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. Linaโs door loomed in front of me like a castle wall. There was music coming from inside. Something with a driving beat. Something that said โBeware: 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 Iโd knocked on the wrong door.
โWell, if it isnโt 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 hadnโt gotten the wrong place. Mrs.
Tweedy was answering the wrong door. โLina here?โ I asked.
โNope. Iโm 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 sheโd been like as a teenager.
Lina appeared in the doorway behind her and I breathed a sigh of relief. โWhat can I do for you, Chief ?โ Lina asked. Her tone was icy. โDo you
need to know what I had for lunch today? A list of every person Iโve spoken to since I got here?โ
โIโm on that list. Weโre BFFFs,โ Mrs. Tweedy piped up. โBFFFs?โ I repeated.
โBest fuckinโ friends forever,โ she said. โYou got a problem with Lina here? Youโve 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
Linaโs lips quirked. But all amusement vanished when she caught me looking at her.
โMrs. Tweedy, if you let me speak to Lina in private, Iโll stop by after to get your watch out of the sink.โ
โAnd hang my new shower curtain.โ
โAnother new shower curtain? What the hell happened to the last one?โ She took a rebellious sip of bourbon. โThat sounds like a no to me,
donโt it, Lina?โ
โIt sure wasnโt a yes,โ she agreed.
โFine. Watch and shower curtain. Now go away,โ I said.
Mrs. Tweedy patted me on the cheek. โYouโre a good boy, Nash. Try not to leave your head up your ass for too long. Sooner or later, the conditionโs permanent.โ She turned to Lina. โSee you at the gym tomorrow morning. Bright and early!โ
โIt was nice meeting you,โ Lina called after her.
All amusement disappeared the second the door closed across the hall. โIf you came here to continue your interrogationโโ
I rested my forearm on her doorframe. โNo, maโam.โ
โDonโt you โmaโamโ me. This is northern Virginia. Yโall barely say yโall here. You canโt โaw shucksโ your way out of this.โ
Mrs. Tweedyโs door cracked open behind me.
โI came to apologize,โ I said, ignoring the eavesdropping audience. Lina crossed her arms.
โNot gonna make it easy on me, are you?โ โWhy 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.
โSure. Come on in. Make yourself at home,โ she said dryly. It didnโt look as though sheโd 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. โTurn 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 didnโt escape me that she took a detour to put the lid back on the files. โYou ever have a near-death experience?โ I asked her.
She went still.
โAs a matter of fact, I have,โ she said evenly.
โIโm gonna want some answers on that later,โ I warned her after a beat. โBut for now, Iโll assume that you know better than most what itโs like to wake up and realize youโre still here when you almost werenโt.โ
She didnโt give me anything other than a level stare from those whiskey-colored eyes.
I blew out a restless breath. โAngel, I almost bled out in a ditch. Most of me is still here, but part of me didnโt make it out. If youโre 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. โIโm not here for you.โ It rang like the truth.
โIs that all youโre willing to give me?โ I pressed.
She pursed her lips. โWeโll see how the apology part of your presentation goes. And it better include an โIโm sorry Iโm a dumbass and let a U.S. marshal think weโd had s*x.โโ
โIโm sorry for the interrogation. I donโt have my feet under me, and Iโm 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. Iโm used to trusting my gut. Still getting used to the fact that I canโt anymore.โ
Her eyes narrowed. โWhy canโt you?โ
โBecause I walked right on up to that car.โ
Lina dropped her arms to her sides and let out a sound of aggravation. โNow, howโs a girl supposed to hold a grudge against the whole broody, wounded hero routine?โ
โIโm hopinโ she canโt,โ I admitted.
She drew in a breath and let it out. โFine. Iย amย in town looking for something.โ She held up a finger in my direction when I opened my mouth. โI didnโt come here because someone put a bullet or two in you. Iโm 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 didnโt know he was in town and vice versa.โ
โAre you planning to cross paths with him while youโre 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.
โIโm wondering why you would think that was your business,โ she said. โIโll tell you if you say you accept my apology.โ
โFine. Apology accepted.โ โYouโre quick,โ I observed. โQuit stalling,โ she ordered.
โIโm gonna be honest here and youโre probably not gonna like it.โ โOnly one way to find out.โ
โI like stirring you up. I provoked you, and for that Iโm mostly sorry,โ I admitted.
