by Cora Seton
“Say it.”
When she still didn’t respond, mostly because of the lack of air thing, he cupped her head and sank his teeth in the spot behind her ear that drove her crazy. Apparently, the spot had to be connected to her airway, because she was able to suck in a breath, and even let out a strangled moan. “Yes…”
He continued to stroke and tease with his mouth and tongue while she slid her hands up his chest.
“I could have you crying out in less than five minutes,” he murmured, his words as hot as his breath on her skin and the bulge pressing against her low, and nearly on target.
She let out a needy little sound and fisted his shirt. Damn man was trouble.
When he drew back, eyes heavy-lidded and wicked, he glanced from her hands to her face. A slow, satisfied smile curved his sexy lips. “Not good my ass,” he repeated.
Part of her wanted to push him away and tell him to get the hell out of the kitchen, but another part, a bigger part, wanted her to start owning up. To be real with people. Not fake.
So, even though it was tough, she held her head high and smoothed out his shirt. “You’re right. It was better than good, Tanner. It’s just not the reason I’m down here.”
He studied her gaze for a moment, then nodded. “I believe you.”
“So…we’re good?”
He stepped back into her, pushing a solid thigh between her legs as he cupped her face with both hands. “Getting there.”
His dark, simmering gaze did crazy things to her pulse, which manifested when he slowly lowered his mouth, again giving her time to push him away.
She should have. Definitely. That would’ve been the smart thing to do, and she was all about making smart choices for a change. But the need and hunger in her won out and kicked smart right in the ass. She’d go back to being smart in say…five minutes?
The instant his lips brushed hers, a remembered warmth spread through her body, making her re-fist his shirt. A deep groan rumbled through him and repeated when he parted her lips with his, kissing her with a familiar intensity she’d passed off as a fluke last year. An imagined occurrence. But she wasn’t imagining or remembering right now. No. She was feeling and kissing and touching, and the intensity was definitely holy-shit real.
By the time they broke apart for air, she was halfway to that orgasm. And all he’d done was kiss her.
“Okay, that was…” She was at a loss for words, and air.
“Better than good,” he supplied, his breathing just as ragged and deep.
“Yes.” She smiled. “It was definitely better than good. Too good. I was thinking more on the lines of trouble.”
“Agreed.”
“Then, maybe we shouldn’t do that again.” Unless they wanted to get burnt to cinders. That wasn’t a good look for her. She doubted it was on the top of his list, either. She cocked her head and frowned. “Besides, I got the impression you didn’t date the same woman twice.”
His mouth quirked and dimples appeared as he leaned close. “Well, now, we never actually went on a date, did we?”
“True,” she agreed. “We sort of fast forwarded to the hot and heavy part. But, that’s exactly what I’m trying to avoid, Tanner. I’m trying to make something more of my life than a good time. To think before I act. I need to concentrate on me, and well, you’ve just proven you’re too distracting.”
“I understand,” he said quietly, and stepped back.
Thank God…I think. Was it normal for disappointment to rush through her veins? “If I ever get to the point where the me part is ready for some fun, I’ll look you up.”
“You do that.”
“I will.” She nodded, holding his friendly gaze, sharing an actual…moment with the hot cowboy. “I came down here to help Kerri out…” She paused, then frowned at the round clock on the wall.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, gaze narrowed and alert.
“It’s Kerri. She’s been gone a little too long just to…” She rushed from the kitchen with Tanner hot on her heels, a sense of dread clawing at her gut.
Chapter Three
‡
As soon as Gwen pushed through the swinging door, she heard her boss calling her name, and was surprised to find Kerri sitting at a table. She changed direction and scrambled to the woman’s side.
“Are you okay?” Taking in her friend’s pallor and shallow breathing, she concluded the answer was no.
“My water just broke,” Kerri replied, then bent forward and clutched the table edge until her knuckles went white.
A contraction.
Invisible bands appeared out of nowhere to squeeze Gwen’s chest tight. For a moment, she froze. Couldn’t move. Or blink. Or breathe as images and memories from the past came crashing back.
