Flawless Surrender (3 page)

*****

Zoey watched Tanner talking with the baby as if she was a regular little person and might respond back at any moment. Laughter built in her chest, overwhelming her discomfort at being alone with her dream guy. This wasn’t how she had intended the rest of her day to go, but then her day had been pretty fucked up from the beginning, so what difference did it make at this point.

“Are you going to stand over there all evening and just watch from a distance?”

Her head popped up and her blue eyes clashed with his in surprise and irritation. “I was just enjoying your rather adult conversation with an infant who hasn’t even found her toes yet.”

“Sure she has. She was sucking on them earlier. Weren’t you Julie?” Tanner bent his head and pressed a sweet kiss to the little girl’s tiny foot.

“You do realize that I would be fine with her by myself, right? You’ve already done the chores, so if you need to leave...”

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Well, no, but I know how busy you are.”

Tanner’s lip curled up in a smile. “Do I make you nervous, Zoey?”

Zoey just snorted, refusing to respond to the question, but it seemed to please Tanner more.

“Good, I like knowing I keep you a little off balance. You seem to rock my world every time you get close to me.” Tanner spoke the words as he continued to play with the baby, and Zoey stared at him in shock.

“What?”

“Oh don’t play the innocent. You’re standing just out of reach, so I can’t accidentally touch you because you know that if I get my hands on you, you’ll come undone.” His tone changed and when he turned his head to stare at her pointedly, she could see his eyes were darker and his nostrils were flaring. He really was affected by her. It was a stunning revelation and one she wasn’t exactly sure she was ready to handle. “Don’t worry, I agree it’s probably for the best.”

Pain lanced through her heart, and she was reminded of the embarrassment and shame she felt when she approached him years ago. Stiffening her spine and tipping her head, she snapped at him. “I’m going to go see if there is something in the kitchen I can throw together for dinner while you keep her occupied.” Zoey spun on her heel and scurried away from the scene of domesticity that she craved more than anything else in the world.

She couldn’t watch Tanner playing with baby Juliet and not crave him. It wasn’t possible. So it was just better if she kept her distance. She could be civil for a couple of hours and then avoid him forever. Maybe she should rethink this living and working in Stone River plan.

Zoey managed to put together the ingredients for omelets pretty easily and before long she had two plates of fluffy eggs, ham and cheese ready to serve. Warming a bottle, she headed into the living room to find her charge.

Tanner was lying on his side on the floor dangling a pretty pink and purple butterfly toy over Juliet, whose chubby legs and bare toes kicked for all she was worth. Her eyes weren’t even really focused on the toy, but he seemed to be enjoying their playtime. She almost hated to interrupt. Her eyes skimmed down the length of his long body, from the top of his buzzed hair to the bottom of his now bootless feet. He had a wide back that narrowed into a tight ass, and his legs looked a mile long in those faded blue jeans. If she wasn’t a lady, she would do terrible, nasty things to him like her pussy wanted her too.

As if sensing her, Tanner glanced over his broad shoulder and winked. “Hey, sweet cheeks, stop staring at my ass.”

She gasped and felt heat creep up over her cheeks. “What? I wasn’t!”

“Really?”

Juliet started to fuss and Zoey remembered the bottle in her hand. “I’ve got a bottle for her, and I have food ready for us if you’re hungry.”

Tanner climbed to his feet in a swift, gracefully sexy motion that reminded Zoey of a tiger slinking through a forest. “Are you hungry Julie-girl? Auntie Zoey wants to feed us, so best get our butts in there. I haven’t eaten a home-cooked meal for weeks.”

Zoey laughed as she turned to lead the way into the kitchen, “Well it’s not fine dining, just omelets.”

She stopped next to the dining table, but Tanner continued to move toward her with the baby in his arms. He slowed just inches away, staring into her eyes. “If you cooked them for me, I can’t believe they are
just
anything.”

Her voice box wouldn’t work, so they just stood there, staring at each other. However, Juliet wasn’t patient as she started fussing about her hungry belly. Zoey reached for her and tried not to think about the warmth of the man who brushed her fingers. Shushing the baby, she lifted the bottle for her, pleased when Juliet took it easily. Cradling her against her breasts, she sighed as the scent of sweet baby filled her nose.

