Teague (The Family Simon 4)

She thought about that moment a lot over the next few hours. Thought of how her skin felt tight. How her heart constantly beat out of her chest.

She thought that Teague had the longest fingers—the strongest hands, she’d ever seen on a man. And she realized he had a dimple when he smiled.

And when he smiled at her, he set off a chain reaction inside her body that was all butterflies, and flushed cheeks and…

And good Lord, what the hell was happening to her?

“You okay?”

It was after dinner and the sun was starting to set. They’d had barbecued ribs and chicken, pasta salad and homemade apple pie. The kids had lit a few leftover sparklers from the holiday and Sabrina had just agreed to let Harry spend the night with Caleb. It was an easy decision—David was off to his mother’s place so he and his father were long gone.

Sabrina glanced at Allie. Paul and Teague were near the far end of the property where the boys were still fooling around with the sparklers.

“Sabrina?” Allie prompted.

“I’m good,” she answered slowly, her eyes finding their way back to the boys. Teague was bent low, listening to whatever it was Harry was saying and the sight of that little head next to Teague’s, his face upturned and listening with rapt attention, made her throat knot. Yet again.

She really needed to deal with whatever this was and move on.

“I’m glad,” Allie said with a slow grin. “It’s nice to see you smiling and enjoying yourself.”

Fireflies began to flicker along the property line eliciting a round of squeals from the boys. As the sun completely disappeared from view, the solar lights around the pool glowed, and Sabrina wa

s content to just sit and watch her son. Morgan was still at her friend’s house and wouldn’t be home until the following afternoon, and her mother-in-law was off to the movies with her girlfriends.

“So,” Allie began, leaning closer to Sabrina. “What’s Teague’s story? I mean, I know what I read in the papers and saw on TV, but he’s not at all what I imagined.”

“No? What did you think he’d be like?”

Allie shrugged. “I’m not sure. I guess I thought he’d more…closed off and aloof. I can see that he’s an intense guy, but he’s so good with the kids. I’m surprised he’s single.”

“He’s complicated.”

“Is he?” Allie grinned, the candlelight from the table throwing shadows across her face. “How complicated?”

Sabrina shook her head. She knew where this was headed. “There’s nothing going on between us, Al.”

“Because you’re not ready or because you’re not letting it happen?”

“Because…” Sabrina paused, thinking of the dark glances she’d shared with the man in question. Of the night dancing in the parking lot of a country bar. Of the way his fingers had sparked something hot inside her when he’d touched her earlier.

“There’s nothing going on between us because it would never work. We would never work. He’s here to get his head together after what happened in Syria and then he’s leaving. And I’m…I’m not looking for a relationship.”

“Jesus, Sabrina. I’m not talking about something permanent. I’m talking about some down and dirty and hot sex. You need a release.” She giggled. “A hot release.”

“Allie—“

“And don’t you dare tell me that you haven’t thought about it, because I have eyes. I see the way you look at him when you think no one’s watching. Especially when he doffed his shirt to jump in the pool.”

“Allie—“

“And I could tell he wanted to punch Greg Champion in the throat for getting too close to you at dinner and spilling his beer down the front of your dress. His eyes were saying, ‘mine’. Hell, if he were a gorilla, he would have pounded his chest with his fists and then flattened the guy. Actually too bad he didn’t. Greg’s a tool.”

Thank goodness the darkness hid her cheeks because the whole blushing thing was starting to become a problem.

“Allie I don’t…” she stammered. Flustered, Sabrina blew out a long breath. Was it that obvious that she found Teague attractive?

“Hey, I don’t want to upset you. I’m just saying that you’re a young woman who’s still very much alive.”