by Leger, Lori
Red gazed straight into Tiffany’s eyes. “I’m not afraid of anything.” Not anymore.
“We-ell,” she murmured, getting past the hitch in her breath. “Maybe you should be.”
He held her gaze in a silent game of chicken, wanting to prove how ready he was to take this on—to take her on.
Tiffany conceded and tore her gaze from his. She circled the room slowly, checking out his photograph collection. She stopped in front of a grouped collection of LSU baseball shots. “I’ve seen these before. I’d forgotten you and Tanner played the same years. What position did you play?”
Red gradually closed the gap between them, and stood with his mouth near her ear. “First base,” he said, near enough to disturb her hair with his breath. He studied her delicate ear, fighting off the sudden urge to nibble on the velvety lobe. He wanted to get her back on subject. “What about you, Doc? You’re thirty-six and unmarried, so does that mean you’re afraid of commitment?”
She twisted a lock of her hair around one finger. “I definitely have a problem with commitment, but at least I’m engaged.”
“For how long?”
“Um—Two years now.”
“Set a date yet?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Problem with commitment, remember?”
He stepped closer. “Could be you have a problem with Tanner.”
She took one step away from. “Could be.” She continued to look at pictures until she stopped at a large leather bound book with the name Scott Brendan McAllister and the date January 28th stamped in gold on its cover.
She turned to Red. “May I?”
“Sure.”
She sat on the double lounger with the book, turned to the first page and gasped.
“I didn’t realize it was a photo album.”
“My mom went online to a company and had one made for each of us for Christmas last year.”
“I can’t imagine my mother going through that kind of trouble for Drake and me. You were a beautiful baby,” she said, referring to his first studio portrait.
He cleared his throat. “I believe the word ‘handsome’ is a better description.”
Her eyes sparkled as she touched the photo. “Babies are beautiful, and contrary to belief, not all babies are beautiful, but you definitely were.”
“I was kind of cute, huh?” He sat next to her, enjoying the nearness, wishing it would last, hoping she didn’t find some excuse to distance herself from him.
She flipped through pages as he answered her questions about the photos. She laughed at the photo of him in fifth grade, the year he seemed to have an abundance of freckles, and groaned at the eighth grade pictures of him with braces. “That brings back bad memories,” she said. “I hated the metal mouth years.”
Tiffany saw pictures of him playing t-ball at five and six, on through little league baseball clear through high school. One page had his high school graduation photo with the words Gardiner High School Valedictorian – 4.0 GPA underneath. There were several photos of him with the Tiger baseball team and shots of him in action, as well as a few good shots of him and Jackson together. There were college graduation photos with the words “Our own Summa Cum Laude graduate!” in a bold font.
She glanced at him with one brow lifted, clearly amused.
“I told you so,” he said, flashing a confident grin.
She smiled back at him. “I believed you.” She returned to the book, chuckling at the last several snapshots of him wearing nothing but a pair of swimming trunks and a cheesy grin while flexing his muscles for the photographer. “Who took these?”
“Mom,” he said, seeing the caption under the photos that said, “It would be such a waste if these genes weren’t passed along…”
He explained at the look Tiffany sent his way. “She’s always telling me if I don’t procreate before she dies, she’s going to haunt my ass.”
She laughed nervously, but didn’t stop staring at the photos. “When were these taken?”
“That was—” he stopped to do the mental calculation. “That was the summer before last, after I finished my pool at the place in Lafayette. We had a huge birthday bash for mom and I was playing around.” He shook his head, a little embarrassed. “I can’t believe she put those in there.”
“You’re lucky they didn’t end up on the internet.”
Red removed a pack of snapshots from an envelope and handed them to her. “Here’s some of the club I opened up about three years ago. That’s my oldest brother, Chad and his wife, Julia.” He pointed to a smiling couple sitting at the end of the table. “He’s the only one you haven’t met here today. They’re separated, but we’re all hoping they’ll work it out. Julia was offered the chance to work in England for two years and Chad decided to go all macho jerk about it. He told her he wouldn’t move.”
“You’re not upset with your sister-in-law?”
“Nah, Julia’s the best. Chad’s being a stubborn ass.” He handed her a stack of snapshots taken when his latest club opened up. “You might recognize a few of these faces. This is opening night at the newest place in Lafayette.”
“I sure do.” She studied the snapshots of Jackson and Giselle. “Your club looks very classy and tastefully done.”
“That’s what I wanted. The one in Lake Coburn won’t be as large as this, but just as nice, and the same rules will apply.”
“When will you be opening?”
“Doors open on New Year’s Eve. Think you’ll be able to make it? Jackson and Giselle will be there.” Tiffany closed the book, and stood. She set it on her seat and walked over to the window. He wished he could read her mind.
“I don’t know. How difficult is it to get in?”
“Not difficult at all if you’re in good with the owner.”
“I’d have to ask Tanner if he wants to go,” she said quietly, crossing her arms and staring at her feet.
Tiffany’s body language told him what he needed to know. Hell, everybody could see she was miserable with Tanner, so why couldn’t she?
“Doc, you can’t tell me you’re happy with him.”
