Chapter 3

Nora

Mr. Guilt was no one’s friend and since I’d made that ugly remark to Tanner I had been slow dancing with him; on broken glass; barefoot. I drove home and went straight to the back porch. There was no activity from Tanner’s house and I knew I better go over and check on him. He’d taken a nasty fall and that injury was nothing to play with.

I decided to put on something more comfortable than my work clothes and head over.

As I approached the door I hesitated. Maybe I should leave him alone. It wasn’t like I did many follow-ups or personal house calls. Why should he be any different? Thinking of him standing there with that wounded look like some child that I’d bullied, had broken my heart. I had figured he’d give me that thick-skinned glare down his nose and serve it right back at me. It was kind of our thing. Maybe he was done playing with me. The thought made my gut twist. Maybe I was a glutton for punishment. I pushed the button for the doorbell and chimes rang out on the other side.

I was about to give up and walk away when minutes later the heavy front door opened. Tanner was bent over like an eighty-year-old man and his face was pale with a hint of green. His mouth was set in a harsh scowl, his lips drawn back like a wild dog’s. “What kind of poison did you give me?”

I knew immediately what was wrong. “Opiates.” He was having a side-effect reaction to his medicine. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I’ve been hurling my guts up for the past three hours. I’ve only stopped about twenty minutes ago, but I’ve still got the worst headache of my life.” He turned to go inside and I followed.

“I’ll get you something without codeine. It’s not uncommon that people have this side-effect. It’s worse for some than others. You must be sensitive to it.”

I followed him into the huge living room. “Yeah, that’s me, Tanner Daniels, sensitive man.” He rolled his eyes and fell across the closest sofa. The room had three huge ones, all matching black leather.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I wanted to come and check on you and apologize.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about me dozing off, not with that pain medicine you gave me. That’s kept me up.” He glared at me and then buried his face against the couch, his pink bandage contrasting against the black leather.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t give it to you hoping you’d get sick. I thought it would be the best thing for your type of pain.” I sat down in front of him on the ottoman, one of five of them, and placed my hand on his arm. “Where is your medicine cabinet?”

“I keep all the good stuff in my bedside table.” He lifted an arm and extended a finger toward the stairs. “Third door on the left.”

I got up and walked across the room, looking back to see him still face-down on the sofa and I had the strong urge to take him into my arms and cradle him. To put my lips against his. I shook away the thought as I headed up the stairs and down the hall until I came to his door. His room was decked out in gray furniture with the biggest bed I’d ever seen and black and white accents. The contemporary style was most definitely something he had hired someone to do for him. His little nightstand didn’t match the rest of his furniture, but I opened the drawer and quickly closed it.

As my face turned red with anger, I opened it again not letting him get the last laugh. I grabbed a tissue and used it to move the various sex toys that were on top, including two vibrators in different sizes, and then there was a cock ring and a couple of pairs of handcuffs. One set was padded for comfort, but the other was cold steel. A soft heat crept to my core as I moved his box of condoms but there was no medicine there. I should have known when I opened the thing that he was messing with me. I placed everything back inside the drawer and joined him back downstairs.

“Did you find it?”

“Yeah, real cute. Quite an impressive collection you’ve got, but if you want that headache gone, you’ll tell me where I can find the medicine cabinet. Surely your brother has something for a headache around here?”

He lifted his head and then a flash crossed his eyes. “Did you look in the gray bedside table?”

I stopped a moment and realized I must not have looked in the right place. “No, I looked in the black thing.”

His head fell back down to the sofa. “That’s the toy box, not the bedside table.”

“Well, your fetishes are none of my concern, a lot of men like—

“Whoa, no— Wait a minute. Those things are for me to use on others, not myself. The only thing that’s mine is the ring and the condoms.” He sat up and pinched his temples. “Do you think you could just get my medicine please and then leave me alone? I’ve got to be better tomorrow. I’ve got Little League.”

I wanted to make another joke about his immaturity, but he wasn’t in a playful mood today. “Fine.” I ran back upstairs and on the other side of the bed, there was a tall, gray nightstand. Inside the top drawer, there was a bottle of what I was looking for. I hurried back down and went to the kitchen and got him some crackers and water.

“Here. Eat a few crackers and then take these. I don’t want you popping anything on an empty stomach.” I wondered if he’d even eaten before the last dose.

“It’s been long enough you can take these.” I handed him two pills and then grabbed the blanket off the back of the sofa. “Let’s get you nice and comfy.”

“I’d rather go back upstairs to bed.” He stood up and carried the things to the stairs where he stopped and took a deep breath before going up to his room. I followed, wishing his staircase wasn’t so large. I was still panting from the last time and by the time I reached his room, I was out of breath. I couldn’t imagine how hard it had been for him, but he didn’t seem winded.

He turned and took the crackers from me and put them on the nightstand. Then he climbed into his large bed and I put the throw from the sofa across his legs.

“I’m surprised you’re not hitting on me since I’m up here in your bedroom.” I kept waiting for him to do some of the crazy things he’d tried in the past. Like at his party when he walked right up and kissed me without invitation or permission.

“Maybe I’m not in the mood to be turned down. A man can only take so much, you know.”

I pulled my lips in tight to avoid causing an argument and decided to change the subject. “I didn’t know you coached Little League. I thought that was your brother’s thing.”

He let out a soft huff. “Yeah, it’s funny how no one knows a damned thing about me. Considering I’ve been around a lot longer than him and I’m the one who got him participating. He was a mess after his breakup, so I got him involved. Showed him there was more to life. He won the chili cook-off that year. We did lots of benefits back then, still do a few a year and attend charity auctions, but he’s the hero.” He shook his head. “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound bitter. Turns out Luke and the coach couldn’t be at practice, so I’m filling in. I played baseball in high school.”

“Well, maybe it’s the bad boy reputation that puts people off.” I shrugged and leaned against his tall mattresses which hit me at the waist.

“Bad boy? Maybe, but sometimes it’s easier to live the life you want and let people make their own assumptions. It’s amazing how many people listen to gossip around here.”

“Especially when it’s true, huh?” I gave him a sideward glance. I’d heard all about his baby and how he’d abandoned its mother when she was pregnant.

“And really sad when it’s not.” He got a faraway stare in his eyes and then he looked at me as if searching for something inside me, but then he shook his head. “Anyway, thanks for coming to check on me.”

About that time, his phone rang and luckily he’d left it on his bedside table. I didn’t want to go back downstairs for it. I was seriously considering telling him he should put in an elevator.

“It’s Luke. Will you excuse me?” He got up and went into the bathroom with his phone.

I walked around the room and noticed a glass cabinet above a bar. Inside were all of his baseball trophies as well as some basketball and even one for a golf tournament. I had no idea he’d played anything other than women.

A closer look and I realized that many of the games were from charity events. His bright smile in the picture spoke a whole different story, but then again, the pictures were taken long before his scandal.

I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to his story. Perhaps I’d stick around and find out. After all, he did need someone to stay with him through the night.