So was she, but she couldn’t say the words. Not right now when she was too vulnerable, too raw and feeling exposed.
“Do we need protection?” he asked.
Melanie laughed. “Obvious reasons aside, I’ve never been with anyone other than my ex, but I know I’m clean.”
“I’ve never gone without, but this is your call, Mel.”
She looped her arms around his neck and arched her body against his. “I just want to feel you, Tanner. Show me how this should be.”
“With pleasure.”
His lips feathered lightly over hers as he joined their bodies. Melanie wrapped her legs around his waist and opened her mouth to him. She wanted to feel him everywhere all at once. Finally, he settled his weight a bit more on her and she savored the moment. There was something indescribably sexy about the strength Tanner possessed, a strength she didn’t fear.
With slow movements, he shifted his hips in sync with hers. Melanie’s fingertips dug into his back as she pulled from the kiss and arched her neck. Eyes shut, she fell into the moment, letting each and every sensation take hold of her.
Tanner’s hands seemed to be everywhere, his lips traveled down her neck and across her chest. He murmured something she couldn’t make out. Her entire body tightened as she tumbled into the most blissful state her body had ever known. Even more than before.
When Tanner’s fingertips dug into her hips, his body stilled. Melanie opened her eyes to watch him and was shocked to see him looking down at her. The muscles in his jaw clenched, his lips thinned, and those eyes held so many emotions Melanie couldn’t even begin to describe them.
Tanner’s body relaxed and he eased himself onto her and nuzzled his face against her neck. Melanie flattened her palms against his back and inhaled the masculine scent she’d come to associate with Tanner.
She wasn’t sure what to say or do at this moment, but lying there, just like that, felt right. Words weren’t necessary; in all honesty they would ruin the bliss they’d just shared.
The blaring of an obnoxious ringtone sliced right through the blessed peace. So much for enjoying the moment.
“That’s me,” he murmured, lifting himself off her. “Sorry, but I have to take that.”
She nodded her understanding, instantly cold from the lack of his warm body pressing her into his bed. Melanie tugged at the comforter and wrapped herself up as Tanner walked from the room. He didn’t bother with clothes, but yet again, if she looked that stellar, she wouldn’t wear clothes, either.
Melanie heard him mumbling in the other room. She leaned back against his pillows and glanced around Tanner’s bedroom. This wasn’t how she thought a bachelor’s inner sanctum would look. He had a gray accent chair in the corner with a white throw over the back. The dresser and chest of drawers matched his bed and looked like something from a magazine. There was even an area rug. Everything was done in gray and navy, but still, quite shocking for someone like Tanner. She expected a bed with rumpled sheets and maybe a nightstand.
Leaning forward just a bit, she was able to glance into his master bath. Was that a soaker tub? Sweet mercy, what she wouldn’t give for an hour in that right about now.
“Go ahead.”
Melanie yelped and jerked her attention back to the doorway where Tanner stood unashamedly naked and smiling.
“The tub, go right ahead,” he stated, closing the distance to the bed. “I actually have to go out, but you can stay.”
He climbed onto the bed and framed her face in his hands, holding her gaze with his. “In fact, I want you to be right here when I return.”
“Tanner—”
“It’s getting late,” he argued. “You might as well sleep here.”
His fingertip ran up her arm and over her shoulder. The tremble that shook her had her nodding in agreement before she could fully consider the consequences of spending the night.
“Use the tub,” he told her. “I’ve never used it, so you’ll be the first.”
Melanie quirked her brow. “You’ve never had another woman in that tub?”
“Never.” He came to his feet and stared down at her. “Despite my reputation, I haven’t slept with every woman I’ve dated and I never bring anyone to my house.”
“You brought me twice.” Way to state the obvious, but she just couldn’t believe she was the only one.
“We’ll discuss my past later,” he promised. “Right now duty calls.”
Melanie didn’t know where he was going and she wasn’t sure she even had the right to ask. She trusted Tanner. He’d given her no reason not to.
He went to the chest of drawers and pulled out a pair of boxer briefs. She had to admit, watching him dress was just as erotic and sensual as watching him undress. How could she already be aroused?
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that I’ll never get out of here.”
Melanie swiveled her legs over the side of the bed and gathered the comforter around her. She crossed toward the bathroom and offered him a smile as she passed.
“I’m going to assume you don’t keep a stock of fragrant bubble bath in here.”
Tanner laughed. “That would be a negative. But the tub does have jets. I assume they work just fine.”
“How long will you be?” she asked, then mentally cursed herself for getting too personal. “Sorry. Ignore that. You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“Mel.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Tanner stood with his jeans on and unbuttoned, that glorious chest with a splattering of dark hair covering his pecs. The tattoo over his shoulder captivated her, and she wondered what had made him choose a sprawling eagle with one wing that spread over his shoulder and onto his back while the other seemed to spear down his arm.
“You can ask me anything,” he stated. “I’ve told you that before. All I can tell you about tonight is that it’s work related, but I have no idea how long I’ll be.”
