46. Tanner
46
TANNER
M y eyes haven’t left his. Blood pulsing through my veins, my ears ring with the adrenaline rushing around my body. My anger’s right on the edge as I look at this absolute moron who has a death wish, turning up here and touching my girl. His nose is broken, I made sure of that.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. Let me go,” he says, throwing his arm back across my forearm to release the hold I have of him at his collar. It is useless. I am not letting him go. A freight train couldn’t release my hold. I itch to hit him again, but I know Victoria probably wouldn’t like it, so I refrain.
“Is this your car?” Tony, the sheriff, asks him, and my eyes thin. He arrived as soon as Victoria called, given he and his team were nearby.
“It wasn’t him.” I hear her voice from behind me, and my head turns quickly to look at her. Her arms are wrapped around her body, looking frightened. “Tanner, it wasn't him,” Victoria says, looking me right in the eye. Her shoulders slump, and I know she is disappointed it isn’t him who cut her brakes. If it was, it means this would all come to an end, and she could finally fully relax.
“Look, I have no idea what you all are talking about, but if you don’t let me go, I will have you charged with—”
“With what? Trespassing? Harassment? Assault? Because so far, those are the things you will be charged with,” I tell him straight. Regardless of whether he cut her brakes or not, he still came here, touched her, and continues to call her every hour of every fucking day.
“If you have nothing to hide, then you will have no problem answering a few questions,” the sheriff says, and Josh nods.
“Tanner?” Tony says, and I let go of his shirt, Josh stumbling now that he isn’t in my hold. I step back so the police can do what they need to as they start questioning him, and I feel Victoria’s small hands circle around my bicep. Lifting my arm, I immediately bring her into my side as we both stand and listen.
“That night, I was at a work dinner. I have a hundred witnesses. I even have photos on my phone and social media,” Josh says when asked about his whereabouts the day of the car accident.
“Asshole,” I murmur to Victoria as my skin burns, wanting to end him.
“I don’t disagree, but it wasn’t him. I know it wasn’t.” I feel a small shiver go through her. Understanding washes over me that she is still very fearful .
“I think you should probably stay with me for a while,” I offer, because I don’t want to let her out of my sight.
She sighs. “I love spending time with you, but I don’t want whoever it is to run me out of my own home. That means they win,” she says defiantly, and while I admire her bravado, it does little to settle me.
“Fine. I will stay here with you, then,” I tell her adamantly, and she smiles.
“We will need to look into your alibi, and in the meantime, you need to come to the station,” I hear Tony say before Josh yells.
“This is bullshit! You are not worth this shit!”
“You’re priceless,” I grit out quietly so only she can hear. This guy is a moron, but I agree with Victoria; he doesn’t look like the kind of man who would know anything about a truck in order to cut cables. He could be the one to run over her rosebushes, but I doubt it. Which leaves only one man now on my radar. Her father. If only I could find him.
“Alright. In the car. You will be charged with trespassing, assault, and harassment,” Tony says as his men grab Josh and put him in the back of a cop car, and within minutes, they leave. Another officer drives Josh’s car away for a search.
“We will charge him, but he will be free to go, with an escort, back out of town, and not to return until his court date. But I don't think it was him who cut your brakes,” Tony confirms with us. “His alibi seems solid. He fits the description of the man around town. I believe he is a scorned ex-lover, maybe, but I don’t think a guy like that knows his way around the hood of a truck to know where the brake cables even are.”
I feel Victoria stiffen in my arms.
“Man around town?” she asks, looking at me.
“That’s what I came over to tell you,” I confess to her.
“There were sightings of a strange man around town. Rochelle said he was in the diner asking about this place. A guy in a suit, darker hair,” Tony says, and I feel her take a big breath.
“That matches Josh’s description. He also told me he found me by asking for Marie's place around town. But if he didn’t cut my brakes, who did?” she asks, and Tony looks remorseful.
“We don’t know. We thought we had our guy. I would suggest that you have someone with you at all times for a little while. Just until we see if we can get a handle on the situation.” Tony looks at me seriously. I know that look. It is the same look he gave me when we couldn’t find Connor’s mom.
“I won't leave her side,” I tell him, and he nods before stepping back and getting into his car, following his team to deal with Josh.
“I mean it,” I say, looking down at her. “I am not leaving your side.”
“Tanner, you can’t stay here twenty-four seven. You have a business to run.” She shakes her head, not accepting it.
“I will get a security team here. Whenever I am not here, they will be,” I reiterate, and she sighs, not happy but at least she’s relenting. I need to keep her safe .
“You mean a lot to me, you know that?” Kissing the words into her hair, I rest my lips on her head. My arms circle her waist and pull her in tight, her body melting into mine.
“You mean a lot to me too,” she says on a breath, and my heart thuds.
“Never in my life did I ever think someone would make me feel again,” I tell her quietly, and I hear her swallow. Looking down at her, tears prick her eyes.
“Tanner…” She whispers my name, but I cut her off, pulling away a little. I hold her hips, looking her right in the eye. I need her to see the truth in them. Need her to know how serious I am.
“You are it for me, baby girl. I have never been more grateful for Marie than I am right now. She knew. This was all part of her plan. I think I fell in love with you the first time I saw you, and every day since, you have completely consumed my thoughts. I want you with me all the time, until the end of time. I love you, baby girl.” My breath leaves my lungs as I search her eyes.
“Tanner Whiteman. There is no doubt in my mind that moving to Whispers and meeting you was the best thing that I have ever done in my life. I have fallen completely and utterly in love with you, and—” I don’t need to hear anymore. I cut her off mid-sentence as my lips hit hers, and I wrap her up tight, one hand cupping her face. I feel euphoric and I smile as I kiss her. She is obviously feeling just as excited because she starts giggling against my lips, even more when I pepper kisses all over her face and down her neck.
“Tanner!” she squeals, pure delight taking over her expression, her worried eyes now sparkling. Picking her up, I twirl her around and I feel like my life is just beginning.