โWhy?โ
โWhy am I sorry?โ
โNo. Much as you acted like it this morning and tonight, youโre not an idiot. You know I could be a scary neighbor to piss off. Why did you provoke me?โ she asked.
โYou make me feel things. And after going long enough without feeling anything, feeling somethingโeven if itโs anger or adrenalineโis better than the nothing.โ
The spark of light in her eyes turned to a smolder.
I took a slow step toward her. โEvery time Iโm near you, every time you laugh or look at me like youโre looking right now or get pissed off, I feel something.โ
โWhat kind of something?โ
I took another step and closed the distance between us.
โGood,โ I said, taking a chance and cupping my hands loosely around her biceps. She didnโt pull away. โThough to be honest, good is pretty much anything other than what Iโve been feeling. I might be working up the courage to fight for the right to stay close. I canโt do that if youโve got another man in your bed.โ
She pursed her lips and considered. โThereโs no one occupying that space at the moment,โ she said finally.
โDoes it bother you when I touch you?โ I asked.
She rolled her eyes. โI take it Knox opened his big mouth?โ โHe may have mentioned you had a problem.โ
โYet here you are with your hands on me,โ she pointed out. โPretty ballsy of you.โ
โMy brother was surprised youโd let me get this close to you with said balls attached. It got me wondering. What if?โ
โWhat if what?โ
โWhat 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.
โAll right. Iโll play. What if I do?โ She had flecks of gold and topaz in those brown eyes that were sizing me up.
โWhat if you let me get closer?โ
She quirked an eyebrow. โExactly 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.
โAs close as youโll let me. I donโt just want this, Angelina. I need this.โ โAre you saying you want me to be some kind of emotional support
fuck?โ
โIโm sayinโ I want to get as close to you as youโll let me. The closer I get to you, the better I feel. Like right now,โ I said softly. โI feel like I can finally breathe easy.โ
She brought a hand to my chest and pressed it there. โThatโsโฆa lot of pressure.โ
โI know it,โ I admitted. This wasnโt looking for a one-night stand. This was a quest for an anchor. Something I could hang on to in the storm. โCards on the table?โ
โWhy stop now?โ
โThereโs a whole lot of reasons why you should say no. Not the least of which is Iโm damaged enough to know thereโs a chance I might not ever be right again.โ
โNobodyโs 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. โKnox doesnโt want us anywhere near each other.โ
โToo 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.
โI hate surprises and I donโt tolerate lies. Not even the little ones.โ
โI despise boredom and routine. Some would even say I invite drama.โ โUntil this summer, I was pretty set on finding a wife. Starting a
family,โ I confessed.
She let out a nervous laugh. โOkay. That one scared me a little. Now what are you set on?โ
โFeeling alive.โ
Her gaze locked on mine and it felt like the midday sun warming me down to my core.
โAnd 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. โAngel, you already have.โ
Her eyes went wide and I wondered if Iโd gone too far. โYouโre not my type,โ she said finally.
โI know.โ
โIโm not planning on sticking around.โ โGot that too.โ
โYou just said you were looking for a wife, Nash.โ
โI was. Now Iโm 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.
โNeed to ask you something else,โ I said.
โIf itโs my motherโs maiden name and the last four digits of my social security number, Iโm going to realize this is a really elaborate scam.โ
I ran a finger down her sharp jaw. โDo you like it when I touch you?โ A shiver ran through her. โWhy?โ
โYou know why. But I want you to say it. Cards on the table.โ
Her face softened. โI donโt seem to mind when itโs your hands doing the touching, hotshot.โ
โIf that changes, I need to know. Immediately.โ She hesitated before nodding.
โYeah?โ I pressed.
She nodded again. โYeah.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.
โWe canโt slow dance to the Struts,โ she pointed out as the driving beat of โCould Have Been Meโ thumped.
โLooks like thatโs exactly what weโre 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.
โIs 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. โI think maybe weโve had enough honesty for one night,โ she said.
I didnโt agree. But I was a patient man. Iโd 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.
โThis shower curtain ainโt gonna hang itself, Chief,โ Mrs. Tweedy bellowed.
โFuck,โ I muttered.
โI guess youโd better go,โ Lina said, her arms slipping free of my neck.
โGuess so. Think about what I said?โ
โI 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.
โThanks for the dance, Angel.โ