Page 6 of Shelter for Tanna

She also hadn’t seemed as prickly as she had the first time he’d met her. Had she been thinking about him too?

There was only one way to find out, and he hoped he’d get that call.

* * *

Two other wreckers were already there when she rolled up on the scene, so she picked the third vehicle and backed up close to it. A police officer she knew, KipSallenger, guided her back and held up a hand for her to stop. Grabbing her gloves and her two-way, she slipped out of the truck and started picking up pieces. The firefighters would sweep afterward and put down oil-absorb.

She’d just gotten started when she heard a voice. “Need some help?”

Tanna turned and found herself face to face with the good-looking firefighter who’d spoken to her at an accident scene the week before. She flashed him the best smile she could manage. “Thanks. That would be nice.” She’d figured he’d try to chat her up, but he didn’t, just went about picking up pieces of plastic and glass. Once everything was collected, she hooked up the winch to the car’s frame and started pulling it up the flatbed. When it was up and secure, she turned to him. “Braden, right?”

“Yeah.”

Instead of trying to run him off, she decided maybe she should be nice to him and see where it went. Tanna gave him another smile. “Good to see you again.”

“Good to see you too.” It was almost as though he didn’t want to walk away, and then he asked bluntly, “Is there a reason why you didn’t return my call?”

What was he talking about? “Your call?”

“Yeah. I called Charlie’s office and left you a message.”

God damn that Charlie! The guy was about as reliable as a condom with a hole in it. “I didn’t get a message from you. What did it say?”

“It was just my phone number. That was all.”

“Oh. No, Charlie didn’t give it to me. What did you need?”

His head dropped and she watched as a nervous-looking Braden dragged a toe across the pavement. “I was going to see if you’d like to go to dinner.”

“Oh. I don’t know how I’d…” Shit. Well, there it was. She couldn’t just leave Max with Daniel for an entire evening, so she’d have to do something. And then she’d have to explain to Braden what it was all about. That would necessitate an explanation of Max’s disorder and then…You’re overthinking this, Tanna, she told herself. “I’d have to find a sitter.”

He lifted his head and smiled at her, and Tanna’s heart melted. She hoped the smile she was wearing mirrored his. “Oh! Well, um, I can give you my number. If you want to go out and can arrange it, give me a call. I work a forty-eight during the week but I’m free the rest of the time.”

“Sure! What is it?” In no time, she had it stored in her phone. Why was she bothering? He’d run just like all the rest. But what if he didn’t? “Thanks. I’ll be in touch,” she said as she palmed the phone and slipped it into her jacket pocket.

“Great! I’ll look forward to it! Thanks, Tanna.”

“Thank you, Braden. Have a good day.”

“You too.”

It was right there on the tip of her tongue, the urge to tell him she’d never call him or even bother to explain. It wouldn’t do any good. But for some reason, she wanted to try, to see where it went. Couldn’t hurt. Nothing could disappoint her more than she’d already been disappointed. And yet there was something about the firefighter that really appealed to her. He seemed honest and dependable, like someone you could rely on when things got tough. That was what she needed more than anything, someone she could depend on. Could he be that person?

She watched his back recede toward the big rig and sighed. Well, that was one big, tall, muscled-up ball of false hope walking away from her, she was sure. It had a lifespan of about ten minutes once she told him the truth.

Of course, she most definitely would. Tanna felt strongly about full disclosure, even if it damned her to a life alone.

Chapter 2

She waited as the phone rang. It seemed he wasn’t going to answer it until she heard an uncertain, “Hello?”

“Hi. Is this Braden?”

“Yeah! Tanna?”

“Yes. How are you?”

“I’m good. I’m glad you decided to call me.”

---