Rachel let Merina drive her home from the hospital. A huge part of her had wanted to stay for Tag, but one look around the room at his family confirmed he had plenty of support.
During the drive, Merina explained how Eli had lost his lower right leg, lucky considering two other soldiers hadn’t survived the blast. Merina and Rachel shared an awkward moment of silence before Merina admitted, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings by suggesting you not go in. It was a hard way to meet him for the first time, that’s all. And I’ve been with Reese for a while.”
Rachel understood, and told Merina as much. She hadn’t wanted to make Eli feel any additional discomfort, either. Per Rachel’s request, Merina dropped her at the Andromeda instead of her apartment. All Rachel wanted to do was talk to her friend, have a drink, and, now that she realized she’d gone two hours past dinnertime without food, have something to eat as well.
“Hey, toots!” Bree said as she filled a shot glass and delivered it to a customer. By the time she put the tequila bottle back on the shelf, she was frowning. She knew Rachel had been at Tag’s place, and now she was alone. “What’s going on?”
“Change of plans.” Rachel hoisted herself onto a barstool and plunked her purse in front of her.
“Oh, no.” Bree already had a wine bottle in hand—if that wasn’t friendship, Rachel didn’t know what was. “Did something go south?”
“Yes, but not like you think.”
“Miss?” called one of the patrons at the bar, and Bree gave Rachel the “give me a minute” look.
The rush died down gradually. Rachel wolfed down a salad with grilled chicken, and Bree refilled Rachel’s red wine glass with a generous amount.
“I’m all yours,” she said, placing the bottle on the bar between them. “Where is Tag? Why are you alone?”
“Tag is at the hospital. Or, was, anyway…I’m not sure where he is now.” Rachel briefed her bestie as succinctly as possible, watching as Bree’s face melted into a mask of concern.
“Awkward,” she whispered when Rachel was done filling her in.
“I feel awful. Like I should have stayed. But I was rocking the third-wheel gig pretty hard.” Everyone had been paired off. Reese and Merina, Alex and Rhona, Tag and…she didn’t know in what capacity she was there. Rachel lifted her wineglass and took a hearty sip, taking a full, relaxing breath. Yep, she definitely needed this tonight.
“You did the right thing. Tag told you to leave if you wanted to.”
“Yes, but what if he was only being nice and really wanted me to stay?”
“He’s a guy,” came a low, oddly familiar, voice to her right. She and Bree turned to find a mildly attractive man leaning on the bar, cold rolling off his leather coat.
“Shaun.” Rachel had barely spoken her ex-boyfriend’s name before he continued.
“Guys always say what they mean. Which makes it harder when they majorly fuck up and have to apologize later.” He pressed his lips together in a brief show of chagrin and sat on the stool next to her. “Hey, Rach.”
Bree’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. “Been a while. I forgot how weak your chin was.”
Shaun frowned.
“You remember my roommate,” Rachel said. “Bree, we’re fine. Bring him a draft Bud Light.”
“Make it a bottle,” Shaun said. “No offense, but I don’t trust you not to spit in it.”
“You might not be as big of a dumbass as I thought.” Bree gave him a tolerant smile, bent to retrieve his beer, and delivered it without saying more.
“Well?” Rachel asked when Shaun took a drink and Bree walked away.
“What have you been up to?” he asked. Absurdly. “I thought you worked here.”
“I do work here.” She felt her face pinch. “It’s my night off. Why are you here?”
“Wasn’t my idea.” He shrugged and averted his eyes, looking over his shoulder at the entrance.
“Are you meeting someone here? Do you have a date?”
“Met her on Tinder. Half of me thought maybe it was you playing with me. Like the Must Love Dogs movie, you know? Where she went on a date with her own dad.” His mouth lifted into a half smile. She used to find that attractive like she had the rest of him, but now his clean-shaven face and weak chin—Bree had nailed that descriptor—did nothing for her.
“That’s not exactly the same scenario,” she said. “What time is your date?”
“If she shows. I keep getting stood up at these things. Dating is hard, know what I mean?”
“She doesn’t know what you mean,” Bree interjected. “She’s had no problem getting—”
“Bree,” Rachel interrupted her well-intentioned friend.
