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She was a cheeky little thing. He kind of liked that.
“I’m sure Teague has other plans,” Sabrina said, quickly.
He probably should have taken the suggestion and bowed out gracefully. Hell, only a few minutes ago he was thinking that all of this was too much.
He looked at Sabrina, a lazy smile curving his mouth. He inhaled her sweet scent, his nostrils flaring, and a powerful need to touch her rifled through him. He’d like to say that it took him by surprise, but it didn’t.
This is definitely going to bite me in the ass.
“I’ve got nothing planned,” he said slowly, eyes on Sabrina. She held his gaze for about two seconds and then her eyes slid from his.
“I didn’t think so,” Allie said, a wicked glint in her eye. “Let’s go.” She looped her hands through Sabrina’s and with a shrug, her husband and Teague followed them out of the park, the two boys tagging along behind them.
Chapter Twelve
Allie and Paul were great hosts who loved to entertain. Sabrina had been to their place many times, before Brent passed and after. Their home sat at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in an older section of Gravenhurst that Sabrina loved, and their backyard was a dream. Surrounded by massive oak trees, waterfalls and gardens that would make most gardeners envious, there was plenty of color and fragrance to enjoy.
The sun was warm, the company wonderful and, truthfully, Sabrina couldn’t remember the last time she’d allowed herself to relax and have fun. Wasn’t hard to do. Who knew that underneath all that smoldering darkness, Teague Simon had a sense of humor? The guy was a regular comedian when he wanted to be. He and Paul hit it off—a love of the New York Rangers and the Patriots certainly helped. But it was more than that. Teague was slowly opening up. Was it only a few weeks earlier that he’d been a brooding ogre?
And Allie was right. Teague Simon was hot. Sabrina would have to be a nun not to realize that, and Lord knows she was no nun. From the top of his thick dark hair to the wide muscular shoulders, tapered waist and long athletic legs, he was walking, talking testosterone at its finest.
He was also sending Sabrina looks that made her mouth dry and her stomach unsettled. She wasn’t exactly sure what to make of it all and decided not to even try. The afternoon was too perfect.
That is until Greg Champion and his son David showed up. The man was arrogant with an elephant-sized ego that left a bad taste in her mouth. The only reason she tolerated him was because Harry considered his son David a friend.
She eyed the boys as they splashed around in the pool. All three of them were the same age, however, David already had a few inches on Harry and Caleb and he was more aggressive than she would like. She took a step forward as David pushed her son under the water—yet again.
“I’ve got this,” Teague said, handing her his beer. He strolled past her and crossed the grass until he stood at the edge of the pool. He motioned for David, and she watched the boy swim over to Teague. After a few moments, David swam off to join Harry and Caleb.
The boys continued playing Marco Polo, but this time the shenanigans were much more low key.
“What did you say to him?” she asked Teague when he joined her.
“I told him that if he pushed Caleb or Harry under one more time I was coming in.” He flashed a quick grin, eyes back on the pool. “I told him that me coming in the pool wouldn’t be a good thing.”
“That sounds intimidating.”
Teague shrugged. “I grew up with three brothers and I get that kids need to learn to work their stuff out on their own. But that boy has a mean streak and he’s taking advantage of his size to be asshole.”
“He comes by it honestly,” she said.
Teague turned to her then, his eyes dark—and there went her stomach again. “That guy David’s a prick and he’s had way too much to drink. If he’s inappropriate or makes you uncomfortable in any way, let me know. I promise it will be the last time.”
Sabrina shivered because no longer was he ‘fun Teague’. No way in hell. This man right here looked dangerous. He looked like the kind of man who would have no qualms about starting a fight and finishing it.
“I can look after myself, Teague.” She didn’t know what else to say.
Teague held her gaze, those dark eyes so intense they made her shiver. “You shouldn’t have to,” he said abruptly before pulling his aviators back into place.
“No,” she murmured, heart suddenly twisting. “But it’s not like I have a choice.”
A heartbeat passed.
“I’m sorry you lost your husband.” His words were simple and spoken quietly, but they carried weight and emotion.
She nodded but her throat was so tight that she couldn’t answer.
They’d just had some weird kind of moment and a little shaken, Sabrina finally managed to murmur a bunch of nonsense before heading back to the upper deck.
