Chapter Seven
Tanner loved Dailey Lake. As he’d told Everly, he and his brothers used to spend a lot of time here when they were kids. It hit him that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d come. In fact, he’d only been once since he returned from his time in the Navy. He and Ty had come ice fishing last winter.
He wrapped his arm around Everly’s shoulders as they walked along the path that followed the water’s edge. It was fun to see the place through her eyes. She pointed and exclaimed with delight at things he wouldn’t have noticed.
It wasn’t as though she lived in the big city – he’d been to Napa; it wasn’t bad for a place that wasn’t Montana – but it was obvious that she was blown away by just how beautiful it was here.
“Oh my God, Tanner!” She stopped abruptly and looked up at him with panic in her eyes. “Is that a wolf?”
He looked to where she was pointing. From her reaction, he’d expected the animal to be much closer. Instead, it was making its way along the path at the edge of the tree line. “No, that’s a coyote.”
She peered at it again. “It sure looks like a wolf. What’s the difference?”
“Wolves are much bigger. Coyotes are just little guys by comparison.”
She looked at the coyote again. “He looks big enough to me. I wouldn’t want to bump into him if I were by myself.”
Tanner chuckled and tightening his arm around her shoulders, started them walking again. “You’d more than likely be fine. There’s plenty of easier prey for them to feed on around here. But if you ever do encounter one, act aggressive. Wave your arms above your head, yell, scream – they’ll more than likely take off running.”
“And if they don’t?”
“You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll be right here with you; I’ll take care of them.”
He was relieved when she smiled. “You’re offering to be my bodyguard?”
“Yeah, if you want me to, I’ll guard your body as closely as you like.”
She laughed and slapped his arm. “I thought you weren’t going to give me that kind of shit.”
“I’m not giving you shit, darlin’. I mean it. If you don’t believe me, you should ask Callie.”
He laughed at the puzzled look she gave him. “I know, right? That sounded weird, didn’t it? What I meant was that she only met Kolby because he was assigned to work as her bodyguard. And now…” His words trailed off when he realized what he was about to say.
“It’s okay. I know how things worked out for them – that they’re married now. Don’t worry, I’m not going to go getting ideas, not going to imagine that you might want to marry me someday. Geez, relax! You look terrified.”
Tanner cleared his throat. He didn’t know what to say. It wasn’t that he was worried about her reaction – more that he didn’t understand his own. The way that she dismissed the idea of marrying him so easily and completely made him want to ask why it was such a ridiculous notion. And that really was crazy. He had no intention of settling down anytime soon. Just because his brothers had met some amazing women and were starting to build lives with them, that didn’t mean he wasn’t looking for the same thing.
When he still hadn’t spoken after a long while, Everly made a face. “You’re not seriously worried that I might think that, are you? Come on, buddy. You know damn well that I’m only here for a few days. I’m not… Oh, wait, I get it! You think there are only two kinds of women, don’t you?”
He frowned. “What do you mean?”
She laughed, but it sounded a little bitter. “You think that there are only two categories, and all women fall into one or the other. You think that women are only for fucking or forever – go on, it’s okay, you can admit it.”
“No! I…”
She raised her eyebrows as she stepped back from him and folded her arms.
He took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair before cramming the hat back on. “Dammit! You really are calling me out on my shit, aren’t you? If I’m telling the truth… Then, yeah. Now that you spelled it out for me, I have to say that you’re right. I hadn’t thought about it before but…”
He loved the way she smiled at him. “It’s okay. It’s not a problem. You can see things however you see them. The only reason I brought it up was to make it clear that I don’t fall into either category.”
He stared at her for a long moment. His mind was racing. He’d be a liar if he said he wasn’t hoping that she’d fall into the first category – fall into bed with him at least once before she left. At the same time, for what might be the first time in his life, his mind didn’t totally shut down when he contemplated what forever might look like with a woman – with her.
She grinned at him. “Anyway, let’s move on, shall we?”
As they started walking again, he nudged her with his elbow. “Are you trying to tell me that you don’t plan to fall madly in love with me?” he asked with his best smile. “I’m hard to resist, or so they tell me.”
She laughed out loud. “Unlikely.”
He laughed with her, but a heaviness settled in his chest. He had to be out of his freaking mind, but part of him was disappointed by her answer.
“Unlikely?” he asked. “How about possibly?”
She shook her head at him. “Not gonna happen, cowboy, and we both know it. And besides, you’d run for the hills if I did.”
He wanted to deny that, but there was no point. Instead, he blew out an exaggerated sigh. “I guess I’ll just have to settle for you teaching me about how it works in the middle ground, then.”
