Chapter 45 Avery
Avery
It wasn’t midday yet and Avery’s head was reeling as Roman Martinez and Dougie Taggart stepped over the threshold. Maybe Tanner should get a sofa installed in the foyer if he was planning on doing this much entertaining just inside the front door.
She didn’t know if she had the strength for Round Two.
Declining a coffee for the both of them, Martinez launched straight in.
“We have an update for you on the doll situation, although we ran into a few roadblocks to start with,” he said.
“The order was placed from a public server and payment was by Apple Pay, which doesn’t share card numbers with the company taking the money.
The doll was originally delivered to a rented PO Box that was paid for in cash and given up immediately afterward. ”
“If this was a TV detective show, the stalker would have left DNA evidence in the mailbox.” Avery blamed her frustration for the ridiculous comment.
“And I’d be a reclusive alcoholic.” Martinez’s reply was razor-sharp. The quick smile he paired it with elevated him from dark and dangerous to charming in an instant. “Luckily, we didn’t need DNA because the facility was monitored by CCTV.”
Dougie grinned. “Sometimes people make it too easy for us.”
“Who was it?” There was grim desperation in Tanner’s voice.
“I’ve got one more question for you first,” the chief said. “Where were you the night before the doll was delivered?”
Surprise lifted Tanner’s eyebrows. “I was here. With Avery.”
Martinez and Dougie exchanged a quick glance.
“Well, if that’s true, your car was on Main Street at around 2 a.m. without you,” Dougie told him. “We have grounds to suspect that the same person who sent the doll smashed the window of Sam and Kash’s shop.”
“Arlo.” Tanner and Avery spoke at the same time. He looked as grimly gutted as she was stunned.
“When you came to see me the other day—for the second time—I made some basic inquiries.” Martinez took over, addressing Tanner.
“You’ll need to bring in a forensic accountant to take a deeper look at your finances.
I only scratched the surface, but the trail’s sloppy.
It’s my best guess that Arlo’s been skimming from your accounts for years.
I found shares, pension payments, and personal expenses listed in his own name.
And none of it’s very well hidden. Seems he just assumed you wouldn’t look too hard.
” The shrug Roman gave was sympathetic. “The office space he purchased on your behalf to work out of doesn’t actually exist. The money trail leads back to a condo in Maine.
Once we examine his electronics, it’s possible we’ll find more—and I, for one, will be interested to see if we can find a trace back to Avery’s nuisance messages. ”
She threaded her fingers through Tanner’s, her heart sick for him at the revelations. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re sorry?” Tanner’s expression was livid. “I brought him here and he hurt you. He targeted Sam and Kash. I’m going to fucking kill him.”
“It might be best if we help with the retribution,” Martinez suggested. “We’re gonna want you on the Pine Springs baseball team before the year is out. I’d hate to ruin our chances because you’re behind bars.”
The sound of the front door opening at that moment couldn’t have been better timed.
“Honey, I’m home!” called Arlo, as he stepped inside.
Avery just knew that he had every intention of talking his way out of any involvement in the deception of Bethany Jenner; she clenched her fists. At this rate there was going to be a line of people wanting to kill Arlo.
But, as Arlo took in a welcoming committee he hadn’t expected, his greeting strangled in his throat. And one glance around at everyone’s faces showed him exactly how screwed he was.
“Bro—” Arlo took a pace toward Tanner.
“Don’t.” The look Tanner gave him in return was pure disgust.
“We’ll take it from here,” said Martinez, and all humor had drained from his eyes.
“Arlo Stebbings, you are under arrest for misdemeanor stalking and malicious destruction of a commercial property. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You also have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”
Beneath his tanned skin, Arlo’s face took on a sickly pallor. Wisely, he held his tongue as Taggart led him from the house.
“I’ll be in touch,” promised Martinez, before following in their footsteps, and a deafening silence settled back over the foyer as Tanner closed the front door yet again.
They made more coffee that Avery guessed neither of them wanted and walked out onto the patio.
With the sun beating down on their shoulders, they settled on the edge of the pool, legs dangling in the water, and when one strap of Avery’s sundress slid off her shoulder, Tanner pushed it back up with a finger so gentle she barely felt it.
So many emotions crowded his face that she couldn’t separate them. He didn’t deserve any of this.
Avery tried to think of something comforting to say but her throat was tight and her heart heavy. Instead she pressed her arm up against his and they sat without talking for several long minutes as they processed the morning’s events.
But the silence didn’t help, even after the emotional hurricane they’d weathered since breakfast. With so much unspoken between them, it wasn’t restful and they both reached that conclusion at the same time.
“So, here’s the thing—” Tanner’s knee bounced next to her thigh. His mouth formed a muted copy of his usual grin.
Avery interrupted him.
“I think it’s my turn to talk,” she said softly, bringing his fidgeting to a halt with her hand on his leg. The bulk of Tanner’s thigh beneath her palm was tense. “You’ve laid it out for me already and you deserve the same.”
It was too raw to talk about Arlo just yet but there was so much else that needed airing out.
