Now and Forever (9 page)

Grace touched his arm supportively.
Big mistake.
Slowly, his gaze met hers. A toxic level of desire radiated in his stare. Her stomach twisted into knots. From head to toe, her body was on fire. Knees weakened. Her heart hammered against her chest. She was losing control of her senses. Her thoughts were muddled. The air around her seemed thick. Memories of their last physical encounter had an intoxicating effect upon her.
 
She grew dizzy thinking about the way his hands had explored her body in his backyard on the blanket. Or, how good each ripple of his chiseled chest had felt against hers through the thin fabric of her dress. Her body was the perfect mold for his. She yearned to know how well he would fit into her tight, wet space.

This can’t be good
. She had the major
hots
for him. It would take a twelve-step program to get him out of her system.

“Is there something on your mind? I’m all ears.” Tanner’s voice was deep and husky, adding fuel to a blazing fire.

Grace cleared her throat. She had only touched his arm out of affection, not to get his attention. But she spoke to cover her real intention, “I think it is wonderful how you brought Bud and his parents together again.”

He smiled knowingly. “Thank you.”

“I should thank you, Tanner,” Bud said. “As I recall, it was you who told me to follow my dream.”

“That was before I knew your dream involved driving in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series.”

“Luckily, I never told my folks you’re to blame for my career move, or they would have had your hide by now.”

Tanner laughed. “I’m glad. I think I stood a chance against Uncle Joe, but Aunt Joyce scares me. Man, she’s serious business.”

“When will you race next?” Grace asked.

“Two months from now at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. My buddy, Gunter Radcliffe, will also be there. He comes from a long line of drivers and is under a lot of pressure.” Bud nodded towards the charming young man who was now snuggled up with a cute fan of his in the stands.

“You know I’ll be pulling for you,” Tanner said. “Don’t forget to meet me at the medical center next week for your physical.”

Bud kicked the dirt. “Ah, man, I’m in tiptop shape.”

“Whatever. Just show up, or else.

*

Smooth jazz played softly on the radio. A small lamp provided a dim beacon of light in the living room. Tanner relaxed against the sofa with one arm stretched along the back. Grace hoped her presence was the main reason for the serene look on his face. Maybe she should leave and quit concerning herself with Tanner, and his state of mind.

But she didn’t want to. Spending time with him was akin to being whisked away on a well-deserved, all-expense paid vacation on a private resort. She was perfectly at peace resting her head in his lap, while dangling her bare feet over the arms of the sofa. After having spent the day in the company of various members of the McGregor family, she was finally alone with the one who mattered most to her.
 
What better way to wind down. “I’ve had some day.”

He smiled down at her. He brought his lips to her forehead and kissed it gently. “Sorry about dragging you to the speedway. I wanted to check on my speed racing cousin.” Deep concern laced his voice. “Don’t be put off by his antics. Bud is harmless. I promise.”

“Bud’s hilarious. His stories are extremely entertaining. Something tells me he never has a dull moment.” She said. “How long do you think he’ll be committed to his free and easy lifestyle?”

Tanner sighed. “I don’t know. But when the right woman comes along, he’ll slow down. There won’t be a car fast enough to outrun her. I can’t wait.”

Bud vowed to be a life-long bachelor. He intended to keep a legion of beautiful women within reach for private
matters .
Marriage was for women to enjoy, he insisted. All that money spent on big weddings and honeymoons just so a woman could make her friends green with envy, or feel like a princess, made no sense to him. Not to mention the freedoms a married man had to relinquish: No more hanging out with the guys at all hours, no more spending money on gadgets and additional “toys,” and, worst of all, no other women. How could a man be expected to live, and sleep, with one woman for the rest of his life? Everyone knew that variety was the “spice of life.”

