Always Be True (22 page)

“I'll see what I can do about the broken streetlights tomorrow, Clarence. There's no excuse for it taking the city so long to get them replaced.”

“I've called myself, but you can see how much good that has done.”

They walked behind her car just as three teenagers came strolling toward them from the direction of the basketball court. Her pulse did a stutter step when the tallest one stopped to stare at her. “Hey, guys, look who we have here.”

He glanced at his companions. “Luck is with us. This is the rich bitch who has been fancying up the center. I'm betting she can get us into the computer lab and save us the trouble of breaking in. We'll grab those shiny new computers and be gone before anyone is the wiser.”

“There's one problem with your plan.” Clarence stepped out from behind the car to put himself between her and the trio. “She's not alone. Now, you three best get moving if you know what's good for you, because I'm calling the police.”

“Old man, we're not scared of you or the cops.”

As Clarence started to dial, the closest boy pulled a piece of pipe out of his bag and lunged forward to knock the phone from Clarence's hand. One of the others made a grab for Natalie, but she swung her briefcase at him, making solid contact with his head. He cursed and retaliated with a hard blow to her cheek with the flat of his hand. The impact sent her stumbling back against the fender of her car.

Meanwhile, the other two faced off against Clarence, fists flying. The scuffle didn't last long, because Tino appeared out of nowhere. With a bellow of rage, he grabbed the nearest punk and flung him skidding across the pavement. The one with the pipe hit the ground next. Tino jerked the makeshift weapon out of his hand and immobilized the kid by twisting his arm behind his back. The teen fought to get free, but Tino held him prisoner with frightening ease.

Meanwhile, Clarence took the second teen to the ground and sat on his back to keep him there. The one who had attacked Natalie took off running, but she made no effort to stop him. It wasn't until he was almost out of sight that she realized he'd stolen both her purse and briefcase in the process. It was tempting to chase after him, but that was the adrenaline talking. Her hands shook as she picked up Clarence's phone to call 9-1-1.

While she relayed the necessary information, Tino kept his eyes pinned on her. “Are you all right?”

“I'm fine.” Not really. Her face throbbed with pain while her heart threatened to burst out of her chest. “How about you, Clarence? Did they hurt you?”

The older man dabbed at a bit of blood on his face with his sleeve. “I'll be fine. These two aren't man enough to do any real damage.”

When the pair in question started cursing, Tino jerked harder on the teenager's arm, knocking the breath out of him. “Shut your mouth before I shut it for you permanently. There's a lady present.”

By that point, she could hear sirens. Seconds later, a pair of patrol cars tore into the parking lot with tires screaming and lights flashing. Two police officers took custody of the teenagers while the others took statements from the three adults. Natalie was proud of how calm she sounded as she answered their questions despite the fact that her teeth had a tendency to chatter. What really worried her was that the kid who had escaped had her keys and her wallet. If he wanted to come after her, he would have no problem finding her.

The waves of chills rolling across her skin had nothing to do with the cool evening air. Having finally relinquished his prisoner to the police, Tino moved up beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Just that quickly, she felt warm and safe. There was no missing the tension thrumming through his big body even though his touch was gentle and meant to comfort. That didn't mean the man wasn't enraged by what had gone down. No doubt she'd hear about it later. For now, she instinctively leaned into his strength.

The EMTs checked her for a concussion before offering her an ice pack to control the swelling on her face. After assuring them she was only a bit shaken up by the encounter, they turned their attention to Clarence. The older man had sustained a couple of minor bruises and a small cut on his chin. Otherwise, he was fine. All things considered, the encounter could've had a far worse outcome.

When the EMTs finished with Clarence, Tino asked him, “Would you like me to drive you home?”

The older man shook his head. “My ride will be here any minute. In fact, there she is.”

To Natalie's surprise, Rosalie pulled up and jumped out of her car, ignoring everyone except for Clarence. “What happened? Are you all right?”

The man in question gathered the woman into his arms. “Now that you're here, I'm a whole lot better, Rosie girl. I'll explain on the way home.”

Natalie watched the pair in stunned silence. She'd always suspected there was something brewing between the pair, but Rosalie had insisted that Clarence had loved his late wife too much to look at another woman. Obviously, that had changed. Finally, her friend released her death grip on Clarence and turned her attention toward Natalie and Tino.

Rosalie's expressive eyes widened as she took note of Tino holding Natalie so close. “How about the pair of you? Are you okay?”

Tino gave Natalie a slight squeeze. “We're both all right except that a third kid took off with Natalie's purse and briefcase, which had her wallet and keys in it.”

