Be With Me by Jules Bennett (2)

Chapter Two

When life shuts a door . . . open it. It’s a door.
That’s how they work.

—Mel’s Motivational Blog

 

 

Tanner checked his phone as he headed to his truck. The text he’d been waiting on had yet to come through and each passing minute he grew more and more anxious.

Anxiety—a by-product of his occupation and the bane of his existence. He hated the quick heartbeats, the nerves that couldn’t be suppressed. Unfortunately, since his days in the air force, he couldn’t ignore the signs of his anxiety. He’d been too proud to talk to a counselor and definitely too stubborn to go to a doctor for medication. There was nothing wrong with people who did, but admitting weakness, especially in his line of work, simply wasn’t how he wanted to go.

Work on the police force consumed his days. His secret project on the side consumed several nights each week. It was the night hours that caused him the most apprehension. A year of leading a double life was hard on his social time, but so damn rewarding he wasn’t about to give it up. Even his best friends and cousins, Jax and Cash, had no idea what he really did.

The last few hours of his day shift seemed to drag because all he could think of was this text regarding the undercover operation he’d been working on for the past few weeks. Aside from waiting on that message, a certain blonde with green eyes and a punch-to-the-gut smile also occupied a good chunk of real estate in his mind.

She was the first woman he’d approached in months. Not long ago his date card had been filled up and his evenings were all about himself. Not anymore.

Hadn’t he vowed not to get too involved with a woman again? Getting his heart torn out once was enough. No matter how many years passed, the hole where his fiancée and child had lived still gaped and he couldn’t let more hurt inside. So he’d gone on the defensive and only dated women who weren’t his type, who wouldn’t expect a ring or commitment.

When he dated, Tanner didn’t go after a woman more than once. He never led a woman on, either. He always remained up-front and honest about his intentions.

His own personal hell aside, Tanner had seen enough from Cash, Jax, and even his own mother to know that marriage usually ended in disaster. Though his cousin Jax had found his perfect match with Livie Daniels. Those two did seem like they were made for each other and Tanner couldn’t deny they would no doubt defy the odds and stay together.

Cash, hell, that poor man had been through it with his pill-addicted father and a wife who couldn’t handle the ups and downs that came with addiction, so she left.

And his own mother had just remarried a few years ago to a guy who seemed to dote on her and worship the ground she walked on. Tanner’s stepfather was one powerful man and always put his wife first with everything. Obviously those two were in love.

That wasn’t the case for everybody, and he simply didn’t want to take that chance. The nightmare he’d endured in his early twenties had scarred him for life. There was no way in hell he’d ever let his heart get that involved with a woman again, or ever attempt to start a family. His fiancée’s unplanned pregnancy had thrown him for a loop, and just when he’d gotten used to the idea, embraced the fact he was going to be a father, his entire world had been ripped from him.

That whole incident at too young an age made him who he was today. He threw himself into his work, he devoted every waking hour to saving others. That way, there would be no time for heartache or personal attachment. Dating randomly was fine. Casual sex was fine, too. He was human, after all.

Tanner was well aware what people said about him being a player. The same words were thrown around when Jax was single, and Cash also had those rumors spreading around him.

Tanner wasn’t going to waste his time defending himself to people whose opinions didn’t matter. He had a heart to protect and his reasons didn’t need to be shared. Everyone coped with life differently, and random hookups were how he dealt with his.

What mattered most to him were defending the weak, seeking justice, and living each day to the fullest. With his hectic schedule, he certainly did just that.

On the occasion he had free time lately, he went out, had a good time, and that was the end of it. His personal life really shouldn’t be the concern of gossipmongers, but small towns and all that. He’d grown up here, he was well aware how people enjoyed chattering. If they were talking about him, at least they were leaving others alone.

So what if he’d dated quite a bit in his past? What was a single man supposed to do? Stay home? Those in town knew what he’d been through years ago, but they’d rather discuss the man he was now as opposed to the great loss he’d endured.

Tanner purposely didn’t lead women on, but after that heated night with Melanie, damn if he didn’t want more. Not a relationship, but definitely to see her again and not just with their group of friends.

There had been something so vulnerable, yet so feisty about her. She’d had a sadness in her eyes when she’d first come to town, yet she always tipped that defiant chin and never backed down from a verbal sparring match. That in and of itself had spoken volumes about her resiliency and strength. Damn if he wasn’t instantly drawn to her because of her attitude.

