WindSwept Narrows: #22 Erika & Vianne

by Diroll-Nichols, Karen

  “And this person is bothering one of your friends?”

  “It’s a little complicated,” she said slowly, reluctantly deciding she liked the husky way his laughter rolled over her.

  “It’s always complicated. If there’s anything I can do to help, just ask,” he told her easily, enjoying the puzzled confusion on her face. “I can see you have more personal questions, Vianne.”

  “The professional side of me says the questions I’m asking shouldn’t be permitted in the business world.”

  “We’re friends. Ask whatever you want.”

  “Were you ever married?”

  “Never had the pleasure. I set my sights on a lot of goals the past few years that wouldn’t have been fair to a partner in my life,” he took a careful pause before asking. “Have you?”

  “Once. A long time ago,” she shook her head, lips lifting a little. “Seems almost like another person, to be honest.”

  “What happened?”

  “I was stupid. Trusting. Not enough,” she reached for the water glass before her mouth continued where her brain didn’t want to be.

  “How old were you?” Tanner continued eating, pulling mussels apart and forking out the insides.

  “A whopping twenty. I’m not sure where our heads are at that age.”

  “Lost in happy ever after,” he said softly. “A time when you still had the courage to believe. Maybe you’re a little too hard on yourself, Vianne. You’re still single. No one special in your life?”

  “I have friends. I’m embarking on a career shift and I get to still play reporter,” she raised the wine glass with a smile. “What more could a girl ask?”

  “So the bad marriage was…what…ten years ago?”

  Vianne barely managed a swallow before she started coughing, his palm on her back while the other hand removed the wine glass from her fingers.

  “Breathe, Vianne,” Tanner patted gently, backing off when she waved her palms at him.

  “I’m okay. Seriously,” she stared at him, amber eyes blinking in amazement.

  “What?”

  “Nothing,” her head shook adamantly. “Nothing at all. I’m good. How’s your paella?”

  “Excellent. I love seafood and the spices they’re using but I don’t like that something I said disturbed you.”

  “Didn’t your role models tell you it wasn’t polite to ask about a woman’s age?”

  “It’s just numbers,” Tanner went back to his plate, opened a large clam and forked out the steamed insides. “The number can never be more important than how you feel, Vianne.”

  “And you’re honestly single?” Again with that damn sexy laugh, she thought, eating her pasta and prawns.

  “Are you offering to fill the void in my pitiful life?” Tanner was sure he was going to need to resuscitate her and was grateful the wine glass was empty when she reached for it.

  “Are you trying to kill me?” She glared at him, her palm whipping up, one finger stopping him from speaking.

  Tanner decided she really wasn’t ready for his answer to that one and went back to eating the delicious Spanish rice dish.

  “Would you care for some? It’s quite good,” he moved his plate a little closer to her. “Yes, Vianne, I am honestly single. But then, so are you. Why does it surprise you?”

  “Because women are more predatory than men,” she answered honestly. “And I’m really surprised some female hasn’t managed to convince you she’s the best thing since sliced bread,” she reached over and lifted one of the muscles with her fingers, pried it open and forked the insides out, savoring the flavor. “That is really good.”

  “Help yourself. I prefer communal plates, myself,” Tanner focused on the rice and vegetables and she went back to her Alfredo pasta. “So because I’m not gullible, it makes me suspect?”

  “That isn’t what I said,” she peeled her last prawn. “I think we should focus on the new office and what we’re going to outline and begin with. The camera people have been busy collecting footage and I can easily do interviews and get impressions and outlook from the people both at the top and at ground level.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Tanner contented himself with her topic of choice, a relaxing atmosphere settling around them as they talked and finished their dinners. He even managed to make her laugh before the meal was over. He signed the ticket to be billed to his room and stood up, offering his palm to her.

  “Come to the lounge with me, Vianne.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be responsible for you running out of baseball statistics, Tanner,” but her hand slid into his as she stood to walk with him from the restaurant.

  “Why not?”