Rosalie shuddered. “Sweetie, that's not good. Maybe you should come home with us for tonight.”

Seriously, when had Rosalie and Clarence gone from sparring with each other to becoming an “us”? This wasn't the time for an inquisition. “I appreciate the offer, but that's okay.”

The policeman who had taken charge of the situation joined the discussion. “I'm sorry to say it, Miss Kennigan, but she's not wrong. These two gave up the identity of the third member of their crew to avoid being charged with the theft. With luck, it shouldn't take us long to find him. However, until we do, you're at risk. We can ask the police in your area to keep an eye on your place, but you'd probably rest better if you stayed with your friends.”

Tino stood a little taller but maintained his hold on Natalie. “I'll be making sure Ms. Kennigan is safe. You have my number if you need to get in touch with her.”

Maybe she should object to Tino answering for her, but right now she was too tired to argue. She noted that he didn't exactly say that she'd be going home with him, but she was willing to bet that everyone had jumped to that conclusion. There would be time enough to decide where she would crash for the night once they were away from nosy friends and busy policemen.

A second officer approached them. “Ms. Kennigan, I am sorry this happened. We're all aware of the good work being done here at the center, thanks to the support of your foundation. My cousin's boy is on the basketball team Jay Tobin has started, and I know a couple of the kids taking the computer course you're teaching. It's a damn shame that these idiots want to screw things up for everyone else.”

Her face hurt, and she ached from head to toe with exhaustion. Still, she mustered a smile. “Don't worry. Nothing that happened tonight will affect the foundation's willingness to support the center and this neighborhood.”

That seemed to reassure everyone concerned, and the police said they could all leave. She didn't resist when Tino led her over to where he'd parked. Seconds later, they drove out of the lot with the police cars right behind them. Tino still hadn't said where he was taking her. Right now, she really didn't care.

All right, that was a lie. She didn't want to go home nor did she want him to drive to her parents' house. It was too much to hope for that they'd never find out about what had happened, but she wasn't up to dealing with them tonight.

Tino finally broke the silence. “Here's the way I see this all playing out. You have two choices. Well, actually three, but I'm operating under the assumption you don't want to go running home to your folks. If that's true, the first choice is that we can upset your grandfather by showing up on his doorstep to see if we can crash there for the night.”

The lights from a passing car outlined Tino's face with stark clarity. The man was definitely furious and spoiling for a fight. She hadn't yet decided if she was going to give him one. “And the second choice?”

“My place.” He shot her a quick look. “You can bunk in my room, and I'll crash in my brother's. Or I'm sure my mother wouldn't mind if you slept in her guest room.”

Decisions, decisions. “I would rather not bother my grandfather. I will tell him and my parents what happened, but I'd rather not do it when I'm tired.”

“And frightened?”

She sighed. “Yes, Tino, I'm frightened. A little, anyway.”

A warm hand settled over hers. “Only a little? Because I've got to tell you that seeing those kids go after you and Clarence with a pipe scared the hell out of me. I'm only sorry I wasn't there to walk you out myself.”

It wasn't really his job to watch over her, but she couldn't bring herself to point that out. “No need to apologize.”

She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Personally, I'm happy that no one was seriously hurt, and that they didn't actually rob the computer lab. At least the police have a lead on the kid who stole my things. Even if I get it all back, I'll still change my locks and cancel the credit card that was in my wallet.”

Tino released his hold on her hand. “That's my girl. Always looking for the positive in any situation and then coming up with a plan of action to minimize the negatives.”

His words of praise would have pleased her more if they hadn't been laced with just a hint of sarcasm. Besides, she wasn't his anymore. It was amazing how much that idea still hurt.

They'd reached his family home. “So, are you coming in with me or should I go talk to my mother?”

In the end, there was only one right answer to that question. “With you.”

Tino walked around to Natalie's side of the car and opened the door for her. While he didn't mind performing the small courtesy, it worried him when she hadn't made any move to get out on her own. Clearly, the confrontation at the center had left her badly rattled, even if it surprised him that she had admitted she was scared at all. As much as he wanted to rant and rave about what had happened, he shoved his anger down deep inside. For now, she needed his protection, not his temper.

But, God, what if that asshole had gone after her with that pipe instead of Clarence? The old man clearly knew how to handle himself, but Natalie couldn't have defended herself against that kind of attack. Hell, one blow could've killed her. It made him physically sick to know how close he'd come to losing her.

