Just Breathe (The Protectors Book 2)

by Leeanna Morgan

  “I hope in a good way.”

  Alice smiled. “It was the cookies that did it.”

  “I thought it would have been the Santa hats,” Kelly said from the doorway.

  Tanner looked over Alice’s shoulder.

  “Kelly? What are you doing here?”

  “Hayley called after lunch. She said Tank invited me to the lake, but you forgot to ask me. I love ice skating.” She held some skates in her hand. “I’ll see you down at the lake.”

  Tanner looked at Hayley.

  When everyone was out of hearing distance, she whispered, “Sometimes you need a little push.”

  “What I’m already doing is working fine.”

  “A snail moves faster than you do. How would you feel if some hunky firefighter asked Kelly to go on a date with him?”

  Something that felt remarkably like panic rose in his chest. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  “No, but it could happen.”

  Tanner breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Hayley’s right,” Tank said.

  “Not you, too?”

  “How long have you been seeing Kelly at auctions and worshiping her from afar?”

  Tanner frowned. “I haven’t worshiped her from afar. I was never more than three seats away.”

  “For how many months?”

  “Fifteen,” he mumbled.

  Hayley patted his chest. “I’d say snail describes you to perfection.”

  Tank held Hayley’s hand. “It’s about time you sped things up, starting now.” He pointed to the lake. “Your lady love awaits.”

  “That’s not funny,” Tanner said.

  “It wasn’t meant to be. Tell her how you feel.”

  Tanner knew that was easier said than done. He’d tried once before and failed miserably. If he crashed and burned again he didn’t know if he’d have the courage to try again.

  ***

  Kelly skated toward Tanner. She waved and smiled when he waved back.

  For the last hour, he’d watched them zig-zag across the frozen lake. It was the perfect ending to a day that could have been terrible.

  She’d stayed at her parents’ ranch until lunch was finished, then headed to Ryan and Sophie’s home. She’d hoped a couple of hours with them would blow the last of the cobwebs out of her brain before going back to her parents’ ranch.

  She stopped on the edge of the lake, still amazed that Tanner had been more than happy to watch them skate. He was usually the first person to get involved in anything, not one of the last.

  “Are you bored?” she asked him.

  “Not yet. Do you know any fancy moves?”

  “The only moves I know are forward and backward.” She stepped toward a rock that she could use as a seat. “I’m ready to call it quits.”

  Tanner passed her the snow boots beside him. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” She unlaced her skates. “Did Alice and Tank go back to the house?”

  “Alice was tired. When Tank got a call from someone at Fletcher Security, Alice decided to go inside, too.”

  “It’s Christmas Day. Tank shouldn’t have to work if he’s not on duty.”

  Tanner shrugged. “When you’re in charge you work when you’re needed.”

  Kelly took her jacket out of his arms. “How long have you known him?”

  “About six years.”

  “I thought it would have been longer. The two of you click…like you’ve known each other your entire lives.”

  “He’s a good friend.”

  The sound of laughter drew Kelly’s attention to the lake. Ryan, Sophie, and Hayley were speeding toward an orange cone they’d placed on the ice.

  Tanner left the jackets he was holding on a rock. “Were your parents disappointed that you left early?”

  She turned back to Tanner. “Not really. I told them I’d be home before nine o’clock. They’re looking forward to having me stay.”

  “Are you worried about driving in and out of Bozeman each day?”

  “Luke said he’d travel with me. I’ll need a hand with the store and he was happy to help, so it’s worked out well.”

  “I’ll be in Bozeman if you need extra help. I don’t leave for Chicago until the first week in January.”

  “I thought you were going to Malaysia?”

  “Change of plans.”

  Kelly laughed as Hayley and Sophie high-fived each other. She thought about her own sister. Beth would have loved it here. But right at this moment, she was enjoying a hot New Zealand summer, complete with barbecues, jandals and walks on the beach.

  Tanner stuck his hands in his pockets. “Do you want to walk back to the house? I’ve got a Christmas present for you.”

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “Yes, I did. You’ve had a tough few weeks. I wanted to give you something that would make you smile.”

  Kelly held out her hand. “In that case, let’s go.”

  As they walked back to the house, she told him about the meal her mom had cooked and the gingerbread men she’d brought to Emerald Lake. “Mom thinks we’ll die from starvation. She must have packed at least five dozen cookies for me to bring.”

  Tanner smiled. “Either that or she knows about your sweet tooth.”

  “Shh. It’s a secret.”

  “Nothing about you is a secret. You’re one of the most real people I know.”

  Kelly stopped in the middle of the yard. “Thank you.”

  Tanner wiped a snowflake off her face. “It’s true. You don’t pretend to be someone you’re not.” He glanced at his SUV. “Wait here while I get your present.”

  “You seem awfully excited about the gift. Should I be worried?”

  “I hope not.” He opened the passenger door and pulled a big box off the seat. “I’ve got presents for everyone in here.”

  Kelly patted her chest. “Be still my beating heart. I’ve finally found a man who likes shopping.”

  “I start buying gifts at the beginning of the year. It takes times to find the perfect present.”

