“Have something on him, do you?”
Meredith looked away, off balance. “No,” she lied. “I had a good lawyer.” There was no way she was telling a cop what she had on Rick-the-Dick.
“Lucky you,” Peggy drawled.
Her face heated. Keith’s joyful screams reverberated in her ears when Tanner threw him into the air, Jill pelting them with snowball after snowball. “You’re lucky to have him.”
Peggy grabbed her arm. “You’re lucky to have Tanner. If you’re still having trouble trusting yourself, let me ask you something. Did kids like your ex?”
“Not that I recall.”
“Kids know. Tanner is Keith’s favorite uncle.”
“I didn’t know Tanner had a brother.”
Peggy’s face tensed. “Ah…yes. He’s the youngest. Keith, put your hat back on.”
“Where does he live?”
“Outside New York City,” she said. And then she stood up abruptly. “I think I’m going to join the fight.”
She stepped off the deck and charged her brother before Meredith could ask her anything else. They struggled, but her scissor-kick took him down. He laughed and shoved snow down her coat.
Meredith wrapped her arms around her middle as she watched them. Peggy had acted a bit weird about their other brother. She wondered why Tanner hadn’t mentioned him, but then again, she hadn’t asked him much about his past. Perhaps it was time she did.
“Meredith,” Tanner called out to her, his nose adorably red. “Get your butt over here and join this war.”
Enough serious thoughts. Even though she had a dress on, she decided to enter the fray. She charged him, pelting him with snow.
He glowered. “It’s good to see you don’t throw like a girl.”
Both Hale girls paused for a moment before swooping down on him.
“Traitors,” he called as Peggy and Keith joined the fray.
Meredith jumped on Tanner’s back. Before she could blink, he dumped her on the ground and leaned over her.
“Say surrender,” he singsonged, a lock of hair falling on his forehead.
She met his gaze and smiled sultrily. “I surrender.”
And meant it all the way to her healing heart.
He must have remembered their conversation on Halloween, because his eyes gleamed, and he kissed her tenderly. Since they couldn’t take it any further, she darted her tongue into his mouth and stuck snow down his neck.
“Hey!” He reared back.
She shoved him and ran for the house, her laughter making puffs in the cold air. As she raced, she looked up and saw her parents watching her from the window. They looked tanned and rested. And still very much in love.
She’d resigned herself to never having what they had, but each time Tanner swept her off her feet, she believed she could have her own Nora Roberts Land.
Chapter 41
Tanner tucked the sheet around Keith, who wiggled like a worm in the massive king bed. “Night, buddy.”
“Don’t wanna go to sleep yet,” he said, kicking at the covers.
Peggy kissed his cheek. “Too bad. It’s way past your bedtime. Be grateful we didn’t have Thanksgiving here. I would have made you go to bed even earlier.”
“You’re so strict, mom.”
“Comes with the badge.” She tapped him on the nose. “Now kiss Uncle Tanner goodnight.”
When Keith wrapped his little arms around him, Tanner ruffled his hair. The kid’s adoration was up there with his Pulitzer in terms of lifetime accomplishments. He kissed him on the head. “Love you, kid.”
“Love you too. Can Hugo sleep in my room? Please!”
He lifted a brow at Peg.
“Okay, but we’re still not getting a dog.”
“But Mom!”
The stare she leveled would have stopped an armed robbery.
The kid’s frown accentuated the toothpaste in the corner of his mouth. “Okay, sorry. We have to wait until I get older, Uncle Tanner. Jeez.”
“We’ll send Hugo up, but if I hear talking, he’s coming back downstairs.”
Tanner winked at Keith before shutting the door halfway and calling the dog. “Want something to drink?” he asked Peg as they jogged down the stairs to the kitchen.
“Coffee.” She settled on a stool, watching him brew a pot without making conversation.
“What?” he finally asked.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“No, but you’re thinking something. Give.”
She cleared her throat. “You didn’t tell me you were in love with her.”
He dropped the coffee scoop, spilling grounds on the counter. He swore and grabbed a towel.
“I wasn’t sure I should say anything, but this is serious, Tanner.”