Tanner’s purposeful strides carried him from the building. He couldn’t wait to tell Emma. She’d be so excited. He recalled Izzy had once told him Emma was the romantic of the family, and he couldn’t think of a more romantic place to get married than on the front lawn of an old waterfront mansion with the islands laid out before them.
He imagined the radiant smile on her face when he picked her up tonight for their first real date, something he’d been looking forward to all day.
The wedding location wasn’t his only surprise. A realtor friend had found a house for them, just down the road from Isaac and Avery’s place. While he wasn’t thrilled being close to his brother, Emma would like it, and he liked pleasing her, which was a new thing for him.
Tanner paused as he noticed a figure lingering next to his truck in the players’ lot. He narrowed his eyes as he recognized the profile of the man lounging against his vehicle.
Shit. Just what he needed. He glanced at his watch. Plenty of time for a confrontation and still pick Emma up on time. He steeled himself against what was to come next.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Tanner growled, taking the offensive, and stopping a few feet from his truck.
“Waiting for you,” Isaac answered casually, as if they met like this all the time.
“No shit?” Tanner propped his hands on his hips and squared off against his brother, wondering who would actually win a fist fight now that they were grown men, not teenagers pitted against each other by a cruel father for the entertainment of him and his drunken buddies.
“What the fuck took you so long in there?” Isaac leaned against the driver’s side door, arms crossed over his chest, blocking Tanner’s escape route.
“I work out. I’m sure you’re familiar with the concept.”
“Very.” Isaac almost smiled, a rarity for the brother Tanner knew. He noted other changes, too. Ice’s normally artic blue eyes held a hint of warmth. His hard jaw was more relaxed, not so uncompromising, as was his normally tense stance. All in all, Avery had been good for him. Tanner momentarily wondered if Emma would be just as good for him.
Shaking off his brief introspection, Tanner reminded himself this was the man who played a huge part in destroying the one person in Tanner’s life who’d truly meant anything. Tanner would never forgive, no matter how much Isaac had changed.
“Let me guess, you’re here to warn me off Emma and tell me you’ll kick my ass if I so much as hurt one hair on her pretty little head.”
One corner of Isaac’s mouth twitched. “Not exactly.”
“You don’t believe I really love her.” Tanner second-guessed his brother one more time, jumping on the offensive.
“Oh, actually, I believe you do.” Ice’s shrewd smile came slow and easy, reminding Tanner just a little bit of their father.
“What?” Tanner frowned, not expecting that answer. The dickwad was jerking Tanner’s chain, trying to get a reaction out of him, and he had. Totally. Tanner fumbled for a clever comeback and had nothing.
“I knew it.” Isaac chortled with laughter.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Tanner hated being left out, and right now he didn’t get what the hell his brother was talking about.
“You dumb ass, you love her, and you don’t even know it yet.” Isaac continued to grin.
Tanner couldn’t come up with an answer without blowing his cover so he kept his mouth shut. He didn’t love Emma. Yeah, he was fond of her, but hell, love? Not that he’d recognize love if it bit him in his ass or hit him over the head with a two-by-four.
“Emma’s a lot stronger than she looks, and she’s got her act together. You, Tanner, do not. You see, little bro, it’s you I’m worried about.”
“Me?” Tanner choked out the words, while pointing at his chest. He backed up a few steps into the shadows so Isaac couldn’t see the effect of his words. His brother was toying with him, lulling him into believing he might actually be on his side. Tanner knew better.
“Yeah, you. Don’t bullshit me. You’re desperately trying to save your career, and Emma is part of your new image, only the joke’s on you.” Isaac’s smug grin deserved a fist to the mouth, but Tanner held back.
“How’s that?”
“Because I’ve seen you with her. As far as acting, you might be good, but you aren’t that good.”
“What the fuck are you trying to say?”