  She opened the front door for Tanner and unzipped her jacket. “I love anything to do with Christmas. You could have decorated a pinecone for me and I’d be happy.”

  “This is better than a pinecone. Follow me.” Tanner led her into the living room.

  Ryan and Sophie’s Christmas tree was still spectacular. Kelly thought about the last time she was here, the excitement and awe when Santa had come into the room. It had been a magical day for Pastor Steven’s youth group.

  Kelly searched among the parcels at the foot of the tree. While Tanner was emptying his box of presents, she found her gift for him.

  “What have you…” Tanner looked at the parcel in her hands.

  “It’s for you. I knew I’d see you this afternoon. I thought it would be better giving you your present here than in your kitchen.”

  “What’s wrong with my kitchen?”

  “It doesn’t have this view.”

  Tanner looked through the windows overlooking the mountains and lake. “Why does the view make a difference?”

  “Open it and see.”

  Tanner shook his head. “You first.” He held out a box that was slightly bigger than his hand.

  Kelly put his gift on the sofa. “Are you the type of person who likes keeping the wrapping paper?”

  “No—rip away.”

  “Thank goodness for that.”

  For all its size, Tanner’s gift was heavy. She tore open the paper, then opened one end of a white box. She smiled when she saw what it was. “It’s a beautiful glass paperweight. Thank you.”

  “It’s from the same auction where you found Abagail’s journal. I didn’t give you this one because it was meant for you, not your store. When light hits the edge, a rainbow of color fills the room. It’s stunning.”

  Tanner stepped closer and Kelly caught her breath. His face held a longing she hadn’t seen before—a need that went deeper than life itself.

&n
bsp; He cupped the side of her face in his hand. “I don’t fall in love easily, Kelly, but I’ve fallen in love with you. I want to be more than your friend. Do you want to be my girlfriend and see where our lives take us?”

  She blinked tears out of her eyes. “I’m going to cry.”

  His thumb brushed her cheek. “You already are.”

  Kelly smiled at the searching look on Tanner’s face. He really had no idea that she’d already fallen in love with him. “I love you, too. I’d like to be your girlfriend.”

  He swung her into his arms. “I thought you were going to tell me you don’t love me.”

  She hugged him close. “I fell in love with you when you first came into my store. I had an ulterior motive when I called you about first edition poetry books. I wanted to see you, but when we were in the same room I didn’t know what to say.”

  “You said plenty when I kept winning the auctions.”

  “And I’ll say plenty more if you bid for more vases and tea sets.” She stepped out of his arms and handed him the present she’d bought for him. “Merry Christmas.”

  He held the gift to his ear and shook it. “No rattle.” When the squeeze and sniff tests didn’t give him any clues, he carefully undid the paper.

  “I hope you like it.”

  “It’s a first edition copy of The Four Quartets by T.S. Eliot.” Tanner opened the book with infinite care. “Where did you find it?”

  “A friend of dad’s wanted me to give it to someone who would appreciate it. I can’t think of a better home than yours.”

  “That’s really generous of you, but this is worth a small fortune.”

  “Which is why you need to take care of it. Dad’s friend said the poems talk about our relationship with time, the universe, and the divine.” Kelly turned to the window and gestured at the towering mountain ranges surrounding Emerald Lake. “Just being here makes all of those things more real.”

  Tanner closed the book and hugged her. “Thank you.”

  “Oops.” Tank stopped in the middle of the doorway. “Am I interrupting something that should have happened six months ago?”

  “We don’t mind being interrupted,” Kelly said with a grin. “Tanner and I are now officially dating.”

  Tank looked a little disappointed. “Good for you.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  He moved further into the room. “I don’t know. Avery just called. She needs to speak to you urgently, Kelly. It’s about your antiques store.”

  “My cell phone is in my bag.” She stepped away from Tanner and pulled out her phone. There were four missed calls—all from her cousin.

  When Tanner started to leave, she reached out and touched his arm. “You can stay if you want to—you too, Tank. Whatever news Avery has, it can’t be as bad as my store being on fire.”

  She called Avery and waited for her to answer.

  “Thank goodness. Where have you been?” Avery’s voice sounded as though it was coming from the end of a long tunnel.

  “I’m at Emerald Lake. Up until twenty minutes ago, I was ice skating. Your voice sounds strange.”

  “That’s because I’m in the basement of the most amazing building I’ve ever seen. It would be perfect for your new antiques store.”

  “You’re in Bozeman?”

  “No, Great Falls. We came up here for Christmas with mom’s family. I told my aunt about the fire. After lunch, she showed me pictures of a building that’s available for lease. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect. I called the realtor and asked if I could see it.”

  “It’s Christmas Day. How on earth did you get the realtor to open the building?”

  “They’re good friends of my aunt’s. Don’t you see—this was meant to be.”

  “I can’t open a new antiques store in Great Falls. I live in Bozeman.”

  Tanner moved away from her.

  “But this is perfect,” Avery said. “There’s even a small apartment above the store. The owner has gone overseas for a year and wants someone to look after the building. The rent is so cheap that I can’t believe it’s real. You have to come and see it for yourself.”

