Second Chance (15 page)

Grant looked in the bar mirror at
Farris’s reflection with Tam cradled in his arms.  That was serious shit.

“Maybe you should handle this a
little less aggressively than you’re looking,” Moz suggested mildly.

“Don’t worry, I’m not about to
cause a fight.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Watching Tam, an unusual emotion
welled up inside Grant.  It filled him, making him tingle, making him
straighten, making him roll his shoulders.  Making him want to beat his own
chest.  Making him want to walk over and claim his woman.

Oh yeah, that was the feeling. 
Protectiveness.  Predatory.  Damned if he wasn’t feeling dominant.  Yeah,
dominant.  It would have shocked him except that he was studying Farris and Tam
closely, his gaze sweeping over them both.

As if she sensed it, Tam glanced
over at him.  Whatever she saw on his face, it had her eyes widening.

Oh yeah, that sure did it for him. 
Unbidden, he smiled.  All teeth. 
Yeah, pretty girl, I’m coming for you.

~*~

What the hell was wrong with
Grant?  Tam caught a glimpse of his face, the glitter in those pale grey eyes
clear from right across the room.  The man wasn’t happy and it showed.  Not
happy with her.

Oh boy.

With a shiver, she unconsciously
pressed closer to Farris, only to blink when Grant’s eyes narrowed.  His eyes narrowed
even further when Farris happily wrapped her even closer against him.

Oh shit, now Grant looked…furious.

It happened so fast, a glimpse of
pure predator in his face gone in a flash, leaving her wondering if she’d
imagined it.

Leaving her with her heart beating
a whole lot faster.

Turning her head away, she pulled
back a little from Farris to smile up at him.  “Squeezing a little tight there,
farm boy.”

Completely unabashed, Farris
grinned down at her.  “Yep.”

The man was incorrigible. 
Laughing, she tugged back a little.  “I need to breathe to dance.”

“Oh well, can’t have you fainting
on me.”  He released her, keeping control of her hand to whiz her away and
bring her snapping back into his arms.

Didn’t faze him in the least when
she slammed against his body.  Nope, his hand slid lower down her back as he
rocked her around the floor.

In fact, his hand slid a little
too low.  Like his fingers were starting to spread over her bottom.

“Farris?” She tapped his shoulder.

“Yep?”

“Move ‘em or lose ‘em.”

“Your wish is my command.”  His
hand shifted back up to her waist, his smile all merriment.

Looking up at him, Tam could only
laugh.  The bloke was harmless.  It was easy to see he was up for a good time. 
Good natured, happy, an easy-going bloke.  Just what she needed after Grant’s rejection. 
“You’re a breath of fresh air, Farris.”

“And you’re pretty as a picture.” 
Enthusiastically, he swung them through the dancing couples.

“Flattery.”  She shook her head.

“Just telling the truth, ma’am.”

“How come you never got snapped up
by the town girls, Farris?”

“No idea.  It’s not like I don’t
try.”

“Hmm.  Do you have in mind a
particular girl?”

“I’m out on a date with you,
aren’t I?”

She arched an eyebrow at him.

He grinned.

The music changed, became fast,
and with a whoop Farris flew along the dance floor with Tam in his arms,
flinging her out enthusiastically and swooping her back in with more gusto than
expertise.

Around them other couples danced
and laughed, the music strobing through the air to a fast beat.  Laughing,
throwing herself into the rhythm, Tam forgot about everything but the man
laughing, his eyes twinkling while dancing with a pure love of life.

He’d swung her out, releasing her
hand, when the music changed.  A couple came between them, whirled away, her
hand was grabbed and she was roped back in against a hard chest.

It wasn’t Farris’s chest.  As she
looked up into Grant’s eyes, her breath caught.

Maybe it had to do with the fact
that her breasts were now mashed against his hard upper abdomen, his six pack
pressed against her.  Maybe it was all that lean strength.  Maybe it was the
sensation of his hard arm curving around her back to hold her close, his firm
hand in the small of her back, his other hand holding hers securely in a warm
grip.  Or maybe it was the way his eyes glittered down at her.

“Having fun?”  His voice was low,
dangerous.

“What are you doing?”  She tried
to pull back.

With astonishing ease he swung her
into the middle of the dancing group, the low lights now casting romantic
shadows.