  “Because we work together.”

  “You said you’re friends with several people who work for the resort. Even the owners,” he saw the answer on her face. “Then you are familiar with a lot of couples who work together as well as who work in other departments, but for the same organization.”

  “Of course…”

  “Dance with me, Vianne. Please,” Tanner raised the palm that held his to his lips, brushing the folded knuckles with a kiss. He liked the slow nod she offered.

  “I’ll be right out,” she gestured to the hall with the restrooms.

  “You’ve taken to hanging out in my resort, Tanner?” Logan Sheffield came from the large foyer, his wife Samantha at his side. “Samantha, Tanner Clayton. Our new historian.”

  “My pleasure,” Tanner took the palm she offered. “She’s just as beautiful as you said…maybe more so. Congratulations on your daughter.”

  “Thank you,” Samantha caught sight of Vianne and waved. “You’ve met your partner.”

  “I have,” Tanner agreed, though the words meant something vastly different in his mind. She’d collected her trench coat and had it over her arm. “I’ve convinced her to dance with me in one of your lounges. It was nice meeting you, Samantha. Logan, I’ll give you a call on Monday.”

  “Enjoy yourself. I’m glad you accepted the offer, Vianne,” Logan said honestly.

  “She’s the best,” Samantha teased, grinning at her friend. “I’ll be in touch, Vi. Have some fun.”

  “I always have fun,” Vianne said, groaning when the buzzing began in her bag. She knew from the ring tone who was calling and hoped nothing was wrong. She held up a finger at the bemused Tanner and slid the phone free. “Erika…I…that’s good, but…will you stop laughing and slow down!” She hissed, flushing red at the laughter at her side, his hand on her elbow and guiding her out of the mainstream of people passing them by to get into the restaurant.

  “I…no! Leave him alone and listen to me!” Vianne groaned at the new burst of giggles from the phone. “I’m kind of on a date...well, it’s business, actually…I do to have fun evenings! But…no! No…Erika...alright! Damn it, I’ll ask!”

  Vianne decided much later that it had just not been one of her better days.

  She rarely – rarely, she repeated to herself in the flash of seconds swirling around her – lost control of the world around her. She lowered the phone, her eyes closed for a long drawn in breath before she looked up to see him. Just smiling down at her, full lips taunting her and deep chocolate eyes filled with teasing. It was just so wrong.

  “My friend…”

  “Erika.”

  She glared at him. “Yes. Erika. Has rented a pilot to fly them to Idaho to get married. She would like me to go with her as a witness and friend. I…”

  “I’d love to,” Tanner said with a broad grin. “I’ll spring for some champagne. Should we meet them at the airport?”

  Vianne knew her mouth had fallen open. Again. She really needed to get that fixed. But it only seemed to happen lately and only around Tanner Clayton. She felt his fingers on her chin, gently pushing her mouth closed and shook herself.

  “Erika…alright, he said…good lord woman will you stop the squealing!” Vianne groaned while Tanner laughed. “A limo? Oh for…yes, yes…alright…you owe
me,” she growled, snapped the phone closed and worked to draw in a slow, steadying breath.

  Tanner took her hand, twining their fingers and wondering if he could possibly have any better luck. He led her toward the main lounge and bar.

  “I take it we’re being picked up?”

  “Yes…Erika and Zee will be in a limo outside in a few minutes.”

  “She sounded happy,” he commented quietly, releasing her fingers and moving his hand to her waist, holding her close in the Friday evening crush that was beginning to take over the resort businesses.

  “She is,” Vianne said softly, remembering the look in her friend’s eyes. She smiled and sighed. “She is. Zee makes her laugh and he’s crazy in love with her.”

  “A good reason to get married.” He pulled his key card out and spoke to the bartender, a firm confidence in his voice that resonated through him.

  “This is very nice of you,” Vianne finally let the location register, the two large bottles of champagne in Styrofoam buckets making her blink. She accepted the packet of disposable champagne glasses while Tanner looped an arm around each bucket.

