Page 37 of Just Can't Fall for the Enemy

For the first time, I realized he wasn’t wearing his camera. “Did you leave your equipment in the car?”

“It’s in the trunk. I’ll grab it if I need to. Today is about us.” He cocked his head. “How can I help?”

My earlier worries melted away at his open expression. No walls, no secrets. There was only one way to know for sure whether Mari was right about him. I glanced at Nate again. “You haven’t asked about featuring Nate’s story.”

Tanner followed my gaze and brought his own immediately back. “You said he was off-limits. It never even crossed my mind.”

I examined this man who seemed to know my every thought before even I was aware of it. Tanner had been respectful last night and sweet today and pretty much the opposite of Alan in every way. He was far from the player he portrayed on YouTube. I could see it now, the man he truly was, and my heart swelled with happiness.

I’d let him into nearly aspect of my life, and he’d thrived there, but there was still one very important element missing.

“I don’t want you to feature him,” I said, grabbing Tanner’s hand and pulling him toward Nate. “But I do want you to know him.”

His surprise turned into realization, then understanding. “Are you certain?”

“I am.” We stopped in front of Nate and I winked at the boy. “Hey, buddy. Look who I found wandering around again. Should I send him away?”

Nate’s giant grin filled my entire soul. “Not a chance. Hi, Tanner. Am I going to be in your show?”

“Probably not, sport. But if I need a partner, you’ll be the first to know. Well, maybe the second.” Tanner took my hand again and gazed into my eyes until my legs felt like the raspberry gelatin just served at the luncheon. “Sophie will always be my first choice.”

Nate groaned. “You guys are gross.”

“Sorry,” I said, tearing my eyes back to Nate. “I need to talk to Tanner for a bit, but do you need anything first?”

“No.” His attention had already returned to the game, his eyes following the ball.

“See ya, sport,” Tanner called as we walked away. Then he looked at me curiously, still gripping my hand. “I feel like that was an important moment, and I don’t know why.”

“I’m about to tell you. But this conversation needs to happen in the right place.” I led him around the corner to my favorite street—the one currently lined with blazing-red maple trees. The slight breeze rustled the leaves on the quiet road, leaving us feeling like we were completely alone in the world, at the edge of a brilliant flame.

His reaction was worth it. “I didn’t know that color existed,” he said reverently. “Such a bright red. Now I regret leaving my camera behind.”

“If you had your camera, I couldn’t tell you my story,” I said. “Except it isn’t all my story. It’s partly Nate’s.”

“I’m listening.”

I led him to the bench swinging from one of the trees in the Parkers’ front yard, knowing they wouldn’t mind. The couple was out of town most of the year anyway and had told me to use the bench anytime.

I took a deep breath. “It all started with Alan.”

So I told him. I explained how a man had come to town and swept me off my feet, making me believe I loved him. Making me believe he wanted to stay forever and start a family with me. The entire town expected a proposal any day. But deep down, something nagged at me. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. And then I’d seen the text.

“I managed to sneak a peek at his phone one day,” I said, “and discovered my suspicions were backward. I thought he was cheating on me, but it was worse than that. He was married andIwas the mistress he was cheating with.”

Tanner growled something under his breath.

“I confronted him, and we broke up. I remember how angry he was—I thought he would hit me. But he stormed off and went to the bar even though it was barely four in the afternoon. The next thing I knew, there were sirens downtown. A lot of them.” My voice wavered, so I paused to gain control. “I followed the sound to find a barricade and a crowd. There, I saw Alan’s crumpled car, and . . . and the ambulance.”

“He hit Nate,” Tanner breathed.

I nodded, staring at my hands. They swam in my blurry vision.

“Oh, Sophie.” He swept a wayward hair from my face and lifted my chin upward so I had to face him. “No. This was not your fault. You have to know that.”

“I know,” I managed. “At least, my brain knows. Alan made his own choices, and I would never choose this. But my heart doesn’t quite believe it. I’m reminded of that day every time I look at Nate. If I’d confronted Alan sooner, Nate would still be walking. Or if I’d waited to confront him until the next day, even.”

“Then he could have hurt someone else. Killed them, maybe. Whatever would have happened, it was on him, not you. Never you.” He stroked my cheek, leaving a trail of heat behind. “So that’s why you feel so protective of this town. Because you believe you failed them once.”

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