She shrugged, but the ringing phone saved her from commenting any further. Red picked up the pool house extension, checking out the caller ID. “It’s for you,” he said, handing it to her.
“This is Dr. LeBlanc.”
Red’s heart sank as she checked her watch and said she’d be there in twenty minutes. There was some comfort in knowing that at least she wasn’t leaving him to go to Tanner.
“I’ve got to go,” she mumbled, handing him the phone.
He held the door open for her before accompanying her back into his home. As she collected her things and stepped into the living room, all heads turned in their direction.
“Happy Thanksgiving, everybody—thanks for letting me crash your party,” she said.
“Where are you off to?” Vivienne asked, as she, Melissa, and Bailey approached.
“The hospital called, I have to go in. It was lovely seeing you again, Mrs. McAllister.” She held out her hand to Vivienne.
“Call me Vivienne, please. It was wonderful seeing you again, Tiffany. I enjoyed the talk earlier.”
Red watched his mother bypass Tiffany’s hand and pull her into a hug. He overheard Vivienne’s quiet message whispered hurriedly into her ear.
“And I hope the next time we meet, I’ll see the real you.”
“You just may, Vivienne,” Tiffany whispered back before turning to Bailey and Melissa. “It was great seeing the two of you.” She reached into her purse and pulled out two business cards. “Both my numbers are on here—call me.” She hugged the two women. “I wish I could stay longer. Bye everyone,” she said again, smiling as Jackson and Giselle both blew her kisses.
Red held the front door open for her and moved to follow her outside. At the last second, he aimed a warning glare in his sisters’ direction. “Don’t even think about it,” he spoke in a low murmur before shutt
ing the door. He knew full well how pointless it was to expect them not to spy.
Red walked Tiffany to her car. “So, how about it Doc, are you glad you came?”
She nodded enthusiastically. “I am. It felt good to let go and have some fun. Thanks for talking me into staying.”
“You’re welcome here anytime—I hope you know that.”
She gazed up at him, her face a study in curiosity. “What about Tanner?”
He bowed gallantly. “If you must,” he said with an exaggerated sigh. “I’d be civil for your sake, and I promise not to break his nose, Tiffy.”
She poked him playfully in the chest. “Don’t call me that again.”
“If it’s good enough for Tanner, it should be good enough for me—Tiffy,” he taunted.
“Stop it,” she said, this time with more conviction.
“Aw, but Tiffy is such a cute little nickname…like Buffy or—”
“I’m warning you, Red!” Her voice rose in anger.
“You don’t stop Tanner from saying it, why should you stop me, huh Tiffy?”
“Stop it!” she snapped.
Before he knew it, she’d popped him good on the mouth.
He grabbed her wrist in one swift movement. “You know, Doc, that’s the second time you slap me in less th—” His accusation trailed off as he witnessed something else, something just as heated, replace the fury in her eyes. His heart pumped furiously as he stepped closer, pressing her back firmly up against the car. His breath quickened, matching her own rapid panting as she gazed up at him with eyes the color of rich, melted chocolate.
Without a doubt, he’d never wanted someone so badly in his life.
“Doc …” Not wanting to scare her off, he lowered his mouth to hers agonizingly slow. In a perfect world that would have been enough and she’d have let him kiss her. But this was reality, and a second before their lips would have met, her whispered plea stopped him.
“Don’t Red, please.”
He paused, pulling back enough to watch her long eyelashes flutter closed. He let go of her wrist and slowly, gently, moved that hand behind her head to pull her up against his chest.
Stiff with tension, she clenched the sides of his shirt until the tension eased slowly from her body. Her hands slid to his back as she finally settled comfortably against him.
Red brought his right arm around to pull her closer and they stood, holding each other, surrounded by the quiet sounds of late autumn. The north wind whipped through the yard full of pecans, oaks, and silver leaf maple trees, sending the dry leaves skittering across the ground around their feet.
“You feel so damn good,” he whispered. “Like you belong here.”
“Oh, God. Don’t say that,” she murmured into his shirt.
He moved his hand to the back of her neck, gently massaging, as he pressed the softest of kisses upon her crown. “Doc. Please don’t marry Tanner,” he whispered, not caring if his plea sounded desperate. He was desperate—desperate to make her see how good they’d be together—desperate for her to give him a chance to prove it to her.
She buried her face in his shirt and spoke through a muffled half-sob. “Don’t say anything more, Red. I have to go.”
He took a deep breath to fortify himself. “I know,” he said. He reluctantly released her and backed away so she could get into her car.
She started the engine, avoiding eye contact with him as she shifted into drive. Keeping her head lowered, she sat there with her foot on the brake, the steering wheel tightly clenched in both hands. He tapped lightly on her window with his knuckle then flattened his palm on the glass.
Tiffany looked up, her eyes wide with agonized longing. Red’s breath caught painfully in his chest as he caught the hint of tears on her long lashes, certain it was a rarity. Just as he reached for the door handle, she released the brakes. He stood, hands shoved deep in his pockets, watching the slow progression of her car, every second taking her further out of reach.
