Page 28 of Tanner

His gaze dropped to the counter and stayed there for a moment. Miles had said he’d come back later and Tanner didn’t know what to do with that, so he pushed it to one side.

He grabbed his shirt from the floor and pulled it on. Savannah was spending the night with Mrs. Hemsworth, which meant Tanner had time to do the jobs he could do right then. Complete the paperwork. Buy some food with what little money he had left. With a quick nod of his head, Tanner began.

Chapter Nine

Miles drove to Cody and TJ’s with his mind focused on someone it shouldn’t be. The dark fields and familiar turns barely registered. He knew where he was going without thinking about it, which was good because thinking was getting him nowhere.

Tanner had kissed him in that kitchen like he’d made up his mind in a split second and didn’t care what happened after. Miles had known better. He should have stopped it, yet he hadn’t, and worse was that he didn’t regret it either.

That was the part that was getting to him. Not just that Tanner was young, or that Miles had been there in uniform, or that the whole thing had happened in a house. It was the fact that when Miles left, he wanted to turn the cruiser around and go back. He wanted to knock on that door again and drag Tanner into his arms and do it all over.

He gripped the wheel harder and exhaled heavily. Bad idea didn’t even begin to cover it.

TJ’s truck and Cody’s car were already in the driveway when Miles pulled up. Another vehicle sat behind it, one he recognized as Santino’s. Warm light spilled from the kitchen window and across the yard. For a second Miles stayed where he was with the engine off, staring at the house. Then he got out and headed up the path.

Cody opened the back door before Miles could knock. He took one look at Miles and stepped to one side. “You look rough.”

Miles grunted. “Nice to see you too.”

“I didn’t say you looked bad,” Cody said, shutting the door behind him. “I said you looked rough.”

From the kitchen, TJ called, “Same thing.”

“It isn’t,” Cody called back, then looked at Miles again. “You eaten?”

Miles sighed at the question as he toed off his boots by the door. “No.”

“Thought so.”

The house smelled of garlic, tomatoes, and bread. It should have made his stomach growl but instead it only reminded him he hadn’t eaten since earlier and hadn’t really noticed. He shrugged out of his jacket and followed Cody into the kitchen.

TJ stood by the stove with a beer in hand. Orsen sat at the table with Santino beside him, both of them halfway through their drinks. Orsen smiled at Miles. “Hi, Miles.”

Santino’s gaze lingered a fraction longer, quiet and assessing in that way of his that made it clear he missed very little. “How are you?”

Before he could answer, TJ looked him over and snorted. “Jesus. What happened to you?”

Miles pulled out a chair. “Long day.”

“That your answer?” TJ asked.

“It covers a lot.”

Cody put a plate down in front of him. Pasta, thick sauce, and bread on the side. He put a beer beside it a second later. “Eat first. Talk after.”

Miles looked at the food, then at Cody. “You always this bossy?”

“Yes,” Cody grinned. “You’re only noticing because you need feeding.”

Orsen chuckled while Santino smiled into his drink. Miles picked up his fork and forced himself to eat. The pasta tasted delicious, and it reminded Miles how poor his cooking was in comparison. As he ate he was aware not only of the others also eating, but of the glances coming his way.

Santino broke the silence first. “TJ said you went back out there.”

Miles kept his eyes on his plate. “Yeah.”

TJ folded his arms. “Was it any better this time?”

Miles gave a short laugh that held no humor. “No, not really.” And he really wasn’t going to discuss why.