Almost Midnight (16 page)

“Lorraine, you know, Hannah’s mother,  wanted me to let Candy know about Hannah’s progress,” Fritz said, interrupting Tanner’s thoughts. “Candy called on the phone a few times after she brought the clothes over. Hannah tried to reassure the gal she was fine. But Candy being a nurse, didn’t quite believe the patient. I assured Candy that Hannah was resting comfortably. But dang it, I’d rather have Hannah’s mother here with me. Maine is a long way away. It seems Lorraine’s sister had complications with hip surgery. She’ll be staying a little longer. Maybe another week, you know.” 

Tanner slowly turned to face his father’s back. “No, I didn’t know about the surgery. I thought her sister was sick.” He looked at the BMW again. “But I’m beginning to see the light.”     

“Oh?” A white eyebrow lifted. “Well, it’s like this. Candy telephoned last night and said she would like to come over for a visit. I said sure. As to Lorraine, she didn’t want to bother Hannah this morning and hasn’t told her about staying another week. I, of course, took the liberty of telling Lorraine that Hannah was doing just fine. Didn’t want her to worry. And there you have it.”

“And Alex Richards?”

“What?”

“I suppose the gorilla decided he would come along for the ride?” Tanner heard his father’s snicker. “You’re a weasel, Dad. A pure-bred-stick-your-nose-in-other-people’s-business-type weasel.” 

Fritz’s rumbling laughter followed Tanner into the hall, dwindling to a steady chuckle as Tanner entered his den.

Tanner gazed past the two large French windows that opened up into the backyard. He had a prime view of everything, including Gorilla Man.

How had the man changed into his swimsuit so fast? If that hairy creature tried to do something primitive, like sweep Hannah into his arms and take her to the nearest tree, Tanner would...would...

What in the world was he thinking? He shook his head in disgust. He was going crazy!

Hannah sat beneath the shade of a large blue-flowered umbrella situated beside the built-in Mexican tiled pool.

Closing her eyes, she drew in the scent of cocoa butter sunscreen and sighed. She was still feeling a bit weak. Dr. Rafe, or Rafe as she was told to call him, mentioned that she could take short trips outside as long as she didn’t exert herself. The pneumonia seemed to be harder to shake than she’d thought.

“How long are you staying here?” Candy asked, taking a swig of lemonade that Mable had brought out for them only minutes ago.

Hannah’s lids lifted halfway. “Maybe another day or two. Tanner insists that it was his fault I got sick, and the man’s determined to keep me prisoner for another week.”

“Won’t your mother be home by then?”

“Might be another week or so. I told her not to worry. With the antibiotics, I’m feeling stronger every day. It’s silly for her to come back. My aunt needs her more than I do.”

A splash of water flew in their direction and both women laughed. Candy set her lemonade down, watching her brother and Jeremy. Alex managed a few somersaults and ape noises as he jumped off the diving board, entertaining Jeremy who sat at the end of the pool, swinging his feet gleefully in the water.

“He’s such a little boy.” Candy grinned. “Alex, that is. In some ways, it seems he never grew up after our parents died.”

Hannah knew that Candy and Alex had been orphaned at a young age. After their parents had died in a boating accident, they lived with their grandparents and then a string of foster homes.

Hannah rested her head against her chair and smiled. “He doesn’t look like a little boy.”

Candy chuckled. “Are you interested in Alex or Tanner? Make up your mind. But hey, if that gorgeous millionaire wants you to stay for another week, soak it for all it’s worth. Food’s paid for. What more can you ask?”

“He wants me as a tutor for his little boy, not as a permanent houseguest.” 

But would she be a permanent fixture if Tanner loved her and asked her to marry him? The thought was too silly to contemplate. It must be the medicine. She’d known him less than two months. The man most likely had a handful of girlfriends from Clearbrook Valley to Timbuktu.

Yet like it or not, her attachment to him was growing stronger, and the faster she moved out of his house the better.

“I thought you were supposed to be the nanny.”

“That too,” Hannah said, knowing she wanted much more, but was afraid of the consequences of falling in love again. “I adore that little boy. But I have to get on with my own life.” 

She sat up and grabbed her lemonade. Sweat began to break out on her brow, and she gazed across the lawn. She really didn’t have the strength to walk back to her room. She should have stayed in bed. Her stomach was churning due to the medicine, and she felt as weak as a kitten.   

