by Carrie Elks
“Good morning,” Aunt Gina said, walking into the kitchen with the newspaper in her hand. She pulled it from the plastic wrap and placed it to the side, the way she always did for his dad. It was hard to remember his life without Aunt Gina in it. She’d arrived the day after Tanner’s mom – her sister – died, and hadn’t left since. They’d been lucky to have her, especially with their dad being as taciturn as he was.
Aunt Gina was the balm to his father’s sting. More than once she’d stepped between his dad and Gray as they faced up to each other, before Gray left town in search of stardom. And though he’d mellowed a little over the past year, their father still made them all feel uncomfortable. Maybe it was a good thing he spent most of his time in his office.
Aunt Gina pulled a pan from beneath the stove, lighting up the heat and pouring oil into the center. “How many eggs do you want with your breakfast?” she asked Tanner.
“None.” Tanner winked at her. “I’m going running in a minute. I don’t want any breakfast, thank you.”
Their father walked into the kitchen and sat in the chair opposite Tanner’s. The light atmosphere almost immediately dissipated, the way it always did when he was around. Aunt Gina gave him the paper and he folded it over, unfolding his reading glasses and perching them on the tip of his nose.
“Oh shoot, I’m late. But I want to hear more about this house.” Becca gave Tanner a meaningful look. “And by the way, I heard you weren’t running alone yesterday. Is that why you’re so keen to go out again this morning?”
“I run every day,” Tanner said mildly. Becca had no chance of making him uncomfortable. He’d lived most of his life with Gray, Cam, and Logan. All masters at making others squirm. She was a mere pretender.
She glanced at her watch again, her expression torn. “But not in the mornings. You usually run in the evenings. You always have.”
He shrugged. “I’ve got more time on my hands. I’m switching things up.”
Letting out a grunt of annoyance, Becca stomped out of the kitchen, waving her hand in goodbye and spilling coffee everywhere. Tanner smirked but said nothing.
“Who have you been running with?” Aunt Gina asked, sliding the eggs onto the crisp bread she’d toasted. She put the plate in front of his dad.
“Nobody you know.” He finished his coffee, putting his mug in the new dishwasher Gray had bought last Christmas. “I’m off, I’ll see you later.”
“Will you be back for lunch?” Aunt Gina called at him as he grabbed the backdoor handle.
“Probably not. Don’t make anything for me.” When he turned to shoot her his usual grin she was staring at him, her brows dipped. “You okay?”
“Yes…” She trailed off, but he could still feel her scrutiny. “Are you?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
“Everybody’s good,” his dad mumbled into his coffee. “Now can I get on with eating my breakfast in silence?”
And that was why Tanner needed to find a house. If he was going to stay around here for a while, he’d need to get his own place before he ended up strangling his father.
Everybody knew he was too pretty to wear prison stripes.
Van rolled her neck around in a circle, trying to loosen her tight muscles. Walking onto the porch, she lifted her right foot onto the railing, leaning forward to feel the stretch through the back of her thigh as her hamstring protested the movement.
Her eyes lifted, and she saw Tanner leaning on the oak tree, his arms folded across his chest, making his biceps bulge beneath the sleeves of his tight running top. He was wearing shorts again, but this time she refused to look at his tan, defined legs. She didn’t need to anyway. They were etched into her memory.
Ignoring him, she stretched her left hamstring, counting to twenty before she turned and put her right foot on the rail, gracefully leaning forward until the fronts of her thighs began to loosen.
From the corner of her eye she could see he hadn’t moved an inch. Hadn’t said anything either. He was just staring at her with those dark eyes. She wasn’t going to blush – she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Instead, she stood and stretched to the right and the left, then jogged down the steps to the path.
As soon as she passed him, she heard his running shoes pound against the concrete flagstones, matching her stride for stride as she made her way down the street. When the sidewalk widened, he sped up just enough to run beside her, then slowed to match her gait once more.
She took the same route as yesterday, first into the town square, past the bandstand and benches that overlooked the flower beds that were overflowing with color. Then through the gate at the other side, past First Baptist Church and continuing on Main Road out of Hartson’s Creek.
“Remember when we let those mice loose during Sunday Service?” Tanner asked, glancing back at the church before they turned the corner.
Van lifted an eyebrow. “So we’re reminiscing about the old days now?” God, it had been funny watching everybody scream and lift their feet up. It had taken them all week to find enough mice to make it a good prank.
He shrugged, still matching her gait. “We can talk about whatever you want.”
She licked her lips and sped up just a little. She could already feel her lungs starting to ache. “How about you tell me why you’re back in Hartson’s Creek. Last I heard you were something big in New York.”
“You’ve been asking people about me?”
She could see his grin from the corner of her eyes. “It’s amazing how much people want to share whenever they see me in town. Maybe I have a sign on my front saying ‘tell me about Tanner Hartson.’ They think they’re providing an update service.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. I get the same thing but with you.”
“You do?”
“Oh yeah. I can tell you the exact day you moved to Richmond. How many bathrooms and half bathrooms your apartment has. And every time one of the events you plan is on TV, my phone pretty much blows up.”
