But hell if he wanted that. He liked having her on the ranch. Definitely because he knew she was safe, but also because he liked having her around. For meals. For coffee in the morning out on the porch. For watching her play with that damned puppy.
But he couldn’t go on the way he’d been going. He was way past burning the candle at both ends—his life was more of a roaring bonfire at both ends. He wasn’t getting the sleep he needed, and knowing that Bree was wondering about the distance he kept between them ate at him.
Definitely time for a talk about what had happened to him on that undercover op three years ago. How ithad affected and changed him. How PTSD might be something he had to live with for the rest of his life.
But it was something he hated to talk about. Just ask Dr. Michalski. He’d been trying to drag details out of Tanner for three years.
Tanner also didn’t want to talk about it with her since Bree had known such pain in her own young life. He didn’t want to add to her burden by asking her to help carry his trauma also.
But not talking wasn’t going to make it go away. Bree was part of his life now. The biggest and most important part. If he couldn’t get his PTSD under control, then it was something that he had to share with her so she understood what was going on.
But damn it, he wished he could be someone who just came to her with no baggage. She deserved that. Deserved someone who could help her carry her own.
“Until we hear from Whitaker, I’m just going to put the Newkirk case on the back burner.”
Tanner looked up at Ronnie. “Yeah. Nothing we can do.”
“Also, high on the fun scale...we’ve promised Mr. Dunwoody that we would stake out his auto shop over the next week and try to discover who’s vandalizing him. So I’m going to be out there for the graveyard shift tonight.”
Dunwoody’s auto repair shop was on the southeast edge of the county, in the middle of nowhere. Much to Mr. Dunwoody’s chagrin, someone kept breaking into his shop and painting rainbows everywhere. Mr. Dunwoody threatened to wait for it to happen again with his shotgun ready, but Tanner had talked him into letting them try to catch the vandals first. Especially since it was probably teenagers from the nearby high school.
“Great. I guess I’m lucky and get tomorrow night’s shift, then.”
Ronnie rolled his eyes. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and I’ll catch them tonight. Pacify Mr. Dunwoody.”
Ronnie gave a little salute and walked out of the office. It was time for Tanner to go also. All the stuff involving Newkirk, Mr. Dunwoody or any of Risk Peak’s other problems would have to wait. Even the hard talk he needed to have with Bree would have to wait.
Tonight he was leaving this behind. Taking Bree to possibly his favorite place on earth. It was exactly what he needed, and he was looking forward to it. Tonight would be the opposite of what the rest of his week had been. It would be fun, relaxed, easy.
TONIGHTWASGOINGto be a total disaster.
Bree sat in the living room of Tanner’s house, smoothing her palms along her skirt. It was a cute skirt, a flowy navy blue with little white flowers. It came down to just above her knees and looked great with the matching white blouse. Tanner had loved it when she’d worn it for a date a couple of weeks ago, but now she just wanted to rip it off and throw it away.
Of course, that probably had less to do with the outfit and more to do with the fact that Tanner was taking her to have dinner with his family. How could this go any way but poorly?
Before she could think of an excuse not to go, Tanner pulled up.
The way his breath whistled out between his teeth and he stared at her made her feel better. But only for a moment. “You look absolutely edible.”
Whatever argument she was about to make to try to get out of dinner disappeared when he stalked towardher. That was the only word for it:stalked. Like he was a predator and she was his prey.
And he had every intention of eating her up.
It should scare her, make her wary, but all it did was light up the most feminine parts of her.
He was on her in just a second, one strong arm wrapping around her hips and spinning her until she was pressed up against the living room wall. He pressed up against her, and all thoughts fled from her head when he claimed her lips.
His mouth was demanding as he tilted his head, moving hers with it, giving him the angle he wanted. She moaned as his tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she opened for him. The kiss deepened, his tongue sliding over hers, tasting her. Claiming her.
When his hand fisted her skirt, sliding it up, and she felt his fingers skim along the outside of her thigh, she pressed herself closer. Trying to concentrate on the kiss was impossible with the lines his fingers were trailing up and down her hip and thigh.
“Damn it.” He was breathing as hard as she was as he pulled away a few minutes later, his forehead dropping against hers. “We’ve got to stop this or we’re going to be late and my mother will kill me. I’ve got to change and shave. My five o’clock shadow is a little out of control.”
She reached up and touched his cheek. “I like your scruff. It’s sexy.” It made him look a little dangerous.
His hand covered hers on his cheek. “We met because of this scruff, you know. I caught you shoplifting in the drugstore because Mr. Vanover keeps my special razor refills in the back aisle. If he didn’t, I probably never would’ve been back there or seen you.”
She ran her fingernails along the short whiskers. “I’mglad you caught me,” she whispered. “It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