“That she could hurt you more than you could ever hurt her. You see, we’re both tough guys on the outside, but on the inside with the right woman, we’re as vulnerable as a newborn baby because when it comes to love, that’s exactly what we are, newly born, and struggling to understand our new world.”
“I’m nothing like you,” Tanner ground out the words between gritted teeth.
“You’re everything like me. Remember, bud, we share the same damaged childhood, the same dysfunctional genes.”
“Don’t call me that.” Isaac had used an old nickname for Tanner that went way back to when they were little boys, and their mom was still alive to be a partial buffer against their father’s cruelty. Back when Isaac had actually felt like a brother, so long ago Tanner had almost forgotten.
Isaac nodded, as if he understood the turmoil he’d just unleashed. “Emma is the best thing to ever happen to you, and you can’t see that yet, but you’ll need to trust her enough not to push her away.”
“Is there a point to this conversation?” Tanner used irritation to mask how off-balance his brother made him.
“I’m just concerned that you’re getting in over your head.”
“Me?” Tanner snorted. “I think I can handle one sweet, naive woman just fine, but your concern is touching.” Tanner made a dramatic show of clutching at his chest.
Isaac’s deadpan expression didn’t change. He wasn’t falling for Tanner’s act, and he never had.
“Now move your ass so I can get in my truck.”
Isaac moved and Tanner reached for the driver’s door handle. His brother watched him for a moment, then turned and walked away. Tanner’s chest twisted inside, leaving him oddly sad Isaac was leaving with things unsettled between them.
But Isaac paused. “Tanner? One more thing.”
Tanner almost smiled. He should’ve known Isaac wouldn’t give up that easily. “Yeah?”
“If you hurt her, I will kick your sorry ass from here to Mount Rainier.”
“That’s more like it,” Tanner quipped. He got in his truck and drove away, even as part of him longed to ask Isaac to join him for a beer, or whatever it was Isaac drank now.
He really was getting soft.
* * * *
Tanner walked Emma to his truck, pausing to open the passenger door and help her into the seat. His truck sat up pretty high, and the sundress rode up her legs to mid-thigh. Noticing his wolfish grin, she pulled the skirt down and shot him a glare. He grinned all the more. Even though her sundress didn’t show a lot of skin, it appeared to show enough to put a glint in Tanner’s green eyes.
Tanner wore a pair of black slacks and a green button-down shirt open at the neck. He’d tamed his blond hair somewhat, and she itched to run her fingers through those thick strands and mess it up.
Before he shut the passenger door, he leaned in to give her a gentle kiss. Emma touched a finger to her lips, feeling him there. Tanner hopped into the driver’s seat and tore down the driveway and careened onto the main road. Emma forgot about admiring the man next to her as she gripped the dashboard and prayed she’d live to see dinner. Noticing, Tanner winced and slowed to a tamer pace.
“Sorry,” he apologized, “I’m a dick for scaring you with my Indy 500 driving.”
“It’s okay.” She pried her fingers off the dash and placed them primly in her lap.
“It isn’t okay. That was inconsiderate of me,” he said contritely. Emma marveled that he even cared enough to apologize. “I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
She opened her mouth to tell him that wasn’
t necessary, but he veered off the main road a half mile from the barn and turned down a gravel drive.
“Where are we going?”
He didn’t respond, just stared straight ahead. Puzzled, she studied his profile, hoping she’d find the answer there, but she didn’t. Other than an almost smile playing at one corner of his mouth, he gave nothing away. The long driveway, surrounded by trees on both sides, opened into a clearing. An old blue-gray farmhouse with white shutters gleamed in the early evening sunlight with what appeared to be a fresh paint job. A wraparound porch with a white railing welcomed them with open arms. Flower beds full of bright blooms ran the length of the house, and more brightly colored flowers hung in baskets on the porch on either side of a bright red entry door. Emma immediately had a good feeling about the place, but she still didn’t understand why they were here.
“Do you like it?” Tanner’s furrowed brow gave her the distinct feeling her answer was important to him.
