However, if she weren’t careful, he could hurt her like Nick had. She and Tanner had battled it out in the den, and he’d made her so mad, she could spit.
But she could fall in love with a man like Tanner Clearbrook, a man who loved his son very much. There was a kindness about him, but his stubborn pride was a definite fault. He was also a man who liked control, and she didn’t need that again, no matter what the cost.
Of course, her mom had mentioned that dream again. The lady had the dream more than once. And from past experience, her mom’s reoccurring dreams usually held some truth. All right, a lot of truth! But soulmate? Things like that were just plain crazy.
Besides, Mr. Money Bags was too arrogant for her anyway. He would be more than a complication; he would be a threat to her already fragile heart.
Nevertheless, tomorrow morning, attraction or not, she would probably be sacked from her tutoring job. So be it then. She would still keep in contact with Jeremy.
Anyway, she already decided that some time tomorrow she would make a call to Reach Medicals and check on the status of her application.
After the gingerbread experiment, in which the final product had ended up everywhere in the kitchen but the oven, Fritz and Jeremy had coaxed Tanner into going to the library.
Tanner had accumulated a pile of children’s books and cookbooks while his father, after speaking too loud, was avoiding some blue-haired prune, a lady that had given Tanner the evil-eye more than once since he entered.
They had only been at the library a few minutes when Tanner pushed a book into Jeremy’s hand. He set the rest of the books on a nearby table, and decided to scan the aisles for the green-eyed beauty.
Though his son didn’t know it, Tanner needed to speak to Hannah alone. He needed to reassure himself that the lady wasn’t going to leave her job as tutor. It was obvious Jeremy had made unbelievable progress in the past two weeks since Tanner had been gone, and that progress could only be attributed to Hannah.
Tanner knew it was best to talk to Hannah as soon as possible, especially after his stupid remarks to her this afternoon. He had to keep her – for Jeremy’s sake. But according to Fritz, Hannah no longer had a cell phone. Too much money. Fritz had insisted on buying her one, but the lady had refused.
She had a landline, but Tanner didn’t want to wait until the lady’s shift at the library ended. So, here he was.
He recalled that night on the mountain and frowned. He would make certain that as his son’s tutor, the lady would have a cell phone, and he would pay for it.
He’d seen her a few minutes ago, and she’d changed her outfit. She was dressed in a snow-white blouse and a knee length denim skirt, which was accented by a chained belt wrapped twice around her small waist. A set of tanned sandals set off her red toes and she moved with a cat-like grace that had attracted him the first time he’d seen her in town.
He realized that besides teaching Jeremy about life and death, Hannah Elliot had done her job as a tutor well. There was no way his son was going to lose the best teacher he ever had, Reach Medicals or not.
It was absurd. The harder he tried to ignore the truth, the more it persisted. Hannah Elliot had turned his world upside down just like his father had wanted. She was beautiful, but it was more than that. She had a certain something that made him want to be near her. It seemed Jeremy had felt the same way.
Yet Tanner told himself he could control his yearnings, just like he controlled his companies, with pure emotional detachment. It wasn’t like he was thinking of marrying the woman. Jeremy just needed a tutor, and Hannah was darn good at the job. And he had to admit, Jeremy need the influence of a good woman. By keeping his distance, Tanner could make sure his son was cared for properly.
“Hey.” Jeremy tugged on his father’s white polo shirt. “Isn’t that Hannah? Look at that. I think that guy likes her, Dad. Does that guy like her? Huh? He looks pretty big. Wow, look at those huge muscles!”
Tanner’s gaze followed the direction of his son’s arm. He saw nothing until he tipped his head to Jeremy’s level and peered down the adjacent aisle.
He froze at the disturbing sight. Sure enough, he detected one very well built man wrapping his beefy hands around Hannah’s small waist as she stood helplessly on a ladder, looking more like a puppy cornered by a bear than a librarian shelving books.
