Sexy Hers

by Carly Phillips

  He narrowed his gaze at both of those honest answers. Easier, he understood. He’d thought as much himself. Smarter? “Let me ask you something.” And her answer would determine how he handled her from here.

  “Okay,” she said warily.

  “Did you want to stay but thought since we’d agreed on one night it was smarter to leave?” If so, he’d be on his way to her place the second he hung up the phone. “Or did you really want to go before I came back?” In which case he’d leave the bracelet with Felicia and try to forget he’d ever met Scarlett.

  She blew out a breath again. “Does it really matter which?”

  “Abso-fucking-lutely.”

  She chuckled at that. “I wanted to stay.” There was that honesty again.

  “Then give me your address and let me bring you the bracelet.”

  “It’s really not a good idea. My life is busy and–”

  “Address, Scarlett.” He wasn’t giving in. Her excuses were just that. Clearly she had walls and so what? So did he. That didn’t mean he was giving up on her without a fight.

  He wanted to get to know this woman better, and since she’d admitted she’d wanted to stay, he felt comfortable pushing past her defenses. Then a thought dawned on him and he decided to offer her an out, his stomach in knots as he asked, “Unless you really don’t want to see me, in which case I’ll leave the bracelet and you’ll never hear from me again.”

  She immediately rattled off her address and apartment number. “I don’t have time in my life for you, Tanner–”

  “Grayson. Tanner Grayson. And you’re Scarlett…?”

  “Davis,” she muttered, causing him to grin. “Make time, Scarlett Davis. Because I’m coming to get you and give you a birthday celebration you won’t soon forget.”

  “You already did,” she said before disconnecting the call.

  He couldn’t wipe the grin off his face if he wanted to, which had Jason laughing at him from across the bar. He disconnected the call.

  “You’re so fucked,” Jason said. “Welcome to the club.”

  “I’ve only known her for a couple of hours,” Tanner reminded his friend as well as himself.

  “Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

  “Hey, is Sweet Treats open today? And is Faith working?” he asked of Jason’s wife’s candy shop.

  Jason nodded. “Why do you think I’m killing time alone here? Why do you want to know?”

  Tanner rolled his eyes but he got it. Jason would rather be spending time with his wife. “Call her and put me on the phone, would you? I have a favor to ask.”

  After arranging the day, he headed upstairs to make sure he had everything he needed before taking off to meet Scarlett.

  * * *

  Scarlett rushed around her room, picking and discarding outfits like a crazy woman before finally settling on a pair of dark denim skinny jeans and a pink camouflage-designed top with a low vee in the front. Since she had no idea where they were going or how much walking would be involved, she chose a pair of ballet flats for her feet.

  Considering the amount of work she had to do for trial, she had to be insane to take an entire day off, and yet when Tanner had promised to leave her alone for good, she’d given him her address so quickly her head still spun. The man had had quite an effect on her.

  Enough to allow her to convince herself she deserved her birthday off from work. Then she’d explain to Tanner why she had to focus on her career and let him down gently before she got attached and he dumped her as fast as her ex when she’d had no time for him in her life.

  She’d fallen asleep with wet hair last night, so she had big hair today and pulled it up into a messy bun. No sense in scaring the man. And since she didn’t wear a lot of makeup, after a few swipes of blush, mascara, and lip gloss, she was ready just as her doorbell rang.

  She pressed a hand over the nervous flutters in her stomach and headed to the door, opening it to let Tanner inside. No sooner had he entered and shut the door behind him than he wrapped an arm around her waist, pulled her into him, and pressed his lips to hers.

  She melted against him, all the objections and reasons she didn’t have time in her life for a man gone the minute his mouth came down on hers. His tongue thrust in and tangled with hers and she was lost in the way he kissed. They stood that way for who knew how long, her hands in his hair, his on her hips, their bodies rocking together until finally he came up for air.

  “That was the pent-up frustration from thinking I might never hear from you again. Or find you in this huge city, Scarlett with no last name.”

