Mistaken Identity (24 page)

_________________________

“Damn, dude, nice place!” Marty barks absorbing the beauty of the house. Tanner looks prideful and begins to take him on a tour, leaving me and Jess to enjoy one of the beers she brought.

“Are you okay?” she asks softly leaning up against the counter beside the stove where I’m cooking spaghetti. I need to go grocery shopping next time before inviting anyone over. Tanner’s cabinets showcase that he’s a bachelor.

“Yeah, I’m fine. You know this isn’t the worst I’ve been through.”

“This has to be the scariest.” My brows shoot up at her words. She knows about my past, knows that I endured scary too many times in my life. “Well, let me rephrase that. This
is
scary.”

“I told him about emancipating from my parents. I didn’t go into details.”

“You could probably tell him all of it and he won’t look at you any different. He is crazy about you. When you fainted, he caught you before you hit the ground. You should have seen his face.” She mimics his face, and before you know it we’re doubled over laughing, begging for air.

Sitting at the table over dinner, watching everyone engaging in conversation, I feel at home. I feel like I have family, even Marty seems like he’s matured in the past few months. I’m sure Jess had something to do with it. Our conversations over beer go on into the early morning hours, and when we finally do retire to bed, I close my eyes once and am gone into dreamland.

Chapter 36

“Belle.” His doting voice invades my cliché dream of horseback riding on the beach. I open my eyes to a room too full of light and the aroma of coffee consuming my mind. “Belle, I have to go into work for a little bit. Adam called, there’s a hiccup.”

“Let me get dressed, I’ll go with you. I’m sure Adam needs me,” I sit up and wipe the sleep out of my eyes.

He shakes his head. “Mack is here. I called him and asked if he would hang around here for a little bit. Don’t worry about work, we have that covered.”

“No. There’s no use of me just sitting here. I’m going. Adam will have me buried before I know it.” I rush to the closet to hurry and get dressed.

“I’ll get what he has for you. You can use my laptop and do your work from here.”

“Tanner, I’m going to work.” I pull a skirt from my suitcase and shake out the wrinkles.

“Like hell you are.” He lunges forward jerking the skirt out of my hand. “You are taking the day off.”

I jerk my skirt back. “Who the hell are you telling me I can’t go to work?”

He laughs mischievously. “Your boss.”

I sharpen my eyes on him, “You told me you wouldn’t interfere!”

“I know what I said,” he meets my glare. “Let me say it like this. As your boyfriend, you are not going to work. I’ll call your boss myself to make sure he knows, and if he doesn’t allow it, I’ll hunt him down.”

I sag in defeat, “You’re an ass.”

“I love you. I’ll be back shortly. Mack is in the barn now, he’ll come in and out of the house but you won’t even know it.” He gives me a quick peck on the lips and rushes out the door.

_________________________

I’ve been bored out of my wits for hours. I’ve given myself a tour of his house, finding a guest bedroom and an office that shows off awards, a large shelve packed with books, and a sleek black desk in the middle. I’m sick of twiddling my thumbs so I make my way to the barn to give Mack some company. Okay, really just me some company.

“You know you don’t have to stay out here all day. You can be bored with me inside.” I throw my thumb over my shoulder to the house.

“Yeah. I know. Just figured I’d give you some peace and quiet. Heard you’ve had a rough few days.” His country twang is adorable, sometimes needing his own captions. His rugged country boy build, you know, the large arms, strong chest, is pushing through his black t-shirt.

“Yeah,” I plop down on a bale of hay across from him and Onyx appears nudging for attention. I reach up and rub his muzzle. Happy with the greeting he slowly turns and walks into the daylight from the dark barn.

“He likes you, Onyx does.” Mack nods his head toward the graceful black horse.

“I think Belle is my favorite.”

“She’s Tanner’s too,” he says.

Tanner has told me she holds the key to his heart, but he’s never told me why. “Why is that?”

“He got her at a dark time in his life. He was heartbroken.”

“Kayla?”

“Yeah she messed him up real bad, but Belle, she brought him back to life. She gave him some sorts of superpower that pulled him out of the rut.”

“And Onyx?” I explore further.

“He got him after Belle. He’s a goofball of a horse. Got a personality of a damned clown. He took to Tanner quick and Tanner to him. They used to get out here and play with a ball,” he chuckles, “like damn kids.”

