Chapter 14

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

“Lookee,who’s here. It’s the star of our story time.” Lou ran across the Queen of Hearts bakery and threw her arms around Paige’s neck.

“Oh, um, hello.” Paige just managed to hang on to Whitney’s milk beneath the bookstore owner’s enthusiastic embrace.

“Everything is all set for tomorrow afternoon.” Lou pointed to a flyer in the bakery’s window. “Bernice is helping us get the word out. We’ve already had lots of folks stop by the store to say they’re coming.” The woman bristled with excitement.

Truth be told, Paige was eager for the event as well. She agreed to do the reading in a fit of anger. Anger at all that Jon and a misogynistic bureaucracy had taken away from her. All week, she worried that her father would discover the real reason she was not in Chicago and she’d be too ashamed to get in front of a crowd of people. Except that had not happened.

Yet.

She hoped fervently that she’d have a reprieve until after tomorrow’s reading. It would be a shame to disappoint Lou and Denise. Not to mention the kids. Everyone was looking forward to it. And Paige was enjoying living as her old self again.

“Have you thought about what you might read?” Lou asked.

Paige set the glass of milk down in front of Whitney. She was sitting quietly at a little bistro table, carefully dissecting an enormous chocolate chip muffin into little bite-sized pieces.

“Whitney has requested Llama, Llama, Red Pajamas.”

Lou clapped her hands together. The woman’s enthusiasm rivaled most high school cheerleaders. “That will be perfect. I better skedaddle back to the store. Denise will be wondering about her apple fritter.” She leaned in to whisper. “And I want to make sure we have several copies of the Llama, Llama series in stock. I just know everyone will want one after hearing your rendition.” The woman bunched her shoulders and made a sound only dolphins would understand before skipping from the store.

“No pressure there.”

Paige spun around to find Patricia sitting at the little table beside Whitney.

“How—where?”

Patricia laughed. “I was in the back meeting with Tatum, the owner. She’s baking the cake for Ginger’s shower.” She beamed at Whitney. “I hope you like chocolate cake.”

Whitney nodded profusely.

Paige slipped into her chair. “Is there a woman alive who doesn’t love chocolate cake?”

“I’m glad to see she’s feeling better.” Patricia motioned to Whitney.

“Wow. I forgot what life is like living in a small town. Everyone knows everybody’s business.”

Patricia dipped her chin. “We’re not all that bad. Alden mentioned it when he stopped by the inn this morning.”

Great.In the span of two hours, Paige needlessly hurt two innocent women with her callous remarks. She took a sip off her lemonade trying to quash the ugly taste in her mouth at the role she played blindsiding Tanner’s mother.

“Apologies,” she said. “I didn’t mean to offend you. It seems my filter is on the fritz today.”

Patricia smiled graciously. “No offense taken. We’re family, remember?”

“You don’t have to keep pretending I’m family, either. You married my dad. But it’s not like he and I are—”

The smile vanished from Patricia’s face.

Paige slammed her eyes shut. “Oh, God. I did it again. I’m never this rude. I don’t know what’s gotten into me.”

Except she did. She was feeling things for Tanner that she’d forbidden herself from ever feeling again. And that had her scared. Because she still wasn’t willing to trust anyone with her heart. The prudent plan would be to pack up and leave town right away before it was too late. Before she was in too deep.

She looked over at Whitney, content with her muffin and wearing a milk mustache. Lou’s flyer in the window caught her eye. The unbidden memory of Tanner’s kiss made her belly quiver. Paige sighed wearily. She was already in too deep.

Patricia placed her hand on top of Paige’s. “Something tells me you’ve been through a lot lately.”

Crap. What did she know?

Her expression must have transmitted her thoughts because the other woman’s face softened. She patted Paige’s hand. “Mother’s intuition.”

It was only a matter of time, though, before Patricia did know. She would likely be as disappointed in Paige as her husband. And now, instead of hurting her dad with her reckless behavior, she would be hurting his kind wife, too.

“You don’t have to like me,” Paige whispered. “Just don’t ever stop loving my dad.”

“There’s not a chance of that,” Patricia reassured her with a sly smile. “And it would take something much more than a few regretful words to make me not like you.”

Paige snorted. “Now I know you’re just being nice because I don’t even like me right now.”

“Well, you know what always helps me when I have days like that?”

She couldn’t imagine the capable woman sitting next to her ever having one of those days. Although Patricia did raise five children. And she’d lost her husband several years back, so anything was possible.

