More points.
They were just finishing their meal when the jazz band took the stage. After a couple of numbers Whitney shifted as if she couldn’t get comfortable. Tanner moved so she could lean against him. He liked having her close.
“The music is wonderful. Thanks for inviting me,” she said between songs.
“You’re welcome.”
She smelled of something fresh and natural. The temptation to kiss her neck was almost impossible to resist but he did.
For Tanner the concert was over too soon. He had to let go of Whitney.
He repacked the basket and she held it while he folded the blanket. When he was done he put it under one arm and took Whitney’s hand. They followed the rest of the crowd toward the parking lot.
“Do you want to drive home?” Tanner asked as he stored the basket and blanket in the trunk of the car.
“No, I think I’ll just enjoy the ride. You always seem to make it interesting.” She settled into the passenger seat and laid her head back on the rest. Closing her eyes, she hummed a piece the band had played.
It was a sound he could get used to hearing all the time. Forty-five minutes later he said, “Whitney, you’re home.”
She rolled her head and looked at him. “I’m sorry. I went to sleep on you.”
“No problem. I deal with people who are asleep all the time.”
It took her a minute but she burst out laughing. “You know, there was a time I thought you were so uptight that you had no idea what a joke was.”
“I could say the same about you.”
She sat up and gave him an indulgent look. “I’ve never been uptight in my life.”
“If you say so.”
Whitney laid her head back again. Speaking more to the night sky than him, she said, “You know, I had such a crush on you in college.”
“You did?” It couldn’t be anything like the one he had on her right now.
“I don’t think you ever noticed me. You never even spoke to me but, man, I was crazy about you.”
Tanner liked the softness of her voice in the night. “I’m flattered. I’m sorry that I didn’t notice.”
“Hey, don’t feel bad. I don’t think we would have liked each other then.”
“Why is that?” He turned in the seat to see her clearer in the dim light from her porch.
Whitney shrugged. “I just think we both needed to grow up. I sure did. A few more life experiences make us see things differently.”
“So what do you think of me now?” he asked quietly. His future depended on her answer.
“I...uh... I...like you. Far more than I would have in college. You’re a good guy.”
More points. This was going from a good night to a great one. Was now the time to ask? With his chest tight with building hope, he said, “I’ve been thinking about this matchmaking stuff. You know, we’re pretty good together. Great, in fact, I think. You’re a good match for me. I don’t want to look anymore. I’d like us to see where this will go.”
She didn’t say anything for so long Tanner was afraid he wasn’t going to want to hear what she had to say when she did speak.
“Tanner, would you like to come in?”
* * *
Whitney knew what she was agreeing to. But she also knew what it was like not to have Tanner in her life. Just a week of it had been enough for her. She loved him. Maybe she could show him how to love. She wasn’t going to let go of this opportunity. It might not come her way again.
Tanner was a good man. She’d seen that in his actions more than once. He had the ability to open his heart, she knew that with all of her own. She would find the key. There was no doubt that he was her perfect match as well.
They made it as far as her hallway where a small lamp burned before Tanner grabbed her. She let her purse fall as he nudged her back against the front door. “I’ve waited as long as I can.” His mouth took hers in a kiss that said he wanted her here and now. Flexing his hips, he asked, “See what you do to me?”
Whitney’s stomach fluttered in anticipation. She liked having that kind of power over him. She brought a leg up high along his as she kissed him deeply. This was where she belonged. The love would come.
Tanner stepped back and fumbled with the button of her slacks. When he couldn’t release it she brushed his hand away. “Let me.”
“I want you so badly I can’t think.” He nipped at her neck. Touching her everywhere.
This self-assured man was trembling with desire for her. It was a heady feeling. She flipped the button open and pushed her pants and panties to her feet, stepped out of them and kicked them away. Seconds later Tanner’s jeans and underwear joined hers on the throw rug on the floor.
His hands skimmed up her thighs to grip her hips and lift her. “Put your legs around me.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Whitney obeyed. His gaze held hers as he slowly lowered her until he filled her. Heat, raw and sharp, pooled at her center. Bracing her against the door, Tanner thrust and withdrew.
Whitney wiggled as the sensation rose, turning the heat into a burning flame. Her fingers bit into his shoulder muscles through the fabric of his shirt. She might die with pleasure. Tanner plunged again as his mouth plundered hers. The need grew, built on itself until she could stand it no longer. She threw her head back and screamed her ecstasy.
Tanner held her in place and drove into her until he groaned his own release against her neck.
He steadied her as her feet reached the floor then swept her into his arms. “Bedroom.”
“Upstairs, room on the right.”
* * *
The morning sun woke Whitney. She stretched. Her hand touched the space where Tanner had slept. She smiled. He would return. So this was how a woman well loved and in love felt.
Tanner did love her. He just didn’t recognize it for what it was. He would one day soon. He must. She would show him what giving love instead of demanding love was all about. With time he would come to recognize the difference between what his parents had had and what they had. She couldn’t believe any different.
