She heard Tanner’s low, sensual voice. “Thanks, I think. So how about dinner? I have a couple of great rib eye steaks and one of those prawn things from Metropolitan Grill.”
“I’m sure I could find something to eat there,” Tabitha said.
“Oh, we’re not going there,” Tanner said. “I’m kind of on house arrest.”
“House arrest?” Tabitha said. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not a criminal or anything. I ordered some food because going out is still tough for me right now. My buddy’s a chef and gave me a clue on how to grill up a couple of steaks.”
“I’m sure they’re great, but I’m a vegetarian.”
“Do you eat seafood?” Tanner said. “How about some prawns instead?”
“No thanks,” she said. “My diet is primarily plant-based. I should have mentioned that earlier.”
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s see if we can find something else you might like to eat.” Jordan could hear him moving around on his crutches. “Let’s go look in the refrigerator and see if there’s anything that you might enjoy. If not, I can order what you’d like and have it delivered.”
“Thanks for offering,” Tabitha said.
“Not a problem,” he said.
Jordan wasn’t sure what had happened in the past ten minutes between Tanner and Tabitha, but the temperature on the deck must have dropped to sub-Arctic. She didn’t think Tabitha was mad about the lack of a vegetarian entrée or Tanner was upset about looking for something else she might like to eat. The previous laughter and flirting between them had stopped. It might be a good time to leave for a while.
Sadie came back to lap at the bowl of water again as Jordan finished off her glass of wine.
“How about a walk, girl?” Jordan said. “Let’s sneak out of here, okay?” She got off the chaise lounge, clipped Sadie’s leash to her collar, and climbed the stairs as silently as possible to the front door.
***
TANNER WAS RUMMAGING through the contents of his refrigerator as Tabitha looked on.
“Okay. I just got a grocery delivery this morning. There’s plenty of fruits and vegetables in here. We have a few of the meal kit things I have around in case I get hungry. I know they have side dishes that might work.” He straightened up with a bagful of Rainier cherries in one hand. “These aren’t exactly dinner material, but they’d make a nice dessert.”
He heard Sadie’s toenails skittering across the entryway. Jordan looked like she was trying to vanish before they saw her.
“Hey, Jordan,” Tabitha called out. “Want to have dinner with us?”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt you,” Jordan said.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said.
“Not at all,” Tabitha chimed in.
He wasn’t sure what had happened to his date between his front door and the part in which they couldn’t find anything else to talk about, but he’d been here before in the past. He’d tried talking with her and getting things started again before they went into the kitchen. It wasn’t working. Plus, it was never a good sign when one’s date invited the woman living in one’s house to join them for dinner.
He knew he should be insulted that Tabitha didn’t find him riveting enough to want to be alone with, but it was more funny than tragic. Women lined up to spend time with him when he was still headline news. Sometimes it was good to be reminded that he was human, even if it was a little tough on his ego.
Jordan and Sadie had edged into the kitchen. “You must be trying to find something else to eat,” she said.
“There’s all kinds of choices here. Nothing’s jumping out at me,” Tabitha said.
“Okay, then. There’s tortillas in the fridge. I know we have a can of black beans in the pantry. How about some vegetarian quesadillas? They’re quick and filling enough for Tanner too,” Jordan said. “He can grill them up. How about it?”
Tabitha nodded at Jordan. “Sounds great.”
Ten minutes later, Tanner had preheated the grill while the women sliced up vegetables and assembled other quesadilla makings. Tabitha peered into the salad he’d had delivered from Metropolitan Grill earlier in the day. “That’s a lot of bacon.”
“Most people would think that was a good thing,” Tanner joked.
“There’s some Caesar salad in here from last night,” Jordan told Tabitha. “Would you like it instead?”
“There are anchovies in the dressing. No, thank you,” she said. She eyed some glazed carrots. “Those might work as another side dish.” Tabitha seemed to have a lot more to talk about with Jordan than she’d had with him.
