Page 22 of Tanner

“I’m not giving her to anyone,” Tanner muttered.

Miles nodded again. “I’m not asking you to.”

Tanner stared at him. “You will.”

Miles’ eyes stayed on his. “I won’t, but people are going to ask questions, Tanner. You’re nineteen now. That helps you, but it doesn’t erase everything else.”

Tanner’s grip on Savannah tightened until she made a small complaining sound. He loosened it immediately and rubbed her back. “Sorry,” he murmured.

Miles watched that too, then shifted his weight. “Do you have her birth certificate?”

Tanner hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

“Any medical card?”

Tanner nodded again. “Yeah.”

“Good,” Miles said. “Keep those close.”

Tanner’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you helping?”

Miles’ lips flattened. “Because there’s a kid involved and because Sheriff Redding doesn’t want this to turn into a mess.”

Tanner didn’t buy that fully. People didn’t help for free. People helped and then they took something. They always wanted something.

Miles looked down briefly, then back up. “Also, I know what this town does when something like this happens. They’ll be nice to your face and talk behind your back. I’d rather you had the basics handled before that starts.”

Tanner’s throat tightened. Miles was right. That was exactly what would happen. Some people loved nothing better than a good gossip.

Savannah shifted again and looked at Miles properly now. “You a cop?”

Miles’ lips twitched, then he gave her a small smile. “Yeah. I am.”

Savannah blinked, then asked, “You got doggie?”

Miles’ brow lifted like he hadn’t expected that. “No. You like dogs?”

Savannah nodded hard. “Doggies.”

Miles nodded and smiled. “Okay.”

Tanner felt something in his chest twist. The attraction from earlier was still there, but now it had mixed with something else. Confusion. This deputy wasn’t acting like he was a threat to them, and Tanner didn’t know how to handle that.

That should have made Tanner feel safer, but it didn’t. It only made him more wary, because he didn’t know what to do with someone being kind who didn't ask for anything in return.

Miles looked back at Tanner. “Is there anyone you can call? A friend. Someone who can come by. Help you get settled.”

Tanner’s laugh came out sharp and humorless. “No.”

Miles accepted the answer with a quick nod. “Alright.” He paused, then said, “If you let me step inside for thirty seconds, I can confirm what I need to confirm and get out of your way. Just conditions. No snooping.”

Tanner’s muscles tensed. Let him inside and he’d see everything, the dust and cobwebs and the fact that Tanner didn’t even have a working light.

“No.” Tanner shook his head.

Miles didn’t push. He only nodded. “Okay.” Tanner waited, but Miles surprised him by stepping back instead. “I’m going to tell Sheriff Redding you’re here, Savannah’s here, and you made contact. That’s it.”

Tanner’s stomach churned. “No.”