Tanner still stood there watching them, and when Zoey looked back up at his face, she could have sworn there was a deeper emotion etched into his smile. It was gone in a flash, and he gestured for her to take a seat.

“So how are you going to eat and feed her at the same time?” he asked as he carried their two plates over to the kitchen table, and then searched out two glasses for tea.

“If I told you I would have to kill you,” Zoey joked, and Tanner’s immediate frown had her laughing. “Women have some sort of innate ability to multitask. We’ll be just fine. Can you pass me the salt though?"

Tanner handed her the tiny glass jar and Zoey flinched when electricity seemed to skitter from her fingertips up her arm and into her brain. He settled into his seat as though nothing had happened so she decided to just ignore it. His loud groan was her reward for the time spent cooking as he took a large bite of the steaming egg mixture.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said with a smirk on her face as she tucked Juliet’s bottle under her chin and proceeded to take a bite of her own meal.

“Damn, woman, if I had known you could cook like this I might have kidnapped you and kept you chained in my kitchen,” he said between bites. Heat spiked in her veins and she had to remind herself that he didn’t know she liked bondage, so it wasn’t a come-on.

“I’m glad you like it. I don’t get the chance to cook for other people very often, but I enjoy it.” She took another bite and then sighed heavily. “I suppose I’ll get to cook a lot more until my mom goes back to wherever she’s been.”

Tanner looked up in surprise, “Your mom? What’s she doing in Stone River? I thought she left after the Sherriff arrested her for causing a nuisance.”

Zoey grimaced remembering the incident in question. Tanner and the Sherriff were the only two people besides Zoey and Eve who knew about that terrible evening. Eve had been on a bender and managed to drive Zoey’s car into a ditch between the Triple T ranch and town. Tanner had been the first one on the scene and he had been the one to pull her unconscious mom from the car. She still remembered the pity on his face at the scene when she explained how her mom was passed out drunk and not actually hurt.

“Yeah, she left for a bit, but she appeared on my doorstep this afternoon. I’m stuck with her until she decides to move on, or until I get evicted.” She took another bite of food, but it didn’t taste nearly as appetizing anymore. Dropping her fork, she shifted the baby to the middle of her chest and dropped a quick kiss to her tiny forehead.

When she looked up, Tanner was watching her with an odd look on his face. “Can’t you just tell her she’s not welcome?”

“Would you be able to tell Dalton or Clint that, if they showed up tomorrow at your door? She’s family. Anyways, it won’t take long before she’s bored with Stone River again and moves on.”

Tanner went back to eating and the only sound for a few minutes was the clink of a fork against a plate. When he had nearly licked his plate clean he settled back into his chair and ran his hand over his flat stomach.

“That was the best meal I’ve had in months. Thank you.”

Zoey laughed, “You’re welcome, but honestly it wasn’t much. You should try my French Toast, that’s heaven on earth.”

Tanner’s eyes flashed, “Was that an invitation to breakfast?” Zoey’s mouth dropped open and her heart skipped a beat, but Tanner took mercy on her and let it drop. “So tell me why you would get evicted? Because of your mom?”

“No, Carl Langley sold several of his properties to that new developer. Schmidt Properties or something like that. They are going to tear down the old houses and build new ones.” Zoey watched as Tanner stretched his thick arms up and over his head until he was bracing his neck. At that angle he looked arrogantly sexy, and she wanted to lick her way from his perfect lips down to his lean hips.

“So where does that leave you?”

“On the streets if I don’t find a new place I guess. I just found out today, so I haven’t really figured it all out yet.” Looking down, she realized Juliet had drifted off to sleep and the bottle was now just resting in the corner of her mouth, milk dribbling down her tiny chin. “I better get her into bed. Do you mind clearing away the dishes? I’ll come wash them in a minute.”

Tanner shook his head no, “Go put her to bed and then sit down in the living room. You cooked, I’ll clean up. I might just be a backwoods rancher, but I have a few manners left in me.”

She let out a laugh as she took the baby to bed, refusing to acknowledge the warmth building in her belly. Just being around him felt right, and this whole playing house scene did nothing to curb the longing she felt. She was going to have to get a grip on herself, before she got hurt again.

