Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Faith jumped down from the cab of the truck, boots crunching in the gravel. Strains of banjo and steel guitar streamed from the building ahead of them.
Tanner slammed the driver’s side door. He fit the white hat onto his head and offered her an arm.
She’d always thought Tanner had a bit of a surfer vibe. But he looked damn sexy in those jeans—skintight, hugging his ass. His black T-shirt was snug, showing off his biceps. She was finding it difficult to keep her hands off him.
“This way, ma’am,” he said in a drawl.
“I didn’t know you were hiding a cowboy under those tattoos.”
“You bring out this side of me.”
Faith had borrowed a pair of calfskin boots from Kaylee. Her white sundress was a recent purchase, bought the same time as the blue one she’d worn last night. Her hair draped in a long braid over one shoulder.
She took Tanner’s arm, and they walked toward the roadhouse.
People were visible through the open door, shouting and dancing. Faith saw Tanner’s mouth tighten into a thin line as they neared.
“It looks crowded,” she said. “We could always go somewhere else if you’d rather.”
“No way. I’m good.” He moved his arm to her waist, fingers shifting as he gripped her side.
They showed their IDs, then walked inside.
A wall of heat and noise hit them, and Faith drank it in.
This was so familiar, a scene she’d been missing.
Nights spent out with her girlfriends, letting off steam and chasing freedom even for a few hours before she had to return home.
Jon had never taken her out like this. He drank plenty but didn’t like dancing.
Don’t think of him, she told herself. She wanted to stay in this moment, right here, not in the past.
“Something to drink?” he asked.
“Bourbon and soda?”
They stopped at the bar, and he ordered one for each of them. Tanner hugged her closer against his side as they made their way toward the edge of the room, where there was free space at a bar-height table. He seemed to relax as he leaned against the wall, sipping his drink.
Faith stood with her back to his stomach, watching the crowd. The colors, the music. All of it sang through her veins. Being here with Tanner made all of it better.
She’d already been so comfortable with him as a friend, and that hadn’t changed.
But her excitement and anticipation had skyrocketed.
She’d heard other people describe the heady rush of falling for a friend you already knew and trusted, but to actually experience it?
Faith had never imagined being this lucky.
He fit his arms around her and kissed her neck. “You’re the prettiest girl here. I want to make sure everybody knows you’re with me.”
Warm tingles spread through her, and it wasn’t just the whisky.
From the minute she’d stepped into the Reed family home, she’d felt welcomed.
She loved that his family was big and messy, just like hers.
His younger brother’s grumpiness had actually made her feel more at home.
The Reeds weren’t perfect. They fought and disagreed.
But it was obvious how much they loved each other. Loved Tanner.
His nephews had climbed all over him, overjoyed to see him, and Tanner had hugged them and spun them around till they squealed.
His family had made it clear how much they’d been missing him. She guessed Tanner had been staying away because of his struggles lately. But she was glad to see him back here reconnecting with them. He’d chosen to share this side of himself, and she felt honored.
Faith relaxed against him as they both swayed gently to the beat of the music. His thumbs drew circles over her hipbones, and Tanner’s nose tucked behind her ear, breathing her in, leaving a kiss behind.
She’d been torn all day about keeping her conversation with Jon to herself. But she wanted tonight to be only about the two of them.
The opening strains of Ain’t Goin’ Down Till the Sun Comes Up started, which had a fast-paced line dance she’d loved since her school days. She looked back at Tanner. “Should we dance?”
“You go first. Show me how it’s done.”
Faith worried he didn’t like being here. But his soft smile and heated gaze encouraged her.
She joined the line, sinking into the muscle memory as she danced.
The energy of the song and the fast movements made her euphoric.
As she swayed her hips, she locked eyes with Tanner through the crowd.
He tilted his head, watching her, and she could feel his attention from across the room like a physical touch.
Arousal sped to her nerve endings.
All she could think of was his mouth, his hands. Every part of him that she wanted on her.
When the dance was over, she crossed back toward him, chest heaving. But that look in his eyes wasn’t helping her catch her breath.
He took off his hat and set it on the table. “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
“I didn’t want you to.”
Faith laced her fingers into Tanner’s. He surprised her by pulling her back toward the dance floor.
He danced the next one beside her, hitting every step and looking damn good doing it. No question he’d done this before.
Faith noticed other women looking at him, and she hooked a finger in the back pocket of his jeans as the music shifted into a slower song. Tanner’s arms formed a circle, cinching her right up against him, and his forehead dipped to rest against hers. They were both sweating and smiling.
“This is our first real date. How’m I doing so far?”
She pretended to think. “Not bad.”
“You’re a woman of tough standards. Notes for improvement?”
Faith tipped her head back. “More kissing.”
Tanner slanted his mouth onto hers. His lips teased hers open. He tasted like whiskey and heat and adrenaline, like every sexy country song that ever turned her on. She loved the brush of his beard against her skin.
Then his fingers slid into her hair, changing the angle of her head as he fit his tongue into her mouth.
His kiss was rough and intimate, so hot she felt a thrill at being in public, among these other women who’d cast him interested glances.
He was claiming her in front of all these people.
Some might’ve been staring at them, disapproving, but she hardly noticed or cared.
The universe seemed to shrink down to just the two of them. Her breath was skipping in her chest, her whole body aching to have him even closer.
Tanner had wanted to take this slow. But then he went and kissed her like that. There was just no way she could resist this man. There wasn’t a single thing about him that wasn’t sexy. He made her feel safe and seen and beautiful.
A long time ago, she’d set her life on the wrong path by doing something risky and impulsive with the wrong person. But Tanner wasn’t Jon. He practically wasn’t even the same species.
As they kissed and swayed to the music, Faith realized she’d been falling for Tanner since that first night they’d spent walking on the beach weeks ago. Laughing on the boardwalk and keeping each other warm in the cold Pacific waves.
She was getting light-headed when he pulled back, licking his lips and gazing down at her.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked.
“How much I want to get you alone.”
“But what about dancing?”
“We could still dance. Just without so many other people.” She stood on her toes, whispering in his ear. “Right now, I only want to be with you.”
“I can make that happen.”
Tanner went back to the table for his hat. Then he took her hand, leading her through the crowd toward the exit.