Be with Me

by Jules Bennett

  And right there in the Quicky Mart her body betrayed her and started heating all over again. Damn hormones were all over the place.

  Everything about the man was dangerous. Not in the sense that her ex had been a danger. No, Tanner made her think too much about what she wanted, what she’d finally taken. He made her crazy with that devil-may-care attitude. And he was dangerous because those lips could drive a woman out of her mind with need.

  But she had no idea how he’d react to the news of a baby. Sex was one thing, but entering into a bond that would forge them together for life was a whole other level. It was that bound for life thing that had Melanie more terrified than anything. She’d finally gotten control for the first time, but now everything she’d built for herself, every decision she’d made in the last two years, were threatened. Not because of the innocent baby, but because of the man who stood before her.

  She would not fall prey to another man again. And once Tanner found out about the baby, Melanie feared he’d become all too hovering and controlling.

  “I want to see you, Mel. I never chase women and I don’t intend to start now.” His lips thinned slightly, the muscle in his jaw clenched. “If I thought you didn’t have a good time, then I’d back off, but I know you did. My shift ends at seven. You know where I live.”

  So many emotions curled low in her belly as Tanner left her standing alone holding a bottle of Quicky Mart’s best white wine with a twist-off cap that money could buy.

  Tanner had thrown out that invitation for one reason and one reason only.

  What he didn’t know was that the girl who had gone home with him over a month ago was not the same girl she was on an everyday basis. She’d been in town long enough to get to know him through their friends. From the get-go she and Tanner had butted heads, they’d argued, they’d ignored each other, and finally shared witty banter. But beneath all of their heated exchanges, the sexual tension had been brewing.

  Melanie had fought the good fight until she hadn’t been able to deny herself another second. Wasn’t that why she’d left Atlanta and her old life? Hadn’t she wanted to be free to make her own decisions? Free to live as she wanted and not be ashamed of herself or her past? More importantly, free to be out from underneath such a controlling thumb. For once in her life, she was finally in charge . . . and she wasn’t doing a very good job of things.

  Turning to head to the register, and praying she wouldn’t run into Tanner again, thoughts swirled through her head. What was she going to do? She obviously had to tell him about the baby, and he’d just presented her the perfect opportunity.

  Melanie knew the type of man Tanner was. Which was exactly why she’d chosen to give in to her desires and have a one-night stand. He was safe, he wouldn’t want a relationship. She’d been through enough hell to know that committing herself to another man might never happen and she was just fine on her own, thank you very much.

  Oh, she still wanted that family with a devoted husband. She was just enough of a romantic to believe such faithful, loving men still existed, but she had also learned enough about herself to know she didn’t have to have a man to be complete.

  And trying to form any type of a relationship with the first man since her marriage, was not smart. Getting pregnant by a rebound guy wasn’t either, yet here she was.

  Melanie blew out a sigh and quickly paid for the wine. She headed out to her new-to-her car and brought the engine to life, then cranked up the A/C. Despite being the middle of November, Haven, Georgia, had delivered a warm afternoon with the sun shining bright. Of course the heat in her body wasn’t only because of the unusual weather. Running into Tanner when she hadn’t been prepared had set her body into all sorts of heated emotions.

  Before they’d ever been introduced through their mutual friends, Tanner had pulled her over and given her a ticket. She’d hated him at that moment. Her life had been in a bad spot, she’d been struggling to find that strong woman within.

  The similarities between her ex and him had been too close, her memories too raw. Even then, though, she hadn’t been able to deny the instant attraction. Something about a man who put himself out there to protect others was so attractive, but she and Tanner weren’t in a spot that led to happily ever after. They were friends at best.

  Melanie drove through the main part of downtown Haven, past all the little specialty shops with colorful flowerpots outside their doors. Tourists milled about on the sidewalks, couples walked hand in hand, a family headed into the park with a picnic basket.

  This is why she stayed. Even if Livie hadn’t decided to settle down and enlist Melanie and Jade’s help in renovating the airport, Melanie would’ve still planted roots. Haven was absolutely perfect. It was impossible to live here and not be happy, and she deserved happy, damn it.

  Besides, where else did she have to go? Going back to Neville was a big hell no. They’d been divorced for two years, but now that he was gearing up to run for the senate, he was determined to get her back, to use her as his big publicity angle.

  In his warped world, he’d have the paparazzi in his pocket to spin this as the happy couple coming back together as a united front—and he’d no doubt get her stylist back. Melanie’s hair would have that perfectly coiffed look, her suits would be tailor-made in red, white, or blue, and she’d have to fake the smiles everywhere because you never knew where the media were hiding.

  Melanie had changed every aspect of her life. While she had her law degree, she’d quickly discovered that wasn’t her passion. Over the past two years, she had become an extremely popular social media motivation speaker and blogger. Neville thought she was perfect to play the role of wife once again. He figured their united front and faux romantic reunion was something from a fairy tale.

  That deranged man clearly had a different view of their marriage than she did if he thought for one second she’d ever go back to him. And being a politician’s wife sounded like another level of hell she didn’t want to get into. Being married to the mayor had been enough. A senator? No, thanks.

