Abby slumped into a chair, stunned by Tanner’s speech. Was he right? Had she been harboring a need for some kind of confrontation? Her anger had come out of nowhere, the need to hurt him as much as he hurt her overriding any common sense she might’ve had.
Oh. Oh, God.
“Mitch isn’t my friend.”
Embarrassment flooded her face and burned the tips of her ears. She dropped her head into her hands, hoping Tanner wouldn’t see the tears welling in her eyes.
“I-I saw him sitting there. He looked at me as if I were the main course for dinner. I felt you come up behind me…” And she’d made assumptions, just as he’d said. Had picked a fight, just as he’d said.
She had gotten it all wrong. What was wrong with her? She’d been a swirling basket case of nerves and emotion all day. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t—”
“Mitch is my chaperone.”
She swiped at her eyes before she glanced up. Not that it mattered. Tanner wasn’t looking at her. He stood in front of the windows, hand gripping the back of his neck as he stared out into the fading light.
“Like a bodyguard or something?”
“No. Like a babysitter.”
I’m not paid for my personality.
Do not leave this room.
Abby bit back a groan. It seemed Tanner didn’t hold the exclusive rights to acting like a dick.
“Tanner.”
He turned, his expression unreadable. “If you’re planning to stay I’ll explain everything, but can we at least sit and eat? I ordered from Emilio’s and it’s getting cold. I give you my word you’re safe. No one will touch you while you’re here.”
The fact he had to clarify her safety made her feel sick. Tanner made her feel a lot of things, but fear wasn’t one of them.
Ashamed of the way she’d behaved, Abby slid into the chair Tanner held out for her. As if she couldn’t feel any more like an ass, Abby noticed the food he’d laid out.
“Fettuccini Alfredo?”
He took the seat across from her. “I didn’t know if you’d want chicken on it or not, so I had them put it on the side. I had a bakery down the street send over a cheesecake for dessert. That’s what you said you loved, right? Cream sauces and cheesecake?”
She couldn’t remember the last time a man had done something so sweet for her. So she did the most appalling thing.
She burst into tears.
Tanner cursed, the anger draining out of him as though someone had pulled the plug.
He was on his feet and at Abby’s side in a heartbeat. His arms did an awkward two-step in her direction. Back and forth, left to right.
Damn it. He had to hold her. Offer what little comfort she might take from him.
You gave your word. No touching.
He cursed again and took a knee beside her. To keep from reaching for her, he grabbed the edge of the table with one hand and balled the other against his thigh.
“Please don’t cry. I shouldn’t have gotten angry. I’m sorry. For everything. We don’t have to eat. We don’t have to talk. If you want go, I swear we’ll be good. No harm, no foul. Just please…” Oh yeah, he was losing it. “…stop.”
Abby slapped her hands against her face and shook her head. Her chest hitched as she sucked in air between sobs.
The table creaked under his white-knuckled grip. What the hell was he supposed to do? He could handle two-hundred and fifty-pound linebackers without breaking a sweat, but the sight of Abby’s tears reduced him to a worthless asswipe.
You were a worthless asswipe before you made her cry.
To hell with that. He could be a better man. He would be a better man. For himself. For his family. For … anyone else who came along.
“I know I promised not to touch you, but I’m dying here, Abby-girl. Tell me what I can do to make things right, because if you don’t stop crying I’m going to end up breaking that promise.”
Abby took the decision out of his hands. She dropped from the chair and curled her arms around his neck.
Tanner dropped his other knee and sat back on his heels, making his body a stable base for her to cling to. She didn’t waste any time. Crawling onto his lap, she wrapped her legs around his hips and buried her face in his neck.
Something shifted inside him. As though his chest cavity had been missing a piece that was now firmly in place. He slid his arms under her blanket of hair and sighed.
She felt good against him. Right. He didn’t deserve a second chance, but the way they fit … damn if he didn’t want one.
He lost track of time as he held her. Caressed her spine in slow, light strokes. He gently rocked them, murmuring against her ear that she was okay. They were okay. Let it all out. He had her. He wouldn’t let go.
He prayed the jumbled words would soothe her.
When she finally lifted her face from his neck, Tanner couldn’t feel his feet. His legs were asleep, too, so he kept one arm locked around her to prevent any sudden movement that would end with them toppling to the carpet. With the other, he cupped her cheek, catching a stray tear with his thumb.
“Feeling better?”
“Feeling stupid.” She sniffed loudly. “I don’t know what came over me. I’m not usually such a blubber factory. Once it started, I couldn’t seem to stop.”
She leaned into his touch. Her skin was soft. Smooth. Her eyelashes sparkled with the remnants of her tears. Bloodshot eyes, pink cheeks, and a deep red patch marred her forehead where she had been pressed against his neck. She was a mess, and he wanted to kiss her more than he wanted his next breath.
“Emotions have a funny way of building up if they don’t have an outlet. You’ve been holding that in for awhile, I’m guessing.”
“I suppose I have. There’s a lot going on. Seeing you brought back a lot of emotions for me.”
