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Chapter 23

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

“How doyou think it’s going in there?” Paige whispered to Patricia after twenty minutes of stalling in the kitchen.

“I couldn’t say.” Patricia glanced over at Whitney who was carefully arranging cookies on a plate while chatting with Gladys. “But for her sake, I hope they can work things out. Did her mother say where she’s been?”

“She had a medical issue, I believe.” Paige avoided the other woman’s perceptive gaze.

“Something tells me there is a lot more to that story,” Patricia said.

Paige nodded but didn’t elaborate further. She wasn’t sure how Tanner wanted to spin Donella’s reappearance. And she certainly would never reveal any of his secrets.

“How will this impact you?”

Patricia’s question caught Paige off guard. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Whitney isn’t going to need a nanny any longer. Will you go back to Chicago?”

Everything happened so fast earlier, Paige hadn’t given a thought to how Donella’s return would affect her. Patricia was right, though. Her reason for living at Tanner’s was out the proverbial window. At least the reason she presented to everyone.

Would Tanner want her to stay when he no longer needed her to look after Whitney? Would she be foolish to stay if he asked? Or was their relationship one of those “right time, right place” deals? If she was smart, she’d hightail it back to Chicago and spare her heart any further damage.

A summa cum laude degree from Northwestern didn’t make her smart enough, apparently. “I made a commitment to Denise and Lou to keep the bookstore going for them this summer.”

“Well, you know you always have a place to stay here.” The corners of Patricia’s mouth twitched. “Unless you have different reasons for staying with Tanner?”

Paige could feel her cheeks burning. Great. The entire town was likely gossiping about them. Could she survive being the subject of another round of disdain and ridicule when the relationship fell apart? Fortunately, Paige’s father entered through the screen door, saving her from any further discussion.

“Who is the adorable little magpie?” He lifted Whitney up into his arms, clucking her under the chin. “Why have you been depriving us of your beautiful voice all these months?”

Whitney giggled. “Momma is back.”

Astonishment flashed briefly in his eyes. “That so?”

All three nodded.

“We’re putting together a welcome platter of cookies while she and Tanner talk,” Patricia said, pointedly.

“Ah,” he replied.

Donella appeared in the doorway. “You called the cops on me?”

“Momma!” Whitney practically jumped from Paige’s father’s arms into Donella’s.

“Heavens no,” Patricia laughed. “This is my husband.”

“This is Sheriff,” Whitney added. “He’s funny.”

Paige swallowed a surprised laugh of her own. She’d never heard her father referred to as funny.

“Donella Barber, this is Patricia McAlister-Hollister. She’s the innkeeper here,” Paige explained. “And this is her husband, my father, Sheriff Lamar Hollister.”

Her dad held out his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Donella. And it has been a pleasure getting to know your beautiful daughter.”

“You didn’t have to lock her up for anything?” Donella teased.

Whitney giggled.

“Not even for littering,” he replied with a wide grin.

“You always make Momma proud, baby girl.” Donella kissed her daughter.

“Come, sit and have some tea.” Patricia gestured to the kitchen table. “You’re welcome to join the guests in the salon, but family takes tea in here. And, well, Whitney is practically family.”

Donella looked at them incredulously. “Gladys, we’re not in California anymore.” She lowered Whitney into one of the chairs at the table. “Seriously, this town and you people aren’t like anything I’ve ever known before. I thought places like this only existed in the movies.”

Patricia set the plate of cookies Whitney put together on the table. “Nonsense. You’ve just been living in the wrong places.”

“Indeed,” Donella replied.

Whitney held out another plate of cookies. “These are for Tanner.” She turned to Paige with a questioning look on her face.

“He was on his way to the gazebo when I came in,” her dad said.

Paige took the plate from Whitney. “I’ll take them to him, honey. You catch up with your mommy.”

Tanner was sitting on the steps of the gazebo, elbows on his knees as he stared off toward the bluff above the ocean. Midas ran back and forth dropping a tennis ball at his feet. Tanner absently chucked it into the yard for the dog to chase.

When Paige approached, Tanner slid over to make room for her on the step. He took a peanut butter cookie off the plate and munched on it. Paige settled for a lemon bar. Midas lost interest in fetch after a few tosses, disappearing toward the cool shade of the garage.

