“Bye.” Dakota willed away the guilt the mention of Jason brought and glanced at Justus, half expecting to be grilled about who he was.
But all he said was, “She seems like a lady who cares for you very much.”
Dakota forced herself to head for the stairs. “Yes. She does.”
Despite her insistence that she would be just fine walking to the car, Dakota had never felt more thankful than when she sank into the warm leather seat of Justus’s BMW Z3. Her leg trembled from exhaustion, and her arm was hurting like nobody’s business.
She relaxed into the seat and scanned the interior as she waited for him to stow her crutches in the trunk and get in on his side. Burl wood accents glowed golden against the backdrop of the black leather interior. The heated seat button beckoned, and she clicked it to the “high” position, already feeling a bit of a chill after leaving the warm blankets of her hospital bed. Hopefully it wouldn’t take too long to heat up after he turned on the car.
She scanned the sky outside, amazed at the beautiful day. No one experiencing today would ever think that just a few hours ago the wind had been howling so ferociously that it had knocked a tree over on her house. Cloudless blue skies. Slight breezes. Sunshine. Weak December sunshine, but sunshine nevertheless. It was like a new blank page. A new opportunity. Maybe something better would come from all of this? She sighed.
Okay, Lord. We’ll rebuild. One day at a time. One life at a time. Give me the strength I’m going to need to get the job done.
Justus sank into the driver’s seat and glanced over at her. Once again she was taken aback by the azure blue of his eyes. She tipped her head against the headrest and worked her teeth over her lower lip. Cons, Dakota, cons! He’s an adrenaline junky who spent time in jail for who knows what. And just look at this car. It might have four wheels, but if ever a car revealed something about the personality of its driver, this is it. No. He was definitely not the type of man she wanted to get into a relationship with again, no matter how much her fingers itched to reach out and touch the prickly, thick five o’clock shadow on his cheeks.
His gaze roamed her features, lingering on the spot where she knew a line of black stitches etched the skin near her temple. “You don’t look like you got much rest this morning.”
She wrinkled her nose and made a face, taking a fortifying breath at the reminder of just how terrible she must look. “Nor a shower. Nor clean clothes. I’m a mess. Do you think we could stop by the house on our way out to Serenity Shores Bed and Breakfast and grab some of my things? I just have to call, and they’ll have an officer meet us there. Riley said anytime was fine with her.”
He looked dubious. “Why don’t you let me run you out to Reece’s place and then I can come back in and grab some stuff for you?”
The thought of having Justus fetching her clean underwear burned embarrassment across the back of her neck. “Um, I’d rather just stop there myself, if you don’t mind. It’s on the way and will only take a few minutes.”
He sighed. “Like I said…stubborn runs thick in your veins.”
She couldn’t help a giggle. “My daddy used to say they put my picture in the dictionary next to ‘pigheaded.’” The fingernails of her good hand bit into her palm. What had made her simper like a teenager in love for the first time? It must be the exhaustion making her giddy.
Humor softened the concern tightening his features. “I’ll have to remember that.” He sat back and inserted the key. “Make the call.”
She eased out a breath of satisfaction. “Thank you.”
He grinned. “I bet you didn’t often have to fight very hard to get your way either, did you?”
She pursed her lips and thought back to her childhood on the mission field in Africa. “Guess not too often. Why?”
He laughed outright then. “Because any man looking into your big blue eyes would sooner melt into a puddle than deny you a thing.”
Alarm shot through her. However she forced a smile and when he looked over and offered a crooked grin, batted her eyelashes with great fanfare.
But as he pulled out of the hospital parking lot she turned her focus to the scenery out her passenger window and buttoned down all the heartache that had just threatened to explode all over everything. No way could Justus know the memories those few words had jostled loose. Neither could he know it had been her begging and pleading that had led Jason straight to his own death.
And almost to hers.
Chapter 3
Justus berated himself as he pulled the car to a stop in front of House of Hope. He didn’t know what he’d said, but he’d obviously said something wrong, because the normally talkative Dakota hadn’t said a word since they left the hospital parking lot.
Now she clipped out, “The officer should be here any minute.”
He glanced over at her, but she hadn’t budged, so he peered out the windows toward the house, not wanting to push her by asking what the matter was.
Caution tape cordoned off most of the yard. And it looked like a crew had been by to remove the tree, based on the lack of protruding branches and the huge swath of plastic sheeting tied over the gaping hole in the roof.
She clicked her fingernails against the cast on her right arm, tapping out a rhythm reminiscent of the “William Tell Overture.”
Finally he reached over and stilled her nervousness.
Her gaze leapt to his.
He tried not to notice how good her slender fingers felt beneath his own, because a relationship with a woman, no matter how beautiful and enticing she might be, was the last thing he needed in his life right now with the mess it was in – even if he hadn’t been able to think of much for the past two weeks other than how he was looking forward to seeing her. “I’m sorry.”
A furrow ticked her brow. “For what?”
He released her hand and eased back to his own side of the vehicle. “I’m not sure. I think I said something that upset you.”
