Always Be True (21 page)

The kids came charging into the gym. Tino took a deep breath and pasted a smile on his face, hoping they wouldn't be able to tell it was fake. As he and Jay crossed the room to greet them, he whispered to his fellow coach, “I haven't given up yet, but it may come to that.”

Although he hoped like hell it wouldn't. The thought of never again knowing the spicy taste of Natalie's kiss or the sweet slide of her skin against his made him physically ill.

Jay nodded. “I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.”

“Thanks.”

As they got the kids started on their warm-up run, Tino added, “If I have screwed things up beyond repair, I may just take you up on that drink. I'll even buy.”

Jay patted him on the shoulder. “Just so you know, you'll be springing for the good stuff. If I'm going to kill my liver over the demise of your love life, I'll want it to go out in style.”

For the first time since Natalie had driven away that morning, Tino laughed and meant it.

Maybe she should bang her head on the wall and be done with it. The class had been a total disaster since the first moment she had greeted her students. Sighing, Natalie studied her notes again and finally set the papers aside. It was too late to salvage the situation.

“I apologize, everyone. It's just been one of those days for me, but that's no excuse. Let's call it a night. I promise that I'll do better next time.”

Her students packed up their stuff and gradually shuffled toward the door. A few stopped by her desk on their way out to ask some quick questions. She did her best to answer them, hoping that none of them picked up on how much she wished they'd just leave. The fact that her life had gone off the rails that morning wasn't their fault, and they deserved her best effort.

Maybe her grandfather was right. She did have a lot on her plate and should find another volunteer to teach the evening classes.

One last girl filed by her desk. “Good night, Ms. Kennigan. I hope you feel better soon.”

“Thank you, Haley. I'm sure a couple of aspirin and a good night's sleep will fix me right up.”

Okay, that was a lie. There was no cure for a broken heart except time. Some distance might help, too, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Not with Tino coaching basketball right down the hall several nights a week for the foreseeable future.

Earlier, when she'd stepped out in the hall before class, she could hear the deep rumble of his voice mixed in with the team's laughter coming from the gym. How could he be so good with those kids and such a dumbass when it came to her? Clearly, he'd figured she'd look down on him for living right by his mom's house. Where would he have gotten that idiot idea? If he'd only given her a chance, he would've found out she actually thought it was rather sweet of him.

With the huge television and assortment of gym equipment, the garage had obviously been made over into a man cave. However, there was nothing shoddy about the workmanship that had gone into its design. From the way he talked about his parents and his brothers, she bet there had also been a lot of love and care involved. Even now, her strongest impression was that the apartment was warm and welcoming.

Nothing at all like its current resident.

The memory of Tino's anger and hostility right before she'd stormed out of his apartment had left her with a pounding headache that had hung on all day. Granted, he'd looked far different when he'd appeared in the computer lab doorway earlier, maybe even apologetic. She'd forced herself to look away before she did something stupid—like crying or, worse yet, running straight toward him in the hopes his arms would be open and waiting.

It took half an hour to shut down the computers and attend to a few other routine chores. When she was done, she stuffed her notes into her briefcase without bothering to keep them separate from the files she'd brought home to work on from the foundation. No doubt she'd regret that later when she had to sort it all out, but she couldn't bring herself to care. All that mattered right now was getting out of there without having to talk to anyone.

After flipping off the lights, she locked the lab door and headed toward the exit. So far, so good. But then a familiar figure stepped into sight. As tempting as it was to turn around and head right back into the computer lab, that would be cowardly. Besides, Clarence had insisted he should walk her out to her car. She didn't really want an escort, but apparently there'd been problems in the area lately, a few cars broken into and some vandalism.

Unfortunately, the only man in sight was Tino. She glanced back over her shoulder to see if maybe the janitor was waiting at the other end of the hall. No luck.

“I told Clarence that I'd make sure you reached your car safely.”

Great. She gritted her teeth to keep from cursing. “I'll tell you the same thing I told him. I don't need an escort. In your case, I also don't want an escort.”

He winced. Good, a direct hit. That didn't mean he walked away. When she brushed past him, Tino silently followed after her, but at least he hung back a short distance. Smart of him to give her some space. Outside, she realized that it was later than she'd thought. There were only two cars in the parking lot—hers and Tino's. It didn't help that the only streetlight in the area was burned out.

