Always Be True (16 page)

“What's up?”

There wasn't enough privacy to explain things, not with her parents sitting right there and Mrs. Humboldt and her son glaring at the two of them from across the table.

“I want to dance.”

“All right.” Tino paused to smile at her mother again. “Maybe we can squeeze in another round before Natalie and I have to leave.”

Her dad was the one who answered. “One more and that's it. Too much of a good thing, and she'll never be satisfied to shuffle around on the dance floor with me again.”

Her mother only laughed. “Oh, yes, I will. In fact, let's dance now while the orchestra is playing a waltz.”

Tino plowed their way through the other couples, holding Natalie's hand as she followed in his wake. He waited until they were lost in the center of the crowd before taking her in his arms. She'd been concerned that the difference in their heights would make dancing in close quarters awkward, but she'd worried for nothing. Within seconds, they were swirling across the floor as if they'd been dancing together for years rather than this being their first attempt.

Rather than bring up the problem with Benton, she lost herself in the beauty of the music and the warmth of the man who held her in his arms with such ease. For the moment, Tino seemed content to enjoy the dance, but she knew him well enough to know that eventually he would demand an explanation.

Sure enough, when the song ended and the orchestra immediately launched into a slower melody, he tightened his hold on her. “So what did our resident jackass say to upset you?”

“He wants to have lunch with me. Something about finding our way back to being friends again.” She rested her head against Tino's chest, taking comfort in the soft beat of his heart. “He clearly wants more than that. I don't.”

Tino muttered something unintelligible under his breath, and his hold on her tightened. “After this dance, I'll have a talk with him.”

The last thing either of them needed was to make a huge scene. “No, please don't. It's my problem.”

She smiled up at him, hoping to quench the angry fire burning in his eyes. “Well, actually, it's his. I doubt that many people have ever refused to give Benton something he wants, especially his parents. They think he's perfect in every way and can't imagine why I don't see him the same way they do.”

“Well, just know I'd be glad to escort him outside to have a personal discussion with him on the issue.” He turned a predatory smile in the direction of their table. “You know, the kind of discussion I used to have on a regular basis with soldiers who needed a hands-on reminder on how to behave in public. Maybe nursing a sore jaw and a few bruises will convince him that things are over between the two of you.”

Was she a bad person for even considering his offer even if only for half a second? Probably. Besides, Benton was an attorney and wouldn't hesitate to either press charges or file suit if Tino made a move against him.

“Eventually he'll give up. I'm guessing his pride is hurting more than his heart. Looking back, it's not like things were ever all that hot and heavy between us. Not like it is with you and me.”

What was Tino thinking now? If she had to guess, she'd say he was looking pretty pleased with himself. “What?”

“I think there was a compliment for me buried somewhere in what you just said.”

She replayed her words in her head. “There was? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, unless I'm mistaken, the bottom line is that you said I'm good in bed and he wasn't.” He spun her around on the dance floor. “I'm not wrong about that, am I?”

She laughed. “I hate to feed your already well-developed ego, but you're right. However, to be fair, I've only had that one evening with you as a basis for comparison.”

Tino was obviously a man who enjoyed a challenge. “Well, I wouldn't want you to form such an important opinion on insufficient information.”

His eyes darkened to the color of bittersweet chocolate. “Why don't we make our excuses and head back to your place? Once we're there, I promise to make every effort to provide you with a lot of hard data to support your hypothesis.”

His teasing went a long way toward restoring her good mood even if he had her blushing. “I look forward to examining your, um, hard data quite thoroughly, but I'd rather not leave quite yet.”

“So Benton doesn't assume that you're leaving because of him.” Tino's dark gaze shifted back toward the table. “You don't want him to think anything he says or does has the power to influence what you do.”

“Got it in one guess. Is that all right?”

“Fine with me. I wasn't kidding about loving to dance, and I don't get many chances like this.”

Then he whispered near her ear, “Especially when it's really foreplay for what comes later when I get you home.”

She shivered from the surge of hunger that danced along her skin. “I can't wait.”

They spent the next three songs out on the dance floor. When the orchestra launched into a salsa, Tino's face lit up. “Are you up for this?”

“Show me what you've got, soldier.”

He recognized that for the challenge that it was and led her through a series of fast steps that had her laughing and at the same time trying to catch her breath. She refused to let him outshine her, though, and took pride in keeping up with him. Almost, anyway.

By the time the final strains of the song faded away, she was more than ready for a breather and maybe a cold drink. Natalie followed as Tino led the way through the crowd back to their table. When he abruptly quit moving, she had to lean to the side to see what was going on that brought him to a stop. One glance had her wanting to curse.

Not only had Benton remained in Tino's seat, but if she and Tino wanted to sit down, they'd be stuck sitting on either side of him. Darn the man, anyway. Why did he have to act like this?

