Getting up on his knees so he could see over the bike, he slipped Toni a look and noticed a faint blush on her cheeks.
“No. I mean, it was fun dancing with my friends, but…” She shrugged again and didn’t finish.
His eyes narrowed. “Somebody give you a hard time?”
There was that shrug again. “Nah. It’s stupid. This guy…”
Again, she hesitated, but Nic had heard the magic word. “What guy?” he said through clenched teeth.
She sighed, “Tim Patterson,” then shot a look toward the door. It remained closed. She must’ve seen what she wanted because she continued. “He asked me to dance.”
Okay, that didn’t sound too bad. “And?”
“Oh, never mind.”
It took a huge effort, but he said, “Okay” and returned to the nut. He’d discovered this tactic with Janey. If he waited long enough, she’d eventually tell him everything. He just had to be patient. As patient as he could be, anyway. He never seemed to have enough. Just look what had happened with Annie—
“It’s just… I don’t know how to dance with a guy.”
The defensive tone of her voice bit right through to his soul. Damn and double damn. If Nino had been alive, he would’ve taught her to dance. It’s one of those things dads did with daughters.
Nic had two left feet. But if Toni wanted to learn how to dance, he’d find a way to teach her. He’d watched her take her first steps, helped her ride her first bike. The only thing he hadn’t been able to do was save her father.
Careful not to show anything other than casual interest, he stood. “Want me to practice with you?”
The look Toni gave him radiated pure joy, making him smile in return.
Then she shrugged and tried to downplay it. “Sure, if you don’t mind.”
Walking over to the CD player on the counter, he wiped oil from his hands with a rag and dug around for what he wanted. When he found it, he popped out AC/DC in the middle of “Hell’s Bells” and put in Led Zeppelin.
“Come on. Let’s see if I even remember how.”
***
“Hey, Annie, you seen Nic today?”
Jimmy stood in her office doorway, his normally cheerful expression clouded with concern.
“No, I haven’t.”
As a matter of fact, she’d barely seen him all week. He hadn’t been into the office on Monday or Tuesday as he been finishing up the case with the deadbeat dad. And Wednesday and Thursday, she’d been busy helping Grace track down a runaway wife.
Annie had never thought she’d be any good at investigation, not the way the DeMarco clan was. She believed they had it built into their DNA. But she’d discovered she actually liked helping with the cases, at least as much as she could do. Which wasn’t more than doing a few computer searches.
Still, doing a few little things helped Grace clear out time for more important things.
Like tracking down a naïve young woman who’d been snowed by a con man so she could marry the man who actually loved her.
Lifting her fingers from her keyboard, she felt a little ball of lead start to form in her stomach at the concern evident on Jimmy’s face. “Is something wrong?”
He hesitated then smiled, though she could tell he’d forced it. “Nah. Nothing important. But if he calls in, tell him I want to talk to him, okay?”
“Jimmy, wait.”
He stopped and turned but couldn’t hold her gaze. Then she knew something was up.
Even though she and Jimmy were close, she’d never taken advantage of their friendship the way she was about to. “What’s going on?”
An indiscernible look in his pale blue-green eyes, Jimmy leaned against the doorjamb, running a hand through shaggy black hair. “What do you mean? There’s nothing going on.”
Bingo. Jimmy always fiddled with his hair when he lied. It’s why he’d never make a decent investigator.
Nic barely ever showed any weakness.
She stood and put her hands on her hips. “Cut the crap. I overheard Nic on the phone the other night. I know he’s got something going on that’s got him freaked. And Nic doesn’t do freaked.”
She’d surprised Jimmy. He wasn’t able to cover his emotions as well as Nic. And she had a right to know what was going on, especially if it concerned her at all. She worked here, too. His parents trusted her enough to hire her. And damn it, she was worried about Nic.
Jimmy lips twitched, as if he wanted to smile then thought better of it. “It’s not my story to tell. I’m sorry, Annie.”
