No Foolin' (Willowdale Romance Novel) (14 page)

He opened his mouth, then closed it and shook his head. “Just me, and that was one person too many in that house. I joined every club and group I could just to stay after school and keep out of their way. That’s how I got into acting. The drama club.”

A soft breeze rushed past them. “What about your biological parents? Did you ever look for them?”

Shaking his head, he leaned back, leaving a big space between them. “My mother gave me away when I was two. Like she had a trial period on parenthood and decided it wasn’t for her. Or that I wasn’t for her. Why would I want to meet her? Even now if she showed up, I wouldn’t give her the time of day.”

Kate sat up and wrapped her hands around her knees. She hadn’t expected to hear this, and the pain in his voice weighed on her. “You wouldn’t give her a second chance? You don’t know what happened.”

He shook his head. “There are no second chances on love.”

She sucked in a breath. “I’m so sorry.” Kate’s voice caught on the words, but she understood. She felt the very same way after what had happened with Tommy.

He sat up and folded his arms over his knees, too. “Don’t be sorry. I learned early on how to protect myself. Don’t let anybody in. Don’t let anybody close. So now maybe you understand why T-Rex stomps around like he does. Why T-Rex doesn’t ever fall in love and never could. You don’t get hurt if you keep everybody out.”

The truth hit Kate’s heart. He wouldn’t ever love anyone. Couldn’t. It wasn’t just their agreement, it was his reality. No fantasy scenario of hers could ever come true. He’d just told her as much. That’s why every relationship of his ended. That’s what made him T-Rex.

She let him go when he got up and walked off into the darkness. Because sooner or later, he’d leave anyway.

HE KICKED A STONE along the shore. Why had he done that? Why had he opened his heart and let her see all that crap inside? Once she knew he had nothing to give, she’d be on her way. This is what he’d been avoiding all this time, airing his garbage.

But Kate hadn’t run when he’d told her. She’d listened to him. And she hadn’t look at him any differently.

The waves splashed over his feet, soaking the bottom of his jeans. He walked and walked until the lights of the hotel almost disappeared behind him. He thought maybe some distance between them would help. Maybe it would dampen his desire. But with each step, he realized it wasn’t working. It was making it worse. He wanted to be with her. That was a frightening admission.

He stopped and looked out across the dark sea. One step at a time, he told himself. That was the first step, sharing his horrible past. And she hadn’t run. Could he do this? Really try for something more than a fling? This was the first time he’d even entertained the idea.

He stared up at the moon for a long time. Then he turned and jogged back to the bungalow. Going back was another step .
 . . a step he’d never taken before.

He burst through the door. She sat up in bed and held out a hand for him. He quickly crossed the room to her and buried his face in her hair.

Neither of them said a word the rest of the night as they fell asleep in each other’s arms. When he woke in the morning, it was with a feeling of contentment he’d never known.

TEAGUE CLEARED HIS schedule for the day so they could do all the touristy stuff on the island he always thought he was too good for. It had been fun rediscovering it all with Kate. A pod of dolphins had sailed through the air near them when they’d gone snorkeling. Then they’d taken surfing lessons together, and she’d absolutely kicked his butt and teased him about it for hours. And now they were riding horses along the beach. She’d even convinced him to go to a luau the next day—something he swore he’d never do. He’d blown off numerous parties and premieres the past two days. He felt like a regular guy, not a superstar. She brought out something in him he didn’t even know was there.

Perched on top of the horse, she leaned forward to stroke its mane. The horse tossed its head in response. “Do I have to come to this thing tonight?”

He couldn’t skip them all. “June’s gonna skin me alive if I keep missing all the premieres, no matter how much you pout.” Teague smiled at her.

She looked over and stuck out her bottom lip, laughing as the horses trotted along. He stared at her beautiful smile and realized she hadn’t worn any makeup. He’d never dated a woman who didn’t put on full makeup before they went anywhere, considering himself lucky if they didn’t wear false eyelashes. Finding one of those in bed the next day is a frightening thing.

“I doubt she could do that much damage,” Kate said.

He lowered his sunglasses and looked at her. “If you don’t come willingly, I’ll toss you over my shoulder and carry you there myself.”

“Hmm. Sounds interesting, but I don’t think so.” She nudged her horse with her heels and galloped ahead of him, her hair whipping in the wind.

Teague leaned into his horse and caught up to her. “Beat me to that ledge up ahead and you can stay in the room tonight, all by your lonesome. Let’s see how good your stunts really are.”

“You are so on.” Kate’s eyes at first widened, then narrowed with determination as she leaned forward and urged her horse on. The animals were reluctant to do more than trot, but she was relentless. Kicking her heels against the horse, she pushed her mare for more speed.

Her horse tore ahead of his and he laughed to himself, knowing how thrilled Kate would be to win and skip the premiere. Then he watched in horror as the big gray beast stumbled in a hole, then landed on its side. Kate went flying and hit her head on a huge rock sticking up from the sand. Heart thundering, Teague jumped off his horse and ran to her. “Kate?”

