EMMA

I catch my breath as Tanner pulls away and searches my eyes. Impatiently I pull at his belt and he frowns and grabs my hands. “No, Emma.”

“Why not? Nobody’s here. We could—”

“We could but I won’t.” His grip loosens and he looks down to watch our fingers touching. I lace mine with his.

“Don’t stop now, Tanner!”

He crushes me in a new and even more primal kiss, running his hands down my body so confidently I can feel how much he loves women. I am pulsing to know all of him. I have woken up wet every night for a week. And now I have him.

I open my eyes as his lips break from mine, and he propels himself deeper into the lawn, running a hand through his waves. “No, I can’t do this to you.”

A moan rips from my lungs and I want to reach for him but stop just short of actually doing it, embarrassing myself, looking too eager. I’ve managed to play it cool until now. And here I am wanting to beg him to fuck me. Turning on my heel I make quick strides to the house. “Fine! Do what you want but I’m done playing games!”

He runs and catches up, spinning me around and gripping my shoulders. Our lips collide again and I fall into him, but as I go for his belt Tanner grabs my hands again. His gorgeous head is shaking back and forth like he won’t let this happen.

I fume, “I know you want me, too!”

He dives his fingers into my hair and holds me prisoner, searching my eyes to see why I can’t understand. “Emma, I will hurt you.”

“You keep saying that! How do you know you will?”

His voice is thick as he reminds me, “Your father hates me. Your brothers will back him up. This can’t go anywhere and you will want it to. And I’m beginning to think I will, too.”

Hope roars, and far more powerfully than I would have imagined. I knew I wanted him, physically, but it’s become more than that. Smiling and giving him a cute wink, I keep things light in hopes that he’ll stay right here, not run away. “You care about me more than you thought, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s just try,” I grin, even though I’ve begun to tremble. I can feel his exit looming over us, just like when he dashed to his car while I was on the phone with my dad.

Again he shakes his head like his decision is final. I kiss him hard. He responds and delicious minutes fly by, the world a blur, nothing matters but this kiss, these hands, him pressing his heat against me. We’re moaning into each other. I think I’ve won. But I haven’t won anything but more frustration and confusion. He releases me and starts for the neglected mansion’s back door. “You will thank me for this years from now.”

A scream unleashes from my core.

Tanner whips around, eyes wide.

Nobody in my family would recognize quiet Emma right now, but I don’t fucking care. I storm past him and rush through the house with him on my heels. I break into a run and he does, too. I explode out the door and Tanner follows, shouting my name. At my car I wait, panting.

He pounces in front of me, snarling like we’re two animals. “What was that scream?!”

“I am not a child,” I steadily tell him—voice, body and soul controlled. “I get to decide who I’m with. I want you!” I push his chest. “Go back to San Francisco, Mr. Hamilton, and think about what you want, because I don’t care how old you are or who you’ve been with, I want you! I know from that kiss and your confession to me back there, that you feel something for me, too. You’ve only told Dan, but you chose me to share your wonderful plan with. You want me, too! So try and use my family as an excuse, but I believe you’re just scared of falling in love. Now, please open my door for me and drive me back.”

He’s stunned as he helps me step around the rough curb, cement broken with roots and time. Like a robot he shuts the passenger door.

In stiff moments we’re off.

He steals a few looks at me but I don’t meet his eyes. Tears are hovering in mine. As we pull up to the first property, his hand edges near, hovers, and lowers to rest on my thigh. I won’t look at him. He gives it a squeeze and gets out, walking around. It’s so silly that I’m waiting for him to help me out of my own car, but something about it is comforting. I don’t know why. I guess it’s a sign of respect like he said. That even when we’re angry, he still makes sure he’s the first one out and the last one in. Perhaps it was designed to make sure no other man could harm a woman while you were inside the car and she was alone waiting for the door to unlock in the olden days when you had to do it manually. I’ve never thought of why, until now.

Little do I know that I’ll have a lot of time to think from now on.

No job.

Tanner gone.

Just me and a new chapter of life to begin.

Whether I want it to, or not.