Twenty-Two
Tanner
“Your ass looks hot in those yoga pants.” Tanner let out a low whistle as Belle walked past the foot of the bed.
She popped her hip out, put a hand on it, and lifted one eyebrow. “Excuse me?”
He laughed and jumped out of the bed. He snaked one arm around her waist and drew her close. “I said, have fun at yoga, sweetheart.”
Her hands slid up his bare chest and behind his neck. “But you should be thrilled I’m going to yoga.” She lifted up on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “Think of all the positions we can try with my new…flexibility.”
His mouth went dry and the thin boxers he wore did nothing to disguise the effect her words, and her deep throaty chuckle, had on him. His hand slipped down from her waist to cup her firmly against him, and he started to think of all the ways he could encourage her to skip one class. She’d been going every other day for two weeks now; surely she could miss just this once. “Damn, my greedy little vixen showed up again.”
Belle pulled back a little and smiled up at him with the same damn smile that never failed to stop his heart. “My husband showed up again.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and stepped out of his embrace.
Tanner watched in stunned silence while she grabbed her mat and her bag and trotted out the door, long chocolate ponytail swinging behind her.
Well, hell.
He wasn’t done trying to win her back, but no matter what happened last night and every other night this week, comments like that made him feel like he still had a long way to go. He still had two weeks to show Belle that their relationship was worth saving, worth fighting for. And tonight would be another date he hoped she loved.
Tanner stepped beneath the icy spray of the shower. Every night this past week had been…indescribable. He couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up. Five hours ago, he had been tangled up in Belle and yet he still found himself in need of a little help cooling off. Damn, that woman drove him wild.
He groaned at the memory of her hair falling over her shoulder as she climbed on top of him. He closed his eyes and started reciting Italian trade regulations. Hell, that was better than a cold shower.
Finally feeling in control of himself, he stepped out of the shower and quickly dried off. He tugged a dark gray shirt over his head and pulled on a pair of khaki shorts. As soon as Belle got home and showered, they’d be ready to go.
He grinned. Hell yeah, she was going to love their date this afternoon.
His thoughts were interrupted by a tiny voice right outside the bedroom. “Mommy, Noah wants waffles for breakfast, but I want French toast and…” The words died on Ava’s lips as she barged through the door. She stopped and stared, blinking a few times, at Tanner. “Where’s Mommy?”
He threw his daughter a look of mock hurt before picking her up and tickling her tummy lightly. “She’s at her yoga class, sweetpea. What, isn’t Daddy good enough?”
Ava giggled and wound her arms around Tanner’s neck. “Yeah you are, but Mommy’s always here. You’re always at work.”
Well, double hell.
“Daddy’s here today.” He kissed her cheek. “Daddy’s been home more, right?”
Her small face split in half with a smile identical to her mother’s. Her soft chestnut eyes shone brightly. “Yep.” She popped the last letter. “I’m really glad you like us again.”
An icy feeling, far colder than his shower, started at the top of Tanner’s head and trickled through his entire body. “Ava, sweetie, I’ve always liked you. I love you, you know that right?”
She tilted her head to the side and, as ridiculous as it was, he felt himself squirm under her intuitive gaze. “But you like work better.”
Tanner swallowed past the lump in his throat. “Sweetpea, I’ve always, always, loved you and Noah and Mommy more than anything else. Always. I just…forgot. For a little while.”
Her face brightened again, and she kissed his bearded cheek. “I’m glad you remembered. I missed you.”
Never once had Tanner thought his heavy workload and need to watch over every detail of the company would affect anyone else. Not Belle and definitely not the kids. But his daughter’s innocent comments added another level to his guilt. And reaffirmed his commitment to make as many changes as he needed to fix everything he had so royally screwed up.
He pushed back the strong emotions Ava’s words had stirred. “I’m glad I remembered, too.” He cleared his throat and forced a smile. “And I’m really glad I didn’t forget how to make waffles or French toast.” His fingers tickled along her rib cage as he carried her out of the room and down the stairs.
Once both kids were seated at the table with their food in front of them generously coated in syrup, Tanner poured a cup of coffee and sat across from them. “We have something really important to talk about.”
In that way only twins could, Ava and Noah looked at each other, and Tanner swore he could almost see their silent conversation. Noah shoved another piece of his waffle in his mouth. “What’s that, Daddy?” The words came out mumbled around a mouthful of food.
Tanner quirked a smile. “Don’t talk with your mouth full, son.” He took another long draw of his warm drink. “I want to do something special with Mommy tonight.”
Ava’s face fell a little. “Just you and Mommy?” she asked, peeking at him through her long lashes.
“Nope.” He winked at his daughter and watched her immediately perk up. “It’s going to be something really special for all of us. But I’m gonna need some help. Do you two think you’re up to the challenge?”