And if she was aggravated, it was unlikely Tino was any happier. Rather than continue directly to the table, he slowed their steps as he looked around the ballroom. “Want to check out the bar? I'd like a shot of something stronger than wine. Besides, right now I'm not sure I could resist the urge to kick the bastard's ass for him.”

There was no doubt he meant every word. She tugged his face down for a quick kiss. “I'd love a soft drink. Then maybe we should think about leaving.”

At least the line at the bar was long enough to give them both time to rein in their tempers. “I'm sorry, Tino. He's never acted like this before.”

“It's not your fault he can't figure out how to let go.” He paused to sip his bourbon. “So, assuming you still don't want me to school your ex in acceptable behavior, how do you want to handle this?”

Before she could answer, she spotted her father heading for them. “What now?”

They moved a short distance away where it was a little less crowded to hear what her father had to say.

“Natalie, your mother has developed a headache, so we're going to leave. She thought you might like to walk out with us.”

“Is it one of her migraines?”

Her father shook his head. “No, it's more of a big pain in the Humboldt region. Tino, we both want to apologize for the way Benton has chosen to behave tonight. I've never seen him act this way before.”

“No need to apologize, sir. It's not your fault.”

“I know, but we're the hosts at the table, and we certainly didn't intend for you two to get stuck sitting between him and his parents. By the time we realized Benton had switched the place cards around, there wasn't a way to change them back without causing a scene. We should have done it anyway.”

He turned his attention back to her. “So, what do you say we all call it a night? Your mother is waiting over by the door for us.”

Natalie set her soft drink down on a handy table and looped her arms through both Tino's and her father's. “I think that's for the best. I just need to grab my purse.”

“Why don't you go join your mother while I get it for you?”

She studied Tino's all-too-innocent face for a second before nodding. It was hard to see if he was up to something, but she had no desire to cross paths with Benton again.

“I'll be waiting.”

Tino nodded and headed off through the crowd toward the table. From the set of his shoulders and the way his hands had just curled into fists, maybe she shouldn't have left it up to him to fetch her purse. When she started to follow him, her father tugged her back.

“Let him go, Natalie. He won't do anything to embarrass you in public.”

She reluctantly let her father lead her over to where her mother stood next to the exit. “You just met him, Dad. How can you be sure?”

Her father shrugged. “I may have just met him, but it's clear you matter to him. Assuming Benton won't decide to be an even bigger ass than he's already been this evening, there shouldn't be a problem.”

That was a pretty big assumption, but there wasn't much Natalie could do about it now. She could only stand with her parents and hope for the best.

Tino flexed his fingers, trying to control his temper for the next few seconds. He was damned protective of the people in his life, and he didn't like the fact Natalie's ex had decided to be a jackass this evening. Not only had Benton been obnoxious to the two of them, he'd also put her parents in a difficult position. If the jerk was smart, he wouldn't say a single word when Tino stopped by the table to claim her purse. Unfortunately, while Benton might be well educated on paper, he obviously lacked street smarts, the kind that would keep him from shooting off his mouth to the wrong person.

Making a scene was the last thing Tino wanted to do. This wasn't the kind of affair that he normally enjoyed, but he wanted to fit in for Natalie's sake. No doubt it wouldn't be the last one he'd attend if the two of them continued to see each other on a regular basis. Right now, all he wanted was for the two of them to make good on their escape and move on to the real entertainment for the evening.

It was nice of her parents to come up with a way for all of them to make a graceful departure. Granted, he doubted freeing him up to go have hot sex with their daughter was really their intention, but he was grateful.

Meanwhile, he was back at the table. Mrs. Humboldt had made herself scarce, but her son was lying in wait. He leaned back in his chair and stared up at Tino over the rim of his wineglass. “Where's Natalie? She promised me the next dance.”

Tino didn't bother calling him on the lie. Arguing with a drunk was never a smart move, and Benton's speech was slurred enough to make it clear he was feeling the effects of all that excellent wine he'd been guzzling. Tino hoped Natalie would be proud of his forbearance as he did his best to remain polite. “I'm sorry, but we're leaving. Her mother isn't feeling well.”

Benton sat his drink down, nearly missing the edge of the table. “Why does Natalie need to leave just because her mother has a headache? Besides, I bet you didn't come in the same car as her parents.”

And what did that have to do with anything? Rather than respond, Tino reached past Benton to pick up the small black purse lying on the table.

Before he could get it, Benton slapped his own hand down over it. “So tell me, Gianelli, are you the real reason Natalie gave back my ring?”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Because I've got to say, you two looked pretty damn cozy out there on the dance floor. I want the truth this time. Just how long have you two been seeing each other behind my back?”

Damn, did the man really want to end the evening with a nice crop of bruises? It was bad enough that he was embarrassing the other people around the table, but he'd just insulted the honor of the woman he'd professed to love.

