Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Holiday
“Where did you learn to cook like a Michelin-star chef?” I asked Tanner as I snuggled closer into his side to fight off the chill in the air.
The arm he had wrapped around my shoulders tightened, pulling me deeper into him as we strolled down the sidewalks of downtown Hope Valley.
Tanner had surprised me earlier, showing up at the shop to take me to lunch.
We hit up the diner, and now that I was comfortably full we were enjoying the beautiful sunny day, in spite of the cold, as he walked me back to work.
A couple weeks had passed since our first date, and each day had been better than the one before.
We’d spent more nights together than apart, some at his rental and some at my place, but no matter where, the nights ended the same: with me wrapped in his safe embrace.
The better I got to know the man, the more I discovered all there was to like.
I was starting to think maybe my radar on men had been fixed.
I was happy in a way I hadn’t been in a long time, however, despite that, I felt like I had a huge sign over my head, counting down the time to when Tanner finally left.
I’d gotten really good at sticking my head in the sand over the past couple of weeks, though. I was living by the motto that if I didn’t think about it, it wasn’t real.
Tanner let out a snort and turned to press a kiss against my temple. “That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”
“Agree to disagree.” He’d cooked for me at least five times, and each dish was something I would have gladly paid a hefty chunk of cash for. “You’re secretly a world-famous chef, aren’t you? Hockey’s just your hobby.”
He brushed his lips against my hair. “Nope, sorry to burst your bubble, but it’s only hockey.”
I wasn’t buying it. “You had to have gone to cooking school.”
“No cooking school,” he answered, humor tinging his voice.
“I learned most of it from my mom. But we used to love to watch cooking shows together; it was a guilty pleasure of ours. We’d binge the cooking networks, then we’d try to recreate our favorite recipes.
We both got really good.” A fond smile tugged at his mouth as he stared off like he was sinking into a memory.
“Andrew’s always teasing her that she’s trying to turn him into a fat old man. ”
The way his face changed every time he talked about them warmed my heart. His affection for them both was written all over his face, and he didn’t care one damn bit. I understood completely because it was how I felt every time I mentioned my siblings.
“I love that for you.” Tipping my face upward, I smiled at him. “I love that you and your mom had something special like that.”
He bent, pressing his lips to mine in a kiss that, while quick, still packed quite a punch. “Thank you for saying that, Sunshine.”
“Have you talked to her much since you’ve been here?
” He gave me a nod. “We try to talk at least once a week. It’s harder during the season, but I find a way to make it work.
She might not live close anymore, but talking to her regularly helps with the whole missing her thing.
” He tipped his head to meet my gaze, something playful and bright swimming in them. “I told her all about you.”
Hearing that made my belly flutter with nerves. What if she decided not to like me? What if she thought we were moving too fast and worried I was trying to trap her son like all those other women?
Tanner brought us to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk. Turning toward me, he placed his finger beneath my chin and tilted my head back so those warm amber eyes could scan my expression. “Your brain is spinning. I can see it in your eyes. What are you thinking about?”
I tugged on my bottom lip with my teeth. “Nothing . . .”
Something flashed over his features like realization dawning. “You’re worried she won’t like you.”
I narrowed my eyes and scowled at the shit-eating grin that took over his face right after he said that. “You know, you don’t have to smile about it.”
He laughed openly, tugging me back against his side and setting us back into motion.
“I’m sorry.” The accompanying chuckle sure as hell didn’t sound sorry.
“You’re just so cute when you’re worrying over nonsense.
” I reached over, sliding my hand beneath his coat to pinch his side.
My own smile bloomed at the high-pitched yelp he let out.
“Jesus, you’re a vicious little thing, aren’t you? ”
“You’d be wise not to forget it,” I warned.
“And it’s not nonsense. It’s totally rational to think your mom might not be a fan of the woman who let you in her pants the very first day she met you.
Especially given your past with women trying to use you.
” If I were in his mother’s shoes, I’d probably be warning him away from me.
“Well, first of all, I’m not running to tell her every time I get laid, so I left out the part about already getting into your pants.”
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly at his teasing tone.
“Well that was stupid, because I told all my friends and family about it. In great detail.” His head whipped around to me, and I burst into laughter at his expression.
“Oh my god, I’m just kidding!” I said through a fit of giggles. “You should see your face right now!”
He let out a playful growl and lunged, burying his face in my neck where he knew I was the most ticklish. By the time he finished his assault, the muscles in my stomach were aching from how hard I was laughing.
“That wasn’t nice,” he grumped as we rounded the corner onto the street One More Chapter was on.
“But seriously, you have nothing to worry about, baby. She’s already hinted about wanting to make a trip up to Hope Valley.
She said it was to see me, but I know her, and she’s excited by the thought of meeting you. ”
My eyes went wide. “She wants to meet me?”
Tanner’s brows pinched together, his head tilting to the side. “You sound surprised.”
“Because I am. I . . .” I sputtered for a few beats, momentarily at a loss for words. “We’ve only been dating for two weeks.” I took a breath as I searched for the courage to bring up the thought that had been plaguing me. “Aren’t you worried that maybe we’re moving a little fast?”
Something moved over his face at my question. The light in his eyes only moments ago darkened, and his features dulled. “Are you?”
My mouth opened, the words ready to spill out, but I forced myself to pause. To really think over the past couple of weeks. “No,” I said with complete honesty. “Which is probably insane, right? From the outside looking in, we probably look like we’re moving at warp speed.”