Once Juliet was settled, Zoey flipped on the TV and stretched out on the sofa. Tanner reappeared wiping his hands on his jeans. “Kitchen’s cleaned up. Thank you again for cooking for me.” He flopped down on one of the chairs and rested his sock covered feet up on the coffee table, making himself at home.

“Anytime,” she responded without even thinking and immediately wanted to kick herself.

“So, I was thinking, I have Dalton’s old apartment over the garage that’s empty and I’ve been planning on renting it out. I could rent it to you until you find another place.” Tanner didn’t even look at her as he spoke. His head was tipped back so he was looking up, but his eyes were closed.

Zoey didn’t know how to respond. Every instinct in her wanted to accept so she could be close to him, but her brain was rebelling. Being close to him was just asking for more rejection. He might be playing the nice guy tonight, but he hadn’t always.

“Thank you, but I’m sure I’ll find something soon. I have thirty days to figure it out.”

Tanner’s head tipped down slowly and his amber colored eyes nailed hers in place. He looked speculative and slightly disappointed but he shrugged. “Suit yourself. It’s there if you need it. You know where to find me.”

Zoey sighed with relief as he let the subject drop and they both focused on an old movie playing on TV. It was for the best, even if her heart and her libido disagreed. She had enough emotional turmoil to face between her mom being back, a new job, and house hunting. No, this was just the way it had to be. Zoey Carson needed to keep her distance from Tanner Keegan. Period.

Three weeks later
…

“I’m sorry, Jan, but for a moment I thought you said that my checking account was overdrawn.” Zoey closed her eyes instead of staring at her ceiling, as she spoke with Jan Kostecki at Community Bank.

The indrawn breath was measured, as though Jan was expecting Zoey to blow up, or worse yet cry, and Zoey knew instantly that she had heard her correctly. “Yes, Miss Carson. First thing this morning, a check came in for eleven hundred and eighty dollars and I was unable to clear it for the gentleman because you are overdrawn by thirty-four dollars. With the overdraft charge of twenty dollars, that will make you negative fifty-four dollars.”

“Jan, I can do the math, but I can’t figure out where the money went. I have over five thousand dollars in there. It’s money I’ve been holding onto from my last set of student loans. I planned to use it to help me get going in this new house.” Zoey was trying to hold onto the thin string of calm that she had left. Somehow every penny she had pinched was mysteriously gone. And that gentleman that Jan was talking about was Mr. Finch who was going to be Zoey’s new landlord.

“I’m sorry, Miss Carson, but it seems there is some confusion. You had three separate withdraws for fifteen hundred dollars over the last three weeks that used up the bulk of your funds.” Jan was speaking, but Zoey was no longer listening. Three weeks was exactly the length of time that her mother had been in town, and in her apartment.

Somehow Eve had managed to steal Zoey’s money right out from under her nose, and do it without ever letting on that something was amiss. “Jan, my name is Zoey, not Miss Carson. You’ve known me my whole life, please don’t talk to me like I’m just a random customer. Now, can you tell me how those funds were withdrawn?”

“Oh, well uh, the first was a check cashed at the Merc, and…oh wait, yes all three were cashed there. Three checks in the same amount cashed at the Mercantile’s guest service desk, but dear, don’t you remember writing them?” Jan sounded perplexed, and Zoey snorted as she let out a sharp laugh.

“No, I certainly do not remember writing them, because I didn’t do it. Someone forged those checks, Jan, and I have a pretty good idea who.” Zoey rolled over and sat up on the edge of her bed. Her mom hadn’t returned home last night, but that wasn’t a big shocker. It was most likely that Eve had found someone to shack up with for the night and was too drunk to get herself home.

“Oh my, I’m so sorry, Miss Car—I mean Zoey. If it’s fraudulent you need to go see the Sherriff as soon as possible and report it. I doubt the Merc has security cameras, but perhaps they will know more based on the signatures on the checks.”

Jan continued to patter on for a few moments about fraud, and the differences in how electronic and paper issues were handled by the bank, but Zoey wasn’t listening. She was staring at the bare corner where her mother’s suitcase had sat since she arrived. Eve had lit out. As usual, she had come just long enough to take what she wanted and left Zoey to clean up the mess.