She shook her head. “It wasn’t you….” Her words trailed off, and her focus blurred against the dashboard for so long he was just about to reach over and still her fingers once again when she seemed to shake off her melancholy. “Well, we aren’t going to get my stuff just sitting out here, are we?” She reached for her door handle.
Justus touched her shoulder. “Let me get your crutches. Sit tight.” He wanted to pry for more details, wanted to know what thoughts churned the cogs behind those beautiful blue eyes of hers. But he let her have her space and climbed from the car.
Bringing the crutches to her door, he waited till she’d swung her legs out and then reached in to grasp her good arm and pull her to her one good leg. When she was standing at full height her head came to just under his chin, despite her crazy shoes. She clutched his arm in a fireman hold to catch her balance and looked up. And he felt the power of her azure scrutiny all the way to his toes. For a moment he forgot the crutches clutched in his free hand. Her forearm was warm and smooth beneath his hand, and before he realized what he was doing he’d stroked his thumb several times across the inner pulse point at her elbow.
Dakota swallowed visibly. “Justus—” She broke off whatever she’d been about to say and tore her gaze from his, then reached for the crutches. “Why were you here last night? I hadn’t even heard you were back in town, yet.”
He gave himself a mental shake and stepped back, but not so far that he wouldn’t be near enough to catch her if she lost her balance. “I came a few days early, and Reece and Marie had an appointment with the pastor, so they asked me to come get you at six.”
She angled him a look. “You were there just after five.”
He shrugged and considered his response. He might as well test the waters a little. Forbidden though they might be. “Maybe I was looking forward to seeing you.”
“Right!”
“What? You don’t believe me?”
She tilted her head. Narrowed her humor-filled eyes. “You could have gotten my number from Reece at any time
and gotten in touch over the past several months. But you didn’t. And I’m supposed to believe you came by early because you wanted to see me?”
That was true enough. Did he dare admit to her the number of times he’d almost asked Reece for her contact information? He folded his arms and leaned into his heels. “Maybe I’m shy.”
She laughed and shook her head. “No.”
He couldn’t resist the smile that begged for release. “Maybe I was worried you wouldn’t take my call or respond to a text.”
“You should have been worried about that. Because I for sure would have ignored you, just so you know.” There was a hint of sass in the look she gave him. But as she tried to swing a step forward her ankle boot caught against the crutch, and with her other foot in the totally impractical high heeled shoe she started to topple.
He lunged forward and grabbed her waist, getting his shin clipped by a crutch for his trouble. He forced his lips to stretch into what he hoped she would mistake for a grin and looked down at her, arching one brow.
Her eyes were a bit wide, but other than that, she seemed fine. “Thanks.” She wrinkled her nose sheepishly.
He gave her a little space and moved the conversation back on track. “Maybe my life has been so complicated lately that there hasn’t been room in it for a relationship.” He nearly winced. He hadn’t meant to strike so close to the truth.
She frowned and seemed to ponder his words as she adjusted the crutches.
He waited till she had them settled firmly under her arms. “You good?”
She leaned into them and nodded.
He gave her a little more space, still keeping a close eye on her in case she needed help again.
“Complicated I can understand. Which brings me to what I wanted to say…”
He waited quietly, not quite sure what to feel. It might be a relief if she told him she wasn’t interested. Would certainly make things easier and less complicated.
“I wanted to say thanks again for staying with me last night. I wasn’t really feeling like myself, and I hope I didn’t make you feel obligated in any way.”
He stepped out of her path and folded his arms. He tightened his jaw, a little bit terrified over just how much it had meant to have her to reach out for him last night. He spent so much of his life being rejected by the boys he was trying to help; being let down – even horrified – by their actions. To have someone actually reach to him. Need him. Want him nearby. Well that feeling was quite unlike any other. But he couldn’t tell her all of that, because that would just sound loony. So what he said was, “I stayed because I wanted to.”
“Well… thank you. It’s just…I remember grabbing your hand and…” Her cheeks turned a pretty shade that brought to mind strawberries and cream on a warm summer day. She crutched a couple steps and glanced down the street, muttering something to herself that he didn’t quite catch.
But it reminded him of the first time he’d met her. The time she’d been talking to herself and he’d overheard her call him “calendar worthy.” He grinned at that. And just then she turned and caught his humor.
Her cheeks brightened another shade. “I’m talking to myself again, huh?”
He gave in to the urge to tease her a little. “It’s okay. I’ve learned some enlightening things while listening to you talk to yourself.”
She laughed uneasily. “Justus, I know I said…”
Her expression begged for his help, but he was having too much fun with this to let her off easy. “You said what?”
She squinched her nose at him. “You know exactly what I said, but I want you to know, that just because I said you were…nice looking, doesn’t mean I can be in a relationship right now.” The sincere set of her gaze said she hoped her gentle rejection would be taken seriously.
