Chapter 7
THE SIREN SPILLS: TANNER LONG OFF THE MARKET? Sources say “It’s complicated”
Alaia
I tap my pen on the table in the library as I review my notes on increased tidal flooding. I don’t want to write a doomsday article about how flooding is causing damage to infrastructure and property.
I want to write an informed article that snags readers’ attention and makes them want to finish the article. And saves the Gazette. Should be easy. Snort.
But how do I make increased tidal flooding interesting?
What about mermaids? Do rising tides threaten local mermaid habitats? Oh, there’s a headline - Are We Drowning the Mermaids? But wait. Mermaids can’t drown, can they?
If mermaids can’t drown, what about flooding forcing mermaids closer to shore? Increased sightings will cause chaos and increase tourism. Are rising tides pushing mermaids into human territory?
I cross off my notes. This is too silly. Fun but silly. And I don’t want to write silly articles anymore. I want to be a serious journalist.
What about sunken treasure reappearing? This could be fun yet serious. Flooding might reveal old smuggler routes and buried treasure. Buried treasure is serious business. I wonder if I can find someone to help me with legends of buried treasure around Smuggler’s Hideaway.
A cup of coffee is set on the table next to my hand.
I glance up to discover Tanner standing above me. “What are you doing here?”
He nods to the cup. “Bringing you coffee.”
“I won’t say no to coffee. Especially not a cup from Pirate’s Pastries.” I sip the coffee and moan as the hazelnut flavor hits my tongue. “Yum. How did you know hazelnut is my favorite flavor?”
“I asked the owner. She told me.”
“You asked Parker what my favorite coffee flavor is?” I groan. “Do you not realize how quickly gossip spreads in a small town on a small island? All of Smuggler’s Hideaway will think we’re dating by dinner time.”
“Speaking of dating—”
I hold up a hand. “Nope. You’re not asking me out again.”
Mostly because I can’t continue to reject him. Not when I’m staring into his sparkling green eyes. Even though I know what a bad idea dating him would be.
We have nothing in common. I’m a small town girl. He’s a famous professional football player. I want a serious career. He’s a total goofball who doesn’t understand the word serious. A relationship between us has disaster written all over it.
“I have a proposition.”
I bark out a laugh. But when the patrons of the library hiss at me, I slap a hand over my mouth.
“It’s not the kind of proposition you’re thinking of,” he mutters.
“Wait a minute. Now, I’m offended.”
He rolls his eyes.
“Seriously, what is this proposition?”
He scans the room. No one bothers to hide how they’re watching us and listening to us. This is Smuggler’s Hideaway after all.
“Can we speak in private?”
“Room five is open!” The librarian shouts. Told you everyone’s listening to us.
Tanner stands and offers me his hand. “Shall we?”
I want to say no. His proposition has trouble written all over it. But I’m curious. There’s a reason I’m a journalist after all.
I ignore his hand and stand. “Let’s go.”
I lead him through the library to the private study rooms. I open the door to room five and usher him inside before closing the door behind us. For good measure, I lower the blinds as well.
“Wow. This is nice,” he says as he settles in the armchair in the corner.
“The library is one of our pride and joys on the island,” I say as I sit in the armchair across from his.
“I think of libraries as stuffy places with old books no one reads.”
I scowl at him. “Didn’t you go to college? Didn’t you ever study in the library?”
His nose wrinkles. “Nah. The library wasn’t really for me.”
“What did you major in?”
“Kinesiology.”
My eyes widen. “I’m impressed.”
He scowls. “Did you think I’m stupid?”
“Honestly?” I don’t wait for his answer. “I assumed you went for some easy major. Maybe communication.”
“Kinesiology was interesting, and there are several careers I can pursue after I’m done playing football.” He pauses. “Assuming I can continue to play football for a few more years,” he mutters.
“What do you mean? You’re twenty-eight. Your performance hasn’t begun to decline. You can easily play for another four or five years.”
He blinks at me. “I didn’t realize you knew so much about football.”
My cheeks darken. I feel the heat but I ignore it. No reason to bring more attention to this embarrassing situation than I already have.
“I did an internship with a sports magazine. I thought they’d hire me after the internship, but…”
Some jock got the position. Why did I bother getting my hopes up? I should have known better.
The men were patronizing and thought they needed to protect me since I was working in a ‘man’s world’.
I can’t count the number of times I didn’t get an interview with a male athlete because he was a playboy.
Always under the guise of ‘it’s for your own good’.
As if I was a child who couldn’t decide what was good for her.
“Their loss.”
I don’t want to discuss my professional failures. Especially not with Tanner, who’s at the height of his career, earning eight figures a year while I barely eke out an existence with my writing. And even that may disappear soon.
“What’s going on? Why do you think you won’t be playing much longer?” When he doesn’t speak, I push. “And what’s this proposition you have for me?”
