Twice as Sexy

by Carly Phillips

  Body washed, she turned to her hair, tipping her head beneath the spray. The bathroom was gorgeous with granite and stone on the floor, walls, and countertops. As someone who had a postage-stamp-sized bathroom in Manhattan, she could get used to the kind of luxury the entire setup provided.

  Which was part of the panic that rushed through her veins after the amazing night they’d shared. The axis on which she operated had shifted and it scared her. From the time Hank had been killed, she’d been solely focused on her goal of getting through school so she could graduate college, then law school and get to work putting criminals behind bars. Her satisfaction came from a job well done and done right, not from her personal life. Hell, she’d never had much of one and she’d never felt lacking.

  Maybe because she hadn’t come from a functional family unit, she hadn’t ever been a girl who dreamed of marriage, children, and a happily ever after. Not when her own mother sat staring out a window all day and her father worked so hard he barely noticed … until Scarlett had moved out and he’d had to hire a neighbor to look after his wife.

  She blinked into the steamy room and conditioned and rinsed her hair, wondering why she was thinking about all these things now. The answer came easily. Because of how Tanner made her feel. Beyond the mind-altering, epic sex they’d had was an emotional connection she’d never shared with anyone before.

  On top of that, he made her feel cared for. Settled. Not alone. All things she’d never had in her life, and the tantalizing taste of it now scared her. What if she gave in to the emotions threatening to overwhelm her and this relationship didn’t work out? Or what if she let down her walls only to find herself alone again?

  Until Tanner, she hadn’t realized she had those walls. Being with him opened up a scary world of feeling and emotion she didn’t know how to handle. She swallowed hard. Work. She needed to concentrate on work because that was the one thing she knew she could count on. The one thing in her life that made sense and she understood. The rest she’d take as it came and hope for the best.

  She stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in fluffy towels, one on her head and the other wrapped around her body, to find Tanner on his cell phone. He’d already dressed and was wearing a pair of jeans that molded to his fine ass and a black long-sleeve shirt, making a drool-worthy package from behind.

  He must have sensed her presence, because he turned, his eyes darkening as they took her in. “My sister,” he mouthed, pointing to the phone.

  She nodded. Clasping the towel in her hand, she went to pick out her clothes for the day, pulling another variation of her usual pair of slacks and a camisole from the suitcase Tanner had brought upstairs late last night.

  She hadn’t taken the time to unpack because she’d been exhausted. They had, however, fit dinner into their evening. He’d ordered in baked ziti and pizza from a restaurant nearby that delivered.

  “Dinner tonight?” she heard him say into the phone.

  “Go.” This time she mouthed to him.

  “I can’t tonight,” he said instead.

  Scarlett felt guilty keeping him from his family. Worse when she heard what he said next.

  “I know it’s been awhile but things here are”—he glanced at Scarlett and grinned—“complicated.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Go,” she mouthed again. “I’ll stay here.” She gestured to where she was standing.

  He shook his head, his expression stern. “Fine,” he said into the phone. “I’ll be there but I’m bringing a guest.”

  Scarlett waved her hands, trying to let him know that she didn’t need to go with him to his sister’s. That he could leave her here and she’d be perfectly safe. He’d set an alarm last night and she knew she’d be fine alone in the house.

  Instead of agreeing, he treated her to a scowl before turning back to his conversation. “Yes. Six is fine. We’ll be there.”

  Scarlett sighed in acceptance. Clearly he was calling the shots. Six was early for her to be somewhere even on a Friday night, but since this was his family, she wasn’t going to make him feel bad by complaining she had to work.

  He disconnected the call and met her gaze. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen my sister in a while and she pulled the guilt card.”

  She smiled at his brotherly reaction. “That’s okay. But I really could stay here. You could set the alarm and I’d be fine.”

  He exhaled hard. “That’s probably true … but I want you to meet her.”

  She blinked in surprise. “You do? Why?” she blurted out, feeling stupid as soon as the word passed her lips.

