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“What time do you get off?” The blonde girl he’d been flirting with earlier held Tanner’s gaze and ran her tongue over herbottom lip as he set her drink in front of her.

“It’ll be late,” he told her with a rueful smile.

“That’s okay, I’m a night owl.”

Normally, he’d take her cue and arrange to meet up with her after he finished work. There was nothing normal about this evening, though.

He didn’t even hesitate before he pointed down the bar to where Everly was sitting with his family. “I appreciate the offer, sweetheart, but they’re waiting for me.”

The girl made a big show of looking Everly over before turning back to him with a sly smile. “That’s your girlfriend? Why don’t you tell her to go on home with them; you’ll have more fun with me. I guarantee it.”

He frowned at her. “Like I said, I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested.”

She pouted. “You were interested earlier. I know you were. You shouldn’t let her hold you back, you should live a little – have some fun.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Sweetheart, I’ve had way more than my fair share of fun. Fun’s all well and good, but that girl right there? She’s so much more than that.”

The girl picked up her drink. “Fair enough. To be honest, it’s nice to see a guy who’s willing to stick by his girl. She’s lucky.”

“Thanks.” Tanner moved along the bar to keep serving thirsty customers. The truth was that he’d considerhimselfto be the lucky one if Everly were his girlfriend.

As he watched the blonde girl flirt with a guy who’d been trying to get her attention earlier, he had to wonder what kind of fool he was. Why was he passing up on a sure thing just so that he could give Everly a ride home? He couldn’t explain his attraction to her, but no matter how he felt, she’d already made it clear that she wasn’t interested. Well, maybe that wasn’t true – but interested or not, she wasn’t available. Not to him, anyway.

He glanced over at her again and was surprised to find her staring back at him with a puzzled expression on her face. He winked and gave her a little wave, and she beckoned for him to come over.

He hurried past the other customers and when he reached her, he leaned over the bar toward her.

“What’s up? Is everything okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine, I just… Oh hell, I’m just going to say it.”

“Say what?”

“Don’t let me cramp your style. It was obvious even from this distance what that chick was after. I know you said you’d give me a ride home, but I’m sure one of these guys wouldn’t mind dropping me off so that you don’t have to.”

He scowled and rested his elbows on the bar, trying to get as close to her as he could. “But I want to.”

She let out a short laugh. “It’s okay, I believed what you said about being a good guy – a great guy even – but you don’t need to pass up on your chances just to prove it.”

“I’m not trying to prove anything. I want to take you home.”

He bit the inside of his cheek as a slow flush crept over her cheeks. The way she blushed gave him hope. She wouldn’t react that way if she wasn’t thinking the same way he was – thinking about the scenarios thattaking her homeimplied.

He cocked an eyebrow. “I’m not going to lie to you – she was offering. But I told her I’m not interested, because I’m not.” He smirked. “Want to know what she said?”

“I’m not sure, do I?” Everly asked with a half-smile.

“Yeah, I think you do. She said that it’s nice to see a guy stand by his girl.”

“But… I … I’m not … I’m not your girl.”

He held her gaze and waited for her to stop sputtering before he said, “But you could be.”

She just stared at him; he could see the wheels turning inside her head. She didn’t know how to take his words, and it wasn’t as though he could explain himself. He needed to get back to work; he could feel Brody glowering at him from the other end of the bar.

He was relieved when Laney leaned in beside Everly and waved a hand at him. “Get back to work, Tan. Stop hogging her. She’s not just your new friend – she’s ours, too. Isn’t that right, Ev?”