She gave him a puzzled look.
He couldn’t resist leaning in and pressing a quick kiss to her lips. “You know, like you said, somewhere between fucking and forever.”
~ ~ ~
When they got back to the truck, Tanner walked Everly to the passenger door. Instead of opening it for her, he backed her against it, bracing his hands on the door and caging her in. It occurred to her that she should probably be worried. She was out in the middle of nowhere with him. They hadn’t seen a single person since they arrived. He could do whatever he wanted to her. But instead of scaring her, that thought sent shivers rippling over her skin.
He leaned his head to the side and smiled. “So.”
“So?”
“Did you enjoy this?’
“I did. It’s beautiful here.”
He held her gaze and said, “Gorgeous.”
This time, she didn’t push at his arm or brush him off. The look in his eyes convinced her that he meant it.
“I’m glad you think so. You know the feeling’s mutual.”
He nodded slowly. “But there’s more than that going on here, right?”
She swallowed; of course there was. This might have started out with her simply feeling flattered that the sexy bartender was into her but now … He really was a great guy. He was fun. Of course he was the biggest flirt, but he knew how to laugh at himself.
He raised his eyebrows when she didn’t reply. “Or do I have it all wrong? You can tell me if I do. It’s okay if you just wanted someone to hang out with and to show you around.”
She was shocked to see the uncertainty in his eyes. She reached out and rested her palm in the middle of his chest – which might not have been the wisest move; she could feel how solid and muscular he was, even through his jacket.
“You don’t have it wrong, Tanner. You’re awesome. I might give you a hard time but that’s only because I don’t know what else to do. I … I don’t date much. More honestly, I don’t date at all – haven’t for years. So, yeah, I feel like there’s something here, something happening between us but …” She dropped her chin wondering if she should tell him why she didn’t date anymore.
He tucked his fingers under her chin and made her look up at him. His expression was so earnest, her heart felt as though it melted a little bit.
“That’s because something is happening, baby. And I know what you’re going to say …”
She held her breath, wondering how he knew.
“… you’re only here for a week. You don’t know if there’s any point. You’re not the kind of girl who just sleeps with a guy for nothing more than the fun of it.”
She nodded; he was right, but that was far from the whole story.
He leaned in and her eyes drifted shut when he brushed his lips over hers. He kissed her deep and slow. The whole world faded away as he stepped in closer, resting the weight of his big body against her, trapping her against the side of the truck in a way that made her want to never escape.
When he finally lifted his head, he held her gaze as he dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “Say you’ll hang out with me this week? Have some fun with me. If you’re going to go back to your life in Napa, why not take a memory with you? I think we should grab all the chances we get in life. You never know which day’s going to be your last.”
He looked deadly serious as he said that, and she had to wonder who he’d lost. He rested his forehead against hers. “Not trying to get all depressing on you, but it’s true.” He pecked her lips and when he straightened up, his smile was back. “Won’t you feel terrible if you find out next week that I kicked the bucket, and you denied me my only chance at having a real relationship?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You had me for a minute there.”
“I’ve got you for more than a minute, and we both know it. I reeled you right in, didn’t I?”
She had to laugh. “I’ll hang out with you, but that’s in spite of you trying to lay a guilt trip on me, not because of it.”
“Awesome! I didn’t mean it as a guilt trip, though.”
“I know, you were only playing.”
He opened the truck door for her and this time he put his hand on her ass and gave her a shove as she climbed up.
“And I thought you were such a gentleman,” she said once she was seated.
“I am. I was just lending a hand.”
“Where I come from, we call that copping a feel.”
He grinned happily. “That too.”
Everly checked her watch as they left the lake and was shocked to see that it was only ten-fifteen. It felt like they’d spent the whole day together already.
“Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?” Tanner asked.
“No. Well, I don’t really, but I’m still hoping that my dad might call.” She blew out a sigh. “You’d think I’d know better by now, but I fall for it every time.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“No. Thanks for offering, and it’s not that I don’t want to tell you about it or anything, but I’d rather not dwell on it, you know? Inside, I’m hoping and hoping that he’ll call and explain why he didn’t show. But in the meantime, I’d rather think about something else – anything else.”
“I get that. So…” He shot her one of his sexy smiles. “Are you asking me to distract you?”
She laughed but it was an appealing idea. “What do you have in mind?” she asked.
“Well, we can do anything you want to do. If you want to see more of the valley, I can drive you around. If you want to see Yellowstone, I’ll take you down there. Or …”
She watched his face, wondering what other option he was about to suggest – and whether there was any reason whatsoever that she should turn him down if he said what she expected.