He stalked toward her and Melanie gripped the comforter even tighter against her body. “Make yourself at home, okay? Fridge is stocked, watch TV, take a bath, go to bed. Do anything. Just don’t leave.”
Melanie smiled. “I promise I’ll stay.”
“When you move in I’ll buy you that bubble bath.”
Rolling her eyes, she swatted at his bare chest. “I’m not moving in, Tanner. This is just one night.”
He quirked one brow as if to argue, but he went back to the dresser and pulled out a T-shirt. She headed into the bathroom to start filling up the tub, and before he left he called out his goodbye.
There was something so familial about this entire night. Tanner surprising her, the amazing sex, him rushing off to work while she relaxed with a bath. Is this how a real relationship actually worked? Is this what life with someone who cared about you was supposed to be?
Melanie tested the water with her toe and then climbed on in. She sank into the warm water as she reclined against the cool porcelain. She lifted her hair up and let it fall over the back of the tub to rest on the surround.
Part of her felt a bit strange being in Tanner’s house without him. She’d gone from a one-night stand to cozying up in his personal space.
Melanie closed her eyes and forced herself to relax. She was expecting his child and they had plenty of time to figure out the dynamics of their relationship. But one thing was certain, Melanie wouldn’t lose sight of who she’d set out to be. She was damn proud of the woman she’d become. She wouldn’t be who she was today without the help of Livie and Jade.
And it was those two women who had pulled her here to Haven. Melanie loved this quaint town, loved the prospect of the airport growing into something fabulous, she loved the idea of becoming a mother and setting down roots here for her child.
She would be remiss if she didn’t add Tanner to that mix. Her feelings for him were growing, whether she was ready or not. She couldn’t have slept with him twice if she didn’t care.
Melanie smiled as she thought of how he’d spoken
to her. There had been such conviction and determination in his tone. He truly cared. Whether or not that led to something more, well, only time would tell.
Chapter Twelve
Taking naps sounds so childish. I prefer to call
them horizontal life pauses.
—Mel’s Motivational Blog
“This is bogus, man.”
Tanner put his hand on the guy’s head and settled him into the back of the patrol car before slamming the door. He’d yet to arrest someone who fully confessed to dealing drugs. However, they were always so quick to squeal on their friends.
This time the undercover officer they’d placed in the gym had managed to get the names of the “higher ups,” and that made for one successful bust.
Tanner patted the top of the car and the officer pulled from the lot, heading toward the station. It was well past midnight now and all he wanted to do was get back home to Melanie.
Home to Melanie. Just those words sent a spiral of emotions through him. Anticipation of what their future held gripped his heart. Wondering where they’d ultimately end up constantly filtered through his mind. But most of all, there was still that fear he couldn’t let go of.
As long as she was with him, he could convince himself she and the baby were safe. Not that he was a doctor by any means, but there was peace of mind in seeing her happy and healthy.
Soon her belly would start rounding out. There would be ultrasounds, kicks from growing little legs, and ultimately the birth. His arms ached to hold his child. He never thought he’d feel this way again, but damn it, he wanted this. He wanted to be a father, to raise a child in a loving, caring home.
His mother had instilled loyalty and compassion in him at an early age. Tanner owed everything to that amazing woman and couldn’t wait to spend Thanksgiving with her, his stepdad, and Mel.
He headed back into the gym, where Cash was talking with another officer. When Cash glanced over, he shook the other guy’s hand and made his way to Tanner. With a quick nod of thanks to his coworker, Tanner stepped closer to Cash.
“Well, that’s done.”
Cash nodded and slapped Tanner on the back. “I owe you a beer, man.”
“A beer? Hell, you owe me a steak dinner.”
Cash smiled. “Consider it done.”
“I’m just glad we could wrap this up, and it was late, so the gym was empty.”
With the twenty-four-hour gym access for members, Tanner hadn’t been sure if anyone would be here, but thankfully no one was. The bust went off easily and quickly—which was not always the case.
“You think you’ll be able to get the other guy?” Cash asked.
Tanner nodded and leaned his arm against the wraparound check-in counter. “Positive. The force in Macon is already on it. Those guys had been shuttling pills up here for some time now.”
“Bastards get whatever is coming to them.” Cash raked a hand over his stubbled jaw and tugged the bill of his hat down. “You heading home now, or do you want to head on over to Taps?”
“I’m heading home.”
Tanner bit the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling. The image of Melanie waiting for him in his bed was all that was keeping him going right now.
Cash’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, I see how it is. I guess this has to do with Melanie?”
Tanner gave a slight shrug. “Perhaps.”
“Care to tell me what’s going on there? Besides the baby, I mean. You’re not hovering because of—”
“No.” Tanner wasn’t. Well, he was, sort of, but he also cared for Melanie. “Listen, I’m scared as hell, but there’s something about her that I just can’t resist. I want to get to know her more and she’s at my house now, so if we could put off the grilling until later, that would be great.”
Cash laughed and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Go on, man. Get home to your woman.”
His woman. Tanner wasn’t quite sure she was ready for that label, but that’s exactly how he thought of her. She was his. Not in the way that he wanted to possess her, but in the way that he wanted to cherish her and start something new and exciting with her.
