by Elle James
“You missed a spot.” Tag leaned close and dabbed at the spot. Again, he was close enough he could have tasted the barbecue on her lips.
Steady, man. You’re in it for the long haul. Don’t blow it now.
She smiled and reached out to dab at a spot on his cheek. “There. Now, we’re presentable.”
“I’m going to wash my hands in the bathroom, then I’ll be ready to go,” Tag said.
“Me, too,” Leslie said. “The wipes can only do so much.”
They went their separate ways at the bathrooms.
Tag entered, washed his hands and face and looked at himself in the mirror. “Take it easy. She’s worth the wait.”
When he left the bathroom, Leslie was already standing, waiting in the hallway.
A man in faded blue jeans, a blue chambray shirt and cowboy boots leaned his hand against the wall beside her head. “Hey, beautiful. What say you and I go dancin’?”
“Sorry,” she said. “I’ve already got a date.”
“He ain’t much of a date, if he leaves you standing around.” The man touched her cheek. “If you were my date, I wouldn’t let you out of my sight for a second.”
Anger bubbled up inside Tag. He forced back the instinct to flatten the man, face first on the ground. Instead, he laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. “Pardon me, sir, but you seem to be lost.”
The man spun, his hands coming up in fists. “Butt out, dude. I’m not lost.”
Tag could smell the beer on his breath. “Yeah, well, you’re hitting on my date.”
“You snooze, you lose, buddy.” He turned back to Leslie. “You comin’?”
She shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m with him.” Leslie tipped her head toward Tag.
Beer-breath snorted. “He’s a loser.”
Leslie’s eyes narrowed. “He’s not a loser. If anyone’s a loser,” she lifted her chin and stared down her nose at him, “you are, sir.”
“Why you—” Beer-breath raised his hand to slap Leslie.
Tag grabbed the man’s arm, twisted it behind his back and raised it up high enough to make it hurt.
“What the hell?” Beer-breath yelled. “Let go of me.”
“I will,” Tag leaned close to the man’s ear then spoke in a low, warning tone, “just as soon as you apologize to the lady.”
“Ain’t got nothin’ to—Eeoooww!” he yelled. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“That’s more like it.” Tag dug his keys out of his pocket and handed them to Leslie. “If you don’t mind, you can wait for me in the truck. I have a little cleanup work to do.”
She frowned. “You won’t hurt him too badly, will you?”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t hurt him…much.”
Leslie moved toward the exit, while Tag marched Mr. Beer-breath toward the clerk behind the counter. “Could you call for a police escort to take this man home? I believe he’s had a few too many.”
The clerk’s eyes rounded. “Yes, sir.” The young woman placed the call.
“I had one beer,” the man argued. “One lousy beer.”
“Sure, you have.”
“You got no reason to hold me. I got rights.”
Tag’s jaw hardened. “You lost those rights when you swung at my date.”
“I wasn’t gonna hit her.”
Within a few minutes, two police officers entered the restaurant and took charge of Beer-breath.
“You want to press charges?” one of the officers asked.
“No,” Leslie’s voice came from behind. “Just make sure he gets home safely and doesn’t hurt anyone in the process.” She slipped her hand through the crook of Tag’s elbow. “Can we leave now?”
Tag glanced toward the officers.
They nodded. “We have all the information. Thank you. You might have saved this man’s life and others on the road.”
“Just glad he didn’t hurt my girl.” Tag squeezed Leslie’s hand close to his body. “Ready?”
She nodded and let him lead her out to his truck and help her inside.
Once they were both settled, she turned to him. “Was that rule three?”
He started the engine. “Rule three?”
“Never hit on another person’s date,” she said.
Tag grinned. “I hate to call that a rule since it’s so obvious, but you’re right. It’s not good to hit on another person’s date. Don’t do it.”
Leslie buckled her seatbelt, draped her jacket over her lap and smiled at the windshield ahead of her. “It seems I have a lot to remember and learn. And thank you for taking over with that redneck back there. I could have taken care of myself, though.”
Tag shot a glance in her direction. “He was about to hit you.”
“I was about to duck and knee him in the crotch.”
“In that skirt?” Tag raised a brow. “I don’t think you could have gotten your knee up high enough.”
“I would have raised it.” She shook her head. “But thank you for saving me from that goon.”
“You’re welcome.” He pulled out of the parking lot. “Where to? Want to go dancing?” He winked. “You might be disappointed you couldn’t go with Beer-breath.”
“Not tonight,” Leslie said. “Though I do love to dance. Maybe another night.” She brightened. “I’ll put that down as one of my preferences. A man who likes to dance.”
“Good idea. I’ll put that down as well. I love to dance.”
Leslie’s brow scrunched. “You like to dance? I seem to remember you didn’t.”
“I’ll have you know I took lessons. I learned a long time ago that most women love to dance. If I wanted to impress one, all I had to do was offer to take her dancing.”
Leslie studied him. “When did you learn how to dance?”
“Several years ago. I took lessons in ballroom dancing. I can waltz, foxtrot, tango and samba. I also know a few line dances, and I can do a mean two-step.”