“She never told him about Whitney.” The relief she expected to hear in his voice wasn’t there. “But the stock was in Whitney’s name.”

Talk about mic drops.

“How can that be?”

He shrugged before reaching for a chocolate chip cookie. “Beats the hell out of me.”

“Do you think she’s telling the truth?” Paige hated herself for having to ask, but her ability to trust was a little faulty.

“My gut says yes.” He swallowed roughly. “Someone knows the truth about Whitney, though. Or knew.”

She leaned her cheek against his shoulder. “What happens now?”

Tanner sighed. “We’re still fine-tuning what Whitney’s future will look like. I’ll remain her legal father, providing for her just as Tristan would have done had he gotten the chance. We decided that no one needs to know any differently for now. If Whitney asks when she’s older, we’ll tell her the truth.”

Paige couldn’t help the ridiculous grin that formed. “Look at you going all Daddy Warbucks.”

“Who would have figured, right? Obviously, with my career, I can’t be a full-time, hands-on dad. But I’m not handing her back completely into Donella’s care until I know more. She’s agreed to stick around Chances Inlet while we settle things. Best-case scenario, she can find a job nearby while she’s here. That would be the easiest solution to me remaining a part of Whitney’s life.”

“Hm. I just might be able to help out with that.”

He chuckled. “You already have Cassidy working at the bookstore. How many people are you going to put on Denise’s payroll while she’s not looking?”

“I’m not going to hire her. But Ginger and Audra are on the hunt for someone to teach at Tiny Dancers. Preferably in time for summer camp next month.”

He jostled the shoulder she was leaning on. “Look at you going all fairy godmother on us.” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll go by the studio later and speak with Audra.”

“Whitney needs her mother.”

“Mmhmm.” He threaded his fingers through hers.

“She needs you, too. I’m glad things finally worked out.”

“Nothing is final yet. They’ll both stay at my place for the time being. Donella refuses to be more than fifty feet from her child.”

They both grew quiet, letting the lazy afternoon settle in around them like a comfortable blanket. The sound of a car door slamming, followed by Emily calling Whitney’s name, brought them both back to reality.

“Didn’t take long for word to get around,” he said.

Paige untangled herself from Tanner, dusting off the seat of her shorts when she stood up. “I should go and grab my stuff from your place.”

“Yeah.” He stood, too. “Donella will want the room closest to Whit. I’ll help you move your stuff into my room.”

He took a few steps, turning back when Paige didn’t follow.

“I’m not moving into your room, Tanner.” The confusion and hurt in his eyes made it difficult to continue, but she was determined. “Sneaking around with a four-year-old in the house is relatively easy. But with another adult living there it will be sort of obvious.”

“So? Who says we’re sneaking around, anyway?”

“Then what are we doing?”

“What every grown-ass couple who are attracted to one another does!”

She chewed on her bottom lip. This was a lot easier when she’d been playing it out in her mind on the walk over. Mainly because he didn’t get angry. He’d been like every other guy she dated and moved on to the next woman.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. She recognized it as his signature tell when he was anxious. “What’s this about, Paige?”

“You don’t need me anymore,” she whispered.

“The hell I don’t.” He took a step closer.

She pinched her forehead. “I meant as a nanny for Whitney.”

“Spit it out, Paige, before I pull you in my arms and prove to you how much you need me right here in full view of your father and his family.”

“That’s just it!” She stomped her foot. “I don’t want them to know!”

He looked confused before the hurt settled back into his eyes. “You don’t want them to know about us?”

“No! Yes!” She was messing this up royally. “I want my private life to be private. I don’t want to be the subject of everyone’s gossip in this town. And I certainly don’t want you to be with me because I’m convenient. Because that is what everyone will think when you move on to someone else.”

He shook his head as if to clear it. “Whoa! We’ll circle back to the first part later.” He drew his hands from his pockets as he closed the distance between them, cupping her face with his palms. “Paige Hollister, I’m not with you because you’re ‘convenient,’ dammit. I’m with you because from the moment I met you, I’ve been drawn to you. And every moment I’ve been with you has only made me want you more. Why would I want anyone else?”

But do you mean it?The voices in her head were screaming at her.