She would never admit it, but she was relieved not to be out there alone in the darkness right now, although she wasn't exactly sure why. This was far from the first time she'd been at the center after hours. Over the months that the foundation had been involved in the project, she'd come and gone at all times of the day. Maybe Clarence's comment about the break-ins had planted a seed of fear. More likely, her unease stemmed from the fact that she wasn't feeling her best and the cause of that problem was still lurking a short distance away.

In fact, he was standing right by her car. What the heck did he want now? It was tempting to simply drive away, but she knew him well enough to know he'd keep coming back until she listened.

She rolled the window down a few inches. “What now, Tino?”

He squatted down until he was at her eye level. “I know you don't want to hear this, but I am sorry for this morning.”

So was she, but not for the same reasons. She'd had such hope for the two of them. Just thinking of how things could have been only made her heart hurt. “Fine, you've apologized. Now, I need to go.”

She started to close the window but stopped. “And for future reference, don't wait around to walk me out of the building. I'm a big girl. I can actually find my way home all by myself.”

Tino immediately grabbed the top edge of the window with both hands to prevent her from closing it. “Be pissed at me all you want to, Natalie, but don't let that make you stupid about things. I know you have friends in this neighborhood, but that doesn't mean you're always safe here. If I'm not around, ask Clarence or even Jay to walk you out.”

The stubborn set to his jaw made it clear that he wasn't going to let her leave until she agreed to his demand. “Fine.”

When Tino released his hold on the window, she put the car into drive and hit the gas. All she succeeded in doing was to kill the engine. Damn, damn, double damn. She turned the key in the ignition and prayed it would start. Luck was finally with her. This time she eased her foot down on the gas and drove away.

As she exited the parking lot, she checked her rearview mirror. Tino hadn't moved. God, he looked so darn lonely standing there alone in the empty parking lot. Well, welcome to the club. She knew just how he felt.

Tino knocked on the heavy wooden door and braced himself for an ass-kicking or at least a figurative one. He wasn't even sure why he'd shown up, but ignoring the summons from Cyrus Waines would've reeked of cowardice. No doubt the old man wanted to rip Tino a new one for hurting his granddaughter.

Esther opened the door. “Tino, you're right on time. Come on in.”

He followed her into the foyer, trying to look far more in control of the situation than he actually felt. “Mr. Waines left a message that he wanted to see me.”

“So I hear.” The housekeeper smiled as she pointed toward the library. “He's waiting for you in there. I'll be along with lunch for the two of you in a few minutes.”

Really? Since when did being called on the carpet require refreshments? He was about to say something when he realized that Esther had already deserted him. Well, he could stand there and dither or he could find out what the hell was going on. The door to the library was open just a crack. He was saved from having to decide whether he should knock or go straight in when the decision was made for him.

“The chessboard is set up in here.” Cyrus sat in the open doorway glaring up at him. “Or are you going to hide out here all day?”

Tino met the man's faded gaze head-on. “I'm considering it.”

The old man's hoot of laughter was a bit on the mean side. “Well, at least you're honest about it. Now, get in here.”

Tino followed him into the library. Cyrus wheeled himself around to one side of a chess table set up in front of the window. He waved his hand toward the opposing chair. “Sit down. I get tired of having to look up at you.”

This was a different chess set than they'd played with before. Tino picked up one of the pawns and studied it. “Seriously? A storm trooper?”

“My daughter and son-in-law bought the set for me, knowing I love both chess and the original three
Star Wars
movies. They've bought me a bunch of different sets over the years. I guess it's hard to come up with gifts for the man who has everything.”

He slid a pawn forward to start the game. “Well, everything except for a few great-grandchildren.”

Tino had been about to make his own move when Cyrus dropped that little bombshell. His hand was shaking only a little as he put his pawn into play. “Not sure where they'll be able to buy some of those for you.”

“Don't be a smartass, boy.”

“Sometimes I can't help myself, sir.”

“Try harder.”

They lapsed into a long silence as the play continued. A few minutes later, Esther delivered the promised sandwiches and drinks. She set everything out on Cyrus's desk. “Gentlemen, lunch is served.”

Her employer didn't even glance up. “We're in the middle of a game.”

Esther rolled her eyes. “Eat now or I'll take it all away. As I recall, you really hate stale sandwiches for dinner.”

When she sailed out of the room without a backward look, Cyrus muttered an obscenity. “I sign that woman's paycheck, so I know for a fact she works for me. You'd never know it by the way she acts.”

“Have you ever called her bluff?”

“Once.” Cyrus backed away from the table and headed for his desk. “How do you think she knows I hate stale sandwiches?”

