Mating Game

by Maynard, Janice

  Tanner, to his credit, managed to swallow most of his ill-timed grin. He took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Now, climb back in bed and let me bring you breakfast.”

  It wasn’t hard to be persuaded. Her head throbbed viciously, and she hurt all over in muscles she hadn’t heard from in years.

  No man was perfect. She spent fifteen minutes fantasizing about bacon and eggs. Tanner showed up carrying half a bagel smeared with cream cheese, a small tumbler of orange juice, and a steaming cup of coffee. He’d put it all on a tarnished silver tray and even added a daffodil in a blue bud vase.

  And just like that . . . she realized that she was head over in heels in love with Tanner Nash.

  Her face must not have reflected her epiphany, because he seemed to notice nothing amiss.

  He handed her some Tylenol. “We’re seeing your doctor, no arguments.”

  She swallowed the pills with a grimace. “I haven’t been to his office in five years. They probably don’t even remember me. . . .”

  “Give it up, Nola. We’re going.”

  She made Tanner stay in the waiting room, though he sulked. The white-haired country doctor she recalled from her teenage years was still working, his sharp eyes and weathered face familiar even after all this time. He poked and prodded and gave her a prescription and sent her on her way.

  When Nola and Tanner were back in the truck, he started the engine, but didn’t put the vehicle in gear. He half turned to face her. “Nola . . .” He stopped, looked uncomfortable, and then frowned. He sighed heavily. “I want to stay with you today and tonight. To make sure you’re okay. But all my stuff is at my house. This next call is up to you.”

  She thought about how angry and hurt she had been just thirty-six hours before. It was such a short time, but things in her world had shifted. She had to trust her own feelings. She had to trust her own gut.

  Someone had deliberately tried to hurt her last night. Who besides Tanner had motive to want her out of the way?

  Tanner had arrived on the scene surprisingly quickly. He could have used a strange car to run her off the road and then responded to her call for help with touching concern, using her understandable distress to make her trust him, and then trying again to get her to sell.

  Even as she said the words in her head, she knew there was absolutely no foundation to them. Tanner might have made a mistake in how he approached her, but he was an honorable man. Or so she hoped.

  She toyed with the Ace bandage on her right wrist. “I want you to come back to Lochhaven,” she said softly. “But first, show me where you live.”

  They picked up fast food and ate it on the thirty-minute drive to Grantham. Tanner’s home was much like him: unassuming, but with a strong impact. It was an A-frame tucked on a hillside out in the woods, with a pond out back, and a wraparound porch where he could sit and watch the animals come out to drink at night.

  The driveway was narrow and unpaved. They jumped and jolted over a few potholes left by the heavy rains earlier in the month. He grimaced. “Sorry about that. I’m always working on somebody else’s place and neglecting my own.”

  She studied his home through the windshield. “So why is a good-looking guy like you not spoken for already?”

  He tossed her a quick grin as he eased the vehicle to a halt and came around to help her out of the car. “Never found the right woman. I always thought I’d be married with a few kids by now. And I assumed I’d build a house big enough for a growing family with a bunch of pets. But life doesn’t turn out how you expect. I worked my tail off for seven or eight years, growing the business so I could buy out my uncle. After that, working long hours had become habit. I would come here at the end of the day and tumble into bed. Get up the next morning and start again. Relationships take time. I guess I was selfish about that.”

  He kept an arm beneath her elbow as they went up the steps. “Make yourself at home. I hadn’t really unpacked much, so I can throw it all back together pretty quickly.”

  When Tanner’s bag sat ready to go by the front door, he showed her his small kitchen and the rest of the place. He opened the fridge. “You want a beer before we leave?”

  “No, thanks. But you go ahead.”

  They went out to the porch and sat in Adirondack chairs, enjoying the breeze. Tanner finished his beer and looked at her with a keen gaze. “You doing okay, Red?”

