“When?” He glanced at the closed bathroom door and lowered his voice. “When’s the auction?”
“Two days from now, maybe three.”
Tanner closed his eyes and cursed under his breath. He looked toward the bathroom. Lexy was not going to like this. Houston was gonna have to wait.
12
BY THE TIME Lexy walked out of the bathroom, Tanner was pulling on his shirt. That she was empty-handed was a relief. He’d hate to think a condom would undermine his resolve, but he preferred not to be tested.
She met his gaze, her eyes wide with surprise. “I thought I heard your phone. What’s going on?”
She was still naked, the sight of her tempting curves forcing him to ignore the shirt snaps and go to her. He put his arms around her and held her close. The rousing sensation of her breasts pillowed against his bare chest almost made him forget what he had to do.
Briefly shutting his eyes, he ordered himself to look at her. This would be hard, but being a coward would make the situation worse. Leaning back he stared at her soft smile, and a warmth far more dangerous than lust heated his body.
No, he couldn’t look at her.
He drew her again into the circle of his arms and kissed her hair. “I hate those sheets,” he said. At least that wasn’t a lie. “And since I need to shave and shower, anyway, I was thinking that it would be better to pack up and get on the road. That way we can stop early and find a nicer motel.”
She hadn’t moved, yet somehow her body seemed to have stiffened.
“Maybe even stay at one of those fancy hotels with a big Jacuzzi in the bathroom.” He rubbed her back, kissed the curve of her neck. “What do you think?”
“This has something to do with that phone call, doesn’t it?” she said, pulling away to look at him.
He sighed. “Yes and no.”
Her brows rose expectantly. When he didn’t elaborate, she started gathering her clothes.
“I have some family business to take care of,” he said. “It’ll require a few phone calls that I can make on the way to the trailer, then— Why do you seem disappointed? I figured you’d like a nicer room.”
She slipped into her blouse, no bra, then held the jeans in front of her. “I have the feeling there’s more to it.” She searched his face, a trace of hurt and confusion in her eyes. “Look, if you regret what happened last night, I can’t do anything about that, really. But I’d appreciate you keeping it between us. Things could be bad for me if...”
Tanner sighed. “Come here.” He ended up going to her. “I don’t regret last night. I wish we could stay in bed for a week,” he said, running his hands up and down her arms, relieved when a small smile formed on her lips. “Hey, I’m willing to give it a go if you wanna skip Houston.”
She made a face. “Nice try.”
“Well, then how about after Houston?”
Lexy had that soft expression again, reminding him that he’d better think about what he was saying. It wasn’t as if he’d pegged her for the clingy type. If anything, she’d likely be ready to walk away as quickly as he would. Maybe quicker. And he didn’t need that heartache.
“So what do you say? Shall we pack up, get on the road?” He brushed a kiss across her lips. “We can stop for breakfast later and you can look up hotels on your phone.”
“Wow, you know I can do that? You’re getting so tech savvy.”
“Ah, so funny.” He gave her butt a squeeze. “I gotta get with the program and learn how to look up your wild college days.”
The teasing smile disappeared. “Tanner.”
He chuckled. “After I get showered and unhook the trailer I’ll come by for you.”
“While towing Betsy? Wouldn’t it be easier if I walk over with my bag?”
He didn’t know why her referring to the trailer by name pleased him, but it did. He just looked at her, wondering if he was wrong to not tell her what was going on. Even with a detour to West Texas, they’d still make it to Houston in time. She might worry, but he could convince her it would work out.
On the other hand, he hadn’t talked to his grandparents yet. For all he knew, Archie Crawford was senile. It didn’t make sense the taxes had gone unpaid. He gave Pop and Nana money twice a year even though they objected every time. It was probably nothing. Tanner would call Pop and clear everything up.
“It’s not a difficult question,” she said, frowning at him until he almost admitted he’d lost track of their conversation. “Look, I’ll meet you over there.”
Oh, right. “But your bag.”
“I’ll call for a luggage attendant.”
“What?”
“It was a joke. I can handle my own bag.” She shook her head. “Go. I’ll see you when I see you.”
“All right.” He cupped his hand around her nape and held her still for a kiss. She parted her lips, arching against him and getting his cock far too involved.
She broke contact first. “Where’s your belt?”
He found it on the floor, then finished buttoning his shirt. She practically shoved him out the door, which was just as well. As soon as he hit the parking lot he checked the time and did the math. Texas was two hours ahead. Pop and Nana would be awake by now. He hit speed dial and didn’t like that no one answered. But at least he hadn’t gotten a disconnect recording.
While crossing the street he tried his brother. Again no answer so he left a message. Though if Doug had known anything, he would’ve said. Tanner still wanted to talk to him in case it became a legal matter.
If the ranch really was being auctioned off, it was possible his grandparents had left the house and he wouldn’t be able to reach them. He’d hate to call the county to see what was what, but he would. Man, he couldn’t even think of the small spread belonging to anyone else. Pop and Nana loved that rickety old ranch. And it was still home for Doug and him, even though Doug lived in Dallas now. Their mother had been born in the modest brick house.