  Even if Neville left her alone, being part of the big-city life, the fake smiles and the air kisses, all of that had been so depressing. She didn’t want to be back in Atlanta. She’d choose her ratty childhood trailer park over the hoity-toity lifestyle she’d lived for years.

  Haven had been exactly what she’d needed at precisely the right time. The name of the quaint town itself seemed to welcome her with open arms. Granted she hadn’t liked the circumstances that brought them all to town.

  Livie had lost her father and had come to try to sell his dilapidated airport. But she had ended up falling in love and getting engaged to Jax Morgan, who owned the other half of the airport.

  Jade had come along because her personal and professional life sucked and she’d desperately needed the getaway. The three of them had formed a strong bond a few years ago and hadn’t looked back. They were closer than sisters could ever be.

  When Melanie first filed for divorce, she’d started training for a marathon. She’d wanted to prove to herself that she was strong, that she was able to do something so great with her body that had been beaten down for too long. But less than a mile from the finish line, she’d tripped and twisted her ankle. Livie and Jade had come along and flanked each side of her, carrying her to the end so she could finish.

  Friendships and a bond deeper than sisters was instantly born.

  So, yeah, there was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. When Livie was dealing with the loss of her father and the up-in-the-air decisions about the unwanted airport, they’d come right along with her.

  Melanie thought she’d been strong by leaving Neville and pushing forward with her new life, but even since moving to Haven, she’d evolved so much more. Each day she became more and more determined to cling to the woman she’d become.

  Thanks to her booming social media accounts and her popular blog, Melanie had reached so many women who were striving to become a better version of thems
elves. She’d taken time off from working as an attorney, focusing on herself and the airport renovations. At least with her law degree, she could guide Livie and Jax in the right direction and still do the work she loved with her online sites.

  Now, though, she had a more pressing matter. Melanie came to a stop at a red light and settled a hand on her flat belly. She had so much rolling through her mind, so much she needed to sort through before she went to Tanner’s house tonight.

  How did one make this announcement? There was no good way to drop such a life-changing declaration. Tanner wasn’t the type of man, in her opinion, that wanted a family. Not that she knew him really well, but she’d never heard mention of it. He seemed too content with where he was with his career and social life to entertain the idea of something familial.

  To her knowledge, he hadn’t dated since she’d been in town. Or at least he hadn’t mentioned another woman.

  Livie had discussed how Jax and Cash were divorced, but their cousin Tanner had vowed against marriage after seeing what those two had gone through. So Tanner obviously wasn’t looking for long-term and was just fine living with his bachelor status.

  What was Melanie even doing thinking about marriage? She certainly didn’t want to venture into that territory again either, not until she was absolutely positive the man was worthy of her and her awesomeness. There was nothing wrong with loving yourself enough to wait on the best. That was something she’d had to work on since her divorce, but she was happy to admit she deserved love and devotion.

  Yes, she was pregnant, but that didn’t mean she had to marry Tanner. She’d prided herself on becoming independent since leaving Neville, and so far she’d excelled at it. There was no turning back for her.

  Melanie headed out of town, toward the old home she shared with Jade now. Livie moved out, which was strange since they’d all been staying in her childhood home, but she now lived with Jax and his adorable little girl, Piper. They weren’t only working on renovations for the airport, they were figuring out when to get married and living as one happy little family.

  Melanie knew she needed to tell Tanner the truth tonight, then she could call a girls’ meeting and break the news to her friends. The cheap wine should cushion the shocking blow. Now more than ever, she was going to need her friends to help guide her through this scary time. Not that they had any experience with pregnancies, but at the same time, they could at least hold her hand and give her that shoulder she would no doubt cry on at some point over the next several months.

  Gripping the wheel tighter, Melanie formulated a plan in her head. At least if she was trying to prepare a speech she felt like she was doing something and moving forward instead of just settling in with her thoughts of fear and unknowns.

  Worrying wasn’t going to get her too far, but it was an inevitable by-product.

  As she turned into the drive of the charming white two-story with wraparound porch, Melanie eyed the glowing clock on the dash. She had five hours to relax, stay calm, prepare a plan . . . and stare at the clock worrying about Tanner’s reaction.

  Chapter Two

  When life shuts a door . . . open it. It’s a door.

  That’s how they work.

  —Mel’s Motivational Blog

  Tanner checked his phone as he headed to his truck. The text he’d been waiting on had yet to come through and each passing minute he grew more and more anxious.

  Anxiety—a by-product of his occupation and the bane of his existence. He hated the quick heartbeats, the nerves that couldn’t be suppressed. Unfortunately, since his days in the air force, he couldn’t ignore the signs of his anxiety. He’d been too proud to talk to a counselor and definitely too stubborn to go to a doctor for medication. There was nothing wrong with people who did, but admitting weakness, especially in his line of work, simply wasn’t how he wanted to go.

  Work on the police force consumed his days. His secret project on the side consumed several nights each week. It was the night hours that caused him the most apprehension. A year of leading a double life was hard on his social time, but so damn rewarding he wasn’t about to give it up. Even his best friends and cousins, Jax and Cash, had no idea what he really did.

