Teague (The Family Simon 4)

Sabrina Campbell smelled like the sweetest honeysuckle ever. It reminded him of the vines growing in his mother’s gardens, of hot summer nights and cold iced tea. She was so damn small next to him, so fragile and feminine. And so incredibly sad.

What the hell was he doing out here with her?

Sure she was cute as hell, but that didn’t matter because a woman like Sabrina wasn’t a good fit for a man like Teague. She had kids. Responsibilities. A family that she needed to answer to.

None of those things interested him. He’d always been a lone wolf. Always been the guy to leave. Nothing had changed. Even after the hell he’d been through, nothing had changed.

He should have gone home with Candace. Then he wouldn’t be out here in the dark with Sabrina. And he sure as hell wouldn’t be slow dancing in the parking lot of some country bar.

And yet here he was, pulling her into his arms and settling her against him like she belonged there. The top of her head fit just below his chin and he slid his arms around her small waist.

“Relax,” he breathed into her hair. She was strung so tight he could feel the muscles bunched in her back.

She didn’t say a word. Hell, he wasn’t even sure she took a breath. But eventually he felt her relax and after a few moments she turned her head and rested her cheek against his chest.

The song was about lost love, of mistakes and redemption and of finding your way back. Funny. He knew the song but he’d never really listened to the words before. Never took notice of the meaning.

But right now, under a night sky that made him feel about as relevant as a gnat, he listened to the message behind the music. He wanted to say that the words gave him hope, but in truth they just made him feel empty.

He would never have that kind of love because that kind of love demanded sacrifice, and Teague Simon had nothing left to sacrifice.

But maybe he wouldn’t think about that right now. Maybe he would just enjoy this one moment that shouldn’t have been.

So he moved slowly, eyes closed as he enjoyed the feel of Sabrina against him. His hands moved down her back until they settled in the hollow.

He fought the urge to let them wander lower, and it was harder than it should have been. She smelled too damn good and she felt even better. When the song ended, she stopped moving and for several moments they didn’t speak. They did nothing but breathe each other in.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice so low he barely heard her.

Reluctantly Teague let her go and she took a step back. He shoved his hands into his front pockets because he needed to do something with them.

“What for?” he replied.

She shrugged and opened her mouth but no words came out. After a while she cleared her throat and attempted a smile. “I should go home.”

“I’ll give you a ride.”

“No. I’ll call a cab. Tucker and Abby are still inside.”

Teague reached for his cell. “Don’t worry about them.”

“But—“

“It’s not up for discussion. I brought you to town and I’ll take you home.”

She climbed into his truck while he sent his brother a text. The ride back to the cottage took less than ten minutes, but it was nearly ten minutes of low music and no talking. Sabrina sat as straight as a rod, eyes forward and hands folded neatly in her lap.

She had small hands with delicate wrists and fingers.

Teague pulled up to his place, cut the engine and glanced over to Sabrina. She was watching him and he felt a jolt when they made eye contact. Her tongue slid between her lips and licked the bottom one. It wasn’t meant to be seductive, but Teague’s body tightened at the sight.

“Thanks for the ride home.”

“No problem,” he replied.

Several more moments passed and then Sabrina yanked on the door handle. She slid from his truck and Teague was rewarded with a glimpse of a lot more creamy skin than he was supposed to see when her skirt rode up.

She paused just before closing the door and like an idiot he was still sitting inside his truck.