I push her gently away. “Look, your father doesn’t approve of cohabitation when there’s no ring on fingers. It won’t work. Just accept it. We’ll talk soon.” I pat her shoulder. “I’ll walk you to your car,” I offer, wanting to be polite, instead of the asshole I feel like being.
Tossing cash onto the bar, I take her arm, and lead her outside. I spot her car across the street and help her keep her footing while she wobbles all over the place on the snow and ice lining the edge of the sidewalk. “This is bad.”
“It’s going to get worse.” I help her into her vehicle. “Are you sure you’ll be alright driving in this?”
She rolls her eyes. “Honestly Tanner, you should know me better than anyone. I’ve driven in this my whole life.”
“Sorry.” I step back from the door and watch as she sighs before tugging it closed. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
She nods before I watch her drive off.
My heart aches with the desperate need for the one woman I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to have. I stare at the fading taillights, comparing her to the woman who has a hold of my heart. Charlotte...Emma...so different in the way they moved, how they looked and their personality. Charlotte was warm and giving—I’d seen it myself at the wedding. She was loyal and I knew that Charlotte would never look at another guy if she had me. I sure as hell wouldn’t have my head turned by anyone else.
I rubbed my hands together against the cold and realize my heart belongs to Charlotte McKenzie.
61
Charlotte
Christmas music plays in the background while I bury my sorrows with a gingerbread latte and a large red velvet muffin my cousin, Sofia, has made. How she stays so slim while working in this small bakery, I’ll never know. I’m sure I’ve gained five pounds just looking at the thing!
“Are you going to eat that?” she asks, dropping into the seat opposite.
“I think I need to. It looks too good to just sit on a plate, right?”
She chuckles. “I better not show you the wedding cake I’ve just made then, huh?” She swipes a chunk of my muffin, popping it into her mouth.
I smile before I look around the store. She just fits at Ella’s Sweet Treats, despite having only been here for three weeks. She’d just finished school when she’d been offered a job here and I hadn’t had a chance to visit before today.
Taking a deep breath, I can’t help but feel relaxed here. It’s an amazingly beautiful store: Christmas cookies on red plastic trays in the window, paper-wrapped muffins, colorful fruit tarts and glazed flans, Danishes, macaroons and much more are on display in the glass counter. Freshly baked pies: pumpkin, berry, apple and cinnamon, and rhubarb, cooling on the counter behind the cash register. Everything smells so good but the strongest scent is coming from my latte. It’s thick and creamy with the flavor bursting on my tongue when I take a sip.
While I’ve let my eye wander around the store, my cousin has watched me with delight, and I can see the happiness she feels working here. Although her amazing talent isn’t going to waste, I long for the day when she has her own bakery. She’ll do wonders and go far.
“So,” I ask, “what wedding cake have you been making?”
She smiles, happy that I asked. “It has four tiers. Each tier a different flavor: red velvet, lemon, vanilla, and apple.” She shrugs. “It’s all about what the bride and groom want, so I’m here to please.”
“And you do it so well.”
“I do.” She primps so I roll my eyes as she giggles. “Okay, enough about me and my awesome baking skills, I want to know why I’m feeding you cake to cheer you up?” She tilts her head as she watches me closely.
“I’m missing someone.” I sigh into my latte. “Someone who I think I need more than anything.” I lift my gaze to Sofia’s concerned one. “I’ve fallen in love...and I don’t think he realizes how I feel about him.” I munch on a piece of muffin, chasing it down my throat with some latte, wincing when the two flavors meet.
“Yeah, not good mixing those two,” Sofia comments.
“Remind me next time.”
“You were saying,” she prompts.
I shake my head as I think about everything ahead of me. “I’m going on a trip to Montana.” I fidget with the large scarf around my neck.
“To see our cousins?” she asks, referring to the De La Fuente side of the family. They’re more like our second and third cousins.
