When she opened her eyes, she was rewarded with a soft smile and slight tilt of his head. “You’re so damn remarkable.”
Surprised by his reaction, Melanie stepped back and stared across the room. Compliments from a man were most definitely out of her comfort zone, so she wasn’t really sure how to reply. She spotted her purse still on the floor in front of the couch where she’d dropped it when she came in.
“Will you be at the bonfire this weekend?” she asked as she crossed to retrieve her bag.
Tanner shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”
Hoisting her strap up onto her shoulder, Melanie turned to face him once more. Those heavy lids half shielded dark eyes. Tanner was such a potent man and could elicit a stirring of emotions inside her she’d never experienced—all from across a room.
“Stay.”
Melanie stilled. That one, simple word hovered in the air between them. “Tanner—”
“Just to talk,” he amended. “I just . . . damn it, I don’t want things awkward, and I don’t want you leaving here feeling like I should’ve done or said something more. And I need to know that you’re okay.”
His concern for her well-being could be perceived as controlling, but she wasn’t getting that vibe. Whatever had him checking his emotions and keeping closed off from her, made Melanie wonder what he’d endured in his past. She wasn’t naïve enough to think she was the only one with secrets.
Surely Jade or Livie would know more about Tanner’s life. If they didn’t, then Melanie would see if Livie could get the lowdown from Jax. That was all sneaky, but Melanie truly wanted to know what she was dealing with.
Tanner obviously wanted to fix things, if that was even the right wording here. Someone strong and resilient like Tanner used his power to help, to make everything better. But he was also in law enforcement. He was most definitely dominating and pure alpha.
Would he relinquish control where she and the baby were concerned, or would he insist he was doing everything for her benefit? Because she’d heard that lame defense before.
“I was going to light a fire out back,” he added, then cursed beneath his breath. “You probably shouldn’t be around smoke right now. Wait, you’re going to the bonfire. I should research all of this.”
He muttered the last sentence almost as if giving himself a reminder. Melanie couldn’t help the clench to her heart at such sincerity. She could get used to a man who actually cared.
No. Just no. She couldn’t have her heart involved right now. She needed to stick with facts and not emotions. The fact was she and Tanner were having a baby. They were no more than acquaintances, and possibly friends by default because of their group. That was fine. Friendships she could handle. She excelled at being a good friend.
Did she throw in the fact that she was attracted to him? That she actually wanted to stay because the thought of going back home and lying awake all night with worry, terrified her?
At least now that he knew, they shared that common bond of fear. That would pass, though, and she needed to keep her attraction compartmentalized so she didn’t get too wrapped up in this man.
“I can’t.” She gripped her purse strap and offered a smile to ease the anxiety lines between his brows. “We both need to think and . . . yeah. I need to just go.”
Melanie hurried to the entryway and got as far as her hand on the doorknob before she felt him behind her.
“We’ll figure this out. I’m not going anywhere.”
She shivered at his determined tone. Without a word, and without looking back, Melanie walked out and shut the door behind her.
Chapter Four
Be the badass girl you were too afraid to be
yesterday.
—Mel’s Motivational Blog
“I swear if I have to look at one more layout deciding on outlet and light switch placement, I’m going to explode.”
Livie burst through the back door, the screen slamming behind her. Melanie had already cut up all the various cheeses she could find, had washed the grapes, and pulled out the stemless wineglasses to go with the cheap white she’d bought.
The newly renovated kitchen island looked like their usual girls’ night in, but this wasn’t going to be like any evening they’d shared before. Nothing after her announcement would be the same.
“So,” Livie said, blowing out a sigh, “what’s up? Sounded urgent when you texted.”
Jade stepped into the room from the front of the house, still clad in her workout gear and looking like she stepped out of some fitness magazine. Nobody should look that stunning after working out.