He kept directing his comments to Jordan. “Is there anything else I need to heat up?” He brandished his tongs again. “The food will be ready soon. Why don’t you ladies have a seat?”
“Do you need anything else to drink?” Jordan asked them.
“I won’t say no to a beer,” Tanner joked.
“I’ll bring the pitcher of iced tea,” Jordan said. He let out a groan.
Tabitha sat down at the patio table, which Jordan had set moments before. “How do you know Tanner?” she said.
Jordan was pretty sure that if she’d met Tabitha under any other circumstances, she would have liked her. She was friendly, she wasn’t a big complainer if she could get food that had never been within shouting distance of any type of meat, and she was nice to Sadie. Mostly, Tabitha looked uncomfortable. Tanner wasn’t paying a lot of attention to Tabitha, either, which was strange. He’d invited her over in the first place. What the hell was going on?
“We met here and there,” Jordan said.
“She dragged my ass out of the drunk tank a few weeks ago. That’ll teach me to go to that martini bar on Broadway alone. Shit. I don’t think I sobered up for two days,” Tanner said. He gave Jordan a slight wink.
“That’s not what happened—”
“Of course it did, doll face. You brought me home and you haven’t left yet. One thing’s for sure. I learned my lesson.”
“Are you serious?” He’d called her doll face. Doll face? She was going to take that up with him later. Right now, she was too busy to dwell on it.
“Of course I am. Why would I lie to you?” He tried to look innocent. It wasn’t working.
“He’s not serious,” Jordan said to Tabitha. “I’ll tell you what really happened.”
“I was performing at Teatro ZinZanni. I fell off the trapeze and landed on her table. I screamed like a little girl too,” Tanner said as he put a perfectly done quesadilla on the plate in front of Tabitha. “She split her dessert with me while we waited for the aid car.” He served Jordan’s quesadilla too. “I’ll do almost anything for a good blackberry panna cotta. How about you, Jordan?”
Jordan wouldn’t know what a blackberry panna cotta was if it bit her in the face, but she nodded. “I’m sure it’s good.”
Tabitha had to know he was full of shit by this point, but she glanced back and forth between Jordan and Tanner like she was at a tennis match. “Wow,” she said. She took a bite of glazed carrots.
“How are the carrots?” Jordan asked.
“Delicious.” She glanced up from her food. “You should really consider becoming a vegetarian, Jordan.”
“I’m okay with vegetables—”
“Your skin will really show it if you keep eating meat.” She gave a delicate shudder. “I get women in my office all the time who can’t figure out why their skin looks so bad. I can figure it out the minute they walk in the salon—not enough sunscreen and tons of red meat. It’s awful for you,” she said.
“Huh,” Jordan said. She didn’t want to be rude, but she wasn’t in the mood for a critique of her skin. “What do you do, Tabitha?”
“I’m a Sharks cheerleader, but I’m an esthetician in my day job. I work for a salon in Bellevue. You should stop by sometime. I’d be happy to treat you to a minifacial.” Like the vast majority of NFL cheerleaders, Tabitha couldn’t make a living of
f cheering.
“That’s really nice. Thank you.”
“What about my minifacial? I need one,” Tanner insisted.
Jordan was torn between thinking he was the most ridiculous man she’d ever met and laughing at his attempts to tease Tabitha a little. She wondered why he’d asked her out in the first place, but she’d be dwelling on that one later. Mostly, she wanted to see what he’d do next. He didn’t disappoint.
“The effects of red meat, alcohol, and smoking don’t show up on men’s skin until later in life,” Tabitha informed him. “Their skin is thicker.”
“Well, that’s great to know.” He took another bite of his quesadilla. “Maybe I’ll grill up one of those steaks after all.” Tabitha averted her eyes.
