Fortune's Promise: A Fortune Story

by Karen Erickson

  Maddie moved her hand away from his leg. He felt bereft, empty without her touching him. Gripping the steering wheel with both hands, he concentrated on the road ahead of him. His exit loomed in the distance and he slowed down, deciding he didn’t want to give her a heart attack before he even got her into his house.

  Into his bed.

  The weather was perfect, the sky a crisp blue with flecks of white seagulls flying overhead. His gaze dropped on Maddie’s hands clutched in her lap, her head tilted to watch out the window as the scenery flew by. Made him realize he had forgotten to ask about…

  “Did you get my present?” Tanner had no idea why he had chosen such an extravagant bracelet for Maddie. He’d bought it a week ago when he’d been at some mindless party held at a jewelry store. One look at the bracelet and he’d immediately thought of her. The way her skin flushed prettily when she was aroused. How pink and beautiful she was between her legs.

  Of course, he could never admit to her the stones on the bracelet reminded him of that.

  She uncrossed, then re-crossed her legs, fidgeting in her seat. “I did. It’s lovely.”

  Grabbing her wrist, he checked to see if the bracelet was there, but it wasn’t. “You didn’t like it.”

  The statement came out flat and his heart ached a little. He should have known it was a bad move to give her jewelry. Not like she needed it, she could go out and buy her own since she was wealthy in her own right. And besides, she probably thought he was a complete ass trying to buy her off with an expensive bracelet.

  “No, no, it’s not that I don’t like it.” She glanced at him, nibbling on her lower lip. “It’s beautiful, but I’m afraid I’m allergic to silver.”

  Relief flooded him, and he chuckled as he pulled off the freeway, slowing down for the stoplight. “It’s platinum.”

  Maddie turned to face him, eyes wide, pouty lips forming a perfect “O”. She visibly gulped. “Really?”

  He nodded, circling his fingers around her wrist as he stopped the car. “Platinum and diamonds. I found it at a shop and it made me think of you.”

  “Diamonds?” Her voice squeaked, and he chuckled again. “I feel like such an idiot.”

  She leaned forward and grabbed her purse from the floorboard, pulling the slim black box out. Tugging the lid off, she disengaged the bracelet from its snug placement and draped it across her wrist. “I’m so glad I can wear it. I was afraid of what you might think, and I felt so stupid about the allergy thing.”

  “You shouldn’t, it’s the truth.” He helped her latch the bracelet, the heat of her soft skin making his fingertips tingle. Maddie waved her wrist in front of him, the bracelet dangling.

  “I love it, thank you.” She reached over, kissed him too quickly for his taste and settled back in her seat, admiring the sparkling bracelet on her wrist.

  The word “love” struck a cord deep within him. After his marriage broke up he had wondered if he ever really loved Paula. He’d been more in love with the idea of them as a couple versus actually loving her. Told himself for months afterwards he wasn’t capable of love. Hell, even Paula screamed that at him during their last miserable fight.

  Maddie, though, she made him think differently.

  Chapter Nine

  Maddie tugged at her bikini top, wishing the thin fabric covered her breasts better. She cursed Brittney in her head for talking her into buying the skimpy two-piece swimsuit a few months ago. She also had to silently curse herself for being talked into it in the first place.

  Not that anyone could see her. The deck that ran along the back of Tanner’s house faced out towards the ocean. It sat high above the other homes that surrounded his, which allowed for more privacy.

  Thank goodness. She needed every bit of privacy she could get.

  The late spring sun warmed her skin and she slipped on her sunglasses, closed her eyes, relaxing against the overstuffed cushions of the lounge chair. Her mind wandered to last night and she smiled, squirming.

  Tanner had essentially ravished her the minute he escorted her into the house. Didn’t even bother giving her a tour, he attacked her in the middle of the living room. They’d kept the vigorous activity up all night long, only stopping to break for a quick snack before going back at it. They’d finally collapsed in a heap around four in the morning and she’d never slept so well in her life.