“The beach,” Patricia surprised her by saying. “What do you say we grab a picnic and go plop our butts in the sand for a couple of hours? I have everything we’ll need at the inn.”

Whitney’s eyes brightened. Alden did say fresh air would be good for her. And Paige had yet to put her toes in the sand this week. Patricia wasn’t disappointed in her yet. Why not enjoy her company?

“I’d like that,” Paige said.

* * *

“This islike owning a slice of paradise,” Paige said a few hours later.

She carried a drowsy Whitney up the wooden steps leading from the inn’s private beach to the B & B. Patricia followed behind her with the picnic basket and a bucket of sand toys. The older woman was right. There was something about the surf and the sand that was rejuvenating. Paige’s fears still lingered. They just didn’t seem as overwhelming as they had earlier in the day.

“I fell in love with this place twenty-five years ago,” Patricia explained when they’d reached the expanse of green grass leading back to the inn. “It’s been a dream come true finally turning it into a B & B.” A shadow passed over her face. “Things didn’t turn out exactly the way I envisioned them. But they worked out the way they were supposed to in the end. Life has a funny way of doing that. As long as you don’t give up believing you’re worth it.”

Paige squinted over at her. “Being a mother of five certainly gave you some sage wisdom to pass along,” she teased.

“Ha! All that gave me was wrinkles.”

They were both giggling when they reached the porch.

“Well, isn’t this a beautiful sight?” Her father slowly unfurled his rangy body from the porch swing. “My three favorite girls.”

Patricia snickered. “Don’t tell Emily that. She thinks she’s everyone’s favorite girl.”

He hurried down the steps to relieve Patricia of the picnic basket and toys. She pressed a swift kiss to his lips.

“Well, I probably should get Whitney home so she can nap.”

The corners of her father’s lips twitched. “Looks like she beat you to it.”

“There’s a child’s bed in the office off the kitchen. Emily used to nap there when she was Whitney’s age. It’s quiet there and I can keep an eye on her while I get ready for the tea,” Patricia offered.

Her father was already reaching for Whitney, leaving Paige with no choice but to relinquish the child.

“Then I guess you should put me to work. How can I help you get ready for tea?”

One would have to be blind to miss the delighted look Patricia and her father exchanged. No doubt they considered her offer to help full assimilation into the McAlister family. For Paige, however, it was simply killing time. She didn’t want to be at Tanner’s house should his mother return. Or his father. Tanner had a lot of explaining to do. And one thing was for sure, they needed to clear the air without an audience.

* * *

“What the helldo you mean you don’t know where the child’s mother is?” His father’s voice boomed through the foyer of the Tide Me Over Inn. Marcus Gillette never did believe in subtlety. Tanner knew it was a bad idea to accompany his mother back to the B & B, but she was insistent. After the piss-poor round of golf he just shot, he was surprised she wanted to be seen with him.

“Good to see you, too, Dad.” Tanner waved at the guests in the salon who weren’t expecting a side-show with their afternoon tea. He lowered his voice. “Can we take this convo somewhere a little more private?”

“I was just about to sit down to have something to eat,” his father argued. “I’ve been on calls all day and I’m starving.”

“I can bring you a plate if you want to sit in the library.”

Tanner sagged with relief at the sight of Paige standing behind his father, carrying a tray of cookies.

Thankfully, his dad quickly acquiesced to her offer. “That would be lovely, dear, thank you. And if you can find some whiskey to go with those cookies, I’ve a big tip for you.”

“This is the nanny, Marcus,” his mother said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get your name earlier.”

“It’s Paige. Paige Hollister,” she replied.

Tanner herded them into the library.

“Does that mean our granddaughter is here?” his father asked.

“She’s napping back in the kitchen.”

“What did the doctor say?” his mother demanded before Tanner could ask himself.

“Whitney is fine. Just a bout with the croup.” Paige shot him a reassuring look.

“Nasty stuff that croup,” his mother said. “It always used to scare me when Tristan came down with it.”

“Her name is Whitney? I take it the mother named her?” Tanner’s father arched an eyebrow at him.

“Since I wasn’t involved in the child’s life until last week, yes, Dad, her mother named her.”

“Well, you were involved in the most important part of the girl’s life. The conception.”

His father’s comment was meant to wound. Too bad this time Tanner wasn’t guilty. His dad would be the one wounded if he found out the truth. Especially if his golden boy son knew about Whitney all along and never mentioned her.

Bile rose in the back of Tanner’s throat. He wouldn’t believe that of his twin. And he couldn’t let his parents suffer any more anguish over Tristan. So, he took the punches for him.