“No…I’m going to let Tanner Jackson know how much I love him. It could completely backfire and blow up in my face. However, I’ve put it off long enough out of fear of his reaction, and I can’t any longer. Not when he’s getting married next month.”
Sofia pauses with her coffee halfway to her lips. “He’s getting married, and you’re going after him?”
“God, don’t put it like that,” I grumble and feel my nose start to twitch at the first sign of tears. “I love him, Sofia. The night we had together was so different than anything I’ve experienced before and I know he felt it, too. I need to know, once and for all, if it’s all a figment of my imagination or if he misses me as much as I do him. I have to know.”
Sofia places her drink back on to the table and grabs my hand. “Then you have to go and talk to him. Face-to-face because that’s the only way you’ll get the truth.” She frowns. “Tanner Jackson? Don’t I know that name?”
I wince and admit, “I met him at Sirena and Garrett’s wedding. His dad and Garrett are best of friends.”
Her eyes pop wide. “You’re talking about the hottie with face scruff. The dark guy who spent the evening with his brooding eyes solely focused on you. That guy?”
“You noticed him?”
“Are you kidding me? Madison and I spent a good chunk of the evening watching him…and you. We both gave him a full ten for that amazing ass of his.” She snickers and I’m not sure if it’s because of the shocked look on my face or the memory. “We also saw him follow you to the garage.” She wiggles her brows. “You looked rather flushed when you reappeared, only to disappear straightaway…with him.”
“I didn’t think we’d been that obvious considering no one ever mentioned anything.”
“Oh please, you both were so obvious.” Sofia grins. “Besides, I figured you’d tell me eventually.” She shrugs before adding, “I promise to keep it to myself.”
“I appreciate that.” I pause and worry at the doubt that has been plaguing me for months. “Do you really believe I’m doing the right thing in going to visit him?”
“He doesn’t know you’re going, right?” Sofia taps her lips with a finger.
“No, and he’s alone at the ranch. His father is at the Texas one…I asked Sirena to find out.”
Sofia laughs. “I bet she enjoyed that considering Garrett won’t let her lift a finger until after the baby is born.”
“She’s the one who offered to find out what she could. Mom has been there every day helping with Elias who is a handful now and into everything while she rests. It’s driving her crazy.”
“She’ll survive and I’m sure she’s aware Garrett is the way he is because he loves her,” Sofia says, softly. “I want what she has.” She sighs. “A husband, a baby...just someone so I’m not alone.”
I frown at my cousin. “Sofia, you’re only twenty-two, you have plenty of time. You’ll meet someone. Maybe he’ll be a customer.”
“The only male customers I tend to meet are the groom to the bride,” she complains.
I chuckle. “Well, let’s hope you don’t find yourself in the same situation as I’m in.” My tears slowly slip down my face, which I curse at. “I thought I was doing so well not crying,” I blubber.
“Mom always tells me a good cry will make me feel better.”
“Aunt Rosie used to tell me that as well…Ugh! I need to pull myself together and then head home and pack.”
Sofia reaches over the table and hugs me. “I don’t think you’ll need it, but I’m going to wish you luck. If anyone deserves some
happiness, it’s you.”
As she says it, chimes echo through the store and Sofia glances back at the ovens, which are gently pinging. I quickly hug Sofia so she can get back to work and then leave, walking back to my apartment.
Snow slowly falls while Christmas music continues to follow me along the sidewalk. There’s a Santa collecting for a children’s charity, and a guy selling Christmas trees on the corner. The scent of pine hits my senses and I crave to have my own real Christmas tree, with a fire lit in the hearth, while I snuggle against Tanner knowing he’s mine. That’s all I want for Christmas.
62
Tanner
“I see your mood hasn’t improved any since last night,” Bo drawls, resting his hands on his utility belt. He looks tired and I don’t blame him...being a state police officer during the winter is pretty hard. He’d stopped by on his way back from a bad accident out on one of the main highways. He’s always pretty tight lipped about his work, and I guess I can’t blame him.