“I love it,” she said with absolute sincerity.
His handsome face lit up with satisfaction. “Good thing. It’s ours.”
Emma’s hands flew to her mouth, and she gasped. “Ours?” She turned to face him, but he was already out of the truck and opening her door for her. He helped her out like a gentleman, turned her to face him, and put his hands on her shoulders.
“I couldn’t see you happy in my condo so my realtor found this place at a bargain price. I’m not wild about it being walking distance from Isaac, but I’m guessing you’ll like being near your twin.”
Right now, not so much, but she’d eventually appreciate the closeness once Avery accepted Emma’s choices. “I can’t believe you did this.” She stared up at him. His green eyes danced with pleasure. Planting a kiss on the tip of her nose, he grabbed her hand and led her up the flagstone walkway to the front steps.
“It’s been completely remodeled, but my realtor promises the house still has its country charm.”
“It’s beautiful. Like my dream house,” Emma responded feeling as if she were in a dream right now. She couldn’t fathom why this man would buy her a house when theirs was only a temporary marriage. She decided not to read anything into his purchase other than it most likely being a good financial investment.
“Want to see it?” His excitement reminded her of a little boy on Christmas day. He could barely stand still, and his hand gripped hers tightly.
“You have a key?”
“Of course, I’m always prepared. Usually that means plenty of condoms, but tonight it means a house key.” He cocked his head to the side and turned on his most adorable smile. “Not that I don’t have the condoms, too.”
“It’s hard to unlock a door with a condom,” Emma shot back.
His brilliant smile stole her heart. “Honey, you’d be surprised how many doors those babies have unlocked.”
“I can only imagine.” She deadpanned, enjoying their playful banter. Usually she was tongue-tied around men, but Tanner was different. He was easygoing and fun-loving, and his entire demeanor loosened her up.
He led her up the wooden steps onto the broad porch. Emma waited while he unlocked the door. She loved the house already without seeing inside, a fact which made her giddy with excitement and sad considering the reality of the situation. This house needed a passel of loud and rambunctious kids playing catch with Dad on the front lawn while Mom watched from the kitchen window while preparing dinner. Or maybe Mom should be playing ball and Dad should be cooking dinner.
She grinned as she pictured a bare-chested and barefoot Tanner in a pink apron chopping vegetables.
“What’s so funny?” he asked with narrowed eyes.
“Do you cook?” she said, all innocence and smiles.
“Not one damn bit.” He studied her for a moment longer and threw open the front door, leading her inside. “The house is old but was remodeled from top to bottom last year. Of course, the guy lost his job and then the house.”
“That’s awful.”
“Yeah, well, his loss. Our gain.” He didn’t seem particularly concerned about the previous owner’s fate.
They walked through the rooms, and Emma loved every inch of this house from the original hardwood floors to the high ceilings and rock fireplaces. She couldn’t wait to put her stamp on the house and make it a home, despite her doubts and their uncertain future. She always believed if you visualize what you want and work hard, your dreams could come true. This house and Tanner represented one half of her dreams, but singing represented the other. Both were within her reach, but both required tough choices and sacrifices she didn’t want to ponder right now.
They paused on the back porch to look out at a small pond complete with ducks and lily pads. “I love it, Tanner, but it’s too much. We can live in your condo.”
“Too late, baby. Don’t worry, I got a deal. If I sold it tomorrow, I’d make a tidy profit.”
She tried to smile, but he’d just told her why he was buying the house, and the purchase had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with the money he’d make.
Tanner pulled her to him and smiled down at her. “Why so sad? I thought you’d be happy. You don’t like it?”
“I—I love it. I’m just overwhelmed.”
“I am an overwhelming guy, but you’ll get used to me.” He touched his lips to her forehead.
She looked over his shoulder through the window at the country kitchen, all brand-new and shiny, yet true to the age and style of the house with hickory cabinets and pepper patterned granite. She’d fantasized about a house like this, a man like this, a future like this. The future part she’d never have, but two out of three wasn’t bad. Why couldn’t she enjoy the ride while it lasted?