When Tanner had discovered she had a successful blog site, he’d checked it out, then fell down the rabbit hole and started looking through her popular social media accounts. He’d been stunned to find out just how many people she inspired through her stories and motivation. The praise from her followers and the stories they shared proved how giving and loving Melanie truly was.

And his admiration had gone up another notch.

While he knew full well who her ex was, she’d never once mentioned that on her blog or any of her accounts. It was almost as if she’d started completely over.

Tanner actually didn’t know her that well. Little bits of information came out here and there, but other than that one heated night, he’d never been alone with her to actually talk. She was closed off for the most part, didn’t volunteer information unless she was asked. The quiet, reserved, yet dynamic woman had sparked his interest from day one and damn if that didn’t confuse him even more because he’d never been this intrigued by a woman.

A while back, Jax had told Tanner that Melanie’s ex was Neville Prescott, mayor of Atlanta. His cousin had also hinted about a less-than-perfect marriage she’d come from. But Tanner hadn’t heard anything about her past from Melanie herself. He never asked and she never offered up the information. All of her social media and blogs discussed healthy lifestyles, eating habits, exercise, how to make every day count, and living life to its fullest. Clearly she wanted things regarding her marriage and divorce to be kept private, which was fine with him. He had his own demons he kept locked away. Didn’t everyone?

Over the last few weeks, Tanner had been so swamped with the side project that he’d had little time to get in touch with Melanie. But he’d at least texted her, to which she had given some lame, brief reply.

Tanner slid behind the wheel of his truck and fired up the engine. His mind flashed to the narrow, darkened hallway at Taps where he’d followed Melanie. She’d flashed that heavy-lidded gaze over her shoulder and given him a wink. He’d followed like a moth to the proverbial flame, making sure no one had been looking. Those swaying hips had hypnotized him, her out-of-character flirting had pulled him in and left him hypnotized. Hell, he was still in a trance from that night well over a month ago.

Something had triggered this new attitude, and he wasn’t going to question the new Melanie. He’d wanted her since he’d first laid eyes on her.

Tanner had taken her to the dance floor for a little fun, only to realize that the way her body moved against his was some sort of sin. It had to be. He’d needed her clothes off and a hell of a lot more privacy. Apparently she’d felt the same because they’d ended up in the dimly lit hallway.

One kiss rolled into the next, then hands had roamed beneath shirts, beneath her knee-length skirt.

Pushing aside the erotic thoughts of that night over a month ago, Tanner pulled out of the parking spot at the precinct. He’d been stunned when he’d run into her earlier at the convenience store, but there was no way he was going to let her slip by without a face-to-face.

He should stay clear of Melanie Ramsey. He knew full well that pursuing her wasn’t the smartest. Her best friend and his cousin were getting married sometime soon, when they could fit it into their hectic lives. So, needless to say, their inner circle was rather small and tight.

Yet he’d basically demanded she come to his house tonight. What the hell had he been thinking? She’d tried brushing him off with the cookout, saying she’d see him there. She’d pushed aside the topic of her fancy car when he’d brought it up. Something was off with her, and he didn’t know if it was their one fierce night together or something more that had her spooked. All he knew was he wanted to see her.

Damn it. He hadn’t thought of another woman on a personal level since he’d met Melanie. Was it her mysterious past he was drawn to? That vulnerability she tried to hide only pulled him closer in an attempt to figure her out.

Call it an occupational hazard, but he lived to resolve anything that stumped him, and Melanie was one hell of a mystery.

Yes, he knew she wasn’t into relationships—something they definitely had in common. From the minor nuggets of information Tanner had heard from his friends, Melanie had been through hell being married to Neville Prescott. The thought of someone as sweet, as passionate as Melanie married to that smarmy-looking politician made Tanner furious. Obviously she wanted a brand-new life because she no longer had the name Prescott.

The mayor seemed to be on the news quite a bit lately, flashing that toothy grin and waving. No doubt he was working up his campaign for next year. But Tanner had no use for someone who lived through pretenses or mistreated others.

And a woman being abused in any way had a rage boiling inside of him he couldn’t describe. He’d lived through that with his mother, and now with the secret protection detail he’d been working on the past year. There was a special pocket in hell for anyone who mistreated a woman or child.

Tanner didn’t know specifics of Melanie’s past. That was her place to share and it wasn’t like they were that close. He had no right to pry into her darkness when he refused to let light shine into his.

