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Chapter no 9 – A NEIGHBORLY COCKBLOCKING

Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout Series, 2)

Nash

I flipped the bird to my federal shadow in the parking lot, dropped Piper off at my place, and then grudgingly headed next door. Linaโ€™s door loomed in front of me like a castle wall. There was music coming from inside. Something with a driving beat. Something that said โ€œBeware: Angry

Woman.โ€ I hesitated for a second, then knocked hard.

The door swung open almost immediately, and I blinked in surprise when Mrs. Tweedy appeared in the doorway. She was holding her usual evening glass of bourbon on the rocks and dressed in her usual uniform of workout tights, tunic, and frosty pink lipstick. Her white hair was tall and poufy, adding another four inches to her five foot even frame.

I checked the apartment number, wondering how in the hell Iโ€™d knocked on the wrong door.

โ€œWell, if it isnโ€™t Studly Do-Right,โ€ she said in her southern twang. The ice in her glass clinked merrily.

2B. Right next door to my place. I hadnโ€™t gotten the wrong place. Mrs.

Tweedy was answering the wrong door. โ€œLina here?โ€ I asked.

โ€œNope. Iโ€™m breaking and entering. Wanna cuff me?โ€ She held up her hands, wrists together, and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

January Tweedy was feisty enough at 76 that I shuddered to think what sheโ€™d been like as a teenager.

Lina appeared in the doorway behind her and I breathed a sigh of relief. โ€œWhat can I do for you, Chief ?โ€ Lina asked. Her tone was icy. โ€œDo you

need to know what I had for lunch today? A list of every person Iโ€™ve spoken to since I got here?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m on that list. Weโ€™re BFFFs,โ€ Mrs. Tweedy piped up. โ€œBFFFs?โ€ I repeated.

โ€œBest fuckinโ€™ friends forever,โ€ she said. โ€œYou got a problem with Lina here? Youโ€™ve got a bigger problem with me. Oh, also I need you to stop by and fish my watch out of the garbage disposal again.โ€

Linaโ€™s lips quirked. But all amusement vanished when she caught me looking at her.

โ€œMrs. Tweedy, if you let me speak to Lina in private, Iโ€™ll stop by after to get your watch out of the sink.โ€

โ€œAnd hang my new shower curtain.โ€

โ€œAnother new shower curtain? What the hell happened to the last one?โ€ She took a rebellious sip of bourbon. โ€œThat sounds like a no to me,

donโ€™t it, Lina?โ€

โ€œIt sure wasnโ€™t a yes,โ€ she agreed.

โ€œFine. Watch and shower curtain. Now go away,โ€ I said.

Mrs. Tweedy patted me on the cheek. โ€œYouโ€™re a good boy, Nash. Try not to leave your head up your ass for too long. Sooner or later, the conditionโ€™s permanent.โ€ She turned to Lina. โ€œSee you at the gym tomorrow morning. Bright and early!โ€

โ€œIt was nice meeting you,โ€ Lina called after her.

All amusement disappeared the second the door closed across the hall. โ€œIf you came here to continue your interrogationโ€”โ€

I rested my forearm on her doorframe. โ€œNo, maโ€™am.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t you โ€˜maโ€™amโ€™ me. This is northern Virginia. Yโ€™all barely say yโ€™all here. You canโ€™t โ€˜aw shucksโ€™ your way out of this.โ€

Mrs. Tweedyโ€™s door cracked open behind me.

โ€œI came to apologize,โ€ I said, ignoring the eavesdropping audience. Lina crossed her arms.

โ€œNot gonna make it easy on me, are you?โ€ โ€œWhy should I?โ€

I decided to push my luck. I put a hand on her shoulder and gently but firmly backed her inside, then shut the door behind me.

โ€œSure. Come on in. Make yourself at home,โ€ she said dryly. It didnโ€™t look as though sheโ€™d done much on that front.

The only personal belongings I spotted were a houseplant hanging out in one of the front windows and that box of files on her table.

I backed her up another step and then removed my hand. โ€œTurn down the music. Please,โ€ I added when she shot me eye daggers.

She made me wait long enough that I thought I was going to have to do it myself before she finally walked over to the table and picked up her phone. The music lowered to a dull roar.

It didnโ€™t escape me that she took a detour to put the lid back on the files. โ€œYou ever have a near-death experience?โ€ I asked her.

She went still.

โ€œAs a matter of fact, I have,โ€ she said evenly.

โ€œIโ€™m gonna want some answers on that later,โ€ I warned her after a beat. โ€œBut for now, Iโ€™ll assume that you know better than most what itโ€™s like to wake up and realize youโ€™re still here when you almost werenโ€™t.โ€

She didnโ€™t give me anything other than a level stare from those whiskey-colored eyes.

