Bassist Instinct (The Rocker Series #2) (11 page)

“Maybe a little.” She looked away from him and focused on her coffee cup. “He planned on having kids, but I didn’t want to have Dean’s children,” she said very quietly. They were quiet for a long time, Fiona staring at her coffee, and Tate staring at the delicate curve of her neck.

“I’m deathly afraid of spiders,” he said and she looked up at him and laughed.

“Why?”

“I don’t have a clue,” he grinned. “It’s the hair maybe, and they have all those legs…” He was wincing and she laughed.

“I meant, why did you just have that little non-sequitur?”

“You told me something you’ve not shared with anyone, I felt I owed you. I also needed you to smile again, and the image in your brain of me freaking out over a wee bug in my room has put the smile back on your beautiful face. So, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but it will be your job getting the spiders out of the house while I stand on a chair pointing wildly, deal?”

“You’re a nice man, aren’t you?” She smiled but he recoiled from her words.

“Don’t call me that, no one wants to shag the ‘
nice
man’, or the nice man screaming and pointing at the spider, either I imagine. And I hope you’ll keep it to yourself, the lads would never let me hear the end of it if they suspected.”

“That you were nice? Or about the spider thing?” She smiled at him.

“Either one,” he grinned and drank his coffee without looking away from her.

“Christie and who else?” She asked.

“Sorry?”

“Your siblings, you said there were six of you.”

“Them. Okay, I have four older brothers and wee Christie, who’s younger. How ‘bout you, then?”

“I have an older brother, by four years, and an older sister by six months,” she said looking him in the eye.

“How’d you manage that?” She shrugged.

“My father catted around a bit, I was born on the wrong side of the blanket, so to speak. He did claim me when my mother died, to his credit, and his wife took me in, to hers. My brother was the only one who ever showed me any affection, though.”

“Fiona, I’m sorry,” he said.

“That may have sounded bitter, but I didn’t mean it to. Liam was a constant source of entertainment, and he protected me from everyone and loved me unconditionally, he still does. They fed me and educated me and taught me to be self-sufficient. It is probably the only reason I’m so proficient at the piano, too.”

“Are your parents still living?”

“My father is, he lives in Boston,” she said. Tate put his arm around her and they leaned back in the chair.

“I’m very happy Tess decided to take your class,” he said into her hair and she shivered again and he smiled. “Imagine if she had brought home some other professor who didn’t tremble like you just did when I whispered in her ear.”

“That’s the first time anyone has ever had that sort of effect on me,” she said and he pulled away and looked at her with both eyebrows up.

“I’m delighted to hear that,” he grinned and she blushed again. His phone vibrated strongly in his jacket pocket.

“Answer it, I’ll go…” He held her to him and pulled out his phone.

“Don’t you dare,” he said and answered his phone. “Mikey, what’s the word?”

“Tate, it’s all set, it’ll be at the hotel in… thirty five minutes. There’s one condition, though,” Mikey said.

“And?” Tate looked at his watch.

“They want to take pictures,” Mikey said. Tate looked at Fiona who was sipping her coffee looking slightly uncomfortable. Tate touched her cheek and she turned to him and smiled. His breath caught. She had the smoothest skin.

“No, not today. Tell them I’ll do whatever they want on Monday morning before I leave for New York, but not today, that’s non-negotiable, mate,” Tate was adamant and Mikey was a little surprised, Tate was always carefree about that sort of thing.

“You’re the boss,” Mikey said and hung up.

“Let’s go have a bit of fun,” he said and grinned at her. He stood and helped her off the chair. “Bring your coffee, we’ll walk for a bit if that’s okay.”

“Sure,” she said and he took her hand and led her out of the store.

“Have you got anything pressing you need to do today?” He asked once they were out on the street.

“No, not really. I have a little bit of grading that I’ll need to do before Monday, but it’s only Friday,” she said.

“Grading. Does that get tiresome?”

“No, I’m very lucky in my students this semester, they are an interesting bunch. I enjoy reading what they have to say… for the most part. With iPods and phones and car speakers, music is ubiquitous, and easily accessible. I think it’s great. A hundred years ago if you wanted to hear music you had to go to a rare performance, or make it yourself. Now it’s impossible to walk down the street and not hear it.” She stopped him by squeezing his hand and a car drove by them, the heavy bass line thumping loud enough they could feel it in their chest cavities. Tate grinned at her. A shop door opened and music from inside tinkled out to them and she put her hand out in illustration. Tate released her hand and put his arm around her shoulder and drew her close. She slid her arm around his waist, and liked the feel of his hard lean frame under her hand.

