Brent gave Tara
a kiss on the cheek as he walked past her. “Just give us a shout if
you need anything.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Or ask
this guy. He spends so much time here we should charge him
rent.”
Keith had a
large two-bedroom suite on the tenth floor, and Ava often invited
him over for dinner when he didn’t have other plans. “You’re just
jealous ‘cause your fiancée prefers my company to yours.”
Brent smirked.
“In your dreams, buddy. Be nice to our houseguest.” Raising an
eyebrow, he mouthed, “But not too nice.”
Tara braced her
hands on the back of the sofa. “I should think about turning in.
It’s been a long day. Who knew shopping for wedding shoes could be
so tiring?”
“Come on,”
Keith chuckled. “You can’t tell me you didn’t have fun shopping
with my brother’s black Amex card.”
Tara glared at
him. “I don’t need your brother’s charity, and Ava was taking care
of herself long before he came along.”
Keith raised
his hands in surrender. “Hey, I was just joking.”
Tara sighed and
sat down opposite Keith. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap at you.
Let’s just say I’m a little sensitive about that subject.”
She’d piqued
his curiosity. They’d been friendly in college and in the months
since Ava and Brent reconnected, but he didn’t know as much about
her as he’d like to. “It sounds like there’s a story there. Let’s
hear it.”
“Maybe another
time.” She hid a yawn behind her hand. “I really am beat.”
He sensed her
reluctance had more to do with apprehension than fatigue. Keith
knew they would be connected through Brent and Ava forever, and he
wanted Tara to feel she could trust him with her secrets. “I have
my ways of making you talk.” He was off his couch and on hers
before she could blink.
“What are you
doing?”
He was sitting
as close as he could get, and he realized his mistake right away.
She smelled incredible. “I remember your Achilles’ heel, lady.”
She tried to
set a cushion between them for protection, but he tossed it on the
other couch. “Keith, I don’t know what you’re thinking…” She tried
to inch away, but her back hit the armrest.
He seized her
wrist and came up on his knee, hovering over her. “Just tell me
what I want to know, and I won’t have to tickle you.”
“No.” She
pursed her lips. “You can’t threaten me. I’ll scream.”
“No, you
won’t.” Keith knew she wouldn’t risk disturbing their hosts.
“Try me.” Her
breathing was labored as she waited for him to make good on his
threat or back down.
Keith never
backed down from a challenge. Within seconds, he straddled her,
tickling her mercilessly until tears streamed down her face.
“Okay…” she
gasped. “I’ll tell… you.”
Keith stopped
but refused to move. If he did, she would tell him to mind his own
damn business. “I’m waiting.”
“You’re
crushing me,” she said, looking down at where he was pinning her
hips.
He’d just come
from the gym when Ava invited him over for pizza, so he was wearing
the sweats he’s slipped on after his shower. Keith wished he’d been
smart enough to wear something that hid his reaction to Tara a
little better. He’d always found her feistiness a huge turn on.
“Suffer.”
Tara smiled.
“It seems to me you’re the one suffering, Armstrong.”
She had him
there. “Start talking.”
Her smile
slipped, and she said, “My ex’s family accused me of being a gold
digger. When he had to choose who to believe, he chose them.”
Keith cursed
and let her up. He shouldn’t have forced her to discuss something
that obviously still hurt. “I’m sorry, Tara.” He sat beside her,
keeping a safe distance between them.
“It’s okay.
It’s ancient history.”
He sensed that
wasn’t entirely true. “Do you feel like talking about it?” When she
remained silent, he said, “If you don’t, that’s cool.”
“I thought I
was in love with him.” Hugging a cushion tightly, she said, “We
dated for a while. He refused to introduce me to his family, and I
thought it was because of cultural and religious differences. I
guess there was more to it than that.”
Keith hated the
loser who had made her feel as though she wasn’t good enough. She
was smart, gorgeous, kind, and too damn good for a guy too stupid
to recognize a good thing when he had it. “So you met his family
eventually?”
“His sister was
getting married. I gave him an ultimatum: either he invited me to
the wedding or I would dump him.”
“I take it he
invited you?” Keith risked a glance at her. She looked so sad, and
he just wanted to make her smile again.