  The last few hours of his day shift seemed to drag because all he could think of was this text regarding the undercover operation he’d been working on for the past few weeks. Aside from waiting on that message, a certain blonde with green eyes and a punch-to-the-gut smile also occupied a good chunk of real estate in his mind.

  She was the first woman he’d approached in months. Not long ago his date card had been filled up and his evenings were all about himself. Not anymore.

  Hadn’t he vowed not to get too involved with a woman again? Getting his heart torn out once was enough. No matter how many years passed, the hole where his fiancée and child had lived still gaped and he couldn’t let more hurt inside. So he’d gone on the defensive and only dated women who weren’t his type, who wouldn’t expect a ring or commitment.

  When he dated, Tanner didn’t go after a woman more than once. He never led a woman on, either. He always remained up-front and honest about his intentions.

  His own personal hell aside, Tanner had seen enough from Cash, Jax, and even his own mother to know that marriage usually ended in disaster. Though his cousin Jax had found his perfect match with Livie Daniels. Those two did seem like they were made for each other and Tanner couldn’t deny they would no doubt defy the odds and stay together.

  Cash, hell, that poor man had been through it with his pill-addicted father and a wife who couldn’t handle the ups and downs that came with addiction, so she left.

  And his own mother had just remarried a few years ago to a guy who seemed to dote on her and worship the ground she walked on. Tanner’s stepfather was one powerful man and always put his wife first with everything. Obviously those two were in love.

  That wasn’t the case for everybody, and he simply didn’t want to take that chance. The nightmare he’d endured in his early twenties had scarred him for life. There was no way in hell he’d ever let his heart get that involved with a woman again, or ever attempt to start a family. His fiancée’s unplanned pregnancy had thrown him for a loop, and just when he’d gotten used to the idea, embraced the fact he was going to be a father, his entire world had been ripped from him.

  That whole incident at too young an age made him who he was today. He threw himself into his work, he devoted every waking hour to saving others. That way, there would be no time for heartache or personal attachment. Dating randomly was fine. Casual sex was fine, too. He was human, after all.

  Tanner was well aware what people said about him being a player. The same words were thrown around when Jax was single, and Cash also had those rumors spreading around him.

  Tanner wasn’t going to waste his time defending himself to people whose opinions didn’t matter. He had a heart to protect and his reasons didn’t need to be shared. Everyone coped with life differently, and random hookups were how he dealt with his.

  What mattered most to him were defending the weak, seeking justice, and living each day to the fullest. With his hectic schedule, he certainly did just that.

  On the occasion he had free time lately, he went out, had a good time, and that was the end of it. His personal life really shouldn’t be the concern of gossipmongers, but small towns and all that. He’d grown up here, he was well aware how people enjoyed chattering. If they were talking about him, at least they were leaving others alone.

  So what if he’d dated quite a bit in his past? What was a single man supposed to do? Stay home? Those in town knew what he’d been through years ago, but they’d rather discuss the man he was now as opposed to the great loss he’d endured.

  Tanner purposely didn’t lead women on, but after that heated night with Melanie, damn if he didn’t want more. Not a relationship, but definitely to see her again and not just with their group of friends.

  There had been something so vulnerable, ye
t so feisty about her. She’d had a sadness in her eyes when she’d first come to town, yet she always tipped that defiant chin and never backed down from a verbal sparring match. That in and of itself had spoken volumes about her resiliency and strength. Damn if he wasn’t instantly drawn to her because of her attitude.

  When Tanner had discovered she had a successful blog site, he’d checked it out, then fell down the rabbit hole and started looking through her popular social media accounts. He’d been stunned to find out just how many people she inspired through her stories and motivation. The praise from her followers and the stories they shared proved how giving and loving Melanie truly was.

  And his admiration had gone up another notch.

  While he knew full well who her ex was, she’d never once mentioned that on her blog or any of her accounts. It was almost as if she’d started completely over.

  Tanner actually didn’t know her that well. Little bits of information came out here and there, but other than that one heated night, he’d never been alone with her to actually talk. She was closed off for the most part, didn’t volunteer information unless she was asked. The quiet, reserved, yet dynamic woman had sparked his interest from day one and damn if that didn’t confuse him even more because he’d never been this intrigued by a woman.

  A while back, Jax had told Tanner that Melanie’s ex was Neville Prescott, mayor of Atlanta. His cousin had also hinted about a less-than-perfect marriage she’d come from. But Tanner hadn’t heard anything about her past from Melanie herself. He never asked and she never offered up the information. All of her social media and blogs discussed healthy lifestyles, eating habits, exercise, how to make every day count, and living life to its fullest. Clearly she wanted things regarding her marriage and divorce to be kept private, which was fine with him. He had his own demons he kept locked away. Didn’t everyone?

  Over the last few weeks, Tanner had been so swamped with the side project that he’d had little time to get in touch with Melanie. But he’d at least texted her, to which she had given some lame, brief reply.