Nora Roberts Land(38)
“Nice to meet you, Tanner.” Avery stood. “Sounds like you’re a cheese man too. Please come by my store sometime. It’s called Don’t Wedge Me In. On Main and Oak.”
His grin was as stupid as the name of his store.
“Good to meet you. I’ll ask Meredith about the ash cheese. See if she likes it.”
He strode over to the bar. People cleared out of his way as if he were wearing a sign that said “Man Needs Beer” in bold, capital letters.
“Wow, that’s a record sprint in this crowd. I’ll have to tag along with you more often,” Jill commented at his side.
Tanner slammed his fist onto the bar. “Ash. Christ!”
“You have to admit that it’s pretty funny,” Jill said through her laughter. “Loved that smack talk about mozzarella balls. I thought I was going to pee my pants.”
Tanner studied the various beer taps, eying the evil-looking badger. He pointed to it when he got the bartender’s attention.
“The Cheese Man?” he said, turning back to Jill. “Does the woman have no taste in men?”
Jill slid him a coaster decorated with a hairy leprechaun. Talk about a sight to make the little kids drop the pot of gold and run from the rainbow.
“She’s gone out with some hot guys. See that one?” She pointed with a finger behind her other hand. “Burly guy in the black fleece? He’s a firefighter. Didn’t click. Nice guy, but not real smart. Mere likes smart.”
“Like the cheese guy?” Christ, infiltrating a Taliban stronghold for a story was easier than getting Meredith to go out with him.
“Enough with him. It won’t go anywhere. She’s only going out with him because he’s safe—and a little urbane. Mere got real flushed when you arrived.”
“She’s stubborn.” His beer had a nice bite to it.
“Oh, yeah. That’s a Hale trait. If Grandpa weren’t stubborn, he never would have started The Independent. Everyone said he would fail. And yet…” She flicked her wrist. “Here it stands.”
“Hey, Red, who’s your friend?” A younger man said, caging her against the bar.
Tanner sipped his beer, watching Jill’s eyes turn to slits.
Tugging Tanner in close, she said, “He’s my older lover.”
Tanner choked on his beer. She pounded him on the back.
“He’s still having trouble dealing with the age difference,” she explained in dulcet tones, taking his glass and raising it to her own mouth.
“I’m Tanner,” he sputtered, extending his hand.
“Brian McConnell.”
The guy didn’t take Tanner’s hand—he was too busy studying him like he was an escaped prisoner or something.
“No offense, man, but there’s no way Jill’s with you.” Brian turned back to Jill. “He’s got at least ten years on you.”
Tanner opened his mouth, but shut it slowly when Jill gave him a pleading look.
She caressed Tanner’s arm. “I was looking for someone more experienced in life…someone who knew what he wanted.” Her smile reminded Tanner of the angry badger.
“You’re new in town,” Brian said with a clenched jaw.
“Yes, I teach at the university. What about you?”
“I grew up here with Jill. Went to culinary school back east and worked in the Big Apple until I came back a few months ago. I’m the sous chef at The Chop House.”
Jill flicked her green dress with white polka dots like she was a little girl without a care in the world. “We used to be best friends until this guy took an asshole pill. It’s chronic.”
People called out drink orders around them. The Irish music had the patrons tapping their feet, but the silence between the trio was palpable. Tanner didn’t know what to do, but he knew he couldn’t leave Jill.
“Okay, Red, have it your way.” Brian’s hand grazed her arm. “See you around.” He charged off without a backward glance.
Tanner took his beer from Jill. “I assume you had your reasons for knocking that guy down.”
Pushing her red curls behind her ear with a quivering hand, she said, “He deserved it. Long story.”
“Okay, but he’s not going to gossip about me seeing a younger woman, is he?”
Her gaze scanned the crowd like she was following Brian’s progress. “No, he’s not a talker. And don’t worry about Mere. I’ll tell her about our run-in. Thank you.”
He handed her his beer. “I never leave a damsel in distress.”
She took a drink, studying him over the rim. “Actually, you got major points tonight, Tanner. I won’t forget this.”