  She blew out a slow breath. “Umm, I’m sorry. But I mean it when I say my time is taken up with work. I can’t make promises–”

  “And I don’t want any. I just want to go out today, okay? One day at a time.”

  She pursed her lips, knowing she’d heard that before. It’s fine, Scarlett. I just want to see you when I can. I’ll be around when you’re free, Scarlett. And the truth was? She couldn’t even blame Brian for looking elsewhere.

  But she wasn’t going to give up today with Tanner. She’d agreed to take today off, something she never ever did even on weekends. “Okay. So what’s the plan?”

  His expression brightened at her question. “That’s a surprise. Are you ready?”

  “Let me grab my bag.” She ran to her room, picked up her pocketbook, slung it over her shoulder, and returned to find him studying pictures on her bookshelf.

  “Your family?” he asked, taking in the set on the shelf that was eye-level.

  She nodded. “That’s my brother. He died when he was sixteen, and that’s my mom and dad.” She spoke quickly, hoping to bypass any painful conversation.

  “I’m sorry,” he murmured in her ear. “Your mother doesn’t look happy in any of the pictures. Not even the more recent ones.”

  She swallowed hard. “Mom suffers from severe depression. Major depressive disorder. She doesn’t really take part in life.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat.

  “You’ve had it hard,” he said, pulling her against him.

  “Doesn’t everyone in one way or another?”

  “Good point. So ready to go?” he asked, obviously and abruptly changing subject, which told her he had rough parts of his own past he wasn’t looking for her to dig into.

  “I am.” Turning her back on the pictures and her past, they walked out the door and she locked it behind her.

  He called for an Uber as she excitedly bounced on her feet. “So where are we going?” she asked again.

  “You don’t do surprises well, do you?” he asked with an indulgent grin.

  “I don’t normally do birthdays.” That slipped out, but since she’d already revealed the truth about her mom, she figured she might as well tell him more.

  “My mother wasn’t capable of remembering things, so I pretty much took care of myself. I mean, Dad worked during the day, and my brother needed me. It wasn’t easy for Dad to keep up with things like birthdays or holidays either, so we just didn’t. Except Hank. My brother. He remembered my birthday and I remembered his, even if it was a single cupcake with a candle.”

  She grinned at the memory. “Shortly before he died, it was my birthday and he’d been working at a convenience store in a not-so-great area. But he saved and bought me the bracelet. Oh!” She couldn’t believe she’d forgotten the important item in the excitement of seeing Tanner again.

  “Here,” he said in a gruff voice, putting his hand in his pocket and pulling out the bracelet. “I’m glad I found it for you.”

  “Thanks.” She tucked it safely inside her purse. “I’ll get it fixed. I know it’s not real but it’s all I have left of him.”

  Before Tanner could ask what happened, the Uber pulled into the circular drive of her apartment building, cutting off conversation. They climbed inside and the car drove to whatever destination Tanner had in mind. And the little girl inside Scarlett, who hadn’t had a birthday party that she could recall, was
excited and knew that no matter what he had planned, it would be a day she always remembered.

  * * *

  Tanner now knew more about Scarlett than he’d imagined learning in such a short time. Given what he’d discovered, he was even more determined to give her a fun birthday. No child should be without a birthday celebration. Tanner’s dad had been a strict ass and borderline verbally abusive, letting Tanner know in no uncertain terms he’d never amount to anything. But his mom was the best.

  And she’d definitely celebrated his and his sister’s birthdays. Deciding to give Scarlett a special day seemed only natural to him. Now he was so glad that he had.

  First stop? Faith’s Sweet Treats.

  The car pulled up to a storefront with a variety of shops. They thanked the driver and stepped out.

  “Are we going to the candy shop?” she asked.

  “We are,” he said as he opened the door for her. “Jason’s wife, Faith, owns the place.”

  They stepped inside and delicious smells of sugary treats assaulted them.

