by JoAnna Grace
“I’m sorry.” She wished she’d never even brought it up.
He shook his head. “It’s my own fault. I trained for years on how to avoid fighting, how to defend not offend, and all that training went out the window in a moment of anger.”
“He was hurting your mother, Bo.”
Hard eyes met hers. “And I could’ve rendered him unable to do so quickly…without causing him a hospital visit.” He examined the bag of chips in his lap. “I lost control and that brought shame to my teachers and my dojo. I’m out.”
Tina treaded lightly, but she wanted to see how far he would let her dig. “Do you miss it?”
“Every day.”
“Did you want to hurt him?”
“Yes.” Bo took drink of his water. “Keep asking questions, but be sure you really want the answers.”
She didn’t back down from his threats. His answers didn’t scare her. “Do you hate your mother?”
He shook his head. “I don’t hate anyone. I’d be perfectly content never seeing her face again, though. I have Nan and she’s all the family I need.”
Tina leaned over and touched his knee. “You have me.”
Bo lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. “Then I have more than I need and much more than I deserve.”
He could make her heart rate spike faster than anything she’d ever experienced. “Teach me something. I’ll be your student.”
Bo’s eyes lit with a spark of something that had her thighs clenching together. To think she’d thought for so long he was unexpressive. She just hadn’t been paying attention. Bo expressed everything in his eyes.
They hopped off the back of the truck.
“Can you throw a punch or twist out of a choke-hold? Every woman needs to know how to break the nose of a pervert if necessary.”
“Seriously?” She put her hands on her waist and leaned on a hip.
“All right, Mighty Mouse. Show me what you got besides nail guns.” He waved her forward.
Tina braced her feet, bent slightly at the knees and raised her fists. Looking him right in the eye, she swung.
Had he not been a damn trained martial arts master, she might have whopped him a good one. She had force, a good arc, and she didn’t hold back. He was fast and prepared to block her. The expression of shock on his face was a welcome sight. “Nice. Okay. Good. Kick me.”
Her kicks, not so much, and she didn’t mind laughing at herself. They spent the morning dueling. He taught her some beginner moves, basic self-defense. Each time he got her close enough, he kissed or nipped at her or blew raspberries against her skin. He moved with grace, almost dancing around her with dexterity that amazed her. With each spin or twist, he showed her exactly how he’d earned his belts and his awards.
After the lesson, they played like young kids, playing fetch with Dixie, splashing about, and trying to catch each other in the lake. Tina hadn’t had this much fun in years. It was rare for her to let go of the responsibilities that weighed on her constantly. Usually, her brain was always in the next work week, mentally distracted by all the tasks ahead and plotting them out. Yet all her thoughts were right there in the moment. She focused on the incredible man in front of her and was able to relax more than she had in far too long. Bo swam over and closed the distance between them. He pulled her into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist. She nuzzled his neck and closed her eyes, loving the way their bodies felt together and finally having the freedom to touch him as she wanted.
“Can we stay just like this for the rest of the day?” He kissed her hair and held her close. “I haven’t been this content in a long time, Tina.”
That rawness in him, the way he put all his cards on the table, sometimes took the air right out of her. No games. No hidden agenda, just pure, honest, down and dirty truth.
“Me, too.” And it scares me. No man had ever owned her, ever tamed her or controlled her. Bo could do it all and ruin her defenses in the process.
Bo’s strong arms locked her to his hard, hot chest. “You’re overthinking things. Stop.”
Tina clenched her eyes closed. She wasn’t used to being this honest with a man. For the first time in her relationship history, she spit out exactly what she was thinking. “I’m afraid we’re going to lose this on Monday morning.”
“We won’t. Trust me.” It was a command, one made with the authority of a man who owned his woman. “I’ve wanted you in my arms since the first time I laid eyes on you and I’ve worked for you just fine.”
Tina pulled back. She touched his cheek. “You say that now. What happens when I make you mad at work? Will you take it out on me afterhours? Or if something happens and we break—”
“Don’t say it.” He touched her lips and her heart kicked over. “Get this straight now. Either you’re mine or you’re not. It’s all or nothing. You’ll trust me and surrender your heart, or we aren’t doing this. I’m not going to be like these other pricks you’ve dated where you keep your distance and only come around when you feel like it.”
“Is that what you want,” she whispered, swallowing hard. “My surrender?” Tina took a deep breath when he nodded and stared at her lips. “What if I want you to surrender to me?”
“I will, every moment we’re on the jobsite. Just like I do now, boss.” Those delicious lips pulled back in the corners and melted her into a puddle of goo.
Tina pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes at him. “We’ll see, Bo Galloway. I think you might just surprise me.”
“I will.” Bo sprang up and jumped backwards, sending them flying back into the water. Tina yelped and came up laughing. She splashed him, loving his tendency to be full of surprises.
There was a part of her, a huge part, that just wanted to fall into him like she fell into the lake—free and uninhibited. To let Bo deeper into her heart than she’d ever let anyone. If she did that, he would have the ability to break her so easily.