  She was sore and exhausted when she woke up a few hours later. Tanner had been the perfect gentleman, fixing her breakfast in bed, then taking her into the luxurious shower in the master bath. Which of course meant they had sex in the shower until the water ran cold.

  Maddie had never had so much sex in her life and she’d only been at Tanner’s place for what, a little less than twenty four hours? Amazing. And absolutely mind-blowing.

  It was ridiculous she worried about the skimpiness of her bikini when Tanner had seen every blessed inch of her up close and personal only a few hours ago.

  The door opened and Tanner came outside clad in a pair of low-slung swim trunks. She tried not to stare, but she couldn’t help herself. The man’s body was amazing, bronzed, muscled goodness. Broad shoulders, rock hard abs and slim hips, a light dusting of dark brown chest hair in the center, tapering to a thin line that bisected his flat stomach and went beyond the waistband of his shorts—all of the qualities she preferred in a man, she thought with a giggle.

  She still had a hard time believing she’d actually had sex with him. Tanner Robinson, musician-celebrity extraordinaire.

  “Nice,” he drawled as he did a slow perusal of her lying on the cushy lounging chair.

  Her cheeks heated and he sat on the edge of the lounger beside her, a smile curving his sensuous lips. Reaching out, he touched the little scrap of green fabric that barely covered her right breast. “You look good.”

  “My friend talked me into buying it.” She shrugged, deciding what the hell. He’d seen it all and then some. This was no big deal.

  “I should call your friend and thank her.” He winked at her and she rolled her eyes.

  “It was Brittney. She’d be thrilled if you called her and told her that.”

  “You mean your friend the bride? Yeah, she’s cool. I will have to thank her.” His fingers skittered along her shoulder, playing with the ties that wrapped around her neck. “You look sexy in that. Shows off all your curves.”

  “You mean all my fat?” She laughed when she saw the horrified expression on his face. “Seriously, Tanner, I need to lose about fifteen pounds.”

  “Don’t you dare.” He smiled, leaning in close to slip her sunglasses off and set them on the table. He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “I think you’re perfect.”

  Maddie sighed when he cupped a breast in the palm of his hand, fingers kneading, thumb flicking across her already distended nipple. “Tanner, not now.”

  Grinning, he moved to sit on her lounger. He slid the fabric to the side of one breast, exposing it, and her nipple pebbled even harder. “Why not now? No one can see us, Maddie.”

  She relaxed against the cushion of the chair, her body tingling at his simple caress though she didn’t want it to. “This is all we seem to do. Shouldn’t we just hang out and talk or something?”

  “We talk. We hang out. We also have sex. Who says we can’t do all three at the same time?” His other hand went to the back of her neck and started to untie the strap there, but she pulled away from him, tugged the fabric of her top over her breast.

  Sighing in frustration, he went to the other lounge chair with a pout on his handsome face. He looked like a petulant little boy. “What? What’s wrong?”

  “Look, I like having sex with you. It’s phenomenal. I can’t deny that and you know it. But I’m tired, you wore me out. Don’t you ever want to just…talk?”

  Glancing away from her, he stared out at the ocean in the distance, the breeze ruffling his hair. He was gorgeous, he was fantastic in bed and yes she got him to talk to her once, the first night they had met, but he’d barel
y talked to her since she arrived yesterday.

  Oh yes, they had talked, but when they did, it was all surface stuff. Where they should go to dinner, who his neighbors were and how much he wanted her. That was it.

  She found it frustrating.

  He pushed her boundaries endlessly and she had to admit she liked that about him. Nothing felt as liberating as being with Tanner. But there was more to him, to them than hot sex and a good time. She knew it.

  Retying the strings around her neck, Maddie could admit to herself that she wanted to see the other side of him again. The open and revealing side. She wanted to see the real Tanner.

  Unfortunately, she didn’t think he was up to revealing it today, if ever.

  “We are invited to a party,” he said instead, still watching the ocean. Totally avoiding her question.