He took his time walking back to the house, not quite ready to replace the memory of having her in his arms. Once inside, he leaned against the door jamb, observing the couples in the room. Whether they held hands, curled a foot or leg around the other or lightly touched an arm or shoulder, there was some form of contact. Red met Jackson’s gaze and shrugged at the unspoken message of understanding from his friend.
He turned to meet his parents as they entered the kitchen through the patio door. He returned his mom’s smile and accepted a hug from her.
“Now, tell me the truth,” he said in a low voice. “How big of an audience did we have while we were out there?”
“Oh, about what you’d expect after being raised in this family.” Her eyes sparkled with laughter. “All your sisters, Sienna, and Giselle—it’s been reported you handled yourself very well—even though you didn’t kiss her.”
Red felt the heavy, but comforting weight of his dad’s hand on his shoulder.
“That call from the hospital sure was lousy timing, wasn’t it, Son?”
“It’s sucked all the fun out of this day for me,” he told his father. “But, that’s her career, and I’d sure as hell put up with it for one chance with her.”
“Only one?” Vivienne smiled and gave his cheek a reassuring pat.
He turned his gaze on his mother. “One chance, Mom, I swear that’s all it’ll take. But I won’t get it unless she finds the strength to walk away from Tanner.”
Thursday, Thanksgiving night
Tiffany entered the condo the next evening, both mentally and physically exhausted. Although she’d put in a grueling fourteen hours at the hospital, she knew her exhaustion was due more to unresolved feelings floating around in her head and heart. As soon as she’d left Red’s presence the previous day, a distinct sadness had settled upon her, leaving her feeling desolate and alone.
She thought of the ballad she’d sung at his request. Could she learn to let go, to forgive, to love those things in her life that she couldn’t change—one of those things being Tanner? Could she love him the way he was? Was it time to let him go and change her life? Her head was spinning from all the questions. If she just had someone she could talk to.
Tiffany stepped out of her shoes, left them at the door. She attempted to shake off her exhaustion, no easy thing when an act as simple as returning home depressed her to no end. She freed her hair from its ponytail and pulled her phone from her purse.
She finally bothered to check her messages. There were six, all from Tanner. Ignoring them, she went straight to her bathroom, turned the taps on in the tub, and poured in her favorite bath salts.
She grabbed a bottle of wine from the cooler, along with a glass and her cell phone. She placed the items on the wide tile ledge of her whirlpool tub, the one thing she truly enjoyed about this place.
After powering on the wall mounted radio system and tuning it to her favorite country station, she eased herself into the steaming water. A low groan accompanied the settling of tired limbs into the water, and she allowed herself a few quiet minutes of soak time. Without lifting her head, Tiffany used her toe to turn on the jets. She had just poured herself a glass of wine and laid her head back when her phone rang. She let it ring several times, suspecting the caller was Tanner. She clenched her jaw, imagining the sound of his pompous, excuse-making voice, knew she was in no mood to hear his crap tonight. He could damn well leave message number seven.
But, it could be the hospital. She lifted her head to check the phone, didn’t recognize the number.
Groaning, she hit the answer button. “Tanner, if this is you, I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
She waited expectantly. There was a pause from the caller then the one word that had her head snapping to attention.
“Doc?”
“Red?”
“Hey Doc, I just wanted to tell you-uh-that you left your casserole dish here.”
“Oh.”
“And, well, I really wanted to see if you were okay. I hop
e I didn’t say or do anything to upset you before you left for the hospital.”
“No, I was okay.”
“Are you home?”
“Yes, but only about five minutes ago.”
“Oh, if you need to rest or get something done, I can hang up, or call back.”
“No! This is a good time for me to talk, believe it or not.”
“Did you get a chance to watch the game this afternoon?”
“I caught part of it during my breaks. I heard the Tigers pulled it off.”
“What’s that noise I’m hearing in the background?”
“Oh, hang on.” She reached over and turned off the jets. “Is that better?” She sat back in the tub.
Silence greeted her.
“Red, are you still there?”
“I’m here. Are—are you in a tub?”
“Yep, it’s been a long day.” After another long pause she cleared her throat. “What are you doing, Red?”
“I’m trying my damnedest to conjure up a mental image of you in that tub.”
She laughed softly, knowing he was smiling on his end. “Knock yourself out, McAllister.”
“What happened at the hospital yesterday afternoon—for the call-out, I mean?”
“A four wheeler collision—typical grown men and their toys. The guy had a few broken bones, but no internal injuries.”
“Glad it wasn’t too serious. How about today?”
“Car accident and an emergency surgery, other than my normal rounds. Another typical day, it just started unusually early.”
“Right. So, everyone said to tell you again how good the dessert was, and they all want the recipe.”
“I’ll get it to you, and thanks again for having me. I had a blast until I got the call.” She twirled a lock of hair around her finger and waited. There was silence on the other end of the line then she heard the words that she’d somehow known were coming.
“Why are you still with Tanner, Doc? Can you tell me that?”
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Never mind,” he said in a rush. “It’s none of my business and I had no right to ask.”
“It’s okay, Red. On my way home from the hospital I was thinking it’s time to end this mess and move back into my own place.”