Chapter Sixteen

Tanner

The bookstore has been quiet since late morning. We took advantage, both of us having an early lunch and since then, Katie's been busy putting out some new titles in the children's section. It's her favorite department, and whenever anything new comes in, she takes delight in reorganizing the displays.

"Will you be okay on your own for a while?" I ask, wandering over to her.

"Are you going out?" She turns to face me, holding a copy of a book about dinosaurs.

"Yeah, if that's okay with you." She nods her head and I step a little closer. "I can stay if you want me to."

"No, it's fine. But I was just wandering…"

"About me and Zara?" I guess, and she smiles.

"I know it's none of my business…"

"Of course it is. Without you, I'd never have found a way to ask her out." I lean in a little, even though we're alone in here. "And just so you know, Zara and I are very much in love." Katie blushes, clutching the book to her chest. "Is that too much information?"

"When I can still picture you on your first day at high school, it probably is."

I chuckle and shake my head. "I'm not at high school anymore, Mrs. Foster."

She gives me a playful slap on my arm. "You seem a lot happier since Zara came into your life."

"I am. She's good for me, and I'm a very lucky man."

"Does Nash know yet?" she asks, sliding the book onto the second shelf down.

"No. I'm gonna tell him tomorrow. The only thing I've gotta decide is how."

"It'll need delicate handling," she says, nodding her head.

"Yeah. That's why I was gonna go out. I wanted to talk it through with Dawson."

"Dawson?" she says, frowning. "Why? He's never had kids."

"No. But he gets the whole divorce thing."

She nods now, her face clearing. "I see. Will you be back before closing time?"

"Of course. I'm going over to Zara's place later, so I've gotta pick up my things."

"You mean that bag you left at the bottom of the stairs?"

I smile at her. "Yeah… that one."

She grabs another couple of books. "Go on then. See you later."

I make the most of her kindness and step out the front, wandering along to Dawson's place and letting myself in. There aren't very many people here, and I walk up to the bar, where Dawson smiles at me… or does his best impression of a smile.

"It's not like you to come in here during the day," he says.

"No."

"Is it so bad that you need a drink at…" he checks his watch. "Two-fifteen in the afternoon?"

"No. But I'll sit and have a coffee with you."

He frowns, then turns away, keeping his back to me while he fixes two coffees and brings them back over.

"Okay… so what's wrong?" he asks.

"I've met someone," I say, feeling like this is a repeat of my conversation with Sabrina… although I hope it won't have the same disastrous outcome.

"Really? When did this happen?"

"About ten days ago. Her name's Zara. She's a teacher at the school, and she's… she's perfect."

"And you've waited until now to tell me?" he says.

"Yeah. I've been kinda busy."

"I'll bet you have." He sips his coffee, then puts down his cup, looking up at me, a frown settling on his face. "Is there a problem?"

"Only that I need to work out how to tell Nash."

He tilts his head. "It's serious enough that you wanna tell him already?"

"Yeah, it is. The thing is, I can't decide what to say. Or when. I mean… should I do it when I collect him from school tomorrow?"

"What's the rush? Why can't you wait a while?"

"Because I'm thinking of asking Zara to move in with me." I'm also still thinking of proposing, but that's too personal, even for Dawson. More to the point, I can't see why we need to keep going back and forth between her place and mine every night. Moving in together seems so much more sensible.

"Really? Are you sure, Tanner?" He sounds doubtful and I lean back, surprised by his reaction.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"How do you know you can trust her?" he says.

"I just do." He opens his mouth, but I hold up my hand and he closes it again. "I'll admit I had a minor wobble at the beginning when she was telling me about this guy she works with, but I realized that was my problem, and nothing to do with her. Zara would never betray me."

"You believe that? Even after everything Sabrina did to you?"

"Yeah. Trusting Zara is like breathing. It's a given… and I sure as hell don't need to question it."

He holds up his hand. "Okay," he says. "I get the message. And if that's how you feel, my advice would be, don't tell Nash in the schoolyard. It's too public."

"You think I should wait until we get home?"