He offered her a helping hand when she finally tried to get out of the car. She made it on the second attempt and then nearly collapsed right there on the driveway. She might have hit the pavement if she hadn't grabbed onto the car door for support. Tino muttered a favorite obscenity left over from his army days that he normally reserved for desperate times and scooped her up in his arms. After kicking the car door closed, he headed for the door to the annex.

Natalie struggled to get down. “I can walk.”

Right. A stiff wind would send her kiting across the backyard right now, but he couldn't risk an argument that might draw his mother's attention. If that happened, Natalie would end up sleeping in Ricky's old room next door. Tino had no intentions of sharing his twin bed with Natalie, but he needed her right where he could watch over her.

He set her down but kept a steadying hand on her arm while he unlocked the door. Once inside, he led her over to the couch. “Sit and get that ice pack back on your face while I pour a couple of stiff drinks. Play your cards right, and I'll even let you have one of them.”

As jokes went, it was pretty poor fare. Even so, Natalie made a valiant effort to smile. Her mouth twitched a bit more when he handed her a small dollop of bourbon in a plastic cup from the kid's menu at a fast-food restaurant. He held up his matching one as he started pacing the floor, far too keyed up to sit down.

“Sorry, but the cut crystal must all be in the dishwasher. Remind me to fire the maid in the morning.”

A frown replaced the smile as Natalie's eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Is that a dig of some kind, Gianelli? Because if so, tread lightly. I'm in no mood for any of your reverse snobbery. Not tonight. In fact, not ever.”

Maybe he had been poking fun at the differences in their lifestyles a bit, but at least he was smart enough to deny it. “Write it off as a poor attempt to lighten the situation.”

“Yeah, right.” She held up her glass. “Give me another, barkeeper, and maybe I'll even believe you.”

He poured them each another shot and then put the bottle away. “Knock that one back, Blondie, and we'll go upstairs to get you settled in for the night.”

She sipped her drink without protest, which probably spoke to how badly shaken she was by everything that had happened. It wasn't like her to take orders without a fuss. Finally, Natalie pushed herself up off the couch and walked over to the small kitchen. He drifted after her, unhappy about even that small distance between them. His head told him that she was safe here in his home; his heart couldn't get past the fear of what might have happened to her if his arrival at the parking lot had been delayed even another five minutes.

Natalie washed and dried her empty glass, treating it with the same care she would have fine crystal. Then she held out her hand to take his and did the same to it. “I halfway expect you to rip into me any second now about what happened.”

Tino leaned a shoulder against the wall, pretending a calm he certainly didn't feel. “I plan to, but not tonight.”

“Why?”

Because right now she looked so damn fragile, as if the slightest wrong touch would shatter her. If he told her that, they would be having the fight tonight. The woman prided herself on her independence and strength. Had no one ever pointed out how tiny she was? Again, he went for the convenient lie.

“I'm too tired to do justice to the lecture I have planned. Tomorrow will be soon enough, when I've caught my breath and my heart has recovered from seeing you and Clarence being attacked. Be warned: there will be hollering, more than a few choice obscenities, and maybe even some strategic tossing of precious objects.”

A little spark was back in her sad blue eyes. “Well, I'm glad I get to rest up for it. I'd hate to miss any important nuances because I'm too tired to appreciate the performance.”

“Okay, now that we're agreed on that much, let's head upstairs.”

He led the way, taking the steps two at a time to buy himself a little time to check the condition of his room. Luckily, years in the military had only reinforced the housekeeping lessons he'd learned from Marlene and Joe. He kicked a stray sock under the bed and turned back the covers. At least he'd changed the sheets only the day before.

When Natalie appeared in the doorway, she obviously wasn't too tired to study the narrow confines of his room with great curiosity. He tried to see it through her eyes and wondered what she was thinking, not that he was about to ask. Instead, he pulled a clean T-shirt out of his chest of drawers along with a pair of his gym shorts and handed them to her.

“You can sleep in these. The shorts will be huge, but maybe you can cinch in the drawstring waist enough so they'll stay up.”

That was unlikely considering the difference in his size and hers. The image of her sleeping in just his T-shirt with nothing on underneath it filled his mind. Damn, he wouldn't go there. He couldn't, not and keep his hands to himself.

Meanwhile, Natalie clutched the clothes as if he'd given her a priceless gift. “You shouldn't give up your bedroom. I can sleep on the couch downstairs.”

Actually, he liked the idea of having Natalie tucked into his bed even if he wasn't sharing it with her. “I don't mind. I'll be right next door in Jack's old room.”