“He loves them.”

“That he does. I could bet he’d kill for them. I’m the only person he lets tend to them.”

“So, they helped him escape from Kayla’s curse, huh? I had the pleasure of meeting her at his dad’s party. What a piece of work,” I say.

“She’s evil walking. Ain’t never liked that girl.” He picks a piece of hay up fiddling with it.

“She wasn’t very nice when I met her.”

“If there ain’t something in it for her, she ain’t gonna be nice. When they first started dating, she was nice and all, but then Tanner started working for his dad, and she couldn’t stand being second best. She’s an idiot. Didn’t realize he was setting up his life with her, trying to get his ducks in a row.”

“Oh. I didn’t realize they dated before he started working for his dad. I guess I didn’t put that together.”

“Yeah they started dating when they were fourteen, then when she turned twenty-one, she became a partier leaving Tanner to work while she did God knows what. He finally called things off about a year or so later.”

“He said he was going to ask her to marry him.” Mack jerks his head back surprised and then begins to laugh loud slapping his knee.

“That boy didn’t want to marry her. She wanted it. I’m not saying he didn’t love her, but he didn’t want to marry her. I’ve known Tanner since we was thirteen, met him through some friends in school. He never said he wanted to marry her. She was like his, what do they call it, comfort blanket? Yeah. She was something he settled for. She tried to control him and pushed the idea of marriage on him, even threatened to leave him.”

I shake my head. I can’t fathom marrying someone just for comfort. “He said she came back once.”

The corners of his mouth pull up into a crooked smile, “Yeah I was here. I’m surprised he didn’t take her back. He was in a dark place when she popped back in and tried to control the situation. He sent her home crying. Evil bitch heard how successful he was becoming. He always told me she had dollar signs in her eyes.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard him use that phrase for a few girls before.” I try hiding my disgust. It was more like the whole town. “She told him the night of his dad’s party that she wanted to work things out. She then tried intimidating me, but she failed miserably at her attempt.”

“She don’t love him. She just wants to live in a home with a man that will hand her everything. Tanner wouldn’t allow it. He wouldn’t put up with a woman that’s money hungry. He’s humble, and money has never gotten to his head. Yeah, he’s used it to his advantage, but I can’t say I blame him,” he pauses for a moment using his sleeve to wipe his sweat from his brow. “The way he looks at you, I haven’t ever seen that look in his eyes. Whatever you do, just keep the dollar signs out of your eyes. You’ll shut him down completely.”

“I assure you, I have no interest in his money. I don’t do the fancy stuff.”

“Look, I shouldn’t have spilled Tanner’s life out like this. Please don’t tell him. He’d have me by my neck.”

“I promise, I wo—”

“Trying to steal my girlfriend?” Tanner interrupts, walking up behind us.

Mack and I shoot a surprised glance at each other. “Dude, she came to me. She’s trying to steal your friend,” he laughs.

“Come here, Belle. I have something for you.” There’s excitement sparkling in his eyes.

Oh great, another surprise. No matter how many times I tell him I hate them, he continues to do as he wants. I tell Mack goodbye and take Tanner’s hand.

“You’re going to be mad at me.” He presses his lips tight offering a crooked smile.

“For what?”

“You’ll see.” He doesn’t look at me, but keeps his sights in front of him. We round the corner and in the driveway sits a black Chevy Tahoe with dark tinted windows. It’s really pretty but I don’t understand why I would be mad at him for buying a new car. It’s his money.

“Yours.” He holds up the keys watching my expression.

“No! You are not buying me a car. I don’t need a new car, Tanner.” I throw my hands up appalled at his audacity.

“Samantha,” he grabs my shoulders firmly, “it will make me feel more comfortable if you’re driving something no one recognizes.”

“I don’t want you to spend this kind of money on me. I will not accept this.” I’m on the verge of throwing myself into a childish tantrum, crossing my arms and stomping my feet is all that’s left to complete it. This is unacceptable.

“Think of it as being more for me than you. I know you’re safe.”

“Tanner—”

“Zip it, Samantha. It’s yours.” His shit eating grin proves I’m fighting a losing battle.

