Page 19 of Husband to Go
“You could say that,” he says. “It’s an arrangement, just like everything is.” Then, he smirks and leans back in his chair. My bafflement and anger are getting to me. Tanner is keeping his cool which is making me look neurotic.
I’m not going to get what I want out of this man. He’ll go on thinking whatever it is he wants to think.
Is there any way to save this? Should I even bother at this point? It seems like he has an answer to everything, and it drives me crazy. I take a deep breath in an attempt to still my racing pulse.
“Calm down, sweetheart. You look like you’re having a hard time accepting this. You know what you can do for me?” I stare at him because there’s nothing I want to do for him. Except maybe slap a little sense into his noggin.
“What?” I ask, crossing my arms.
“Why don’t you lift up your skirt? Just a little,” he says with a persuasive smile.
My eyes go wide at his request. Did he not just hear everything I just said? Why can’t I just let this go? Why can’t I lethimgo? We’ve only been around one another twice! Three times if you count today.
“Tanner, you’re nuts. I’m not going to do that,” is my firm reply.
“Why not?” he asks, those blue eyes flashing now. As usual, the man is ungodly handsome, and to my horror, I’m going soft and wet in all the places that matter.
“Because!” I’m being a little too loud, so I bring down the volume. “First, because of all the things I just listed previously. You know: you’re marrying my mom, it’s morally wrong, et cetera. And, secondly, I’m not going to make out with you in this office.”
I’m out of breath. Partially, because of Tanner’s exhausting nature, but also, I’m a little turned on by all of this. Why am I attracted to such a confounding man? I should turn and run because I’m saying I’ll never sleep with him again, but if he pushed, just a little, I’d say yes, jumping into his arms and letting him have his way with me. In my heart of hearts, I know the truth and it turns my cheeks red.
Ugh, no! I’m seething, and yet I’m turned on too. What a horrible combination.
“I didn’t say anything about making out.” He grins and says this in a matter-of-fact tone. Like he’s somehow on the moral high ground all of a sudden. Brows lowered, I approach his desk and slam my hands down on the wood.
“You are not about to twist my words. I may be complicit in this wrongdoing, but you’redefinitelybeing a lot worse about this whole thing. At least Iwantto change my ways. I’m a good person, and you’re the bad person.”
“Who’s on the high ground now?” he chuckles.
How does he manage to do this? He’s infuriating, impossible, and arrogant, and yet I want to kiss him all the same.
“That’s not the point! That’s so far from the point you son of a –”
He cuts me off with a kiss so sudden that I stay frozen for a second, unable to move. Those lips seal mine shut before nudging them open, so persuasive and sensual.
He’s kissing me! I was yelling, about to call him a son of a bitch, and now, he’s turned everything on its head. But it feels so good. It feels soft and sexy and warm and absolutelyamazing.
After my initial shock, I melt into his lips. He smells like oak and pine and male musk that thrills me to my toes. His mouth tastes like he was just drinking bourbon, oaky with hints of vanilla and cinnamon.
My arms snake around his neck involuntarily, and I’m weak from the passion from this kiss. It shocks me straight down to my core. My entire body heats up, tingling because it wants more.
I wanthim.
We break apart and look into one another eyes. I think I see something warm and almost caring in the blue depths, but whatever it was flashes away quickly.
Tanner sinks back into his seat, chuckling to himself again. What? How can he be laughing right now? Suddenly, I feel like a total dunce. I let him get into my head again and kissed him. He started it, but I didn’t stop him.
And then I was dumb enough to think that he might be doing all of this because he cares about me. That he might have some feelings and want to do the right thing. But no, he’s just doing this to play with my emotions.
Because if he cared, he wouldn’t be marrying my mother.
I stand up straight. I need to get out of here. One more second in this office and I’ll lose it. Honestly, I may have already lost it.
“Um, I’m going to go.”
“Okay sweetheart. That’s probably for the best,” he says, looking totally calm and put together at his desk. Not a hair is out of place, and it makes my stomach boil again. I feel like I’m running a high fever from his touch, but he’s as cool as a cucumber.
Silently, I turn to go. When I stop at the elevator and look back, I see that Tanner’s watching me at the door to his office, his large bulk leaning against the doorjamb. His expression is thoughtful, those blue eyes never leaving my form.