Page 67 of Shelter for Tanna
Her eyes closed for a second before they opened again, their corners crinkled sweetly by her smile. “I can’t live without you either.”
Chapter 11
“Want another one?”
Tanna grinned up at him. “Yes, please! Another one of those with the coconut stuff in it.”
“Coming up.” Braden headed for the tiki bar and in a few minutes, he was back with his beer and Tanna’s fruity, frothy drink. “Here ya go.”
“Thank you, sweetheart! Oh my god, I love it here.”
They’d rented a cabana out by the bay for the afternoon, and Braden was enjoying the hell out of it. He’d specifically picked one that would block the most sun from Tanna’s skin and still keep them close to the bar. Two more days were all they had left on the island, and they’d both agreed that after fucking each other silly for four days, it should be okay to spend an evening hammered and relaxed. Why not? It was probably the only grownup vacation they’d get to take for a long time, so they might as well enjoy every aspect of it. “Gotta say, a man could get used to this. I like this cabana.” Braden lay back in the chaise lounge and pulled his shades off, placing them gently on the table between them. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”
“I am! This is fabulous, even though I didn’t get to pay for it like I thought I would.”
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I really didn’t think the house would sell that fast anyway. Besides, when we get back we can do a little painting and sprucing up, maybe plant a few shrubs or something. That might draw some interest.” He reached for his beer and took another swallow, then thought of something. “Hey, did you call Mom and ask her to pick up your dress from the dry cleaner?”
“Yeah. I remembered, but thank you for reminding me.” She was quiet for a few seconds and took a sip of her drink before she said, “Wasn’t the ceremony wonderful?”
“Yeah. It was. I’m glad your parents were well enough to be there, and I really appreciated your brother bringing them.”
“Me too. And thank you for including the boys. That meant a lot to me.” She squeezed his hand and gave him a look that made him melt.
“I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I was marrying them too because they’re part of the TannaShay Hilliard Nichols package!” he said with a laugh, then glanced over to see her staring at the rings on her finger.
“This wedding band made of three interlocking bands… That was genius. The three of you, joined together on our wedding day. That was so sweet of you, babe.” He’d been pretty proud of himself when he found that ring with three bands that wove together. Each of them had given her one, and Braden had put them all together before slipping them on her finger. There hadn’t been a dry eye in the house, including hers and his.
“Thanks. It was exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. Do you like the engagement ring?” It had been a double ring ceremony?they hadn’t taken time for an engagement, just walked down the aisle in a dress off the rack and a nice suit, Tanna stumping along in one ballet flat and a walking boot.
“Oh, god, I love it. It’s sobig! I wasn’t expecting anything like that. It’s just beautiful, honey, but I wouldn’t care if it was just one simple band, as long as it came from you.”
Braden took a good look at the woman sitting there in the chaise lounge beside his. That was his future, and it looked pretty fucking amazing from where he sat. He hadn’t known he could love anybody that much. It had all happened so fast, but it was so right, and he knew that in every fiber of his being. They belonged together. “So, tell you what. When we have our twentieth anniversary, I’ll give you one twice that size. How’s that?”
She leaned over and gave him a little kiss on the lips. “I’m going to hold you to that. And thank you.”
“For what?”
“For giving me a family and friends, a huge support system, that I didn’t have before. For always being there for me, for always listening to me, for always supporting me. You have no idea what that means to me.”
“Oh, but I think I do. That woman I saw loading up a car that day in the middle of an intersection? She was tired and sad and lonely. I could see it in her eyes. And now look at who’s sitting here with me, all bright-eyed, her hair glittering in the sunlight, and a big ol’ smile on her face. That woman, that’s the one I was trying hard to find. And looky there?I found her!”
“And I found the man of every woman’s dreams.”
“Unless I’ve had chili for dinner.”
“Yeah, we got that over pretty quickly, didn’t we?” she asked, laughing.
“Yeah. Hey, Iama guy!”
“And what a guy you are!” She stopped for a second. “So… Have you had enough to drink to suit you?”
He shrugged. “Uh, dunno. Why? You got something better in mind?”
She licked her lips and he felt something wicked stir below the waistband of his trunks. “Maaaaaaybe.”
He gave her the side eye. “Will you let me put you over my knee and spank you like the naughty girl you are?”
“Hmmm. That sounds like something I’ll have to think about.”
He grabbed her hand and pressed it to the front of his trunks. “Don’t think for too long.”
Tanna leaped up, laughing. “I’m done thinking. Come on?let’s go!”
Braden was on his feet in a split second. To hell with alcohol when you had a woman like Tanna to live out your fantasies with.
Two hours later, they lay in the big bed in their room, the balcony door open and the warm ocean breeze wafting in, their skin bare and their arms and legs tangled together even with that awkward boot. She let out a little sigh and he congratulated himself for satisfying her in every way. Happy and satisfied. That’s how he wanted his woman.
His woman. She was. And she always would be.