Rushed (Adventures in Love 1)

Hearing voices coming from outside, I go to the front door and pull the curtain aside, blinking in disbelief at what I see. Earl, my seventy-plus-year-old neighbor who looks like the lumberjack version of Santa, has his handgun aimed at a shirtless Tanner, who’s got a bag of garbage in his hand. Without thinking, I swing the front door open, then scream as Earl lifts the barrel in my direction and fires a shot into the air over the top of my trailer. Startled, I slip off the step I’m standing on and land on my ass at the bottom of the stairs, watching in horror as Tanner rushes Earl.

“No, Tanner, don’t hurt him!” I yell over the sound of the blood now thundering through my veins. Thankfully, he slows down, but he’s still quick enough to disarm my neighbor in one smooth move, tucking the gun in the back of his unbuttoned jeans before stalking back toward me.

“Sunshine, what the fuck were you thinking?” he asks, hunching down next to me and moving his hand over my head and limbs. Just as I start to tell him I’m okay, he stands, pulling me up with him and wrapping his arms around me so tightly that all the air in my lungs leaves in a whoosh.

“Are you all right, Cybil? I thought this guy was robbing you,” Earl says, sounding nervous.

“I told you I fucking wasn’t robbing her,” Tanner rumbles, and I try to wiggle to get free, sure that I’m going to pass out from being held so tightly.

“How was I to know you weren’t lying? Cybil’s Bronco isn’t here, and I’ve never seen you before.”

“I explained to you why that was, old man!” Tanner yells, making me jump, and his hold tightens even more.

“I . . . I can’t breathe,” I choke out as stars begin to float through my vision.

“Shit, sorry.” He lets me go, and I gulp in air while watching Earl fiddle with the brim of his hat in his hands.

“I’m okay,” I assure both men once I’ve caught my breath, but neither of them looks appeased. “Really, I’m fine.”

“You’re shaking and pale,” Tanner informs me before glaring at Earl. “What the fuck were you thinking, shooting in her direction?”

“I didn’t know it was her. I thought she was someone helping you rob the place.”

“Right, because it’s normal for people to commit acts of burglary while shirtless and to also stop and take out the trash on their way out.”

“I don’t like your tone, son,” Earl rumbles, his face getting red with either embarrassment or anger. Probably a little of both, knowing him.

“Yeah, well, I don’t like my girlfriend getting shot at.” Tanner turns to face me and lifts his finger. “Don’t ever do that again!” he growls, and my jaw goes slack.

“W-what?” I hold my hand to my chest. “I didn’t get shot at on purpose.”

“You shouldn’t have come outside like you did,” Earl says, reprimanding me, and I toss my arms in the air.

“You’re both obviously deluded, because none of this is my fault.”

“If you had called to let me know you were home, I wouldn’t have worried when I drove by and saw that car outside or when I saw him leaving your house with a garbage bag,” Earl says, and Tanner makes a sound in the back of his throat that I take to mean he’s agreeing with him.

“Unbelievable.” I shake my head, looking between the two of them. “I’m not doing this.” I turn on my heel and head into the house, leaving them standing outside. Annoyed and in need of caffeine, I go to the kitchen and grab a coffee mug from the cupboard, then slam it down on the counter with a little too much force, causing the handle to break off in my hand. Cursing under my breath, I toss the broken pieces into the trash, then grab a new one, fill it with coffee, and get my creamer from the fridge.

“Sunshine,” Tanner calls, but I don’t bother responding to the endearment that normally makes my heart flutter. Instead, I focus on dumping creamer into my cup. “You’re pissed.”

“No, I’m annoyed that you and Earl decided to gang up on me,” I inform him, and he laughs. “I’m glad I can entertain you.” I take a sip of my coffee.

“I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s not funny that you’re annoyed.” He comes to me, taking the mug from my hand and placing it on the counter before cupping my face in his palms. “You’re just very cute.” His lips brush across mine, and when my lashes flutter open, he slides his fingers back into my hair. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I just lost my mind when I saw that gun pointed in your direction.”

“I kind of got that.” I rest my hands against his chest, biting back the urge to bring up the fact that none of this was my fault. “Is Earl still outside?”