“I like the way you see the world, love,” he said and kissed her hair. She grinned up at him. His phone rang again. He looked at the display. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said and tried once again to give him some privacy, but he held her tight.

“Mikey,” Tate answered.

“They want you to buy it?”

“You mean rent it, aye?”

“No, buy it.”

“Where would I put it?” Fiona’s house had a garage, one of the few houses he’d seen with one. He could keep it there, or just give it to her. He’d only met her yesterday, what was he thinking? “Okay. Take care of it, Mikey.”

“What? You can’t be serious, boyo,” Tate turned off the phone and wondered if he’d lost his mind. He looked at Fiona and she smiled at him. Maybe.

“Is everything okay?” He assessed himself. He felt pretty good. He felt really good.

“Yeah, I feel great.” His smile was devastating.

“Do we have a destination?”

“Aye, my hotel,” she stopped and he looked at her questioningly.

“Your hotel?” She began to walk with him again, not sure how she felt about this. Sure, he kissed like he invented the sport, but they had only met yesterday.

“Sorry love, you’ll have to wait a bit for that,” he could feel her hesitation and tried to make light of it. “I need to fetch something from my room, you can wait for me in the lobby, if you like.” She didn’t quite know how to respond so she didn’t. “Connor and Genna’s first date was memorable, and look at how well they’re doing, I want to do something with you that you’ve never done.”

“Okay,” she smiled at him. “What did Connor and Genna do?” Tate laughed.

“Well, the story goes, he took her to see her favorite rock band, complete with an all access pass. She met the whole band that night, then he flew her home in a helicopter. She’d never been in a helicopter before, and he thought he’d impressed her, but her version goes a bit differently. She said she was so insanely excited to be sitting next to him that she missed the sights of the city they were flying over.” Fiona smiled at him and suddenly realized where they were.

“Tate, did you want to steer clear of the crêpe shop all together? Because we’re here,” she said just as the door opened and a crowd of familiar people came out.

“Bugger,” Tate said under his breath. Fiona released him but he held on to her. “Unless you want me to let go, I’m happy to keep hold of you.” He looked at her and she held his eye contact and nodded with a small smile.

“I don’t mind,” she said.

“Then brace yourself, my brave lassie, here they come.”

“Tate!” Ryan, with wee Connor on his shoulders, was the first to spot them. The others looked up and saw them and smiled. “Fiona, you look very lovely today.” She felt her cheeks burn.

“Thank you, Ryan, how’d you like my favorite crêpe place?” Fiona asked, refusing to be embarrassed about Tate’s white knuckle grip on her.

“I think it’s
my
favorite crêpe place, where’d you guys go?” Tess asked.

“We just went down the street for coffee. I think Tate has something planned, but I’m not sure what it is,” Fiona looked at Tate who smiled at her.

“Lunch,” he said.

“Hello, my dear,” Alasdair came up to her and she had to let Tate go to move her coffee cup to her other hand so she could clasp Alasdair’s. “Good to see you again so soon.” He turned to catch his wife’s eye, but she and Piper had started down the street and were pointing at something in a shop window.

“Please say ‘hello’ to Amelia for us. I had such a lovely time last night, I’m so glad I had the chance to thank you again.”

“My dear, you are most welcome. You have been a good friend to the Mite, we’re in your debt. Can you come for dinner Sunday night before they all depart? We’d love to see you again. Tate’s coming, aren’t you, laddie?”

“You couldn’t keep me away,” he looked at Fiona. “Come.”

“Yes, Alasdair, I’d love to come.”

“Splendid, splendid. Now if you’ll excuse me I’m off to work. No rest for the wicked. Until Sunday, then,” he said and walked toward Genna, kissed her on the cheek, patted her hand and disappeared into the back of a black sedan that had pulled up next to him. What did Alasdair do for a living?