“People are assholes.”
“They are,” he agreed.
“I’m glad we scared them with the mice. They deserved it.” She felt her lips curl into a smile.
He laughed. “Maybe we should do it again.”
“I’m pretty sure I’m banned from church. I’d give Reverend Maitland a heart attack if I walked in on Sunday.” Van shook her head. “We were terrible kids, weren’t we?”
“We were bored. And got a kick out of other peoples’ shock.” Tanner shrugged. “Anyway, the mice were nothing compared to the time when we put laundry soap in the school toilet tanks. Every time somebody flushed there were bubbles spilling over the floor.” He chuckled. “It was worth the punishment just to see everybody’s faces.”
She grinned at the memory. The janitorial staff hadn’t found it so funny, though. God, they’d been brats.
They were on the open road now, fields stretching out in front of them. She both hated and loved how easy it was to talk with Tanner. Hated, because she’d missed it so damn much.
And loved, because he’d always been her best friend. Until he wasn’t.
“Why did you buy my mom’s house?” The question came out of nowhere, spilling from her lips in a mash of words.
“You know about that?” He tipped his head to look at her. Her legs were slowing, her breath catching as she tried to maintain a rhythm.
“Yeah, I know. But I don’t know why you did it. She’s not exactly the best tenant in the world.”
“I had a lot of money and needed to make some investments. It came on the market at the right time.”
“So it’s just a coincidence?” She lifted an eyebrow. “Of all the places you could buy, you just happened to choose my mom’s?”
“What else? You think I deliberately bought the house because of its connections with you?” His lips twitched as their eyes met. She quickly turned her head away.
Yeah, she did think that. But then she realized how egotistical that made her sound. “I know she o
wes you rent. I’ll write you a check when I get back home.”
“It’s okay. I don’t need your money.”
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “All the same, I pay my way. I don’t like owing anybody anything.”
“I know that,” he said softly. “Look, can we stop running for a minute?”
“Are you getting worn out?” She slowed down, stopping at almost the exact place she’d caught her breath yesterday. He’d been on his way back then, from wherever he’d run to. There was no way he could be breathless yet.
“I just want to look at you when I’m talking to you.” He leaned on the half-rotten wooden fence that bordered the overgrown drive-in. She could remember being part of the team that painted it all those years ago.
Tanner had been there, too, though he’d managed to get more paint on her than the wood.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked her.
“Just remembering what a goof you were as a kid.”
He chuckled. “You were pretty goofy yourself.”
“I was the Brain to your Pinky,” she said, grabbing her water bottle from the belt around her waist. Flipping the lid, she took a long, deep swallow. The water was still cool from being refrigerated overnight.
“Funny how everybody always blamed me for our tricks, when they were all your idea,” he said pointedly.
She could feel his gaze on her face, warming her skin like the sun. Pulling the water bottle from her lips she offered it to him. “Want some?”
He shook his head. “I’ll drink when I get home.”
“You should drink while you run. Otherwise you’ll get dehydrated.”
“I only drink when running marathons. I don’t bother with water for short runs.”
Oh, burn. “You run marathons?”
“I have a few. I like running long distances. They clear your mind.”
Van glanced at his legs again. “You don’t look like a long distance runner,” she pointed out, managing to drag her gaze back up to his.
“Are you calling me fat, Butler?” he asked, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Because that’s just rude.” He lifted his arm, curling his bicep up. “I’ll have you know I’m all brawn and muscle. Come on, feel this.”
She shook her head, trying not to laugh at his mock-horrified expression. “It’s okay, I’ll take your word for it.”
“Come on,” he said, reaching for her hand and curling it around his bicep. “Guns of steel, babe.”
Her fingers dug into his hot, taut skin, feeling the iron of his muscles underneath. He was standing close enough that she could smell him, the warm, woodsy essence of his soap made more potent by the heat of his skin.
It was so familiar. A reminder of everything… and how easily they’d thrown it aside. It set her alight and cut through her all at the same time.
“I need to go,” she said, releasing her hold on him and stepping back. Her stomach was swirling with nausea and she gasped for fresh air. “I’m late for something.”
Tanner blinked at her sudden change of mood. “Is everything okay?”
“I just remembered I promised to pick something up for Zoe.” She was flailing around for excuses. This was what they’d ended up as, two people who were completely polite to each other. Because anything else hurt too much. “You carry on running, I’m heading back.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, it’s okay,” she replied quickly. “You said yourself that you like running distances. My runs are five miles at the most.” She managed to smile at him. “Thanks for the company. I’ll see you around.”
She turned on the ball of her foot and launched herself down the road, pushing her legs to speed despite the protest of her muscles. It didn’t stop her hearing his sad goodbye, or from remembering the hurt look on his face when he realized she really didn’t want him running with her.
And if she ran home so fast that her lungs were screaming by the time she arrived at the end of her overgrown yard? Well that was okay. Maybe she deserved it. God knew the hurt felt pretty good right now.
Chapter Seven
“So that’s two months’ rent,” Regan said, writing a receipt out for Van as she sat in a guest chair at Regan’s desk. “Next month’s is due on the twenty-second.”