Nothing romantic about being in
the arms of a man who fairly vibrated with anger.  “Grant-”

“You going to make a scene, Tam?” 
He glanced around before again meeting her angry eyes.  “No one has noticed
anything yet.  I’d advise you to keep dancing unless you want everyone to notice.”

His words had her glancing around
quickly.  Loathing scenes, she was relieved to see that so far no one suspected
anything.  Farris was dancing happily with a little redhead.  He spotted Tam,
shrugged and grinned apologetically.

She smiled back, nodded. 
Yep,
totally understand
.  She turned her gaze back to Grant.  Or more precisely,
his chest.

The man moved easily, holding her
closer than she wanted.  Or closer than her senses wanted.  Her senses were
going into overload.

Cripes, he smelled good - clean
male, faint aftershave, soap.  He felt good - lean strength, muscles, warm. 
His hold was secure.

It was also unnerving.

Taking a deep breath - which had
the tantalizing effect of pressing her breasts against that hard body - she
looked up at him.  Hmm, jaw like granite, lips firm, muscle ticking at the
corner of his mouth.  As if sensing her perusal, Grant looked down and oh boy,
the glitter in his eyes was evident.

Man was not happy.

Well, she hadn’t asked him to
dance with her.  “What’s your problem?”

“You.”  Keeping admirable time
with the music, he turned her slowly, almost swaying.

The music was too bloody slow. 
Every shift of his body rubbed them together.  When she tried to unobtrusively
ease back, his hold tightened.  Deliciously so.

Stop fantasizing
.

“Huh.”  She hoped she didn’t sound
as breathless as she felt.

“You’ve been avoiding me.”

True
.  “No, I haven’t.”

“I left a message on your mobile.”

“Really?”  She looked him right in
the eyes.  “It didn’t come through.”

The narrowing of his eyes was a
clear indication he caught her lie.  “Try again.”

Drawing on the familiar feeling of
humiliation enabled her to keep her spine straight, her gaze steady - and her
hands from roaming all over him.

God, she was a slut.  A very sorry
slut to want to paw the man who had kissed and touched her then dropped her
faster than a hot brick at the arrival of people.  Hormones had a lot to answer
for.

“Don’t ring me.”

Those pale grey eyes grew a little
stormier.  “If you dare label me Dingbat 3, I’ll do more than come looking for
you.”

It was an appealing idea.  It also
made her mouth go a little dry, both with a delicious thrill and dread.  She
stopped moving.  “What did you hear about 1 and 2?  Who’s been talking?”  Shit,
she’d trusted Ash and Elissa, surely they hadn’t told?

“No one.  Why?”  He studied her
intently as he swung her back into the slow dance.  “Who exactly are Dingbats 1
and 2?”

Relieved, she shook her head. 
“Forget it.”

“Fine.  For now.”  He hauled her
closer.

Closer against that really yummy
body.  His hand slid lower on her waist, not quite grazing the beginnings of
the curve of her derriere.  She stiffened, blood and warmth rushing through
her.

“Talk to me,” Grant demanded.

“There’s nothing to say.”

“Like hell.”  His head dipped
suddenly, mouth close to her ear, his warm breath making her shiver.  “You’re
mad and I want to know why.  What did I do?”

“Seriously?”  She spoke through
clenched teeth, trying to ignore the heat that trickled through her at his warm
breath.

“What did I do?” he repeated firmly.

Did he really think she was going
to tell him what he already knew?  He’d done it, for crying out loud, he should
know.  Did know.  Was he playing her for a fool?

Grant’s head lifted, his gaze
raking across her face.  “You’ve got a bee in your bonnet, baby, and I’m going
to find out what it is.”

“You can get stuffed,” she hissed.

That had his eyes flaring.  “You
mind repeating that?”

“Not at all.  Get.  Stuffed.”

Cripes.  She’d heard about banked
fury, had never seen it.  Until now.  For a split second she wondered if he’d
drag her off the dance floor.

That the man was able to keep
swaying her to the slow music while looking like he wanted to sink his teeth
into her - and not in a good way - was astounding.  His nostrils actually
flared.

But he spoke softly.  “You’re
going to tell me, Tam.  You’re going to tell me everything.  I don’t care what
I have to do to drag it out of you, but this isn’t finished.”