Tanner knelt at her boss’ other side. “Easy, darlin’. It’s going to be fine.”
“No, it’s not.” Kerri shook her head. “We need to sanitize the floor and probably burn this chair I’m on.”
The sound of their voices broke through Gwen’s haze, and she touched her friend’s arm. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of it. You just worry about this baby.”
That was the only thing important right now. Kerri and her unborn baby.
“Yeah.” Tanner nodded, reaching for her boss’ wrist as he studied his watch. “You’re doing great,” he said several tense seconds later, then released her to stand and fish out his phone. “I’m going to call for the ambulance. It’s about time your little one made an appearance.”
“Can’t you just take me?” Kerri frowned. “I’d offer my car, but Connor dropped me off. He doesn’t want me driving. And Gwen walked over here this morning.”
“Sorry, darlin’. I brought my bike.”
Amusement lifted some of the pain from her face. “What? Afraid a pregnant woman on the back of your Harley would ruin your reputation?”
“No.” He laughed. “You’d rock that look, but I think you need something a bit more comfortable.”
Of course he had a Harley. He probably skidded out of his mother’s womb on one. Just picturing his powerful body, all laid back, muscles bunching and rippling down his arms as he gripped the handle bars turned Gwen on a teeny bit. And pushed the dark images from her past to the back of her mind.
“Gwen? Can you…g-get my p-purse?” Kerri panted, fingers whitening around the corner of the table again.
“Sure,” she replied, noting Tanner had ended his call.
“Ambulance is out on another call,” he informed, shoving his phone into his pocket before kneeling back down at Kerri’s side. “But your sister is on her way. Seems you’re going to get to ride in the back of a squad car.”
“Lovely.”
Gwen heard her boss’ grumble on her way into the kitchen to grab the purse, a clean tablecloth, and fill a cup with chipped ice, before stopping briefly to wet a dish towel and squeeze it. She knew her friend would need them all.
Hands full, she returned to the dining room. “Here,” she said, receiving a strange look from Tanner as she set everything on the table and handed Kerri the purse.
“Thanks.” Her friend immediately shoved her hand in a side pocket. “Just what I thought.” She smiled at her phone. “Four missed calls. I need to call…C-Connor back.” Despite the pain obviously wracking her body, Kerri dialed the phone, then frowned. “He’s n-not answering.”
Tanner took the cell from her. “We’ll find him.”
His voice was reassuring and as calm as his expression.
“You don’t understand.” The distressed woman tried to stand, but Tanner cupped her shoulders and held her in place. “He’s…I don’t want him driving either.”
Beyond puzzled by that statement, Gwen pulled a chair close and sat down. “I’m sure your sister can help. Just sit tight until she gets here.”
Kerri sighed. “You’re right. Thanks.” She patted Gwen’s hand, then squeezed, hard.
Pain radiated up her arm, but she didn’t pull back. Instead,
she held firm as the poor mother-to-be suffered through another contraction. “Let’s breathe through it, Kerri. Like this,” she encouraged, and demonstrated the technique she’d learned long ago.
Again, Tanner sent her a strange look, but she put him and the sad memories from her past out of her mind, and concentrated on her friend. This time, things were going to be fine.
“Thanks.” Kerri fell back in her seat a minute later, chest heaving, sweat dripping down her temple. “They’re getting stronger.”
“And closer,” Tanner observed, picking up the wet cloth Gwen had placed on the table and pressing it to Kerri’s forehead.
Her boss sighed. “Feels great. Thanks, Tanner.”
“Thank, Gwen,” he said, a spark of admiration in the warm gaze he turned her way. “She’s the one who brought it out.”
Gwen ignored the flutter in her chest and held out the cup of ice to her friend. “Here, it’s not good to drink anything right now, but you can suck on a piece of ice to relieve your dry throat.”
“You are a goddess.”
She chuckled. “I like the sound of that.”
“Goddess Gwen.” Tanner grinned. “Seems fitting.”