“For me, too, Abby.” He trailed his thumb along the curve of her mouth. She shivered, but didn’t pull away. “Anything you want to talk about?”
“No. After the sob-fest I just had? I’m hoping we can forget everything that’s happened and start over.” She laughed a little. “Well, not forget everything. I want to know what you meant about Mitch being a babysitter.”
He’d rather have this conversation somewhere other than the floor, but he wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.
He let his thumb go where his mouth wanted to be, caressing over the rosy pink of her lower lip. “Coming to Miami wasn’t my decision. The Thunder was my only option.”
He felt her take an unsteady breath a second before the warmth of her hand seeped into the side of his neck.
That’s it, baby. Touch me. Let me feel you.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “You’re the best tight end in the league.”
Her defensive tone took his breath away. After all they’d been through, the thought she’d stand up for him? Mind. Blown.
“You’ve kept up with my career?”
“I’ve caught bits and pieces over the years.”
“So I gathered.”
She shook her head. “Clean slate. Tell me.”
Her tongue darted out to flick the tip of his thumb. Tanner’s vision went wonky as lust slammed his mid-section. The lack of blood flow to his lower extremities didn’t do jack to stop his cock from hardening.
Shit. He needed to slow down this train. While he wanted nothing more than to roll her over and slide into her, he wouldn’t take advantage. Abby was still coming down from a pretty hefty emotional release.
And besides, they weren’t alone. The thought of Mitch walking in and seeing Abby’s flushed face and—fuck—her tight nipples got Tanner moving.
“How about we move this discussion to the couch. As much as I’m enjoying you in my arms, my legs are becoming an issue.”
“Oh, geez.” Abby scrambled off his lap. “You must’ve been miserable sitting like that for so long.”
Yeah. One glance a little lower and she’d see how miserable he was.
> “I didn’t mind. Just need to stretch a minute.” Tanner rolled to his hip and straightened his legs, giving them a good bounce to get the blood flowing. Annnd queue the pins and needles. “The reason I couldn’t take you out tonight, or any night, actually, is the same reason Mitch is here. Both are conditions of my contract.”
He pushed to his feet, testing out their stability before taking a step. Abby took a seat on the couch. Tanner kept moving, needing the time on his feet to restore sensation as well as to get a handle on the erection tenting his shorts.
Back to the matter at hand. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Abby. LA got tired of seeing my name in the paper. Although if I’m being honest, the arrests were probably what got their goat.”
“Arrests?”
“Nothing serious. Stupid shit. Public intox. Indecent … well, you get the gist. The bottom line is I figured as long as I did my job, what I did on my own time didn’t matter. I was wrong. The franchise wanted me gone. Miami was the only team who made an offer.”
“An offer that came with Mitch?”
“Specifically his job is to make sure I follow the rules, which basically state I have to behave myself and keep my name out of the paper unless it’s directly related to football or the Thunder franchise.” He stopped pacing and dropped his hands on his hips. “It’s goddamn embarrassing to be twenty-eight years old and have to prove myself as trustworthy, but that’s where I’m at. In a bed of my own making. Mitch will be my shadow for awhile—no more than a year as long as I keep my end of the bargain. Which I will. No question.”
“If we can’t be seen in public together, how are we going to house hunt?”
“Ian Dare knows the situation. Hell, his wife set it up. If the media catches on, word will get out that you’re the realtor helping me with the relocation. As long as we are only seen in that capacity, it should be fine.”
Abby frowned hard.
“It’s a temporary situation, Abby-girl. Don’t take what I said to mean I don’t want to see you other than to find a house. It’s not ideal and we would need to be careful, but I’d like to spend time with you, if you’d let me. I’d like to get to know you again.”
Abby stayed quiet so long, he started to get fidgety. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but firm.
“I won’t make you any promises, Tanner. But, cheesecake. Cheesecake is a good place to start.”
Chapter Five
“What exactly don’t you like about this one?”
Abby’s fingernails clicked in rapid succession as she rolled them against the counter.
Tanner propped a hip close to her, working hard to keep a straight face. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the house. Or any of the other houses he’d seen. Abby excelled at her job, finding the perfect homes based on their discussions. She was also sharp as a tack. Superficial complaints like ugly tile and tiny showers wouldn’t cut it. Just replace them, she’d say. Make it your own.
Too big or too small had run their course. He used not enough yard. Not close enough to the water. Too close to the water. At the last house, he complained the windows were fucked up and would be too expensive to replace all of them. Obviously, he was running out of creative excuses.
Truth was, he loved spending this time with her and wasn’t ready for it to end.
He reached for Abby’s hand only to have her spin away.
“Mister Wild.”
Damn, he loved it when she went all professional on him. Made him hard as a tree stump. Liar. The button-up and skirt, pared with those fuck-me heels and the damn bun she’d secured her hair in were what made him hard. But knowing it was Abby kept him hard.
Although she rocked the sexy secretary look like nobody’s business, he behaved himself. For the most part.
“Yes, Miss Nash?”