  “Mmm. Smells so good,” she said.

  “Agreed.”

  Faith, a curvy blonde woman wearing a Sweet Treats tee shirt and jeans, came to greet them. “Tanner!” She walked out from behind the counter and pulled him into a hug before turning to Scarlett. “And you must be Scarlett! It’s nice to meet you and happy birthday!”

  Faith was so sweet it galled Tanner to think of what an asshole he’d been when he’d first met her. He was protective of his friends and he’d been looking out for Jason. Turned out there was no need. Faith was like a ray of sunshine and she was the best thing that had happened to Jason.

  Scarlett wrinkled her nose in confusion. “Umm, thank you. How do you know me?” she asked.

  Tanner’s hand came to rest on her back, the touch intimate and warm. “I called ahead.” He winked at Faith, who merely grinned at how they’d conspired.

  “Have a seat,” Faith said. “I’ll be right out with your order.”

  Seeming a little dazed, Scarlett let him lead her to an open table. They settled into the chairs, side by side.

  “What did you do?” she asked him.

  “Well, I don’t have an in with a bakery but I did here. So instead of a traditional birthday cake, I called in an order for something different.” And now he was so fucking glad that he had.

  Faith returned, talking as she approached. “So I didn’t have much time to go crazy and make anything really unique, but I had the supplies for these,” she said, coming up to the table holding a tray of mini sugar cones with ice-cream-designed cake pops in each one.

  Scarlett’s eyes opened wide at the sight. “They look amazing! Too good to eat!”

  “Never,” Faith said with a grin. “They’re meant for you to enjoy.” She placed the tray on the table just as the bell rang over the door again. “Oops, customers.” She headed for the counter and Scarlett turned to Tanner.

  “You did this for me?”

  He nodded, trying not to betray the fact that, in less than a day, this woman had gotten under his skin. He understood better than most that he was damaged goods that most females didn’t want once they knew the details about his past.

  She blinked back real tears. “Before you really knew me. Before you knew how much something like this would mean to me, you arranged to celebrate.”

  He reached across the table and took her hand. “You’re special. I saw that the second I laid eyes on you. Too damned good for me, that’s for sure.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “From where I’m sitting, you’re pretty special yourself, Tanner Grayson.”

  He let her think it for now.

  * * *

  Faith joined them when she had a lull in customers, and Scarlett had learned that she’d met Jason when she’d had a flat tire and during a rough time in her life. At a point when she’d been hiding from her abusive brother, who wanted her inheritance. Jason had stepped up and moved her in with him shortly after they’d met. What had started as insta-lust had become insta-love. The way she spoke about Jason, the sparkle in her eyes, it was almost contagious. Almost. Because although it would be nice to have someone in her life she could count on one hundred percent, to have that, she needed to give it. And she didn’t have that kind of time or ability.

  “Okay, time to leave,” Tanner said, interrupting her thoughts, for which Scarlett was grateful.

  “Let me box up the pops,” Faith offered. “This way you can take them with you.”

  A little while later, they were on their way. To Scarlett’s surprise, Tanner took her to a place called China Fair, an arcade on Mott Street in Chinatown, where they walked into a shockingly empty place.

  “Welcome,” an elderly man said, greeting them.

  “Hi. I’m Tanner Grayson. Thank you for accommodating me at the last minute.”

  The man nodded at him. “The place is yours. Minimum of three hours. If you stay longer, I charge you double for closing last minute on a Saturday.”

  “Understood.” Tanner shook the man’s hand.

  Scarlett opened and closed her mouth, then opted to remain silent. It seemed money could buy anything even at the last minute. She couldn’t imagine what it had cost him nor did she want to know. For her, it was the thought that counted.

  Tanner gestured into the back room and she walked alongside him, his hand on her lower back, her skin tingling beneath her top. “So what’s your game of choice?” he asked her.

  She glanced around at the overly large games and their flashing lights. “Well, I don’t know. What’s yours?”