“If you're stupid enough to think that of Natalie, you don't know her at all.” Tino grabbed the chain on the purse and yanked it free from Benton's grasp. He glanced at the few people still at the table. “Now, if you'll all excuse me.”

Meanwhile, Benton lurched to his feet and made as if to follow Tino. “Natalie can't leave until we have that dance. She won't appreciate your hustling her out of here just so I don't have a chance to enjoy a little alone time with her. We both know you're just a stand-in until she comes to her senses. No way she'd give up a man of her own social class for an unemployed, uneducated guy like you.”

Enough was enough. Tino stared at the other man as if he'd just crawled out from under a rock. “All things considered, Benton, I'd say she's already done that. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've kept the Kennigans waiting long enough.”

He didn't get away before Benton managed to block his way. “Listen here, you and that bitch can't—”

Tino cut him off right there, crowding in close enough to force Benton into retreat, the first smart move the idiot had made all night. Tino's tuxedo offered but a thin veneer of sophistication over a warrior's need to defend those he cared about. Right now, he was about a heartbeat away from teaching Benton firsthand what that meant. He got right up in Benton's grill. “Shut up while you still have all those pretty, white teeth, or we take this discussion outside.”

Luckily for Benton, his father returned in time to shove his way between his son and Tino. “That's enough, Benton. Do what the man says and shut up.”

By now, people at several of the surrounding tables were openly staring at the confrontation. At least none of them had whipped out their phones to start snapping pictures. Now that Mr. Humboldt had his son under control, Tino walked away, still fighting the urge to lay Benton out flat on the ballroom floor.

As he rounded the edge of the table on his way toward the door, he caught Stan Grant's eye. “I apologize for all of that. Regardless, it was nice meeting you and your wife. Please wish your sons the best for me.”

“I'll do that.” The older man glanced in Benton's direction and then back at Tino. “You showed more restraint than I would have. Your father was right to be proud of you.”

Okay, so maybe he hadn't worn out his welcome with everyone. “Thank you, sir. Now, I'd better be going.”

As he wound his way through the tightly clustered tables, he risked a peek back over his shoulder to see what Benton was doing now. He and his father were having a heated discussion. The elder Humboldt looked more than a little disgusted when he finally all but dragged his son toward the men's room at the back of the ballroom.

Good. At least one member of that family had the good sense to not let the situation deteriorate any further. On the other hand, his wife might have a different opinion on that considering she was now standing with Natalie and her parents. None of them were looking in his direction at the moment, but there was enough tension in their body language to make it clear that the conversation hadn't been entirely pleasant.

It was time to put an end to this crap. He cleared the last of the tables and headed straight for Natalie. When he appeared at her shoulder, she offered him a tight smile. “Thanks for retrieving my purse for me. I would've hated to have left it behind.”

“It was no problem.”

She lifted her eyebrows just enough to let him know she questioned the truth of that statement. Okay, so she knew his encounter with Benton hadn't gone smoothly. He gave her a quick kiss, needing that small connection with her. After wrapping his arm around her shoulders, he finally made eye contact with the other three people standing there. Tracy and Randall looked intrigued by their interaction, but Mrs. Humboldt's displeasure was unmistakable.

Too bad. Tino wasn't the one who'd made an ass of himself tonight.

Natalie's father abruptly took charge of the situation. “I'm sorry, Gloria, we should be going so Tracy can take something for her headache.”

Personally, Tino thought Benton had been more of a pain in the ass than a headache, but he wasn't going to nitpick.

Mrs. Humboldt gave Natalie's mother a quick hug. “I hope you feel better.”

There was real concern in her voice, which came as a bit of surprise. He'd almost forgotten she and Natalie's mother were close friends. Maybe the strain of having to spend time with the woman who had hurt her son had taken its toll on her. No doubt the realization that Natalie and Tino were involved in an ongoing relationship had been a real eye-opener for both her and Benton.

Tracy offered her friend a rather wan smile. Maybe the headache had been more than a simple excuse to leave. If not, she was one heck of an actress. “It's nothing a couple of ibuprofen and a good night's sleep won't fix. I'll see you at lunch on Thursday.”

Randall's own smile looked strained. “Good night, Gloria. Tell Tom I'll text him our tee time in the morning.”

“I will.” Turning her attention in their direction, she nodded at each of them in turn. “Mr. Gianelli. Natalie, don't be a stranger.”

Then she walked away without waiting for a response. Meanwhile, Randall took his wife's hand. “Once we're outside, I'll pull the car around to pick you up.”

“That's not necessary. I can walk that far. I think the fresh air will actually help.”

The four of them made their way to the front entrance of the building and stepped out into the night. The late-evening air tasted sweet, a nice counterpoint to the stuffy atmosphere back inside the building.