I blew out a restless breath. โ€œAngel, I almost bled out in a ditch. Most of me is still here, but part of me didnโ€™t make it out. If youโ€™re here because of any part of that, I deserve to know.โ€

She closed her eyes for a beat, long lashes fringing tan skin.

When she opened her eyes, she held my gaze. โ€œIโ€™m not here for you.โ€ It rang like the truth.

โ€œIs that all youโ€™re willing to give me?โ€ I pressed.

She pursed her lips. โ€œWeโ€™ll see how the apology part of your presentation goes. And it better include an โ€˜Iโ€™m sorry Iโ€™m a dumbass and let a U.S. marshal think weโ€™d had s*x.โ€™โ€

โ€œIโ€™m sorry for the interrogation. I donโ€™t have my feet under me, and Iโ€™m just doinโ€™ the best I can in a shit situation. It felt like you were hiding something, especially when I saw Pain in My Ass Mustache making a move on you this morning. Iโ€™m used to trusting my gut. Still getting used to the fact that I canโ€™t anymore.โ€

Her eyes narrowed. โ€œWhy canโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œBecause I walked right on up to that car.โ€

Lina dropped her arms to her sides and let out a sound of aggravation. โ€œNow, howโ€™s a girl supposed to hold a grudge against the whole broody, wounded hero routine?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m hopinโ€™ she canโ€™t,โ€ I admitted.

She drew in a breath and let it out. โ€œFine. Iย amย in town looking for something.โ€ She held up a finger in my direction when I opened my mouth. โ€œI didnโ€™t come here because someone put a bullet or two in you. Iโ€™m looking for something someone stole from a client. A couple of leads pointed me in this direction. Nolan and I crossed paths years ago on a different job. I didnโ€™t know he was in town and vice versa.โ€

โ€œAre you planning to cross paths with him while youโ€™re both here?โ€

There was about two feet of space between us and I swear I felt the air crackle like lightning was about to strike.

โ€œIโ€™m wondering why you would think that was your business,โ€ she said. โ€œIโ€™ll tell you if you say you accept my apology.โ€

โ€œFine. Apology accepted.โ€ โ€œYouโ€™re quick,โ€ I observed. โ€œQuit stalling,โ€ she ordered.

โ€œIโ€™m gonna be honest here and youโ€™re probably not gonna like it.โ€ โ€œOnly one way to find out.โ€

โ€œI like stirring you up. I provoked you, and for that Iโ€™m mostly sorry,โ€ I admitted.

โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œWhy am I sorry?โ€

โ€œNo. Much as you acted like it this morning and tonight, youโ€™re not an idiot. You know I could be a scary neighbor to piss off. Why did you provoke me?โ€ she asked.

โ€œYou make me feel things. And after going long enough without feeling anything, feeling somethingโ€”even if itโ€™s anger or adrenalineโ€”is better than the nothing.โ€

The spark of light in her eyes turned to a smolder.

I took a slow step toward her. โ€œEvery time Iโ€™m near you, every time you laugh or look at me like youโ€™re looking right now or get pissed off, I feel something.โ€

โ€œWhat kind of something?โ€

I took another step and closed the distance between us.

โ€œGood,โ€ I said, taking a chance and cupping my hands loosely around her biceps. She didnโ€™t pull away. โ€œThough to be honest, good is pretty much anything other than what Iโ€™ve been feeling. I might be working up the courage to fight for the right to stay close. I canโ€™t do that if youโ€™ve got another man in your bed.โ€

She pursed her lips and considered. โ€œThereโ€™s no one occupying that space at the moment,โ€ she said finally.

โ€œDoes it bother you when I touch you?โ€ I asked.

She rolled her eyes. โ€œI take it Knox opened his big mouth?โ€ โ€œHe may have mentioned you had a problem.โ€

โ€œYet here you are with your hands on me,โ€ she pointed out. โ€œPretty ballsy of you.โ€

โ€œMy brother was surprised youโ€™d let me get this close to you with said balls attached. It got me wondering. What if?โ€

โ€œWhat if what?โ€

โ€œWhat if you like me touching you as much as I like touching you?โ€

I was close enough to kiss her. It would be easy enough to lean down and close the distance. To feel that smart mouth under mine and taste those secrets. Something about this felt so right. So fucking inevitable.

โ€œAll right. Iโ€™ll play. What if I do?โ€ She had flecks of gold and topaz in those brown eyes that were sizing me up.

โ€œWhat if you let me get closer?โ€

She quirked an eyebrow. โ€œExactly how much closer?โ€

I took half a step into her, bringing my body flush with hers. Every nerve in my body fired to life at the contact as if she were jumper cables and I was a dead battery.