He takes me through the features, showing me the radio, and I can’t help but laugh inside since he’s talking to me like I’m a sixteen year old with her first car. I inhale the smell of new car. I’ve heard people rave over this and now I understand. I’ve never owned a brand new car and the new car tree thingies stink. But this smell, new leather, clean, it’s intoxicating.

“There wasn’t a hiccup at work was there?” I drop out of the truck, turning up to him.

“Not necessarily at work, but there was a hiccup. I wanted a black. They didn’t have a black. I got a black,” he chuckles proud of himself.

I lean up on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek, although I’m still not happy with his actions. “Thanks.”

“You’ve got to get used to this, Belle. I want to take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself.”

“Yeah, but it’s more fun when you let me do it,” he smirks rubbing his thumb down my jawline. He winks then turns on his heel heading for the house and leaves me staring at the keys to my new truck in my palm. Never have I had a man spend this kind of money on me. Never have I had a man spend this kind of money and somehow justify it for his best interest. I know it’s for me, he had to have rehearsed that line.

_________________________

It’s been three weeks and Tanner has been trying his hardest to suppress his protectiveness of me. He makes up ridiculous excuses to ride to and from work with me, and I find it extremely ironic that when he leaves, Mack shows up instantly. I could hardly hold in my amusement when I told him that Jess and I were going to grab a beer. The freaked out look in his eyes, the stammering that he could be “just one of the girls” for the night, it was hilarious, but he finally told me to go have fun. Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past him to have hired a private eye that night. Some would call him crazy and insecure, but oddly I find it sweet and caring. I get it. There’s a creeping weirdo freak running on the loose. Be protective all you want! By all means, don’t let me hold you back.

Tonight when he called to let me know he was on his way home, I could hear something was on his mind. So I decided to cook him his favorite meal. His plate is loaded down with steak, mashed potatoes, and corn on the cob. To a man, good food is comfort. Unfortunately, he’s only been picking and pushing the food around his plate. Something big is on his mind.

“Belle?” he looks up from his plate, eyes tight and worried.

“Hmm?” With a mouth full of food, it’s the best thing I could get out.

“I have to go out of town this weekend.”

“Where to?” I ask.

“Texas,” he hesitates, “we have a client there who wants to have a meeting. Do you want to come?”

“Is Adam going?”

“No.”

“Then no. I need to stay and babysit him.” His face crumbles. Apprehension dons in his expression. “Tanner, it’s been over a month since anything. I’ll be fine. I’ll stay with Jess and Marty so I’m not alone.”

His gears turn, tapping the end of the fork on his lips. He’s thinking really hard to figure a way out of this. The room is silent, his eyes locked somewhere behind me. He takes a slow defeated breath, “I’ll call Marty to make sure he keeps a good eye on you.”

So now I’m going to be babysat…great. If this is what makes him feel good, then so be it. It won’t be like this forever once this person is caught. “How long will you be gone for?”

“I’ll be leaving Thursday night and arrive back Saturday morning. The meeting is Friday morning. Then I have to lose a round of golf with the guy that afternoon and rush home to my Belle.”

Eventually Tanner gains his appetite back and finishes his plate and then he helps me clean the kitchen. It’s fascinating to watch a man of his stature be so domesticated. It’s downright erotic. He’s just finished drying the dishes, the sleeves of his white button up shirt rolled to his elbows with the top buttons undone and his black dress pants glued to his ass like they’ve been painted on by a professional. Simply delicious. He turns to say something to me, and I’m busted watching him with my bottom lip between my teeth. A hum rumbles from his chest, and quickly his body is up against mine. His fingers weave through my hair, twisting it around, and he pulls with force. My heart kicks in my chest, all breath expelled. With full access of my neck, his tongue circles my earlobe and down across my shoulders, dragging his teeth in the perfect spots to send sparks shattering across my skin. I run my fingernails along his back and moan at the current of electricity in his touch. A growl escapes from his throat and he yanks me up by my ass. I wrap my legs around his waist as he carries me up the stairs, biting at his ears. He pushes us against the wall when we reach the top, nipping at my chin and digging his fingers into my waist. His lips make it to mine and in a heated maul, our tongues search for their dance partners. He nudges us off the wall and heads down the hall toward his bedroom, still attached to my lips, stealing my breath.