Bree held up both hands in surrender and moved back down the bar.
“Have you met someone?” Shaun asked, his face showing the first hint of concern. Rachel liked that look on him so much, she simply sat in silence for a few seconds and enjoyed it. After all she was in the process of overcoming, much of it could be blamed partially, if not mostly, on the man sitting here talking with her like they were buddies.
“I met someone,” she said, liking the way that sounded.
Her life was different now that Tag was in it instead of Shaun. Tag’s gruff, gravel-laden demands and sincere compliments had come a long way to boosting her confidence—and not only in the bedroom. Tag valued her opinion—valued her as a person. When she’d come with him to the hospital, Tag had held her hand, grateful that she was there.
He valued her.
Valued. Once her brain hooked on to the word, it didn’t let go…
“You never valued me.” She murmured the epiphany so low her comment was lost in the bustling crowd around them.
“What did you say?” Shaun leaned closer, his receding brow crinkling. But she didn’t answer. There was another issue that’d been on her mind and until now, she hadn’t had the chance to ask…or was it that she’d never wanted to know the answer?
Well. She did now.
“You and the girl with the purple streaks in her hair…”
Shaun blanched, giving her the answer she’d assumed. She asked anyway, enjoying having him on the spot.
“Did you sleep with her while we were together?”
“You mean…” He shifted in his seat, uncomfortable with this line of discussion. “Did I cheat?”
“Just tell me. It’s not like we’re together anymore.” She couldn’t call up jealousy or the feelings of inadequacy that had plagued her as recently as a few weeks ago.
“I didn’t…not when…we were together,” he managed. “I mean I let her uh…” He grew fidgety, his gaze lingering on the beer bottle’s label. “You know…do things to me.”
Rachel squinted one eye in confusion before his meaning hit her. When it did, she blurted, “Oh my God, she blew you?”
“Rach!” came a harsh whisper. Shaun never liked when she spoke her mind, as proved when his upper lip curled in disgust. “Not like you’d ever do it, and when you did, you weren’t exactly good at it.”
The insult glanced off her. Eyebrow cocked, she considered her recent experience with Tag. Wouldn’t he beg to differ?
Do you have any idea how hard it’s going to be for me to last longer than twenty seconds?
She wasn’t going to share her intimate moments with Shaun. It was enough to know the truth in her gut.
“Good thing I was tested after we split.” She lifted her wineglass, a wry smile pulling her lips. “Who knows what kind of weird STDs you picked up. An almost-year-long hiatus was proof enough I was okay.” Come to think of it, that was a really long time for Shaun to be sexless. “Oh man! You were seeing her the entire time.”
Ugh. Gross, gross, gross. She was going to have to take a hundred more showers.
“You really are a dick.” She shook her head, feeling sorry for her former self.
“Fine, you got me. I was wrong.” His jaw moved like he was grinding his teeth before he grumbled. Leave it to him to apologize and make her try and feel bad about it. “You know what they say about hindsight.”
“That it’s the only sight you have when your head’s up your ass?” she asked sweetly.
Bree giggled, overhearing; then her laugh faded. “Oh, look who’s here.”
Rachel pushed her hair behind her ear as the front door opened. Tag swaggered in, hair down, long overcoat covering his clothes. The moment he scanned the room and found her, warmth poured through her from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes.
Eyes locked on hers, he moved through the crowd on his way to the bar, maneuvering toward her like she was the only woman in the room—no, the city. He had a way of doing that, of making her feel important and special. Until she was sitting directly next to her ex did she realize she had been unaccustomed to that kind of treatment.
“Save a seat for me, Dimples?” Tag asked when he reached her. He slipped a proprietary hand onto the back of her neck and chills wandered down her spine when his fingertips began massaging. He slanted a glance at her ex, roughly the size of a field mouse next to Tag. “Who’s this?”
“This is Shaun Sanders. Shaun, this is my um…Tag. Crane,” she tacked on after a short pause.
“Tag Crane,” Shaun repeated, recognition on his face.