Tino couldn't help but laugh. It occurred to him that Esther and his mother would really hit it off, considering neither one of them was inclined to take any crap from the men in their lives. He studied the array of salads and sandwiches Esther had laid out for them. She'd outdone herself once again. “I love a good game of chess, but it would be a real shame to let this spread go to waste.”

“Yeah, but don't tell her that. She's impossible to live with as it is.”

“I'm guessing she'll figure it out for herself when there's nothing left but crumbs.”

His host looked a bit disgruntled by that thought, but that didn't stop him from loading up his plate. Tino happened to glance across the room and spotted the woman in question hovering right outside the library door. She gave him a thumbs-up and disappeared from sight.

They made quick work of the meal. Tino even went back for seconds. He was going to need all of his strength to get through the game Cyrus had in store for him, and he didn't mean the chess match they were about to resume.

When they once again faced each other across the board, Cyrus picked up right where he'd left off. “You disappointed me, boy.”

“How so, sir?”

“Don't play coy with me. We both know you screwed up big-time when it comes to my granddaughter.”

No use in denying it. “Yeah, I did.”

“Did you really think it would matter to Natalie where you park your butt at night?”

Okay, that surprised him. Tino took Cyrus's knight and set it off to the side. “She talked to you about what happened?”

“No, she talked to Esther. I eavesdropped. It's the only way I ever learn what's really going on around here.”

There went Tino's bishop. If he didn't get his head back into the game, it was going to be over in a few more moves. “Near as I can figure, I wasn't thinking at all that morning. If I had been, I wouldn't have screwed up so badly.”

“Well, that might be the smartest thing I've heard you say all day.” Cyrus's knobby hand picked up his queen and parked it right in front of Tino's king. “Check and mate.”

It was almost a relief to admit defeat on both fronts. Tino began resetting the chessboard, although he wasn't sure he was up to a second game. Maybe Cyrus felt the same way, because he angled his chair so he could stare out at the backyard.

“That damn dog is out there again.”

Tino spotted the beagle sniffing around the edge of the yard. After a few seconds, the dog started digging like crazy. Tino tried to hold back a laugh but failed miserably. Cyrus gave in and grinned, too. “When you get to my age, you learn to appreciate a determined opponent. Sometimes aggravation is all you've got left to get the blood pumping in your veins.”

His smile faded. “My wife and I were happy together. That doesn't mean the road was always smooth. We had us some fine battles over the years.”

The warmth in his voice made it clear that those memories were among his favorites. Tino could remember a few times when Joe had come slinking home with flowers for Marlene after they'd had words. “My parents had their moments, too.”

“Are you talking about your birth parents or Joe and Marlene Lukash?”

Tino leaned back in his chair and studied the wily old man. “Both, actually. Considering I've never told Natalie I was adopted, I know you didn't overhear her talking about that.”

“No, I had someone check into your background.” Cyrus glanced at Tino. “You don't like the idea of someone poking around in your personal business, but a man does what it takes to protect his family. For what it's worth, I haven't shared the information with my granddaughter and don't plan to.”

Actually, Tino wasn't as pissed off about Cyrus digging in his history as he probably should've been. “Why not tell her? Especially when it doesn't matter anymore.”

It had been over a week since the last time he'd spoken to Natalie in the parking lot at the community center. He'd seen her, though. Even if she hadn't been aware of his presence, he'd been out in the parking lot every night she was there. Once she was safely in her car, he faded back into the shadows, his duty done for the night.

“Okay, there you go veering off into stupid land again.” Cyrus stared up at the ceiling as if praying for patience. “Son, if it didn't matter, the two of you wouldn't both be dragging around town like a pair of the living dead.”

“But—”

Cyrus cut him off with a wave of his hand. “I might not know everything about your situation, but I know enough to understand what makes you tick.”

“With all due respect, sir, you don't know jack. Look at this place.”

Tino could no longer sit still. He got up to pace the length of the room and back while the old man watched every step he took. After his second trip, Cyrus blocked his way and pulled a picture out of his shirt pocket. He held it up for Tino to see. “How about you look at this place instead?”

He studied the old black-and-white snapshot. It was a photo of a small cabin sitting on the edge of a creek. “So?”

“That's where I was born. My mother gave birth to four kids in that place. I'm the only one who survived to adulthood.”

Tino didn't know what else to say. “I'm sorry.”

Cyrus shrugged. “It was all a long time ago. My father and his older brother worked in the mines. Mom did her best to keep food on the table for the four of us. After watching those two men working themselves to death at an early age, I swore I'd never spend my days underground like that.”

