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“Rissa has an amazing career. She can obviously handle two men, but there are some days where I can barely handle myself.” Saying the last part out loud struck a chord deep inside of me. It hurt to admit it to Tanner, but it was the truth.
“Marissa almost lost her career after getting injured. She buried her emotions and her pain away. Getting into a relationship with our brothers is the best damn thing that’s ever happened to her. I love that girl, but she was extremely stuck in her head. I think you’re in a similar spot,” he stated sincerely. “At least consider giving it a try.”
“I had no idea things were so bad with her.” Guilt weighed on me for so many other things, and I added our dwindling friendship to that long list.
“They’re better now. My point is that no one anticipated the three of them balancing each other out so beautifully. What have you got to lose?”
“My pride. My dignity. My-my-my fucking heart maybe,” I stammered.
“Excuses.” Tanner positioned himself next to me, propping himself up on an elbow. “I’m off Friday. I’ll come pick you up around noon.”
“I have nothing to my name.”
“Maybe Dane and I can offer some ideas.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know what sort of ideas you mean. Bending me over the table and taking turns or something.”
“I’m not saying to come over for a threesome, sweetheart,” he said sweetly. “Just brunch. We don’t have to jump into a relationship if that’s not what you want. But don’t say no without considering the positives.”
“I’ll agree if you leave me alone.”
Tanner shifted his body, pulling me up and into his arms so I was sitting on his lap. He brushed a piece of my hair that had fallen out of my messy bun behind my ear. “I don’t want to leave you alone. I should have told you before you left how much you meant to me, and I fucked up. I’m not going to let the chance to rekindle this be extinguished before we even try.”
“You’re a firefighter. Pretty sure it’s your job to extinguish flames.”
“You’re hiding behind your sass, buttercup. I can see right through it.”
“Just go.” I clutched his shirt, pissed off at how whiny my tone came out. My actions betrayed my words.
Tanner plucked my hand from his t-shirt and pressed it to his heart. He pulled me closer, wrapping his other arm around me. “Say it again.”
“Please don’t leave me alone right now.” I refused to let anymore emotions come to the surface, instead curling into his body loving the way he held me. “I’m so ridiculously stressed. I have nothing to show for all the years I busted my ass in California. I have nothing to offer to you and Dane. Even if you both want me, I’m so fucking broken.”
“You’re not broken, Tiana. There are some challenges in your life, and you might think they are insurmountable, but nothing truly is. Challenges keep life interesting.” Tanner pulled back so he could see my face. “If you could have anything, what do you need from me right now?”
“I couldn’t sleep at all last night. Or the night before. Hell, I haven’t slept in what feels like weeks. I haven’t felt safe enough to rest.”
“Naps are so underrated.” He set me next to the bed and I raised my eyebrows. Tanner took his boots and jeans off, turning the covers down. “Come here.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. Get some sleep.”
Sliding under the blankets, I relaxed as he fixed them over us. He pulled me into his arms, cradling me against his body. I wanted to make some heartfelt statement about our friendship or returning home or anything, but I found a profound sense of peace in Tanner’s arms.
An enormous amount of pressure lifted from my shoulders and I relaxed in what felt like the first time in forever.
Chapter 3
Dane
Staring at Tanner as we sat at my luxurious dining table eased some of my insecurities, but not all of them. His earlier words about working through my issues rang true. For someone who was surrounded by a group of people who took care of my home, I had been miserable.
When Tanner and I started our relationship, I’d been at a low point. He was insistent on me opening up about what was on my mind during our phone call, but I had yet to listen.
Some days I was on top of the world and nothing shook me, and some days I needed his guidance. Many of my previous partners had been submissive, but several had been dominant to me. Tanner trumped them all. He figured out my needs and wants from the jump.
“You did enough convincing of your stance on things last night.” I was not in the mood for Tanner to punish me with either his belt or those huge palms of his. He gently pushed me out of my comfort zone on a daily basis early in our relationship. I trusted him immensely.Then what the hell is bothering me now?