Before she could retort the music stopped,
the lights flared up and Grant straightened, releasing his hold on her waist.

Within seconds Farris was beside
them, his cheerful grin wreathing his face.  “Hey, Doc.  Mind if I cut in and
take back my date?”

Grant’s gaze dropped briefly,
raking over Tam’s face, that banked fury still in his eyes along with a whole
lot of frustration, but with admirable grace he closed it off, his smile friendly,
his eyes cool as he looked back at Farris.  “Not at all.”

“Great.”  Farris took Tam’s hand. 
“How about a drink, Tam?  Dancing’s thirsty work.”

“Sounds great.”

“You enjoy yourselves.”  Grant
walked off the dance floor.

Totally clueless to the vibes,
Farris led Tam from the dance floor, seated her at the table and went to get
them drinks.

Relieved to be alone, Tam leaned
back in the chair and relaxed, willing the tension from her shoulders.

Hells bells, Grant was mad enough
to chew nails though she hadn’t a clue why.  He was the one who’d been a prick,
and now he had the cheek to pretend not to know what he’d done.  Or maybe he
really didn’t know, maybe he thought she’d expect that kind of treatment.  If
so, he was wrong.

Taking a deep breath, she
straightened her shoulders.  She was worth something.  Farris liked her, it
wouldn’t take much encouragement and he’d go a little further without worrying
what anyone else thought, that much she knew.  It was just a shame he didn’t
make her heart beat fasten, her blood go all gooey, and her insides turn to
mush.

With another sigh, she watched him
thread through the crowd holding two glasses of drink.  He laughed, shared
banter with other people, so at ease and happy, not a care in the world.

He also didn’t notice the little
redhead watching him from her seat at the table she shared with her friends.

Farris was sweet, but clueless.

When he sat down opposite her, 
Tam queried, “Who’s the redhead?”

“Huh?”

“The girl you were dancing with?”

“The girl I was…?  Oh.”  Enlightenment
dawned.  “That’s Marion.”

“She seems nice.”

“Yeah.  Known her since school.”

“Mmm.  Good friends?”

Farris scratched his head.  “Well,
not really.  Friendly, maybe.  She was a couple years below me.”  His
expression turned quizzical.  “Why do you ask?”

“Just wondered.”

“Huh.”  Farris glanced around,
spotted Marion and smiled at her.

Marion blushed, smiled back and
gave a little wave.

Farris, the clueless idiot, turned
back to Tam with a beam.  “See?  Friendly.”

Geez.  “Has she got a boyfriend?”

“Um…”  Farris frowned
thoughtfully.  “Not that I know of.  Which is kind of odd ‘cause she’s pretty
and all.”

“Sometimes it’s more than
prettiness,” Tam admonished gently.  “Sometimes girls want more than just to be
noticed for their looks.”

Farris looked a little stricken. 
“Oh crikey, did I offend you somehow?”

Tam resisted the impulse to smack
her forehead on the table top.  “No.”

“Phew.  Good.  ‘Cause I’d never
knowingly hurt anyone.”

Tam could believe it.  She could
also believe that Farris couldn’t see what was staring him right in the face. 
“I think she likes you.”

“Yeah?”  He glanced at Marion, frowned a little as though seeing her for the first time before his attention
shifted back to Tam, his familiar grin flashing.  “I’m out with a cute girl
now.”

Tam wisely held her tongue, but
she could see his glance wander in Marion’s direction as she and her friends
stood up to leave.

Yep, she’d given the young
farmhand something to think about.

~*~

Grant was working.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Tam
walked into his house on Saturday morning to clean.  Call her a coward but
she’d dawdled at home then in the office, waiting until he’d started work
before she left to do the day’s cleaning. 

Aunt Maree had given her a
quizzical look but refrained from saying anything.  Tam had entertained the
idea of asking her to get someone else to do Grant’s house, but that would open
up all kinds of conversations she didn’t want to have.  So, unashamedly, she’d
waited until she knew Grant would have left for work.

As she came up on the veranda she
checked Bird and Frog.  The mice, whiskers twitching, looked up from where they
were nibbling on food.  The cage was clean, the food and water fresh.  Grant
was fussy about his animals and fish and attended their care himself.  She had
to admire that.