The screen door slammed, followed by the shrieks of the two young girls racing across the lawn. Tanner swore. Paige backed out of his embrace.

“I think it might be best if I stay here. At the inn,” she said.

He growled something unintelligible before holding up his hands. “You win. I will respect your wishes on this one. Stay at the inn. But know this, Paige. This is not a convenient fling for me. This is more. A hell of a lot more. And if it’s the last thing I do, I intend to prove it to you.”

The intensity of his words had her rocking back on her heels. He turned and grabbed a giggling Emily and Whitney under each of his arms and carried them to the swing.

* * *

Audra Greaves grinnedear-to-ear as she shook Tanner’s hand.

“Thank you, Audra,” he said. “For giving her a chance. You’re doing me a huge favor.”

“Are you kidding? You’re the one doing me a favor,” the dance instructor replied. “I was beginning to fear I’d have to scale back on dance camp this year. On behalf of all the little girls of this town, thank you.”

“I’m no dance expert. And I have only her word to go on with regard to her skills and her work ethic. Hopefully, she won’t betray our trust.”

“Having seen Whitney dance, I’m not worried about Donella’s skill. And don’t forget where we live. This is the home of second chances. We’ll give Donella one and see what happens.” Audra patted him on the shoulder. “I have a good feeling about this, though.”

Tanner hoped she was right. He was headed out of the torpedo factory that housed the dance studio when Gavin poked his head out of the entry for McAlister Construction and Engineering.

“Hey, man. You look like a guy who could use a beer.” Gavin opened the door wider to reveal his brother Miles and their friend, Will Connelly. They were sitting with their feet up on the coffee table watching baseball on TV.

“You just missed Ryan smoke a double into right,” Will said as he handed Tanner a bottle of beer from a mini fridge in the corner.

“It this the new hide-out?” Tanner asked before unscrewing the top and taking a refreshing pull from the bottle.

“This weekend it is,” Miles answered. “Every year, it seems more and more people flock to this event. There won’t be a barstool open at Pier Pressure for the next five days.”

“Which also means you won’t have to be there kissing random babies and smiling for selfies,” Gavin teased. “Because most of the patrons don’t vote in this district.”

Miles saluted his brother with his beer. “Here’s to a night off.”

“Don’t let these two bullshit you,” Will interjected. “Gavin is gonna be a dad any day now. He’s got the jitters, so we’re keeping him company.”

“More like his hormonal wife kicked him out,” Miles added. “He’s been hovering over Ginger like a mother hen. Even when she tries to take a nap.”

Gavin smirked at his brother. “I was simply checking to see if she was still breathing.”

“And that’s why she’s up there now cuddling with Midas and not you,” Miles joked.

Tanner and Will laughed while Gavin chugged from his bottle of water. He pointed at Will then Tanner. “Be glad neither of you had to go through this ridiculous stress the first time you became fathers.”

The mood in the room was suddenly less lighthearted. Will Connelly had no idea he fathered a son until his now wife, Julianne, showed up looking for a transfusion to save Owen. Judging by the look on his face now, he would have preferred worrying over his pregnant wife than not knowing about being a dad. Luckily for him, he got a second chance when their daughter was born a few months ago.

Gavin groaned. “That was a dumbass thing to say. I’m sorry guys. I didn’t mean it. I’m beginning to think I’m the one who is hormonal.”

Will suddenly barked out a laugh. “Haven’t I always said Gavin was more in touch with his feminine side?” He fist-bumped Miles before his expression sobered. “Becoming a dad is scary shit. No matter how it happens.” He looked Tanner’s way. “But I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.”

Would Tanner? What the other men in the room didn’t know was Whitney was not fully his flesh and blood. Will was right, though. As upending as it was to have a four-year-old dumped in his lap unexpectedly, he wouldn’t go back and change anything.

Unless it would bring Tristan back.

Chances are, though, if Tristan had lived, Tanner would never have met Whitney. Never heard her infectious giggles or felt her small hand wrapped inside his. She was a part of him now. Forever.

The room grew quiet again and Tanner realized they were expecting him to comment.

“Sorry, mates. It’s been a day.” He raised his beer bottle in the air. “To fatherhood.”

