Twice as Sexy
Page 15
She stood in the warmth of his embrace and let his kiss wash away the loneliness of the past week and the second-guessing she’d done about leaving him.
“Oh, man. At least shut the door!” Leigh giggled and a second later, the door slammed closed.
Scarlett groaned and buried her head against Tanner’s firm chest.
He patted her on the back. “It was just Leigh. You’re fine.”
She lifted her head and met his gaze. “Want to eat?”
Chuckling, he pulled out her chair for her to ease down into it. They sat across from each other, talking about their past week, discussing the fact that Vic was, in fact, refusing to accept a plea deal, and they were facing a potential trial.
“So I was thinking,” Tanner said. “I wanted to lay out a possible schedule for you and get your opinion.”
She wrinkled her nose in confusion. “Okay.”
“I asked myself, if I lived with a woman who claimed to work nonstop, when would I see her?”
Her mouth ran dry despite the fact that she was currently sipping from a bottle of water.
“Want to know what I came up with?” He raised his eyebrows.
She managed a nod.
“Well, I’d wake up in the morning with her in my arms. And before work, I’m sure we’d have time for either a quickie in bed or in the shower, or if we woke up earlier, a longer session.”
He took a bite of his sandwich as if he were discussing the weather and not their lives. He took his time, chewing and swallowing. “I could take her to work if we wanted to be together then, or she could go by car service. I’d work out at the gym and she’d go to work. You with me so far?”
She nodded again, listening carefully now.
“We could have lunches like these when things are quiet for her and sadly not see each other when she’s busy, say in court or with witness prepping.” He shrugged. “On days she has to work, she’d go home and do just that. I could have some days with dinner at home, others I’d have to be at the club. So she could meet me there on occasion. And I have partners, so honestly I don’t need to be there all the time.” Leaning back in his seat, he studied her as he spoke.
“And the weekends?” she whispered, hope lodged in her chest. Although she’d made the choice, it had been the wrong one. Was he offering her a second chance?
“I have nights on and off, alternating with the guys. Sundays we’re closed. Monday nights too. I really like sports, and watching television while she works beside me is no hardship.”
He finished his sandwich, wrapped up the garbage, hers and his, and tossed it in the trash.
Then he stood. “Thanks for hearing me out. I wanted to say it out loud. Make sure it sounded feasible. I’ll just let you get back to work now.”
“Wait, what?” She’d barely had time to process what he was saying.
Oh, hell, she knew exactly what he was saying, and she was a complete and utter idiot.
He reached the door, but she was around the desk and turning him toward her before he could open it and expose them to the rest of her office. “Don’t go.”
He slowly faced her, his expression serious, his gaze staring intently at her.
“I was scared,” she admitted to him. “I am scared.”
His hand stroked gently down her cheek. “Of what? Of me?”
She shook her head. “Of what I feel for you. How I know it can break me if I lose you. I … I know what loss feels like and it’s awful.”
He braced her face in his hands. “And the last week alone, was it awful?”
She nodded. “The worst. But I told myself it was for the best. I used the walls I built as an excuse to keep from getting close to anyone or getting hurt. But then you barreled into my life and I couldn’t find those defenses. I couldn’t shore up the walls. You broke down every one. But still, I tried to go back to my regular life because it was safe. And I hated it.” Tears filled her eyes and a lump rose in her throat.
All the emotion she hadn’t let herself feel came flooding out because last week had been like loss and she never wanted to experience that again.
He brushed at the tears with his thumbs. “I love you, Scarlett. So let me in. Let me be with you in busy times and free times. In good and bad.”
She laughed. A real, honest, carefree laugh. “I love you too. And I’m sorry I was an idiot. I should have stayed. I just…”
“You needed to see for yourself what it was like without me or you’d never have understood what we had. You couldn’t let yourself believe in it. I get it. I knew before you left that we’d end up right here, right now.”
She tipped her head to the side. “How?” How had he been so sure of them?
His smile was so sexy it took her breath away. “Because I know you, Scarlett Davis. I know you in here.” He placed his hand over her heart, the same way she’d once done to him.
“Now will you get back to work so later on I can take you home, where you belong?”
* * *
Tanner spent the afternoon on an errand he’d never pictured himself doing. For shits and giggles, he’d taken Landon along with him since Jason was busy, and he knew his single friend wouldn’t understand. Someday, he’d have his elevator moment, as Tanner had come to think of the instant the doors opened and he’d laid eyes on Scarlett. Only then would Jason’s and Tanner’s lives make sense to their confirmed bachelor partner.
As expected, Landon grunted and groaned through every piece of jewelry they looked at.
“Who gives a shit if it’s circular, oval, or square? A diamond’s a diamond,” he’d said.
Tanner had grinned. “You’ll see,” was the only answer he had.
Now that he heard the words he’d needed from Scarlett, he was locking shit down. No way was she finding any excuse to leave him again.
