Chapter 7
Tiguan
Sunday we hung around the festival helping out wherever we could. I kept my focus on Lyrical as much as possible, probably one degree short of stalking her. I wasn’t proud of it, but I couldn’t stop myself either.
On Monday morning, I joined the guys at the diner, only this time we dressed for the celebration of life planned for eleven hundred.
Once again, I placed an order for Lyrical, figuring she’d be busy supervising cleanup. We planned to be at the center just after twelve hundred to help, but I was going to stop by before the gathering at the Forbes’ house to check on her.
Between more dreams of Mayhem and Lyrical, I tossed and turned all night long, thinking about the kiss. Her soft hands on my scruff. Her cherry-flavored lips pressed against mine. The spiciness of her cinnamon-flavored mouth. The gentle swipes of her tongue.
Even if that voice in my head stopped pushing, now that I’d kissed her, I was hooked and not backing down until she told me no.
Arriving at the center, there were fewer volunteers here to clean up than to set up. Lyrical was directing the teardown, and I noticed a slightly frantic look in her eyes.
She looks exhausted.
“Morning. I brought you some breakfast.”
“You didn’t have to do that, Tiguan.”
“I know I didn’t have to, but I wanted to.
” She had dark circles under her eyes, and her skin appeared paler than last night.
I also noticed she had a down jacket on, a headband that covered her ears, and gloves.
While it was cool outside, it didn’t really warrant being bundled up like this.
“Did you get any sleep last night? You look tired.”
“Yes, but it was fitful. Guess my brain was running with all of what had to happen today to get things torn down.”
“Why don’t you go inside? Sit and have something to eat.”
“I really can’t,” she apologized. “My assistant called in sick this morning with the flu, so I’m down a person today.”
“We’ll be here shortly after noon. Don’t protest,” I said when she opened her mouth. “We discussed it at breakfast today.”
“You’re here for Jesse’s celebration. You should do that. Not help here.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “We’re here to honor Mayhem. But our leaving at noon is to support Chaos. What happened, and he didn’t tell us much, is enough to know that how they treated the three of you is unacceptable. We’ll be there for the ceremony, pay our respects, then be here.”
She nodded, and I could see the resignation on her face.
I was in awe of her. She didn’t want to step in the way, even though she was a victim.
First, when his parents gave the brothers an ultimatum, then when they tried to manipulate her away from her husband, and now with their obvious snub by not inviting her to something honoring that same husband. It made me livid.
“Thanks for the breakfast. I’ll take it inside and have it for lunch,” she said.
Make sure she does what you told her.
“I’ll check when I get here later. And I’ll check all the garbage cans, too, to make sure you didn’t just toss the food away.” I was kind of teasing, hoping to lighten the moment, but I also kind of wasn’t.
She gasped. “I would never throw food away. Especially when you were so kind to bring it for me.”
When she glanced away, I used two fingers to turn her face back toward me. “I’m sorry, Lyrical. I was teasing. You’re far too sweet to do that. It was a poor joke. Forgive me?”
Our eyes met. I could see her pulse pounding in her neck, and she was breathing shallow and tight. Being close to me was affecting her, and it gave me hope.
Ask her out.
I took a deep breath. Here went nothing. “I’d like to take you to dinner tonight after cleanup.”
It wasn’t a question. Hopefully, that would keep her from saying no.
Her eyes flicked back and forth between mine, then she lowered her chin to stare at her feet between us. “I’m flattered, but I don’t think that would be a good idea, Tiguan.”
Don’t give up on her.
“Your kiss last night says otherwise.”
Was I pushing it? Probably. Intuition told me she had a long list of reasons to say no, and I needed to be ready to knock down every one.
“I’d feel like I was disrespecting Jesse’s memory by getting involved with one of his teammates.”
Excuses.
“The others on the team don’t think so. They’ve all encouraged me to spend time with you.”
She bit her lip. “It’s too soon,” she said, shaking her head.
It’s easier to say no and live in what’s familiar. She understands being alone. Don’t let her do it.
“He’s been gone for three years. You can’t shut yourself away, Lyrical.”
A little more frantic. “I’ve dated no one except Jesse. I wouldn’t know the first thing about dating, or how to act—”
More excuses. One more push.
“Be yourself. That’s the person I’m attracted to,” I assured her. “I don’t want to spend time with someone other than the person I already know.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. A short laugh burst from her. “You will not take no for an answer, will you?”
I smiled full-on for her. “They don’t call me Tiguan the Tenacious for nothing.”
“They do not call you that.”
“Nope, but they should.” Schooling my face into something more serious, I put all my heart and sincerity into what I said next. “I want to take you out on a date. Maybe even sneak in another kiss. Last night, I was so stunned by you, all the blood rushed to my head.”
“That’s because you were upside down,” she chided.
Shaking my head, I said, “That was all you. However, I would prefer to do it right side up this time.”
She sighed, looking out at the grounds where cleanup continued. I could see the wheels turning, but I also saw the moment she gave in to what she wanted.
“Okay. Dinner.”
Success!
“Thank you.” I kissed her forehead, hoping she wouldn’t bolt on me. She stayed where she was, her eyes closed for a moment after my lips left her skin. “I’ll see you after we’re done today. Eat,” I urged. “Get out of the cold for a bit. It will all still be here when we get back.”