Leslie frowned. “Taggert Bronson, do I even know you?”
Tag grinned, glad he’d finally gotten her attention. “Sometimes, I don’t think you do.”
“Well, that has to change.” She folded her arms in her lap. “I’ll know all about you after we work on your profile in BODS. We’ll find you a perfect match. The ladies are going to love you.”
Tag stared at the road ahead. That wasn’t exactly what he’d had in mind when he’d gotten her attention. He wanted her to consider him as perfect for her, not some other woman.
He could see that he still had work to do.
* * *
Leslie sat in the seat next to Tag, wondering what the heck was wrong with her. Tag was her dearest friend. He’d been Randy’s best friend. Why was she thinking about him as date material?
She tried to tell herself it was because she had to think of him as a client and determine what would appeal to her female clients.
However, it was more than that. She liked being with him. She’d always enjoyed being with him, even when she, Randy and Tag had been friends, before she’d agreed to marry Randy. Now, with Randy gone, she was thinking of Tag as more than a friend. A couple times this evening, she’d had the sudden and startling urge to kiss him.
Holy hell. Tag would have been appalled. She was married to his best friend!
Was.
Randy was gone. He wouldn’t have minded if Leslie fell in love again. He’d even said he didn’t want her to be alone. Randy had given her permission to fall in love and have a chance at happiness. How would he have felt if he’d known she was looking at Tag in that way?
Knowing Randy, he would have loved the idea of Tag taking care of her.
Leslie risked a glance at Tag from beneath her lashes.
He was every bit as handsome as Randy had been, maybe even more so. His blue eyes contrasted so well with his dark brown hair. He was taller than Randy, and his shoulders were broader.
“Have you been working out?” Leslie asked before she thought.
Tag’s lip
s twitched. “I try to stay in shape,” he admitted. “I have a home gym where I lift weights, and I go to the gym three times a week to spar with a retired boxer.”
Leslie raised her eyebrows. “I’m impressed.”
He shrugged. “Keeps me from getting bored.”
“You? Bored?” Leslie shook her head. “As I remember, you never slowed down enough to get bored.”
Tag snorted. “When I started making money, I had to hire other people to help manage my holdings. I did such a good job hiring people who could do the work, I don’t have as much to do.”
“Is that why you’re always over messing with my little BODS system?”
He nodded. “Truth is, I’m never bored around you.”
Leslie’s heart swelled. “Same.”
“If we’re going to do this dating thing, I’ll be seeing even more of you.” He tipped his head toward her, raising his eyebrows.
“The idea is to see a lot more of your date,” she reminded him.
“Right.” He nodded. “But until I find the right woman for me and you find the right man for you, we’re going to help each other sift through the candidates.”
Leslie nodded. “That’s the plan.”
“What time do you want me at your office tomorrow?”
Leslie blinked. “I don’t know. What time is good for you?”
“I could be there in the afternoon around four-thirty or five, if that’s not too late.”
“That would be perfect,” she said, her voice a little breathy. The thought of entering her personal profile in front of Tag made her wonder if she was doing the right thing. Then again, he knew her. Probably better than she knew herself.
Leslie frowned. She’d thought she knew him. The fact that he’d taken dance lessons, and she didn’t know that about him, made her question just how well she knew Taggert Bronson.
“Why have you never married?” she asked.
Tag laughed. “That was out of nowhere.”
“Not really. It would help me to know this information if I’m going to help you find a perfect match.”
Tag shrugged. “I guess I wasn’t ready.”
“Have you ever been in love?” After the words left her mouth, her breath caught and held in her throat. She had to know.
He drew in a deep breath, his brow descending as if he was thinking about his answer. “I fell in love once.”
She leaned toward him, her heartbeat ratcheting up. “And? What happened?”
He slowed for a streetlight, staring ahead through the window. “I wasn’t ready. She was.”
“And she married someone else?” Leslie’s heart pinched in her chest. She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He patted her hand. “I think it was meant to be.”
“Did she know you loved her?” Leslie asked.
He shook his head.
She frowned. “Did I know her?”
“Maybe,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.”
Leslie sensed he didn’t want to talk about it. It had to have been a painful loss for Tag to avoid marriage.
“Maybe she wasn’t the right one for you,” Leslie suggested.
“Oh, she was the right one. I was too immature to realize it until it was too late.” He spoke with a hint of self-loathing that cut straight through to Leslie’s heart.
“Wow.” Leslie shook her head. “She must have been amazing.”
“She is.”
“It was her loss, as far as I’m concerned.” Leslie squeezed his arm. “Don’t worry. We’ll find someone even better. A woman who won’t miss what a great guy you are. You’re going to make the best husband and father.”
“Assuming she wants kids,” he interjected.
“Do you want kids?” Leslie asked. Again, her breath caught and held. Not that Tag’s stance on children had anything to do with her.
“Absolutely,” Tag said. “I want four. Two boys and two girls. But I’d take all boys and all girls, as long as they’re all healthy.”
