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Chapter Fifteen
“Thanks for coming with me tonight.” Kris smoothed a hand over her skirt. “And for driving me home earlier.”
“Anytime,” Teague said easily. “It was good catching up, and the band wasn’t bad.”
No, it wasn’t. It was actuallygood.The revelation had surprised and relieved Kris, who’d attended Blue Hair, aka Elijah’s, band practice out of desperation. She’d promised Susan she would find musical performers for MentHer’s summer gala, and the task had proven more difficult than she’d anticipated. Given the event’s entertainment budget—as in, there was none—she’d had to scour L.A. for decent singers who would be up for a gig that offered zero moneyorexposure to music bigwigs.
Needless to say, the search was a freaking trial, and Susan refused to let Kris pay for a performer out of pocket—not even if she billed it as a donation. Something about ethics and legal complications.
Kris remembered she’d gotten Blue Hair’s number as a backup when she found out he played in a band and, lo-and-behold, The Prophecy Kings—medieval name withstanding—were decent. They did both cover and original songs, and they were up for a free gig. That last point made them the best damn band on the West Coast, in Kris’s opinion.
“I’d invite you in, but I don’t want my dad to get the wrong idea.” Kris rolled her eyes. “He’s in love with you.”
Teague grinned. “Nah, he’s in love with the family business. You know my dad created the animations for your dad’s first video games.”
“Maybe.”
Teague’s family, the Collinses, owned one of the largest animation studios in the country. They’d started out doing small-time stuff for little-known games and videos but were now one of the go-to’s for visual effects in Hollywood.
Kris and Teague saw each other every Christmas in St. Barth’s. Well, except for this past Christmas, when Gloria had convinced Roger to go to Aspen instead. Teague was a good-looking guy—blond hair, hazel eyes, lean muscles—and Kris had made out with him once a few years ago after too many mai tais. It had been a onetime thing. He was too clean-cut for Kris, and Kris was too barb-tongued for him. Teague liked the sweet, bubbly type.
Plus, Kris didn’t do long-distance relationships. Emotional taxation with no physical satisfaction? No, thanks.
That didn’t stop her dad from dreaming about an alliance between the Carreras and Collinses, though. Everything was a business transaction to him, even his daughter’s love life.
“Call me if you want to hang out or need another mountaintop rescue,” Teague said. “I’ll be here for the summer.”
Kris snorted. “You drove me home from Runyon Canyon. You didn’t rescue me from Mount Everest.”
Her stomach twisted when she remembered her argument with Nate earlier. She’d been debating whether to let him drive her home or call an Uber when she’d run into Teague on her way down. It had been a random, shocking coincidence. She knew Teague lived in the city, but he always spent his summers surfing in the South Pacific. She hadn’t thought to hit him up because she hadn’t expected him to be in town.
Turned out, he’d delayed his surfing adventures to help his dad out on a project for a big upcoming movie.
It had been good to see him, especially since she’d been smarting from Nate’s accusations, and she’d invited Teague to The Prophecy Kings’ band practice at the last minute. Watching a local band play in a garage by herself would’ve been just sad.
Teague clutched his chest. “I’m hurt.”
“Please. Your ego’s like Teflon.”
“True. I also know that tone—you’re seconds away from throwing me out of my own car, so before I can suffer the indignity, I’ll take my cue.” Teague kissed her on the cheek. “See ya later.”
“See you.”
Kris got out of the car and waved as she watched the lights of Teague’s Tesla disappear down her driveway. Once they were out of sight, she walked toward the front door and dug for her keys. The one downside of large purses was that it took forever to find small items.
Her fingers had just closed around the metal when a voice growled from the dark.
“Who the hell was that?”
She screamed and instinctively raised her bag over her head, brandishing it as a weapon. The Gucci tote contained her hair products, wallet, makeup, and a change of shoes—more than heavy enough to inflict serious damage.
“Whoa.” The owner of the voice stepped out of the shadows and held up his hands. “Put that thing away before you hurt somebody.”
“That’s the plan.” Kris’s breathing slowed enough for her to note the familiar mess of sun-kissed brown hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. “Nate? What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in?”
“The guard recognized me and let me in.” His expression turned sheepish. “I came to apologize for being a dick earlier today and for leaving you at the top of a hill.”
Kris lowered her bag, her heart rate slowly returning to normal. “Youwerea dick, but you didn’t leave me. I left you. I caught a ride with a friend. And Jesus, don’t scare a girl like that outside her own house. You’re lucky I didn’t have pepper spray on me.”