At daylight he’d woken her and kissed her thoroughly. “I have an early case. I’ll see you this evening.”
Then he was gone. She was well aware that she had to share him with his job but she would have liked to wake up with him next to her. Maybe tomorrow. Those were the type of demands she couldn’t make. He would balk at them immediately. Too clingy.
Whitney went through the day with a smile on her face. She forced herself to review some client information but her thoughts kept returning to Tanner.
That evening she was in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Hurrying down the hall, she opened the door. Tanner waited there with a smile on his face and a bag in his hand. He stepped inside and closed the door before swooping her up into his arms. His lips found hers for a hungry kiss.
When he pulled away he said, “I’ve been looking forward to that all day.”
“You get an A+ for greetings. You hungry?”
“Yeah. For you.” He took her hand and led her upstairs.
Sometime later they came down again and went to the kitchen for dinner. Whitney could get used to this. While she placed the food on the table Tanner poured their drinks.
“How’s Mr. Wilcox doing?” Whitney asked as they ate.
“I think I’ll be able to send him home in a few days.” Tanner cut his pork chop.
“That’s great. I’m so happy for him. Did you know that he asked me to find him a match?”
Tanner looked at her. “Really?”
“He did.”
“I hope he finds one as good as I have.” Tanner grinned at her.
She liked being his match.
After cleaning the kitchen, they spent the rest of the evenin
g watching TV, with Whitney curled up in Tanner’s arms.
“I missed you,” he said softy. “Please don’t push me away again.”
“And I missed you.” She gave him a kiss.
* * *
The rest of the week continued much as the way that evening had gone. Tanner had to work late a couple of nights but Whitney was waiting on him with a smile and a warm meal when he came home.
The first night he’d been late she’d been wearing a long comfortable gown. When they’d made it upstairs to her bedroom, Tanner had pulled it off over her head and dropped it in the trash can.
“No more granny gowns. I’m going to buy you something that flatters that sexy body of yours.”
Tanner’s attention always made her feel sexy and appealing. For once in her life she was going to buy some skimpy lingerie.
After their first night back together Tanner had brought over a bag of his clothes. A few days later she’d cleaned out a drawer for him and given him space in the closet. Their relationship was moving fast but she hadn’t been happier. Still, there was the nagging voice that whispered when she wasn’t busy, Will he ever say he loves you? She pushed it away with, “I haven’t said it either, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.”
Friday evening they were eating Chinese takeout when Whitney said, “My grandfather has a birthday party Sunday afternoon. Would you like to come with me?”
“Sure. Why haven’t you said something about it before now?”
She fiddled with her chopsticks. “I wasn’t sure how you would feel about meeting my family so soon.”
Tanner took her hand. “You and I are a team. I’d love to meet your family.”
Team? She wanted him to see them as a couple but she’d settle for team right now. “Mom and Dad will be there. My sister and her family. Some cousins.”
“I’m game,” he said, and went back to eating.
Sunday morning he had to go to the hospital for an emergency. “I’ll meet you at your grandparents’. Text me the address,” Tanner said before he gave her a quick kiss goodbye.
She didn’t like showing up at her grandparents’ without Tanner, but he had said he would make it if he could. Even though they had only been together a week she felt lost without him. Her heart swelled just knowing he came home to her every day.
They were just singing “Happy Birthday” when there was a knock on the door. One of her cousins answered and called her name.
“Yes.”
“Your Tanner is here.”
Her Tanner. Whitney liked the sound of that. She met him at the door. He put his arm around her waist and gave it a squeeze. “Sorry, I’m so late. Case was worse than I thought.”
She smiled. “I understand.”
“That’s one of the many things I like about you, you always do.” He gave her a quick kiss.
Why couldn’t that like have been love? “Come meet my parents and grandparents.”
“Lead the way.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
TANNER WASN’T USED to all the noise and excitement, the laughter, of a big family get-together. He decided he liked it. What he remembered about family parties growing up was that they were elaborate and his mother had often ended up breaking down in tears because his father hadn’t shown up. They had not been happy affairs.
Whitney took his hand and led him into a dining room where everyone was standing around a table. He stood behind her in the crowded space. Sitting at the end was a balding, white-haired man. Next to him was a woman of about the same age who was cutting cake and placing it on plates then handing them to a younger woman who added scoops of ice cream.
“Harold, how much ice cream do you want?” the woman asked.
“Six scoops,” Whitney’s grandfather said.
“Harold! Even on your birthday that is too much,” the woman cutting the cake scolded.
Whitney’s grandfather reached for her hand and kissed the back of it. “It’s my birthday, sweetheart.”
She turned and looked at the woman with the ice-cream scoop. “Make it three.”
“That’s what I wanted anyway.” Whitney’s grandfather grinned.
