She couldn’t help but smile with him. “I’m guessing he enjoyed it?”
Tyler’s sly grin made her laugh. “Well, twelve years later he still says he does. I’m assuming he’s not ready to pitch me quite yet.”
The comment slipped from her mouth before she could stop it. “I’ve never done that before.”
He kissed her forehead. “We would never hurt you, sweetheart, I promise. Let’s try to get some sleep. We have another long day tomorrow.”
She snuggled against him, still reeling from his implied message. Despite her desire she realized she wasn’t ready to push harder for answers. No matter what, she didn’t want to ever come between the men and what they had.
Whatever Tyler had in mind she’d have to find the strength to let it unfold as it would, no matter how she wanted to rush.
Because she trusted him.
“Promise me I won’t ever come between you, Tyler. I couldn’t stand it if you guys broke up because of me.”
His voice sounded muffled against the back of her neck. “We love you, darling. Have no worries of the future, please?”
Nevvie closed her eyes and eventually dreamed of slow dancing, protectively nestled between her boys and floating around an empty dance floor, their movements perfectly coordinated.
Chapter 14
They flew into Tampa Monday afternoon. At home, Thomas waited with dinner on the stove. Nevvie gave him a quick hug and retreated to her bedroom to unpack.
“How is she?” Thomas whispered to Tyler after hugging and kissing him.
“She’ll be all right. Are you still going tomorrow?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Will the weather be good enough to take the bike?”
“It should be.”
She was surprised to find they’d be on the road the next morning but didn’t protest. Maybe a bike ride would help. Spending time alone with Thomas might level out her emotions.
Thomas rolled the Harley out of the garage while she hugged Tyler goodbye.
“Have a good time, sweetheart.”
She forced her eyes from his and pulled her helmet on. Feeling guilty that she wanted to be away from him, she climbed onto the bike behind Thomas.
Thomas took I-75, heading south to Ft.Myers, a first-hand check of a job site he hadn’t visited in over a month. He wanted her with him to examine paperwork and hopefully catch any improprieties.
The warm day wasn’t oppressively humid. Florida Octobers were fickle months, sometimes hot, sometimes cool, wet or dry, it was hard to predict. They stopped for lunch before going to the job site. Once there, she followed Thomas around, taking notes and helping him examine invoices and records.
Fortunately everything appeared copacetic. After six hours Thomas was satisfied and called Tyler before they left.
Nevvie watched his face. From the way his jaw suddenly clenched she knew there was a problem. He motioned her close and pointed to her BlackBerry, clipped to her jeans. She handed it over, and while he talked with Tyler he looked at something.
“Shit. I see it. Okay, I guess we’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll call you after we get to a hotel and eat dinner… Love you, too.”
Hotel? “What?”
Thomas held up her phone, the browser displaying the National Weather Service radar page. A wide swath of severe thunderstorms lay between them and Tampa, stretching from Punta Gorda all the way to Brandon.
“Can’t we hang until it’s over?”
He shook his head. “Sugar, I don’t mind riding in rain, but a frontal boundary like that means wind shear. I-75 will be wet for hours after it stops. I’m not risking our lives in it.” He studied her. “I’ll get us two rooms.”
She quickly shook her head. “No.” She took a deep breath. “We can bunk together.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Double beds?”
She met his eyes. “No. Just one.”
They were alone in the office, the manager doing a final check of the job site before closing down for the evening. Thomas crooked a finger at her and she went to him, wishing she didn’t feel guilty over leaving Tyler alone for the night.
Wishing she didn’t feel an aching need for Thomas.
He hugged her. “Let’s go get a room and we’ll stop somewhere, get what we need, grab some dinner. Tyler will be okay without us tonight.”
“How’d you do that?”
“I’m not a totally stupid guy. Some of Tyler’s rubbed off on me over the years.” He patted her back. “Come on, I know a place.”
They climbed on the bike. Twenty minutes later, he turned at a resort complex on the Intracoastal Waterway, complete with hotel, marina, shops, and restaurant.
“You know, Tommy, I’d be happy with a Motel 8.”
“I didn’t build a Motel 8.”
She took another look around. “You built this?”
“Guilty. But if it ever falls down, it was built by a guy named Goober.”
She followed him to the reservation desk. They checked in and walked to the shops, purchased a few essentials. As they passed a gift shop he stopped and took a couple of steps back. “Whoa.”
“What?”
He motioned to her and pointed at the sundress on display. “You, in that, for dinner.”
She started to protest and he grinned, taking her hand and pulling her into the store.
“No, baby girl, I get the final say.” Not only did he buy the dress, but a matching pair of sandals and an oversized T-shirt for her to sleep in. They retreated to their room, and he let her get ready first.
Nevvie wasn’t sure about the sundress, but if it made him happy, she’d wear it. Light teal and a gauzy crepe material, the loose skirt flowed mid-calf. He stood when she emerged from the bathroom, and she didn’t know how to interpret his look.
“Well?”
He held out his arms and she went to him, relaxing as he hugged her. “You look great, sugar. Beautiful. I’m a lucky guy. Give me a few minutes to get ready.”
He took her hand and led her to the waterside restaurant. With a beautiful Gulf sunset as their backdrop, they ate on the covered patio and enjoyed the balmy sea breeze. They talked for an hour while the restaurant emptied and the tiki bar filled. She enjoyed being able to relax with him like this, not have to rush back to work—or home.
Thomas made her laugh. Not that Tyler didn’t, but Tom’s playful, bawdy sense of humor fit well with her personality. She loved engaging in verbal battles of dirty puns with him. Where Tyler was serious, Thomas was silly. Truly the brain and the biker.
He paid their bill and led her to the tiki bar, leaving her at the only open barstool. “I’m going to run to the little boy’s room,” he said. “Order me a bottle of beer please, and then we’ll go back to the room.”
Nevvie nodded and finally caught the bartender’s attention, ordering Thomas’ favorite bottled brand. She smiled when she felt a hand on her shoulder a brief moment later. “That was quick. What, your lizard didn’t need draining after all?” She turned.
Her eyes widened. The hand on her shoulder didn’t belong to Thomas. She pulled free. “Uh, excuse me!”
“Hey, baby, why don’t you sit at our table?” The guy smelled like he would blow twice the legal limit.
She was trapped against the bar, the stools on either side of her occupied and the drunk blocking her escape route. He reached for her again, and she slapped his hand away, pushing him back a step.
“Don’t touch me!” she yelled, fighting her panic. He was taller than her by a good six inches, with a beer belly. “Leave me alone!”
“What, I’m not good enough for you? Come on, baby—”