  A grin on his handsome face, he stepped forward and tipped her chin up with his hand. “Because when a guy likes a girl and he feels like it could get serious, he wants her to meet his family. And other than the guys, Alyssa is the only family I have.” Something painful flashed in his expression, distracting her from the nerve-inducing comments about them becoming serious.

  “What is your relationship with your parents like these days?” He’d mentioned the fact that his mom was great to him growing up but nothing about her since.

  A muscle ticked in his tight jaw. “Ever since she followed my dad’s lead in not supporting Alyssa or being there for her when she got pregnant, I wanted them both out of my life, but I was still at home. I had no choices. But even then, I knew that’s not what a parent does to their kids.”

  “I agree,” Scarlett said softly, feeling sorry for him and his sister.

  He’d begun his pacing, and she held back a grin because she’d come to know him well enough by now to expect it. Tough conversation? The pacing began.

  “I already had a shitty relationship with my father. After the guys bailed me out of jail, he had his say, believe me. What a waste of time and space I was. How useless.”

  His hands curled into tight fists, his knuckles turning white under the strain. Then, as if a light of awareness went on, he blew out a slow breath and released the tension, opening his hands and shaking them out. She narrowed her gaze. He clearly did work at getting ahold of his anger.

  He paused in front of her. “I wanted nothing to do with him from that point on. I spoke to my mother once, after we opened the club and things were going well. I asked if she wanted help leaving him. She said no, he was her husband. At which point I figure she made her choice. So I made mine. I cut them out completely.”

  She touched his cheek, calling his attention to her. “It’s their loss. Do you understand me? You’re a good man, Tanner. Worth a lot and worth knowing.”

  Gratitude flashed in his expression, but instead of answering, he leaned over and brushed his lips over hers by way of thanks.

  She tilted her head back, expecting him to deepen the kiss when she felt a playful slap on her ass instead. “Hey!”

  “Who’s the one who said she can’t be late for work?” he asked, winking at her.

  Clearly serious conversation was over.

  An hour later, Scarlett found herself at work on time just like Tanner had promised. And to her dizzying shock, her time with Tanner hadn’t stopped the world from turning or her witness from being in the conference room so they could go over trial prep. Putting Tanner and her feelings for him out of her mind for now, she dove into work.

  * * *

  Tanner and Scarlett drove to his sister’s house, a small house in Bayside, a well-kept home with little land but a lot of love inside. Alyssa and Nick had made the best of her getting pregnant unexpectedly and stayed together, falling in love over time and raising a great kid.

  When he’d told Scarlett he wanted her to meet his sister, he hadn’t been kidding. With his feelings for her growing by the day, he intended to do everything he could to ingrain her deeper into his life. It was the only way he could see her opening herself up to the possibility of a real future with him.

  Because of what he didn’t have growing up – the kind of family his sister now had – since meeting Scarlett, Tanner realized he could envision that for himself. Scarlett in his hous
e, his bed, his life. The mother of his kids. Too bad he had no idea if she’d ever considered the idea of becoming a mom, or even getting married. Hell, he’d barely thought of it himself.

  He glanced over at her pretty profile as he parked in front of his sister’s place. Until now.

  “We’re here,” he said unnecessarily, parking behind an idling navy car.

  She’d surprised him by picking up flowers during a break she never usually took, to give to his sister for having her over. “Ready.”

  They headed up the walk just as the door opened and his nephew, Cal, barreled out and down the two steps outside, a duffel bag in his hand. “Uncle Tanner!”

  “Hey!” He wrapped an arm around the boy’s neck and pulled him in for as much of a hug as he’d allow these days. “Cal, this is Scarlett Davis. Scarlett, my nephew, Cal.”

  She smiled at the teen. “Hi. Nice to meet you.”

  “Where are you off to?” Tanner asked.

  “The soccer team is having a sleepover at Steven’s house. Joe’s mom is waiting for me.” He pointed to the navy car Tanner had seen earlier. “Are we still going to a Mets game soon?” He looked at Tanner with big brown eyes.