Something inside Tanner snapped when he noted the predatory look on the man’s face. “You’re right. That is Miss Elliot,” he said to Jeremy, trying to keep his voice controlled. “Looks like she might need some help. Uh, here’s Grandpa. You stay with him. I’ll be back in a minute.”
CHAPTER FOUR
Hannah raised herself on tiptoes and reached toward the far corner of the top shelf. Though the library was small, it used every bit of space it could. But using the top shelves for the books was beyond her comprehension, since most of the patrons could barely reach that high anyway. Of course, she thought glumly, someone had used this shelf because she was now depositing the book How To Sound Like a Turkey In Thirty Days in its proper place.
Her body ached from her cold, and it would ache even more since she had to walk a mile to catch a bus back to her apartment tonight. Her car had been towed, and was now sitting in some sleazy gas station waiting to be fixed. She felt exhausted just thinking about it. Maybe Candy could give her a ride home.
Well, what else could go wrong? She could be fired, she thought as she bent to retrieve another book and sneezed, causing her foot to wobble on the ladder. She gasped when two strong hands came out of nowhere, grabbing her waist.
“Gotcha, darlin’,” came a male voice from below. “You’re not gonna fall with me by your side.”
Hannah instinctively gripped the man’s shoulder for support. It took all but a second to recognize the hard muscles beneath the man’s dark blue shirt. A wave of embarrassing heat rolled through her when she met his intense gaze. “Thank you.”
His eyes seemed to see right through her. “You’re welcome.”
Instantly, she released her grip and turned, then gasped when she started to teeter again. She felt momentary panic when his hands moved to rest on her hips. He paused, studying her face, as if that gave him the right to hold her so intimately.
His lips turned upward in an expression of pure enjoyment. “I’m Alex Richards, Candy’s brother.”
He didn’t make an effort to move his hands, and Hannah couldn’t move or she would have fallen directly into his arms.
“Candy said she spoke to you,” he said in a more serious tone. “I wouldn’t have rushed over here if I hadn’t thought you were about to fall.”
Hannah eyed him skeptically. “Well, I’m not in jeopardy of falling right now.”
His smile widened, and he continued to keep his hands right where they were. “I was wondering if you’d go to dinner with me. I’m here on a little business. Thought it might be nice to have someone to eat with since Candy has the late shift a couple times this week.”
His words came out as soft as silk, and Hannah figured that with a voice like that the man could tame a tiger if he wanted to. “I can’t,” she said sweetly. “But thanks for asking.”
“Aw, come on now, darlin’. What’s a pretty thing like you going to do this Friday night anyhow? Candy already told me you weren’t dating anybody.”
“I really can’t.” She put her hands on his and tried to tug them off her hips, but he slipped one hand over hers and chuckled.
“Yes, you can.”
Even though he was obnoxious, his smile was infectious.
“And you’re going to get yourself in a heap of trouble if you don’t remove your hands,” she said with her most assertive librarian voice.
His dark brows knitted into a frown. “You gonna sick that blue-haired ogre on me and bar me from the library?”
Hannah managed a smile as his hands slid off her body. “No, but I might lose my job.”
He took two steps back and leaned against a row of books,
letting out another mischievous grin, as if knowing it was more than the blue-haired lady he would have to deal with. “Candy said you finished your engineering degree. If you’re looking for a job, I could get you one in Chicago. I have a lot of pull.”
Hannah blinked. His words had hit the mark. Chicago was a great place for an engineering job. It was also noted for having some great hospitals if her mother ever needed treatment again. If Reach Medicals didn’t work out, she would keep Chicago in mind.
She started down the ladder. “I appreciate your offer, Alex, but I’m hoping for a job around here. I would rather not move to another town.”
He leaned forward and offered her his hand. “Well, darlin’, keep me in mind if you—”
“Is this man bothering you?”
Hannah jerked at the sound of Tanner Clearbrook’s voice slamming into her ears. Dumbfounded, she turned her head and stared at the handsome millionaire coming up the aisle. Where did he come from? His tone held a certain degree of coolness that reminded her of the last time she’d been with him. What was he going to do? Fire her in front of Alex Richards?