Perhaps that was just another element that drew him to her. He needed to keep an eye on her, he needed to know she was safe now. Hell, he just needed her, and he never needed anyone. Tanner wanted more time because the quickie against his front door only left him frustrated and aching for more.

One more time. Then maybe she’d be out of his system and they could go back to the friend zone with the rest of their little circle.

Since his house wasn’t far from the station, Tanner’s commute took less than ten minutes. He’d purchased a two-story bungalow when he’d gotten his job on the force, fresh from the academy. The selling points had been that the sellers were leaving the furnishings and they had a kick-ass fire pit in the backyard.

Since he was rarely home these days, other than to crawl into bed and catch a few hours’ sleep, the place wasn’t dirty. And there were often nights he had to sleep in an unmarked car. So yeah, his house pretty much just looked staged because rarely was anything out of place.

For reasons he didn’t want to venture into, Tanner wanted to make a good impression on Melanie. Which was absurd in the grand scheme of things. He wasn’t inviting her over so she could grade him on his cleanliness or décor.

Just because she’d been married to a man with a heavily padded bank account, was used to having nice things, had recently driven a car that was more than his annual salary, that didn’t mean Tanner had to live up to those standards.

He couldn’t help but wonder what made her sell her Beemer, though. She seemed like a high-end type girl who liked to surround herself with the nicer things in life. Her clothes were always tasteful and had that pricey look. Her purses usually had those gold emblems that had some name that immediately made them expensive. He wouldn’t know about such brands, but he could spot nice things when he saw them.

Tanner refused to be something he wasn’t. He was a cop, living on a cop’s salary and working undercover for next to nothing. He was just fine with his bank account because at the end of the day, he was only in both of those positions to help the helpless. Money was just paper.

Besides, he only wanted Melanie on a physical level. Well, that wasn’t true. He wanted her, yes, but he wasn’t going to use her. He admired her. Surely they could remain friends, right?

Sex complicated so many things, but he didn’t want that with Melanie. How the hell could he get her out of his system and still remain friends? Maybe he couldn’t, and that would be his problem. He couldn’t do a relationship, couldn’t even entertain the idea. He’d gone that route once. Then his life exploded and he’d never fully been pieced back together. He was a shell of the man he used to be, and had nothing to offer.

Tanner’s cell vibrated in his pocket as he pulled into his drive. Adrenaline pumped through him as he hoped this was the message he’d been waiting on, to tell him about the next intervention appointment.

Haven’s retired police captain had formed an elite group of current and former law enforcement and military personnel to help him carry out delicate jobs—namely getting abused women and children to safety.

They pulled strings, sometimes skirting the edge of the law in order to save those who couldn’t help themselves.

Tanner was careful never to do anything that would affect his badge. If anything was questionable, his superior always pulled Tanner off that particular case and kept him in the dark.

Tanner pulled into his garage and put the truck in park before sliding his cell from his pocket. A quick glance gave him the information he’d been waiting on. The woman they were currently trying to save finally reached out to them, asking for help. She had a two-year-old and a five-month-old and was in desperate need of safety.

There was always a bit of relief when someone reached out. Each woman or child saved was just one more that had a chance at a better life.

Extracting children was always tricky, but with the mother’s reassurance, they always managed to pull off the move without incident. Tanner had seen some of the ugliest, vilest things while working this job. Another reason he couldn’t give it up. There were always people who needed saving, and if he stopped, he’d always wonder if he could’ve saved just one more.

Tanner recalled a time in his life when someone had stepped in to help his mother, to help him. He had no idea where he’d be today had his mother not gotten the assistance she’d needed.

After a quick reply, Tanner headed into his house through the access into the utility room. He wanted to get changed before Melanie showed up—and he had every reason to believe she would. It was a rarity to have an evening free, so he planned on making the most of it.

She may have offered up a forced smile earlier, but he’d caught that swift intake of breath, noted the pulse at the base of her throat that had kicked up. He’d had to turn and walk away before he did something even more out of character, like grip the back of her head and put his lips on hers. That would certainly get the town talking even more, but he wouldn’t do that to Melanie and he wouldn’t put his reputation on the line right in the middle of the damn Quicky Mart.

Why was it this woman intrigued him and had him losing his mind with want? Was it that she’d clearly been through hell with her ex, yet she seemed so strong, so resilient? She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind and never backed down from his witty banter. She threw it right back at him, and damn if that wasn’t sexier than her curvy shape and expressive eyes.

