Chapter 7
Seven
TANNER
I pull up to the apartment complex and take a moment to admire it. It’s located downtown, in a brand-new construction. I don’t understand why Wryan chose this place instead of something in the art district, where she was a couple of weeks ago. I hated walking away from her that day, leaving her with that bodyguard who already had a nickname for her and was treating her the way I wish I could. But I had little choice.
Thank goodness Ridley took pity on me. After I watched Browser and Wryan drive off, she came out and tossed me a bone. She gave me Wryan’s new schedule for the month, which includes a doctor’s appointment this morning. She’s now having appointments every two weeks because of how far along she is and her heart condition. She also has an appointment with Dr. Harker concerning her heart.
I’ve been sending Wryan special packages every day since she moved into her place. I started with art supplies, but I’ve also included things for the baby and some fun surprises. The best basket I sent yesterday contained a negligee that I’m sure will fit her pregnant body, along with some massage oil and a note saying I wanted to rub it all over her.
Wryan is who I want my future with. I just need her to forgive me and understand that my outburst came from jealousy, not true anger. I want to be a part of our daughter’s life too. I’ve had my attorney put a hold on any further actions until I can talk to her. I know she’s softening because she responded to my email, thanking me for the gifts. She doesn’t know I’m here, but I’m going to surprise her.
I make my way up to the fourth floor and look around. She should be in a building with an elevator. Climbing these stairs won’t be easy as her pregnancy progresses.
As I approach her unit, I know Rio will be here shortly. Browser is currently watching over her. I knock on the door, and Browser immediately answers.
“Hello,” he greets me. He knew I was coming. I told Ridley I would take Wryan to her appointment. Rio will follow us in another vehicle.
“Hello. I’m here to talk to Wryan.”
“Tanner?” Wryan steps into view, already dressed for the day in a long black skirt and a comic book T-shirt. Her curly hair is styled and getting longer, a side bang hanging over her eyes. I move past Browser and right up to her. She tips her head up to look at me.
“Wryan, I’d like to take you to your appointment and spend the day with you.”
“Um.” She glances at Browser, but he steps out into the hallway and closes the door, giving us privacy. “I think they intend to drive me.” Her dog, Eddie, stands by her side, protecting her. He’s a large black and white Akita. From what I’ve learned, he’s trained to help her if she starts to faint and needs assistance getting up.
“I can drive you.”
She focuses her gaze on me. “I guess you could, but Rio was also going to take me car shopping today.”
“You don’t have a car?”
She shakes her head. “The doctor said if I can keep from fainting for six months, I could get my license back. I think my bodyguards should be able to drive for me in my own car.”
“I can take you to look at cars. I’ve got suggestions for you.”
“Okay.” She’s working her bottom lip, and I want to pull it between my teeth and bite it.
“Are you ready?”
“Almost.” She moves off.
I can’t stop myself from following her into a bedroom. I’m drawn to her. Eddie trails along but doesn’t stop me. I glance around the room, noticing it doesn’t have very many personal items. When she walks to the closet, I move off and explore the rest of her apartment. I find a second bedroom filled with several boxes of baby furniture. She hasn’t set up the room for our daughter yet, but she is gathering everything needed.
“I’m waiting until I find our home to set up her stuff,” she says from behind me. I turn around, her words giving me pause.
“What do you mean?” My voice sounds gruff, even to my ears.
“I’m only renting this place”—she waves her hands around—“until I find a house. I haven’t found a place I like yet.”
“Why are you wasting money on rent if you could stay with your parents until you find a better place?” I know it’s none of my business, but I have to know. Something deep in my soul wants me to tell her I have the perfect house for us to raise our kids. Yeah, kids. I want more with her.
“I couldn’t stay there anymore. My brother thinks I’m irresponsible. My father says if I had just gone to medical or nursing school, I wouldn’t be pregnant right now. My mom is excited to welcome her granddaughter, but I’m sure she is disappointed in me too. None of them consider my career to be a real job. They call it a hobby. Both my father and brother describe me as a starving artist.”
I move to the doorway where she is standing and lift her chin so she meets my gaze. “You are an amazing writer and artist. You’ve done some beautiful things, and you absolutely have a real job. From what I read online, you have a contract for one of your series to go to television. If it’s a hit, that will pay off for many years to come.”