  He glanced at her and grinned. “Let’s dance.”

  Grasping her hand, he pulled her onto the floor set up for Dance Dance Revolution. They stood on colored tiles lit from below and the music started. From there they laughed their way through moving their feet to the illuminated squares, like animated twister.

  Although she tried to get to yoga or Pilates classes at the gym, work usually kept her too busy to make time for herself. That included having fun. So far in the less than twenty-four hours she’d known Tanner, he’d shown her a good time in more ways than one. She hadn’t realized how badly she’d needed to let loose and enjoy until she’d actually engaged herself and forgotten about work.

  He had rhythm despite his big, strong body, and she couldn’t help but admire the way his jeans molded to his thighs and his burgundy Henley accentuated the muscles in his arms. There were times during their dancing fun that she longed to throw herself into his arms, wrap her legs around his body, and lose herself in him as she’d done last night. But she didn’t think the owners would appreciate sex on the dance floor, so she refocused on the games.

  They played a variety, from Guitar Hero to old-fashioned air hockey and Mario Kart, Skee-Ball, Super Shot Basketball, and more.

  By the time they took a break for pizza, she was starving. She sat across from him in a booth in a quiet room and met his blueish-gray gaze.

  “Having fun?” he asked.

  She nodded. “I had no idea how much I needed a day like this to just relax and have fun. To forget the stress of everyday life and the job.” She took a bite of pizza, wiping a bit of sauce off her face.

  He leaned in closer and she wanted nothing more than to close the distance and kiss him. All day long, they’d played games, their bodies close, very often him bracketing her against a large gaming station, the feel and scent of him overwhelming her.

  “And what is that exactly? What do you do for a living?”

  Given how obsessed she was with her career, she was surprised her job hadn’t come up before. “Oh! I’m an assistant district attorney.”

  He blinked, his expression suddenly blank. “An ADA,” he said, sounding surprised.

  She nodded, taking another bite of pizza. “Yep. Went to law school and everything.”

  Silence descended on them, taking her by surprise. “Tanner? Are you okay?”

  He shook his head, as if coming out of a tra
nce … or a very serious conversation with himself. “I’m fine.” She wasn’t sure whether or not to believe him.

  “How’s the pizza?” he asked, obviously changing the subject.

  She looked at him curiously but answered, sensing he didn’t want to continue the job conversation any longer. A lot of people had a bias against lawyers, but she hadn’t figured he was one of them. “I’m on my third slice. You have to ask?”

  He chuckled at her reply and she hoped they’d gone back to normal.

  “It’s my birthday. I deserve to indulge.” She didn’t normally eat so much, and she couldn’t wait to get home and unbutton her pants.

  “Speaking of indulging, I brought the cake pops inside, remember? Do you have room for dessert?”

  Holding her stomach, she groaned. “Just one.”

  He grinned and went to the man who’d greeted them and taken the pops to put aside for him, coming back with a couple of the delicious treats. Just looking at them, suddenly she was hungry again.

  “I wish you’d look at me like you’re looking at that cake pop,” Tanner chuckled as he took a seat beside her. Grasping a pop by the cone, he held it out to her. “Here. Take a bite.”

  She leaned closer, her eyes on his as she opened her mouth and sank her teeth into the delicious marshmallow pop. “Mmm.” She groaned, low in her throat. “God, that’s good.”

  His eyes darkened and he grinned, looking as yummy as the treat. “What’s that smile for?” she asked.

  “That sound. The last time I heard it, I was deep inside you.”

  She hadn’t expected such a blunt reply and the answer had her tingling inside.

  “I want a taste,” he murmured, leaning in close.

  She wanted the same thing and parted her lips. Next thing she knew, his mouth was on hers. Softly and gently, he licked his way inside. He might be tasting the cake pop but she was indulging in him. The kiss was way too brief when he lifted his head, meeting her gaze.

  “Delicious,” he said in a gruff voice.

  His taste lingered and she agreed. This day had been as special as the man himself.