“He did.” She
hugged the cushion tighter, propping her chin on it. “I thought
things were going okay, but when I was in one of the bathroom
stalls, his mother and sisters came in. They started talking about
how I was just a whore after Biagio’s money. They said we would
never last because they wouldn’t let us.”
“I’m sorry.”
Keith reached for her hand, lacing their fingers. “That must have
sucked.”
“It did.” She
tipped her head to look at him, still holding the pillow. “I told
him what they said, and he said I shouldn’t listen to them.”
“That was
asking a lot.” If anyone ever said those things about a woman Keith
loved, he would go to the mat to defend her honor, even if they
were his own family.
“I thought so
too, but I’d already invested a year in the relationship.” She
stared at a framed photo of Ava and Brent on an end table. “Ava
told me to let him go. She said he didn’t deserve me, but I wasn’t
ready to move on. I wanted it to work.”
Keith knew
admitting she’d been duped by that guy wasn’t easy for her. “What
happened next?”
“His mother
came to the office and offered me money, a lot of money, to stay
away from him.”
“Seriously?”
Keith couldn’t believe anyone could mistake Tara for an
opportunist. She was one of the most genuine people he’d ever met.
“Obviously you told her to go to hell.”
Tara looked at
him, a smile teasing her lips. “How did you know I told her
that?”
“Because I know
you.”
“Apparently you
know me better than Biagio. His mother told him I’d accepted her
bribe, and he believed her. He told me it was over.”
Keith released
her hand to put his arm around her. “I’m sorry, hon. It sounds like
you’re better off without him though.”
“Yeah, I guess
I am.”
It bothered
Keith that she didn’t sound convinced. She should be calling her ex
every colorful name she could think of, and a few Keith would be
happy to supply. Instead, she seemed to still have feelings for
him. “How long ago did this happen?”
“About a year
ago.”
More than
enough time for resentment to set in. “You ever hear from him?”
“Yeah, he calls
and texts sometimes. I never respond.”
“What does he
say?”
“He says he’s
sorry, that he never should have taken their word over mine.”
Keith had never
met the guy, yet he already despised him. “He doesn’t honestly
think you’re naïve enough to buy that shit, does he?”
She tried to
pull away, but Keith wasn’t ready to let her go. He shifted so her
back was against his chest and the cushion she’d been using as a
shield was supporting her head.
“Now you sound
like Ava,” Tara said. “She says the same thing every time he
calls.”
“My future
sister-in-law is a smart woman.”
“It’s not as
black and white as it sounds, Keith.” Her cell phone rang, and she
glanced at the screen. “That’s strange. It’s my landlady.” Glancing
at her watch, she frowned. “What could she want at this hour?”
“Only one way
to find out.”
“Right.” Tara
pressed the button to connect the call. “Mrs. McMillan?”
Keith watched
her face drain of color. Whatever the news, it obviously wasn’t
good.
“Oh my God. Are
you okay?” Digging her nails into the sofa cushion, she asked,
“When did this happen? What caused it?” Tara fell silent, nodding.
“I can’t believe this.” She dropped her head into her hand. “No,
I’ll be okay. I’ll figure something out. I’m spending the night at
a friend’s place tonight. I’ll decide what to do in the morning.
Thanks for the call. Take care.”
“What
happened?” Keith asked as soon as she disconnected. She just stared
off into space. “Talk to me. It can’t be that bad.”
“Mrs.
McMillan’s house caught on fire.” With a shuddering sigh, she said,
“My home… I can’t believe this.”
Keith knew she
rented part of a duplex not far from her office. “Are you serious?
How bad?”
“Bad…” Covering
her mouth, she closed her eyes. “Really bad. Mrs. McMillan was
visiting her sister and she’d taken her dog, so no one was hurt. I
guess that’s the most important thing. The rest of it is just
stuff.”
Keith pulled
her closer when she started sobbing. “It’s gonna be okay.”
“Everything I
own is gone,” she whispered as tears fell on her lap. “Mrs.
McMillan said the firefighters wouldn’t let her back in the house,
but she didn’t think anything could be salvaged. The fire inspector
will be out tomorrow to assess the damage.”