He eased out a breath. The words had hurt a lot more than he’d expected them to. But this was good. And what else was he to expect? He felt pretty sure Reece had told her about his time behind bars. A couple times he’d seen a hint of curiosity mixed with fear on her face as she studied him. He gave himself a mental shake. Yes, this was better. “I’m actually glad you said that, because while I also find you attractive, I wasn’t really kidding about what I said. My life is in a bit of chaos right now and it’s not really a good time for me to be in a relationship.”
Dakota eased out a silent breath. See? She’d known he was only being a nice guy who didn’t want to hurt her feelings. And what she’d said was mostly true. She really couldn’t be in a relationship right now. But it wouldn’t have hurt her feelings much if he’d at least pretended like he’d wanted a bit more than friendship from her. At least he’d said she was attractive. She’d have to live with that, she supposed.
His brows arched as he waited for her reply.
She pursed her lips and forced herself to nod like all was as she’d hoped. “Good. So…friends?” She leaned in to her crutches and held out her casted hand to him.
He stepped close and gently gripped the fingers protruding from the end of the plaster. “Friends.” His touch was more like a soft caress, as though he feared he might hurt her if he squeezed her fingers too hard.
A zing of awareness zipped up her arm and down her spine. Oh boy. Maybe the handshake had been a mistake. She tugged to be released, but instead of letting her go he moved into her personal space, maintaining his gentle grasp. And when her gaze flew to his, he grinned. “I’m going to like being your friend, Dakota Trask.”
And I’m going to be tortured to only be yours, Justus Teague.
He swept a glance toward her shoes. “As your friend can I just say for the duration of the time you are on crutches, it would probably be best to wear flat, practical shoes?” He winked.
She stretched out her leg and angled her mint suede spool heel back and forth. “What? You don’t think these are the best crutching gear?”
The squad car pulled up just then and Tom Hansen stepped from the vehicle.
Justus moved back and Dakota smiled at the Police Chief. “Hi, Chief. Couldn’t find anyone else to babysit me, huh?”
He chuckled. “Unfortunately, there was a lot of damage last night and all my officers are occupied elsewhere.” He swung a look to Justus.
Dakota pointed the end of her crutch at him. “This is Justus Teague. Justus,” she swung a gesture back toward the officer, “Chief of Police Tom Hansen.”
Justus nodded and shook the man’s hand.
The chief ambled up the walkway to the front door. “Riley coming?”
“She should be here any minute. I called her when we were leaving the hospital. Thanks for letting us in to get our stuff.”
Tom smiled at her over his shoulder. “Sure. We can’t have you ladies living without your shoe collections.”
Justus’s laughter floated on the wind. “That would be a tragedy for sure!”
Dakota chuckled and felt heat sear her cheeks. “It is true. I can’t wait to put on my Vans!”
Chapter 4
Friday morning, Dakota hobbled down the upper hallway at Serenity Shores, determined she was going to do something helpful for the wedding today, whether or not anyone protested. She was the maid of honor and supposed to be taking weight off of Marie, but for the past couple days no one had hardly let her lift a finger to help with anything.
Today they were all heading to the church to set up the final decorations for tomorrow’s ceremony, and she was going to be there even if she had to stow away in Justus’s trunk.
After they finalized the decorations, the rehearsal and dinner would take place later this evening. But first Marie and Reece had asked all their bridesmaids and groomsmen to meet with them here at Serenity Shores for a brunch. And if the smells of bacon, sausage, and green peppers wafting up the stairway were any indication, they were all in for a real treat from Darlene’s kitchen this morning.
Gripping her crutches under her casted arm, and the stair rail with the other hand, Dakota hopped down the staircase on one foot.
It would be a miracle if her right quad wasn’t twice the size of her left before her ankle healed.
“Aunt Kota!” Marie’s daughter, four-year-old Alyssa Sinclair, launched herself at Dakota’s legs the minute she came off the last step. Chubby arms wrapped her in a hug, crutches and all.
Dakota stumbled a sideways step, grateful for a wall to plant her shoulder into. “Whoa there, Superwoman! You about took me out!”
“Sorry.” Alyssa paused long enough to offer a sheepish smile before spinning on one heel to dash toward the dining room. “Come on! Grandma made breakfast!” she called over her rapidly disappearing shoulder.
“I’m coming. But I’m slower than you on a good day, and today’s not a good day.” The words were spoken to thin air, because Alyssa had already turned the corner at the end of the hallway.
Giving a little growl, she tucked the duo of speed impediments under her armpits.
“Feeling a little grumbly about our limitations are we?” Justus trotted down the stairs and paused beside her.
Even after two days of telling herself he only wanted to be her friend, her pulse still spiked every time he walked into the room. She bit back her frustration over that fact and tried not to look as grumpy as she felt. “My armpits hurt,” she groused.
He tilted her a look of sympathy. “Today’s the last day, right? The doctor said you are allowed to walk down the aisle tomorrow?”
She wished he’d be a little less compassionate. It would make it easier on her heart. She gave him a sour look. “Sure, I get to waddle like a penguin down the aisle at my best friend’s wedding. Oh joy!”
He chuckled and scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck, studying her. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your bright outlook on life.”
Song of the Surf (Pacific Shores Book 3) Page 4