Candy’s drink clanked against the table. “What about your new job? I’m sorry about the library. I hope it wasn’t Alex that got you fired.”

Hannah shrugged, knowing that Mrs. Gould had never liked her anyway. “Reach Medicals might make a decision any day. They still have my resume. The human resource manager was pretty nice. I’ve been calling for my messages at home. If nothing pops this week, I’ll probably give him another call. And about the library, good riddance. I have my degree and should be making more money soon. Mom wants to stay in Clearbrook Valley. She likes it here. But if things don’t work out, Alex told me he could set me up in Chicago. I could probably look for positions in Denver too, but things are getting tougher with this economy. I don’t like to think about moving, but Chicago might be my best bet if Reach Medicals doesn’t give me a call.”

Hannah stared at the side of the pool where Alex was acting like a chicken, flapping his elbows and squawking madly, making Jeremy laugh. The man looked like a bodybuilder in one of those store magazines, bulging muscles, glistening tan, straight white teeth. But she wasn’t interested.

She had fallen for a man who dressed in Armani suits, drove a Jaguar, and had the cutest smile in the world...and still loved another woman. His dead wife.

Candy groaned in disgust. “Come on, Hannah. Don’t tell me you’re not going after Mr. Millionaire in there? If you marry him, your money worries will be over.”

Hannah put the cold lemonade to her head. “He wouldn’t marry me.”

“Why not?”

“He doesn’t love me.”

Candy stirred the ice cubes around in her glass with her straw. “I see,” she said softly. “He’s been a gentleman through and through. And you love him, is that it? It can happen, you know. Two days, two weeks, two months. Some things are meant to be. He isn’t like Nick.”

“Yeah, right.” Hannah shut her eyes again. She had no idea where she stood with Tanner. Candy knew about her past, and Hannah usually could tell her friend anything, but right now, Hannah was as confused as her friend about her relationship with Tanner.

Candy’s cell phone rang, and she pulled it from her purse. She looked at her text and told Hannah she had been called into work. “Sorry. Hospital is short today. Thought I’d have a little more time.”

Hannah slouched in her chair. “No problem. I need to rest anyway.”

Candy reached over to feel Hannah’s forehead. “You’re too warm. You need to get back inside and take a nap. You’ll start feeling a lot better real soon. Sometimes antibiotics take a toll on your system. Just don’t take things too fast. And take your probiotics.”

Hannah nodded, wondering how she would make it up the stairs. “I’ll go to my room in a few minutes.”

“Alex,” cried Candy. “Come on, we’re going.” She waved him in and Hannah noted Jeremy’s frown.

“Let him stay,” Hannah said. “He’s playing with Jeremy.”

Candy gazed at her friend. “He likes you, Hannah. I’m not going to mince words with you.”

Hannah really didn’t care. She was exhausted, and if Alex could keep Jeremy happy, that was more important than fending off the man’s advances. Besides, he wouldn’t try anything today. She was too tired to even walk.

“He’s fine here,” Hannah added. “I’ll be going back to bed soon and Jeremy will have a playmate.”

Candy’s brows drew together. “He really, really likes you. I’ve never seen him so crazy about anyone before.”

Hannah let out a light laugh. “The only reason he likes me is because I turned him down for dinner.”

A smile tipped the corners of Candy’s mouth. “Yeah, maybe you’re right. I’ll see what he wants to do. If he stays, I’ll call one of the other nurses for a ride. You take care of yourself. I’ll be checking in on you soon, and to tell you the truth, I would feel better if you stayed here for a few more days. You’ve been running yourself ragged the past few months. Things finally caught up to you.”

 Candy walked around the pool to speak to Alex. The smile on Jeremy’s face told Hannah the man was staying.

Hannah watched Candy leave.

Beneath the cover of dark sunglasses, Hannah glanced toward the pool and caught Alex staring at her. The thoughtful shimmer in those blue eyes made her suddenly wish she hadn’t talked Candy into making her brother stay. The man was telling her that he didn’t care if she was sick or not.