“Jan, um, I need to go, but thank you for calling me. I will be in later to talk with Donny and see if I can get a loan. I am supposed to start my new job today, so I need to finish getting ready and get to work. I will call Sherriff Montgomery as soon as possible to make a report.”

She waited two full seconds after hanging up with Jan before she was dialing her mother’s cell phone number. For just over three weeks, Eve had been living in her home, eating her food, taking forty-five minute showers, and enjoying her hospitality rent free, only to disappear without notice. Zoey couldn’t decide if she was more angry about the stolen money, or the lack of a goodbye. Eve’s voicemail picked up and she had to force herself to hang up without leaving a message. She wanted to be sure to say everything she needed to in person, not on an answering system.

Zoey managed to put her phone down before her eyes filled with tears, but she fought to keep them in. She couldn’t let her mother have that. It was her own fault for allowing a junkie into her home, and giving her free reign amongst her things. So much for her perfect apartment, and all of the plans that had seemed to fall together so smoothly. Mr. Finch had already told her there was competition for the house, that’s why she had written the check for the whole security deposit and first month’s rent a week ahead of time. He was even going to let her move in over the weekend so she would have more time to clear out her old place before her deadline.

She swallowed hard as she picked up the phone again, and made the quick call to Mr. Finch to explain what had happened. As always he was kind but resolute about the fact he couldn’t hold the house for her, he had bills to pay after all. Zoey could feel her dreams drifting away on the fog of cigarette smoke her mother had left behind in her apartment. She was starting her new job at ten a.m. today, and she would officially be homeless in seven days. Not only were the walls crumbling around her, but she could feel the floor of her world caving in too.

It wasn’t enough that her dear old mother arrive on her doorstep out of the blue. No, she had to steal everything Zoey had, including her happiness.

Thirty minutes later, Zoey had made a verbal report with the Sherriff’s office and agreed to stop by there after work to sign her statement. The deputy on duty was pleasant enough as he explained that she may or may not get the funds back from the bank, and that if they were able to determine there was enough evidence to charge her mother with the crime, they would still have to track her down to arrest her. Unfortunately, it still wouldn’t bring back the money she had taken. Zoey knew that every penny was probably long gone or would be within days, and she wouldn’t show her face for a very long time if she was smart.

Slowly blending concealer over the red circles of stress that ringed her wide blue eyes, she debated calling Rachel. There was no way that she wanted to move in with the Brooks family, but she really had no other option at this point. Living with a newborn baby, her career successful-newlywed best friend, and her four smoking hot husbands was yet another slap in her face, but at least it wasn’t living out of her car. Rachel was still on family medical leave from having Juliet, but now she was juggling taking care of Sawyer after his knee surgery and handling the baby. A houseguest was probably the last thing she needed.

Picking up her phone again as she shook her hair out of the headband that had been keeping it out of her newly made up face, she placed the phone call to Rachel.

“Hey, Zoey! What’s up?”

Rachel’s voice triggered the monsoon of tears that she had been fighting, and before she could do anything to stop it, she was sobbing out the whole shitty story. She knew that no matter what, her best friend wouldn’t judge her for her mother’s bad behavior. If anyone understood what it was like to have a parent hurt them, it was Rachel.

“That fucking bitch! Who does she think she is? When I get my hands on her—"

Zoey barked out a laugh, “Good luck with that, she’s long gone. I’m not sure if she took her stuff out yesterday while I was gone, or if she snuck in last night and got it, but she packed up and bolted.”

“Sweet Jesus. Is there no decency in her at all? I’m so sorry, Zoey. I can’t even imagine...what are you going to do?”

“I talked to the Sherriff’s office, and they weren’t very optimistic about me getting my money back. Even if I do, it will be awhile. Who knows where she is by now. I have seven days to figure out where I’m going to live, pack up my whole apartment, and move. Plus, I’m starting my new job in an hour, and now I have to do my makeup again. Goddamn her!”

“Oh no! The eviction! Oh shit, Zoey, I completely forgot you were on a time crunch!”

“Yeah, just another thing to add to the growing shit pile. Rach, I know it’s a lot to ask, but can I take you up on your offer of the guest room for a couple of weeks?” Zoey held her breath when Rachel hesitated. She felt the room start to spin and she sank to the floor of her bathroom with her eyes clenched shut.