Ava and Noah exchanged another conspiratorial look, this time ending with a nod and matching grins. “Yes!” they answered in unison.
Tanner grinned. “Okay, but the first rule is, we can’t tell Mommy…”
***
Six more weeks.
Tanner marched resolutely up the stairs with a heavy sigh. Six more weeks and they would be moving into a condo in Asheville. He’d close the tiny branch of Carlisle International in Winston-Salem and start working in his father’s sleek and modern home office.
As he reached the third floor and walked down the hall to their apartment, a grin spread across his face. Six more weeks and Belle would start teaching at the small private school just outside of town. Damn, she was adorable when she came home from the interview almost giddy at getting an offer right away.
He slid his key into the lock. Yeah, just six more weeks of this, followed by a few years in the condo, and then they would start building their dream house and their family.
What in the ever loving hell?
The sight before him when he walked through the door pulled his lips down into a frown. “Belle, what’s wrong?”
She paused her pacing and looked up and him, distress evident in her eyes. “We need to talk.”
Tanner dropped his case on the floor just inside the door, stepped out of his shoes, and crossed the room to pull her into his arms. “Anything, sweetheart, we can talk about anything. Whatever is wrong, we can fix it.”
“Just…we…I…” She huffed out a breath. “Let’s sit down.” She stepped out of his arms and pulled him over to the couch.
Her eyes fixed on their joined hands where they rested in her lap. Several minutes of silence passed and Tanner thought he was going to go crazy. She needed to talk to him. Tell him what was wrong. Give him a chance to fix it. He could do that. He could fix anything that was wrong in their relationship. His job, his role since birth, was to take care of everyone. And he sure as hell could take care of Belle.
He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “We can handle anything, sweetheart. You just need to talk to me.”
She held up a white, plastic rectangular object he hadn’t even noticed before. “I’m pregnant, Tanner.”
The three softly spoken words slammed into him with the force of a prizefighter’s punch. His eyes took in the two pink lines, one slightly lighter than the other, on the pregnancy test she still held in her shaking hand. A tingly feeling spread through his entire body. “Pregnant?”
Belle swallowed and nodded her head. “Pregnant.” She lifted her shoulders in a helpless motion. “I-I don’t know what happened. I never, ever missed a pill. I took it at exactly the same time every day just like I always have, I just…”
Tanner couldn’t help the small smile that curved his lips. And he really couldn’t help his eyes drifting to her still-flat abdomen. “Pregnant.” He repeated the word in an even lower tone.
Her grip tightened on his hand. “I know this isn’t at all what we planned and it’s happening so much faster than we wanted and I know we are going to be moving soon, but Tanner even though I’m scared to death, I’m really happy too and—”
His lips brushed across hers and took away her words. “Yes, it’s not what we were planning and certainly not what I expected to hear you say, but damn, I’m happy too.”
The tears that had been hovering at the corner of her eyes spilled over and tracked down her cheeks. “You are?” Her hands flew to his face, and she slid onto his lap. “Y-you’re really happy, baby?”
Tanner chuckled and locked his arms around her waist. “Hell, yeah, I’m happy, sweetheart.” He kissed her again, deeper this time, and bit back a moan when her hands speared his hair. Geez, he loved when she did that. “Dammit all to hell, I love knowing you’re pregnant with my baby.”
He laid her back on the couch and continued to kiss her, moving from her mouth to her jaw to her neck. “Hell, sweetheart, that might be the hottest thing you’ve ever said.” His hand had just started to travel beneath her shirt when a thought stopped his movement.
Wait. What had she said? He propped himself up on his forearms and studied her face. He knew her better than he knew himself and searched for any sign she wasn’t actually as happy as she said. “Are you okay, Belle? Be honest with me, sweetheart. I need to know how you feel about this.”
A serene smile he’d never seen before made her face look even more beautiful. Something he never thought possible. “First of all, this is our baby.” She moved beneath him until her legs were wrapped around his waist. “And I was terrified about what you would think and how you would react, but I am so happy.”
His stomach clenched. “Y-you were scared of me? Of my reaction?”
Belle quickly shook her head. “Not like that. I just…we had everything planned and I didn’t want to disappoint you.”
He sat up, pulling her with him, and pressed his lips hard against hers. “Never.” His voice sounded rough and thick, even to his own ears. “Never think that. You’ll never disappoint me. I love you, Belle. And I love our baby.”
She kissed him back, holding his face in her soft hands. “I love you too, Tanner.”
He stood up and hooked an arm underneath her with a grin. “I think this requires a celebration.”
Her eyes widened, and she clasped her hands behind his neck. “I like that idea, baby. Does that mean we’re going out to dinner?”
Tanner threw his head back and laughed, carrying her to the bedroom. “Sweetheart, if you have enough energy to get up when I’m done, then obviously I haven’t done my job right.”