  “I’m a sucker for happy endings. Everyone should have them,” he said simply, nodding to the door. “Lead the way, Vianne. I used to know a guy named Zee…wasn’t his real name. He busted ass surfing for about five years in the circuit.”

  “Xavier Moore,” Vianne said with a nod. “That’s him. He has a sandwich shop on the point. It’s where Erika met him. How do you know him?”

  “I used to surf. One of my many fascinations growing up,” he said with a grin at the memories. “Never in his category, but we lived on the same base in Hawaii for a while.”

  Why didn’t she know that? Why did it seem like there were huge gaping holes in the information she had about one Tanner Clayton? He was built well, she thought, imagining him on a surf board, glistening from a really nice smelling coconut oil.

  “Vianne? Did you hurt yourself? You let out with a groan every now and then that’s beginning to concern me. Shoes too tight?” Tanner walked to one of the wide stone benches, settled the buckets on the seat and reached for her, the bag of plastic champagne glasses held in front of her in clutched arms like a shield.

  “Fine. I’m good. Pinchy shoes, yes, that’s the problem,” she tossed out when she realized the vision that made her groan had actually come out aloud.

  “Pinching shoes make you blush?” Tanner cupped the side of her face. He knew it was pure stubbornness that kept her from backing away, her head up and defiant. He felt the heat against his palm. “You sure you’re alright? I think you’re running a fever,” he said, working to keep his face from revealing his amusement.

  He was laughing at her! She could see it in his eyes.

  “I’m fine, thank you. Never felt better.” She watched the long white limo enter the wide, arcing curve and breathed a sigh of relief. “I think that’s Erika.”

  Vianne managed to keep her feet firmly planted when Erika launched herself from the limo, hugging her friend soundly.

  “Thank you so much for coming with us!” Excitement boiled in every word she spoke and Vianne wasn’t sure how she managed to bounce in those heels. She thrust her palm out. “Hi, Erika Vincent. It’s really nice of you to go along with this.”

  “Tanner Clayton, and congratulations,” he shook her hand and grinned at the man exiting the back of the limo. They stepped up to one another like old, good friends, hugging and both shaking their heads. “Still crazy about those flower shirts.”

  “Hey, my girl likes them,” Zee said with a laugh, taking one of the buckets from him. “And I bet this was your idea? You spent too much time in those posh schools in London,” he chided, laughing and stopping when Tanner came up close behind him, his mouth moving next to his ear. “Alright. Tanner…so how do you know the reporter and just what are you up to?”

  “Ask me later when we’re alone,” Tanner returned in a very low voice.

  “Come on, ladies, inside, we have a pilot waiting at the airport.” Zee looked his friend over and shook his head.

  Zee stretched out on the opposite side, watching Erika and Vianne slide into the limo before he reached for one of the bottles and efficiently released the pressurized cork.

  “We’re going to be working together for a long time,” Tanner said, accepting the glass of bubbling wine.

  “To friends…new and old,” Zee leaned back and studied his friend. “Good stuff,” he said after a taste.

  “Very good,” Erika agreed, draining half the glass and looking at Vianne. “It’s a celebration, Vianne. Drink! We have a wonderful weekend ahead of us and look!” She thrust her hand out in front of Vianne, fingers wiggling. “Isn’t it gorgeous?”

  “Beautiful,” Vianne lifted the champagne glass and drained the bubbly without thinking about it. It had been a very long time since she felt the need to get drunk and sleep and this was rapidly becoming one of those few times. She held the glass out, one brow raised when Zee hesitated and even had the nerve to look at Tanner before filling the glass. “Thank you,” Came the frosty response.

  Zee waited for the nod before releasing the side clamps and swiveling their seats to face one another. He leaned close to Erika, whispering and barely escaping the excited wiggle.

  “Twenty questions! I haven’t played that in ages,” Erika blinked behind the round glasses she wore.