“Zoey, my mom just got here yesterday and she’s in the guest room. She came down for a couple of weeks to help me take care of Jules while Sawyer is down from his surgery. I’m so sorry, if I had known…”

Zoey knew Rachel hadn’t planned it on purpose, but it sucked anyways. Rachel was Zoey’s plan B, and now that Plan A and Plan B were gone, she was royally screwed.

“That’s it then, I’ll be crashing in my car for a little bit. I might need to borrow your driveway to park in. I mean, I can’t imagine the school board will like it much if I’m parked in the parking lot every night, and I have no idea what kind of office I will have, so I can’t plan on sleeping there—”

“Stop it, Zoey! Right now!” Rachel broke through the panic that was growing in her chest, and Zoey inhaled deeply trying to calm her racing heart. “There is another option you know? I know it’s not ideal, but what if you rent Tanner’s apartment just for a couple of weeks and if you want to move here when Mom leaves, the offer is still open.”

Like a flash in her brain she could see Tanner sprawled out in the Brooks family living room asking her if she wanted to rent Dalton’s old apartment over the garage. Beautiful, dark, sexy Tanner. Could she live under the same roof with him and not make a fool out of herself? He had been kind enough to offer, and she was really desperate, but it seemed like the worst possible scenario for her heart.

“I don’t know.”

“Zoey, you don’t have a choice. You can’t live in your car and start a respectable career.”

Rachel was right, and at that moment Zoey hated her for it. Her brain was at war with her heart and as always logic won out. “I’ll call him when I get a break, but Rachel, it’s only until your mom leaves, okay?”

“You got it. The moment mom heads back to Oklahoma I’ll have the guys help move you in. Now, clean yourself up, and get your ass to your new job! You are going to rock it and those kids will love you.”

Her enthusiasm made Zoey smile for the first time all morning, and she forced herself to her feet after saying her goodbyes. Rachel was right. She was starting the road to the rest of her life today one way or another, and this was just a little hurdle she had to cross before it smoothed out again.

Two or three weeks in Dalton’s old apartment wouldn’t kill her, and besides, Tanner was a rancher. He was in the saddle from sunup to sundown, so really as long as she made sure she was tucked safely behind closed doors before sunset, she wouldn’t even have to deal with him. It would all work out perfectly in the end. She was going to make sure of it.

*****

Tanner was just stepping onto the front porch of the house when the sound of a car coming down his drive caught his attention. He turned and rested one hip against the porch railing as Zoey Carson parked and threw open her car door. The melodic sounds of Kenny Chesney singing about addiction in his song “Demons” drifted on the breeze. A pang of hurt zipped through his heart for Zoey and the heartache he figured her mother’s problems had brought into her life. He didn’t know the details, but he did understand how hard the battle with addiction could be.

He waited patiently as she climbed out of her twenty-year-old car, and took a few measured steps toward him. Her eyes darted around for a few seconds without meeting his, and he bit his tongue to keep from smiling. It was good to know that he kept her as off balance as she did him.

“Hi, Tanner.”

“Well. Well. Well. What brings you all the way out to the Triple T?”

She cleared her throat, and took a deep breath. Her knuckles were white where she gripped her tiny purse at her hip, and she shoved her other hand into her hair in a nervous gesture. “Actually, um, do you mind if we go inside? It’s awfully hot out here.”

Tanner stepped back and held his arm out gallantly for her to lead the way. As she brushed past him, her long black hair swished against his arm and sent a spiral of need straight to his groin. It was like silk against his skin, and he could just imagine what it would feel like draped over his chest as she rode him to a screaming orgasm.

Her round hips swayed as she stepped up inside the front door, and he saw her shoulders droop slightly when the chill of the air-conditioned house hit her. She moved over to the sofa and perched her lush ass daintily on the edge of the tufted suede with that miniature purse in her lap.

Tanner turned and dropped his hat on the table next to the door before bending to tug his boots off with his back to her. For a moment he thought he might cut his own cock in half when he bent over, but by the time he was in his socks and comfortable, he felt under control again. Until he turned around and caught Zoey’s eyes on his backside. Instantly he was hard as stone again. This time he spread his thighs and narrowed his eyes on her.