“Do you have a way my mom can pay it automatically?” Van asked. “I’m trying to get her into online payments so she doesn’t forget.”
“We do.” Regan smiled brightly, pulling open her drawer and taking out a leaflet. “Your mom always insists on checks. I figured she was old fashioned that way. A lot of our clients are.”
Van took the leaflet and slid it into her bag. “It’s time she came into the twenty-first century.”
“I kind of miss the old days,” Regan told her. “My eldest is already asking for a phone and he’s barely finished Kindergarten. Remember when we were all happy with a crayon and a piece of paper?”
“I remember,” Van said dryly.
“Speaking of my babies,” Regan said, glancing down at her swollen stomach. “I have a sprinkle next weekend. Would you like to come?”
“A sprinkle?” Van asked, biting down a smile. It sounded like some kind of incontinence problem. “What’s that?”
“It’s like a baby shower, but without all the gifts.” Regan shrugged. “After three kids I have almost everything I need. And anyway, Mrs. Fairfax said it would be bad form to ask for gifts for the fourth time around.” She blinked, then forced a smile on her face.
“What does Mrs. Fairfax have to do with it?” Van asked.
“She’s hosting for me. The Fairfaxes are very generous like that. You know where they live, right?”
“Yeah. I don’t know if I’m free though…” The thought of subjecting herself to Nora and Johnny Fairfax for an afternoon was almost at the bottom of her list. Only above pulling her toenails out one by one and then baking them into a nice pie.
Regan grabbed her hands. “Please come. I don’t have that many friends. Don’t have time, what with the rugrats and my hubby.”
Letting out a mouthful of air, Van nodded. “Sure. Okay. I’ll be there.”
“Yay!” Regan clapped her hands together. “I’ll tell you what, I’ll pop an invitation through your door on my way home from work. That way you’ll know exactly when and where it is.” Her grin was so wide it made Van feel bad about not wanting to go. “And remember,” Regan said, waggling her finger. “No presents, just your presence.”
Van was almost certain that exact phrase was written on the invitation, right below a command to RSVP to Nora Fairfax by a date that had long since passed.
And now she had some shopping to do to. Because little baby Laverty number four deserved at least one gift.
“Thanks,” Van said, smiling as she stood and waved goodbye to Regan. “I’m looking forward to it.”
“Do you have anything else?” Tanner asked, looking up from the glossy realty brochures Johnny Fairfax had spread over his desk.
“That’s all the houses we have for sale at the moment. Hartson’s Creek is a sought after place to live, especially since your brother put it on the map.” Johnny gave him a pointed look. “Houses are being snapped up as soon as they are listed.” He ran a tongue over his dry lips. “Have you thought about building a home instead?”
Tanner shook his head. “Nope.” It would take too long and he’d end up strangling his father, and possibly Aunt Gina and Becca, too. He was used to his own space in New York, and as much as he loved his family, he preferred them alive and at arm’s length.
“You should think about it. That way you’ll get the right location with the exact specification of house you’re looking for. I’ll get Regan to find some details of land we have for sale.” Johnny began to fold up the glossy brochures, piling them one on top of the other. “Regan!” he called out, his booming voice bouncing off the walls. “Can you come in here?”
Who needed intercoms when you could shout loud enough to burst
eardrums? Tanner winced at the way the sound reverberated around the room. It seemed to work, though, because the next moment Regan Laverty was pushing the door open and nervously stepping in, her bump so big it entered about a minute before she did.
“Oh hey, Tanner. How are you?” she asked, smiling. “I have a check for you actually. Savannah Butler just brought it in. She’s paid the arrears and is setting up online payment for the future. Isn’t that great?”
“That’s wonderful news.” Johnny clapped his hands together. “Well done, Regan.”
She glowed at his praise. “I told you we’d get it,” she said, nodding.
Tanner glanced at the open door. The main office was empty. Had Van been here when he was going through houses with Johnny? He was disappointed he hadn’t bumped into her again. After her abrupt departure from their run, he’d been feeling restless. As though his muscles didn’t want to slow down long enough for him to think. He’d run almost sixteen miles that day, and he’d been aching ever since. And trying not to think about the way she’d touched him. Her fingers had been soft and gentle, yet they’d sent a shot of pleasure through his body. He wanted her, the same way he always had. He just needed to find a way for her to reciprocate that feeling.
Maybe he’d join her on her run again sometime. The thought of it made him grin. Bumping into her was his favorite way to pass the time. It was pretty much what got him up in the morning.
“Well now, Regan, can you rummage through the land files and see what we’ve got that might suit Mr. Hartson?” He turned to Tanner. “What are we talking about, six bedrooms? Or maybe eight. I know your brother built eight. How much acreage are you looking for? You’ll want it set back from the road, right?”
“Oh you should definitely have it set back.” Regan nodded. “Maybe have some gates. I love those iron ones that Gray and Maddie have.”
“In that case, Regan, let’s look at land of two acres or more. What have we got?”
Tanner watched as Regan waddled over to the gunmetal filing cabinet in the corner of Johnny’s room. She braced her hands on the top before slowly lowering herself to her knees.