Tanner let himself out of the gym and headed to his truck. Thankfully tomorrow, or really today, was Thanksgiving and he was taking Melanie to meet his mother. That thought alone had him looking forward to a future. There was only one other woman who had met his mother, so to say Melanie was special was a vast understatement.
Part of him wondered if he should tell his mother about the pregnancy before he arrived. He wasn’t sure how she’d take the news. She’d been just as devastated when he’d lost his fiancée and child so many years ago.
Springing something this monumental on her . . .
No. She would love this surprise. Tanner wanted Melanie to be part of the revealing. There was nothing his mother loved more than a joyful surprise, and Tanner had a good feeling his mother and Melanie would hit it off perfectly.
The closer he got to his house, the more anxious he became. He figured she’d be asleep, but he hoped like hell she wasn’t. It had been all he could do to concentrate on the case and not the fact that a naked woman was back at his house, soaking in his tub or lying in his bed.
Tanner pulled into his drive and on into the garage. He couldn’t deny he liked seeing Melanie’s car in the drive. Well, the car she was driving now. He still didn’t understand why she’d gotten rid of her Beemer in exchange for something that had clearly seen better days. She had money, that he was fairly certain of. If she’d blackmailed her husband so he’d let her leave, how had she not left with enough money to keep her going?
Added to that, she was an attorney. Granted, she wasn’t practicing here in Haven, but she had in the past. Her online blog and social media sites brought in sponsors and so much press that she’d become quite successful.
Which left him curious as to why she’d chosen a car that looked like something a sixteen-year-old would have if they were working a minimum wage job and paying for their own ride.
He let himself into the kitchen through the attached garage. A quietness settled over the house, but for the first time in years, he was coming home to someone. Tanner never thought he’d want to have someone to come home to again, never thought he’d let himself fall to such vulnerabilities again. But here he was, exposing the very part of his soul that could destroy him.
But the flip side of that fear was the fact that Melanie was just as fragile. Actually, she was likely more so. Which was just another reason he wanted her here. Call it that protective instinct he’d always had, but he wanted to shield her from everything, including and most importantly her past, which clearly still haunted her.
As he did every night, he double-checked all the locks and made sure his alarms were set. He pulled his shoulder holster off as he mounted the steps toward his room. The fresh aroma of his soap enveloped him as he hit the landing. He smiled, knowing Mel had used his things. Call him territorial or barbaric or whatever, but the idea of her rubbing his soap over her sweet body had him feeling exactly that. He was territorial.
The soft glow from his bedroom drew him closer, and as he turned the corner, he couldn’t help but freeze in the doorway at the sight before him. Melanie curled up on his side of the bed, covers drawn up to her chin. The instant punch to that vulnerable point in his soul hit him hard.
Tanner leaned against the door frame and waited for the sliver of doubt to enter in. He’d been a bachelor for so long. He’d enjoyed dating and purposely not getting attached. Yet the moment Melanie came into town, something about her had captivated his attention. Then he’d slept with her and had been completely blindsided by how much he wanted to actually get to know her. But he’d purposely tried to take things slow and back off a tad after their intense encounter. He knew she was skittish and he hadn’t wanted to scare her off.
Add in the baby, and he was a damn lost cause. This right here before his eyes was his family. He wanted her here, and when he’d blurted out about her moving
in, he hadn’t thought it through, but he would do everything he could to convince her to stay.
Trying to be quiet, Tanner eased across the room with careful steps. He put his holster and gun on the chest of drawers and took a seat in the corner chair. He’d never changed this room since he moved in. The furniture had come with the house. He’d bought a mattress and a comforter, but that was all. The living room and dining room were the same. He wasn’t much on décor, and what was here had been good enough for him.
He unlaced his shoes and toed them off, then stood to jerk his shirt up and over his head. After sliding out of his jeans, he left his boxer briefs on and started across the room to the opposite side of the bed.
Something hit his foot and he tripped, falling onto the footboard of the bed and muttering a string of curses. Melanie shot up in bed, clutching the sheet to her chest.
“Damn it. Sorry.”
He turned to see what he’d fallen over, and it had been her shoes.
“No, it’s fine,” she said, rubbing her eyes and sitting up fully. “I was trying to stay up for you. I guess I didn’t make it and took a little nap.”
Even though his toe throbbed from contact with the heel of her shoe, his heart warmed at the idea that she had wanted to wait for him. Nobody had ever done that. Then again, he’d never given anyone the chance.
“What time is it?” she asked.
“Almost one.”
Melanie smoothed her hair past her face. “I can go if you . . . I’m not sure if you had a bad day or . . . sorry. I’m not sure what to do here.”
Her rumpled state and awkward words had him smiling and easing onto the bed. “All you have to do is stay right where you are. Unless you really want to leave.”
With the sheet tucked under her arms, she glanced down to her fingers in her lap. “I should make myself go. I’m not sure cozying up here is smart.”
“But you don’t want to.”
“I don’t,” she murmured. “It’s just, it’s difficult to trust my instincts after a failed marriage.”
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