Zoey’s gaze landed on the bulge beneath his zipper for just a breath in time before she blushed and turned away.
So that was the way of it
. Well good, at least this time she wasn’t half drunk and begging him to take her to bed.

A picture of her spread out on his bed with her dark hair on his crisp white pillow and her pretty pink lips open and gasping for air hit him hard, and he grunted, startling her. “Did you need something, Zoey, or did you just come here to sit on my sofa in silence?”

Her jaw clenched in irritation but she seemed resolved to whatever she had to say. “I need a favor, Tanner.”

Tanner felt his eyebrow lift and he let his eyes run over her stiffened spine and knees clenched tightly together. This might get more interesting after all.

“Okay, is this a whiskey kind of favor or a beer kind of favor?” He turned and moved toward the kitchen that opened up on the other side of the living room.

“What?”

“Just trying to determine how strong of a beverage I’m going to need for this chat. What’s the favor?”

“I need to know if I can stay with you for a couple of weeks. I mean, in Dalton’s apartment. Can I rent it for a couple of weeks?” She held her breath when she was nervous, and there went her hand running through her hair again. When she let loose, it fell in a gentle wavy pattern that looked downright sexy on her.

“Why?” Tanner tugged the fridge open and pulled out a bottle of beer, holding up with a questioning look to Zoey. When she shook her head no, he grabbed her a bottle of water and moved back into the living room.

“If you recall my place was bought by the new developer who moved to town, and I only had thirty days to move. Unfortunately, some things have happened and the house that I put a deposit on…well it fell through. Rachel would take me in, but her mom is staying with her for a couple of weeks while Sawyer recovers from his surgery, so it leaves me without a place to stay.”

Tanner took a seat on the sofa next to her, even though he knew he should probably keep his distance. She looked so nervous he reached out and patted her arm. “Come on, it didn’t hurt that much to ask me, did it?”

Her lips curled up in a small smile, “You would be surprised.”

“Normally, it would be no big deal for you to use the apartment, but I just got word that Dalton will be home this weekend.”

Her gorgeous blue eyes widened and she looked as stunned as Tanner had felt when he picked up the phone the evening before. Dalton hadn’t been home since their Dad’s heart attack, and Tanner had begun to believe the next time he would see his younger brother would be for a funeral.

“Dalton? But, I thought he was in Africa doing charity work with Borders for Doctors?” Zoey’s hands twisted the cap on the bottle of water as though tightening it would help hold her spine straight while she asked for his help.

“Doctors without Borders. Yeah, he has been. For nearly a decade. However, the MSF organization is pulling out of Somalia. It has something to do with the safety of the workers. He called yesterday and asked me to pick him up at the airport Friday. Shocked the shit out of me too.”

“So he’s just going to move back here and live in Stone River after all this time?”

He shrugged and took a drink of his beer. He had been asking himself the same questions and still hadn’t come up with any answers. There was a small clinic in Stone River, but the closest hospital was in Austin. It didn’t make sense for a qualified doctor to settle in a small town unless he was opening his own practice, and Dalton had never wanted a private practice before.

“I don’t know. We didn’t have much time to discuss his plans. I guess I will find out when he gets here.”

For several moments they sat in silence as Zoey chewed on the new information. Tanner waited her out because he wasn’t sure she would accept the alternative anyways. When her chin quivered and her blue eyes filled with tears, his heart lurched in his chest and he inhaled sharply like he had been sucker punched.

She started to stand up, and pull her purse strap over her shoulder, “Okay, well thanks anyways.”

Unable to control his own hand he reached out to grab her wrist. “Wait a second. I didn’t say no.”

Zoey looked down at his fingers wrapped around her tiny wrist. It felt as thin as a twig under his callused skin, and he had the distinct urge to wrap her up and protect her.

Clearing his throat, he continued, “I just said you can’t stay in the apartment. This house has another unoccupied bedroom, and you’re welcome to use it. Free of rent.”

Her pretty face went pale and then pink spots appeared on her cheeks. “Stay here, in the main house, with you?”

“I’m not going to molest you, Jesus. What kind of a man do you think I am?” Tanner dropped her wrist and surged to his feet, stomping to the front door. “You know what, never mind. I wouldn’t want someone here who is scared of me anyways.”

