“I came to Dallas wanting to make Violet’s life better. But after meeting Ned and signing that NDA, I knew I was just as trapped as she was. Every night, I hoped and wished and prayed for a miracle for her. I didn’t even care what happened to me. I would’ve gone to the police so much sooner, but aside from having so many cops on his payroll, Ned also has lawyers, and he would’ve denied everything. Then he would’ve gotten rid of me. I couldn’t let that happen to Violet. Every time Echo came to take her away, she’d look back at me to make sure I was still there. When she was done, her eyes would immediately search for me, seeking me out. If I ever gave Ned a reason to fire me… she’d have no one. She needed me.” April heaved in a breath, and Tanner’s grip on her hand tightened just a bit, grounding her. “I think my fear of leaving her alone with Ned was what really kept me from coming to you. Even after I knew you were a good guy, I was so afraid that Ned would get to us before we could get to you, and then it would all be over. It was Violet’s idea to run today. If I hadn’t listened to her, she’d still be under that monster’s control, and I’d still be consumed by my fear.”
Tanner sighed, his expression a mix of sadness, compassion, and something else she couldn’t quite read. “But you did listen to her, and you’re here now. You overcame your fear, and everything worked out. For both of you.”
She glanced up at Tanner for the first time since inviting him back into the room, and met his gaze. Without hesitation, hedropped his head and kissed her. All coherent thoughts instantly flew from her mind. She turned and leaned into his hard body, her tongue slipping out to meet his in a playful dance. A soft moan came from the back of her throat. Tanner adjusted himself on the bed, angling his body more toward her, turning his head to deepen the kiss. Time seemed meaningless as he chased her tongue back into her mouth and proceeded to devour it. Ravage it. Slow. Purposeful.
Everything he did, from placing his hand on the back of her neck, to softly brushing a hair out of her face, to pulling her off the bed and onto his lap, she was there for it. Every touch. Every kiss. Every breath.
Until he pulled back, leaving her breathless and needing more. Much more. Tanner thumbed her cheek and rested his forehead against hers. “I can’t believe I was worried everything we shared was all in my head.”
She smiled, a mixture of relief and contentment. “Only if your head lives in mine, because I started falling for you weeks ago, Tanner Rhodes.”
Chapter 20
“It’s all my fault,” Pam said, swiping at the tears on her cheeks. “From the minute I laid eyes on her, I had this feeling. I was just too shocked to say anything.” It was the next day and Tanner had just told his family about Violet. They were sitting in the solarium, just him, his parents, and Faith, while April watched over Violet and Sienna having breakfast in the dining room.
“No, it was mine,” Peter said. “I should’ve believed her when she told us who she was and what our boy had done. My God, Violet is the spitting image of Faith back when she was that age.”
“I thought I was the only one who noticed something about her last night,” Faith said. “But we just never thought that back then-”
“Stop,” Tanner said. “If I wanted to sit around and lay blame, I could. But I don’t.”
“We had no idea,” Pam said.
“We’re so sorry,” Tanner,” Faith added.
“Guys, stop. I get it. I remember that week like it was yesterday. I was gone for most of it for that training seminar, and then I came back exhausted and started pulling double shifts because two officers had been injured and another one had left for early retirement. I just wish you would’ve said something. If I had known, I would’ve dropped everything to find her. I would’ve made sure that she and the baby were taken care of.”That regret would forever live inside him. He should’ve known. Should’ve been more careful. But then Violet wouldn’t be here, and he couldn’t bring himself to regret anything that made his beautiful daughter a reality in his life.
“We just didn’t take her seriously,” Peter said sadly. “If I would’ve thought for one second that girl was carrying our grandchild, we would’ve never let her leave without talking knowing how to get ahold of you.”
“Violet would’ve never known all the horrors she’s been through,” Pam said.
Tanner was overwhelmed. Both by his family’s grief and regret, and by his own irresponsible actions at the time. “We can’t change the past. Mom, Dad, Faith, all we can do is make sure she never goes back there again.”
“That’s something I’ll definitely make sure of. If I have to spend every dime invested in this ranch and put up every penny of equity from all my business ventures that I’ve accumulated over the years, my granddaughter will know nothing but love for all the rest of her days. Starting right now.” Peter stood and left the room, like he couldn’t take another second of even thinking about what his actions all those years ago had caused.
Tanner felt awful. He hadn’t set out to upset his family, but that was exactly what he’d done. “This was never about me placing blame. This is on me as much as on you. I should’ve been more responsible. I should’ve made sure to follow up with her. Somehow.” He really hadn’t gotten more than her name, and even that had apparently been a nickname.
“We already love Violet so much,” Pam said. “Can you imagine if she’d grown up here. With you and Faith, and Sienna. Her life would’ve been so different.”
Tanner’s chest squeezed at the thought. He’d give anything to change the way Violet was raised. She deserved so much better. All he could do was make it up to her every day for the rest ofhis life. “It still can be. And it will be. I’m going to need your help though. I might be Sienna’s favorite uncle, but I don’t know anything about being a dad.”
Faith smiled. “Tanner, you’re her only uncle, and you’re the best uncle a little girl could ask for. As for being a dad, Violet won the dad lottery. And I think she knows it.”
Tanner hoped his sister was right. But he knew better than anyone that he was way out of his league on this. If it hadn’t been for his mom and Faith, Violet would’ve been sleeping in a messy room with boxes and a set of free weights in the corner. Instead, they’d somehow figured out a way to transform that room into a magical getaway fit for a princess in less time than it had taken him to drive them from Garrett’s and have dinner with his family. He might be Violet’s dad, but he needed all of them to make sure she got to live the kind of life he wanted her to have.
“She’s ours now, big brother,” Faith said.
“They’ll have to deal with all of us before coming anywhere near her,” Pam added.
Tanner smiled. His family wasn’t perfect, but he loved them with everything he had. Knowing that his daughter was now going to be a part of this incredible tribe they’d built over the years made him happier than he could ever remember. “Thanks. I haven’t told the twins yet, but they’ve been so busy lately, maybe we should hold off a little telling the rest of the family. At least until things settle down?”
“I agree,” Pam said. “Besides, Josie is going to be at sea for the next few weeks, and your grandparents are cruising the Mediterranean this month. We can tell them everything once all this business with Ned is taken care of. No need to worry everyone now, especially since there isn’t much they can do.”
“Can we go join the girls and Dad in the dining room for breakfast now? I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving, and mom’s French toast is getting cold,” Faith said.
Pam and Faith both stood from the sofa where they’d been sitting. “After you,” Pam said.
“Wait, one more thing. About April -” Tanner started to say, but Pam and Faith both smiled, and Faith smacked his arm.