She had no idea how to respond, especially since a little heat entered his gaze, but was spared as Connor and Jordan burst inside the restaurant.
“Kerri!” The big guy covered the distance in three strides.
Tanner moved back, and she followed to let the others close.
“I’m here, darlin’.” The cowboy knelt down to gently grasp his wife’s hand.
“Hey, sis.” Jordan set a hand on Kerri’s shoulder, her smile warm and reassuring. “This is what you’ve been waiting for. You’ve got this.”
The mother-to-be nodded, then grimaced. “Yeah, but, I wouldn’t mind not having it a few minutes so I could catch my breath.”
“Ah, hell, darlin’.” Connor leaned in. “You okay? I’m so, so sorry you’re in all this pain.” The poor guy’s face was just as pale and drawn.
Gwen set the cup on the table, her heart warming at the sight of the love, so tender yet fierce, shining in the man’s eyes as he stared at his wife.
“It’s okay. It’ll be worth it,” Kerri said, then grit her teeth and held onto her husband as she began to breathe like Gwen had instructed a few minutes earlier.
Connor joined in, pain etched on his face while the couple worked through the contraction. Gwen had no idea if the cowboy’s pain was from Kerri’s tight hold, or something else.
“I hate being this helpless,” Jordan murmured after she rose to her feet and backed up to where she and Tanner stood out of the way. “Thanks for being here with her.”
Gwen nodded. “No problem.”
She certainly hadn’t done anything special. The day was a scheduled day for her to be at the Pub to learn and watch. Guess she’ll be learning on the go tonight. But that was fine with her. She came to Texas knowing she’d be jumping right into work.
“That was another big one,” Kerri stated a half a minute later, reaching for the cup of ice. “You okay, Connor?”
“I’ll be better once you’re not in all this pain,” he replied. A worried frown creased his brow as he glanced at Tanner. “You’re a first responder. You’ve been on calls like this before. Something’s wrong. That much pain can’t be right.”
Gwen’s stomach knotted and it took a second to find her breath.
“Everything’s good, man,” Tanner reassured. “Kerri’s getting into the hard labor stage, that’s all.”
The mother-to be cupped her husband’s jaw and forced him to face her. “I’m fine. That’s what the classes told us to expect, remember?”
“Yeah, but…damn, darlin’.”
“I know.” Kerri smiled.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Cripes. My mother went through it twice. Willingly? She’s a damn saint.”
Jordan stepped toward her sister. “What do you say we get you to the hospital so you can have my niece or nephew?”
The cowboy nodded as he rose to his feet, scooping his wife up in his arms as if she weighed no more than a feather.
Kerri grimaced. “I’m going to get you all gross.”
“Not a damn thing gross about you having our baby,” Connor said with such tender conviction, Gwen had to blink her vision clear.
“Aw, thank you, sweetheart.” The woman smiled sweetly up at her husband. “And I appreciate you not comparing me to one of your birthing heifers.”
“Of course not. I would never do that. I value my man parts too much.”
Tanner chuckled. “I’ll get the doors.”
Kerri reached a hand out toward her. “Gwen, I’m sorry to leave you all this mess on top of needing you to cook tonight.”
“Hey, it’s fine. Honest,” she said, clasping her boss’ outstretched hand. “I’ve got this. You go have your baby.”
“See? Goddess,” Kerri said with a smile just before her husband carried her out the door Tanner held open.
Gwen shook her head and grinned at Jordan. “Your sister’s delirious. Must be all that pain.”
“I’d say she’s spot on,” the sheriff said, then cupped her shoulder and leveled her with a serious gaze. “Thanks again, for stepping up and helping Kerri.”
“No thanks necessary.” She shrugged then moved out of her hold to grab the tablecloth. “Here, you might want to get out there and put this on the seat.”
“A kind, beautiful, and smart Goddess.”