Everyone except Tanner.
He often brushed aside Bud’s misguided perceptions about love and marriage with a sympathetic snicker.
It’s only a matter of time before love bites him in the
ass
, Tanner thought. From experience, he knew once Bud was bitten by the love bug, the sweet pain it induced would weaken his reserve. And the cure for his malady would reside with his beloved. She’d choose when to end his suffering. He’d be helpless against her powers, and love every minute of agony he’d endure. Tanner knew this firsthand. Although he could reach down and touch the woman he desired, he still couldn’t get a hold of her heart. Her core component was inaccessible and dominated by disappointing past events. The key to breaking through the barrier she’d built around her heart mystified him. If necessity dictated, he’d scale that wall. Or, he could simply huff, puff, and blow it down with a thousand kisses.

“I’ve never been to race,” Grace said. “Maybe we can go to one together?” She swallowed hard. What the hell was she doing? Why was she making future plans with Tanner? The plan had always been to run away and avoid him, not get closer to him. Just because the man was easy on the eyes, intelligent, and made her stomach do cartwheels, back flips, and somersaults, was it really that hard to resist him?

Yep.

His lips hovered over hers. “I’d like that.”

Something dangerous stirred deep inside of Grace. It was feral and frantic. The sudden disturbing sensation was caused by Tanner’s satin-smooth voice. She was swathed in its softness from head to toe. Warmth flooded her. A rush of excitement threatened to surface and reveal Grace’s condition to Tanner. Quickly, she quelled her exhilaration. She forced her mind to focus on anything, except the sweet sensations tormenting her.
Mercy me
.
“Um…you have very interesting and impressive family members.”

A puzzled look crossed his face. “And you came to this conclusion after meeting one cousin?”

She adjusted her position in his lap. “Actually,
Lorilee
came into my lounge today.”

His brows furrowed. “No, she didn’t.”

Grace nodded. “Yes, she did. As you know, she wanted to talk to me about using The Pigeonhole for the fashion show.”

Tanner raked his fingers through his dark curls. The fashion show had totally slipped his mind the other night. He had told
Lorilee
he would help her with locating a place to hold her function. And he had intended to ask Grace about opening the doors of The Pigeonhole for the charity event. But the moment she had appeared on her front porch, looking radiant in her formal dress, expecting to dine at a fancy restaurant, thinking straight became a strenuous task.

Later, when her arms had been wrapped around his neck and her tongue flicked against his, only her sweetness had garnered his attention. Now he wished he’d broached the subject of the fashion show, and
Lorilee
, between those salacious kisses. No one should ever be caught off guard by
Lorilee
. “I hope she didn’t bully you into saying yes.”

She glared into his eyes. “I know it’s hard for the McGregor tribe to believe, but I do have a spine. Just because she’s a powerhouse in the fashion industry doesn’t mean everyone wilts like a flimsy fabric in her presence. Furthermore, I
chose
to have the fashion show at The Pigeonhole because I support Starting Over.” She bit her bottom lip, which began to quiver. The last thing Grace wanted Tanner to think was that she needed him to protect her from
Lorilee
. There was no reason for him to don a red cape and swoop down and fly her to safety. Neither
Lorilee’s
status, nor her ego was insurmountable in Grace’s mind. The true hurdle was getting beyond Tanner’s tendency to be overprotective of her. This annoying habit of his made her feel like a little sister who required constant supervision, instead of a grown woman who had powerful needs and desires.

What a way to spoil an evening. Maybe she should just take her pride, and raging hormones, and hit the road. The temperature had dropped and she was feeling a bit chilly. She moved her feet from the sofa to the floor. Then she hugged herself with trembling hands. “I don’t need you to protect me from your sister.”

To her surprise, and chagrin, Tanner laughed. The rich and boisterous sound echoed throughout the room. “Babe, I couldn’t protect you from
Lorilee
even if I wanted to. She’s like a tornado—there’s no way to stop or control her. Like a weatherman, it’s my job to warn you when a tornado is in your vicinity so you can take the necessary precautions, including shelter,” he said between chuckles. “But you can handle your business anyway you see fit. And if you have learned how to tame a tornado, please teach me.”

