Melanie eased her hand from Tanner’s and adjusted her vents. She needed some cooler air if she was going to dive into this. According to the dash clock, they still had another twenty-five minutes to go.
“Neville never joked about politics,” she told Tanner. “His life revolves around them. His assistants, his campaign manager, they were always at the house, and when they weren’t, they all traveled like a pack of wolves to the office. I was the dutiful wife who hosted parties, smiled, pretended like we had the perfect marriage. But if he had a bad day or if I had done something displeasing, like hanging his shirts wrong in his walk-in closet, there was hell to pay.”
Silence filled the truck and she knew Tanner was letting her go at her own pace. He wasn’t pressuring her into details, and she wasn’t quite sure how far she’d go into those, but she found that getting this out in the open actually gave her more power. She wasn’t hiding behind the ugliness that was her past. She’d never posted any of this on her blog, but Livie and Jade knew every sordid detail.
“Emotional abuse is just as scarring as physical,” she added. “The things he’d tell me were hurtful and I still hear those words when I fall into self-doubt. But that’s not often, because I refuse to let him win.”
“You walking away showed him he wasn’t winning,” Tanner praised. “What the hell did he say to you the other day?”
“He texted, then he had his assistant call. I ignore him, which I’m sure just enrages him all the more.”
When Tanner didn’t respond, Melanie risked looking his way and the first word that came to mind at the sight of his clenched jaw and thin lips was rage. She reached over and placed her hand on his thigh.
“Don’t let him occupy your thoughts,” she demanded. “He’s nothing to you.”
He threw her a glance. “If he’s harassing you in any way—and texting you after the divorce is harassment, since you were abused—then he has everything to do with me.”
Fear gripped Melanie, threatening to overwhelm her. Tanner couldn’t have any idea how powerful Neville was. The man had so many law enforcement personnel in his pocket, so many government officials. There was no way Melanie would ever allow the path of those two men to cross.
“Does he know you’re pregnant?”
Melanie shook her head. “No. I don’t even want to know how he’ll react.”
“Stop answering calls from the assistants,” Tanner told her. “Change your number if you have to.”
“Oh, I’ve changed it. I give up now. It’s not worth the trouble because he always finds it.”
“I’ll handle him if he contacts you again—him or his assistants. He’s not the only one with powerful contacts and people in his back pocket. I’m pretty damn resourceful.”
Melanie said nothing. She knew she’d never be able to tell Tanner if she had contact again. There was no way in hell Neville could learn about Tanner.
Besides, Tanner was busy with his own life without worrying about taking on her issues.
Her cell chimed in her purse, but she ignored it. She wasn’t in the mood right now and nothing was too pressing that it couldn’t wait.
“Do you want to get that?” Tanner asked.
“I’ll check it later.”
She moved her hand from his thigh and settled back against her seat. “Tell me about your mom before we get there. Am I going to be tackle-hugged, or is she a handshake type woman?”
“Considering I never bring a woman home, she’ll definitely tackle-hug you.”
Melanie laughed. “Good to know. Plus, she likes to cook. I think I’m going to get along just fine with her.”
The nerves in her belly didn’t cease. Now that Melanie knew more about Tanner’s past, the dynamics of this meeting just escalated into a territory Melanie had no experience with. But his mother had to know what was going on. In all honesty, Melanie was glad she was meeting Tanner’s mother. There was quite a bit to be said about a man in how he treated his mom, and knowing Tanner had dropped everything to spend the holiday with his mother warmed Melanie so much.
She wanted to believe he was more than a rebound, that he could be someone she could depend on. On the other hand, she worried if she’d ever fully be free of her past, because she hadn’t been lying when she’d told him Neville was evil. There was nothing that man wouldn’t do to get what he wanted. Unfortunately, he wanted her back in his life.
Melanie wrapped her arms around her midsection. Like hell she’d ever return to the life she’d barely escaped from.
Chapter Thirteen
Throw glitter in today’s face.
—Mel’s Motivational Blog
Tanner waited until the meal was over. He wasn’t quite sure when to tell his mother about the baby, but now seemed as good a time as any, considering she had threatened to pull out his baby books.