The woman was gone before Gwen could get a word past her hot throat. Jeez, she was in Harland County a little over twenty-four hours and already on emotional overload. The past several years, she’d closed up, bottled everything in. Smiled for the cameras and played it close to the vest, keeping emotions on the back burner. But, that was in the past. She was trying to find her feet, but not this damn fast. She needed a break.
Baby steps.
A small smile tugged her lips. Given the events of the past twenty-two minutes, baby steps were definitely appropriate for the day.
After helping Connor and Kerri settle into the back of the cruiser and seeing Jordan off, Tanner glanced at his watch. He needed to be at the fire station in four minutes to meet up with a few other volunteers scheduled to tackle cleaning. After stopping at The Creamery for a milkshake and discovering from new hire Caitlin that Gwen had started work at the Pub the same day, he’d foolishly rolled into the restaurant parking lot instead of heading to the station earlier.
Dumb.
It was supposed to be just a friendly visit to check on the ladies, but the minute he found himself alone with Gwen, her ‘not that good’ remark flittered through his brain and turned him stupid.
No, turned him into an ass. Cripes, he’d accosted her in the kitchen. What the hell was wrong with him? He’d lost his mind. Well, his ‘friendly visit’ had backfired. Served him right, too. In his quest to prove they were ‘good’ together, he’d proved…they were good together. Better than good. Their chemistry was off the charts.
And dangerous as hell.
Wanting another shot at her turned into wanting to turn tail and run.
He shoved a hand through his hair and eyed the entrance.
Leave, idiot.
She’d told him what he’d wanted to hear. Admitted his performance had been memorable. Restored his mancard. They’d left things in a good place. It was time to get on the damn bike and ride away. Hell, he’d done it a dozen times in the past.
Leaving was smart. He strode to his Harley because he always played it smart and cool.
But, this time, it was different. This time, he’d seen deep pain and remorse in the woman’s eyes. This time, it mattered. She mattered.
Dammit.
Muttering a curse, he pivoted around and marched back into the Pub to find the dining room cleaned and Gwen putting away the cleaning supplies.
“Need any help?” he asked, hiding a smile when she squeaked and turned to face him, hand to her throat in a
déjà vu from the kitchen.
“Tanner!” She blinked. “Jeez, you scared me. Again. What do I have to do? Put a damn bell around your neck?”
He chuckled. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I came back in to see how you were doing.”
She stiffened, and her expression closed right before his eyes. “Things are good. Just finished cleaning up, now I need to tackle some chores to get things ready for the kitchen staff and set up crew that’s due in an hour.”
“I wasn’t talking about the restaurant, Gwen,” he said quietly, stopping right in front of her. “I was asking about you.”
“Me?” She frowned. “I’m fine.”
Did the woman think he was blind? “Fine my ass. You’re shaking.”
Her chin rose. “Because you bug me. I don’t like to be bugged,” she said, and made to walk around him.
He stepped closer, blocking her path. “Gwen.”
“Don’t you have a fire to put out or a cat to rescue or something?”
Now, she was frowning at his throat, refusing to meet his gaze because she no doubt knew he’d read the bullshit. Lord knew, he’d thrown enough of it during his youth. Due to that experience, he was a qualified human bullshit meter.
“Gwen. Look at me.”
To help, he crooked a finger under her chin and gently tugged until she finally met his gaze.
Ah, hell.
She slayed him. Her big, blue eyes were full of determination and grit that didn’t quite mask the vulnerability and pain lurking beneath.
“Come here,” he said, pulling her close, unwilling to dissect the relief flowing through his veins when she offered no protest and burrowed deep.
Tanner knew he’d just crossed a line, a line he never even approached in the past. One that separated his emotions from his sexual liaisons. But right now, the distressed beauty and whatever haunted her, making her shake in his arms, was more important than his damn comfort zone.
“It’s all right, darlin’. It’s okay,” he told her, stroking her back as she clung tight.
Whatever bothered her had to be pretty big to get through her tough skin. He recognized a kindred spirit when he saw one. A master at holding things in and only showing the world what she thought the world wanted to see, keeping her fears and hopes to herself so they would never be crushed.