“No,” she said, meeting a pair of steely gray eyes. “No, he’s not bothering me.”
Scowling, Tanner wedged himself between Alex and the ladder, putting his hand out to help her down. “Right, and I’m the Queen of England.”
Gray eyes locked with hers, and Hannah bit back a retort as she slipped her hand into Tanner’s. The fiery heat of his touch seared through her veins, and she quickly looked away. He was doing it again, making her want things she had desperately tried to avoid the past three years. Even though they hadn’t parted on the best of terms back in his den, she couldn’t deny the electricity between them.
“You know this guy, Hannah?” Alex Richards’ sharp voice broke into the fog that clouded her brain.
She pulled her hand to her side, but before she could speak, Tanner spun around.
“She knows me. You have a problem with that?”
The challenging tone of Tanner’s voice sent Hannah’s brain into high alert. Her breath caught in her throat.
“I’m asking Hannah, not you,” Alex retorted coldly.
Feeling like a fish dangling on a hook, Hannah darted a wary gaze across the room. Jeremy sat behind one of the tables with a stack of books in front of him, one exuberant hand waving in her direction with Fritz giving her the thumbs up. She narrowed her eyes and thought she detected the scent of ginger lingering in the air. What was going on here?
“You calling me a liar?” The steely warning in Tanner’s tone jerked Hannah back to the scene at hand. A muscle twitched in Alex’s jaw, and the silence that followed was unmistakable.
Hannah sneezed, trying to wedge herself between the two men. Tanner’s chest pressed against hers and she felt trapped. The sudden thought crossed her mind that he was trying to protect her. How very odd. What had happened to the arrogant man she’d left only hours ago?
She lifted her eyes higher and noted with surprise that Tanner’s gaze was riveted on her lips. A tingle of awareness shot through her. What was he trying to do to her?
She swallowed nervously, quickly looking away, only to find Alex with a similar expression.
Inwardly, she screamed. This was insane.
Gritting her teeth, she tilted her head back toward Tanner, hoping he would step aside, but she instantly regretted her decision when she found herself nose to chin with her handsome employer. Or was it ex-employer now?
Yet in spite of her determination to tear herself away from his silvery gaze, she found it almost impossible, especially since his face was tilting dangerously towards hers.
Her senses spun, and she stared at him in utter disbelief.
Why, the man was acting as if he was actually going to kiss her! Here, in the library!
“Miss Elliot!” The censoring sound of Mrs. Gould’s voice broke through the spell.
Hannah heard Tanner’s quick intake of breath as he backed away. She felt her face redden. Her cold medicine must have been playing tricks with her brain. Whatever had she been thinking?
She turned abruptly toward Mrs. Gould who stood at the end of the aisle, the lady’s face a thundercloud of rage. Candy stood beside the woman and rolled her eyes.
Great, Hannah thought. This was all she needed.
She quickly made her way down the aisle and turned first to Candy, hoping to dilute the repercussion of being caught squished between two strapping men. “Miss Richards, “Hannah replied, “I believe your brother was looking for you. He’s ready to leave now.”
Candy angled her head in the direction of the two men and frowned. “I see. Has Alex been causing trouble?” Not waiting for an answer, the petite brunette marched down the aisle to reclaim her brother.
Mrs. Gould looked at Hannah, then suspiciously back at the two men. “May I remind you, Miss Elliot, fraternizing with the male gender for your own interests is not allowed in this library. If you wish to cavort around like a shameless hussy, then do it on your own time.”
Mrs. Gould marched away like a prison warden, leaving Hannah’s cheeks burning with embarrassment. First Mr. Clearbrook and now Mrs. Gould.
She needed this job, she told herself, but only for another few months. When she started at Reach Medicals, she would have no qualms about leaving the library then.
Of course, she would mind leaving Jeremy. She wasn’t the boy’s mother, but Nick’s declaration, that as his wife she would never be a mother, hit her like a smack in the face. Jeremy’s father, on the other hand, was a factor too dangerous to contemplate. But at least he had Jeremy.