He seemed uncomfortable when he spoke again. “I … I need to go check on the horses. I …”
She felt so dumb! He had work to do. “Of course! I don’t need to take up all your time. Do you want to drop me off at …”
“No! No, I don’t. Slow, down, lady. I wasn’t trying to get rid of you, don’t think that – don’t ever think that. I was fumbling around because I’d like you to come see the ranch. I want to show you the horses – what I do, where I live. But …” He looked so uncomfortable when he glanced over at her that she took his hand and gave it a squeeze while she waited for him to go on.
“But for one thing, I don’t know if you’d enjoy any of that. Don’t know if you even like horses, and for another … Shit. I’ll just say it. I was hesitating because I don’t bring girls around the ranch.”
“That’s okay, I understand. You don’t need to ask me …”
He squeezed her hand tightly. “Did you hear the first part of what I said, or are you determined to only look for an out?”
She sat up a little straighter, somewhat irritated by what he said, but when she thought about it for a second, he kind of had a point. He’d said that he wanted to show her the horses, the ranch, his home .
“Sorry. I jumped to the wrong conclusion again, didn’t I?”
“Yup.”
“Then explain it again – slower this time. What’s the real problem?”
He blew out a sigh. “There’s going to be no hinting at things with you, is there?”
She laughed. “Nope. You have to spell it out for me – like I’m a little kid.”
“Okay. So, what I really mean is that I want to take you to the ranch, want to show you around. But I’ve never – no, that’s not true. I used to bring girls around when I was a kid, but since I came home – after the Navy – I haven’t brought a girl home.”
“And bringing me would be a problem? Or you just don’t want to break your streak?”
He laughed. “No! I … Jesus, I don’t know what my problem is. I guess I’m worried about the guys making a big deal out of it.”
“That’s okay, I don’t embarrass easily, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not. I – I’m more worried that they’ll embarrass me.” He gave her a rueful smile. “I suppose I’m hoping to impress you, and I’m worried that they’ll blow it for me, but I’ve already done that myself, huh?”
“Aww. You really are sweet under all your good looks and charming ways, aren’t you? You didn’t blow anything. I’m already impressed. I’m impressed by who you are.”
When he looked over at her, she nodded emphatically. “I’m not messing with you – I mean it. You might be a bit of a playboy, but you’re a good man, Tanner.”
He squeezed her hand again before letting it go to take the wheel. “Thanks.” He turned off the road and followed a driveway that led under a huge, wooden sign that bore the name MacFarland Ranch. “Would you try to hold onto that thought if these guys start giving me shit?”
“I’ll do better than that – if anyone starts giving you any kind of crap, I’ll set them straight.”
He chuckled. “ Aww. I’m not sure I’ve ever used that word seriously before, but I get it now. Thanks, honey.”
She shrugged. “No need to thank me. You’re my friend, and I’m not going to stand by while they tease you – especially if it’s because of me.”
“Nice to know that you’re the loyal kind.”
“Yeah.” His comment kind of took the wind out of her sails. She’d like to think that she was the loyal kind, but other than Ashton and her mom and Joe, she didn’t have anyone to be loyal to.
She stared at the big ranch house as they drove by – it was huge.
“That’s where I live,” Tanner told her. “There’s only me and Ford still there these days.”
“Where’s everyone else?”
“They still live on the ranch. Kolby and Callie have a place up there...” He pointed to a spot on the horizon where trees lined a creek. “Ty and Shay have a cabin up past the lodge. Janey and Rocket’s cottage is out past the barn. Laney bought her own place with Luke – they have horses, too. And Wade, who you haven’t met yet, has a big ass cabin beyond Kolby and Callie’s place. He and his fiancée, Sierra, have two little kids, Mateo and Maya – they’re awesome.”
“Wow! There are so many of you.”
“Yeah, and that’s not all of us – I forgot our eldest brother, Cash, but he doesn’t live here – in Montana. Although, I’m hoping he’ll move home soon.”
He drove on past the big house and parked outside a huge barn. He cut the engine and turned to her with a smile. “You want to see the stud?”
She laughed. “I think it’ll get old pretty quickly if we both make every joke that comes to mind when you use that word.”
“You’re right. And all joking aside, I’m enjoying this, sweetheart. I want to show you around, hang out with you as a friend.” He frowned. “But not just a friend. You know what I mean?”
“I do. You mean somewhere in the middle ground, and …” there was no reason that she shouldn’t say it “… I’d like that, too.”