He sure looks warmer than I am right now. The cold seeps into my bones and no matter how many layers I wear, nothing helps. This is the first year in as long as I can remember that I’ve been so cold. If I were superstitious, I’d think it was telling me to leave and head for Lexington…or more importantly toward my heart.
“You know,” Bo adds in a tone that makes me stop and look at him, “Emma has been sweet as pie with you ever since that trucker. You don’t think that’s a coincidence, do you?”
Exhausted, I toss hay in his direction before I rest my hands on the handle of the pitchfork. “You’re like a woman.”
“Whatever, you’re only getting pissed because you know I’m right and I’m hitting a nerve.” He shakes his head. “I’m going for now, but just remember that you’re my best friend and I’ll do anything to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life.”
“Fuck! I’ve already made that!” I growl. “The biggest fucking mistake I ever made was leaving her in Lexington.”
He looks as shocked as I do. Tugging my glove off, I run my hand over my face and meet his gaze. “Now you know.” I sigh before changing the subject, “Look, I have a million things to do before the snow hits later.”
“Um, yeah. I’ll leave you to it.” He walks toward his vehicle, throwing looks over his shoulder as he moves away. “Let me know if I can help.”
I nod and wave him away while I carry on tossing hay. Once I hear his vehicle moving down the drive, I stop and finally give in to the exhaustion that is a constant these days. It wouldn’t be so bad if I could actually sleep but my nights are spent tossing and turning, wondering whether or not Charlotte has moved on. Wondering whether she ever thinks of me, and the night we’d spent together. It’s driving me crazy not knowing. But did I deserve to know? I was the one who’d stopped texting back. I was the one getting married. It would serve me right if she has moved on.
I’m the one who made love to her all night long knowing I’d just broken my engagement to another woman. I don’t regret one minute of my time with Charlotte. I remind myself that if Emma hadn’t broken her promise to me, and then begged once I’d returned home to go ahead with the wedding, I wouldn’t have anything hanging over me. I’d have been free to go after Charlotte.
It isn’t the wedding itself it’s the bride. Not a damn thing would keep me from walking down the aisle if Charlotte was meeting me there.
Sighing heavily, I turn back to work and wonder why Emma still wants to marry me. I know we’ve been together since high school and everything is familiar but that isn’t a reason to get married. I thought it was way back when. I’ve known for nearly as long that it wasn’t what I wanted. I don’t really think it was what Emma wanted anymore either.
If she was in love with me, and looking forward to spending her life with me, I hardly doubt she’d have spent three nights with someone else. The same goes for me, though. If I loved Emma, would I have been able to spend the night with another woman so soon after breaking our engagement? The answer is no. Initially, I wanted to get Emma back for humiliating me, but that backfired the minute my eyes had landed on Charlotte. Just one look had told me she would rock my world in more ways than one…and she had.
Shaking my head, I prop the pitchfork against the side of the barn and turn toward the house. Just in time to hear the phone blaring on the wall.
“Hello,” I rumble, annoyed.
“Tanner, it’s me,” Bo always says those words when I answer a call from him.
“Didn’t we just talk?” I throw both work gloves on the kitchen table and wait. He only calls when he has to because he hates the phone.
“Um, yeah. Here’s the thing, you know how I was out helping at an accident on the highway?”
“Yeah.”
“This is probably a long short, but you said you left her in Lexington, right?” He doesn’t pause for breath. “Well, rescue had to cut a woman out of a rental.”
My heart quickens as it starts to register what he’s telling me, or trying to as I drop into a kitchen chair—my legs suddenly rubbery. “Tell me quickly because you’re killing me.”
“I don’t know much but I do know she said she was visiting someone here and that she’s from Lexington. One of the guys called her Charlotte.”
My grip on the phone tightens as my breath sticks in my lungs at the thought of her hurt. “Where is she? How is she?”
