His hushed tone had her stiffening. “Why are you here? This is about the farthest place from your usual beat.”
He looked down at his boots. When he raised his head, his clenched jaw and fiery eyes made her heart pound.
“Let’s just say I have to make good on a promise.”
“Ah—”
“No, I think that’s enough for tonight.” He ran his tongue across his teeth like he was in pain. “Besides, you’re forgetting you don’t date journalists.”
Had she? She wasn’t sure she’d be able to open herself to him even if he weren’t a journalist. The way he made her feel terrified her. Cold seeped around her as he opened the front door. She started shaking. “You’re right.”
“I’m mostly proud of what I am, Meredith. I’ve worked hard to get to this stage in my life.” The wind whipped the black cloth over his shoulder. “I’m not the fucking Cheese Man. Maybe you should remember that.”
The door slammed shut behind him. Maybe it was the wind, but her internal temperature had dropped twenty degrees. She struggled over to the orange couch on wobbly legs and unraveled the green afghan. Go out exclusively? He’d lost his mind.
Hadn’t he?
A fresh ache spread across the back of her skull. She thought about the way he’d looked when he told her he liked her. Her heart twisted like she’d fallen on a stake. If she’d dressed up as a vampire, it might have been fitting.
You’re an idiot. Who turns down Wonder Woman/Pirate sex?
What the hell was she supposed to do now?
***
Tanner kicked up snow as he walked back to his car with a hard-on he was sure could be seen in outer space. The tight pants he was wearing had to be the worst idea since pet rocks.
Christ, what did she think he was? He wasn’t some fucking wimp who would put up with her “playing the field” crap. Especially when she kissed him back like she wanted to devour him. Her hot skin, wet mouth, and tortured moans had almost made him lose control, pulling her onto Jill’s hideous orange couch.
He ripped open the car door. Meredith didn’t know what the hell she was talking about. If she was playing the field, she’d have slept with at least one of the men she’d been “going out with,” and he knew for a fact that she hadn’t. Dare had a betting pool on who could talk Meredith Hale into the rebound sack. He’d walked away from the group of locals when they’d asked him how much money he’d like to lay down.
He’d like to lay down all right.
And it wasn’t in the betting pool.
More like pressing his face into her red hair as he thrust himself mindlessly into her strong, slim body. With only a Wonder Woman crown on her head.
He had to stop thinking about it. His pants were squeezing him to death.
He slammed the car in gear. He’d lost all objectivity. He kept forgetting why he was here when he was with her. He turned into some horny, jealous boyfriend. Dammit.
Edge back a minute, McBride. He did need her to be exclusive if he was going to convince Sommerville he was making headway. He had jack-shit on that asshole and was getting in deeper with his “target” every day.
He hadn’t lied to Meredith about one thing, though.
He really did like her. A lot.
Her quiet admission about coming home to find out if love still existed had squeezed his heart.
They were both trying to be as honest as they could. He’d have to think about that.
It was all getting so complicated.
And he had a hard-on in tight pirate pants for Christ’s sake. Pirate pants!
He gunned away from the stop sign and fishtailed on the ice. Needing some outlet for his frustration and the anger he felt toward himself, he pressed on the accelerator. No one was on the street. What did it matter if he took out a mailbox? He’d pay for it.
The tires gripped the ice, and he fought to keep the car straight. When he got to the highway, he rolled the window down and let it rip. He barely saw the deer in time and would have hit it if it hadn’t made a sharp zigzag off the road. He welcomed the adrenaline rush.
Memories of another night, another highway surfaced, but he clicked them off. The past was past. Only the present was real.
He’d made a stand with Meredith Hale.
He almost hoped she wouldn’t cave.
He had a bad feeling the pleasure of being with her wouldn’t be worth the pain it would cause them both.
He shifted in his seat. Who was he lying to now?
Chapter 17
Jill bounced away from the keg, sipping her pumpkin beer. “Monster Mash” played at a steady volume from somewhere behind her. A mummy made of whipped cream topped a buffet table, tempting her. She took a taste with her finger and gagged.