Her eyes were closed, her body limp. “Kate!” Kneeling beside her, he felt for a pulse. It was light and slow, but she didn’t respond to his touch. He squeezed her hand. “Kate!” His stomach dropped and his mouth went dry. The air was sucked out of his lungs. She looked like a doll someone had dropped from the sky. Terror shot through him.

Scanning the beach, he realized they were alone, far from the hotels in the distance. Her horse stood up, shook itself off, and trotted back toward the stable while his horse followed. He fumbled for his phone in his pocket and called 911. “My girlfriend fell off a horse. We’re on the beach. Somewhere near Napili.”

“Sir, we’re sending an ambulance in that direction.”

“I’ll meet you at the road.”

Hanging up, he looked down at Kate. He couldn’t leave her here. What if she came to and was disoriented? Hoping that he was doing the right thing, he scooped Kate up, and headed for the road to meet the ambulance.

His feet sank into the sand as he tried to run and he swore under his breath at the fact that he couldn’t move faster. He kept glancing down at her. “Kate?” No response.

He almost stumbled, but holding her tighter, he finally made it to the road, his chest heaving and his heart pounding. He willed his wobbly legs not to buckle.

He stood at the edge of the pavement, clutching her against him. Her head lolled over his arm. Cars slowed, drivers craning their necks to watch them. He struggled to catch his breath.

He looked down at her pale face. “Kate, you’re going to be alright.” It was more like he was trying to convince himself. He kissed her forehead and felt her soft breath on his neck.
Hurry up, already!

In the distance, he heard the blare of an ambulance. He ran towards it, past the slowed cars and gawking bystanders. Kate felt like nothing in his arms. If he had to, he’d run for hours until he got her help. The ambulance pulled off to the side of the road before Teague stopped.

“She fell off a horse,” he gasped. “She’s unconscious.”

The medic hopped out and frowned. “You should’ve left her there. You don’t want to move someone with possible spinal injuries.”

Panic surged in his chest. “I wasn’t sure what to do. I had to get her help as fast as I could.”

The EMT opened the back doors and rolled out the gurney. Teague laid her on the stretcher.

“We’ve got her from here.”

“No, I’m coming with her.” He climbed into the ambulance and prayed the entire way to the hospital.
Please don’t take this woman from me.

“IS SHE GOING TO be okay?” Mitch asked the doctor while squeezing Dina’s hand.

“Just Braxton-Hicks contractions. Nothing serious, but we don’t want it to progress to anything worse. She shouldn’t be on her feet too much.” The doctor looked directly at Dina. “You’re going to have to give up that waitressing job of yours.”

She felt her eyes pop open. “But I’m not due for six weeks. I need the money.”

“It’s for the sake of your baby.” The doctor scribbled on the chart. “I’m going to recommend bed rest until the baby comes. Do you have anyone who can take care of you?”

Dina’s mouth opened and closed as she considered the question, realizing that no, she didn’t have anyone who could give her that kind of care.

“She’s got me.” Mitch smiled down at her while Dina wiped a tear off her cheek.

“Good. We don’t want this baby coming early.”

HOW MANY PINA coladas did I have last night?
Kate woke with a fuzzy feeling in her head and an even fuzzier feeling in her mouth. Her eyes opened to a bright, white room.
This isn’t the bungalow.
Damn! It’d been a dream. Only, there was Teague, eyes wide, his cheeks stubbled with whiskers, his eyes bloodshot. Then she remembered. The horse. She fell off. An equestrian, she was not.

He rushed over to the bed. “You’re okay. Nothing’s broken. Doctors say you have one hell of a concussion.” He stroked her hair and held her hand, and Kate wondered if maybe he hadn’t been hit on the noggin, too.

She sat up and winced; sitting up wasn’t such a good thing. “June’s going to kill you. We missed the premiere.”

He laughed. “Baby, we don’t have to go to the next one, I promise.”

Baby?
She needed to lie back down. She set her head on the pillow and looked around the depressing room, at all the sterile medical bedding, the bland walls, and thought,
I’m not wasting a minute of my time in here.
“When do I get out of here? Nurses do not make good patients.”

“Doctors want to watch you for another twenty-four hours.” He squeezed her hand. “And so do I. I’m not leaving you.”

She sighed. “I’m so sorry. What a way to spend our time here.”

“You’re sorry?” He pressed his hand against his chest. “I’m the one who challenged you to a race. It’s my fault. Let me go get you something to drink.”

He kissed her head, then slipped out of the room. Kate drew up her knees under the hideous green hospital gown. She couldn’t believe Teague was here, waiting on her. He seemed genuinely concerned.

He rushed back in with a can of soda, a glass of ice chips, a pitcher of water, and the nurse on his tail. “You’re awake now. Good,” she said. “We need to have the doctor check you out.”

By the end of the day, Kate figured she’d seen nearly every staff member from the hospital. Some brought copies of USA Today and gossip magazines, asking for Teague’s autograph and sometimes, even Kate’s.

