Page 38 of Always Be True: Tino
“True, but only because I want to be with you.” He turned then and fell into step with her, shortening his stride to match hers. “Besides, they taught us in the army that it’s more important that the unit stay together than it is to set any world speed records.”
He looked as if he actually meant that, which pleased her. They lapsed into an easy silence, taking pleasure in the cool morning air and each other’s company. She couldn’t help but notice how well he moved, his motion fluid and easy on the eyes. Even if she hadn’t thought so herself, he also garnered admiring looks from a trio of women sitting on a bench next to the trail.
She might have resented their hungry gazes if they hadn’t also glanced in her direction with obvious envy. She smiled at them back over her shoulder and laughed when one of them gave her a thumbs-up approval.Yep, ladies, he’s mine, all mine.
Tino happened to glance in her direction right at the moment. “Now who is looking disgustingly cheerful? What’s going on?”
“I’d tell you that those women we just passed are jealous that I have such a hunky guy for a running partner, but their admiration would only stroke your already impressive, um, ego.”
“Really?” The jerk patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’re the only one I want stroking my, um, ego.”
That might have meant more if he didn’t also immediately spin to start jogging backward again so he could check out his admirers, which made her want to punch him. Before she gave in to the impulse, he changed direction again. Maybe some of what she was thinking showed in her expression, because his smile immediately faded and he slowed to a stop.
“All joking aside, I meant what I said, Natalie. I’m not interested in them or anyone else. There’s only one reason I’m out here at this hour, and that’s because I couldn’t pass up a chance to spend time with you.”
Then he gave her a quick kiss before starting down the path again. Natalie hustled to catch up with him, her good mood restored. When they finished a full lap of the lake, they slowed to a walk. As soon as they did, Tino took her hand in his. The small connection warmed her heart in a completely different way than the strenuous exercise had.
“Now, for that coffee I promised you.”
They headed across the park to one of the ubiquitous coffee shops in the Seattle area. After getting their lattes and pastries, they crossed back into the park to sit on a bench.
Tino gave her a considering look. “Are you warm enough now that we’ve quit moving?”
“I’m fine, and the coffee will help.”
He immediately scooted closer and put one arm across her shoulders, drawing her in to the warm strength of his body. “How’s that?”
She gave in to the temptation to snuggle a little closer. “Much better.”
He sipped his coffee. “So what does your day look like?”
“The usual boring stuff. You don’t want to hear the details.”
Tino’s dark eyes narrowed. “I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t interested. I don’t know what the head of a charitable foundation does with her time.”
He actually sounded serious about wanting to know. Clearly, she was letting her ex-fiancé’s disinterest in her work color her expectations. “I’m sorry, Tino. Most people’s eyes glaze over when I rattle on about my job and what I’m hoping to accomplish.”
His arm tightened around her shoulders, strengthening the connection between them. “I’m not most people.”
She was becoming increasingly aware of that fact. “Most of the money the foundation gives out comes from Grandpa Cyrus directly, but we also work with our clients to help them get additional funding through other grants. I don’t know how other foundations work, but I follow the guidelines Grandpa set up from the beginning. As a result, we usually take on one large project like the community center and work on it from development through completion before taking on another.”
She paused to finish off the last bite of her chocolate croissant. So delicious and so bad for her hips. Oh well, it was her reward for her lap around the lake.
Tino seemed to be waiting for her to continue, so she picked up where she’d left off. “Since that project is nearing completion, we’ve been looking into some future possibilities. At the same time, we do some smaller, more targeted grants, like new computers for a specific school. This morning I will be meeting with representatives from another school that needs some musical instruments for their band program.”
He stared out toward the lake, his expression hard to read. “You must love your job, knowing how much you are helping people in so many ways, all of them positive.”
She wanted to ask about his time in the military, but she wasn’t sure how to broach what could be a touchy subject. Finally, she settled for asking, “What was your favorite part of being in the army?”
“I loved the teamwork, knowing the people in my unit had my back. That we could accomplish more together than we could as individuals.”
Before she could respond, he glanced at his watch. “Oops, we’d better get moving. I’m supposed to help Jack again today, and you have some musical instruments to buy.”
He finished his coffee and tossed the cup into the nearby trash can like he was taking a shot at a basketball hoop. “Nothing but net!”
After also disposing of her trash for her, he took her hand in his and tugged her up off the bench. Once again, they walked hand in hand toward where they’d parked. She really wished they didn’t have to rush off, but they both had obligations.
Maybe he was feeling the same reluctance to end their outing, because he took both her hands in his when they reached her car. “I’ll see you tomorrow night after practice, and we can firm up the details for Sunday. The weather forecast is predicting rain, so I’m thinking we should plan on taking the ferry ride out to Friday Harbor instead of packing a lunch. We can eat at one of the restaurants on the island and wander through the shops until it’s time to catch the ferry for the return trip.”
