Mistaken Identity (21 page)

At the bottom he’s drawn a smiley face with its tongue sticking out, and I can’t help but laugh at him. CEO Tanner draws smiley faces. Damn, I have a lot of thinking to do.

_________________________

I meet Jess at the restaurant and tell her all the details from last night—everything from how he persuaded me to have dinner with him to the sincerity of his words to the necklace from this morning. We pick through his words, dissecting every detail, sharing our thoughts on each.

“What are you going to do?” Jess asks with a mouth full of her turkey sandwich.

“I really don’t know.”

“Belle, I think you should give it another try. Seriously, how many men would go to this extreme to make things right?” she shoves another fry in her mouth.

“He really hasn’t done anything. He’s left me alone except for last night. Plus if I go back to him I’ll be the boss’ girlfriend. Can you imagine what the rumors will be? I’ll be the one sleeping my way to the top,” I say.

“Have you fell and bumped your head? You dated the boss for nearly seven months and you didn’t care.”

“That’s because I didn’t know,” I quickly say.

“I know, but who cares what they think. You’re already in a position where your next stop is only Tanner’s or his dad’s assistant, unless you want to own the company.”

I hate when she has a point. “But the rumors,” I remind her.

She crinkles her eyebrows, “You’ve dealt with rumors before. We all had them in school, and you had some vicious ones. You made it through laughing at them. Where’s the Samantha Beckman I know? The one who is strong and carefree, a little introverted and only cusses when she gets pissed or scared? What did you do with her?” I can’t help but laugh at her. Everything that’s happened in the past year has sent me on an emotional roller coaster, and I find myself wanting to hover in the corner going unnoticed. “So what are you going to do strong, carefree, Samantha?”

“I’m going on a drive. That’s what I’m going to do,” I say.

After we finish, Jess heads back to work and I head for the road unsure where I am going. Driving is my escape to clear my mind. Turn the radio up as loud as I can stand it and get my head straight, which right now I’m desperate for.

After almost two hours of driving, I end up sitting on a picnic table on an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The sun is still high in the sky flaunting the mountain’s beauty. Its rolling hills with a diversity of styles of trees with vibrant colors—some with green, some with bare branches, and some with red and orange spraying across the cliffs. Tourists stop and take pictures of the view. Some take pictures of each other in different poses, but it’s mostly quiet with only a few passing cars.

I make my way back to my car to start the journey back home, still a little fuzzy-headed about what I should do. The roads curve and weave in and around the mountains for several miles before giving away to the interstate’s straight and boring lanes.

When I arrive at the apartment, I’m not surprised to see Jess and Marty lounging on the couch. It’s become an almost daily thing. Without her having to tell me, I know they are going to start dating soon. I can see it written on both of their faces, not to mention their body language.

“Hey,” I acknowledge Marty. If Jess can accept Tanner even after his lies, I can try to give Marty a chance.

“Hey, Sam,” he says.

“Where you been?” Jess wiggles her eyebrows.

“Went to the mountains,” I say and her face wilts thinking I had to be with Tanner.

I grab a beer and sit in the oversized chair giving those two the close proximity of the couch even though they both reluctantly scooted away from each other. Fed up with the lusting glances between them, I say, “Y’all don’t have to hide it anymore. If y’all want to be together, then be together.” They both rise in surprise, like they’ve been busted out right.

“Sam,” Jess clears her throat, “did you get your mind cleared?”

“I did, but I still don’t know what the hell I’m going to do. I’m exhausted thinking about the shit. He’s lied about something major, how do you even get past that? It’s like he cheated on me.”

“Can I run some things by you?” Marty asks, and I wave my hand in an exhausted “sure.” “When he told you his last name was Smith, did you ever think it was to kind of protect you both? Think about it. He’s used to women who want his money, and here comes this beautiful woman who doesn’t want it and it strikes something. So he doesn’t lie but instead gives you his middle name just so the woman he feels is the answer to his prayers doesn’t run away because he is worth something
and
is her boss?”