She smiles softly at me. “Yeah, but they don’t care about that. Besides, you wouldn’t know what kind of author I am.”
“Not true. I’ve been reading your books since I found out who you were. My favorite is My One True Dom .” I lean down and kiss her nose. “You didn’t think I’d figure out who Elary Tanner is? I remember everything about that night too.”
She sighs, and I want to pull her into my arms, but my cell phone chimes in my pocket. I pull it out and see an alert from the ICU.
“Let’s go, kitten.” I take her hand in mine, and together we head down to my car.
I help her get Eddie into the back of my SUV. Once I have her buckled into the passenger seat, I signal to Rio that I’m heading out.
“While we are at the hospital, I hope you don’t mind if I stop in to check on a patient.”
“I don’t mind.” She leans back in the seat and rubs her hand against the leather. “I like this car. Can you take me to the dealership to look at one?”
“I can. They have some good used models that have just as strong safety records as this one does.”
“Okay.” She turns toward the window, and I can tell I’ve said something to upset her.
“What, kitten? What did I say?”
She sighs loudly before turning to look at me. I turn my head to face her when we stop at a light.
“You just did what my family does.”
“And what is that?”
“You don’t think I have the money to afford one of these cars.”
“Kitten, I’m sorry. I just meant you don’t have to buy brand new, but it would be best because you’d get all the warranties and benefits. You buy whatever you want, as long as it’s safe enough for our daughter.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have enough money?”
She smiles slyly. “I could buy a brand-new car and a house with cash and still have money to spare. Not only do my books sell well, but I also make money at the tattoo parlor, and I’ve invested wisely.”
“Very good, kitten.”
Wryan
I’m so glad he questioned what was wrong earlier and didn’t ignore the fact I was upset. We made it through my appointment and are now in his office. While he sits at his desk, entering notes in charts, I sketch in one of the books he got me. I look up from my drawing and then back down as I add a small number of wrinkles around his eyes. Eddie is lying at my feet. I can’t get over how accepting he is of Tanner. He must sense he’s a good person and trusts him with me.
“How old are you, Tanner?” My brother has been harassing me for falling for Tanner, who he says is old enough to be my father.
He looks up from his computer. “I’m thirty-six, kitten. How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-one. Do you think I’m too young for you?” I can’t stop the worried thoughts that he’s fifteen years older than me and I was just a one-night stand. I’m about to be the mother of his child but not more.
He stands up and moves around his desk. Tanner takes the sketch pad and pencil from my hands and sets them aside. He then helps me to my feet before kneeling in front of me.
“Kitten, you are perfect for me. I want something more with you.” He kisses my belly as I look down at him. “Not because you are carrying my child, but because you make me crazy. The thought of other men talking to you and looking at you makes me want to kill them. I’m a doctor and shouldn’t want that.”
“Tanner, I want something more with you too, but I’m scared.”
“I know, kitten. I’ll make you not doubt me again.”
He rises up and kisses me. His lips are better than I remember. When I open for him, he plunders into my mouth, taking my heart with him. His tongue glides against mine, and I moan, wanting more. He lifts me up and turns to sit me on the edge of his desk. As he moves between my legs, a knock sounds at the door.
“Just a moment,” he growls when he pulls his lips away.
He helps me down and adjusts my jacket he was in the middle of working off. I notice the evidence of what I do to him pressing against his trousers. He starts to turn for the door, but I step in front of him. I don’t want another woman seeing that.
“Come in,” he says as he holds my hips, and a nurse steps inside.
“Oh! I thought you were alone. I was going to see if you wanted to grab some lunch.” Her smile is just for him as she barely looks at me.
“I’m having lunch with my two favorite ladies today,” Tanner says as he rubs his hand against my stomach.
“I didn’t know your sister was in town,” the dumb nurse says.
“Wryan is my woman, not my sister,” he growls. His body tightens behind me, ready to come to my defense.
“Come on, honey. I want to take you home and cook for you,” I say sweetly as I turn away from her and look up into his blazing green eyes.
“Anything you want, kitten,” he says before he drops his head to kiss me again. I let him dominate my mouth just for her to watch before I step back and break our connection.
“We’re never going to go look for cars if we don’t stop now.” I giggle, and he pulls me back into his body.
“I want to do so much more than look at cars.”
“Believe me, with these pregnancy hormones, I agree, but I need to get my own vehicle.”