Page 31 of Keeper
“Thank you so much.” I smiled and touched my hand to his shoulder. “Let’s look for just a little bit longer, if you don’t mind.”
Honestly, I’d completely given up hope that we’d find it. I just wanted to stay with him—as long as we had a reason to be together, I didn’t have to feel guilty or slutty. Part of me wanted Tanner to pull off the road, park somewhere discreet, and make a move. Yeah, there wasn’t a lot of room in his car, but I could still climb into his lap. We could make things work. Damn, I wanted him so bad!
But … I had so many reasons not to. I knew I’d probably never see him again after tonight—especially if I gave him what he wanted. And after telling him all night long that I wasn’t the type of girl to do something like that, I couldn’t go back on my word. That’d make me look weak at best, and a liar or a hypocrite at worst. And then he wouldn’t respect me—andIwouldn’t respect myself, either.
Stay strong, Ainsley.
Just when my eyelids were growing heavy, the area around us started to look familiar. I perked up, scanning all the buildings and shops in the area.
“Hey, wait! I think this is it! I think she lives around here!”
“Yeah? That’s funny.” He pointed at a building. “That’s where I live. Maybe she lives in the same building?”
I squinted at it as we drove past. “Hm. No. It’s definitely not that one.”
“This area’s pretty ritzy, y’know,” he said. “What’s your friend do for a living, anyway?”
I let out a sigh. “Don’t even get me started. I don’t want to talk about her right now.”
He smiled. “Understood.”
The fact that Tanner also lived in a ritzy area begged the same question.
“But what doyoudo for a living, Tanner?” I asked.
Mimicking me, he let out a sigh. “Don’t get me started. I don’t want to talk about that, either.”
“Fair.” I snickered. “Well, whatever it is you do, you must do well for yourself.”
“I do okay,” he said with a shrug. “But, er, ‘business’ has been kinda rough to me lately.”
“Aw. You’ll find your way, Tanner.” I brushed my hand against his cheek to console him, the grit of his stubble like a fine sandpaper against my knuckles. “If not, you can always sell the Lambo.”
He laughed.
We drove on until the area stopped looking familiar to me. Tanner drove us through the area once more, but it was hopeless. I wasn’t even sure we were in the right area after all. Back where we started, he pulled over and asked what we should do. I apologized for wasting his time again.
“Thanks for trying, anyway,” I said. “That was very sweet of you.”
“No problem, Ainsley. So I guess I’ll take you to the hotel, then?”
Waiting for me to say the word, he turned to me and gave me his eyes.
I bit my lip. Why did he have to look so sexy and alluring all the time?
Yes. Hotel!I screamed at myself internally.He said he’d take you to the hotel and that’s what you should do!
Tanner sensed my hesitation.
“Unless … you’d like to see my place?” he asked, pointing up.
No, Ainsley. You know exactly what that means. Have him take you to the hotel!
But my mouth opened and my own words betrayed me.
“I mean, your buildingisright there,” I said. “Kinda makes sense to swing by for a few, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. Yeah, it does.” Hiding a smile, Tanner pulled into the parking garage.