“She’s lucky, and she’s at the hospital in town.”
“I’m on my way.” I start hanging up when I hear him shouting, “Tanner wait…”
“I’m still here.”
“Emma’s on shift at the hospital today. Thought you should know.”
Closing my eyes, I inhale and exhale slowly, trying to calm my racing heart. “I hear you.”
Slamming the phone down, I check that I have my cell, not that it works that well out here. Grabbing my keys, I race outside to my truck and climbing inside, I remind myself to drive with care. These roads are going to be covered in ice and snow before tomorrow comes.
It takes me an extra half hour, but I finally reach the entrance of the small hospital. I keep reminding myself that she can’t be seriously injured if she’s been brought here and not taken to one of the larger hospitals. It doesn’t do anything to calm my fear, or nerves.
My head is still spinning at the thought of Charlotte being so close. Why is she here? Is it me she planned on visiting? I can’t quash the hope in my heart, no matter how practical my head is trying to be. I don’t want to be practical right now. I just want to see the woman I’m sure I’m imagining inside those walls.
I glance at my cell as it buzzes in my back pocket and smile when I see Charlotte’s room number glaring back at me. I owe Bo. At least I can bypass reception.
Shoving through the doors, I pull my hat low on my forehead and hope like hell I don’t bump into Emma. I need to talk to her, and end this farce once and for all, but my need to see Charlotte with my own eyes is overriding everything right now.
Making my way to the stairs, I quickly run up them to the second floor, and down the corridor toward her room. I vaguely hear my name but I don’t look around as I open the door.
The room is small with pale walls, boxes of gloves in holders attached to it, a white board is over the bed with her name written on it and a few other things that I can’t read from where I’m standing. Forcing myself through the door, I wrinkle my nose as the astringent hand sanitizer hits my nostrils. The smell makes me want to run.
My eyes finally stray to the adjustable hospital bed and the small form watching me with tears in her eyes. The sound of people being paged over the intercom and the whoosh of automatic doors slowly fade into the background as I hold Charlotte’s gaze.
The sight of her makes me want to cry like a baby...partly in relief that she’s okay and partly because she’s here in Montana.
63
Charlotte
All the pain of moments ago disappears as my eyes land on Tanner only to
have tears slowly sliding down my face. I search his gaze and realize he’s as overwhelmed at seeing me as I am him. I don’t know what’s going to happen but, right now, I know that he’s here with me. Everything that I’d felt at the wedding...everything in these months between, comes back to me at the very sight of him. I really did care for him.
He moves slowly toward me and drops his hat and jacket to the chair beside my bed before he leans over and searches my face.
I reach up, and cupping his cheek, he closes his eyes and presses against my touch. His large body shudders as he drops his forehead lightly to mine. “Are you hurting anywhere?” he whispers, his blue eyes unmoving from my face.
“I’m a little banged up, but I’m okay. The doctor said I can leave when I’m ready.” My hands grip his arms as he rests them on either side of me, needing to touch him so that I know he really is here with me. That he really is concerned for me. “I was coming to talk to you.”
“When my friend, Bo, called me, I’d hoped I was the reason you were here.” He tries to smile but it slips and he becomes serious. Letting out a loud breath, he presses his lips to my forehead. “I’ve missed you. Everyday, Charlotte.”
“I didn’t imagine the night we spent together, did I? You felt everything I did?” I ask, desperate to hear the answer I need.
“You imagined nothing,” he admits. “I gave you every piece of me, and you still have it.” He brushes my lips with his before knocking his jacket to the floor and dropping into the chair. “God,” he groans. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
I wince as I turn onto my side so I can see him better. He’s still the same man I fell in love with. He fills his jeans out well and he just looks good enough to eat. I let my eyes linger on his face, and admit, “This wasn’t exactly how I wanted to see you again.”
McKenzie Cousins Box Set 1 Page 32