  “Really? A party?” Maddie wasn’t sure she was up to company. She wasn’t good in a crowd, especially with people she didn’t know. People who were most likely rich and glamorous and beautiful. Confident in their abilities, used to being out and about on a nightly basis.

  She may be rich, but she certainly wasn’t glamorous and she’d never felt confident. That kind of scene was not her.

  Tanner turned to face her. “It really is a small one, I swear. Just a few friends getting together for drinks and some food. One of the producers who is working with me on this album is hosting it at his house. His wife is looking for an excuse to throw a party.”

  “You’re sure? I don’t really feel comfortable in big crowds.” She bit her lip, hating that she just admitted that fact but damn it, she may as well be upfront. He needed to know she wasn’t the let’s-go-out-and-party-all-night-long type. It wasn’t her thing, never would be.

  If he wanted that, he was looking in the wrong direction.

  He shook his head, a gentle smile on his face. “I don’t think so. It doesn’t sound like it’s going to be a big party at all. And don’t worry, I’ll be there to rescue you if you need it. Want to go soon, find you something to wear for it?”

  First a party, now shopping? Two of her least favorite things to do. Brittney had always wondered if she was lacking some sort of gene or something but she’d never been into shopping, makeup, none of it. She only did it now because Brittney and Lauren dragged her with them. But she could admit she found it fun, shopping with her friends.

  Shopping might be fun with Tanner too. He always knew what to say, how to look at her to make her feel good. Maybe that’s what she needed to boost her confidence for tonight.

  Nodding, she gazed at the beautiful bracelet clinging to her wrist. “Yes, that sounds fine, but I want to pay for it. My dress or whatever I find to wear. I don’t want you to think you can shower me with gifts to get me into your bed.”

  “Baby, I don’t need to buy you anything to get you into my bed. You already know that.” He raised his eyebrows at her, chuckling.

  It was true of course, but she couldn’t resist teasing him. She loved his playful side. “Awfully cocky, aren’t we?”

  “Only because of you.”

  Maddie sobered, unable to keep from opening her mouth. “What’s going on here, Tanner?”

  She hadn’t wanted to go there, but she couldn’t help herself. No way could she admit she wanted something more, but she didn’t want to be his plaything on the side either. She didn’t like the position she put herself in but she couldn’t help it.

  Tanner Robinson was very irresistible.

  He sobered as well, leaning back against the lounge chair and stretching out his legs. “What are you referring to?”

  “You and me. Us. I know you said this was just a weekend of fun and it’s been great, but I have to admit I’m a little confused.” Her heart dropped into her stomach when he looked away.

  “If you’re looking for a commitment I don’t know if I can offer you that right now, Maddie.” He paused, still didn’t face her and she swore her heart was now somewhere in the vicinity of her toes. “I like you. There’s a connection between us that’s intense, to say the least. But I just got out of an ugly marriage which has made me kind of gun shy when it comes to relationships.”

  She nodded even though he wasn’t looking at her. “I understand, of course. No problem. I wasn’t looking for a commitment, you know. It’s way too soon.”

  Tears pricked the corners of her eyes and she shook her head, pressing her lips together. She was such a liar, and no way did she want to cry, especially in front of Tanner. He’d think she was a complete freak since they’d only known each other for a few days.

  Tanner finally turned to face her, his expression earnest. “I want to continue seeing you, Maddie, if you’ll have me. I’m not perfect relationship material, not by a long shot, but I can’t deny that I’d like to keep seeing you. God, I’m such a selfish asshole.”

  Her heart soared somewhere back to the area of her stomach, and she smiled tremulously. “Well, you are kind of selfish, but you’re definitely not an asshole.”

  Pausing, she gauged his reaction and decided to just go for it. “I don’t mind keeping things the way they are, but eventually I’m going to want to know where this is going.”

  “I understand.” He nodded. “I don’t expect you to ask for anything less.”

  Regret filled her at even asking him where she stood so soon in this so-called relationship, but at least she felt better knowing where he was coming from. Not that she liked his answer, but it was better than being in the dark.