  Vianne relaxed in the seat, her gaze on Tanner. One finger raised as he poured champagne into the half empty glass.

  “You…are dangerous,” she declared, oblivious to the interest in her friend. “Like a lion dangerous.” She nodded as if to herself, sipping the very sweet drink with a sigh.

  “Hmm…here I thought I’d made it to the harmless and domesticated list,” Tanner said, winking at Erika to be rewarded with a giggle.

  “Dangerous,” Vianne repeated firmly.

  “Tell me you like kids,” Erika leaned into Zee, taking a long kiss before backing up.

  “I love kids. I was an only child and always wanted someone to play with,” he admitted. “How many kids would you like?”

  “Hmmm…three, I think,” she announced decisively. “But not tomorrow. I want a few years with just you and me,” she told him happily.

  “What about you, Vianne?” Tanner watched the shield she wore like her trench coat slip slightly, her head shaking. “You don’t like kids?”

  “I love kids. They’re so much fun and so…honest,” she closed her mouth on the next words, taking a deep drink before speaking again. “But that ship has passed. I have friends I can borrow kids from.”

  “Passed? Why?”

  “You are dangerous,” she repeated, turning her face to stare into the night outside the plane.

  “She thinks she’s too old,” Erika confided in a sing-song whisper.

  “I think three kids would be perfect,” Vianne declared with a nod at her friend. “So there.”

  “So you aren’t afraid to answer questions,” Tanner teased, topping off her glass again. “I was sure reporters only asked questions and rarely answered them.”

  “You might be dangerous,” she informed him loftily. “But I’m not afraid of you or anything else. Ask away,” she challenged, sighing and shifting in the seat, her legs stretched out and laying on his lap.

  Vianne ignored the giggles from her friend with a dismissing wave of her palm. And she only sunk a little lower in the comfortable seat when Tanner slipped her heels off and began massaging her feet. She swore her eyes crossed before she drained the glass and actually purred.

  “You’ve found her weak spot,” Erika confided, turning in her seat and leaning back into Zee with a contented sigh.

  “I plan on exploiting it then,” Tanner said, allowing the silence of the night surround them for the next half hour.

  Zee held Erika close to him. A sweet closeness that was definitely enviable.

  “It’s a fast flight and we’re about ready to land,” Zee positioned Erika ba
ck in her seat and buckled her in, nodding to Tanner and watching him do the same. Both men took the empty glasses and set them into the bucket with the empty champagne bottle.

  “I have a present for you,” Tanner leaned closer to Vianne as the plane made the easy, smooth descent.

  “You cannot give me presents.” She said firmly, though her speech was getting a little muddled in her brain. “You are so cute. Sexy and you smell amazing,” she leaned closer, her body held in place by the taut, wide band of the shoulder harness. “And I know you from somewhere…I know I do…I’ll remember, I always remember…”

  Tanner kept still, closing his eyes and letting the scent of her fill him as she pressed her face into his throat. He thought that was potent. Then he felt her tongue flick out and scrape along the sensitive spot beneath his ear. His hands gripped the rests at his side but his body was threatening him with serious damage if he dared move away from her right now.

  He was grateful Erika and Zee were facing front and busy talking about something. He probably knew the words but focusing on anything but the hot tongue swirling along his ear and neck was completely out of the question. He’d waited too long to get this close to Vianne Summers.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Eric Tanner Clayton could still remember the first time he saw her. His older friends claimed it was nothing more than an infatuation with an older woman. A damn sexy twenty-three year old and he’d been all of seventeen at the time.

  Almost eighteen, he thought in his own defense.

  She came to the garage where he was set up with some friends and done an interview for the college paper in Southern California.

  True, he’d changed a bit. Filled out and gotten taller. His tongue had since untied itself so he could flirt with her instead of stare and drool. Like a geeky seventeen year old. But she hadn’t treated him like that. She’d treated him with polite respect.

  So when her hand accidentally hit the release and she was suddenly flung forward and lay sprawled along his body, who was he to refuse the gift?