This time, he snagged her hand and tugged her toward him. God, he loved those heels. Brought her to damn-near kissing height. He dropped his lips to her forehead, groaning quietly as the scent of cinnamon surrounded him.
She relaxed and started to melt against him but seemed to remember at the last minute where they were. She jerked back.
“You’re trying to distract me.”
He grinned. Maybe a little. “I’d never.”
Tanner let his thumb caress the delicate skin of her wrist. She was so damn soft. He’d taken advantage of any opportunity to touch her. A caress of her arm as he passed by, the brush of a shoulder while they sat on the couch. She even let him hold her hand in the car, low and against the seat where she probably thought Mitch wouldn’t see from his place in the back.
Mitch could see. Tanner almost guaranteed it. The guy had mad skills in the sensory department. Eyes like a hawk. He didn’t miss a damn thing. Fucker.
Since the first night in his hotel room, Tanner had kept things with Abby light. They house-hunted. They talked. They got to know each other again. He’d kissed her a couple of times, but they certainly weren’t getting jiggy with Mitch a handful of yards away.
They had dinner together every night in his room and every night he went to bed alone.
It was fucking killing him.
Abby stared down at their linked fingers. “We’ve been looking at houses for over a week. You haven’t seen anything you like?”
Loaded question.
“You seem stressed, Abby-girl. Is there anything I can do to help you with that?” He didn’t want to push, but damn he wanted to touch her. To reacquaint their bodies as well as their lives.
“Choosing a house would help.”
Concern slowed his roll. “You got something riding on this purchase?” Of course she did. Selling houses was how she got paid. With the current swing in the housing market… He was an idiot.
“I’ll call and make arrangements to front an estimated commission. I’m sure Mr. Lindsey would be happy to allow me—”
“No!” Abby’s response fueled his suspicion. “Please don’t. It’s fine. Everything is fine. I know you’re ready to get out of the hotel. My concern is for you, that’s all.”
Made sense. All the same, he didn’t buy it. He dipped his head, making eye contact. “Talk to me. What’s going on? Is there a problem at work?”
She lowered her lashes, giving him a coy look that promptly made him forget his own name. “You’re not my only client, you know. I have others who need my attention.” Abby stepped into his space, nice and tight. She shifted enough to brush her breasts against his chest.
“Is that right?” The thought of losing this time with her made him mental. He wasn’t convinced she would continue to see him otherwise. He needed more time. “You’ll be happy to know we are moving into a bigger suite this weekend. Mitch will have his own room to disappear into when you’re there instead of mine.” Damn man gave a whole new meaning to cock block. “It’s the best I can hope for until I find a place. It’s the closest thing you and I will get to privacy for awhile.”
Mitch isn’t here now. Not inside the house, anyway. Last Tanner saw him, the guy was lighting up and stretching himself out on the porch swing like a fucking cat about to take in some sun.
“What do you think we need privacy for?”
The pull to taste her was too great. Starting at her temple, Tanner pressed soft kisses against her hairline. He kissed his way to her ear, then nipped the upper curve. “Because I don’t want an audience when I put my mouth on you.”
She shivered. “What makes you think you’ll get your mouth on me?”
He knew without looking her nipples were hard. Thank God some things never changed. Ten years apart hadn’t been enough to dull her body’s response to his touch. Or his to hers if the activity going on behind his fly was any indication.
Tanner smiled when she tilted her head, exposing her neck. He took what was offered, starting at her collarbone and working his way up. When he pressed his lips to the delicate skin behind her ear, Abby untangled their fingers. Her hands smoothed up his sides, his chest. Her nails curled into his sh
irt, biting into his pecs.
That’s it, baby. Dig into me. Leave your mark.
“Fact is I already do.” As further proof, he traced his tongue along her earlobe. “And it’s only gonna get better.”
With a move that felt as natural as breathing, he looped an arm around her back, aligning their bodies perfectly for what he had in mind.
“You’re as primed as I am, aren’t you?” He rocked his hips, letting her feel what she did to him. “Tell me, Abby-girl. When I slide my fingers into your panties what will I find? Will that sweet pussy be slick? Tell me.”
“Tanner.”
He pressed his mouth against her ear. “Tell me.”
She wobbled on those heels, but he had her. She could kick the things off and her feet wouldn’t touch the ground.
“Y-yes.”
Music to his fucking ears.
Needing her mouth, Tanner abandoned her ear and covered her lips with his. She opened and he licked his way into the heat of her mouth. She met his tongue with soft flicks of her own, but it wasn’t enough. He went in deep, kissing her long and hard until they were both breathless.
He’d kissed her countless times in the past, but this time was different. Less tentative and gentle. Less fumbling. Less finding their way across unchartered landscape.
They knew the lay of the land now. And he was firmly in the driver’s seat.
He broke away and took her hand. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“I have some questions about the master bedroom.”
Questions, my ass.
With a determined stride Tanner led her through the house. As they approached the bedroom he glanced back, squeezed her fingers. For reassurance? To let her know there was no escape?
Dare To Love Series: Dare's Wild (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4