She huffed, but she hadn’t really expected Jimmy to cough up anything important. Nic was his brother, after all. And family loyalty was everything to the DeMarcos. If Nic didn’t want anyone else to know what was going on, Jimmy would slit his own throat before blabbing.
At least Jimmy looked sorry. “So do you know where he is?”
She sighed and nodded. “He left me a voice mail, said he’d be at the garage.”
Jimmy’s smile returned. “So would you mind doing a little errand for me?”
CHAPTER 7
Music leaked from every corner of DeMarco Garage.
Annie heard it the second she left her air-conditioned car and stepped into an unusually hot early May afternoon. Her cap-sleeved sweater and linen skirt immediately clung to her back and legs.
A closed sign hung in the window of one of the bay doors, but the music belied someone’s presence. She saw no one in the office to the right of the bays, so she walked around the side.
Finding an unlocked door, she pushed through.
Throbbing guitars and a harsh scream heralded her arrival. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust from the harsh sunlight to the dim interior. The only lights shining were those on the far side of the building, and a pickup truck on a lift, minus its wheels, obscured her immediate view.
Threading between wheeled carts and heavy machinery, she walked around the truck and caught her breath at the sight in front of her. Before she knew what she was doing, she took a few steps back. Didn’t want to disturb them.
Nic led a young girl with a long dark ponytail around a bare spot on the concrete floor. The girl watched her sneaker-clad feet more than Nic, but when she looked up, the expression on her face was nothing short of worshipful.
Annie couldn’t help a small smile. Nic must be immune to that look by now. He’d certainly gotten it enough from her when she’d been around this girl’s age.
And she had to be family. She had the distinctive dark hair and DeMarco nose. Jimmy was the only DeMarco she knew who hadn’t inherited that nose. She’d bet this was Toni, Nino’s daughter.
Holding the girl loosely in his arms, Nic walked her in a slow circle in time to the music, trying to lead her. The top of Toni’s head had several inches to go before it met Nic’s chin and her left hand barely reached his shoulder. Both were dressed in ragged jeans—cutoffs for Toni—and holey t-shirts covered with grease.
To a woman who usually dated guys in thousand dollar suits, Nic was the sexiest man she’d ever known.
If he turned and looked at her now, she’d never be able to hide just how much she wanted him.
But Nic never took his eyes off of Toni and he wore a smile she’d only ever seen him give Janey. When she was younger, Annie had lived for the day he’d flash one at her.
He never had.
Instead, he’d kissed her like she’d only dreamed about and made her wish for so much more than a smile.
She wanted his hands all over her body, wanted to strip him naked and climb on top of him and ride him until they were both sweaty and out of breath and pushed to the brink of orgasm.
Just thinking about them in bed…or a couch or, hell, on top of a desk…made it hard for her to breathe.
Hitching in a deep breath, she tried desperately not to sigh. And failed.
Somehow, Nic heard her. His dark blue gaze arrowed straight to where she stood, half hidden by the truck.
She immediately straighte
ned as Nic brought Toni to a stop. She couldn’t tell if he was angry. He didn’t look angry. He looked…sad and happy at the same time. He’d been smiling at the girl, but his eyes… Oh, those eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
And that voice. Raspy and deep.
“I…” She took another breath to compose herself. “Nothing. I’m sorry to interrupt, but Jimmy had something for you. I said I’d deliver it on my way home.”
She held out the large manila envelope Jimmy had given her. She’d never have opened it, but she couldn’t help wondering what was in it.
Nic’s expression tightened but he didn’t reach for the envelope.
Toni looked from Nic to the envelope to Annie, her expression as curious as only a pre-teen’s could be. And when she looked at Annie, that curiosity turned to faint jealousy.
I know exactly how you feel, sweetheart. Been there, done that.
Annie smiled at her. “Hello. I’m Annie Reed. You must be Toni. I’ve heard a lot about you from your cousins.” Annie offered her hand. She’d always hated the way adults had addressed her as a child, with pats on the head and condescending smiles.