In the seven months she’d been in town, he’d already determined there were several layers to Melanie Ramsey, and he had the pressing need to unwrap each and every one of them.

When the hell had he turned into a masochist? Someone like Mel would want flowers and nice restaurants and commitment. She’d been hurt in the past and she wasn’t a short-term-fling type of girl. He knew without a doubt that their night together was out of character for her, but he hadn’t been about to turn her away. If she’d wanted to use him to get over whatever hell she battled, then use away.

Tanner changed from his uniform to a pair of running shorts and a gray T-shirt. If Melanie didn’t show, he’d get in some boxing in his basement. He needed to let some of his frustrations out and pounding his heavy bag was always his go-to. Well, there were other, more primal ways, but boxing always did the trick, too.

After putting his gun away in the safe in his bedroom, Tanner headed downstairs. Maybe he’d go ahead and get a fire going in the pit. The evening had turned cooler, which made this the perfect night to sit out with a beer and relax.

Fall in Haven was his favorite time of year. Nice warm days, but evenings hanging by a fire with friends and a beer to just relax from the day. He desperately needed this downtime. He could always get in the boxing later.

Just as Tanner grabbed the matches from the drawer in his kitchen, his doorbell rang. He couldn’t help the smile that spread across his face, or the arousal that pumped through him.

Looked like Melanie couldn’t turn down his offer after all.

Tanner set the matches on the kitchen island and headed down the narrow hall toward the foyer. With a flick of the lock, he pulled the door wide and nearly snarled at the uninvited guest.

“What do you want?”

Cash stood on the other side of the door, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. His black T-shirt with gym logo stretched across his broad chest and outlined those ridiculous muscles he had. The tats only made him seem even more menacing, but Cash was one of the nicest guys Tanner knew. He just didn’t want him here right now.

“Good evening to you, too, sunshine.” Cash pushed past Tanner and stepped into the entryway. “I would’ve let myself in but it was locked.”

“Because you weren’t invited.” Tanner closed the door and turned to face his cousin. “Again, what do you want?”

Cash raised one dark brow. “I take it you’re expecting a woman and I’m in the way?”

“Something like that.”

“Then I’ll make it quick.” Cash shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’ve got an issue at the gym and I’m going to need your help.”

Intrigued, Tanner nodded. Family always came first. Always. “What’s up?”

“A client overheard some chatter between two guys. The gist of what she heard was that these guys have been using my gym as a meeting place to deal drugs. I have no clue the type or if this is even true, but I need to know what actions I should be taking or if you just need to get involved.”

Next to abusers, drugs got Tanner fired up and ready to spring into action. Unfortunately, they were everywhere now. Small towns weren’t exempt from drugs or their dealers. If anything, they were the new stomping ground because too many people believed they were safe in rural America.

“You can’t accuse anyone of anything without concrete proof,” Tanner stated, already thinking how they could get to the actual truth. “Do you have the names of these guys? If they’ve been in trouble before, I’d recognize them and maybe we can go from there.”

His doorbell rang before Cash could answer.

“Ah, the lady of the evening?” Cash asked as he reached around Tanner to grip the doorknob. “Who will be on the other side?”

Tanner stepped aside, knowing full well who’d be standing on his porch. He didn’t want anyone to know he’d asked Melanie over. Nobody knew of their night together and out of respect for her, he intended to keep their secret locked away. That didn’t mean he wasn’t ready to revisit it in private with her, though.

Cash jerked the door open and a second later he let out a low chuckle before throwing a glance over his shoulder at Tanner.

“Well, well, well,” Cash drawled out with a wide smile as he turned his attention back to Melanie. “Isn’t this interesting?”

“I can come back.”

Melanie started to turn, but Cash reached out and gripped her arm. “Come on in, darlin’. I was just heading out and I do believe my cousin was expecting you.”

Tanner stepped back to make room for Melanie. She met his gaze and raised her brows. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

“You’re not interrupting.” Tanner would call Cash later and get the lowdown on the issues at the gym. “Cash is leaving.”

Cash kept his eyes on Tanner and that damn mocking grin on his face. “Yes, I was just leaving.”

Melanie frowned as she glanced to Cash. “I hope not because I’m here.”

“Tanner said he was waiting on someone,” Cash stated. Tanner flipped him the one-finger salute behind Melanie’s back. “I can text him.”

Cash leaned in and gave Melanie a kiss on her cheek. “See you both later.”

