She smiled up at him. “You make it sound possible. But then, you were always an irrepressible optimist.”
He ruffled her hair. “Feel better?”
“Yes. I don’t know why but I do. You always had the knack for curing my blues.”
“Good. How about sharing that candy cane?”
There was some resistance as she pulled it away from his chamois shirt. Green fuzz clung to the sticky candy.
“I’m afraid I’ve ruined your shirt.”
“That’s a small sacrifice for the privilege of holding you in my arms.” He took the candy, stood up, and tossed it toward the garbage can on the corner. They heard a metallic ping as it hit the bottom of the can. Taking the handkerchief, he knelt beside her and carefully cleaned her hand.
The moment was sweeter to her than all the times he’d kissed her with fierceness and passion. She cherished everything about him—his tenderness, his compassion, his kindness. The Tanner she loved was the same fun-loving, passionate man she’d loved so long ago, but there was more to him, so much more.
With him kneeling before her in the moonlight, she gave in to her feelings. She knew they’d never share the kind of future that he envisioned for them—marriage and children and stockings by the fire—because Claude was still between them. Tanner had managed to push him to the back of his mind, but forgetting a problem wasn’t the same as facing it. What she and Tanner could have, though, was love. They could seize the time he had left in Greenville and make it their own. If he asked, and she knew he would, she’d go to him willingly and without regrets.
And after he was gone, she’d have beautiful memories.
“All done.” Tanner kissed her hand. “Now, how about a ride in the moonlight?”
Amanda stood up and patted the magnificent animal’s velvety muzzle. “Where did you get him?”
“From my stables in Dallas. After my experience with old Josephine, I called Johnson and had him bring Napoleon out in the horse van.”
“He’s beautiful. But, Tanner, what in the world are you doing riding on the city streets?”
“I drove him out to your house in the van. When you weren’t home and I saw your car in the garage, I guessed you’d gone for a walk. So Napoleon and I came to your rescue.”
“I don’t suppose it ever occurred to you to wait at my house?”
“Never.” He boosted her into the saddle and mounted behind her. “This is so much more romantic, don’t you think?”
She leaned against him. “Hmmm. Just my style. I’ve always wanted to ride into the sunset on a horse.”
“I’d supply the sun if I could. Will the moon do?”
She looked up into the sky and laughed. “You did that just for me, Tanner? You commanded the moon to shine?”
“I have connections in high places.” He turned Napoleon toward Amanda’s house, guiding him carefully on the dark city street. “Are you warm enough?”
“Yes. You create lots of body heat.”
“I can think of a number of ways to create more.”
“Would I enjoy them?”
“You used to.”
“That was so long ago, I barely remember.”
“Perhaps I should give you a refresher course.”
“On the horse?”
“Why, Miss Lassiter, what a bawdy suggestion.”
“I aim to shock.”
“You delight.”
Tanner reined Napoleon in next to the van. “I’ve planned a moonlight ride beside the river, Amanda. Do you need a warmer sweater?”
“As the old saying goes, ‘I’ve got my love to keep me warm.’”
“Yes, you do. And always will. Remember that.”
Tanner dismounted, swung Amanda from the saddle, and guided Napoleon into the plush horse van. It was an easy task, since both horse and rider had done it many times before.
They drove south of town until they came to one of their favorite old haunts, a secluded place beside a bend in the river. The moon painted a luminous path across the water, and the hardwood trees lifted their bare branches to touch the face of the sky. All the night creatures were tucked deep into their warm burrows and hollows. Even the fish sought refuge deep below the iridescent water. The winter silence was eloquent and beautiful.
Tanner and Amanda kept the silence as he unloaded Napoleon. Mounted on the horse’s back, they gazed across the river. Peace soaked into their souls.
“I love this place,” Tanner said quietly.
“So do I.”
“It’s the perfect spot to tell you all that’s in my heart.”
“Didn’t you do that this afternoon?”
“That sideshow with the planes and banners?”