Nora Roberts Land(81)
He returned minutes later and reached for her hand. “Let’s go.”
They walked back to his car, listening for company, scanning for menacing movements. Energy pulsed through her as they stalked through the dim moonlight. Not even the cold air could dim the liquid lust flowing through her like a golden elixir of sunshine.
He opened her door and helped her inside, patting her thigh before closing the door. When he put on his seatbelt, he held out his phone.
“Call Jill and tell her you won’t be coming home tonight. I don’t want her to worry.”
His concern only confirmed her decision.
She met his dark, melting gaze. “All right.”
Tonight, she wasn’t thinking about the article or the future. She was going to enjoy being a woman again. And she would have no regrets.
Finally, Divorcée Woman sighed. Enjoy.
Oh, I will.
Chapter 34
The dog barked when Tanner unlocked the front door, and he ran forward to greet them, his shaggy tail sweeping back and forth like a broom. Tanner rubbed his pointed head.
“Hey, Hugo. Do you need to go out, boy?”
Meredith stepped inside. He hit the lights, and the main floor came to life. The rush of water from the stone falls broke the silence.
“I’ll be right back.” Tanner squeezed her elbow.
She walked into the house, shrugging out of her black outerwear. Jill couldn’t have been more delighted to hear that she wasn’t coming home. She rubbed her hands together, feeling both anxious and excited.
The dog shot past her when Tanner came back inside. “Sorry. I need to put in a pet door.”
He stepped closer, looking masculine and powerful dressed all in black. Framing her face with his hands, those chocolate brown eyes stared straight into hers. She shivered. There was more there than just lust.
“Are you sure? I know we got as hot as teenagers in the trunk, but we’re not teenagers, Meredith.”
Her muscles tensed. “Does that mean you don’t want me now?”
He wrapped an arm around her hips, pulling her close. “How can you even ask that? This is a big step. I don’t want to presume, but I don’t think you’ve been with anyone since your ex. You’re not the kind to take sex lightly.”
She didn’t want to talk about Rick-the-Dick. He was part of the distant past.
“I haven’t been with anyone since, but I’m here because I want to be.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “This complicates things between us. I don’t want to hurt you, Meredith. You’ve already had so much to deal with.”
Why was he talking like this? A light bulb went on. Because he wasn’t staying in Dare. Until the men in the garage had talked about the semester ending, she hadn’t really thought how little time they had left. And I’ll be leaving too, she reminded herself.
She ignored the tightness in her chest. “We’re here now. Don’t turn me away.”
When he raised her chin, his gaze stripped her soul. “I could never do that. Come with me.”
He stepped back and held out his hand. She took it, reveling in its warmth.
His bedroom was another architectural masterpiece. Skylights peaked out behind rustic caramel-colored beams, and recessed lighting coated the whole room in a warm glow. A stone fireplace sat opposite the bed’s massive rustic log frame. Animal fur rugs covered the hardwood floors.
He kissed her forehead. “I’m going to make a fire. We’ll make love in front of it later.”
Her head turned to follow his movements.
“I want you in my bed first.”
His deep voice made her insides zing. She unzipped her fleece and pulled off her boots, ready to get started. She was not going to feel nervous.
“That’s enough from the Clothing Removal Patrol. I want to do the honors.”
His humor couldn’t produce a laugh in her. She twisted her hands, not knowing what to do.
Twigs sparked and crackled as the fire came to life. He stepped toward her.
“God, you’re beautiful.” He touched a strand of her hair delicately. “I can’t look at a fire now without thinking of this. It’s so much better than the blond.”
She narrowed her eyes. “How did you know I was blond?”
His fingers released the lock. “I saw a picture.” He cleared his throat, looking away. “Let’s get you out of these recon clothes.”
When he tugged her shirt off, his eyes goggled. “Holy shit,” he muttered with reverence—exactly the reaction she’d prayed for. His hands cupped the black-and-white-striped bustier. “Of all the things to wear for our little breaking and entering…”
Her ice-breaker worked. She chuckled. “I figured that the prison theme would be fitting if we ended up in jail.”