Be with Me (Return to Haven 2)

“Already done.” Patrick came from the kitchen with a large basket no doubt full of plates of food. “When he got the call I had a feeling he’d have to go.”

“Thanks.” He took the basket then shifted his attention to Melanie. “Ready?”

“I was just getting to the good parts of your childhood,” she joked with a crooked grin. “That school play where you were the back end of the donkey was priceless.”

Tanner rolled his eyes. “The ass end of the ass was not my finest moment.”

His mom laughed. “That was your first school play and I was very proud.”

Tanner figured whenever his kid was in school he’d be proud, too. Must be a parent thing.

“We’ll save the rest of that memory lane for the next visit,” Tanner promised.

“Then you better hurry back. I don’t want so much time to pass between visits.”

“When is your next trip?” he asked.

“We’ll be home through the first of the year. Plenty of time for you to come for dinner.”

Melanie gave his mother a hug. “I’ll make sure he comes back soon. Thank you so much for having me.”

They all said their goodbyes and Tanner rushed Melanie out to his truck. He needed to get back soon and his mind was already racing to the night ahead.

“Just take me to your house,” Melanie told him, breaking into his thoughts.

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” she assured him. “I can wait for you to get back.”

“I may not be back until late again.”

Melanie slid her hand over his on the console. “Then maybe I should just stay tonight.”

Tanner couldn’t believe she’d thrown that out, but he wasn’t going to let this moment go. He turned his hand over in hers to lace their fingers together.

“You should stay the night. And every night after.”

“Let’s focus on tonight,” she murmured as she stared out the window.

Tanner wasn’t about to argue. This was the second night she was staying. Little by little he was wearing her down—not mentally or trying to break her strength, he was wearing her down in a way that she was learning more and more to trust.

“Tonight,” he repeated with a smile on his face.

* * *

“When can I get my own plane?”

Jax laughed as he filled out his flight log for the day. “When you can pay for one.”

Piper stomped her foot and turned to Tanner. “Will you buy me one for Christmas, Uncle Tanner?”

Tanner tucked his aviator glasses in the V of his T-shirt and patted Piper on the back. “I can’t save money that fast, Pip.”

“I have sixteen dollars and twenty-three cents in my plane bank.” Those bright blue eyes peered up at him, practically begging him. “Will that help?”

“Darlin’, if that’s all it took, I’d have several planes. Why don’t I take you for a ride later today? You can pretend to be my flight coach.”

“I actually do have lessons later,” Jax stated. “Livie is busy with Jade and Melanie. They went to some place this side of Atlanta to look for flooring. Apparently there was some discount outlet where Livie thought she could get a good de