  “I can’t. It’s too soon. I’ve got a meeting with my insurance assessor on Monday morning and Senator Jackson in the afternoon.”

  “Fiddlesticks. You could come here if you want to.”

  “Fiddlesticks? Where did that come from?”

  “I’ve been watching Mary Poppins with my nieces. Don’t change the subject. At least promise me you’ll look at photos of the building. I’ll text through the website address. You can let me know what you think.”

  Kelly sighed. “Okay, I can do that. What about your job? If my business is in Great Falls I couldn’t employ you.”

  “It would only be for a year. I haven’t told you, but Emily offered me a job in her boutique as a sales assistant. Tess has offered Jackie a job in her café. Don’t you see…it’s perfect with a capital P.”

  “Send me the website details, but don’t get your hopes up. I’m only looking at the photos, not signing a lease.”

  “I have no doubt you’ll make the right decision.”

  She knew what Avery’s right decision involved. “I’ll call you later.”

  “Sounds good. Bye.”

  Kelly slid her phone into her bag and turned to Tanner. He was standing in front of the French doors, staring at the lake. “Avery found a building for lease in Great Falls. She thinks it would be perfect for my business.”

  “Are you going to look at it?” Tanner’s voice was remote and distant.

  “I’ll check the website first. If it’s as good as Avery thinks it is, I’ll drive to Great Falls and have a closer look.”

  Tanner kept his back to her.

  “I have to keep my options open. It could be months before my store reopens. For all I know, the fire damage could be so bad that I need to rebuild the entire store.”

  Tank cleared his throat. “I’ll make myself scarce.”

  Kelly waited until Tank had left the room. “I need to do something while my store is being rebuilt. I have to pay my bills.”

  “What about us?”

  “We could still date. You’re usually gone so much that you wouldn’t be in Bozeman most of the time, anyway.”

  Tanner faced her. “I’ve asked John to change my schedule to include more assignments closer to Montana.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “But you do know it’s a three-hour drive between cities. That isn’t huge by Montana standards, but it is if you want to spend time together.”

  “I’ll take all of that into consideration when I decide what to do. All Avery did was tell me about a building. It doesn’t mean I’m moving.”

  Tanner handed her the book she’d given him. “It’s enough that you’d consider leaving Bozeman. Take care of the book—I’m going home.”

  “You can’t leave. This isn’t the way adults discuss things.”

  “It is when one of the adults can’t make a commitment to the other person.”

  “I love you, Tanner. Isn’t that enough?”

  “No.”

  As he left, a sharp pain struck Kelly’s heart. She bit her bottom lip, determined not to cry.

  She thought Tanner was the man she’d spend the rest of her life with. As it turned out, the rest of her life had lasted less than ten minutes, and for most of that time she’d been talking to her cousin.

  Tanner didn’t know how hard it would be to find another building for her business. At this point, she’d look at anything.

  She wiped her eyes, pulled her shoulders back, and took a deep breath. If Tanner Sutherland was too immature to understand why she had to look at all options, then he wasn’t the man for her.

  Not now and maybe never.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Kelly sat at a table in Angel Wings Café and poured three glasses of water. Senator Jackson would be here in ten minutes.

  She still wasn’t sure if Tanner would t
urn up. She’d texted him with the time and had received a short response back.

  “You look worried.” Tess, her friend and owner of the café, said. “Is everything okay?”

  “I’m meeting Senator Jackson in a few minutes. Would you be able to bring some coffee and muffins across to us after he arrives?”

  “Of course I can. Isn’t he a descendant of Abagail’s owner?”

  “You read the article?”

  Tess pulled out a chair and sat down. “I did more than that. I asked Logan what he knew about Senator Jackson.”

  Logan was Tess’ husband and a reporter for the Bozeman Chronicle. He was also an award-winning journalist who had traveled the world, reporting on war zones and high-profile stories.

  Tess pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Logan said he’s one of the good guys. The Senator can be a little over-the-top sometimes, but I guess that comes with being in politics.”

  “He wants Abagail’s journal.”

  “Why?”

  Kelly watched a tall man dressed in an expensive coat get out of a car. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out soon.”

  Tess looked over her shoulder and stood up. “Good luck. Don’t let him bully you into doing anything you don’t want to do.”

  “I won’t.” Kelly’s eyes widened when Tanner appeared on the sidewalk. He walked up to Senator Jackson and shook his hand.

  After exchanging a few quick words they both turned toward the café.

  This was Kelly’s moment of truth. If there had ever been a time when she had to focus on why she was here and not on the other things going on in her life, this was it. The fire, her brother’s broken heart, and the fact that Tanner hadn’t returned her phone calls wasn’t important.

  What was important was making sure Abagail’s journal didn’t disappear into the Jackson family vault.

  The bell above the door jingled as Tanner came into the café. His gaze caught Kelly’s for the briefest moment before returning to the Senator.

  Kelly sighed. Tanner was back to his tough-as-old-boots self. She stood and met them in the middle of the café. “Senator Jackson? My name is Kelly Harris. Welcome to Bozeman.”

  The Senator shook her hand. “Call me William. Thank you for seeing me.”