“Do you have
insurance to cover your stuff, hon?”
Tara groaned.
Reaching for her glass of wine, she downed the rest in one deep
swallow. “I meant to renew my policy, but my car broke down and I
had to get that fixed. Mrs. McMillan kept on me about renewing it,
and I promised her I would. I kept saying, ‘Next paycheck.’”
Keith knew Tara
was still paying a mountain of student loans, and she refused to
accept help from Ava or Brent. “So you lost everything?” Keith
couldn’t even begin to imagine that.
“I guess the
only thing I have left to my name is the clothes on my back.” Tara
grabbed the wine bottle and refilled her glass.
Alcohol
wouldn’t solve her problems, but Keith couldn’t blame her for
wanting to forget them. “You know Brent and Ava would love to have
you stay here while you sort things out. If you need money or a
place to stay, you’ve got it, Tara. All you have to do is ask.”
Money was no object for him or his brother, and they both adored
Tara, albeit for different reasons.
Tara patted his
leg. “That’s so sweet of you. But this isn’t your problem, and I’m
certainly not going to impose on Brent and Ava. They’ve got enough
on their plate trying to build a new home and plan the wedding. Not
to mention the fact they need their privacy.”
“What about
Ava’s place? Has she sold it yet?” Keith knew Ava’s condo was on
the market and she had some prospective buyers interested in a
quick closing, but he hadn’t asked whether the deal had closed.
“Sold last
week,” Tara muttered miserably. “I guess I’ll just have to stay
with my parents.”
Keith frowned.
“Your parents’ place is over an hour away. You’re going to commute
more than two hours every day? That’s crazy. I have an extra
bedroom. Why don’t you stay with me?”
A beat of
awareness passed between them. Her eyes lingered on his lips for a
fraction of a second before she said, “We both know that’s not a
good idea.”
He would never
take advantage of her situation, but Keith thought spending more
time with Tara sounded like a stellar idea. “It’s better than
wasting time and gas money on a long commute and you said you don’t
want to impose on Ava and Brent.” He knew they wouldn’t see it as
an imposition, but he understood why Tara would feel like a third
wheel living with a couple who couldn’t keep their hands off each
other. “Face it, your parents live too far away. Do you have any
other friends you can stay with?” He hoped not. If she was calling
a friend to help her out, he wanted it to be him.
“None with an
extra bedroom.” Raking her nails over her scalp, she said,
“Besides, they already complain about not getting enough alone time
with their boyfriends. I’d be imposing on them too.” Sighing, she
rubbed her bloodshot eyes. “God, what a mess. I can’t believe I was
stupid enough to let the insurance lapse. It may not have covered
much, but at least it would have given me enough money to buy the
necessities. Right now, I can’t even cover that.”
Keith had grown
up in dire straits. He understood that insurance often fell to the
bottom of the list when one was trying to put food on the table and
pay the utility bills. He settled back on the sofa, leaving his arm
stretched across the back in case she needed a shoulder to lean on.
“It’s not your fault. It’s not like you could’ve predicted a
fire.”
“The place is
old. It was probably faulty wiring or something.”
He pulled her
back into his chest, wrapped his arms around her, and coaxed her
head down. “It’ll be okay.” He kissed the top of her head. “You
have a lot of people who care about you, babe. We’re gonna help you
get through this.”
“Thanks,” she
said, sniffling and pressing her fingertips against her temples. “I
still can’t believe this is happening, Keith. I’m homeless.”
Keith was thinking
about Tara’s predicament at work the next day when he spotted Ava
walking toward Brent’s office. “Ava!” He jumped up and sprinted
across his office to catch her before she disappeared.
She’d stopped
when she heard his voice, though, and peeked her head in the door.
“I’m glad you’re here. I was going to call you later. I wanted to
thank you for being there for Tara last night. She must have been a
wreck, huh?”
“Anybody would
be, right?” He beckoned her inside.
“That’s for
sure.” She kissed his cheek. “You don’t usually work on Saturdays,
do you?”
“I needed to
take care of a few things.” He’d been sitting at home making
himself crazy worrying about Tara. He thought coming to work might
take his mind off of her, but it hadn’t worked.