Toni took her hand immediately. “Nice to meet you, Miss Reed. Do you work for Aunt Grace and Uncle Frank?”
“Yes, I do. And please call me Annie. I’m sorry to interrupt, but,” she directed this at Nic, “Jimmy thought you’d want to see this right away. He said he didn’t have time to bring it over himself.”
Nic nodded but still made no move to take it. Instead, he said, “Toni and I seem to be having a little communication problem with this lesson. I think we need a professional’s help.”
Professional, huh? Well, she was by no means a professional, and frankly, she’d had no idea Nic knew she danced. Janey must have told him.
“Do you teach dance?” Toni expression lightened a little.
“No, but I’ve been dancing all my life. Ballet until I was nineteen, then I got into ballroom dancing. So, what sort of problem are you having?”
Toni snorted loudly. “Nic’s not all that good.”
Nic shrugged, but the smile he gave the girl was indulgent. “Yeah, well, I was born without the dancing gene. Sue me.”
Toni’s upper lip curl was worthy of Elvis. “Two left feet and absolutely no rhythm. He’s got no clue.”
Annie watched the banter between the two of them and couldn’t believe the jealousy she had to beat back. Awful as it sounded, she envied Nic’s young cousin and the easy camaraderie they shared.
“So, can you help us out?”
Nic’s question snapped her back to the conversation. The DeMarcos looked at her with identical expressions of expectation. They could have passed for father and daughter.
Swallowing hard, Annie put on a smile and walked over to Toni.
“What kind of dancing are we talking about? Your basic boy-girl dance or are you looking for something with a little more…energy?”
Toni sucked in her bottom lip. “Slow dancing.”
Annie nodded gravely. “That can be tricky. But really it’s just a matter of moving to the music, getting into rhythm with your partner. Do you like to dance?”
Toni nodded. “Yeah. Everybody says I get that from my dad. Mom said he loved to dance.”
Toni had never met her father. He’d died before Nic had been able to save him. “Then that’s all you need. Come stand in front of me.”
Toni moved to face her with a wry expression. “You’re not gonna get all ‘Dirty Dancing’ on me, are you?”
Annie grinned. “Only if you promise not to subject me to any more Zeppelin. Got anything from this decade, Nic?”
His slow smile made the air drag in her lungs. “I think I can dig up something appropriate. Hang on.”
Beating back the sudden need to throw herself at him, she focused on Toni and shook out her arms. “The key to dancing is not stiffening up. Don’t lock your knees or your arms. Start out simply swaying to the music.”
A slow-paced Dave Matthews Band song streamed from the CD player, and she flashed a smile at Nic, whose intent expression sent her pulse pounding.
Ooh-kay. “Nic, come over here and let’s try this again.”
He didn’t obey immediately. Instead, he walked to the sink along the wall to wash and dry his hands. Then he reached for the back of his filthy t-shirt with one hand and pulled it over his head.
Her breath stuttered in her chest.
Oh my god.
She’d known he was ripped but she’d never seen him without a shirt, at least not in the last five years.
What a crime against women to cover that body with anything at all.
She tried not to let her mouth drop open and practically had to bite her tongue. Thank god he didn’t seem to notice as he reached for a clean shirt. By the time he’d pulled it over his head and started walking back toward her and Toni, she’d managed to school her features. Hopefully.
Then he stopped in front of her, gaze locked on hers. “I think Toni could use a demonstration first.”
Annie swore her blood thickened. When he looked at her like that, the world could stop and she’d never notice because nothing else mattered. Not their history. Not the fact that she’d spent years telling herself she hated him.
He looked at her with those navy blue eyes and she wanted to drown in him. Instead, she took the hand he held out without a word and let him draw her into the circle of his arms.
But not close enough. She knew part of that had to do with the fact that he didn’t want her to brush against his filthy jeans.
But honestly, she couldn’t care if he was covered with grease from head to toe. She’d gladly throw away her ruined clothes just to press herself against him. But they did have an audience.
