Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Tanner’s eyes flashed in the low light, taunting her.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she said.
He took a few steps closer to her, flip-flops dangling from his hand. The waves continued to crash, water spilling around their feet before pulling back again.
“I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want me to do.” His voice was husky, and a thrill of arousal ran from her stomach down between her legs.
Oh. Okay then.
It was possible she had the tiniest of crushes on Tanner Reed.
This night with him had not been what she’d expected. Not even close. They’d gone from the friend zone to…something else. But she wasn’t even sure it was intentional on his part. Maybe he was just this kind to everyone. She’d believe it.
Tanner was one of the most giving people she’d ever met. Funny, sweet. And silly in a way she was starting to really like. Even his overgrown beard was getting sexier, though she imagined he would be cuter if she could see more of his face.
She had no complaints about the rest of him. When he’d rung the bell on the boardwalk, his muscles all tense and flexing? Desire had flooded through every part of her, taking her completely by surprise. The dirtier parts of her mind had instantly wondered what he’d feel like up against her.
But she didn’t know what to do with that feeling.
Well, she knew what she wanted to do.
But this date wasn’t real. He’d seen her ridiculous attempt with Luke, and he’d taken pity on her. That thought quashed any naughty images lingering in her brain.
Faith tossed her sandals onto the sand. She took off her cardigan and set it atop her purse to hide it.
“Okay. Throw me in.” She turned away from him, facing into the waves.
“Really?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes. I want to do something crazy and uncomfortable I’ve never done.”
Nothing like my old life. I’m never going back to that. Ever.
Strong arms looped around her hips from behind. She yelped as Tanner tossed her upward, catching her against him as if she weighed nothing. She grabbed hold of his arms, desperate for anything to hold onto.
“You sure about this?” His voice rumbled against her ear. Her back pressed into his chest. My god, the man was solid.
Faith nodded, and he waded into the surf, jeans and all. Goosebumps rose on her bare legs.
“Four, three, two—” His arms lifted, and she braced herself for the cold. Then he laughed. “You were seriously going to let me do it?”
“You jerk—” Faith wiggled until he let her go. Frigid waves reached to her knees, shocking a scream out of her. Cold. So cold.
She scooped up the icy water and splashed him.
“Oh, now it’s on.” Tanner grabbed hold of her again, but this time her chest was mashed against his wet shirt. “Hold your breath.” He sat down in the water and tipped them both sideways. A wave crashed into them. Faith held her breath as she went below the surface for a split second.
When he pulled her back up, she was sputtering and screaming and laughing. Both of them were soaked from head to toe.
His fingers brushed her hair from her eyes. Tanner’s was plastered against his head. “That crazy enough for you?”
Not even close.
He stood all the way up again, still holding her. She looped her arms around his neck. His large hands were on her bare thighs. Her dress seemed to be somewhere up around her waist.
They were both panting, and she knew she should be cold, but Tanner’s warmth burned through their wet clothes.
And his eyes. The light from the boardwalk and the night sky reflected in them, like two deep pools. She wanted to dive in and stay under for as long as she dared. Faith licked her lips, tasting salt.
He was so close she felt his exhales against her skin. “Should I set you down?”
Not yet, she wanted to say. But she didn’t get the chance.
“You two all right?” someone shouted.
“We’re good, thanks.” Tanner set her gently back on her feet.
That moment, whatever it had been, was gone.
They waded back to the sand, Faith pushing her dress down the best she could. She really hoped the fabric wasn’t dry-clean only, otherwise she was going to owe Sylvie a new one.
“Is my mascara everywhere?”
“Nah, only a little. Here, use my shirt. It’s already black.”
Faith used his sleeve to wipe below her eyes, cracking up at how ridiculous she must look.
Her teeth chattered as she wrapped her dry cardigan around her shoulders. Tanner didn’t seem bothered by his soaked clothing.
“Since we’re both a mess now, I guess I should walk you home?” he asked.
“Probably.”
“But that’s how every good date should end, right? Both participants too disheveled for polite society.”
“Is there an innuendo in there somewhere?” she asked.
“Hey, you’re the one with the dirty mind, not me.”
They walked along the sand for a while, until their feet were dry enough to put on shoes and go back onto the paved path. Their hands kept brushing.
“You’re not too cold, are you?”
She felt him looking down at her. She’d been focused on the street, the waves, the other passersby. Anything to keep herself from staring at him, though her gaze kept wandering in that direction.
“No,” she said through chattering teeth. “I’m fine.”
She hoped he might put his arm around her to warm her up, but she wasn’t going to ask for it. And he didn’t volunteer.
“If Sylvie is mad about her dress,” Tanner said, “tell her it’s my fault.”
“Pretty sure it was my fault, too. But if she asks, I’ll tell her the dress’s sacrifice was worth it.”
“Yeah?”
This time, she couldn’t resist looking at him. He was grinning in that easygoing way of his.
If only daily life could be as smooth for her as it seemed to be for Tanner. He walked back and forth across their town, dispensing advice and swooping to a sad girl’s rescue like it was effortless.
There was no way he could possibly understand how much this evening meant to her. She didn’t think any man had ever been so thoughtful and wanted so little in return, just her laughter and her company.
But if she kept thinking along those lines, she was going to embarrass herself by crying. And she’d already had enough humiliation today. She didn’t want to spoil the time they’d had by making it into anything more than it was: a really good time between two friends.
In fact, she should’ve been thrilled to have a friend like Tanner.
By the time they got back to her townhouse, Faith had resolved to forget about her crush and just be grateful for his friendship. That was what he seemed to want from her.
Maybe he already had feelings for someone else. Or maybe he had no interest in her that way at all. It wasn’t her business.
But as they stood there on the porch in their salt-crusted clothes and their messy hair, she felt far more awkwardness than she should’ve if he were just a friend.
Tanner hooked his thumbs in the pockets of his jeans. “So, what’s the final verdict on tonight? Not bad?”
She tilted her head, as if she had to think. “It got better. I would say you were adequate.”
He clutched his heart. “How can a guy handle this many compliments and stay grounded?”
“It’s a feat. But somehow, you do it.” Faith looked down at her sandals. “Actually, it was pretty much perfect. Thank you. For everything.”
“It was my pleasure, believe me. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun.”
“Me, neither.” She looked up into those deep brown eyes again.
If he kisses me, she thought, I’ll kiss him back.
She really wanted that. And it had nothing to do with capping off the perfect first date, or building up her confidence, or with anything else at all except him.
Maybe she would even invite him inside.
But neither one of them closed the distance. So finally, she reached into her purse and pulled out the blue stuffed bear she’d won at the boardwalk. “Here, this is for you.”
“But you won it.”
“For my date. Isn’t that how it goes?”
“I’ll cherish it always.” He grinned and accepted the gift.
Faith said, “Goodnight. See you later?”
He nodded, backing away. “Any time.”