“How did you escape?”

Because somehow that's what he'd done. Tino was willing to bet that very few of the kids Cyrus had known in his youth now lived in a place like this. It also explained why he was so generous with his money and encouraged his granddaughter to invest it in the areas of town where other children might need a helping hand.

The old man stared out the window again. Tino would bet his last dime that he wasn't seeing the manicured lawn or even the wayward beagle who'd moved on to digging a second hole.

After a few seconds, Cyrus finally answered. “I'd love to tell you that I had some grand plan for making something of myself, but I was just a dumb kid desperate to do anything other than breathe coal dust. I got my high school diploma and my draft notice in the same week.”

“You mentioned you served in Vietnam.”

“That I did. I'll share my photo album with you one of these days. You'd find it interesting. My son-in-law is a good man, but he has no frame of reference for what it was like over there for us. How much it hurt to have friends who never made it back. You'd understand better than most.”

Yeah, he would. “I'd be honored, sir.”

Cyrus turned away from the window. “Enough about that. The point is that I don't come from money, and my granddaughter knows that. It's never bothered her one damn bit. Can't imagine your background would, either.”

“Point taken.”

“Good. She is stubborn, though. You're going to have to work hard to earn her trust again.”

Tino laughed. “You're not the first one to tell me that. A friend, who was a Seal, told me I should do some serious groveling. I would, but she won't let me get close enough to try.”

“I'm guessing you've got your own fair measure of stubbornness. If she matters enough to you, you'll find a way. I'd hate to think you're like that idiot Benton. That fool let her hand back his ring and never lifted a finger to stop her. He thought she'd come running back just because he's rich and good looking.” Cyrus sneered. “Like my Natalie would be satisfied with that.”

He pointed at Tino. “Thanks to her father's mother, she's got her own money, enough to last her a lifetime. What Natalie needs is a man who understands her, one who is strong enough to face the kind of crap life likes to throw at people. Benton will never be that man. You, on the other hand, just might be.”

Tino wasn't sure what to say to that. Luckily, Cyrus didn't seem to need a response. “Now, do you have time for another game before that danged woman barges in here and starts nagging me to take a nap?”

“I'll make time, sir.” Feeling better than he had in days, Tino parked his ass at the chess table and finished setting up the board.

Tino would be out there again. She just knew it. Oh, that man thought he was being so darn clever, sneaking around to watch her walk out to her car on the two nights a week when she taught class and his team had practice. That didn't explain why he'd also shown up on Saturday evening for escort duty after the work party ended even though he hadn't been there to help during the day.

And then there was Monday, which wasn't one of her regularly scheduled nights at the center. Several of her students had asked if there was a time when they could use the lab to take practice tests for their upcoming GED exams. Obviously, Tino had bribed someone into spying for him, because he'd been in his usual space, waiting and watching as she'd left the building.

He'd also sent her chocolates, and not just any old box of chocolates. No, they were handmade and her absolute favorites. Horribly expensive, too. The sneaky jerk obviously had someone from her inner circle on his side. She'd tried telling herself not to accept any gifts from him, but it would've been a crime to throw the chocolates away. Really. That was her excuse for indulging herself with a bubble bath and several of the delectable treats.

On her regular visit to her grandfather on Tuesday morning, Esther had let it slip that Tino and Cyrus had gotten together to play chess. She shouldn't begrudge her grandfather a little fun, but she did. After all, how dare he stay friends with the man who'd ripped her heart out? Why was she the only one still mad at Tino?

Good question. Why was she?

To her surprise, Clarence was waiting for her at the door. “Thought I'd walk you out tonight, Miss Natalie.”

“That's not necessary, Clarence.”

“Most nights it wouldn't be.” He held the door open for her. “But your guardian angel called to say he was running late. He'd kick my old ass if I let you go waltzing out there by yourself. And before you say anything, I'd do the same thing for any woman leaving the building this late.”

“Fine.”

As they walked out of the center, it seemed extra dark outside. One reason was that the sky was cloudy, and no moonlight could get through. But she was pretty sure that learning that Tino wasn't there also contributed to the gloom out in the parking lot.

It didn't help that the city still hadn't fixed the burned-out lights across the street. She'd be making a call about it first thing in the morning. If that didn't get some action, she'd sic her grandfather on them. Cyrus had several of the city council members on speed dial. If they wanted his continued support, they'd get someone out there pronto.