Jordan had been on dates before that went south fifteen minutes after the guy picked her up or whatever. Typically, this had something to do with being asked to dinner by someone who saw her at a bar or a sporting event. They liked how she looked but they weren’t into her as a person, which became obvious when she tried to have a conversation. She’d always been as interested in a guy’s brain as she was the rest of him. She wanted to be with someone she enjoyed talking to and had something in common with. It was surprising how high of a bar that seemed to be, at least for her. She was dealing with it right now. Tanner had no problem starting and holding a conversation. He and Tabitha were not the proverbial “love connection,” but he still tried to bring her into the convo and fun. Jordan was torn between feeling jealous and enjoying the newly talkative and funny Tanner.
He’d kissed her last night, and he’d invited out another woman today. She wouldn’t be human if she wasn’t a little hurt. Why had he kissed her?
Jordan finished as much of the quesadilla, spinach salad, and prawns on her plate as possible, dropped her napkin on the table, and leaned back in the patio chair. “Dinner was delicious,” she said to Tanner. “Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome. Thanks to you ladies for prepping the vegetables and getting everything on the table.” He nodded at Tabitha. “Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll have to make that again.”
“It was Jordan’s idea, but I liked it too. I’m glad you enjoyed it.” Jordan heard the bzzzt of a cell phone text notification. Tabitha pulled her phone out of her pocket and said, “Please excuse me. I’ll be right back.” She took a few steps away from the table, tapped in a response, and turned back to face Jordan and Tanner. “I know it’s rude to eat and run, but I have to go. Thanks for the dinner.”
“I’ll walk you out,” Tanner said.
“Uh, sure. That would be great,” Tabitha said.
***
TANNER REACHED OUT to grab his crutches and followed Tabitha out the front door a few minutes later.
“Thanks for stopping by,” he said. He braced himself on one crutch and reached out to give her a half hug. “I had fun. I hope you did too.”
Tabitha brushed her hair behind one shoulder and glanced up at him.
“I know I should stay out of it, but you asked out the wrong woman, Tanner.” She reached out to pat his upper arm. “We didn’t have a lot to say to each other. It’s not because I don’t think you’re a good guy. There was no spark. We’ll be friends, but we’re never going to be lovers.”
“Okay,” he said. He wanted to argue with her, but she was right. It smarted a little to hear her put into words she wasn’t interested, but at least she was honest.
“There were enough sparks to burn the house down between you and Jordan, though,” she said. “Why aren’t you dating her?”
“She’s my physical therapist,” he said.
“That’s quite an excuse. I saw how you looked at her. You turned into Mr. Personality the second she showed up too.” Tabitha took a few steps away from him but turned to face him again. “Ask her out.”
He watched her walk to her car, get in, and drive away. She tapped the horn as a good-bye. She was right. He’d called Tabitha because he thought he should start his social life again. He didn’t ask the woman he really wanted to spend time with. It had nothing to do with the fact he was DP’s client. It had everything to do with the fact he was afraid she’d reject him.
He hadn’t had to chase a woman for years now. They chased him. It was a pretty sweet deal for any guy who covered up his fear of rejection by acting like an ass. Unfortunately, this made sure that someone like Jordan would have never approached him, either. It was time for him to man up and do a little chasing for a change.
***
TANNER WALKED BACK into his house to see Jordan spooning diced bacon out of the bottom of the spinach salad container. She spread it over an empty plate and added a little of the shredded cheese they’d used on their quesadillas.
“Is it okay if Sadie has some of this?” she said. “I know she can’t have a lot of the vegetables.”
He lowered himself back into the chair he’d been sitting in and rested the crutches against the side of his chair. He was getting more mobility as he continued working with Jordan, but he still used the crutches or a cane when he had to walk any distance at all.
“Want some, Sadie girl?”
Sadie appeared out of nowhere, rushed to the plate, and halted inches away from it. She sat, tail thumping against the deck as she gazed up at Tanner. She drooled a little. Tanner stroked her head.
“Does she always wait for food?”
“Of course. She’s a good girl. Go ahead, Sadie.”