  Now if she could just keep her heart out of all of it.

  Chapter Ten

  Tanner watched Maddie out of the corner of his eye, jealousy gnawing at his gut. She was surrounded by a small crowd of guys. She threw back her head and laughed when one of them must have told her some sort of funny story or joke The same joyful, exuberant laugh that had hooked him in the first place.

  He wanted to sock every one of those guys in the face, and these were men he knew, liked and respected. He wanted to grab Maddie, throw her over his shoulder and carry her out of the house like some sort of Neanderthal. Beating his chest with his free hand and screaming, “Mine!”.

  Instead he stood in the corner of the living room and nursed his drink, sulking. Regretted reassuring her she’d be the life of the party because she was new blood and they would love to talk to her, pick her brain. That deep down inside she was an interesting, easy to talk to woman who had something to share. He wished he would’ve told her to stick by his side so he didn’t have to share.

  He hated sharing.

  He hated the dress Maddie wore even more.

  Okay he really didn’t hate it. It was one of those black swingy dress things that all the women were wearing. On some women, they hung like a sack, but on Maddie it showcased those long legs, her full breasts. The scoop neck dipped low, revealing a healthy dose of cleavage, and the skirt swirled around her thighs when she moved.

  It made his mouth water. It made him want to take her somewhere quiet and hold her close, stroke her sweet body with his hands, tell her how much she aroused him. How good she made him feel. It made him want to worship the ground she walked on.

  Keep it casual my ass. He drained his drink, shook the ice in the glass and wished like hell he already had another one. Wanting to come off cool and nonchalant when she’d cornered him earlier back at the house, he really should’ve told her the truth. Come clean about the overload of foreign emotion swirling inside of him. He kept his mouth shut, figuring he would’ve scared the shit out of her if he admitted all of that.

  It scared him enough just thinking about it.

  All the casual fucking of his past was done. He knew this. It was over the second he had set eyes on Maddie, though he hadn’t realized it until the morning after he had left her. He didn’t want any of that anymore, even though it was what he had sought out with Maddie in the first place. Too angry and bitter over his divorce and his ex’s betrayal. Spending the night with Maddie at the hotel had been like a revelation
.

  Now spending time with Maddie this weekend, really getting to know her, enjoying her company, well, it all made him want to keep her around.

  On a permanent basis.

  Life had a funny way of constantly proving him wrong. He’d never believed in love at first sight. It figured he’d be struck dumb by it. A man who’d always prided himself on keeping his cool, keeping his head in the game, staying smart when the going got tough. It was why he was such a success in the music business. He didn’t let himself get swayed by bullshit, didn’t let himself get overwhelmed with all the possibilities.

  His only weakness had been Paula. He’d told himself he would never fall like that ever again.

  Tanner also needed to learn to never say never.

  “She’s pretty. Is she yours?”

  He closed his eyes for a second, recognizing that voice anywhere. He’d forgotten his ex-wife was very good friends with Rey’s wife Magdalena. It was as if thinking about her had conjured her up. “Paula.”

  She smiled when he turned to face her, looking like the cat that had caught the canary. “Give me a hug, Tanner. It’s been a long time.”

  “I’d rather not.” He shook his head, stuffed his hands in his pockets.

  She pouted, rested her hands on her too slim hips. “So is it true? I’ve been told you have a new girlfriend.”

  “Yeah, she’s with me.” He didn’t want to give the bitch an inch of information because she’d take it and run somewhere with it.

  Paula always wanted to find a hard and fast buck. The tabloids were her best friends.

  “Well she’s certainly the opposite of your usual type, isn’t she?” Paula’s lips twitched, as if she found the entire situation amusing. She probably did.

  “She’s just what I need.” He stared at her, dared her to defy him and she only shook her head, a little giggle escaping her.

  “You were always so dramatic, Tanner. You drove me crazy.”

  “What do you want, Paula?” He cut to the chase, didn’t want to reminisce about the past.