Genna came over to Tate and Fiona and smiled, Connor’s eyes followed her as he spoke to Edgar and Ryan. “Hello, you two. I highly recommend the crêpe place if you’re hungry. You know, now that we’ve left,” she grinned playfully. Fiona watched Connor lift wee Tate onto his shoulders without breaking his focus on Genna. She would love to be the focus of such affection. She looked at Tate who was looking at her like she was edible. Maybe she was.

“I’m sorry you left last night, there were some very amusing and embarrassing stories told later on. We missed you,” Genna said to Fiona.

“Oh, well, I’m not sure Tate needs me to hear any embarrassing stories just yet, Genna,” Fiona looked at Tate.

“Surprisingly, I think I’d be okay with it.” He took her hand. “I’ve already told her my deepest, darkest secret.”

“The spider thing?” Genna said and Fiona laughed at Tate’s shocked expression. He looked around quickly to gauge whether or not anyone heard her.

“How did…?” He began and Genna put her hand to her mouth to stifle her giggles.

“Tate, I thought a busload of schoolchildren was being murdered when you found one in my house last Thanksgiving.” She and Fiona couldn’t even look at each other without cracking up.

“Very funny,” he grinned. “But keep it to yourself, aye?” Genna knew everyone knew, and she was pretty sure Tate knew it wasn’t the best kept secret, but she nodded seriously. Fiona had to look away from Tate at the image of him screaming like a busload of schoolchildren, or she’d laugh out loud.

“My lips are sealed,” she said and turned to her husband and kids.

Tess, Xav and Alex were talking quietly with each other. Tess put her index finger on Alex’s head and Alex spun around in a fast circle, making Tess laugh. Fiona envied her easy going family. She looked again at Genna who looked a little wistfully at her kids. She knew how lucky she was at least.

“We’re off,” Tate said abruptly. Christie looked at him and they made a minute head movement at each other and smiled the same smile. He lifted his coffee cup to wave goodbye at the crowd. Xav called to him and they turned.

“Tate, what do you call an Irishman who’s been dead for 100 years?”

“Paddy?” Tate said without skipping a beat and Connor laughed.

“That answer’s better than yours, lad,” he said and Xav laughed, too.

“Peat,” Xav said excitedly and Fiona chuckled. Tate simply looked at him as if waiting for the punch line. Fiona realized that was part of their routine and she thought it was pretty cute.

“I think that’s what they call a dead Scot, more like,” Xav laughed again and Tate couldn’t help smiling at him. “See ya.” Tate lifted his coffee and put his arm back around Fiona. They started back up the street. “Silly bugger.” Tate said and Fiona laughed.

“He is adorable,” she said.

“
You
are adorable, love.” He gave her a peck on the lips and they smiled at each other as they continued along, dodging shoppers.

“Fiona?” They heard a man say directly in front of them. They stopped short so as not to run into him since he stood blocking their path. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, hello David,” she said. David looked at Fiona and at Tate, clearly waiting for an introduction. Tate though he was really waiting for an explanation. “Tate, this is David Hollander, he’s a prof in the music department. David, this is Tate.” Tate nodded at the man, but wasn’t going to release Fiona to shake his hand. “I’d love to chat, but we have someplace to be, and we’re already running late,” she looked at Tate for confirmation.

“Aye love,” he said glaring at David.

“I’m just so surprised to see you out enjoying yourself,” he said. Tate felt her irritation in the stiffness of her body. Although, it could have been his own irritation, he was suddenly overwhelmed by it. Who was this judgmental little man?

“And why shouldn’t she? Hasn’t she been through enough?” He finished his coffee. “Nice to meet you, David, was it? But as the lady said, we have somewhere to be.” Tate whisked her away and pitched his cup in a convenient trashcan. Bastard, trying to make her feel bad for living her own life. He felt her residual tension as he held her, she would now second guess herself and feel guilty for enjoying herself with a fiancé so recently buried. Tate stopped short, surprising her. “Don’t do it, Fi.”

“Don’t do what?” Her eyes were saucers.

“Don’t bloody feel guilty for outliving your man.” Her mouth fell open.

“You’re close, but off target a little,” she said.

“I am?”

“I do feel some guilt, but not for outliving Dean. I appreciate your sensitivity, it’s incredible, really, but I don’t want to talk about him, or David for that matter, not today. Let’s have lunch,” she smiled reassuringly at him. She wasn’t stiff under his hands anymore, and she was hungry. He could take care of her basic needs.