Once he was gone, Tanner clicked the deadbolt back into place and turned his attention to Melanie . . . who wasn’t smiling, wasn’t even looking his way. She twisted the strap on the purse she had on her shoulder. Her other hand clutched the closure of her oversized cardigan. The Georgia weather had turned a bit chilly in the evenings, but that was to be expected in November.

But he didn’t think the crisp fall air had anything to do with the way she held her sweater so tight against her chest.

Tanner made his career out of reading people and comprehending what they weren’t saying. Something had Melanie terrified. Perhaps it was being back in his house, in the exact spot where they’d torn at each other’s clothes.

But if she was that tense, why was she here? He hadn’t seen her like this before. This Melanie was a far cry from the confident, brazen woman at the bar and the woman he’d come to know over the past several months. He’d never seen her anything but confident.

“You didn’t have to come if you’re that nervous.”

The last thing he wanted was for her to be uncomfortable or feel pressured. He wanted her to see how this chemistry shouldn’t be ignored, but he’d shut down everything if she thought for a second that he’d force her.

Melanie barely moved, other than her eyes, which finally met his. “Can we talk?”

Oh, hell. Those three words never preceded anything good. But what could she have to say that was so upsetting? She wasn’t calling things off between them, it wasn’t like they had a relationship.

Worst-case scenario, she’d decided not to sleep with him. And that would be tragic because they’d nearly set his front door ablaze when they’d finally given in to the inevitable. He’d discovered just how passionate sweet, quiet Melanie truly was.

If nothing else, maybe they’d just be friends. He was cool with that, too, because as sexy and sultry as Melanie was, she also intrigued him. Tanner found that he wanted to learn more about her and what brought her here . . . other than her friends.

Never before had he thought of just getting to know a woman for no apparent reason. Everything about Melanie fascinated him, though. She wasn’t like any woman he’d ever met before.

On the flip side, if this didn’t end in a friendship, their social gatherings would nosedive straight into awkward, and that was the last thing he wanted for his friends.

Deciding the entryway wasn’t the best place to get into what was obviously going to be a serious conversation, Tanner gestured toward the living room. He wasn’t used to playing host, but he wanted to do something to calm Melanie’s obvious nerves. It was apparent she’d rather be anywhere else, so he was eager to uncover just what had her so jittery . Odd that that word slipped into his mind when it was the same one he’d used earlier, but it described her. She was definitely on edge about something.

“Come on in.”

She gripped that purse tighter and licked her lips. “You need to know something first.”

Tanner’s heart kicked up. Something had seriously spooked her. Was it her ex? Had he threatened her? Tanner had no qualms about confronting bastard abusers.

Melanie’s demeanor with Cash only moments ago had been completely different than now. So perhaps the issue was in fact with Tanner. His gut tightened. He sure as hell didn’t want her afraid to be alone with him.

Aside from their narrow circle of friends, the town was too small to dodge each other completely. The last thing he wanted was to avoid the one woman who’d piqued his interest in months.

“What is it?” he asked.

Melanie met his eyes. Without blinking, she said, “I’m not here for sex.”

Well, she was blunt if nothing else. Must be that attorney in her that didn’t want to mess with the small talk or dance around the topic. He might not like what she had to say, but he appreciated her honesty, and she’d come here for a reason. He was more interested in what she did want.

“You look like you’re ready to shatter.” He took a step forward until he stood directly in front of her, but he used every ounce of control not to reach for her. “Is someone bothering you, Mel?”

“What? Oh, no. Nothing like that.” She pulled in a shaky breath, then shook her head and glanced away. “This is harder than I thought.”

Unable to ignore her obvious turmoil a moment longer, Tanner reached out and pushed a strand of honey-blond hair away from her cheek. He feathered his fingers along her creamy skin. Call it masochism, but he couldn’t resist. Maybe if she realized he actually did care, she’d relax.

Bright eyes flared, desire stared back at him for the briefest of moments before she blinked it away and took a step back.

Apparently she’d wanted to remove herself from his touch. Tanner understood. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t about to say anything to make her even more skittish. He respected women, and Melanie deserved for him to be completely attentive to what she came here for. Which meant he’d have to rein in those heated hormones.

“You know, I don’t expect anything,” he assured her. “Sure, I invited you over in hopes we’d pick up where we left off six weeks ago. I’ve been busy with work or I’d have asked you over sooner. But if you’re not into—”

“I’m pregnant.”