Will eyed him shrewdly. “I heard Whitney’s mom showed up today. I hope she had a good explanation for deserting her child.”

Tanner tried not to flinch. He really needed to come up with some rote explanation for his situation with Whitney and Donella.

“Very similar to your experience, except she was the one with the medical emergency.” It was the truth without revealing the whole truth.

“So she’s sticking around?” Gavin asked.

Tanner nodded. “As a matter of fact, she’ll be filling in with Audra while your wife is on maternity leave.”

“No shit?” Gavin bumped his water bottle against Tanner’s beer. “I swear Ginger planned to hold that child in until Audra found someone.”

“Problem solved,” Tanner said.

“How’s that going to work?” Miles asked. “Having Whitney’s mother around? I can imagine that might put a cramp in things with Paige.”

Tanner paused with the beer bottle halfway to his lips. “‘Things with Paige?’”

“Yeah. You and Paige.” Miles wiggled his eyebrows.

The three men all wore knowing smiles. Tanner slammed his beer down on the coffee table before shooting to his feet. “Jesus. She was right. The whole damn town is gossiping about us.” He dragged his fingers through his hair, swearing violently. “No wonder she ran.”

It was Miles’ turn to jump out of his chair. “Ran where exactly?” he demanded.

Tanner didn’t like the guy’s menacing tone. “To the inn. Not that it’s any of your damn business.”

“It is my business, Tanner. You do realize she’s our sister, right?”

Gavin chuckled. “For someone who didn’t want the sheriff to marry our mother, you sure are quick to adopt his daughter.”

“She’s just as much a McAlister through marriage as your wife and mine,” Miles argued. “And thus, under our protection. Mess her up, Tanner, and you’ll answer to us.”

Tanner wondered if Paige knew what she had with the McAlister family. He hoped by extending her stay even longer, she’d come to value her new siblings and trust them. Because something was definitely haunting her. He thought back to what the sheriff told him when she first arrived. He believed she’d been hurt. Badly, in his opinion. And her sudden about-face spoke volumes.

Maybe it was better she was at the inn. Their relationship evolved under unusual circumstances. Perhaps that was what was scaring her. He’d give her space. Just not a lot of time. Life was short. Tanner was already on the road away from her for weeks on end. He wasn’t sure how long he could stay away knowing she was in the same town as him.

“Come on, bro,” Gavin said. “I doubt Tanner did anything to hurt her on purpose. Paige is probably feeling a little jealous now that Whitney’s mom is back in the picture.”

“She’s not ‘back in the picture’ that way,” Tanner snapped. “Never was. Never will be.” Let them think what they will, but it was true.

Miles pinned him with a glare the congressman probably thought was intimidating, only it didn’t come close to the sheriff’s.

“Good,” Miles finally said. “Keep it that way.”

“You’re lucky I don’t vote in this country,” Tanner told him.

Will roared with laughter. Miles jotted something down on a slip of paper and handed it to Tanner.

“What’s this?”

“The code to the clubhouse.” Miles gestured to his campaign office. “You’ve got three females in your life now. You’re going to need a place to decompress.” He looked Tanner in the eye. “Paige seems like she’s got a good head on her shoulders. Give her a chance to process things. You’re one of the good guys. Deep down she already knows that.” He settled back into his leather chair. “Of course, a good grand gesture never hurt,” he added with a wink.

Tanner stuffed the code into his pocket before turning to leave. “I better go deliver the good news to Donella about her new job.”

“Give me a shout if you need any pointers about being Grand Marshal of the parade tomorrow,” Miles called after him.

Gavin rolled his eyes. “Because smiling and waving is so complicated.”

“Hey, Tanner,” Will said. “I’m here if you need anything.”

Tanner nodded in understanding, grateful for the friends he had in this town. They made the ache of no longer having Tristan to confide in bearable.

“I’ll follow you out,” Gavin said. “I want to check on Ginger.”

Gavin pulled the door closed to drown out the protests of his brother and Will.

“They might be right,” Tanner told him. “You should probably let her rest.”

“Yeah, I’ve learned my lesson. That was just a smokescreen. I really came out here because I wanted to let you in on a little secret that you might want to take advantage of while Paige is staying at the inn.”

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