  She nodded slowly, wishing she could stay here in limbo. Someone had tried to kill her, but who? “I’m good,” she said. “You may have to buy the groceries, though. With this face, I’ll scare children and old ladies.”

  He laughed, as she wanted him to, but his sober mood returned. Their chairs were side by side. He took her hand and linked it with his. “I screwed up, Nola. I should have told you that first day that we were interested in buying the property.”

  “But you were trying to break it to me gently.”

  He winced. “Well, yeah. I thought once you realized how expensive it was all going to be that you would see the light.”

  “Who is this partner of yours?”

  “Harold? He’s somebody I hooked up with about a year ago. I’m the brains and brawn behind the design and building stuff. Harold is the investment whiz. He had the idea to create an upscale weekend getaway for the rich movers and shakers in Atlanta.”

  “And Lochhaven was the perfect spot?”

  “In his eyes. But don’t worry, Nola. When you kicked me out the other night, I called him to tell him the deal was off. It’s not my fault he was overly eager and ran with things before we knew whether or not we had the property. And frankly, I don’t have to worry about investors. That’s his baby. If he fed them a line, he’ll just have to deal with it.”

  She contemplated her secret, her embarrassment of riches, and wondered how to break it to him. “Thank you for understanding.”

  He nodded slowly, his gaze trained on the woods. “I’ve been thinking about it, sweetheart, and if I do the work myself so you don’t have to hire a contractor, we can probably knock off several significant things on your list before Christmas. It will be slow and expensive, but in the end I think I can get you most of what you want if you’ll be patient.”

  She smiled inwardly. “That’s very sweet of you, Tanner. And what do you get out of this . . . besides getting paid, I mean?”

  He bristled. “You’re not paying me,” he growled. “I want to do this for you.”

  “Because?”

  Now his cheeks were red. “Because you’re a nice woman and I like you, damn it.”

  Her heart melted another degree. He looked so frustrated, she had to laugh. She eased out of her chair, managing to muffle a moan, and curled into his lap. “I’m sure I could find some other way to compensate you.” She undid the top two buttons on his shirt and played with his chest hair. “After all, you’re doing me a favor by keeping me company in that big, creepy house.”

  One eyebrow went up. “I thought you loved that big, creepy house.”

  She grinned. “I do, but that doesn’t mean it’s not nice to have a strong, talented man on the premises.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Careful. Your Southern-belle training is leaking out all over me.”

  She kissed him softly. “I can see you as a knight in shining armor.”

  He squeezed her butt, his breathing getting heavy. “I let you down, Nola. But I won’t again. You can bet the farm on it.”

  Their lips met, clung, settled into a carnal kiss.

  Tanner moved restlessly. “Darlin’, you’re in no shape, and this is killing me.”

  She rubbed the crotch of his jeans . . . the very swollen mound of thin, well-washed denim. “I won’t break. I can turn around to face the lake and sit on your lap.”

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. “Red, I love your inventive mind, God help me, I do. But you were injured last night. If we do this at all, it’s going to be someplace comfortable. I
won’t risk hurting you.”

  The raw sincerity in his voice made her throat tight.

  He carried her into the house and to his room. The plain navy comforter was jumbled at the end of the mattress. There was not a single picture on the rough wood walls, nor a knickknack or softening touch anywhere. This was a man’s hideaway.

  He set her on the mattress and shucked off his clothes with flattering haste. Nola enjoyed watching him. He reminded her of a big lazy lion, all golden-haired male with predatory eyes. But she knew that despite his aura of laid-back amiability, he had a passionate streak that set her on fire.

  She would have removed her own clothes, but Tanner spent a long, breath-stealing few moments on that task himself. His touch was infinitely gentle, one button at a time, one soft rustle of cloth at a time, one restless heartbeat at a time until she was naked. His eyes darkened. Bruises, all sizes, had bloomed during the day. He ran his hand over each one, his touch featherlight. And in his face, she saw how much it bothered him that she was hurt.

  She touched him boldly, making the breath hiss from between his teeth. “I need you, Tanner. Make love to me.”