“No! I’m not scared of you! I just—look, the truth is, I’m kind of having a really shitty day. My mom took off sometime last night with all of my money and my groceries, and I started my new job today, only to find out that I’m a glorified secretary for the real school counselor. I get to bring her coffee and pick up her dry cleaning, all the while filing and typing up her letters. I only have seven days to figure out where to live or I will be living in my car, and my best friend has the perfect life with her perfect family and no room to help me out right now. I need the place to stay, and before I have a nervous breakdown let me say, yes. I will gladly accept it with the free rent, as long as you let me do something to help out around here.”

Tanner stood back watching her fall to pieces and then pick herself right back up again. She was absolutely amazing. Not only had her mother betrayed her and stolen from her, but she had left her to clean up the shambles that were left behind. Somehow, Zoey was managing to hold herself together when Tanner wasn’t sure he would have been able to do the same. For being so young, she certainly had a strong backbone. Another clue that she was not the submissive woman he needed for his lifemate.

He knew that he should probably ask her about her mother, but the strain on her face had him backing off, and instead he gave her a smile to break the tension. “Are you any good at mucking stalls?”

She snorted out a laugh in an unladylike way, and he chuckled. “No, and I’m not an expert at riding a horse either, but you know that I can cook, and I can clean. You’re a bachelor, so surely that means something to you?”

He groaned, “Sweet Jesus, if you’ll cook for me you can live here forever.”

Realizing what he said, he grimaced, but Zoey only smiled brighter. “It’s only for a few weeks. I’ll either find another place, or move in with Rachel as soon as her mom leaves. Thank you, Tanner!”

He forced himself to shrug nonchalantly. “Do you need a hand moving? Like I said, Dalton will be back sometime Friday night. I’m sure we can come over to your place to help move boxes Saturday.”

She looked surprised but pleased, and he felt a funny warmth in his chest at her happiness. “That would be amazing! I’m going to have to cook my ass off to repay you.”

“That’s not necessary, just a home cooked dinner every now and then will suffice.” She reached out and gave him a quick hug, her breasts pressing against his ribcage, and her hair brushing his chin. His cock was instantly trying to burst out of his jeans, and he barely resisted wrapping his arms around her and drawing her closer. What would it be like to reach around and grab that perfect ass, pulling her off her feet so she had to wrap her legs around his hips…a rush of heat shot from his brain to his balls and he cleared his throat again, stepping back. She released him, and her teary eyes looked up at him as if he had just rescued her from a nightmarish dragon.

“Well I better get home. I have to be up early for work, and I haven’t packed yet. Thank you again, Tanner. I don’t know what I would have done…well, just thank you.”

“You’re welcome, Zoey. That’s what friends are for.” He shifted his stance, trying to give his throbbing cock room in his jeans, and held the front door open as she stepped into the doorway. She paused and glanced back.

“Friends? Is that what we are?”

“Well I hope so, it would be mighty awkward to have an enemy living in my own house.”

He relished her husky laughter as she made her way to her car. There was a bounce in her steps that hadn’t been there before, and he was ridiculously pleased to have helped her obtain it.

Once she had disappeared down the road, Tanner realized what he had just agreed to. The one woman who seemed to be his Kryptonite was not only going to be sharing his house but, would also be sleeping on the other side of a thin wall, and sharing his bathroom. Yeah, sure, there was no way this could go wrong.

He slammed the door shut, and immediately popped the buttons on his jeans open allowing his cock to jut out. The dark purple head stared back at him with a pearly drop oozing out of it. Leaning his back against the door, he fisted it while the smell of Zoey hung heavy in the air, and he could still feel her full breasts against his body.

It took only a half dozen strokes before he filled his own fist with cum, and let out a loud groan that echoed through the empty house. He had no doubt it would be the first of many lonely encounters over the next month or so.

If he’d had a choice, he would have pushed her to her knees and asked her to thank him in a more intimate way, but it would have started an avalanche of problems that Tanner didn’t need right now. Instead, he would most likely spend the next couple of weeks walking and working with a hard-on from hell.

Only a fool would agree to live with a woman who boiled his blood, and was completely and utterly off limits to him. A quick glance in the hallway mirror as he headed for the bathroom to clean up proved the fool was present and accounted for and was asking for trouble.