She’d been betrayed. She’d walked up on a man she thought loved her to find him with another woman. As much as she hid behind her antics and pride, Steven had broken her heart. Behind closed doors, she’d cried her eyes out and cursed herself for being young and stupid and naive.
Maybe Bo would be different. Maybe not. Maybe she would fall even harder and hurt even deeper. Or maybe she would fall and find love they wrote songs about.
Four words kept coming to mind as they spent the day together. He’s worth the risk.
ABOUT TWO THAT AFTERNOON, he made a phone call to his grandmother to check in with her. He usually called every day so this was nothing new. With the phone on speaker, his asked his beloved Nan how her day was going and if she needed anything.
“I’m fine, Bo darling. Are you having a nice time?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bo replied. Tina, however, wanted to tell her all the details. Bo leaned back on the truck and settled in.
“How about you kids come here for dinner?” Nan suggested. “I put a huge roast in the slow cooker this morning and it’s nearly falling apart, smells wonderful.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“That would be great.” Tina’s face lit up. “We have to drop off Dixie. Do you want me to pick up some salad? Maybe some garlic bread?” They then had a conversation about the menu for the evening and why Tina’s dad couldn’t join them. That flowed into talking about the fishing season and how Nan wanted Bo to work on her old boat so they could take a trip upriver.
Bo held the phone out so the two most important women in his life could chitchat. Damn, the women could talk. It was pleasing that they conversed so easily and seemed to get along. That would make his life better—right up until they ganged up on him.
“She’s great.” Tina smiled when Bo hung up the phone. “Really chatty, huh?”
Bo’s head fell backward as he barked out a laugh. “Pot, meet kettle.” He wiggled his phone at her.
Tina’s mouth hung open. “Are you saying I talk too much?” The glimmer of challenge in her eyes and the way she
licked at her lips made him happier than he ever thought possible. He adored her playful side.
“No.” He chuckled. “Not too much. You can talk, though.” He put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. “I like it. All I have to do is listen.”
“Well, you’re a man of few words. Someone has to pick up the slack or we’d sit in silence all day.” Her justified haughtiness made him smile. “I’m surprised you don’t get sick of me talking at work.”
“Actually, you sing all day. That never gets old.” Even though they’d been swimming, when he nuzzled her hair, he could scent her shampoo.
Tina smiled up at him, her hand settled on his cheek. “Why don’t we run back to my place and clean up?”
Bo nodded and used his shirt to dry off. When he turned to help Tina down, she had this look in her eyes. He couldn’t place it. “What?”
“I’ve had fun today.” She pushed her hair behind her ears, a sexy blush painted her cheeks red.
“Surprised?” He rested his hands on her thighs as she sat on the tailgate.
“No. I knew beneath that quiet exterior you were a total nutcase.” She smiled and Bo leaned in. Tina didn’t hesitate to kiss him, which was good. She needed to get used to him touching and kissing her at will.
He swiped his tongue into her mouth and moved in between her thighs then buried his hands in her hair, angling her head to deepen their kiss. Her mouth was pure heaven, warm and lush, bitable. The way she sighed and wiggled her body to the edge of the tailgate to get closer to him just ramped up his desire. She was right there with him, needing but not knowing how much to take.
“Damn, baby,” he mumbled against her neck. His hips nestled between hers, heat coming off of her in waves. “I haven’t even touched you and you’re burning up.” He brought her leg up over his hip, opening her thighs wider. His large hand traveled up the back of her thigh, cupping her bottom under the frayed shorts. Tina gripped his shoulders and neck. Everywhere she touched went up in flames.
“Well, I’m a bit attracted to you,” she panted.
“What’s a bit?” He nibbled on her ear and lightly nipped at her neck. All the while, he kept his hips aligned with hers. There was no way she could mistake his arousal.
“Enough that I’m dry-humping your leg like a damn Chihuahua. We have to separate. This is ridiculous.”
He dropped his forehead against her shoulder and his whole body shook with laughter, which made her giggle, too. “You’ll say anything, won’t you? No shame, no filter.”
“Honest to a fault, that’s what Daddy says. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. You make me laugh.”
“And you make me…dizzy.” She fanned herself.
“Good.” He wanted to keep her wanting and needing. It took time to bridle a filly and he was a patient man.
NAN HAD SET OUT her best dishes and made up the table by the time Bo and Tina arrived. Tina was freshly showered, but he needed to run upstairs to change into dry clothes. When he came back down, Tina and Nan were in the kitchen laughing like old pals. He leaned against the doorjamb and watched their interaction. Tina was so damned lovable, how could his Nan resist? He hadn’t, not from day one.
The ladies lifted the lid of the crock pot and Tina bragged on how great the roast smelled.
“You know, it takes a lot of food to keep that grandson of mine fed. But I don’t mind. It’s been so long since I’ve had someone to cook for and God knows he didn’t get good food in—” Nan paused and cast a glance to Tina.
“It’s okay, Nan. He told me everything.”
“He did?” That surprised his grandmother. She placed a hand over her heart. “Well, you must be one special young lady.”
“I hope that’s what it means. I’m pretty crazy about him.” Tina bit her lip and tilted her head, almost like asking permission.
