Nora Roberts Land(46)

“If I were a real pirate, I wouldn’t be held off. I’d sweep you over my shoulder and carry you to my cabin and ravish you.”

God, the fantasy. Her heart pounded in her chest like a jackhammer. “That kind of talk is off limits tonight.”

He raised a brow. “Last time I looked, there was still free speech in this country. You might be able to set the terms on touching, but I can damn well say anything I want.”

This frustrated Tanner was new. Her growl nearly escaped, but Wonder Woman wouldn’t back down. “Not if you’re going with me.”

“Then why did you ask me to come?” The light in his eyes dimmed. “You’ve been getting pressure from Jill, haven’t you? Is this your attempt at appeasement?”

His ability to read her made her squirm. “Well, I…no.”

He scoffed. “That was believable. So let me get this straight. You invited me to go out with you because I’m probably the only man in town under fifty you haven’t already gone out with.” He snapped his fingers. “I’m right, aren’t I? It’s written all over your face.”

She fiddled with her wrist bands. “Well, I thought we could go out a little. Regularly. You know. As friends.”

He stepped closer, touching the tips of his black knee-high boots to her red ones. A strong musky smell tickled her nose. A pirate wasn’t supposed to smell that good. Where was the brine? The salt water? The B.O.?

“I was okay with taking a step back after what happened in your mom’s kitchen. I’ve tried to give you space. But I draw the line at being another one of your whipping boys, who isn’t supposed to act like a man.”

Her face flamed. “I’m not saying we can’t flirt. But I’m…playing the field.” So she was a red-headed slut after all, not to mention a coward. Maybe she should have worn a fraidy cat costume.

He chuckled low in his throat, sending her skin into a rash of goosebumps again. “Meredith, have you been practicing that in the mirror? If so, it needs more work, honey. You’re not the type of woman who plays the field. Any smart man can see that.”

So, he was smart, was he? She could feel her skin develop an angry burn. “Don’t tell me what I am.”

“Seems I need to make a point.”

He yanked her to him, finding her mouth. His lips caressed hers like an electric charge, making them tingle, the power growing stronger the longer the connection went on. And boy, did it go on, taking her on a slow descent into desire’s dark well. She moaned in her throat, her fingers digging into his shoulders. When he traced the seam of her mouth, she opened herself to him. Their tongues tangled, electricity racing down her spine and pooling in the center of her thighs. The kiss went deep, wet. Meredith pressed closer, the places their bare skin touched tantalizing. His hands gripped her hips, making her aware of his arousal. She whimpered again, angling her head for a deeper kiss. He tore her hands away and stepped back, panting.

“That’s what’s between us, Meredith.”

She pressed her lips together to stop the tingling. “What do you want me to say?”

“Meredith, I’m not going to be part of your endless male parade. I’ve been straight with you.” He looked away suddenly, but she caught his frown. When he turned back, his gaze pinned her in place. “I like you. I like spending time with you. But I want you, and I’m not going to be one of a dozen or so guys you date. If you want to spend time with me, it’s on an exclusive basis. We’ll take it slow and see where it goes, but I’m not going to agree not to touch you. I want us to touch each other as much as we can handle without killing each other.”

Her throat squeezed to the size of a straw.

Come on, she heard Divorcée Woman lovingly whisper. You can do it.

The fear towered over her like a black cloud. She stepped back from it.

“I…can’t.” Her eyes burned.

He gave a gusty sigh. “I’m sorry to hear that. I think we’d be good together, in bed and out. If you change your mind, let me know.”

“Tanner!” She realized she didn’t want him to leave. She’d never been so confused in her life.

“Why are you here?” he suddenly demanded.

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you come back to Dare?”

The desire to fidget was as tantalizing as a nicotine fix to a cigarette smoker. “I’m helping my family, remember?”

“Yes, but that’s not all, is it?”

She ran through some versions of the truth. “I want to find out if true love still exists. Okay?”

He flinched. “Oh, Meredith.”