He refused to think about that stuff now. As far as explaining to Lexy, there was still too much he didn’t know yet. In all likelihood this was nothing but a false alarm. It would only frustrate him if she asked questions he couldn’t answer. Or if she got nervous about making it to Houston on time. And to be honest, pride was involved. He’d hate for her to think he was such a shitty grandson that they hadn’t come to him.
For now all he could do was wait for calls to be returned and get on the road as quickly as possible in case they had to make a detour.
* * *
A COUPLE HOURS into the drive Lexy started to doze. She jerked and brought her head up. Tanner reached for her hand and smiled when she looked over at him.
“Try to sleep,” he said. “You need the rest. That’s why I’m leaving the radio low.”
She stared at his tanned, much bigger hand dwarfing hers. It was weird to have a guy hold her hand. She wasn’t used to it, not since high school, anyway, but it was kind of nice.
Okay, very nice. Definitely more intimate than she’d imagined, and completely unexpected. The act seemed oddly sentimental, and she didn’t think Tanner was the type.
“I don’t need much sleep,” she said. “I should be driving so you can nap. Betsy shouldn’t be a problem as long as I don’t have to reverse.”
“I plan on keeping you up until the wee hours, so you’d better think twice about grabbing some shut-eye.”
“You’re the one who might have trouble staying up tonight,” she said, sweeping a gaze down his front.
He snorted a laugh. “Think so?” His hand moved up her arm toward her breast.
“Hey.” She shrunk toward her door but he had a long reach. “Concentrate on driving. And look for a place to stop for breakfast. I’m starved— Oh, dammit.” She stomped her foot. “I forgot my leftover steak and the cobble
r.”
“Calm down. I won’t let you go hungry.”
“I know, but I still hate wasting food.” She folded her arms across her chest, aware of the curious look he’d given her. Her frugalness still surprised her, that and how conscious she’d become of not wasting anything. In the beginning she’d resented having to stretch every dollar, make the most of a bag of groceries. She couldn’t say she was thrilled about it now, but she did appreciate knowing how to survive on so little.
“Why did it take you this long to hit up your father for a job?”
“I don’t think of it that way. The company is a family business. I have a right to be there.”
“Guess I could’ve phrased that better.”
“No.” She sighed. “I’m being touchy.”
“See...not enough sleep.”
“Wrong. I’ve adapted to getting very little sleep and I do fine.”
“Staring at the ceiling and worrying about bills?”
She practically glared at his profile. She’d told him a lot, but she’d never said anything about that.
He kept his attention on the road. “Hey, we’ve all been there at one time or another.”
Not the Worthingtons, except for her. “Pride,” she said finally. “Pride kept me from going to him. And for a while I did have a job. Nothing great, but I was lucky to find anything. People took one look at my last name and couldn’t believe I needed the work. Probably thought I was a corporate spy.”
“What happened to the job?”
“I got laid off. Until then I’d made enough to break even every month so I would’ve stuck with it.” She hadn’t shaken the feeling her father may have had something to do with her sudden pink slip. But she had no proof. A sign for an upcoming exit caught her attention. “If you’re not hungry yet, I can wait, but I’d like more coffee.”
His gaze went to the dashboard clock. “Sure,” he said readily enough, but he wasn’t himself. Not since the phone call. “We can get breakfast. I think there’s a pancake house coming up. Sound good?”
“I could handle a few pancakes.” She hesitated. “We can turn the radio off if you’re worried about hearing your phone.”
“I have the volume turned up.” He glanced over at her. “I’m waiting for Doug to call. Not about the contract. It’s something else.”
“I know. Family stuff.” God, could she be more obvious? She was nosy as hell, and that simply wasn’t like her. “Look—”
“It’s about my grandparents,” he said, cutting her off. “I don’t want you to think it has anything to do with Houston.”
“I was about to tell you I’m really not fishing.” She saw the corner of his mouth quirk up slightly. “I didn’t say I wasn’t curious.”
Tanner smiled. “I’ll have to make a call when we stop. There’s a mix-up with the property tax on their ranch. I’ve been waiting for the county office to open so I can straighten out the problem.”
“You’re such a good grandson.”
His mouth tightened. How he could’ve found fault with that comment was beyond her. He opened a compartment above the rearview mirror, got out his sunglasses and slipped them on. Probably to hide behind the dark lenses.
Lexy laid her head back and tried not to be bothered by his silence. The fact that she’d told him so much about her life meant nothing. She’d volunteered. He’d asked several questions, but he hadn’t pried. And to be fair, she hadn’t really asked him anything. No reason for him to reciprocate. Screw it. She had a few questions of her own. Up to him if he chose to answer.
“Are they your mother’s parents?”
He seemed startled by the casual query, hesitating before he nodded. “She was their only daughter. So Doug and I are the only grandkids. We’re all close.”
“What about your father? Does he still have contact with them?”
Tanner’s grip on the wheel tightened as he steered the truck off the exit ramp, his face full of contempt. “He doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself. The only thing that bastard has ever done right is feel guilty that he took her from us.”
She blinked. “Are you saying he was responsible for your mother’s death?”
“As if he’d pulled the trigger himself.” He was back in control, nearly devoid of expression.
