Page 21 of Dark, Forbidden, & Taboo

Chewing the inside of my mouth in determination, I use the mouse to scroll until I find the name I’m looking for.

I reach for a Post-it, grab a pen, then quickly jot down the information before I fold it in half and slide it into my back pocket.

As soon as I’ve closed the customer list, I clear the cache, then logout.

Today is gonna be a day where I’ll have to swallow my pride, but it’ll be worth it in the end.

___

“Hey!” the voice calls out half an hour later. I turn my attention to the right, get to my feet, and nod in acknowledgment of his presence.

The one thing I’ve always wanted to avoid; spending an afternoon with Tanner.

“What’s up, River?” he asks, a grin spreading across his face. I never noticed just how big his mouth was before, but I’m worried that he’ll be able to swallow me whole if I’m not too careful around him.

I shrug as nonchalantly as I can, leading the way toward the diner door, then pull it open and wait for him to enter.

“I was hungry. Thought I could use some company for once.”

“And you thought of me,” he says, his grin widening as he stops just before entering the diner. “How sweet.”

I roll my eyes and groan inwardly, then remind myself that I have to play nice. Not just becauseIneed Tanner, but because Gus does too.

I give him a tense smile and nod toward the small podium just inside the second set of doors. Tanner chuckles as he finally starts moving again.

A really pretty middle-aged woman walks over to us with a bright smile on her face.

“Two?” she asks politely.

I smile and nod.

She motions for us to follow her, then sets us at a small table against the far back wall.

As soon as the woman sets our menus down and walks away, Tanner shrugs off his jacket and gives me his undivided attention.

But that fucking grin—it doesn’t leave his face.

“So, is this a date? Did you ask me out on a date, River?”

The look I give him must be harsher than I assume because he almost instantly shrinks back against his seat, then clears his throat.

“Guess not,” he mumbles as he picks up his menu and begins to look it over.

I let out a sigh as I pull at the sleeves of my leather jacket, then place it on the empty spot next to me.

“Don’t take it so hard, Tanner. You’re just not my type.”

He raises his eyes curiously at me over the top of his menu, his grin returning, “You into assholes, River? Because if you actually gave me a chance, I think I can give you what you’re looking for.”

I look at him incredulously before I shake my head, a chuckle escaping me unexpectedly.

Tanner gives me a triumphant smirk, so I take the opportunity to burst his bubble before it gets too big.

“I’m not into guys,” I confess with a shrug.

He shakes his head as he looks back down at the menu, “Well, that explains a lot.”

I grind my teeth together.

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