So she let him hold her at a distance.
Beggars can’t be choosers, can they?
She placed her left hand on his shoulder as he put his right hand on her hip. Then Nic started to move in a slow waltz. Annie let him lead, years of training allowing her to follow his every move perfectly even while her brain was disconnected. He wasn’t a great dancer—too stiff—but that didn’t matter. For years, she’d longed to be right here, in his arms.
Drawing in a deep breath, she let his scent seep into her system—a hint of spice, motor oil and pure Nic.
She would’ve let him lead her around that garage all day and night until she fell over from exhaustion.
That’s how much she wanted him. How far gone she was over him. She could admit to herself, at the very least, that she’d never really gotten over him.
He stared into her eyes, that steady blue gaze hypnotizing, and she nearly stumbled.
“Easy, hon.” His voice brushed against her skin, raising goosebumps. “I’m the one with two left feet, remember?”
“Sorry.” She shook her head, not wanting to shake off his spell but knowing Toni watched their every move. “Lost my rhythm for a second.”
Easing away, she noticed how Nic’s hand tightened on hers for just a second before he released her. With a deep breath, she motioned for Toni to trade places.
As the girl stepped up to Nic, she saw Nic’s expression transform. He’d looked at Janey the same way ever since Annie had known him. Unconditional love. Gentle, teasing but rock-solid.
It made her fall just a little more in love with the man. And boy, did that just bite.
“Don’t stiffen up, kid,” Nic said to Toni. “This isn’t punishment.”
Toni laughed and they began to trade jibes as they moved in a small circle. Nic got Toni to loosen up until they finally found a rhythm. As it turned out, the girl was a natural and, with instruction, she could really be a wonderful dancer.
“Have you ever considered taking classes, Toni?” Annie asked as she and Nic continued through another song. “You have real grace and the studio where I study has all different types of classes.”
Toni shrugged, but her eyes widened with interest as she and Nic finally came to a stop.
“Sure, I could look into it. I’d have to ask my mom, though.”
Nic nudged Toni. “So you think you got this down, kid?”
Toni nodded, smiling. “Yeah, I think so.” She flashed a quick look up at Annie. “Um, thanks for the dance lesson.”
“No problem, Toni. It was very nice to meet but I should probably get going.”
Nic watched Annie turn toward him, her expression hard to decipher. Then she smiled her patented “Everything’s fine” smile. He was really starting to hate that smile.
“I’ll walk you to the door.” He turned to Toni, who continued to watch them with the eyes of a baby hawk. “Hey, smart girl, see if you can get that nut off for me. Be right back.”
He waved a hand toward the door where Annie had entered and fell into step beside her. “Thanks for bringing that over. You didn’t have to make a special trip. Hope we didn’t make you late for something.”
Annie shook her head but didn’t look up. “No problem, but I’ve really got to get going.”
She was running and he didn’t like that she was running from him. Why wouldn’t she meet his gaze? What the hell had happened between dancing in his arms and now?
They reached the door and Annie was ready to push through before he stopped her.
“Annie—”
His cell rang and pulled it out while still holding onto her with his other hand. Blocked number.
Shit.
Annie’s gaze narrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t go. Wait. Just a minute.” He answered the phone. “DeMarco.”
“She’s beautiful,” the electronically distorted voice said. “And she looks so lovely in blue, don’t you think? You don’t deserve her.”
Sonuvabitch.
CHAPTER 8
The guy had eyes on him.
Pulling Annie back into the garage, Nic shut the door. His expression must have scared her into silence because she didn’t say a word.
“Who the hell is this?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually, Dominic. But until then, it’ll be fun to watch you squirm. You can’t be with her 24/7, can you? So you’ll wonder every second of every day if she’s safe. Because I know what you don’t want anyone else to know. I know how much she means to you. When I hurt her, it’ll kill you.”
Spice Box; Sixteen Steamy Stories Page 121