Page 52 of Tanner

“She’ll be asleep by the time you get home.”

Orsen leaned back against the bench. “You staying a bit longer or making a run for it?”

Tanner adjusted Savannah higher against him. “I haven’t decided.”

Cody snorted. “That means you’re thinking about leaving.”

“It means I haven’t decided.”

“Sure.”

Tanner ignored him and looked out across the yard. Christian was on Toni’s hip now with his face tucked against her shoulder, Lincoln and Arthur had gone inside to play on their console. Macy had gone inside with the boys and Cassie stood with TJ and Santino.

He could feel Miles somewhere to his left without looking. Tanner kept his eyes on the kids instead, somehow resisting the urge to seek him out.

Cody followed his line of sight, then looked back at him and grinned. “You know, for a man who keeps saying nothing’s going on, you spend a lot of time pretending not to notice things.”

Tanner turned his head slowly. “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” Cody said, too innocent to be believable.

Orsen folded his arms. “He’s been watching you all afternoon.”

“Who?”

Cody raised his eyebrows. “Really?”

Tanner looked away first, irritated by the heat crawling up the back of his neck. “I’m not doing this with you.”

Cody’s grin widened. “That’s not a denial.”

“It’s me telling you to shut up.”

“Still not a denial.”

“He watches you when you’re not looking,” Orsen murmured.

Tanner shot him a look. “You too?”

Orsen shrugged. “I notice things. Some habits die hard.”

“That’s useful,” Tanner muttered as he frowned at Orsen. He had no idea what he meant and wasn’t going to ask.

Cody laughed and leaned back in his chair. “You should be flattered.”

“I’m not.”

“Liar.”

Tanner shifted Savannah again, more for something to do than because she needed it. Her hand curled against his shirt, and Tanner sighed softly. He kept one palm spread over her back and let the noise of the yard fill the gap before either of them could say anything else.

The problem was, they weren’t wrong. He’d noticed Miles watching him. He’d noticed it first by the drinks table, then near the chalk, and again later when he was talking to Toni. Not staring in some stupid obvious way. Just often enough that Tanner had begun to feel it before he saw it.

Most of his life, being watched had meant trouble. Somebody wanting something. Somebody deciding something. Somebody asking questions that didn’t stop where they should. This didn’t feel the same. That was the part that was getting under his skin. Tanner was used to being watched by people who wanted something, or people looking for what they could take. With Miles, it didn’t feel like that.

Cody nudged his knee with his own. “You’re thinking too much.”

Tanner gave him a flat look. “No, I’m not.”