“I wanted to say this earlier, but we got interrupted and, well . . . anyway.” She took a deep breath, felt Tanner go impossibly still beside her.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you how I feel sooner.
I’m sorry I held back. I spent so long trying to work it all out, and then as soon as I did, the whole Gemma thing happened. ”
Avery looked out across the water, watched the ripples undulating gently in the sunshine.
A memory of how Tanner had pinned her to the side of the pool and turned her inside out with his kisses on the night of his housewarming party swirled like a mirage in the hazy heat, and she had to swallow before she could continue.
“All the lies in my life that have caused so much unhappiness, and I held back on telling you the one truth that matters most.”
Tanner’s hand closed over her own, his grip just shy of painful. She laid her cheek against his shoulder and decided it was far easier not to look at him. Bravery only went so far.
“I admired you so much at school for your energy and your drive and your passion. Everything buzzes around you. I buzz when I’m around you.
It’s like a shot of adrenaline on top of too much coffee and I can’t get enough of it.
” Avery’s skin felt raw, her voice was thick.
“Holding back from dating so I would never be hurt like my mom seemed like a foolproof plan, but I’m sick of being capable and alone.
It’s more painful than taking the risk. And I can’t keep my heart safe any longer because it already belongs to you.
Whether we’re together or not, it isn’t my own anymore. ”
“Oh, thank fuck for that.” Tanner sounded just as choked up as she felt. “Jesus Christ, you scared me, Stretch.”
He turned to drag her onto his lap and the action was an awkward, scrambling fumble which had them both breathlessly snickering when her shoulder smacked him under the chin and her knee nearly did him a mischief.
But eventually, Tanner held her chest to chest with hands that weren’t entirely steady—and Avery found more courage.
She drew back to study his face, caught and captured by the hope in his eyes.
“I love you, Tanner. Right through to my bones.” If he could wear his heart on his sleeve, then she would do the same.
“It didn’t take a purse or a car for me to realize.
Just a storm, a ladder, and a ton of moldy leaves.
I was falling before then but that had me all in.
” She swallowed a moist gulp. “I love the way you love me and I want more of it. I want to love you back the way you deserve.”
His broad ribs expanding on a juddering breath, Tanner leaned forward to capture her lips in a kiss that bathed Avery’s heart in warmth. His beautiful tawny eyes were suspiciously damp.
“I love you, Tanner Stone.” Avery repeated the words against his jaw as he skimmed more kisses over her face.
His dimple flickered, his mouth lifted. “And I love you too, Stretch. Then. Now. Always.” He curled his fingers around the back of her neck.
“I knew there was something missing. I was poor and struggling, then successful and rich, but never fully happy even when I had everything I thought I wanted. I’ve been somewhere on the edge of it for years. ”
“You and me both.” Her laugh broke in the middle.
Tanner pulled her closer. “Not anymore.”
Avery’s eyelashes fluttered as his mouth traced the line of her neck. “I don’t want to move out of your workshop,” she murmured. “Not that Luke’s given me a final start date for rebuilding mine anyway.”
“I told him there was no rush,” Tanner admitted.
“You snake.” Her eyes flew open and she pinched his biceps.
“But if you’re going to continue using my property, we need to discuss rent.” There was a teasing pitch to his voice.
“I have money.”
“I don’t need money,” Tanner said, nibbling on her ear.
God, she loved it when he did that. “What do you need?” The question emerged as a whisper.
“Well, now. I’m not sure where to begin.” His fingers slid the strap of her sundress back off her shoulder. “But I can think of one thing I was promised that you never delivered on.”
Avery drew back with a frown. “What’s that?”
“Nudity.” Tanner’s hand stroked the soft mound of her breast and she sighed as his thumb brushed her nipple over the cotton drape of her dress. “A long, long time ago, before breakfast, I distinctly remember being promised nudity.”
“There must be something about this pool that makes you horny.” Her lips split into a curve and the smile spilled over onto his. Avery shifted teasingly in his lap, relishing the earthy groan that rumbled in his throat.
Tanner took her mouth in a kiss that promised retribution.
“There’s something about you that makes me horny,” he said when their mouths parted. “But I’m willing to worship every single gorgeous fucking inch of you in a variety of locations and then we’ll know for sure.”
“But no heights, huh? You’d probably prefer it if we keep our feet on the ground.” She threaded her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck, joy spreading through her bloodstream like caramel syrup in warm milk.
“Avery Delgado.” Tanner pressed his forehead against hers. “I would abseil from the Willis Tower for you.” He nuzzled her nose. “Go paragliding or cliff diving.” Kiss. “Ride ziplines and rollercoasters.” Kiss.
She narrowed her eyes. “You would?”
“That and more. Try me and you’ll see.” A steady assurance shone in his eyes, even as his mouth lifted at one corner. “But maybe we could start slow and work up to the abseiling? I feel like I do my best work at ground level.”
Melting into the protective cage of Tanner’s arms, his breath against her lips, Avery smiled. “Show me,” she said.
After all, one big leap of faith was more than enough for now.