"Yes, I do. And I think you should have Zara with you, to show him you're together, rather than just telling him about it."

"But she'll be working."

He tilts his head. "In that case, you might have to put it off until she finishes work."

"You don't think that's a bit contrived, to have him at my place after school, but not say a word about Zara until she comes over?"

"Maybe," he says, with a slight shrug. "But Nash has gone through a lot, and I think it'll help if he can actually see how happy you are with Zara. Actions mean so much more than words. We both know that."

He's not wrong there, and I resolve to speak to Zara tonight about moving in with me, how we're going to manage things tomorrow afternoon, and how early she'll be able to come over.

I've always hated paperwork, but it's a necessary evil, and I've spent the last hour or so virtuously catching up.

When I got back here, the place was practically deserted, but Katie assured me she'd been busy in my absence, and looking at the rows of figures before me, I'm pleased to say the last two months have been significantly better than they were last year, so I'm not worried that Katie hasn't come back to say there's been a deluge of customers, and she can't cope.

It's after four now, and knowing she'll have finished work for the day, my mind naturally drifts to Zara. I'm tempted to call her, but I doubt she'll be home yet, and it won't be long until I see her, so I make do with sitting back and daydreaming, picturing her coming through the door and wandering over to my desk, a sexy, longing look in her eyes. I might have been worn out earlier, especially after Zara tempted me back to bed after our shower, but my cock hardens as I think about her unfastening my zipper and straddling me, taking me deep inside her. I ache for her, and lower my hand, stroking along the length of my cock, just as my computer pings, letting me know I've got an email.

I could ignore it. It's probably junk anyway, but I feel a little guilty for indulging myself in the office, and I sit up and click on my email app, frowning when I see it's from Ezra. He's my lawyer, and not in the habit of wasting anyone's time, so I click on the message and lean forward, the bottom falling out of my world.

This can't be happening.

I never thought Sabrina would stoop this low, but I guess I was wrong, and I read his message again, just to be sure I've understood, and then reach for my phone, my hand shaking. Ezra's number is on my contacts list, but as my finger hovers over the green icon, I hesitate. I don't know what to say to him. I can't think how to respond.

It's not just me we're talking about this time. The impact of what happens next is more far-reaching. It involves Zara, too… and that means I need to see her.

Now.

I stand, my chair almost falling over, and rush out into the store, startling Katie, who lets out a yelp of surprise.

"Tanner? Is everything okay?" she asks, as I check there's no-one but us in here, and hurry to the front of the store, turning the ‘open' sign to say ‘closed', then pulling out my keys and locking the door.

"No," I reply, returning to her. "I need to go."

"What's happened?"

I open my mouth to tell her, but realize I don't want to waste time talking. I need to be with Zara.

"I'll explain tomorrow."

"I could stay and lock up, if it helps?" she says, concern filling her voice.

"No. It's okay. You head off home."

I've taken advantage of Katie's generosity too many times already, and besides, I need to concentrate… not be distracted by work and what's going on here.

She nods, and I wait while she quickly glances around, like she needs to check everything's as it should be, and then makes her way to the rear of the store. I'm grateful for her haste, and once she's grabbed her things, I pick up my bag from the bottom of the stairs, and follow her out, closing the back door behind me.

"Call me, if you want to talk," she says, touching my arm, as I put my key in the lock and turn it.

I look down at her. "Thanks."

She nods. "And let me know if there's anything I can do."

"I will."

She smiles, although it's a little half-hearted, and then she turns away. I check the door's locked and then start toward Zara's place, crossing Maple Street, grateful that her house is just yards from mine.

I'm relieved today is Thursday, so I don't have to face Nash yet. I don't have to lie to him about his mother's latest tricks. And at least Zara and I have time to work out how we're going to respond…to show Sabrina we can't be beaten. Not by her, or her fancy lawyers.

I ring the doorbell, trying to breathe normally, wondering how to tell Zara what's happened, although the moment she opens the door, my eyes drop to the two suitcases right behind her.

What's she doing? We agreed I'd stay here tonight, so why has she packed?

And why has she packed so much? This looks like everything she owns…