Yeah, buddy, Tag Crane. Damn. She was proud of knowing someone of such high caliber—of course, Shaun would be impressed with Tag’s money, but Rachel knew who Tag was underneath it. A good man with a big heart and a penchant for doing her right.
Tag turned his attention to her, moving her hair from her neck and over her shoulder seductively. It was a subtle touch, but it still sent tingles through her limbs. He didn’t sit, sort of hovering over her and Shaun at the same time. He dropped his voice, but Shaun had to have heard, given he was sitting at the corner seat directly adjacent to her.
“Is Shaun Sanders bothering you?” Tag rumbled, his voice accidentally sensual.
“We’re old friends and co-workers,” Shaun interjected.
Tag straightened to his full height and studied Shaun until he wiggled in his seat and shot another look at the front door. Still looking for his date, or his escape? Rachel plunked her chin on her fist and enjoyed watching him squirm.
“Shaun.” Tag pointed at him but addressed Rachel. “The douchebag ex-boyfriend who stole your marketing promotion.”
“Listen, man, I didn’t come in here to fight.”
“Then why’d you sit next to her?”
With jerky movements, Shaun slid off the barstool and pulled his wallet out of his pocket. He threw a few bills onto the bar top. “I don’t have to take this.”
“It’s fine, Tag,” Rachel said, resting her hand on his chest. “He helped with a few unanswered questions I had.”
“Get the answers you needed?” Tag asked.
She tipped her chin to look up at him. He was insanely gorgeous. Between him and wine, she was feeling warm and happy. And in the midst of Shaun Sanders. Who’d have thought?
“I did.”
“Good.” Tag reserved a small smile for her, and she puckered. He lowered to give her a kiss and that, too, felt like a win.
“You can’t leave yet, Shaun Sanders.” Tag sounded like he looked—hard, but calm.
What happened next happened fast. He grabbed Shaun by the front of his coat, twisting the collar. A few low gasps came from the bar patrons surrounding them. “You’re going to apologize before you go.” He tugged Shaun closer.
“This isn’t your business,” Shaun managed, swiping at his shirt.
“Sorry, but it is. You come in here, sit next to a girl who isn’t yours, and expect no retribution.” Tag tsked. “My business, bro.”
Rachel felt a blush steal across her cheeks and glanced over at Bree to find her friend wearing a matching satisfied smile. Tag released him and Shaun nearly fell back. He straightened his coat and squared his shoulders.
“I’m waiting,” Tag prompted, arms folded. “Make it good. One strike, you’re out.”
Shaun licked his lips like he was debating. In the end, he must have reconsidered challenging Tag, who stood like a mountain daring to be climbed. Shaun’s jerky gaze snapped to her. “Sorry, Rach. If it makes you feel better, Larry said he wouldn’t have promoted you anyway since—”
“And you’re out.” Fist wrapped around Shaun’s coat again, Tag physically moved Shaun through the bar and around tables, shouting, “Clear a path!”
Bree dropped to her elbows next to Rachel, and they watched as both men staggered out into the cold. When the door swung shut behind them, Tag gave Shaun a shove. Shaun practically sprinted down the sidewalk.
“What will we tell his Tinder date when she shows up?” Rachel murmured as Bree laughed.
Tag walked back into the bar and cheers rose from the crowd.
Bree joined the applause and arched one dark eyebrow at Rachel. “Marry that man.”
* * *
“I thought it was nice for Bree to offer you a job as a bouncer.” Rachel faced Tag on his bed, resting on a pillow opposite his.
“I’ll keep the Andromeda Club in mind if this whole Crane Hotels thing doesn’t pan out.” Tag’s smile was tired. He pulled a hand over his face. He’d stayed for a few beers while Rachel finished her glass of wine. Then they shot some pool and she realized Tag couldn’t do everything. He was a horrible pool player. She’d smoked him.
He hadn’t brought up the hospital, his family, or Eli. Rachel let him have the reprieve, figuring he’d open up when he was ready.
They were fully dressed, relaxing on top of the blankets of Tag’s bed. When he’d stepped into his apartment tonight, he’d gone straight to the bedroom and flopped onto the bed. Rachel followed.