Grace shook her head. “Well,
Lorilee’s
not
that
bad.”

Her comment triggered another round of laughter. This episode was short-lived. Tanner sobered up quickly. A serious expression replaced the merriment in his eyes. He fixed an intense gaze on Grace. “As much as I love my sister, she’s not my favorite subject. You are. Why don’t we forget about her for a while and concentrate on us.”

Grace stiffened. “Technically,
there’s
no
us
.”

“There could be.
Technically
.”
 
He placed his hands on her shoulders. “You are so tense. Lie on your stomach.”

She lifted a brow. Heat suffused her cheeks. Over her shoulder, she asked, “Why do I need to do that?”

“I want to give you a massage to relieve some of the stress in your body. Free of charge of course.” He twisted her body. She was putty in his hands, easily malleable. He bent her forward until she was fully stretched out on the sofa with her head resting on top of her hands.

“It’s been a long day,” she whispered.

“I know, honey.” He sat sideways on the sofa with his hip touching hers. Leaning over her, he applied gentle pressure to the back of her neck. He studied her reaction as he massaged her flesh expertly. A placid expression settled on her face when he brought his hands to her shoulders. He loosened her taut muscles with his fingertips, which sank deep into her shoulder blades.

Grace moaned as his hand strong hands soothed her body. She shuddered when he slid his hands smoothly up and down her spine, kneading the flesh just above her
In
her utterly blissful state of mind, she couldn’t recall when he had slipped his hands underneath her tank top. However, she was totally aware of the ripples of pleasure his hands inspired throughout her body. Something dangerous stirred in her once he skimmed over the soft flesh of her derriere.

With lightning speed, she flipped onto her back. Roughly, she shoved Tanner to floor and straddled his hips. She raised his hands above his head. Her lips crashed into his. She kissed him fiercely. A feral tigress had invaded her body, demanding to be fed. Greedily, she dragged her throbbing lips down his neck and over his chest, breathing heavily in the process. Her body ached to feel Tanner plunge deep inside her repeatedly. With unsteady fingers, she struggled to remove his pants.

Tanner had another idea. He placed his hand on top of hers, in order to prevent her from undressing him.

She stared at him with wild desperation. “Give me what I want,” Grace ordered, panting.

“Do you love me?” He said in a deep and gravelly voice.

“Huh?” Grace flinched. His use of that powerful word “love” had literally sobered her. She met his intense gaze and blinked. He actually wanted an answer. Her mind searched its database for something to say. Why not lie?
 
She could easily tell him what he wanted to hear so he could give her what she wanted to feel.
A fair exchange.
But she couldn’t do it. She wasn’t able to say anything.

“I see,” Tanner said. “Although you didn’t ask me, I think it’s only fair that I level with you. I’ve been walking on a tightrope for a long time, trying not to fall in love with you. But I have fallen for you. It was inevitable. I’m madly in love with you and there’s no turning back.
Lorilee
was right, you are my queen and I claim you as mine.”

She gasped. Did she just hear him say that he was in love with her? Did he just
claim
her? She didn’t know how to take either statement. His words were just a beautiful illusion, some magic he cooked up, as far as she was concerned. And she was definitely concerned that she could possibly have more than sexual feelings for him. But they had to be squashed. The daily thoughts she had of his body connecting passionately with hers also needed to cease. His touch, his taste and his kisses needed to be forgotten.

She wouldn’t forget. She was infected, and he was her disease.

Weakly, she pushed away from him. Her legs felt like jelly. Somehow, she managed to stand. The ache that previously aggravated her loins had transferred to her head. Her senses were muddled. She wanted to feel the overwhelming joy women experienced when the right man looks at them in a special way, calls their name, or brings their body to life with sexual pleasure. Her Adonis just declared his love for her. Before Kevin, she would have been blissfully floating on a cloud. But her wounded heart wouldn’t even allow her feet to leave the ground after Tanner’s admission.