Nora Roberts Land(35)
She pulled into her driveway. “He’s not Rick-the-Dick, Mere.”
“I know.” Her sister left the car and headed into the house with hunched shoulders.
Jill watched a bat streak across the sky. The hardest part of growing up was realizing life was nothing like the way she’d imagined it. It was supposed to be easy to find a nice guy and coast into sharing a life together. Just like in Nora’s books.
Was Nora Roberts Land even real?
She wasn’t sure anymore.
Chapter 13
Tanner’s phone vibrated on the counter as he shaved. He snarled when he saw Sommerville’s number and nicked himself. “Shit.”
It was taking some time to become adept at shaving again. To blend in, he’d usually worn a full beard. He was still adjusting to the face he saw each time he looked in the mirror. What he saw right now was blood mixed with shaving cream. He dabbed it with a towel and hit the speakerphone.
“What?”
“Get up on the wrong side of the bed?”
Tanner tossed the towel aside. “Yes, I did. We have a problem. Your ex-wife has vowed to never date a journalist again. She won’t go out with me.”
“Well, isn’t that flattering?”
Tanner growled. What had Meredith ever seen in this asshole? He didn’t mention the panic attack. He felt worse about that than Sommerville ever could.
“Look, whatever ideas she might have about this story, she’s definitely not ready for a relationship. I don’t think this is going to fly.”
“You have to move fast. I told you that.”
Right, and he’d listened…that was the problem. Everything had been hot and steamy when they were talking about swim strokes. Then he’d crowded her, and she’d had a meltdown.
“Maybe it’s only with you.” It galled him to say it, but perhaps it would put Sommerville off.
“Then you’ll have to find some other way of getting through to her. I want this story stopped, McBride.”
He winced at the sting from his aftershave. “Fine, but it’s going to take time. I thought you should know.” Snapping his wristwatch on, he reached for a blue shirt. “Look, it’s the first day of classes. I need to run. I’ll call you in a week.” He clicked off and jerked on his clothes.
The urge for strong coffee was like a siren’s call, so he headed to Don’t Soy with Me before hitting campus. Jill chatted effortlessly with the crowd of customers while handling orders and taking money with artless efficiency. He liked her. She was open and honest and a good sister.
Her smile softened when she saw him. “How are you, Tanner? Recovered yet?”
“Yep, what about Meredith?”
“Working like a fiend at the paper. Grandpa’s overjoyed.”
“I bet. Venti dark roast and a blueberry muffin to go. It’s nice to be back in food nirvana.”
“Understandable.” Jill called out his order to Jemma. “Mere’s supposed to come in before work. Maybe you should hang around.”
He handed her a ten-dollar bill. “I’ll give her some room. Any advice for my first day of classes?”
She gave him the change and slid his muffin toward him. “Don’t teach anything useless. Most of what I learned there was pretty useless.” She twisted the large yellow beads around her neck. “And don’t be boring.”
“Got it. Nothing useless or boring.” He grabbed his coffee. Realizing he was nervous, he looked around at all the students in the shop. Teaching was new to him, but he’d prepared as much as possible. But even with a plan, he didn’t have a clue what to do.
Another reason Sommerville had to go down.
He pulled up short when he saw Meredith walking across the street, her red hair waving in the wind. Her step faltered when she caught sight of him. His mouth tipped up when she straightened her shoulders, lifted her chin, and strode to the door. Flat out guts. Something to admire.
He sauntered toward her. “Hi there.”
She didn’t meet his eyes. “Tanner.”
“Meredith, look at me.”
She slowly turned her head. Her cheeks had flushed to the color of her crimson coat.
“I’m sorry for the other night. Are you okay?”
“Fine.” She fiddled with her buttons.
“Don’t be embarrassed. Let’s forget it ever happened.” What a lie.
“I had a panic attack in front of you. You took my bra off! Of course I’m embarrassed!” she whispered.
He nodded toward a table in the corner and walked over, hoping she’d follow.
She tugged at her white scarf. Since her efforts looked like they’d be about as successful as a novice taffy puller’s, he put down his coffee and muffin and reached for it. Her gaze flew to his.