Sadie attacked the plate as if she hadn’t eaten for a week. Thirty seconds later, the plate was clean, and Sadie moved closer to Jordan’s chair to lick her hand.
“She knows you fed her. Now she’ll be your best friend,” Tanner said. He leaned back in his chair and stared out at the lake. “Would you believe it if I told you seeing my dog inhaling that bacon makes me happier than if I ate it myself?”
“Maybe,” Jordan said.
The silence stretched between them. Sadie laid her head in Tanner’s lap. Jordan leaned back in her chair and stared at the lake. The boaters must have decided to call it a night; the only sounds she heard were slight waves and a few birds in the trees in Tanner’s neighbor’s yard. She had things to say to him, but she wasn’t sure where to start. The combination of the wine she’d had and the warmth of the sun left her unwilling to do anything at the moment besides relax.
A yawn escaped before she could stifle it.
“You’re tired,” he said. “Maybe you should hit the hay and I’ll take care of this.” He nodded at the tableful of plates, utensils, and wineglasses.
“You can’t pick up all this stuff. You’ll wipe out. I can do it. Plus, you paid for dinner.”
“Did you think I was going to charge you for it or something?”
“I wasn’t sure what you were thinking. All I know is that I was about to take your dog for a walk and I found myself invited to dinner.”
She saw his mouth curve into a grin. “That must have been traumatic.”
“Tabitha’s great. When are you going to see her again?”
He gazed into her eyes. “We decided we’re going to be friends. Maybe she’ll stop by for a drink or something soon.”
“How did this happen?” She kept her voice casual. She tried to form her facial expression into bland disinterest.
“Tabitha?”
“No, the last NATO agreement. What did you think?”
“Are you always this much of a smart-ass, or just days ending in y?”
Jordan let out a laugh. He leaned forward to rest his forearm on the table.
“I thought it was time I went out on a date. Everyone else has a social life. Mine has been—shall we say—curtailed over the past eight months or so.”
“Weren’t you dating that singer, Flowerbomb?” She tried to sound as disinterested as possible. He was still working her last nerve. Or was he? If she had to classify how the past hour and a half or so had gone, they were friendly to each other.
“She dumped me.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry.”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “It was the best day of my life so far.”
“Should I ask what happened?”
He rubbed his hand over his face. “She decided surgical rehab is boring and nobody wanted to take her picture. She’s now dating a boy bander.”
Jordan was sure there was more to the story, but she wanted to keep him talking. “I thought boy bands were out.”
“Not so. She was the main story on E! News for several days running. The guy she’s with now broke the hearts of millions of teenage girls.”
“How old is he?”
“He’s twenty-five, but he lies about his age.”
“Isn’t she thirty-five?”
“You’re not an ageist, are you? I can’t believe you don’t want to date a guy ten years younger than you are.” He propped his chin on his hand. “You could break the hearts of millions too.”
It slipped out before she could stop herself: “I have enough trouble with guys my own age,” she said.
“This sounds like a story. How about another glass of wine?” He leaned back in his chair. He was the picture of relaxation, but his expression was intent.
“No, thanks.”
“So, what’s up?” he said.
She shifted in her chair. She should tell him she was tired and they could talk again tomorrow. She’d swung the door wide open, and he’d walked through it.
“I don’t have a problem with meeting men. I have a problem meeting the ones I’d actually enjoy dating.”
That sounded mature and levelheaded. She didn’t sound like she was whining. She fidgeted while the silence stretched on.
“What is it that you’re looking for? Just because you date them doesn’t mean you have to marry them.”
He sounded like Jordan’s maiden aunt. She let out a snort.
“It’s not a case of going out to dinner or a bike ride or whatever. I’m looking for a guy that I could talk with as well as date. They’re hard to find.”
“Don’t most guys enjoy talking?”
“Not in my experience.”
“You’re not attracted to them.” He let out a sigh. “This could be a problem.”
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