“They’re my grandparents.” Whitney pointed to the older couple. “That’s my mom helping with the ice cream. I’ll introduce you in a minute.” The love Whitney had for them was evident in her voice.
Didn’t she use that same note when she spoke to him? He would have to think about that later.
“Okay, now that the birthday boy has had his share, pass the cake and ice cream around,” Whitney’s grandmother instructed.
Everyone did as they were told except for a few of the young kids, who grabbed theirs and disappeared into another room or outside. Soon Whitney and he had their share. Most of the others left to sit elsewhere, leaving room at the table for them. Whitney headed toward her grandfather and took a seat near him. Tanner slid into the one beside her.
“Paps and Memaw, I’d like for you to meet Tanner Locke.”
“Hello, sir. It’s nice to meet you. And happy birthday,” Tanner said to her grandfather.
The older man gave him a long look then said in a teasing tone, “You must be the guy who has put the smile on Whitney’s face.”
Tanner glanced at Whitney to find her blushing. “I hope so.”
“And this is my mom, Delores. Where’s Daddy?”
“He’s outside, getting some more chairs,” Delores answered.
As if he knew they were talking about him, a man with the same coloring as Whitney entered the room. “I gave the chairs to those out on the lawn.”
Delores smiled at him. “Thanks, honey. What would I do without you? Have you met Whitney’s friend?”
Tanner had every intention of being more than her friend but he would accept that title for now. He stood and offered his hand. “Hello, Mr. Thomason. Tanner Locke.”
Her father accepted his hand. “Hi, Tanner. Joe Thomason. Nice to meet you.”
“You too, sir.”
“Joe, I saved you some cake and ice cream.” Delores placed a plate in front of an empty chair across from Tanner.
Joe took the chair and smiled at his wife. “Thanks.” He then turned to Tanner again. “Whitney says you’re a heart surgeon. Interesting profession.”
“I am. And most of the time it is.” Tanner took a forkful of cake.
“It would be nice to have a doctor in the family.” Joe grinned at his daughter.
“Daddy!” Whitney’s voice went up an octave.
What would it be like to be a member of this family? Whitney must have really cast a spell over him. There was something rare in the air around these people, in the way they looked at one another and interacted. Rare at least in his experience. It made him want to be included. He couldn’t remember that ever happening before.
When Whitney touched him he knew the feeling. Like on the balloon. Her smile alone made his life better. What was that element? Some would call it a connection. Others compatibility. Knowing Whitney, she would say it was love. Was it something he knew how to give? But if he did it would make him too vulnerable, weak like his mother.
His family, his mother and father’s relationship had been so dysfunctional that he never thought of himself as wanting, or capable of being in, a loving unit. Whitney’s family made him feel a little uncomfortable as well. As if he was looking in on something he had no knowledge of.
Over the next hour he met the rest of her relations, discussed baseball with her brother-in-law and listened to a conversation between her father and uncle about the best way to grill a chicken. When Whitney put her hand on his shoulder and said it was time to go, he had to admit he was ready. He wasn’t sure he really fit in here.
They were inside saying their goodbyes when one of Whitney’s n
ephews came running into the house. “There’s something wrong with Papa Joe.”
Whitney was ahead of Tanner as they rushed out of the house. Family members surrounded her father. She pushed through two of them to where he sat in one of the folding chairs. He was clutching his left arm.
“Michelle, get the baby aspirin.” Whitney glanced at him. “He had some arrhythmia a few years back.”
Tanner said to the man standing beside him, “Go to the convertible down there.” He pointed down the street. “And bring me the black bag behind the seat.” Tanner handed him his keys. “Everyone, please move back a step or two. Whitney, call 911. Even if this is arrhythmia he still needs to be checked out at the hospital.”
Whitney pulled out her phone.
The man returned with the bag and Tanner located his stethoscope. “Mr. Thomason, I’m going to give you a listen. Just remain still. Everything is going to be fine. Whitney, I’m going to give you some information and I want you to tell the operator to relay it to the ambulance EMTs.”
“I’m ready.”
“Give them my name and tell them that I am on-site.” She did as he requested while he listened to Mr. Thomason’s heart. There was no question it was an arrhythmia issue. The man might require a procedure this time. “Tell them to patch you through to the EMTs.”
Whitney relayed the message. Her voice didn’t waver. She was a tough cookie even in an emergency.
Michelle returned with the aspirin in her hand and Mrs. Thomason on her heels.
Whitney said to Michelle, “Give three to Tanner.”
She was even knowledgeable enough about her father’s care to know what he needed in case of an emergency. Whitney took care of those she loved.
Tanner took the tablets from Michelle. “Mr. Thomason, I need you to chew these and swallow them. Make sure they go down.”
“I’ll get some water,” someone said.
“No water. It could cause him to choke.” Or if he required emergency surgery, he shouldn’t have anything in his stomach.
“Joe, Joe, are you all right?” Mrs. Thomason sobbed as she pushed through the group and rushed to Mr. Thomason.
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