I’m intrigued now, and have to ask, “Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?”
Rachel reminds me, “You know this family’s temper. How many times have the Cocker Brothers been in jail? You and your cousins, too! Justin is always pulling strings to bust one of you kids out. If it weren’t so funny it’d be mortifying. You all get riled up and don’t care what society thinks of your reactions.”
I tilt my head a little, because she’s right. “I’m with a client, Aunt Rachel. Do you mind if I call you later?”
“Be careful. I met Tanner once. He is as ruthless as he is handsome, and that can be very alluring.”
She’s not wrong about that either.
He also can inspire a good punch.
I’m not surprised Dad clocked him, I just want to know why?
Frowning I steal a look at Tanner to find him watching. His lips curve into a slow smirk. Completely unnerving how handsome he is.
“I have to go, Aunt Rachel. Love you.”
“Love you, too, Emma.”
Tapping the side of the phone against my open palm I force a smile. “I apologize for that, Mr. Hamilton. My family and I are very close. She was overly excited about a new recipe she’s concocted for our Family BBQs.” On an unconvincing laugh I wave my hand. “She’s always competing with my Grandma Nance over who makes the best chili.”
At their ranch, Uncle Jaxson is the chef.
Rachel doesn’t like to cook.
Grandma’s chili is incomparable.
Impossible to beat, it tastes so good.
How he’d laugh if he heard my lie.
The ruthless man I’ve been told to get far away from, strolls up next to me, and glances out the window. The sun sets fire to his profile. Hints of gold dance inside almost-black irises. He’s so watchable I don’t realize I’m staring.
With a frown, his volume private and almost intimate, he side-eyeballs me as he asks, “Your aunt warned you against me?”
“What?” I adjust my purse. “No!”
The sexiest, knowing smirk tugs at his lips. “You’re a terrible liar.”
On an uncomfortable laugh I insist, “I’m not lying. You’re looking at an honest face. How would she even know who I was with? What a crazy idea. Would you like a tour of the backyard now? We’ll pass the kitchen on the way.”
“I’d love one,” he muses.
Hoping I’m off the hook, I head for the door, all the while keeping my stroll steady and maybe even a little sexy in my attempt to act calm, cool and collected.
Raising his volume Tanner adds, “We’ll continue this tour but Iknow she warned you to run.”
I slide the phone away, zip my purse and adjust the sunglasses on my head while trying to think of a convincing retort. “You’re harmless so stop giving yourself so much credit.”
Okay, that sounded childish. I lock eyes with him as those smoldering lashes flicker and narrow.
“I’m anything but harmless, Emma.”
Speechless I get warmer by the second.
Tanner glances to the floor, chewing on his bottom lip. I lick mine. Walking toward me he asks, “What I want to know is, now that you’ve been warned to leave, why aren’t you leaving? Aren’t you afraid the flirting will lead to more?”
“Flirting?” I gasp. “Please! I’ve nearly hit you at least twice.”
“Because you’re attracted to me.”
My heart pounds. “You say the most annoying things.”
“Because?” he smirks.
“Annoying because they’re off base.” My temper flares, shoving me forward two steps, dangerously close to him. “First you call me a child, flat out tell me I’m incompetent. Then you repeatedly challenge me for almost two weeks of private touring. Now you’re saying that not only did my aunt psychically sense who I was with, but she also said, run! Which is ridiculous on many levels. And you believe I’m attracted to you? That’s insane. I apologize for having to tell you this, because you’re a client, but you are out of your damn mind.”
A dazzling grin flashes. I stare at Tanner and instantly realize I’ve never seen a man so attractive as he is. The effect multiplies with his growing and genuine laugh. Not a loud bursting kind but a steady and deep build from his gut that ends with his shoulders shaking as he rakes his hair back. “If you could see how hard you’re trying to convince me, when we both know you’re lying, you would laugh, too,” he finishes, walking past me but pausing to say in my ear, “You want me, Emma, and I want you, too.”
My jaw drops a little, heat pooling between my thighs as he leaves me all alone with that riveting proclamation. I’m staring at an empty doorway while footsteps fade.
What is this sensation in my core?
Everything burns.
My pussy is throbbing.
Quick, heavy pulses.
I’ve never experienced this without touching someone, and even then it wasn’t this.
Hurrying, I follow him and call out, “Mr. Hamilton!” At the far end of a hallway before descending stairs he pauses. “Did you still want to see the garden?”
A devilish smirk curves his mouth again.
I respond like it doesn’t affect me, but there is this thick heartbeat between my legs that he can’t see and I can’t stop thinking about.
“Alright, Emma, show me the garden.”
Swallowing, trying to pretend I’m just doing my job, I smile, “Good, because it is stunning.”
He cocks an eyebrow. “I’ve no doubt.”
CHAPTER 8
T ANNER
I remember when my nephew hid all of my sister’s makeup when he was eight years old and insisted she didn’t need to wear any. He liked her just the way she was.
Jennifer and I were in her kitchen having coffee and catching up while he banged around, blissfully thinking we couldn’t hear him. What he considered covert was overt. We had life experience, knew exactly what sneaking around sounded like. She later acted surprised when she ‘discovered’ her vanity emptied. Hilarious.
The young think they’re so sly.
But with Emma here I couldn’t pretend I didn’t see her sneaking peeks and getting very tense as her knuckles grew whiter around the phone. I have experience with people spreading
