“Because I do.”
Melanie stared at
him a moment longer before she reached up and pulled the holder from her hair. Wet sections hung like thick ropes over her shoulder. She slid her fingers through the strands as she continued to hold his eyes.
“You can’t say things like that. We have other issues than sexual attraction.”
“My attraction isn’t an issue,” he countered, settling a hand on her ankle. She jerked beneath his touch, but didn’t move. “Let me take you to dinner.”
“It’s late.”
He slid his hand up to her calf. “I didn’t mean now. Tomorrow.”
“You think dating is going to solve things?”
“We both have to eat dinner.” His hand slid an inch higher. “We should probably get to know each other even better, since we’re bound for life now.”
The second she tensed beneath his touch, Tanner knew he’d said the wrong words. When she tried to slide her leg from beneath his hand, he kept a firm hold.
“Don’t,” he warned. “Don’t put me in some category when you have no idea where I truly belong. Get to know me, the real me.”
Melanie tipped her head just enough to showcase her defiance. “I recognize power and control.”
Tanner leaned forward just a bit. He didn’t want her to be afraid of him, not ever. He’d seen the hell his mother had lived through at the harsh words of his father. He’d seen the eyes of the women he’d helped over the last year. Those who had been broken, beaten down, nearly destroyed, and were just trying to reclaim their lives.
Melanie had that. Every now and again he’d catch a flash in her eyes. If he hadn’t worked so closely around evil, he might not have noticed. Then again, he noticed everything about Melanie.
“Power and control come in many different layers, Mel.” He softened his tone, his touch on her leg. “You’ve only been exposed to the ugly side.”
Those bright eyes narrowed. “You have no clue what I’ve been exposed to.”
Dirty politician, jerk of a husband, a man who didn’t appreciate the woman he had. Tanner had a pretty good idea.
“Then tell me.” He removed his hand and shifted so he wasn’t touching her at all. “Explain to me so I understand. Let me take you out.”
She swung her legs to the side and came to her feet. As she started to pass him, Tanner reached out and held on to her hand until she turned her attention down to him.
“Why won’t you let me in?”
Her thumb feathered over his knuckles a second before she removed her hand from his. “Because I can’t afford to.”
He’d never heard her so conflicted, but he didn’t get a chance to question her parting shot. One moment she was looking at him with pain in her eyes and the next she was gone. He heard her mounting the steps and Tanner knew he’d pushed too hard, too fast. He’d made the mistake of assuming they could move forward based on their chemistry.
What now, though? As much as he wanted her physically, he wanted her to see him as non-threatening. She obviously hadn’t been afraid of him before or she never would’ve slept with him.
Clearly this pregnancy had her more scared than he’d thought. Well, that made two of them. Even if he weren’t so worried about the baby, about her, he’d still want her. There was no denying that he’d been interested in her from the moment he’d pulled her over and given her a ticket her first day in Haven.
She had rolled that window down on her Beemer and glared at him over the tops of her gold sunglasses. She’d been irritated and so damn sexy.
The front door opened and closed and Tanner jumped to his feet.
“My eyes are closed,” Jade announced. “Don’t mind me.”
Tanner couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s all clear,” he called back.
Jade poked her head into the living room, her eyes darting all around until she finally zeroed in on Tanner. “Where’s Melanie?”
Looping his thumbs through his belt loops, Tanner stepped forward. “She just went up to bed.”