Her declaration knocked the wind out of his chest. She cared enough to confide in the one person who mattered most in his world. This morning Bo had faced her father, and now Tina had faced Nan. Parental approval—check.
Nan smiled and took Tina by the shoulders. “My cup runneth over.”
They noticed Bo standing there and Tina instantly came to his arms. “I’m pretty crazy about you too, baby,” he said in her ear.
“All right, lovebirds. Let’s eat.” Nan brought the roast to the table.
Their dinner was fantastic; the food and the company. Tina and Nan were an unending stream of conversation and laughter. He fell more in love with both of them as the night went on. They finished the meal, played a couple rounds of cards, even whipped up some brownies before they decided to call it a night.
Nan kissed and hugged Tina, begging her to come back soon.
“I will. This was fun, Nan.”
“Don’t wait up.” Bo kissed his grandmother’s temple and hugged her close.
“You two kids use protection, okay. I want great-grandbabies, but y’all need to get married first.”
“For real? You just had to go there, oh my God.” Bo stood dumbfounded and completely mortified. Tina nearly fell off the porch laughing.
Nan put her fists on her slender hips. “You’re spending the night with a wonderful young lady after four years in the slammer. Do I look stupid to you?”
“No, ma’am.” Bo shook his head and hurried off the porch. He grabbed Tina—who practically brayed with laughter—and tugged her to the truck.
They were both chuckling as he drove her home. Tina scooted over on the bench seat until she was right under his arm. Her head rested on his chest. “I absolutely adore that woman,” she said, kissing him on the cheek.
“She’s a damn riot.” He rolled his eyes with affection. Nan was one of a kind for sure.
“You’re lucky to have her.”
“I know.” He smiled down at her. “What happened to your mother?”
Tina snuggled closer. “She died right after I was born. She had a blood disease. Daddy says it’s a miracle she even carried me. They both knew it would be tricky, but Mom wanted a baby so bad and as much as Daddy hated to risk her, he hated to deny her even more.”
“He knew his wife might die and he let her get pregnant anyway?” That blew his mind. What was wrong with her father? How does a person find something so beautiful and then throw it away? Then again, Bo would give Tina the moon and stars if she asked for it.
“My mom wasn’t going to live a long life anyway, Bo. Eventually the disease would’ve killed her. Then who would my father have? He says Heaven had to trade angels.”
“Not that I’m complaining about his choice, but if I had to choose between my wife and a child that may or may not exist…” He shook his head. “Don’t know if I could make the right decision.”
“I honestly don’t know if I could either but like you said, I’m not complaining. I rather like this whole existing gig.”
“I like your existing gig, too.” He pulled her close and kissed her head. How the hell had he gotten so lucky? He put in applications at other businesses in town and yet the billboard advertising Foster Construction had called out to him, caught his attention immediately. He’d searched the internet for other companies that were actively hiring, which Foster’s wasn’t, but a small voice in the back of his mind told him to try. With a little phone call from his praying grandmother and some divine intervention, he’d gone with his gut.
He rubbed his cheek against her soft, blonde hair. Thank God, he’d listened.
Tina’s house was dark when they arrived and went straight to the side of the building where a tall staircase led to her second story entrance.
“I don’t use this entrance often, but if you ever come over and don’t want to disturb my dad, you can come this way.”
“Like if I want to sneak into your bed in the middle of the night?”
Her eyes danced with mischief. “Exactly.”
The industrial, loft-style apartment was massive. The lower level of the metal building held the offices, Duane’
s two-bedroom home, and a garage. The second story was all one big open space with the exception of the bedroom and bathroom in the corner.
“Wow. This is big.”
“Twenty-two hundred open square feet.” Tina set her bag and keys down on a table by the door. “This was the old cannery. Fruits and produce came in from the fields, were packed up in here, and sent down river.”
Her design style married corrugated tin walls, brick, and stainless steel. Recycled barn wood framed her office area straight ahead of him. A stainless steel kitchen lined the west wall to his left. The long island featured the sink and a row of bar stools on the opposite side. Two brown leather sectionals created a U shaped seating area facing a giant flat screen and entertainment center to his right. Bo went to check out the brick that covered the entire south wall behind the television.
“It’s tile. Thin. But it looks like real brick, right?” She grazed her hands over the wall.
“Did you lay it yourself?”
She nodded, proud. “Dad and I did everything ourselves.”
“Not surprising. You can do anything, I swear.”
“Pot, meet kettle,” she said, throwing his words back at him.
“I’ve had an amazing teacher the last couple months.” Bo took her into his arms and smiled down at her.
She linked her hands behind his head, “Would you like a drink?”
Bo nodded. He tried to act otherwise, but he was nervous as hell to be in her home. This was her personal space, not the jobsite. For months, he’d watched her disappear after work and now he was getting to peek behind the curtains and see her sanctuary.
“Beer or something stronger?” She opened an armoire that acted as her bar, her fully stocked bar.
“Drink much?” he teased.
She elbowed him in the ribs. “I happen to have a lot of visitors who enjoy the gaming center and bar, thank you very much.”
“Men type visitors?” Bo growled, his territorial streak coming out.
Tina raised a single brow. “Jealous?”