  He still seemed hesitant. “I don’t want to cause you pain.” She moved over him, straddling his hips so her hands could play. “I’ll be on top. We’ll be fine.”

  He was so worried about her, she wondered for a moment if he would actually call a halt. But when she bent to taste him, the deal was sealed. Tanner went rigid, and his eyes rolled back in his head. She took him fully in her mouth with enthusiasm, loving the taste and feel of his hard length cloaked in velvet-soft skin.

  His fists were clenched in folds of the sheet as though he were afraid to put his hands on her. She grabbed his wrist and guided his hand to her breast. “I won’t break, Tanner. Touch me, for God’s sake.”

  Finally, cautiously, he stroked her breasts and played with her nipples. His hips moved restlessly on the mattress as though waiting were almost beyond his control. When she had teased them both as much as she or he could stand, she moved up and over him, ready to join their bodies. At the last second, she remembered. “Condom?”

  She breathed it from a dry throat, her arms trembling as she supported herself on his chest.

  He turned away long enough to fetch one from the bedside table and roll it on. Then he put his hands at her waist and helped her mount him.

  Their eyes locked as he filled her. His pupils were dilated, and his nostrils flared as though he were trying to hold back a freight train. His teeth were clenched. Sweat beaded his forehead.

  She brushed a hank of hair from his temple. “You are the most amazing man,” she whispered. “I could screw you all night.”

  He seemed to like that idea. With a mighty groan that shook his chest and threatened to unseat her, he lunged upward, burying his cock even deeper, all the way to the mouth of her womb. It was an exquisite feeling. She gasped and closed her eyes. “Tanner . . . Tanner.”

  It was all she could manage for the next several minutes. He fucked her as if they had been separated for weeks instead of a day. Though hers was the dominant position, there was no question about who was in control. She couldn’t have stopped this even if she had wanted to.

  It was power and warmth and a homecoming far more earth-shaking than even the reunion with Lochhaven. That was a house. This was a living, breathing man. Her man.

  When she thought neither of them could possibly wait another second longer to explode, he rolled her gently to her back and loomed over her, his considerable weight supported by the bulging muscles in his arms. “Nola.” He whispered her name, his expression unguarded. “Sweet Nola.” His thumb found her clit, and she shivered and peaked in a violent crest of pleasure that left her limp.

  Then, with his teeth bared in a grimace as he fought for control, he gripped her hips and shouted, grinding his pelvis against hers in a mighty climax that rattled the headboard against the wall. They lay there for a long time, trying to breathe. Tanner’s hand stroked her bare hip. Even in the midst of coming, he never forgot to protect her from his size. He’d levered himself up off her upper body all the way to the end. Now he lay beside her, momentarily spent. She kissed his damp cheek and felt the prickle of his stubble. Being here in Tanner’s bed, far from Lochhaven and her problems, was peaceful and safe and yet damned exciting.

  After they dressed, Tanner faced her in the hallway. “We’ve been avoiding one subject.”

  She looked away. “What do you mean?”

  He took her chin in one big hand and made her look at him. “Someone tried to hurt you. Did you ever think it might be me?”

  Her smile was faint. “For about a nanosecond. But that’s all. I know what kind of man you are, Tanner Nash. And I trust you.”

  “Is there anyone else you can think of who would be trying to get at you . . . to scare you or pressure you?”

  I wanted to hurt you. Billy’s words echoed in her head. Surely the years of hatred hadn’t made him snap. But the attack had happened the day after their picnic. She would deal with that possibility, but not now.

  Tanner saw something in her face. “What? What are you thinking?”

  She shrugged. And then she made a huge mistake . . . she told him about what Marc had done with the heater. It was stupid. No matter how much she downplayed the incident, Tanner was livid. And, of course, he immediately jumped to the conclusion that Marc was responsible for the car accident, no matter how fast and how much Nola tried to say different.

  Tanner might have left her behind if she hadn’t clung to his arm like a limpet. The whole way back to Resnick she chattered, trying to undo what she had done.