He picked her up from work, taking his SUV this time because his nerves demanded that he be in control of something and driving was it. The ring burned a hole in his pocket. Sure, she’d agreed to move in with him, but he knew damn well he was pushing it asking her to marry him so quickly.
He couldn’t seem to stop himself. The last week was the most patient he’d ever been. He didn’t have another ounce inside him. They’d already gone to her apartment and packed up enough for the rest of the week. This weekend he intended to move everything he could get his hands on into his house.
“Tanner, are you okay?” she asked, touching his arm.
His hand gripped the steering wheel hard. “I’m good. Just going over some things in my head for the event with Tangled Royal.”
“I’m so excited for it! Oh! Let’s listen to them on CarPlay!” She inserted the plug into her phone, scrolled around, and Lola Corbin’s husky voice sounded around them.
The songs calmed him for the duration of the ride, and by the time they walked into the house … he was ready.
He opened the door and Scarlett stepped inside. As per usual, they walked through the kitchen, he dropped his keys in a dish, and they headed upstairs to change. He slid his hand into his pocket, feeling for the ring.
She pushed open the door … and candles greeted her. Flickering flameless candles because he’d had Felicia, their manager, come by and set up the room. He couldn’t risk a real fire.
“Oh my God!” Scarlett stepped inside and he followed. “What is all this?” Scarlett spun around at the same time he lowered himself to one knee.
“Tanner?” Her sweet mouth parted at the sight of him.
He held out the ring he’d tortured Landon to buy, his mouth dry as dirt. “I know I just got you to agree to move back in with me, but I want more. I want it all. With you. Scarlett, will you marry me?”
She didn’t even look at the ring. She merely nodded and threw herself against him, something that was becoming a nice habit, knocking him over.
They fell to the floor, her mouth on his, kissing him over and over. He felt around for the ring he’d dropped and pulled his head back. “It’s nice to k
now my fiancée isn’t materialistic, but would you like to at least see the ring?”
She grinned and he took in her happiness, feeling it like it was his own. “Sorry. I’m just so happy to be back here with you and I didn’t expect a marriage proposal. But since you asked, and I’m not letting you go again ever … yes, and let’s see.”
He slid the ring onto her finger and she glanced down at the cushion-cut diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller stones. “I love it,” she whispered. “And I love you. And your patience. And everything about you. I’m going to make this last week up to you.”
He held up her finger wearing his ring and kissed her there. “You already did.”
Epilogue
The band Tangled Royal played on stage at Club TEN29, marking the end of a dark period in Landon’s life. One of many. Apparently he was destined to have a shitload of bad stuff dumped on him any time he started to think life could turn itself around. However, Victor Clark was in prison again, this time for what they hoped would be a long fucking time. The club was prospering. And his friends were happy, one married, another engaged. He’d take it.
As he glanced around at the club, which was his life, he thought about his twin. Levi was never far from his mind. Neither was the son his brother never knew he’d had. But Levi’s college girlfriend, Amber, was starting a new life too, returning to college this summer and moving closer to Landon and his parents, so they could see ten-year L.J. more often. That was a good thing. He loved L.J. and the notion of being there to help guide him was a good one.
But Landon’s focus would always be the club named for the date his twin had died. As he watched Tangled Royal and thought about how many people a popular live band brought in, an idea began to form: A summer residency at Club TEN29 with a singer people would flock to see.
He could envision it now and he fucking loved it. He’d run it by Jason and Tanner in the morning while they counted receipts from tonight’s gig. From there, his thoughts turned to what kind of artist he could find that would check all the boxes.
Dance music.
Talented.
Alluring.
Sexy.
Female.
He’d have his work cut out for him on the search, but it would be so worth the effort when he found her and the money came pouring in.
Can’t get enough Sexy? BETTER THAN SEXY is up next. Click HERE to order!
Insta-love only happens in the movies.
Insta-lust? That she’d buy into.
Until she meets take-charge club owner Landon Bennett and falls head over heels at a glance.
When hot as sin Landon Bennet offers sexy songstress Vivienne Clark a summer residency at his popular Manhattan nightclub, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime and she can’t resist. Add in the man’s obvious interest and seductive attention and life is perfect. Until she puts together the pieces of his past. Fate might have brought them together, but is the intimate relationship they’ve been building strong enough to overcome one painful fact. She’s the sister of the man who killed his twin.
GET BETTER THAN SEXY! Click HERE to order!
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About the Author
Carly Phillips is the N.Y. Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of over 50 sexy contemporary romance novels featuring hot men, strong women and the emotionally compelling stories her readers have come to expect and love. Carly’s career spans over a decade and a half with various New York publishing houses, and she is now an Indie author who runs her own business and loves every exciting minute of her publishing journey. Carly is happily married to her college sweetheart, the mother of two nearly adult daughters and three crazy dogs (two wheaten terriers and one mutant Havanese) who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. Carly loves social media and is always around to interact with her readers. You can find out more about Carly at www.carlyphillips.com.
Table of Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Book
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
About Better than Sexy
Keep Up with Carly
About the Author