“But—” she started to protest.

“My room is more comfortable. My brother pretty much stripped his bare when he got married and moved out.”

“If you're sure.”

“I am. The bathroom is two doors down. I'll lay out a clean toothbrush and a few other things you might need. Feel free to take a shower if you want. Clean towels are on the shelves over the toilet. Now, I'll let you get yourself situated while I lock up downstairs.”

“Thank you again for everything.”

“You're welcome.” He closed his eyes for a few seconds. “I don't usually entertain guests, so give me a holler if there's anything else you need. Toss your dirty clothes down the steps when you've changed. I'll run them through the washer before I turn in for the night. It won't take long to dry them in the morning.”

He almost made it out the door when she stopped him. “There is one thing I need, Tino.”

“What's that?”

She tossed her makeshift sleepwear onto the bed before closing the distance between them. Her hands slid around his waist as she pulled him close for a quick hug. “If I haven't said it enough, I really was glad that you were there tonight. Not just for me, but for Clarence, too.”

It was so damn tempting to heat up the embrace, but only a complete asshole would ask more than a little comfort from a woman who'd been through such a traumatic experience.

“Me, too.” He held her close for several seconds before stepping back out of reach. “You'll feel better after a good night's sleep. We both will.”

Not that he expected to have one with her just on the other side of a thin wall. He went into full retreat before he lost control and begged her to let him hold her all night long.

Natalie waited until the sound of Tino going down the steps to the living room below had faded before going in search of the bathroom he'd mentioned. It was late, and she was tired, but a shower sounded heavenly.

She smiled when she spotted the collection of toiletries that her host had provided her with. The shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel had all come from different hotels. He'd also laid out the promised toothbrush along with a disposable razor, a hairbrush, and a tiny bottle of body lotion. Right next to the motley collection was a bottle of ibuprofen.

Bless the man, he'd thought of everything.

Just like his bedroom, the bathroom was clean and orderly. Tino hadn't had time to do a quick polish, so it had been that way before they'd arrived. Interesting, although maybe it was stereotyping on her part to think that a place shared by three brothers would be messier. Finding out the man liked things tidy added one more bit of information to the puzzle that was Tino Gianelli.

As she brushed her teeth, she studied the red mark where the teenager had smacked her. Her cheek still hurt, but at least it wasn't swollen. With luck, by tomorrow, a little makeup would hide the evidence from the people at work, not to mention her grandfather and parents.

After stripping off her clothes, she stepped into the shower and pretended the heat of the spray would wash away the fear left over from the assault. It worried her that those boys had intended to steal the new computers. She'd have to see what she could do about installing a security system in the computer lab. There was no way she'd let some juvenile delinquents rob the other kids of a chance at a better future.

Ten minutes later, she dried her hair as much as possible with a second towel and pulled on the T-shirt Tino had given her. It hung more than halfway down her thighs and covered far more than most of her own nightgowns. She tried on the shorts. Even after cinching the drawstring as tightly as she could, they still threatened to slip down off her hips. One good tug would probably send them tumbling to the ground, but luckily no one was likely to test that theory.

Pausing to study her image in the mirror on the back of the bathroom door, it was just as she feared. She looked awful, especially with the red blotch on her face and her hair drooping down in wet ringlets. The oversized shirt and baggy shorts were just the icing on the cake.

The only way this night was ever going to end was if she went to bed and slept through the rest of it. She bundled up her dirty clothes and the wet towels. Tino must have been listening for the bathroom door to open because he was waiting when she tossed everything down the steps.

He ignored the soggy mess at his feet as he stared up at her. He might not have laughed out loud, but there was no mistaking the amused twinkle in his dark eyes.

“Not a word, Tino.”

“Yes, ma'am.”

Then he gave up and snickered. “Think if I snapped a picture to post online, you might inspire a new fashion trend?”

“Stuff it, Gianelli. I'm going to bed.”

“I'm just saying.” Then his voice gentled. “Sleep easy, Natalie. You're safe here with me.”

“I know.”

She meant that. With every fiber of her being, she knew the man staring up at her would stand between her and any threat from the world outside. She loved that about him. In fact, she loved everything about the man. Unfortunately, they still had some serious issues to work through, and tonight wasn't the best time to start that process.

Even so, for the longest second, she stood poised at the top of the stairs, not sure which way to go—into the sanctuary of Tino's room or down the steps into the temptation of his arms. Maybe she was a coward or simply too tired to take that first step. In the end, she offered him one last smile and went to bed.