My shoulders sagged with relief as some of that brightness returned. “I know what you mean. But I don’t give a damn what anyone on the outside may think.”
That little voice in the back of my head that insisted on being rational at all times reminded me we were probably taking things quickly because we both knew there was an expiration date on whatever it was we were doing. I was really starting to hate that stupid voice and her dumb logic.
Letting out an exhale, I leaned into him so we could continue on our way. “Well, if your mom comes for a visit, I’d love to meet her.”
It wasn’t a lie, really. I did want to meet the woman Tanner spoke of so fondly. She had to be incredible to have raised such a wonderful man. Still, that didn’t mean I wouldn’t be rattled with nerves.
We were coming up on Muffin Top when the glass door swung open and the last two people I wanted to see came walking out.
Rebecca spotted me first, and the instant she did, her hand flew out and latched onto Blane’s, lacing their fingers together.
Her mouth started to twist with an arrogant sneer, but froze before it fully formed when she noticed who was walking beside me.
A moment later, Blane lifted his gaze from his phone, and he finally noticed me. “Holly,” he said, surprise mixed with something that looked like guilt swept over his features. “Uh, hi.”
“Blane,” I replied, my expression and tone neutral.
His eyes cut to the side, focusing on Tanner, and I didn’t miss the way he tried to puff out his chest and straighten his shoulders.
Not that any of that would bring him anywhere close to Tanner’s size.
Actually, seeing the two men side by side for the first time, the differences between them glared as brightly as the sun.
Beside Tanner’s chiseled features and massive frame Blane looked .
. . dull. Boring. Seeing it now, it was taking everything in me not to laugh.
I felt Tanner’s body stiffen and his gaze on my profile as I pasted on a grin that I hoped was pleasant enough.
When I looked up at him, I could see the question written on his face.
He knew who Blane was. I’d told him about my past history, and he was silently trying to make sure I was okay.
With him at my side, I was more than okay.
“Blane, Rebecca, this is Tanner.”
Blane’s hand shot out. “Good to meet you. Huge fan. Huge.” It hit me just then that I’d totally forgotten that hockey was the only sport Blane watched.
But when he was sitting on the couch in front of the television, there was no end to the criticism he threw at the screen.
He loved to talk like he was an expert. He made it sound as if he could play better than the men paid millions to do so.
Instead of taking his hand, Tanner stared at it for a second like it was a bug he was considering squishing, but lifted his gaze back to Blane’s face, arching a single brow until Blane slowly lowered his hand.
“You are?” I cocked my head to the side and gave him a sarcastic frown.
“The way you always yelled at the screen, I thought you hated the sport. What was it you were always calling the players?” I snapped my fingers together.
“That’s right. Stupid, toothless meatheads barely a step up from cavemen. That’s what you called them.”
Tanner tried and failed to cover his laugh with a cough as Blane’s entire face started to glow red as a tomato.
“I think you’re remembering incorrectly,” he said through gritted teeth. That was another thing he used to love to do. If they ever added gaslighting to the Olympics, Blane would walk away with every gold medal.
I let out a hum of mock thought. “Hmm, no. I don’t think so.”
By then, Rebecca’s shock had worn off, and she went right back into bitch-mode, a regular state of affairs for her.
She kept a white-knuckle grip on Blane’s hand and pressed flush against his side.
She rested her left hand on his chest, fingers splayed wide to show off her ring, like the sight of it was supposed to upset me.
Truthfully, I couldn’t give a single shit.
“We were just getting a little caffeine pick-me-up,” she stated, her voice overly sweet and her smile fake. “We’re taking our engagement photos this afternoon. Isn’t that exciting?”
“So exciting.”
Her smile fell at my dry tone, a bitchy pitch coming to her lips.
I knew if we stayed for one more second, she’d try to get in a hit or two, and I’d officially reached my limit on conflict for the day.
Hell, maybe even the week, given how twitchy it made me.
I much preferred not to rock the boat. It was why Naomi was always telling me I was too nice.
“Well, you two have fun at your photo shoot, but I need to get back to work. See you around.”
Without another word, I hooked my arm through Tanner’s and guided him down the sidewalk without a backward glance.
“So . . .” he started after a few seconds of silence. “That’s the ex, huh?”
I narrowed my eyes into a glare at the humor in his voice. “Don’t judge.”
He held his free hand up in surrender. “Hey, not judging. It’s just . . . that guy?”
I jabbed my finger in his face. “That’s judging!” He burst into laughter, making it hard for me to maintain my surly expression when all I wanted to do was laugh along with him. “Not every man can be an Adonis.”
He hugged me tighter to his side. “Aw, Sunshine. Is that your way of telling me you think I’m hot?”
I rolled my eyes dramatically. “On second thought, maybe we are moving too fast. Maybe we should slow things down.”
Tanner’s brows slowly rose higher on his forehead, but the look in his eyes told me he knew I was full of it. “How slow are we talking?”
I tapped my chin in mock thought. “I was thinking all the way back to first base.”
He mimed driving a knife into his chest. “You wound me,” he said, throwing his head back dramatically. That was all it took for me to lose hold of my giggles, and they came spilling out.
It was moments like these that made it so easy to push down the looming pain I knew was coming. Because he made me so damn happy.
I wasn’t ready to say it out loud—or even admit it to myself—but I was starting to worry that I’d already fallen too far, and there was no safeguarding my heart against what was to come.