Jess and I share a surprised glance. I didn’t think Marty could make any sense…ever. “You said you feel like he cheated on you, but cheating is when you do something for hurtful purposes, whether it’s on a test or in a loving relationship. From my understanding, he never meant to hurt you. Yes, he lied for a long time, but have you ever started something never meaning for it to go far then it ends up a really far ways and you can’t help but continue?” Now he’s lost me and he must realize it. He slides to the edge of the couch. “Ok, ever wanted to just make out with a guy, maybe let him feel your boobs and before you can stop it, y’all are having sex?”

Jess and I bust out laughing at his horrible description, but I understand what he meant. For once he makes perfect sense.

Chapter 33

Pink is starting to wrap itself around the bluish purple of the sky as the sun begins to rise. The early morning is cool, and suddenly I wish I had thought about a jacket before doing this. The early birds are chirping their annoying chorus and I can hear the occasional neigh of horses in the distance. The ambience of the morning air is calming and peaceful.

I’m taking a gamble sitting here, not knowing if I’m doing the right thing or if I’m going to see something I don’t want to. I rub my neck and feel my necklace, the rough edges of the diamonds sliding through my fingers. I hear a stir, somebody’s awake. As I still my body, my heart begins to thump hard behind my ribs, my breath relentlessly short and sharp. Step…step…step…the steps are reverberating around the room as they get closer to the door. Flight is taking precedence over fight, but I stand my ground against my fears. The door clicks. The door knob turns and opens. This is it. No turning back now.

He jerks, freezing in his spot, startled by me sitting in the front porch swing. No words are exchanged for a brief moment. I amble my way to him and put my hand out, “Hi. I’m Samantha Beckman,” I quaver.

He smiles reaching out for my hand, “Good to meet you, Miss Beckman, I’m Tanner Weston.” He yanks my arm pulling me into his chest, squeezing tight. “How long have you been out here?”

“Long enough.” I don’t tell him I’ve been here for an hour debating on leaving since the moment I got here.

“When I didn’t hear from you the past two days, I figured you were done,” he says with melancholy.

“I needed to figure it out and think everything through. Needed to figure out where I stood and what I could handle,” I say.

“Fresh new start?” he asks. I nod giving him the answer he’s wanted the most. He leans down so close to my ear his breath gently breezes by it, “Good. Now get to work and help me,” he teases jerking away and laughing.

I charge at him, slap his arm, and turn quickly, running away from him. He tries to grab me but misses and when I get around the garage, he’s right on my heels. We look like teenagers chasing each other around and laughing. It feels great, liberating to have the pain in my sides from laughing, the wind against my face. I run around a large tree only to have him outsmart me and run straight into his arms. Our laughing dies down, and we share an intimate stare. He cups my face, staring deeply into my eyes and places a tender kiss on my lips, but quickly it turns into more. More passion, more speed, more pressure. Our tongues dance together rekindling their own love as he presses me into the tree I just tried to hide behind. One of his hands slides around my waist and pulls me into him. I can feel his erection against my stomach and my insides pulse at the missed affection. It’s been a month since I’ve felt him this close, since I’ve felt his touch, and I’ve missed every bit of it.

I pull away with a smirk. “Slow it down, Mr. Weston, we’ve only just met,” I pant.

The torrid blaze in his eyes almost has me giving in. “Please call me Tanner, Miss Beckman.”

“As you wish,” I mock his words, pushing him off me and begin to walk toward the barn seductively. I feel like a super model, strutting along the runway, only slower, leaving him behind to collect himself staring at my butt.

I turn around, walking backwards, giving him a sexy smile before he’s able to catch up with me. “So what can I do to help?”

He reaches out for my arms stopping me and flashes a lethal smile that I swear should be illegal in all fifty states, “Sit down.”

“What? I will not!” I yank out of his grip, “Now tell me what I can do to help.”

He, of all people, rolls his eyes at me. “You’re stubborn, you know that?”

“As a mule.” I wink.

We spend some time giving the horses fresh water, changing feed, shoveling manure, and scattering new hay. Tanner laughs when he sees me dragging the hay around. City girl like me can’t pick it up. Once done, he examines our work, clearly pleased at what he sees. He grabs my hand and pulls me up to the loft. He makes me sit on a bale of hay and walks to the door pushing it open revealing the magnificent view. The sun is already up above the tree line and the bright Carolina blue sky displays its beauty.