  Tanner stared out the windshield, his jaw rock hard, his eyes narrowed. She knew he wanted to punish someone for what had happened to her. But it wasn’t Marc who had tried to run her off the road. She knew that as well as she knew that it wasn’t Tanner. This temper tantrum was all her fault.

  At the motel, Tanner parked recklessly in a space and didn’t even help Nola out of the truck. Perhaps he thought she would stay behind. Not bloody likely.

  The next act unfolded in slow motion. Tanner pounded on the door. Marc opened it. Tanner took him down with a classic right hook to the chin. Marc fell over the corner of the mattress and crumpled in the space between the two beds.

  Nola was shaking all over, consumed with guilt. She wedged herself past the furious Tanner and hovered over Marc. From Tanner’s blazing eyes, it was clear that seeing her with the other man sent his rage a notch higher.

  She held up her hand, glad that Marc had the sense to stay down. “Tanner. You’re way off base. Marc didn’t hurt me last night. He didn’t. So get over yourself.”

  Marc rubbed his chin. “Anybody want to tell me what’s going on?” His eyes went wide. “My God, Nola. Your poor face.”

  Tanner slammed the door behind him and leaned against it, his arms crossed over his chest. “You tried to run Nola off the road last night.”

  Marc blinked, looking distressed. “I did not.”

  Nola touched the dark place swelling up on the side of his cheek. “I’m so sorry, Marc. Are you okay?”

  Tanner looked incredulous. “You’re babying him?”

  She shot him a glare. “If you had listened to me, we could have handled this in a civilized manner. Marc is not a violent man.”

  Well, I am. Tanner’s lips didn’t speak the words, but she saw them in his eyes.

  Marc sat up, still holding his chin. “I was in the motel office with Rudy all last evening. We ordered burgers, and then I helped him set up his online trading account. You can check.”

  Finally, Tanner’s agitation began to fade. His expression went from dark and punitive to slightly abashed. “You shouldn’t have messed with her heater,” he ground out, unwilling to release his indignation just yet.

  Nola frowned. “That’s old history.”

  Marc stood up and faced his accuser. “I’d never willingly hurt Nola,” he said slowly. “I’m in
love with her.”

  Thirteen

  Oh, crap. That wasn’t going to help matters. Tanner’s cheeks heated again, and he glared, his posture and expression saying he was none too pleased that Nola was still standing between the two men. Or that her reason for doing so was to protect Marc.

  Marc poured oil on the fire by kissing Nola’s cheek and running a light touch over her facial bruises. “Are you okay? Tell me what happened, baby.” His eyes were filled with concern.

  Ignoring Tanner’s air of menace, she synopsized quickly. “I was out for a drive last night . . . just roaming around. Not long after I headed for home, a strange car ran me into the ditch. It was deliberate.”

  Marc’s expression was a blend of shock and confusion. “Holy hell . . . why?”

  Tanner cursed quietly, his arms across his chest. “That’s what we all want to know.”

  Marc sneered at Tanner and put his arm around Nola. He looked her in the eyes. “Did it ever occur to you that it might be him? What do you really know about this guy? Trying to talk you into selling your house is one thing, but maybe he went a step too far.”

  Tanner’s eyebrow shot up, and a muscle in his tanned cheek began to twitch.

  Nola interceded hastily. “I know neither of you would hurt me. So for God’s sake, quit beating your chests and throwing mental spears at each other. It might be more helpful if we concentrated on what kind of crazies are on the loose in this county.”

  The tension in the room was still at code red, and she gazed at the two men in frustration. They were both extremely fit, masculine, and confident, but, Lord, they were so different. As Marc stood stoically rubbing his chin, he projected the innate air of sophistication and sensuality that had drawn her to him in the first place.

  Tanner was rougher, less polished. His masculinity was packaged in the testosterone-overload model. From his craggy features to his massive shoulders to his powerful thighs, he was all male.