Well, she thought with a frown, why should she feel bad about a man wanting her? Tanner hadn’t made a move toward her in over a week. She was feeling a little depressed and unwanted. A little flattery went a long way when someone was sick.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Every muscle in Tanner’s body tensed as he gazed past the French doors, catching sight of Hannah’s slumped shoulders. She looked exhausted. During the past week, he’d restrained himself from kissing her again, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t kept a keen eye on her health. But she didn’t need him breathing down her neck like a crazed animal.      

His eyes traveled down her long, tanned legs encased in a pair of cut-offs, and his lips thinned in annoyance. Richards was out there. Where the hell was a towel when you needed it?       

The phone rang. He turned to pick it up, his eyes still attached to Hannah’s blond head as she leaned her head against the chair and closed her eyes.

“She should be in bed,” he mumbled, suddenly angry. “Stubborn woman.” 

“Pardon?”

“Nothing,” Tanner said, shaking his head. It was Jack from Reach Medicals, muttering something about a job opening.

“I thought you already filled that position,” Tanner replied in an irritated tone.

“I did fill the position,” Jack replied. “And I know you told me you didn’t like to micro-manage. But since you were involved in this at point one, I thought you’d be of some help. Miss Elliot called a few days ago, and I said we were still holding her resume. But right now, Reach Medicals has a government contract to fill and we’ve lost two of our best people, one to a company in Texas and one to retirement. The new engineer I hired won’t be enough. I need one more person, and Hannah Elliot fits the bill. I was wondering if you’d found a permanent slot for her, or if it’s all right for me to give her a call?” 

Tanner waited a few seconds before he answered. Guilt wrapped around his heart. He knew he was being selfish, but he wanted Hannah here at home - and not just for Jeremy. A small voice picked at the back of his brain, telling him that managing Hannah’s life without her consent wasn’t right, but he ignored it.

For a minute, he felt as if he were acting the part of his English ancestor the Duke of Elbourne. No, he thought, from what he’d heard about the duke, the man had been an arrogant aristocrat who had interfered in his daughter’s choice of a husband. And it wasn’t as if Tanner was forcing Hannah to do anything.

Besides, he wasn’t exactly meddling with her choice of a husband, was he? He was...well...he was helping her, providing her with a good income for her and her mother. After a few months, he would tell her the truth and offer her more money than Reach Medicals would ever pay her. Yes, that’s exactly what he would do.

Tanner may be the first born son, but he told himself he was nothing like the snobbish duke. No, he was not like the man at all.

“I really need to fill that position,” Jack put in.

 “Think I’ve found a slot for her, Jack, but give it a good week, then get back to me. I’ll be working from home for awhile. If she calls, stall for time. I need to work out a few details first.”

When Tanner hung up, he couldn’t help but notice the movement taking place outside. It looked as if Candy Richards was leaving and the gorilla staying. Staying?  

The ape’s yell hit Tanner’s ears like a clanging cymbal. Jeremy laughed at Alex’s bellow, but it didn’t seem as if Hannah was paying much attention. Her lashes fell against her pale cheeks. She seemed as if she wanted to be anywhere but outside in the heat.

What the hell was she doing outside? She was sick!

Tanner glanced at Alex and grew more annoyed every passing second. The gorilla’s gaze was glued to Hannah’s sweet body, as if she were a piece of fruit ready for the picking.

Jealousy whipped through his veins, and the realization finally hit him.

Stop trying to run from the truth. Stop running. Period.

He wanted Hannah to stay at his house forever, and neither Richards nor Reach Medicals was going to stand in his way.

“Hannah,” Jeremy called, waking her from a much-needed nap. “You want to see me make a somersault?”

Hannah jerked up. “Don’t you dare! You have a broken arm, and it’s not supposed to get wet.”

“Oh, pooh. When I get this thing off, then do you want to see me?” His eyes lit up with glee as his feet slapped the water. “Alex said he’d help me.”

Hannah angled her gaze and caught Alex swaggering toward her, his tanned, muscular form dripping water alongside the pool.

Oh, please. Not now.

She pressed her hands against her eyes that burned with fatigue. “I’d love to see you do a somersault, pumpkin, when you get your cast off. But right now I have to get back inside. My head is starting to hurt.”

“Oh,” the boy said, guilt filling his voice. “Dad said I wasn’t supposed to bother you too much today.”

“You’re not bothering me. I’m just a little tired, that’s all.” She started to rise when she felt a steel arm slip around her waist.