It didn't take long to reach the Kennigans' Lexus. Her dad stuck out his hand. “It was nice meeting you, Tino, even if the evening ended up being a little rough around the edges. We'd love to have you over for dinner soon.”

“That would be nice, sir.”

Tracy already looked a little perkier. It was impossible to tell if the improvement was due to the fresh air or the chance to get away from the crowd. Probably both. “Thank you for the dance, Tino. You should know that I was the envy of my friends. A couple even asked if we'd be willing to share you the next time.”

Natalie looked horrified by the prospect. “Mom, please tell me you didn't actually offer to loan him out!”

Her mother laughed. “Of course not. I just thought I should warn him.”

Randall opened the car door for his wife, clearly ready to be heading home. “Leave the poor guy alone, Tracy. It's bad enough that he had to deal with the Humboldts tonight without threatening to ask him to dance with the entire menopausal set.”

Natalie snickered as she took Tino's hand in hers. “And on that scary note, we'll be going now. I'll let you know if there's anything the foundation can do for the orchestra.”

Her father nodded. “I know you'll do your best.”

Tino let Natalie lead him away from her parents. He managed a quick wave before falling in step next to her.

When they were out of hearing, she said, “God, Tino, I'm so sorry about tonight. Seriously, if I'd had any idea the evening would turn out to be so awkward, I would've refused to attend at all. For sure I would never have knowingly subjected you to Benton's appalling behavior.”

“It's his problem, Nat, not ours.”

Well, except for the fact he was majorly pissed off about everything that had happened. For Natalie's sake, he'd bent over backward to disguise himself as one of the crowd—starting with buying a tux he couldn't really afford, and then dusting off all the good manners Joe had drilled into all of his sons. Anything to fit in with her friends and family. Despite his best efforts, the Humboldts had clearly pegged him as an intruder.

Worse yet, he was still fighting the adrenaline rush from that final confrontation with Natalie's ex. Having no handy target for his anger, he channeled his frustration into a completely different direction instead. Offering her no warning, he tightened his hold on Natalie's hand as he veered off the pavement and into the trees that lined the parking lot. Under the cover of deep shadows, he spun his woman into his arms and kissed her long and hard. When she gasped at the sudden embrace, he deepened the kiss as he lifted her high against his chest.

Pressing her back against the closest tree, he guided her legs up around his hips. Settling his raging erection right against her core, he flexed his hips several times, craving the connection that was only slightly hindered by the layers of clothing between them.

“Tino! What are you doing?” Natalie clung to his shoulders, her eyes wide with shock. At least she didn't demand that he release her.

God knows, resorting to caveman tactics might not be the smartest move he could have made. Regardless, his instincts screamed for him to reestablish his claim on Natalie, to mark her as his now, and to make sure that she damn well knew it.

Natalie was slow to surrender, but she gradually melted into him. Her soft moan fanned flames, sending the fire perilously close to raging out of control. For sure he shouldn't have his hands on her ass and his tongue down her throat right out there when any number of her parents' friends could see them.

It took every bit of strength he had to dial back the heat. His voice was sandpaper rough when he whispered near her ear, “We need to go before I fulfill a favorite fantasy of mine. It involves taking a gorgeous woman up against a tree in the woods.”

Natalie's voice was equally husky in the darkness, her own hands wandering down interesting paths. “Personally, I've always dreamed of a tall, dark warrior carrying me off to have his wicked way with me. Maybe we can check off two fantasies at one time.”

Damned if he wasn't tempted. But then the headlights of a passing car skirted the edge of the shadows where they stood. “As much as I'd love to indulge in a little loving
al fresco,
maybe we should take this someplace a little more private.”

She actually looked disappointed. “Fine, be that way. But promise you'll drive fast on the way home.”

“I promise.”

Then to prove he was that warrior who planned to have his wicked way with his lady, he swept Natalie up in his arms and carried her the rest of the way to the car.

Natalie hadn't dated all that many men over the years, and none who were anything like Tino Gianelli. He'd shed all pretense of civilized sophistication between one heartbeat and the next, leaving her panting with need. After abandoning the minimal cover offered by the trees, they'd lasted as far as his car before indulging in another kiss that pretty much fried her brain and threatened to destroy any inhibitions she might have had. If that parking lot had been a little more deserted, she just might have learned if being taken on the hood of a car was as romantic as it would've been to let Tino finish what he'd started up against that tree.

She'd laughed and braced herself when Tino gunned the engine and peeled out of the country club parking lot. The tires had squealed and briefly fought for purchase on the road.

Tino shot her an apologetic look. “Whoops.”

After that, he reined it in and drove the rest of the way at or at least near the speed limit. Fifteen minutes later, they were on the final approach to her place. She wasn't sure she would have survived the trip if she'd lived any farther away from the club.