“Doesn’t anything faze you? You’re always so cool, so calm, like nothing gets to you.” Emma remembered his nickname at the U-Dub—Joe Cool.
“Not much,” His eyes flickered with something she couldn’t put her finger on, but it was gone in a flash to be replaced by that familiar twinkle. “I just go where the ride takes me.”
She could learn something from him. She’d been planning every aspect of her life since she was a little girl. “You’re lucky.”
He raised a brow. “You think?”
“Yes, I do.”
Tanner frowned. “Hardly.” Again that almost indiscernible flicker momentarily dulled his deep green eyes. Emma pledged to find out who the man was under the big smile, certain he went a lot deeper than he wanted others to discover, and it all started with his deceased sister and Isaac, if not much, much earlier.
“So do we have a date for the wedding?” He rested an arm across her shoulders as they watched a duck and her ducklings float in the pond.
“There aren’t a myriad of choices considering you start training camp in two weeks, and I haven’t found a venue,” Emma responded. She’d gone over the pros and cons of each possible date to the nth degree and put out a few feelers for locations.
“Actually two-and-a-half weeks. Starts on a Thursday.” Tanner chewed on a toothpick, totally unconcerned with anything going on in his world, or so he seemed.
“Okay.”
“And we have a venue.”
“We do?”
He raised a brow. “Oh ye of little faith. This man took care of it.”
“He did, did he?”
Tanner nodded, “Madrona Island, Reynolds’ estate, courtesy of Carson Reynolds. Name your date and time.”
Emma couldn’t believe it. Her impromptu wedding would have a fairy tale setting on an island reputed to have special magic. She couldn’t possibly ask for anything more. She threw her arms around Tanner and kissed him soundly until both of them were breathless and ready to get naked on the porch of their new home. Tanner held back this time, extracting himself from her embrace and keeping her at arm’s length.
“I’m just a man, Emmie. Keep that up, and you won’t make it to our wedding night.” He ground his teeth together, his entire body strung tight from his iron co
ntrol. “When do you want the wedding?”
Emma took several seconds before she regained enough control to answer him in any coherent fashion. “I’m going to say next Saturday, a week from today. That doesn’t give me much time, but I do have three sisters who are experts at putting on parties, and now we have a location.”
“Please tell me this won’t be a big huge wedding?” he pleaded playfully.
“It won’t. Maybe a couple dozen people. I want to keep it secret so we don’t have any paparazzi there.”
Tanner shrugged. “Fine with me. I’ve been at a few outdoor weddings with helicopters flying overhead the entire time. Somewhat destroys the whole mood.”
“I’m sure it does.” His words reminded her how they travelled in different circles. He attended Hollywood celebrity weddings as a guest while she was hired to attend weddings for the sometimes rich and sometimes famous. Despite wanting to be a singer, she hated being in the limelight, while Tanner basked in it to the point of a sunburn.
Tanner guided her to the side yard, which was much more than a side yard. Along with a huge lawn, there was a large, overgrown vegetable garden, and beyond that, a few acres of pastureland.
“How much of this belongs to this property?”
“It’s a five-acre lot.”
“I love it.”
“Me, too.” He winked at her. “I never thought I’d be much for country living, but this suits you, and I’m good with it.”
He pulled her back into his arms for a deep, tender kiss, the kind of kiss a man gives a woman to show her how much she means to him. He kissed like he meant every luscious second, not that Emma had much experience recognizing when a man was sincere. She’d failed miserably before. Why should Tanner of the silver tongue and laughing green eyes be any different?
Because she wanted him to be.
And perhaps, she’d dwell in her fictional world as long as possible.
Tanner walked her over to a porch swing and pulled her down on his lap. “I’ve missed you. Did I tell you that?”
Blindsided Page 10