One of the nurses from the maternity ward wandered over, clutching the local paper to her chest. She sighed. “It is so romantic the way you carried her to safety like that. I saw a clip of it someone took on their cell phone. It’s on You Tube and all over the ’Net. Oh. My. God. It was like a romantic movie or something.” She fanned herself and handed Kate her paper. “Can you sign this?”

Kate stared at the picture of Teague walking down the side of the road with her in his arms. Her insides did a trembling flip-flop.

The next morning, the doctor finally cleared out the room and examined Kate from head to toe. “I think you’re clear to go. Take it easy, we don’t want another head injury. Don’t do anything foolish.”

A little late for that, buddy.
She was nothing
but
foolish.

TEAGUE HELD HER by the elbow as he walked her down the path to the bungalow. His heart had been caught in his throat until the doctor gave Kate the all clear. He wanted to whisk her back to L.A., back to the safety of his home, but the doctor thought it was best to give her a few more days’ rest.

Kate gently dislodged her arm from his grip. “I’m not an invalid.”

“I just don’t want you to trip or anything. I’m not leaving your sight. We’re hunkering down in the bungalow for the rest of the festival.” He unlocked the door and held it open for her.

She stepped inside. “What about your meeting with Stan Remington?”

He groaned. “I can put it off.”

She turned to give him a look. “I’m not a Hollywood insider, but I know it’s an important meeting. You can’t miss it. Not on my account.”

“Shhh.” He picked her up and laid her on the bed, and she slipped off her shoes and stretched out like a cat.

She looked up at him. “I could use your assistance here,” she practically purred.

He rubbed his hands together, ready to serve. “What? Can I get you anything?”

“You can get in bed with me.” She patted the huge mattress.

He shook his head and took a step back, bumping into one of the tables. He straightened the bowl of fruit on top. “No way. I’m not going to do anything that could hurt you.”

Sighing, she lowered her head back onto the pillow. “Trust me, you might blow my mind, but you’re not going to actually hurt my head.”

“No.” He felt several different body parts strongly objecting to that decision.

“Please?” She parted her lips and widened her eyes. There must be some secret female manipulation class he didn’t know about. Kate had mastered it.

He lowered himself on shaky legs. “I am going to sit on the couch where we’ll be nice and safe.” But Teague wasn’t. No, he might as well be swimming with sharks out in Kapalua Bay with a
“Come bite me”
sign hanging around his neck—written in blood. He’d only known her for a week, but Teague was falling in love with Kate Riley.

There, he’d admitted it. Coming so close to losing her cemented the deal. To put a cap on the whole thing, June had called earlier and read him the riot act for looking so darn romantic in all the pictures. Damn the entire free world and their cell phone cameras.

“You look positively in love. What were you thinking?” June had asked him. “Do you know they’re calling you T-Wrecked now?”

“Calm down, June. This won’t change a thing.” He’d actually hung up on her. And turned off his cell.

Kate’s sweet, clear voice pulled him back to the present. “Are you really going to stay over there all night?” She twirled her hair around her finger and pouted, then hopped off the bed and sauntered over to him.

Teague closed his eyes. “Stay in bed, Kate.”

“I will if you come join me.”

He sighed. “Fine. But we’re just going to talk. That’s all.”

“Good. We can talk while we do it.” Kate bounced back on the bed, and Teague sighed.

Who knew head injuries could make a woman horny? “Be careful.”

“Too late for that.”

Wasn’t that the truth? He laced his fingers in hers and wondered if he could actually keep his hands off the rest of her. He was a knot of emotions: relieved that she was all right, angry that it happened in the first place, desperate to sear his flesh with hers.

“Please humor me. If anything else happened to you .
 . .”

She groaned and plopped back on the bed. “Fine. Rock paper scissors? Truth or dare? I seem to remember you being pretty good at twenty questions.”

Oh, he had so many things he wanted to ask her. He snuggled up next to her and put his arm around her. He kissed her head and got the rundown of her life: from the prize-winning Halloween costume in fifth grade, to the little collie dog that ran away when she was seven, to the sadness of watching her mother’s marriage dissolve.

They spent the night without removing a stitch of clothing. And that’s when Teague knew. He really
was
in love.

Damn.

“I DIDN’T KNOW if you wanted grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly, so I made both.” Mitch stood in Dina’s doorway, holding a plate in each hand.

Dina sat up. “I’ll eat both. I’m starving.”

Mitch set the plates on the table next to her and wiped his hands on his pants. “Is there anything else you need before I go to work?”

“You’re leaving?” Dina’s eyes widened. “What if something happens? What if I have those pains again?”

He sat on the bed next to her. “Then you call me or you call the doctor.”

She grabbed Mitch’s hand. “I’m scared.” And she was—about having the baby, about losing the baby. About losing him.

He patted her hand. “Me, too. But we’ll get through this. Together.”

“Together?” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Really?”

He nodded. “I told Shelley everything and broke up with her.”

Dina gasped, then covered her mouth with her hand.

“What?” Mitch asked. “Is it the baby?’

“Yes,” she lied. She wasn’t exactly certain why her stomach had turned upside down at his news. Was it a good upside down or a bad upside down?