โ€œAs close as youโ€™ll let me. I donโ€™t just want this, Angelina. I need this.โ€ โ€œAre you saying you want me to be some kind of emotional support

fuck?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m sayinโ€™ I want to get as close to you as youโ€™ll let me. The closer I get to you, the better I feel. Like right now,โ€ I said softly. โ€œI feel like I can finally breathe easy.โ€

She brought a hand to my chest and pressed it there. โ€œThatโ€™sโ€ฆa lot of pressure.โ€

โ€œI know it,โ€ I admitted. This wasnโ€™t looking for a one-night stand. This was a quest for an anchor. Something I could hang on to in the storm. โ€œCards on the table?โ€

โ€œWhy stop now?โ€

โ€œThereโ€™s a whole lot of reasons why you should say no. Not the least of which is Iโ€™m damaged enough to know thereโ€™s a chance I might not ever be right again.โ€

โ€œNobodyโ€™s perfect,โ€ she said with a quirk of those soft, full lips.

I skimmed my hands up her arms and then back down just to feel the softness of her sweater, the warmth of her body. โ€œKnox doesnโ€™t want us anywhere near each other.โ€

โ€œToo bad for him I hate being told what to do,โ€ she said, bringing her other hand to my chest. She pressed it there and I leaned into the touch.

โ€œI hate surprises and I donโ€™t tolerate lies. Not even the little ones.โ€

โ€œI despise boredom and routine. Some would even say I invite drama.โ€ โ€œUntil this summer, I was pretty set on finding a wife. Starting a

family,โ€ I confessed.

She let out a nervous laugh. โ€œOkay. That one scared me a little. Now what are you set on?โ€

โ€œFeeling alive.โ€

Her gaze locked on mine and it felt like the midday sun warming me down to my core.

โ€œAnd you think I can help with that?โ€ she asked.

My heart was beating strong against my sternum. An answering pulse echoed throughout my body, warming my blood, stirring my cock. โ€œAngel, you already have.โ€

Her eyes went wide and I wondered if Iโ€™d gone too far. โ€œYouโ€™re not my type,โ€ she said finally.

โ€œI know.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m not planning on sticking around.โ€ โ€œGot that too.โ€

โ€œYou just said you were looking for a wife, Nash.โ€

โ€œI was. Now Iโ€™m just looking to get through the day.โ€ She blew out a breath that I could feel.

We kept getting closer and closer. Standing in the middle of her mostly empty apartment, we filled the space around us with heat. Her breasts brushed my chest, bare feet skimming the toes of my boots. My breath stirred her hair.

โ€œNeed to ask you something else,โ€ I said.

โ€œIf itโ€™s my motherโ€™s maiden name and the last four digits of my social security number, Iโ€™m going to realize this is a really elaborate scam.โ€

I ran a finger down her sharp jaw. โ€œDo you like it when I touch you?โ€ A shiver ran through her. โ€œWhy?โ€

โ€œYou know why. But I want you to say it. Cards on the table.โ€

Her face softened. โ€œI donโ€™t seem to mind when itโ€™s your hands doing the touching, hotshot.โ€

โ€œIf that changes, I need to know. Immediately.โ€ She hesitated before nodding.

โ€œYeah?โ€ I pressed.

She nodded again. โ€œYeah.โ€

I took one of her hands from my chest and slid it over my shoulder. Then I did the same with the other. She felt warm, alive, and so fucking soft against me. I shifted my weight to one foot, swaying us to the side.

โ€œWe canโ€™t slow dance to the Struts,โ€ she pointed out as the driving beat of โ€œCould Have Been Meโ€ thumped.

โ€œLooks like thatโ€™s exactly what weโ€™re doing.โ€

She let out a shaky breath. I brushed a fingertip to the pulse in her neck.

Despite her calm exterior, her pulse fluttered under my touch.

โ€œIs you monitoring your heart rate part of that near-death story?โ€ I asked

her.

She paused midsway, then bit her lip, looking uncertain for the first time

I could remember. โ€œI think maybe weโ€™ve had enough honesty for one night,โ€ she said.

I didnโ€™t agree. But I was a patient man. Iโ€™d unravel every one of those secrets she held back until she was laid as bare as I was. I tucked her head under my chin, then slid my hands under the hem of her cardigan to touch the skin of her back. Breathing in the scents of shampoo and laundry detergent, I held her to me like she was precious cargo and swayed.

I was hard again. One thing was for sure, Lina Solavita knew how to make a man feel alive.

I was so focused on absorbing all the soft and warm she had to offer that Lina reacted to the knock at the door first.

โ€œThis shower curtain ainโ€™t gonna hang itself, Chief,โ€ Mrs. Tweedy bellowed.

โ€œFuck,โ€ I muttered.

โ€œI guess youโ€™d better go,โ€ Lina said, her arms slipping free of my neck.

โ€œGuess so. Think about what I said?โ€

โ€œI might not think about anything else,โ€ she confessed with a wry smile. Gently, I cupped her face in my hands and moved in. But instead of going for those full lips that parted when I was just a breath away, I pressed

a kiss to her forehead.

โ€œThanks for the dance, Angel.โ€

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