Leslie laughed. “That’s how many I want. One is so lonely. Two is lovely, but I would adore having a houseful of noise and laughter.”
He smiled in her direction. “You were an only child, right?”
She nodded. “I always wanted siblings to play with.”
“I was number three of four children,” Tag said.
“Your father was military, wasn’t he?” Leslie asked.
Tag nodded. “We moved so many times while I was young, I don’t know what I would have done without my brother and sisters. They were my friends when I didn’t know anyone else.” He smiled. “Life was always an adventure in our family.”
“Can I tell you a secret?” Leslie bunched her hands into fists. It might be a mistake, but she wanted him to know.
“Sure. Your secrets are always safe with me.” He glanced her way, his brow furrowing. “You’re all right, aren’t you? No serious health issues, I hope?”
She laughed. “No. Nothing like that. I’m fine. I just…” Was it right to tell him before she even tried? “If things don’t work out with BODS,” she said, “I’m thinking of having a baby on my own.”
Tag’s foot stomped on the brake. “What?”
“Oh, dear.” She pitched forward, grabbed the “oh-shit” handle by the door and righted herself. “I guess I shouldn’t have said anything. Especially while you’re driving.”
“No. No. I’m glad you did. Something like having a baby is a big deal. Talking about it helps with the decision.” He shook his head. “How will you do that without a father?”
She looked down at her hands. “When Randy found out he was terminal, I insisted he save his sperm. We always wanted children. We tried to get pregnant, but,” she shrugged, “it never happened.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He caught her hand and held it in his. “We both have regrets. But we can’t keep looking back. We have to look forward. Just because things didn’t turn out the way we thought it should doesn’t mean it won’t turn out the way it was supposed to be all along.”
Leslie nodded. “You’re right. Maybe I was supposed to be a single mom, raising a child on my own.” A tear slipped from the corner off her eye. She quickly wiped it away. “No matter what, we have to see this through. I made a promise to give BODS a try. If all else fails, I have a Plan B.”
“Promise me you’ll give dating a shot. You deserve to have all the happiness. That means someone to love, who loves you, and four rambunctious kids to raise the rooftop with noise.”
Leslie chuckled, the sound catching a little. “You’re right. I need to be open to the possibilities.”
“You never know…the person you were meant to be with could be right there waiting for you. You have to keep your eyes open and recognize love for what it is.”
She nodded. “You’re right.” Leslie smiled at him. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Tag. You’re the best friend a girl could ever have.”
His lips twisted. “Here we are,” he said, pulling into the driveway of the home she and Randy had built together the year before he was diagnosed.
“Wow, we got here fast,” she said, reaching for the buckle of her seatbelt.
Tag dropped down out of the pickup and hurried around to open her door for her.
Once again, he gripped her waist in his strong hands and lifted her down to the ground.
Now that she knew those muscles were real and he worked for them, she could appreciate how hard they were against her palms. Her heartbeat stuttered, and her insides heated.
Any woman would be excited this close to Tag. He was one hundred percent male, tough enough to take care of a redneck and gentle enough to hold doors for the ladies. Some lucky woman was going to be thrilled to be matched with Taggert Bronson.
Why she wasn’t thrilled with that idea had her stumped.
Tag walked her to the door of her house and held out his hand for her keys. After he unlocked her door and
opened it, he handed back the keys, his fingers holding onto the keyring a little longer than necessary.
His touch caused a rush of electricity to radiate from her fingers up her arm and throughout her body.
He stood so close she could feel the heat from his body against hers. If she leaned up on her toes, she could brush her lips across his. How would that feel?
Tag cupped her cheek in his palm and lowered his head.
Her gaze on his mouth, Leslie watched as he grew closer.
Instead of his mouth claiming hers, he altered course and lightly touched his lips to her forehead. “Goodnight, Leslie.”
Then he stepped away, leaving her feeing like she’d missed something very important.
“Do you want to come in for a drink?” she blurted out.
“I’d like nothing better,” he said. “But I actually have to go to a meeting first thing in the morning.” He gave her a quick smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
She nodded. “Tomorrow.” Leslie entered her house, closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Had he almost kissed her? And if he had, would she have liked it as much as she thought she would?
Chapter 3
Tag arrived fifteen minutes early at the BODS office building and sat in his truck, waiting for the exact time he said he’d be there. While he waited, he called Coop.
“Getting cold feet?” Coop asked without preamble.
“No way. I’m ready for this.”
Coop snorted. “If you’re so ready, why did you wait so long to give BODS a chance?”
“The timing wasn’t right,” Tag said. None of his buddies in the Billionaire Anonymous Club knew about his love for Leslie, and he preferred they remain clueless until his plan came together.
“Have you been going through your little black book, breaking the news to all of your former girlfriends?” Coop asked.
“Don’t have one. Don’t have any.”
“Hmm. That’s right. You have been single for a while. No wonder you’re ready.”
“I’ve been busy with work and the ranch. No time for relationships,” he explained, knowing his answer was a bit simplistic.