She wondered if there ever would be a man willing to share his life with her who also wanted children.
“Hey, Hannah,” Jeremy shouted, causing Mrs. Gould to glare over her shoulder.
With a hushed finger to her lips, Hannah strolled toward the boy. “What are you doing here so late, pumpkin?”
She gave him a hug and noticed a line of white powder along his hairline. He smelled of ginger, too.
“We got lots of books on cooking. Look.” He shoved a few of the cookbooks her way.
She smiled. “Oh? What happened to Mable? I thought she cooked most of your meals.” Mable, who showed up a few times a week, was their housekeeper and part time cook.
“Mable doesn’t cook gingerbread, and I wanted gingerbread, and we tried to make it in the kitchen, but we needed a better recipe. And Mable wasn’t at our house today. She only comes a on Monday and Thursdays. We could have gotten the gingerbread recipe on the Internet, but Grandpa said they had good cookbooks here. And good books for me here too! Now we don’t need the recipe, because we don’t have time to make it. But Dad got flour, sugar and manila all over the place, and on the way here, I told him all the multiplication facts up to twelve.”
Hannah’s heart leapt at the fact that Jeremy was getting along with his father. She also didn’t have to wonder what burr had wiggled beneath Tanner’s saddle to make him try to bake gingerbread. Jeremy and Fritz had a little conspiracy going; she was sure of it. “Didn’t your dad tell you I’d bring you the gingerbread tomorrow?”
The boy dropped his gaze to his feet. “Uh...um...no.”
She gently put her hand on Jeremy’s chin. “I think you better start thinking about how you’ve been acting lately.”
“I told my dad I was sorry.”
“Hmmm. What about telling the truth about the gingerbread? Even your nose is growing longer, Pinocchio.”
His brows knitted into a look of disbelief. “What? Where’s the mirror?” He bolted toward the bathroom with Fritz emerging from a nearby aisle, trailing in his wake.
Smiling, Hannah turned around, only to find Alex Richards brushing up beside her. “Hey, darlin’.” He gave her a saucy wink and stuffed his business card into her hand. “If you want a job, give me a call, or if you want me, give me a call too.”
His infectious laugh drummed into her ears as he strutted out the door with his sister. Han
nah fingered the business card and let out a light laugh, but her smiled died on her lips when she saw Tanner Clearbrook leaning against a bookshelf, his silvery gaze pinning her to the spot.
The sight of him in a white polo shirt and faded jeans sent her pulse skittering. He looked almost friendly and way too masculine for a woman who couldn’t trust a man again.
The reason he had shed his layers of annoyance toward her was anyone’s guess, but it was his nearness that she found more disturbing.
She must have been crazy to think he had been going to kiss her earlier. Yet why had he interfered with Alex?
Her confusion increased when he smiled. That set of bright white teeth flashing her way made her knees go weak. And then there was that dimpled chin that made him too adorable for his own good.
“Evening, Hannah.”
Not Miss Elliot? The soft-spoken words, together with his grin, transformed him into a man with a heart, a man who loved his son.
A wave of frustration rippled through her. What was he doing? Like the night on the mountain, he was like a powerful magnet, pulling her towards him.
Leave me alone Tanner Clearbrook. You make me remember. You make me want to forget. You make me want to love again.
“Miss Elliot, would you come here, please?”
Hannah started when Mrs. Gould’s domineering voice broke into her thoughts. The old grouch stood three feet from her, angling her blue hair toward the back room.
“I would like a word with you in private.” The lady pushed her glasses up her pointed little nose and gave Tanner a good once over. “That is, if you can possibly tear yourself away.”
Hannah’s heart sank. She took one last look at Tanner’s frowning face and gave him a weak smile before she followed Mrs. Gould on the death march behind the reference desk.
No doubt she was going to be fired. She fingered the black embossed business card in her hands, and the frightening thought came to her that maybe Reach Medicals might not come through after all.
Almost Midnight (sweet contemporary romance) (Colorado Clearbrooks) Page 6
