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He looks at me closely and adds, “I guess you could, but it’s going to be dangerous going today. I’d leave it until tomorrow. One accident is enough.” He raises a brow.
“Yes it is.”
“Hmm.” He shakes his head and removes our empty plates. “I know you’re probably waiting for me to say something about Tanner and what’s going on with Emma, but it’s not my place. One thing I will say is that she’s never been the right woman for him. She doesn’t love him. Just sees him as a meal ticket. She always has. They’d have been married long before now if Tanner hadn’t kept putting her off… He doesn’t love her either.”
“Thank you for telling me that.” I move toward him wanting the subject to change. “Let me wash the dishes.”
He shakes his head. “Tanner said you were hurt so no dishes for you.” He nods in the direction of the sofa. “Go and watch some Christmas movies while you wait.”
I tilt my head to the side and ask, “Doesn’t it bother you that your son is engaged to one woman but in love with another?”
“If Emma was a lovely girl like you, then yes, it would bother me. The fact is that girl has given my son a lot of grief over the years. She’s been unfaithful to him, which was why the engagement was broken. I didn’t know at the time of the wedding but I confronted him the morning after he’d spent his time with you.” He sighs. “When we came home things were…different. My son has been raised to do the right thing, and I think that’s what he was trying to do when we came home and the engagement was back on. I don’t know what happened but I’m guessing he felt bad for the way the town was treating Emma. It’s in his nature to protect, and that’s what he did.”
I hold his gaze and admit, “I love him, and before I showed up here, I was conflicted. I didn’t want to make a mess of his life if he was happy with Emma. But, at the same time, I couldn’t move on with my life without knowing if what we had was as special as I thought it was.” I offer him a wry smile. “It was special, and I’m glad I’m here.” I wince. “Although, I would have preferred to have the arrival be a little less dramatic.”
“I bet you would.” He shoos me toward the sofa. “Go and get settled, so Tanner doesn’t get annoyed with me for keeping you standing.”
I refrain from adding that I can’t imagine Tanner annoyed with his father while I settle into the sofa. There’s nothing that I fancy watching on the television, so I get comfortable, pulling a blanket over me and wait for Tanner.
70
Tanner
It’s so cold I’ll be surprised if my balls don’t freeze off. I grin behind my pulled up collar at the thought of how I could warm them, if only.
The main road isn’t passable today but should be by lunchtime tomorrow, which means I’ll be able to get into town and talk to Emma.
Rubbing my brow at the thought, a snowball to the face catches me off guard. I narrow my eyes and realize my asshole of a best friend is responsible.
“You need to stay in there, otherwise you’ll get hurt,” Bo shouts over the roar of the tractor he’s jumped from.
Wiping the snow from my face, I mutter under my breath, and then add, “And you thought a ball of freezing-as-fuck snow to the face would do that, huh?”
He winces. “Sorry, wasn’t thinking.” He smirks. “Saw the opportunity and took it.” Moving closer so that we no longer need to shout, he says, “Talking about opportunity, how’s Charlotte?”
Heavily sighing, I tell him, “She’s banged up, but okay.”
“Come on, Tanner. I’m your best friend, I want details.”
I meet his gaze and realize he’s serious and not messing around, so I’m honest with him. I take a deep breath as I try to find the place to begin. Finally, I say, “We spent a night together when I was at Garrett’s wedding in Lexington. We connected and I’ve been unable to forget about her.” I grab my chest. “I love her, Bo. The only person stopping us from being together right now is Emma. The minute I tell her we’re through, Charlotte is mine.”
“In all the years I’ve known you, I don’t think you’ve ever talked about Emma so animatedly…which proves my point.” He grins. “You don’t love Emma and never have.” Bo turns and looks along the road. “I could take you back to town on Horace.”
“Horace?”
“The tractor.”
“Oh!” I rub my jaw, undecided. “It could take all day to head back into town with how bad the roads are…I’ll go tomorrow if they’re clear.”
“You sure?” He narrows his eyes.
“I’m guessing that it would be dark by the time you’d be dropping me back home. It’s dangerous. One more day won’t kill me.”
“Whatever,” he mutters. “You heading back home now?”
“Yeah,” I turn toward the tractor, “my dad caught a ride on the other snowplow early this morning so he’s up at the house with Charlotte. I need to make sure she’s okay as well.”
“I’m happy for you Tanner. It’s about time you had someone in your life who makes you smile.” Bo di
