Page 64 of Trusting Tanner
Alone.
Any time he allowed himself to even think about getting in his car and leaving her here for four days, his chest would seize and he’d have trouble breathing.
“Everything all right?” Juliana asked as she sat beside him on the couch. “You’ve been quiet all day.” She tucked her legs under her and rested her head on his shoulder.
He put his hand on her leg. “Yeah.” He’d debated all day whether to call Xander and tell him he wasn’t coming. But he couldn’t disappoint his brother.
She draped her arm across his stomach and snuggled closer.
Four fucking days. Four days without her touch, the taste of her lips, the sound of her voice. He let his head fall back against the couch and groaned. There had been so many opportunities to ask her to go with him, but he hadn’t taken any of them. Mostly because he didn’t want to pressure her into something she wasn’t ready for, but also because he didn’t know how he’d react if she said no. But now he was out of time.
“Jules, honey.” He put his arm around her. His heart was in his throat, and speaking became difficult. “I want you to go with me this weekend. To Miami to meet my brothers.” He mentally rehearsed the speech he’d prepared because he knew she’d probably say no, and he had a solid argument to convince her otherwise.
She sat up. “Seriously?”
“Yes.” His heart raced, and his breath quickened. He moved to sit on the coffee table so he could face her, and he took her hands into his. “I cannot stand the thought of being away from you all weekend.” He brushed his thumbs along the back of her hands. “We’ll get a hotel room near the beach and hang out with my brothers. Absolutely no pressure for anything more.”
“Right, because meeting your brothers won’t be stressful?”
He froze. Of all the arguments he’d formulated, he hadn’t come up with one for that. “Uh, well, no…” He scrunched up his face. She had him on that one. “I mean, sure, they can be a handful, but I’ll let them know you’re coming and—” And what, he had no idea. Because if he told them to be cool and take it easy on her, they’d take that as an invitation to be anything but.
She crossed her arms and stared at him, waiting.
Shit. This wasn’t going at all like he’d planned. He rubbed the back of his neck. “They’re going to love you, Jules. I promise. It’ll be fun.”
“Oh, I know that. I’m not worried about them not liking me.”
His jaw dropped. “You’re not?”
“No. I’m worried I won’t like them, and then that will make things weird between us.” She shook her head. “It’s just too risky.”
He was speechless. In all the time he’d known her, he hadn’t once seen her not like someone. Except Rebecca, but she didn’t count because she was fucking nuts. Did she really believe she wouldn’t like his brothers?
She forced a cough then chuckled. “I’m kidding, Tanner. I’d love to go with you.”
“Really?” His eyes widened.
“Yes, really. But if that’s not the answer you wanted, I can change it to better suit you.”
“Don’t you dare.” He laughed. “I’m going to go pack, but I’ll be back in half an hour. Can you be ready by then?”
“Wait, you want to leave right now?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“Why would we?” She laughed incredulously. “Wait. Is this payback for all that crap I just said? Are you fucking with me right now?”
He smirked. “Maybe?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Is there a reason we can’t leave tomorrow like you planned?”
“Honestly, I’m worried you’ll change your mind.” And he wasn’t going to give her a reason to say no. He kissed her softly, not lingering even though he wanted to. He licked his lips, savoring the remnants of their kiss, of her taste. “Thirty minutes.” Standing, he pulled her to her feet. “Is that enough time for you to pack?”
“I’ll be ready.” Her lips were plump from his kisses, and it took every shred of willpower he had not to lean down and take another.
Tanner pulled up in front of the bakery and parked. He was thrilled he’d been able to convince her to go away with him. He got out of the car and raced upstairs. He knocked, then opened the door. “Hope you’re ready.”
Laughing, she walked out of the bedroom with a packed duffel bag. “You said thirty minutes. It’s only been twenty-seven.”