He shoves a hand through his hair. I drop my gaze before I stare at how his biceps pop with the motion. I’m not dating this man. It’s not happening. No matter how much I want to touch those muscles and feel his skin.
“I have a situation.”
My curiosity alarm is now blaring. I want to pelt him with questions, but I know better. He’s jumpy and will bolt. I lift an eyebrow and wait.
He drums his fingers on the armrest. “My agent wants me to get my act together. He hired a PR company to help save my reputation.”
“Save your reputation?” My brow furrows before it hits me. “You’re in trouble again?”
He scowls. “We are not discussing it.”
I hold up a hand. “Understood.” For now. Who knows what the future will hold?
“Thanks.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, this PR firm wants me to do some charity events – visit hospitals and go to some balls – that sort of thing.”
“I’m struggling to understand what this has to do with me.” I’m not exactly the kind of person who attends charity balls.
“They…ah…”
My patience is gone. Curiosity is killing me. “Spit it out.”
“They want me to date a ‘good girl’ to help save my reputation. They gave me a list of names.”
I hold out my hand. “Hand it over. You’ve come to the right place. I’m excellent at research. I will have everything you need and want to know about these women in your hands before dinner.”
“You don’t understand.”
My nose wrinkles. “I’m not stalking them. Being a woman doesn’t exempt me from prosecution for stalking. Trust me on this.”
He grins. “And there you go again, proving you’re not boring.”
I roll my eyes. “Trust me. Stalking is boring. The endless hours of doing nothing are a killer. And the lack of bathrooms?” I shiver. “I refuse to wear a diaper.”
He chuckles. “Only you could make me laugh after the day I’m having.”
My chest fills with warmth, and my stomach flutters. I’m the one who can make him laugh?
Knock it off, body. This man isn’t declaring his undying love for me.
“If you don’t want me to research these women and you don’t want me to stalk them, what do you want me to do? I’m not seducing them.”
“For fuck’s sake. Your suggestions get more outrageous the longer we speak. Boring, my ass.” He grins at me and I ignore how it makes me feel all warm and gooey inside.
“What do you need? I’m out of suggestions.”
“I need you to date me.”
“Dude, we’ve been over this. I’m not dating you.”
“We wouldn’t be dating dating. We’d be pretending to date.”
My eyes widen. “You want me to be your fake girlfriend?”
“Until the end of the summer. Once the season begins, we’ll part ways. Don’t worry. It’ll be my fault.”
“Hell, yeah, it will. I’m not a heartbreaker.”
His gaze rakes over me. “Liar.”
Despite myself, I’m intrigued. “What would this fake dating involve?”
“You would attend some events with me and pretend to be my girlfriend. Easy.”
Dating Tanner – whether fake or not – is a bad idea. The man is a walking temptation. But maybe if we date, I can find out what trouble he’s in. I can break the story. A story about Tanner Long no one else knows about could be the thing to save the Gazette.
My stomach tingles the way it always does when I’m on the verge of a good story. This is an excellent idea.
“We need to discuss ground rules before we go any further.”
He scowls. “Ground rules?”
“I won’t agree to this without some rules.”
“Fine. What do you propose?”
I tap my chin as I consider the question. “First of all, this is fake. No real feelings are involved.”
If feelings get involved, I’ll lose control. Before I know it, Tanner will be the one telling me what to do for my ‘own good’.
“Can you agree to no real feelings?”
Hurt flashes in his eyes but before I can question him, he blinks and it’s gone. I probably imagined it. No way does Tanner Long care if I develop feelings for him.
“Okay.”
“No kissing.”
“No one will believe we’re dating if we don’t kiss.”
“Fine. Kissing if it’s strictly necessary.”
He nods.
“This is only until the end of the summer. And you don’t tell anyone the truth.” I don’t want anyone laughing at me behind my back.
“My agent and the PR company know the truth.”
“And you won’t tell anyone else.”
He sticks out his hand. “Agreed.”
I place my hand in his and nearly jump at the spark of electricity. This isn’t real, I remind myself. This is a game we’re playing.
“Thank you, Alaia. I can’t imagine another woman I would want to fake date.”
“Don’t thank me yet. For all you know, I’m a horrible girlfriend.”
He grins. “Nah. I bet you’re one of those awesome girlfriends who makes her boyfriend protein shakes.”
I wag a finger at him. “I’m not making you shakes.”
He shrugs. “It was worth a try.”
“We have a deal, buddy. Don’t push the boundaries or I’ll sic my evil twin sisters on you.”
He shivers. “Good point. I’ll be in touch.”
He stands and marches toward the door.
“Wait! You don’t have my phone number.”
He smirks. “Sure, I do.”
“Smuggler’s Hideaway strikes again.”
“I’ll never tell.” He winks before leaving.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I collapse in the chair. I’m either making the biggest mistake of my life, or this is an opportunity of a lifetime. I guess I’ll find out soon enough.