“I’m sorry for bringing it up.” Trigger? Had his mother been murdered? Wishing they’d stayed on the expressway, Lexy held a hand to her suddenly queasy stomach. She no longer wanted coffee or food.
He looked over, dividing his attention between her and the road. “It’s okay. I get worked up sometimes, but hey, it happened a long time ago.”
“This isn’t about me,” she said, evading him when he tried to take her hand. “You’re allowed to feel anything you want, but you also have to drive.”
At that moment the truck weaved a little. Tanner quickly brought it to rights. Fortunately, they’d reached a strip mall with a gas station at one end and the pancake house on the other. He turned the truck into the parking lot and found a stall.
As soon as he cut the engine, he angled his body toward her. “I might’ve given you the wrong idea. My mom died in the Gulf War,” he said, taking off his sunglasses and tossing them on the dash. “She enlisted as a reservist without telling anyone. She did it for the extra money. I was too young to know what was going on but according to my grandfather she didn’t think she’d ever be deployed.
“I know it sounds bad. Unpatriotic and all that.” Shrugging, he swung a look out the windshield. “But she was desperate. They were still married...she never would’ve divorced him, but he came and went as he pleased. He used to be a bareback rider, a pretty good one from what I’ve heard, but he got injured just when he’d started winning decent money the family could live on.
“He should’ve quit rodeoing and gotten a job. I was eight and Doug had just turned two. But he couldn’t let go. He couldn’t ride anymore, but he stayed with the circuit, picked up odd jobs, sent home a few bucks now and then. Showed up for holidays or when he didn’t have enough money to get to the next event.”
After a sizeable stretch of silence, Lexy asked, “Is he the reason you’re a bareback rider?”
“Hell, no.” He turned back to her with a look of such derision, a chill slithered down her spine. “If anything I ended up rodeoing in spite of him. I was good at it, didn’t like school all that much and I knew I had a shot at making more money riding than I could at anything else.” Tanner settled back into neutral. “Doug’s smart and he wanted to go to college. My grandparents barely made enough from the ranch to keep up with two growing boys. There was no money for a good school. Any school,” he murmured, his voice dropping off.
“Stop it.” She took his hand, and he stared at her with a confused frown. “You don’t have to defend your choices. You not only stepped up, but you’ve been an incredible role model for your brother. I’d bet you’ve helped your grandparents, too.”
He yanked his hand away. “I told you before, I’m no saint. So don’t go painting pretty pictures in your head.”
No, he wasn’t a saint, but he was a damn good man. Lexy pressed her lips together as if that would ease the burning behind her eyes. She stared down at her lap, shame coming at her in waves. “You must think I’m the worst human being ever born. I feel like a complete tool complaining to you about my life.”
He nudged her chin up. “That’s the thing. You don’t complain. You haven’t on this trip.” His expression softened. “I had trouble believing you were a rich heiress.”
“Oh, trust me, I can be a real princess.”
Tanner smiled. “Yeah, I’ve caught a few glimpses of the tiara.”
“I have news for you. I do complain. In my head, I complain a lot. And do my share of swearing, too.” She blinked, relieved the dreaded tears hadn’t welled. “T
iara? Really?”
The skin at the corner of his eyes crinkled. “Man, I must be crazy, too much time out in the sun maybe, but here’s some real-time truth. Just figured it out myself. I think I did end up rodeoing because of the old man. From the time I was three I used to jump on anything that moved and tried to ride it.”
“Oh.” Lexy let out a soft gasp. “That could’ve been dangerous.”
“I got yelled at real good when I hopped on the chainsaw Pop left leaning against the woodpile. That’s my granddad, and of course the chainsaw wasn’t going.”
“Ooh.” She winced.
“Yeah.” He faked a shudder, then turned his head, his smile fading as he stared off. “The old man used to let me ride on his back while he pretended to be a horse. When I got older, he put me on my first pony. I think I was trying to get his attention. Make him proud of me so he’d stay home and we’d be a normal family.” Tanner smiled at her again. “So I’ll let him have that one. He’s partly responsible for my being here.”
It seemed every time he spoke, she admired him more. “I don’t know anyone like you,” she whispered.
“Ditto.”
When he leaned toward her, she did, too, until their lips met. The kiss was gentle and very satisfying.
She moved her head back. “May I ask another question?”
“Shoot.”
“Do you know where he is now?”
“Yeah, he’s still around. Chasing the tour like always.” Tanner took off his hat. “I run into him sometimes and I’m civil enough. He’s only in his early fifties but he looks like shit. Probably guilt. Good.”
She smiled a little, and so did Tanner. He wasn’t quite as hard-nosed as he pretended to be regarding his father. She had no illusions. He probably still suffered from bouts of anger and resentment. She’d witnessed a trace of it earlier. But clearly Tanner hadn’t allowed bitterness to control his life. Maybe she could learn from him.
“Well, aren’t we a pair? Our idiot fathers should meet sometime.”
He snorted. “Ah, no, some things should be left alone.” Placing his Stetson on the console between them, he said, “Let’s get something to eat.”
Alone with You Page 14