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I’ve learned a lot about all of Tanner’s kids during the time we’ve been together, so I know Jazz is something of a musical savant. And I know he was on track to becoming a classical pianist until he broke his hand in the car accident that killed Tanner’s first wife. And I also know that since then, it’s been incredibly difficult for him—both physically and emotionally—to return to that instrument. So I can understand why the thought of Jazz putting that aside for Izzy’s benefit would have such an effect on Tanner.
He releases Izzy and gets to his feet, his hand still petting her hair as we finally follow Piper out of the enormous entryway and through to the main part of the two-floor penthouse.
My heart twinges as I watch Tanner absently stroking his daughter’s hair. It’s ben great to have some time to ourselves recently, with Jazz offering to take Izzy overnight on a number of occasions. But I can see how much Tanner misses her, and I don’t want him to have to sacrifice time with her purely so we can have a night of sex. I love Izzy, and having her around is not going to be deal-breaker by any stretch. I guess we’ll just need to play it by ear and see how we can manage. Going public is a little complicated while Tanner’s still technically married, and especially while I’m still Izzy’s teacher. But I’m sure we can work something out.
We reach a set of stairs, because seriously—this apartment is about as big as my entire building—and Tanner hauls Izzy into his arms so we can all follow Piper up them.
“Oh, just so you know,” Piper says, pausing at the middle of the staircase and turning back with a slight smirk curving her lips that makes me quite uneasy, “Grandma’s already here. And she’s pretty interested to meet this one.” She tosses her head in my direction and then turns back around, continuing up the stairs.
Fuuucckk. I’d been so concerned about Piper and the whole naked kitchen debacle, I totally forgot about Tanner’s mother-in-law. Of course she’s going to be interested to meet theguyher daughter’s widower is now involved with.
Behind me, I hear Jazz let out a snort. “Don’t worry. She’s being especially bitchy today because RJ’s been busy all morning and hasn’t been waiting on her hand and foot. Grandma will be cool. You’re super hot, so she’ll like you.”
“Umm…okay…” I really don’t know how else to respond to that.
He steps up beside me, offering a wry smirk. “What? You think seventy-five-year-old women don’t get horny?”
“I can’t say I ever really thought about it…”
“Well trust me, they do. She always brings her book club into the bar on Tuesday afternoons for the five dollar wings and wine deal, and I swear those women are hornier than the twenty-somethings that come in on Friday nights.”
My brows shoot up. “You do five dollar wings and wine? That’s a really good deal.”
He leans closer to me and holds his hand up to his mouth. “Don’t tell anyone, but the wine’s just what’s leftover from the weekend. It’s a good way to get rid of it before it goes bad.”
“Huh. I didn’t even realize wine went bad.”
He shrugs. “Red, not so much. But no one really orders red when they’re eating wings. White starts oxidizing as soon as you open it, and if you leave it too long it’ll turn into vinegar.”
Well there you go. I guess that’s why he runs a bar and I teach five-year-olds.
It’s only now I’m realizing that Jazz and I have fallen behind the rest of the group, so when we enter what I’m assuming is the living room, all eyes are on us and I feel like a laser beam is being pointed at me.
“Oh, yes, now I see it. Good choice, Tanner.”
I snap my head in the direction of the speaker, finding a woman about ten years older than my mom scanning her eyes up and down my body as though cataloging every single one of my features. I almost feel like I should turn around to give her a look of the back.
She finally lifts her eyes and I see Jazz’s gray ones staring back at me, a soft twinkle in them. This can only be Leah’s mother, and she’s definitely not what I expected. For some reason I was expecting a Hillary Clinton-type figure, all crisp and dignified. But that’s not what I’m seeing at all. Not that she’s a slob or anything, but she just seems…approachable. Between the spiky white hair that’s shaved at the sides, the jeans casually rolled up at the ankles, and the smear of purple lipstick on her lips, I feel like I could be looking at a future version of Blair.
“Urgh, Grandma,” Piper practically whines. “You were supposed to be on my side. Don’t you have any problem at all with Dad dating aguyhalf his age?”
“No need to tack another five years on, Pippy” Tanner says dryly. “Forty-nine’s plenty, thanks.”
Piper rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean.”
“Why on earth would I have a problem with your father being happy?” Leah’s mother says. Shit, I can’t remember her name. I’m usually awesome at that, but it’s completely gone from my head.
“I just—” Piper hesitates, opening and closings her mouth a few times before giving a frustrated shake of her head.
“I thought you didn’t want Dad to know you weren’t comfortable with this?” Jazz says pointedly.
“That was before I saw him prancing naked around the kitchen,” she shoots back, gesturing at me.
“I wasn’tprancing,” I protest.
“You saw him naked?” Beth asks, sounding impressed.Beth!That’s her name. I try not to look to pleased with myself for having remembered something so simple.
“And she didn’t even take a picture,” Jazz grumbles.