  “You bet.” He had a customer at the club with a high-up position on the team who could score him tickets. He’d already made the call and would follow up on it this weekend.

  “Great! See ya!” He ran down the small front lawn and flew into the back seat of the car.

  Scarlett met his gaze, a grin on her face. “He’s got his uncle’s good looks.”

  “Careful,” he warned her. “Or I might think you like me.” He tapped her on the nose and laughed.

  Before Scarlett could answer, though she did blush red, his sister cleared her throat. “Ahem. Are you two going to come inside?” Alyssa stood by the open front door, watching them with a huge grin on her face.

  “Hey, Lyssie.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she muttered.

  “It was my childhood name for her and she hates it,” Tanner explained, then introduced the two women in his life.

  Alyssa smiled, looking happy. “Nick’s in the family room watching television. Why don’t you join him,” she said as she closed the door behind him. “Scarlett can keep me company in the kitchen. I just have a few things to finish.”

  Tanner narrowed his gaze. “No snooping,” he warned his sister. “No prying.”

  Scarlett laughed. “I can handle myself.”

  “I know you can. I’m just making sure my big sister behaves.”

  Alyssa rolled her eyes. “Not a shot in hell. Now shoo. Go away.”

  Tanner glanced at Scarlett, looking for a sign she was uncomfortable, but she and his sister had already started for the kitchen, his sister talking a mile a minute.

  Maybe he should have thought twice about bringing her, he mused, because Alyssa might scare his girl off for good. With a shake of his head, he strode into the family room to join his brother-in-law.

  Chapter Nine

  In the brief second she’d met Cal, Scarlett had been charmed by his relationship with his uncle. It was obvious the teen loved Tanner and wanted to spend time with him.

  “Please, take a seat. I’m just going to get the salad ready,” Alyssa, a pretty, dark-haired woman with similar features to Tanner, said as she pulled ingredients from the refrigerator.

  “Can I help?”

  Alyssa shook her head. “No thanks. I’ve got this down to a science. I haven’t told Tanner yet but I’m going back to school to be a nurse. So I’ve learned to chop and dice quickly if we’re going to have home-cooked meals and get me to class on time.”

  “That’s wonderful! He’s going to be so happy for you.”

  She smiled. “It’s never too late to fulfill your dreams. I’ve gotten Cal to the self-sufficient point after school and Nick can pick him up after practice. We’re good.”

  “I understand dreams,” Scarlett murmured.

  “What do you do?” Alyssa asked as she began to separate the lettuce, rip it into pieces, and throw it in the bowl.

  Scarlett shifted in her seat, getting more comfortable. “I’m an assistant district attorney in Manhattan.”

  “Seriously? My brother and an ADA?”

  A wry smile tipped Scarlett’s lips. “They say opposites attract, right?” she said in an attempt to explain her and Tanner’s unexpected connection.

  Alyssa stared at her intently. “Okay, so Tanner didn’t tell me … anything about you two. He just said he was bringing a guest. But,” she said before Scarlett could get a word in edgewise, “he’s never brought anyone here before, never expressed interest in anyone, and that tells me something without him explaining.”

  Scarlett didn’t think it was smart to mention that Tanner was sticking by her side until Victor Clark was caught and proven to be behind the various happenings at the club, and clearly Alyssa had already drawn her own conclusions. It was up to Tanner to give her the details of their relationship or at least his take on it.

  “We’re fairly new,” she said. Although she felt like she had a good handle on who Tanner Grayson really was.

  Although she’d moved from the lettuce on to the tomatoes, chopping with proficiency, Alyssa paused to glance at Scarlett. “But he looked pretty taken with you, at least to me. And you’re here.” She placed the knife down on the counter and leaned toward the table where Scarlett sat. “My brother has been through a lot in his life. He’s been hurt. I can tell you mean something to him, but if you’re not as invested…”

  Scarlett glanced from the knife to the other woman’s intense stare. “Is this where you warn me not to hurt him or I’ll have to answer to you?”