“I’ll just leave these here for you.” Paige set the plate of cookies on the desk.

“Excuse me a minute,” Tanner said to his parents, not caring whether they would or not. “Paige,” he called softly after her.

Disappointment flashed in her eyes before she extinguished it. She still thought he was Whitney’s father. He should have told her the truth this morning. He would have if his mother hadn’t interrupted them.

Only he wasn’t so sure now. Lying to his parents was making his head hurt. He’d feel worse guilt telling Tristan’s secret to a stranger. Not that he wanted Paige to be a stranger. Hell, he wanted her with a fierceness that consumed him. He’d just have to find a way to circumvent the trust issues holding her back.

“She’s really fine,” Paige told him. “Alden said her lungs sound perfectly clear.”

“Thank goodness.”

One of the guests edged by them. Tanner took Paige’s elbow and steered her into the music room.

“You’ve moved to the inn, then?” He had to work to hide the disappointment from his voice. He’d given his word that the decisions about where they went from here were all hers. He just hoped she would choose him.

“No,” she replied softly.

Tanner bit back the ridiculous grin that threatened.

“I ran into Patricia after our appointment with Alden. She invited us on a picnic at the beach. The sun and the air wore Whitney out.” She shrugged. “It was easier to let her nap here. I figured I’d help with the tea while I waited for her to wake up.”

He gave his grin free-range. She was letting them in. That had to be a good sign, right?

“What are you smiling at?”

He edged her back against the gleaming grand piano that took up most of the room. “You.” He planted his palms on either side of her. “Spending time with Patricia.”

She swatted at his chest before letting her hands settle on his shoulders. “It’s not like that.”

“Oh, really?” he teased before grazing his lips along her cheek. “Admit it. You like her.”

“Of course I like her,” she whispered. “She’s impossible not to like.” Although her tone made it sound like that wasn’t a good thing.

He lifted his eyes. The frustration in her eyes confused him. “Talk to me, Paige.”

She kept quiet.

“Sweetheart,” he sighed as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. He brushed a soft kiss to the tip of her nose before moving lower to toy with the corner of her mouth. She tasted like lemon and temptation. With a low groan, he swept his tongue along the seam of her mouth.

She made an angry keening sound before digging her nails into his shoulders and responding with a deep needy kiss. Not that he was complaining. Just like everything else she did, Paige kissed with an unbridled passion that had every nerve ending in his body aroused. He pressed his hips against hers to let her know just how aroused.

The sensuous slide of her tongue became a bit more frenzied. Tanner eased a hand between them to finger her breast. He sank his teeth into her bottom lip while he tortured her nipple. A lusty moan came from the back of her throat as she ground her hips against him. He was trying to figure out a way to lock the damn door without untangling their bodies when she suddenly yanked her mouth away.

“Stop,” she breathed.

It took a moment for Tanner’s muscles to catch up to her demand. He dragged his fingers through his hair as he took a step back. And then another.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I shouldn’t keep starting something we can’t finish.”

“Well not here, anyway,” he croaked.

“Not anywhere,” she whispered.

He didn’t like where this was going. Not one bit.

“This.” She waved her hand between them. “I can’t do this with you.”

With a whispered “I’m sorry,” she slipped past him and out the door.

Tanner sank down onto the piano bench.

I can’t do this with you.

He told himself to be grateful for Paige’s willpower. Of course she was right. A fling with the nanny would be the king of bad ideas. Not when he had bigger issues to deal with at the moment. Like his imploding golf game. And keeping his brother’s secret. And finding Donella.

Too bad his body wasn’t in agreement. It would be another minute before he could return to polite society.

“As soon as I find Whitney’s mum, we can head back to the tour. They don’t call it the ‘Professional Groupies Association’ for nothing. There will be plenty of women willing to take care of you.”

Jesus. Now he was talking to his dick. He dropped his head into his hands. His body wasn’t buying what he was selling. Tanner hadn’t been with a woman since he crossed paths with Paige on New Year’s Eve. No one else made his body hum like she did. And he was beginning to despair no one else would.

His father poked his head inside the room. “There you are. We are going to have to table this discussion about your illegitimate daughter until later tonight,” he said. “I’m having dinner with the Myrtle Beach investors you met with last night. They still have questions. I’ll need you to join me so I can show you how to properly close the deal. It’s just as well your golf game is in the toilet. It’s time for you to step up to fill your brother’s shoes.”

Tanner barked out a harsh laugh. If his father only knew.

“Text me the details,” he said with a sigh. “I’ve got physio in fifteen minutes.”