Page 119 of Tanner

27

HARPER

I knock on the door to Bryce’s spare bedroom and gawk at my husband.

“No one told me the kickoff was black tie.” I whistle at the way he looks in a form-fitted tuxedo that hugs every muscle and shows off his tapered waist.

I love the casual man he is with his hair pulled back or wearing a henley, jeans, and a beanie, but I have to stop myself from ripping the suit off of him.

“Should I be surprised you have a tuxedo ready and waiting for you?”

Tanner pulls me in for a long, delicious kiss. He smells like mint and honey. When he releases me, my lashes flutter, and I take in the way his hair is neatly combed back and how his scruff is shaved down to a smooth jaw.

“Where’s my husband, and what have you done with him?” I tease.

“Will you love me even when I’m not hiding out on the streets of New York? If we move here, this is the life we’d live.”

“What kind of life is that?” I ask.

His body tenses. “I’m not entirely sure.”

I run a hand down his cheek and look up into his soulful blue eyes. “Tanner Sexton, I married you for better or worse. Richer or poorer. Till death do us part. Whether you choose to live in a hovel in Queens or a penthouse in San Francisco, I’m yours. I just want you to be happy.”

His arms tighten around me. “You make me happy.”

I lean up and kiss him again. “Then, that’s all there is to it. I’ll be honest. I don’t want to leave New York. I love my family and my job, but my loyalty is to you. I go where you are.”

That comment makes us a few minutes late in meeting everyone else downstairs. Jalynn and Tessa seem unfazed by the way their guys look, and I wonder if I’ll ever get used to seeing Tanner this way.

The guys say good-bye and get into Bryce’s SUV where a driver is waiting for them. Us girls and Charlie head to the garage and hop into Bryce’s Tesla. We drop Charlie off at Tessa’s friend’s house for the evening and then drive to Sexton Media.

The building is in the heart of San Francisco. I’ve never been here before, so I try to take in as much of the city as I can out the passenger window. Tessa parks the car in the company parking garage, and we take the elevator up to the lobby that is a virtual ghost town.

The security guard greets Jalynn at the turnstile, “Working tonight when everyone else is at the party?”

Jalynn shrugs. “The news never sleeps. Someone has to be on call in case the world ends.” She waves to me and Tessa. “They’re with me. Freelancers for the evening. I have their badges upstairs. Is it okay if they come up with me?”

The guard swipes his card twice. “If you’re vouching for them, then they’re good to go. Have a good night, ladies.”

We walk into the elevator, and the doors close.

“How are we getting into Missy’s office?” I ask as Jalynn hits the button for Missy’s floor.

She opens her purse and pulls out a key. “Charlie went missing recently, so Bryce obtained a master key to the entire building. Getting into Missy’s office should be no fuss at all.”

I glance at Tessa, whose face is turning red at the memory. “He’s still making that up to me. Remind me to tell you how that was all Missy’s fault.”

A level of uneasiness washes over me.

What if we do find evidence of Missy having something to do with his mom’s death? Is this really something I’m getting involved in? If she did that, why would I think she wouldn’t come after me or Tessa or Jalynn or the guys?

Jalynn steps toward me, placing a hand on either side of my arms. “Don’t worry. If I’ve learned anything about these Sexton brothers, it is that they protect their own. You have nothing to worry about, being in here. Tanner would never let anything happen to you.”

I inhale a deep breath and nod as the elevator doors open. We walk down the hallway and stop outside the door that says Missy Sexton, President of Corporate Strategies, Sexton Media. Jalynn looks down both ends of the hall before taking out her key and opening the door.

Missy’s office is very modern. White lacquer furniture with metal and black chairs. There are images of her in an Andy Warhol–like setting. Her old pageant photo sits on the end table of a sitting area.

We close the door and turn the light on.