Page 13 of Wrapped Around My Heart
“It’s Tanner.” The man himself corrects so quietly, I’m sure it was only meant for me. Since I’m still looking right at Dean, the way his eyebrows scrunch together tells me he caught the interaction too.
I flash Tanner a polite smile, unable to fight the deepening heat in my cheeks when I find him already watching me.
My mom whips around with an excited gasp, slamming the oven door closed, and rushes over. “Oh goody! I was just about to text you.”
Liz steps forward, setting her tray down on the counter before turning back to us.
“Katherine, this is my Tanner!” She holds a hand out and I finally step out of the way, moving around the kitchen island and stopping a few feet away from Dean as we watch the interaction.
“Oh, it’s so nice to finally meet you, Tanner! Your mom has told me so much about you.”
“I hope she hasn’t set the bar too high. My mom seems to think I can do no wrong.” Tanner accepts my mom’s hand in greeting while his eyes find me once again.
Liz follows his attention and winks at me. “We mothers can never stop hyping up our kids.”
While I force an awkward laugh, my mom gushes over the man in front of her and I suddenly fight the urge to roll my eyes.Yes, his attractiveness caught me off guard for a second when I first saw him, but the shock factor is quickly passing. Especially as I watch him bat his eyes and lay his “charm” on thick while complimenting my mom.
From the corner of my eye, I find Dean inching closer as we observe the two moms in the kitchen very obviously talking Tanner up.
“Tanner, tell Katherine and Arianna about your perfect golf streak!” Liz offers, fidgeting with the collar of her son’s shirt.
“It’s not that big of a deal, Mom.” Tanner offers in a tone that does not hide how big of a deal he truly thinks it is. “You know what they say. Practice makes perfect and since I play four days each week, it’s no wonder that I hold the best score at the club right now.”
Finally remembering my wine, I hide my eye roll by chugging back the remains while Tanner goes on to brag about his perfect plays.
“Ari, be a dear and show Tanner where the drinks are?” My mom interrupts my judgy thoughts and I finally meet her stare with narrowed eyes. As if she can read my thoughts, she smiles wider and quickly glances toward Tanner before looking back at me with those damn pleading eyes. Her face practically screams “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you butlookat him!”
Apparently, no matter how many times I tell her I don’t need to be set up, it wasn’t good enough for her. I shoot her back a glare that hopefully screams “this isn’t over” before caving.
Biting back a sigh, I lift my now empty glass.
“Since it appears I need a refill of my own, sure. Follow me.”
Pushing away from the island, I don’t even take a step before Dean speaks up.
“Ya know what, I need one too. All this cooking has left me parched.” He smiles at my mom. “You okay if I step away, Katherine?”
“What have I told you about calling me that?” My mom rolls her eyes, crossing the kitchen to gently shoo him away. “Go, go. I told you before that I didn’tneedyour help.”
“We all know you don’t need help, but we both know you love my company,Mom.” Dean emphasizes the fact that he calls her mom and I don’t miss the sly smirk he shoots toward Tanner.
“Well, Liz can take over keeping me company. Go get a drink and socialize.”
“Alrighty then,” I say, spinning on my heel and raising my still empty glass. “Anyone in need of a strong alcoholic beverage, follow me.”
Both men follow, the tension in the air almost as heavy as the weight of their stares. Refusing to even look at them, I lead them to the drink bar in the dining room and immediately find my favorite bottle of whiskey.
“Dean, do you want your usual?” I ask, sparing him a quick glance.
“Yes. However,”—Dean steps up to take the bottle from my hand and places a hand on my lower back—“you’ve been serving everyone else today. Let me make you one now.”
“You know how I like it.” I smile, caught up in his closeness for a moment before the sound of someone clearing their throat from behind us ruins the moment. Dean’s jaw clenches and he barely glances over his shoulder.
“What’ll it be, Tan?” Dean asks in his regular cheery voice.
“It’s Tanner,” he corrects while stepping up to my other side. “Whatever Arianna is drinking works for me.”
Once again, I fight the urge to roll my eyes. He doesn’t even knowwhatI’m drinking. Instead of enlightening him, I step back and give Dean room to work. He’s one of the few people I would ever trust to make my favorite cocktail.