“I see you’re wearing the necklace.” He sits behind me with his arms around my shoulders.

I nod, but say nothing.

“I’m glad you’re here, Samantha.” He places a gentle kiss in my hair.

“So am I,” I whisper. “Can I ask you something?”

His body tightens behind me. “Anything.”

“Can I pretty please have some coffee?” I giggle.

The tension releases in his body, swirling me around to face him. “Have you not had any?”

“A small cup on the way here, but I was full of adrenaline so didn’t think I needed much. But now I’m dying.”

“I’m surprised horns haven’t sprouted from your head yet,” he teases. “Come on.”

As we pass through the living room, a folded blanket with a pillow stacked on top of it sits on the couch, and I pause at the sight of it. He was telling the truth at the restaurant. I figured he was just trying to flatter me.

“I told you I can’t sleep in my bed,” he tugs my hand continuing toward the kitchen.

Leaning against the counter, I notice the picture of him and his dad on the counter, “He was signing the land over to me,” he says pouring the water into the coffee pot never looking over at me. I feel he’s watching my every move today.

“You haven’t aged a bit.”

He lets out a short laugh, “You need to look closer. That was almost twelve years ago.”

“You still have that baby face.”

“I was blessed I guess,” he shrugs.

I try to hold back a yawn, but it escapes my clenched jaw.

He cocks his head to the side amused at my try to conceal it, “Are you tired?”

“Didn’t get much sleep last night,” I admit.

“Hmm…you too?” I offer him a knowing crooked smile. Something flashes in his eyes, excitement, pleasure, I don’t know. “Forget coffee, let’s go lay down.”

“Not to sound rude, but your newly found bed doesn’t look big enough for the both of us,” I joke.

“Who said we’re lying on the couch?”

He grabs my hand, pulling me like a child up the stairs. Butterflies bubble in my stomach.

His room looks like no one has entered it in weeks. The bed is still properly made to Tanner’s liking with everything pulled tight and pillows fluffed.

“Take a shower with me,” he says. “I won’t try anything, Miss Beckman, but we have been shoveling horse shit and I’d like to rinse off.”

I hesitate, stopping at the door. It’s been a month since I’ve seen him, let alone had him naked in front of me. I want to get to know Tanner. It sounds funny in my head since I dated him for seven months, but when we were at the restaurant I learned a lot about him. I want to know more. He stops, watching me work through my thoughts. He pulls his shirt over his head letting me soak in the glorious sight of the well-defined, chiseled, pure sexy chest that flows into a hard set of six pack abs that funnel down into his devastatingly sexy V shaped obliques. I press my thighs together as my sex heats up. Like a strip tease, he slowly lowers his pants, shimmying out of them. Then down go his boxers. I strain to keep my eyes above waist level, but there’s no use. I let my eyes travel down to his hard dick. I flick my eyes back up.

“I can’t help that. He’s just as excited as I am,” he shrugs pointing to his manhood.

He’s already in the shower when I finally decide to just go for it and join him. He jumps when I step through the door, pressing against his back with my chest. I run my hands up from his abs to the small patch of hair on his chest. It surprises me how much I’ve missed having his body at my fingertips. He turns, drops of water running off the chiseled lines of his face, and grabs my cheeks placing a whisper of a kiss to my lips. Ache runs through me. Pain, lust, love. I’ve missed him terribly. He pushes into me, my back falling into the cold subway tiles, still barely brushing against my lips. His erection grows between us, my nipples harden, and a tingling rush spreads over my body. Something inside of me snaps. I want him…now. I drag my fingers against his scalp, pulling him into me, deepening our kiss. Our breaths become urgent gasps, our hands traveling and clawing each other just short of a mauling. It feels great to have his mouth on me, to have his tongue searching for mine, to know how much he wants me. I grab his dick, and begin stroking him. He hisses between his teeth and grabs my wrist, putting a halt to my motions.