Chapter 34
They wheeled her down to Alec’s truck, where Tanner lifted her into the backseat while Alec took the wheelchair back.
Lilac reached for her seatbelt at the same time as him, their hands knocking together.
“I’ve got it,” she said.
Tanner clenched his jaw tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek, but he stepped back and closed the door.
She blinked rapidly.
Do not lose it. Do not lose it.
Fuck. She’d tried twice to buckle her belt until finally, on the third time she got it. By that time, Alec had returned. The drive to Linc’s place was silent.
Only a few more minutes.
Then you can cry.
Why weren’t they saying anything? She’d been expecting more questions. Not this silence.
“After we drop Lilac off, I’ll take you to get your truck,” Alec finally said to Tanner as they pulled onto the street that Linc lived on.
A rogue tear dripped down her cheek.
“That won’t be necessary,” Tanner replied as they pulled up at Linc’s house. Tanner climbed out of the truck as soon as it came to a stop.
He opened her door and reached over to unbuckle her belt. She sucked in a sharp breath.
God. She was going to miss his touch. His smile. His teasing. She’d even miss Meanie Malone.
Then he lifted her into his arms.
“You don’t need to carry me,” she protested.
But he ignored her. When she glanced up, he was still looking mad. Her stomach was knotted.
She’d known he would be upset. It wasn’t a surprise. But that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.
Because she loved him.
She closed her eyes, wishing she had told him.
“Tanner,” Alec said warningly.
“Will you get our stuff?” Tanner asked gruffly, before turning away from the truck and heading to the guesthouse. It took a moment for his words to penetrate.
Our stuff?
“Tanner!” Alec yelled out.
“Don’t yell, the baby might be asleep.”
They reached the guesthouse and Tanner opened the door, carrying her in. It was quiet. Empty. She guessed everyone had moved to Linc’s house.
A strange feeling crept over her.
They didn’t need her now. They had Linc to take care of them.
She was surplus. Unnecessary.
Panic started to take hold of her, muffling her hearing. She was aware that Tanner and Alec were talking, but she couldn’t seem to focus on their words.
This is what you wanted.
Only trouble was, she didn’t know what to do with herself now. Who was she if she wasn’t needed by anyone? If she wasn’t holding everything together?
Would she shatter?
“Fuck, Alec, shut up. You’re stressing her out.”
“What?” Alec asked.
Tanner sat her on the sofa. Then he crouched down in front of her, placing his large hands on her thighs. “Baby, you need to calm down. Everything is fine. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay here with you.”
What?
She gaped at him.
“But I need you to start breathing. Come on, you know the deal. Follow my voice. Listen to me. Breathe in. One. Two. Hold. One. Two. Now, out. Good girl. You are doing so well. In. One. Two. Hold. One. Two. Let it out, baby.”
“Fuck. I didn’t mean to upset her.”
She glanced up at Alec. She should tell him this wasn’t his fault. That he was right to protect his family. To be suspicious. She came with a whole lot of dangerous baggage.
“That’s it. Don’t worry,” Tanner told her. “I’m not going anywhere. Alec will just have to grab more of my stuff. I’m staying right here to take care of you.”
Her mouth dropped open.
“Tanner, you don’t know anything about why she searched you out. What if her brother is looking for us?”
“Why would he be looking for us?” Tanner replied. “And if he is, then Lilac would tell us.”
“Clearly not, seeing as she is refusing to tell us why she searched you out in Hopesville. Until we know what is going on, you should stay away from her.”
“I’m not staying away from her.” Tanner glared over his shoulder at his brother.
What was happening right now?
She’d thought that Tanner was upset with her. But was he angry at Alec?
“Whatever she is keeping from me, she has her reasons. I love her. She’s my girl, my responsibility. I’m going to stay here with her and look after her.”
Lilac gaped at him.
Turning back to her, he squeezed her thighs. “I don’t like that you’re keeping things from me. But I know you. You think you have to look after everyone else, but like I told you before . . . I’m going to look after you, Lilac. I’m not running off at the first hurdle.”
This man.
She definitely didn’t deserve him. But she was never going to let him go.
Tanner turned back to Alec. “You were the one who always told us that when we found someone special that we needed to do everything we could to keep her. To protect her. That I should take my responsibilities seriously.”
“That does sound like me,” Alec grumbled.
She might have smiled over his disgruntlement under different circumstances.
“But until you know the truth how can you trust her?” Alec asked.
That made her tense. It was true. Tanner would never trust her without knowing everything. He couldn’t.
But Tanner stared at her, his face serious. “I trust her. She has her reasons for keeping this to herself. And as long as she isn’t in any danger, then I will trust her to tell me when she can.”
“It’s because of me,” a voice said from the doorway.
Alec must have left the sliding door open, or they just hadn’t heard it open. Ryleigh stepped into the guesthouse. She looked slightly pale, but otherwise healthy.
Lilac breathed out a sigh of relief. “Ryleigh! You’re feeling okay?” She attempted to stand, but Tanner placed pressure on her legs, keeping her in place.
“I’m good. Are you all right? We’ve been so worried about you!” Ryleigh moved forward, giving Alec a wary look before she reached Lilac. Sitting beside her, she hugged her tight.
Lilac let out a tense breath, trying to relax in her best friend’s arms.
“I’m fine. Really. A lot of fuss over nothing.”
“Not nothing.”
To her shock, it was Alec who spoke. His voice was strained, and she glanced up to find him giving her a stern look.
“Alec is right,” Tanner said. “It wasn’t nothing. You fainted. That’s not nothing.”
“What did the doctor say? What do you need?” Ryleigh asked.
“Just some iron tablets.”
“And to take it easy for a week. No work. No stress. Lots of fluids and good nutrition,” Tanner added sternly. “I’ll be staying here to look after her. You’re all in the main house?”
“Yes,” Ryleigh replied. “But we can move back over here to take care of her. We don’t want to put you guys out.” She gave Alec a strange look.
Alec crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at her friend. She tightened her hold on Ryleigh, as though she was trying to protect her. “You should go back to the house, Ryleigh.”
“No.” Ryleigh shook her head. “It’s time. I overheard part of your conversation. Lilac told you that she sought you out when you were in Hopesville.” She directed this to Tanner, who nodded.
“She did,” Tanner said.
“She wouldn’t tell us why she was interested in my family though,” Alec added. “You said it was because of you. But who are you?”
Ryleigh stood up and held out her hand to Alec. “Hi, I’m Ryleigh Malone. I’m your sister.”