Page 5
Story: Her Protector on Route 14
The girl turns and laughs. “Well, for you, I am.”
She flashes a huge, perfect smile and walks over, punching his shoulder. Then she notices me. Her eyes flick between Tanner and me and he clears his throat. “Her car was towed here.”
“Always playing the doting hero, aren’t you?” She asks while shaking her head.
He grumbles something I can’t quite hear and the girl rolls her eyes before reaching out a hand to me. “I’m Peyton. Let’s see what we’re working with.”
Tanner answers a few questions, but Petyon keeps teasing him. “Oh yeah, Tanner? You justhappenedto be on call? Uh-huh, because that’s not your signature move or anything.”
He rolls his eyes and she bumps his hip, drawing another wry, almost smile from him. He elbows her lightly and she snorts. “You see this, not even a hug. It’s like he’s not fully human.”
“Don’t start that again,” he orders.
“Yeah, if I didn’t remember you pouting while covered in mud, I might be intimidated,” she says.
Something about the fondness between them, the reactions that she gets from Tanner and how close they seem makes me feel ...jealous. It’s stupid. I just met the man. He’s barely said anything to me, but I’m frustrated and feel like I need to get his attention back.
Instead, I play with my fingers in front of me. This feels like a private moment for them, but here I am, interrupting and trying to calm my reaction. He’s not mine to tease or play around with. He’s just a man doing his job.
“Tell Holly, not me,” Tanner says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“It’s going to take a few days for me to get to your vehicle and repair it properly. I recommend booking a room. The Nighty Nigh B&B is the best place to go,” Peyton says.
Tanner nods in confirmation and motions to me. “I’ll take you.”
I bite my bottom lip to avoid saying thanks again. Peyton calls out as he and I walk away. “Tanner, be a good guy and help her enjoy town while she’s here!”
“You don’t have to,” I say seriously. “You’ve already done more than enough.”
“You want to take photos and it’s better to go around with someone who knows the best places,” he answers as if it’s that simple.
He takes me to the lobby of the cozy, rustic B&B. It has modern elements that don’t pull away from the hominess of the place. Once I book a room, I turn to Tanner. “I should get your phone number then.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“If you’re going to be my tour guide, I think it’s necessary,” I remind with a slight smile.
He nods once and pulls out his phone. A quiet wave of self-consciousness creeps in—I'm sure someone like Peyton wouldn’t stumble over her words or second-guess every move like I do. But I push the thought aside. I probably just need some sleep.
So after we exchange numbers, I head to my room and settle in, hoping a little space and rest will help clear my head.
Chapter 4 - Tanner
As safe as Heartstone is, it’s not safe for a girl like Holly. Plenty of people would want to take advantage of her and I can’t allow that, with or without Peyton’s teasing order. I tell myself that’s the only reason why I show up in the morning to show her around town, but I know it’s not.
There’s something about Holly that keeps me coming back to her. I just can’t seem to resist. I like her smile and being near her ... it’s calming in a way that’s unfamiliar and addictive at the same time.
Holly shows up in another pair of jeans that hug her figure and show off her gorgeous legs with a casual olive green top that makes her eyes brighter and emphasizes her curves naturally. I want to groan just looking at her as her hair waves over her shoulders.
I show her downtown—a short stretch of old brick buildings, quiet and charming—and she lights up, insisting on taking photos. Her expression shifts from bright excitement to focused concentration in a heartbeat, but she never loses that underlying softness.
When I notice her shifting positions, angling her body just slightly, I frown.
“It’s to get the right lighting,” she says, catching my look with a quick smile.
As she moves along the sidewalk, explaining different angles and shadows, I find myself subtly guiding her—correcting where she walks so she’s closer to the buildings while I keep to the edge of the street.
When other people pass by and stare too long, I shoot them a look that makes them think twice. They veer around her, giving her space, making damn sure they don’t bump into her.
She flashes a huge, perfect smile and walks over, punching his shoulder. Then she notices me. Her eyes flick between Tanner and me and he clears his throat. “Her car was towed here.”
“Always playing the doting hero, aren’t you?” She asks while shaking her head.
He grumbles something I can’t quite hear and the girl rolls her eyes before reaching out a hand to me. “I’m Peyton. Let’s see what we’re working with.”
Tanner answers a few questions, but Petyon keeps teasing him. “Oh yeah, Tanner? You justhappenedto be on call? Uh-huh, because that’s not your signature move or anything.”
He rolls his eyes and she bumps his hip, drawing another wry, almost smile from him. He elbows her lightly and she snorts. “You see this, not even a hug. It’s like he’s not fully human.”
“Don’t start that again,” he orders.
“Yeah, if I didn’t remember you pouting while covered in mud, I might be intimidated,” she says.
Something about the fondness between them, the reactions that she gets from Tanner and how close they seem makes me feel ...jealous. It’s stupid. I just met the man. He’s barely said anything to me, but I’m frustrated and feel like I need to get his attention back.
Instead, I play with my fingers in front of me. This feels like a private moment for them, but here I am, interrupting and trying to calm my reaction. He’s not mine to tease or play around with. He’s just a man doing his job.
“Tell Holly, not me,” Tanner says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“It’s going to take a few days for me to get to your vehicle and repair it properly. I recommend booking a room. The Nighty Nigh B&B is the best place to go,” Peyton says.
Tanner nods in confirmation and motions to me. “I’ll take you.”
I bite my bottom lip to avoid saying thanks again. Peyton calls out as he and I walk away. “Tanner, be a good guy and help her enjoy town while she’s here!”
“You don’t have to,” I say seriously. “You’ve already done more than enough.”
“You want to take photos and it’s better to go around with someone who knows the best places,” he answers as if it’s that simple.
He takes me to the lobby of the cozy, rustic B&B. It has modern elements that don’t pull away from the hominess of the place. Once I book a room, I turn to Tanner. “I should get your phone number then.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Is that so?”
“If you’re going to be my tour guide, I think it’s necessary,” I remind with a slight smile.
He nods once and pulls out his phone. A quiet wave of self-consciousness creeps in—I'm sure someone like Peyton wouldn’t stumble over her words or second-guess every move like I do. But I push the thought aside. I probably just need some sleep.
So after we exchange numbers, I head to my room and settle in, hoping a little space and rest will help clear my head.
Chapter 4 - Tanner
As safe as Heartstone is, it’s not safe for a girl like Holly. Plenty of people would want to take advantage of her and I can’t allow that, with or without Peyton’s teasing order. I tell myself that’s the only reason why I show up in the morning to show her around town, but I know it’s not.
There’s something about Holly that keeps me coming back to her. I just can’t seem to resist. I like her smile and being near her ... it’s calming in a way that’s unfamiliar and addictive at the same time.
Holly shows up in another pair of jeans that hug her figure and show off her gorgeous legs with a casual olive green top that makes her eyes brighter and emphasizes her curves naturally. I want to groan just looking at her as her hair waves over her shoulders.
I show her downtown—a short stretch of old brick buildings, quiet and charming—and she lights up, insisting on taking photos. Her expression shifts from bright excitement to focused concentration in a heartbeat, but she never loses that underlying softness.
When I notice her shifting positions, angling her body just slightly, I frown.
“It’s to get the right lighting,” she says, catching my look with a quick smile.
As she moves along the sidewalk, explaining different angles and shadows, I find myself subtly guiding her—correcting where she walks so she’s closer to the buildings while I keep to the edge of the street.
When other people pass by and stare too long, I shoot them a look that makes them think twice. They veer around her, giving her space, making damn sure they don’t bump into her.