She’d planned on returning to her apartment, but after the day they’d had, she couldn’t get motivated to leave him. Even though her bags were packed and standing at the front door.
“I shouldn’t have escorted your ex-douchebag out of Andromeda,” Tag said around a yawn.
“No?” It wasn’t like him to have regrets.
“No.” He gave her a lazy-cat blink. “I should’ve thrown him in the street after I put a dent in his face.”
“That would have been great to witness,” she said with a small smile. She liked Tag defending her honor. Making Shaun apologize. Mostly, she’d liked that she hadn’t allowed Shaun to steamroll her the way he used to. She’d stood up for herself.
“He made you think you weren’t sexy, Rachel.” Tag brushed her cheek with his fingers, his touch gentle and at odds with his harsh tone. “Do you know how sexy you are?”
He ran those same fingers down her neck, over her gray sweater and cupped one breast.
“How often I think of you naked?” He tilted one eyebrow and pegged her with those ocean blues. A blush stole across her cheeks. Her entire body. She’d never been in the position of being complimented the way Tag complimented her.
Often. And like he meant it.
“Is it as often as I picture you that way?” she asked, leaning closer.
Slowly, he shook his head. “Doubt it.”
When he blinked, his eyes nearly stayed shut. She reached forward to cradle his cheek. “I’m sorry I didn’t go in with you to meet Eli.”
“Don’t be. Merina was right. It’s better you didn’t.” Pain lanced through his features at the memory. “Seeing him there…his leg…” He blinked a few times in thought. “I…he could have died. Life without my brother…” He shook his head, unable to continue for a long, silent moment. “Losing Mom was too much. I couldn’t take it if Eli followed. I knew there was always risk, him being overseas, but to me he’s always been bulletproof. Grenade proof.”
Tag was such a light, fun, happy guy that it was easy to forget he hid deep, dark hurts behind his resilient confidence. He had so much love for his family, he was bursting with it. Even when he and Reese were squaring off, she could tell how much they cared for each other. People fought the hardest with those they loved the most.
She sat up, rested on her elbow, and stroked a hand into Tag’s hair.
“Eli looked out for me when Mom died. He may have been broody and quiet, but he looked out for me.”
“I can’t imagine how difficult losing her must have been for you and your brothers. And, oh, your poor dad.”
“He was devastated.” Tag shook his head, his gaze soft on the window. No snow fell, but the night was frigid all the same. “Even as a sixth grader I knew something was off. I went to the nurse every day with stomachaches. Came home from school more than I was there that year. Damn near didn’t make it into junior high.”
“Stress,” she whispered. She’d been stressed and anxious before, but never to that severity. Losing a parent at such a young age would be like losing half your world.
“I was lucky. Magda, our housekeeper—now Reese’s—stayed late every night to help me catch up on my homework.”
“That’s sweet.” She stroked his hair again.
“She’s a great person.”
“You’re a great person,” Rachel told him, meaning it. When she’d first laid eyes on him, she’d had no idea about his depth, or how he would turn her world on its head by simply being in her life. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You got it, Dimples.”
“Come here.” She motioned for him.
He did, laying his head on her breast and wrapping an arm around her waist. A deep breath accompanied a guttural male hum that made her smile.
“Rest as long as you need to, and I’ll be here.” She waited for the quip, the joke to call up their usual playful antics. None came.
“Thanks, Rachel.” His fist clutched her sweater.
The response made her chest feel full and her body seize with the realization that Tag was more than playful antics and great sex. He had become part of her world, part of who she was. Her focus narrowed on her suitcases by the front door. They looked out of place there. She wasn’t in any hurry to take them to the apartment and unpack. The idea scared her. No longer because she was shying from commitment, but because she wasn’t sure how he felt. Yes, they were close, but the truth was Tag might not be any closer to commitment than he was the first night he’d kissed her.
She decided it didn’t matter. The point was she was here, and he was here, and his arms felt more right than any she’d ever been nestled in. She turned her head to admire the city lights beyond his bedroom, her fingers in his hair, her mind on this moment and this moment only.
“Anytime, Tarzan.”
She was answered by a soft snore.