  “Something like that. I just don’t want to see him taken advantage of when he finally opens his heart.”

  Scarlett sat up straighter in her seat. “Your sentiments are in the right place, but the fact is, you don’t know me enough to make assumptions. Tanner and I can work out our relationship ourselves. So can we call a truce and just enjoy our evening?”

  She wanted to stay on this woman’s good side because she meant so much to Tanner, but she wouldn’t be bullied either. Even if she respected why Alyssa felt the need to play protective older sister.

  “And it’s a good thing I decided to come check on you ladies,” Tanner said, stepping into the room. “Two strong-willed women. One who thinks she has to protect me from the world.” He narrowed his gaze at his sister. “News flash. I can take care of myself. And whatever is between Scarlett and me? Is, as she said, between Scarlett and me. Got it?” he asked Alyssa as he picked up a tomato and popped it into his mouth.

  Although Scarlett didn’t need him coming to her defense, she sensed he’d needed to assert himself with his sister, so she let him without argument.

  “Point taken.” Not even fazed by Tanner’s reprimand, Alyssa nodded at him and met Scarlett’s gaze. “But I like her.” Her face changed with a warm, genuine smile. “And she’s right. We should enjoy our evening.” She tossed the ingredients in the bowl, adding dressing. “Dinner’s ready.”

  And Scarlett, who was used to assertive people in her job, realized she’d passed whatever test and issues Alyssa might have had with her, and her shoulders lowered in relief. Although she hadn’t come here thinking she’d have to earn her right to be in Tanner’s life, Scarlett was glad he had a sister who cared enough to look out for him.

  She often wondered, if her brother had lived, whether he’d have been protective and worried about the men she dated. If he’d insert himself in her life like Alyssa had just done. And she was sad she’d never get to find out.

  “Scarlett? Are you okay?” Tanner now stood behind her, hand braced on the back of her chair, as he leaned close.

  She blinked, realizing Alyssa had walked out of the room. “Yes. I’m fine. I was just … thinking of Hank,” she said, deciding to be honest. “And wondering if he’d have looked out for me the way Alyssa does for you.”

  “My big
sister is a pain in my ass. That said…” He kissed her forehead and met her gaze. “Hank would have vetted any guy who got close to you. And for sure he would have been proud of his sister.”

  Her throat filled and grew tight at his words. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  His warm grin caused her heart to skip a beat. “No, thank you, for putting up with Alyssa’s shit. I’ll talk to her so she doesn’t pull a stunt like that again.”

  Scarlett waved away his statement. “No need. I think she and I have come to an understanding. Besides, I like her too.”

  Relief filled his expression and a definite sense of happiness lit up his eyes. “Ready to go join them in the dining room?”

  She laughed and let him pull her up from her seat.

  The rest of the evening passed as if the four of them were old friends. Alyssa asked a lot of questions about Scarlett’s job as she obviously tried to get to know her better. Having made her sisterly point, she’d moved on. And Scarlett was happy to do so. She liked Nick, Alyssa’s husband, and Alyssa broke her nursing school news over dessert. It turned into a celebratory night.

  Later, they’d said goodbye, and she and Tanner agreed to stop by the club instead of going straight home. Scarlett didn’t want to keep Tanner from his business completely, and it was the weekend, after all.

  He parked his SUV behind the building, beside a Mercedes and a Jaguar, and helped her out of her side of the car. They walked hand in hand. Just as they turned the corner leading to the front entrance to the club, someone called Tanner’s name.

  He stiffened and turned slowly.

  “Grayson!” a man called out a second time, as if he hadn’t acknowledged him fast enough.

  Following his lead, Scarlett spun around. And came face-to-face with Victor Clark.

  Tanner’s hand squeezed tighter around hers. “Go inside,” he said in a rough voice.

  As if she’d leave him alone with this man.

  Victor, a large man with an evil, cold look in his eyes, still managed to appear pleased to see them. “It’s been a long time,” he said, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.