Silence enveloped them and Tanner wanted to know what she was thinking. The fact she hadn’t eased back or pulled her hand from his was a good sign. He wasn’t quite sure himself what he wanted with her, but he needed to start somewhere. Chemistry was a hell of a place.
“I promise not to kiss or touch you in the plane.” He sat back and watched as her lids fluttered open. “You’ll be completely safe.”
The side of Melanie’s mouth kicked up. “I wouldn’t go that far. Being in a confined space with you . . .”
“Care to finish that sentence?”
Melanie curled her lips in and shook her head. “I better not. Let’s go for that flight. Take me anywhere for lunch. My treat.”
Like hell. “When I take a woman on a date, I pay for the damn meal.”
She tugged on her door handle. “This isn’t a date.”
Tanner reached across and took her hand once more. The movement brought him right back within an inch of her mouth. He covered her lips with his, swallowing her gasp. He ended the kiss just as abruptly as it started.
“This is a date, Mel.”
He hopped out of the truck before she could disagree or give him another excuse to put her mouth to better use.
As he rounded the hood, Melanie hopped out and slammed the door. Of course she wouldn’t wait on him to get the door for her.
“Uncle Tanner.”
Tanner turned to see Piper racing across the gravel and grassy lot. Lopsided pigtails bounced with each step. The energetic girl never failed to put a smile on his face. Jax had done an incredible job raising her on his own. Tanner couldn’t even imagine how scared Jax had been when his ex had decided to skip out on them. Tanner was terrified, and he had Melanie.
That last thought put an image in his head he wasn’t quite ready to explore. He and Melanie weren’t some happy little family. They were somewhere between strangers and friends with a baby in the middle. He’d done the family thing before. Well, he’d been on his way to the family life, but fate had stolen everything from him in a split second.
“Hi, Mel.” Piper ran up and hugged Melanie around her legs. “Can I call you Mel? I’ve heard Uncle Tanner say that.”
Melanie smiled and tugged on one pigtail. “I’d love for you to call me Mel. Is there a special name you want me to call you?”
Piper pursed her lips and scrunched her nose. “Hmm . . . I like Badass, but I don’t think Dad will say yes to that one.”
Tanner laughed. “Yeah. Your dad isn’t going to go for that. You need a call sign.”
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“Yes!” she exclaimed, then drew her brows together. “But nothing will sound cool like you guys.”
Tanner, Cash, and Jax all had call signs. Anyone in the air force had one, usually not one they preferred, but it definitely stuck, no matter what. Tanner had quickly learned that if you complained about your given nickname, another more offensive one would be given to you.
“I’ve got the perfect one,” Tanner stated. “Pip.”
Piper wrinkled her nose. “Pip? That doesn’t sound fierce or brave.”
Reaching out to tug on one of her curly pigtails, he shook his head. “Pip is just the nickname. You’re brave and fierce, so you’ll make the name way cool. How’s that sound?”
She took about a second to process before her face lit up. “I love it! I’m the bravest girl here. Right, Uncle Tanner?”
“Absolutely.”
Piper nodded as if affirming her new title. “Okay, Mel. You can call me Pip. Is that okay?”
Melanie took Piper’s hand. “That’s perfect. Tanner and I are going up in his plane. Do you want to come? If your dad says it’s okay.”
Tanner had no problem taking Piper, but at the same time, he’d wanted some one-on-one with Melanie. Which is precisely why he figured she invited the young chaperone.
“Daddy gave me chores.” Piper pouted as she tugged on Melanie’s hand and led her toward the offices. “Maybe if you come in and ask him.”