he'd never noticed about her before, because he'd been too busy thinking about and doing other things.
“I'm just gonna put it out there. Taryn, and now Alice, have gotten messages, along the lines of 'He's mine.'” Hell. Did she have any idea about him and Alice? Not that it mattered now, but the guilt plagued him almost as much as sending Melody to flee from Anthony over a year ago. This situation came in as a close second.
Serena scowled, crease lines forming on her forehead. “Seriously? This is like a scene from a high school movie or a ridiculous fiction book or something. I haven't gotten any messages, and before you ask, I don't send stuff like that out, either. What you do is your business.”
“I-”
“We're grown adults. I know what casual means, Chris. I'm not offended that you didn't call. I'm not crying over you. I'm not sending strange messages to past and current girlfriends, sex partners, or whatever women you have in your life.” Serena didn't even sound upset. Her voice was calm, and she didn't bat an eye.
“Ok. That's all I needed to know.” That was easy. Almost too easy. Then again, he didn't have an easy time of it lately, so her reaction surprised him.
“It's the same thing I told the cops.”
He glanced back up. “Cops?”
“Yeah. They questioned me. Like I said, it's a small town. People know your stuff. Sometimes you don't know they know.”
An image of Taryn flashed in his mind, and how everyone seemed to know, or want to know, things about them. Like their first date. And now, when they would become a couple. He stifled a laugh. Ahh yes, small towns. It hadn't been this way too much back home. But then, living in Denver wasn't classified as a small town, either.
“You're laughing because you know first hand it's true.” She smirked, shifting her folders from one arm to the other. “Take care of yourself. I hope you figure out what you want in life. You're a good guy, Chris Roland. Just put some of that to good use.” With a wave, Serena pivoted and walked away.
Good, this was over with. “Hey, wait! I've got a quick question for you.” The spontaneous thought popped up in his mind, and he figured Serena or Blaine would have a suggestion. Since Serena was here, he'd have to ask her.
A little while later, Chris left the studio with some good information and an even better feeling. Taryn would be surprised. He couldn't wait until Wednesday. Now to find out if she was free, and if she wasn't, how he could get her to be free. If this didn't show her he meant what he said, Chris didn't know what would. He called Taryn, and when she answered, he said “I've got two questions for you. One, are you free Wednesday night, and two, are you ready to fulfill your nurse duties this weekend?”
Chapter Twenty-Six
“I really want to know where we're going that you got all dressed up for, because look at me. I'm so not dressed up.” Taryn brushed off her black pants as she darted a gaze to Chris again in the car. This man kept surprising her, and the anticipation of what tonight's plans were drove her batty!
“You consider this dressed up?” He flicked a quick glance her way, the corners of his lips curved up in a little smile.
“Yeah. Usually you're in jeans or shorts. Tonight, you're wearing slacks and a button down shirt. You also put gel or something in your hair. It's not as wild and crazy. What gives?”
“You'll see,” came his casual, non-helpful response.
“Anybody tell you you're evil?”
He shot her a smirk. “I have a younger sister. Of course I've heard that. Cut me some slack. Tomorrow, I'll be put under for my first round of donating, so I gotta have a little fun tonight.”
“Ooooh, use that against me. Sure, sure.” She chuckled. “Are you scared?”
“Me? Scared? Hell no … okay, yeah I am. So will you distract me tonight?” Chris reached for her hand.
“I'll do my best.” Her heart warmed at his touch. “Soooo, a hint?”
“No!” he tsked.
“Damn it!”
“Good thing we're almost here. I bet you were one of those kids who begged every day to know what your Christmas presents were. And I bet at least once, you unwrapped one and re-wrapped it.”
Taryn laughed. “I was the first. I'm not the best at wrapping, so no way could I get away with that much. My dad was a perfectionist. He'd know right away if someone messed with his handiwork.”
“Can I ask you something?” Chris hesitated.
“Sure.”
“Do you ever talk to your mom?”
Whoa. That was the last thin
g she expected him to ask about. A dry, bitter laugh escaped her lips. “No. She never wanted me. I mean come on, my grandparents forced her to have a baby she never wanted, and it showed. My whole damn life it showed.”
“Sorry. I guess I was just curious.”
“I know. She's a bitter subject.”
“I understand. It was me thinking about Bridgette that had me curious about your mom.”
Taryn shrugged. “She doesn't talk to me. She never made the attempt. I was probably a reminder of what happened to her.” She'd come to terms with it a long time ago.
“So tell me about your dad.”
Taryn blew out a breath. “This story gets weird ... and complicated. Do you really want to know?”
“If you're willing to tell,” he said softly.
“I didn't tell you all of the story about him. For years, what I always thought was just the neighbor who lived next door, and I used to wander off and end up at his place. After a while, he stopped bringing me back immediately. Instead, he read me stories, fed me, and we played games. Or sometimes, we'd just watch TV. When Mom turned eighteen, he struck a deal with her. He'd become my guardian and take me in, but they had to get married.”
“That doesn't sound too complicated.”
She snorted. “You wait. It's coming. I always thought it was odd. It wasn't until my mother was arrested that the truth came out.”
“He was your real father?” Chris guessed.
“Nope. That wouldn't be complicated.”
He stopped talking and rested a hand over hers.
“My mother went to prison because she went ballistic on Dad. She found out the truth about what he wanted. His brother's son was actually my father. He … it wasn't consensual.”
“Shit,” Chris hissed.
“Yeah. The man I called Dad hid this secret. Maybe his intentions were good, but I don't know. He wanted me to have a better life than what I did. He knew my mother and grandparents weren't good to me. I was only there as a punishment. When I found out why Mom went to jail and I learned all of this … that's when I really rebelled. I didn't want to be there.” To her dismay, her voice choked up. “I didn't take the news well. I knew my mother had issues, but then she went on a rampage on Dad, got drunk, robbed a store, and killed three people when she fled and crashed her car. She's been in prison ever since. It's another reason I took my accident so hard, because my mother had done the same thing, just under much different circumstances.”
Offbeat (Love and Music In Texas Book 5) Page 25