Chapter Twenty

Tanner

I hold Zara in my arms and lean back into the couch.

"Are you okay?" she whispers.

"I am now, although you should've seen me earlier, when Katie broke her news to me. Coming on top of everything else that's happened in the last few days, it felt like a conspiracy."

"I guess her timing could have been better."

"She apologized for that, and it's not her fault Sabrina's being so difficult."

"No. It's not," she says, nestling against me. "Did you know she was seeing someone?"

I shake my head. "She'd kept it very quiet, although I have to say, it's nice to have an explanation for her dating expertise."

"Her what?" Zara says, sitting up again.

"Her dating expertise. It was Katie who suggested I should come to the school and ask you to have dinner with me."

"Really? I thought that was your idea."

"No. I wanted to see you again. I just didn't know how to go about it."

"So we have Katie to thank for where we are now?"

"Not entirely," I say, smiling down at her, and she smiles back. "Although the picnic was her idea, too."

"The picnic that never was, you mean?"

"Yeah. We can't blame her for the weather, though… and I'm certainly not complaining about the outcome, are you?"

"Definitely not." She puts her arms around my neck and pulls herself up, kissing me.

"And now we're gonna be working together," I murmur when we pull apart, both of us a little breathless. "It's like a dream come true."

She nods her head, although there's something in her eyes that makes me wonder, and as she lowers her head, I clasp my hand beneath her chin, holding her steady.

"What is it, Zara? What's wrong?"

"I—I spoke to my landlord just before you came up here."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He said he's gonna make me pay extra for moving out before the end of my tenancy."

"Does it say he can do that in your agreement?"

"I don't think so."

"In that case, he can't."

"He said it was standard practice. And he told me off for bringing the keys away with me. I didn't mean to do that. I just forgot. But he didn't seem to want to hear that, and told me to take them back and leave them there. He also said he's going to check out the house tomorrow, in case I've damaged it."

"But you haven't."

"I know that. You know that. The thing is, there was something in the way he said it that made me think he was gonna cook something up."

I nod my head, and she bites her lip. "Hey… don't worry."

"How can I not? He made me give him your address, so he knew where to find me. What if he comes here, and…"

"If he comes here, he'll be dealing with me," I say, and she leans in to me. "He can't threaten you, babe."

"Do you wanna tell him that?"

"If necessary, but in the meantime, we'll go back to the house later today and take photographs of everything, so he can't invent any supposed damage."

"That's a good idea," she says, brightening up a little. "He said he'd come back to me by the end of the week with how much I owe him."

"Okay. But if it's unreasonable, I'll get Ezra involved."

"And how will I pay Ezra?"

"You let me worry about it."

She leans away from me. "I—I can't."

"Yes, you can." I flip her onto her back, lying her along the length of the couch, and rest on top of her, balancing on my elbows, my lips an inch or two from hers. "I wish you'd told me about this when I first came up here."

She shakes her head. "You looked so unhappy. It seemed more important to find out what was wrong with you."

"No, baby. Nothing is more important to me than you."

"I know. And I feel the same." She reaches up, caressing my cheek. "We might not have been together for very long, but I hate it when things aren't going right for you… like this business with Sabrina, and…" She chokes, losing control, and a tear falls onto her cheek. I brush it away with my thumb.

"I don't think it matters how long we've been together. We're meant to be."

"Yes, we are."

"Then you have to tell me when something's wrong."

"I did."

"Only after I'd unburdened on you. That's not how it's supposed to be."

"Yes, it is. I'm here for you, just like you're here for me."

I smile and lean in, dusting my lips against hers. "The perfect partnership."

"Exactly."

I deepen the kiss, and she wraps her leg around me, moaning when I flex my hips. "I need to be inside you," I whisper, and she nods her head. "The problem is, I also need to be downstairs."

"I think I preferred your first suggestion."

"Me too, but I guess you could come down with me? It'll be good practice."

"What for?"

"Getting through the working day without ripping your clothes off."

"You think that's gonna be a challenge?" she says, with a twinkle in her eyes.

"I know it is."

Katie was thrilled when I explained Zara was going to help in the store, and dragged her off to show her the ropes.

"I can do that myself, you know?" I said, and she turned around, winking at me.

"I'm aware of that. But it'll work better this way. I can tell Zara all your secrets."

"She already knows them."

"So you've told her what you were like as a teenager, have you?"

"What's this?" Zara said, with a smile forming on her lips.

"Come with me," Katie replied, the two of them linking arms. "I'll tell you everything you need to know."

They walked away, laughing, and I couldn't help but join in. I don't have any secrets I wouldn't be more than happy to share with Zara, but I liked the idea of her having fun with Katie, and hoped it would take her mind off of everything else.

While Katie's been explaining our racking and ordering systems, and showing Zara how everything works, I've caught up with some more paperwork, and I'm just thinking about stopping for an early lunch when my phone beeps to let me know I've got a message. It can't be from Zara, but I flip it over, my stomach churning when I see it's from Ezra.

— Can you come to my office? I need to see you.

That sounds urgent, and worrying, so I reply that I'm on my way and grab my keys, going out through the kitchen and into the store, where Katie's just showing Zara how to use the credit card machine.

"I've gotta go out," I say, as they both look up.

"Oh?" Zara frowns at me.

"Yeah. I just heard back from Ezra."

"And?" She steps around the counter, and I take her hand. "Has something happened?"

"I don't know, but Ezra said he needed to see me."

"You should go, too," Katie says, looking at Zara. "This involves you just as much as it does Tanner."

"She's right." I look down at Zara. "But you don't have to come if you don't want to. Your day's been stressful enough already."

She shakes her head. "No. I'll come."

I put my arm around her and glance back at Katie. "Will you be okay for a while?"

"Sure. Take as long as you need."

She smiles at me, and then at Zara, and we make our way to the front door, where I release her to let her pass through ahead of me, and then take her hand while we cross the street.

Neither of us says a word. In my case, I'm nervous about the tone of Ezra's message, wondering what Sabrina or her lawyers have done now. I think Zara probably feels the same, and until we get to Ezra's and find out what's going on, there doesn't seem to be any point in discussing it.

His secretary ushers us in the moment we arrive, and Ezra looks up from behind his desk, then shoots to his feet, a broad smile on his face.

"Hello," he says, focusing on Zara. "You must be Miss Howell."

"Zara." She offers her hand, and he takes it.

"It's lovely to meet you."

Zara nods her head, and I fetch a spare chair from beside the door, so we can both sit, facing Ezra, who resumes his seat, staring at us for a second, before he looks back at his computer screen.

"I take it you've heard something?" I say, impatience getting the better of me.

"I have, and while we could have talked over the phone, I didn't think you'd mind coming over."

"I don't."

He nods his head. "Did you have any issues over the weekend?" he asks, leaning back in his chair.

"With Sabrina, you mean?"

"Yes. Did she cause a problem when you took Nash home?"

"No. There was no sign of her. It was her boyfriend who came to the door, not her."

"So, she didn't say a word?"

"No."

He frowns slightly, sits forward, then taps on the keyboard and leans a little closer to the screen. "I'm surprised by that."

"You are? Why? I assumed Sabrina's lawyer must have told her it wouldn't look good in court if she didn't behave herself."

"Maybe he did, but I imagined something must have happened between you. You see, Mrs. Pope's lawyer has written back this morning to say your ex-wife is prepared to withdraw her application for full custody."

"She is?" I'm as shocked as he is.

"Yes. Providing you agree to stop seeing Miss Howell."

"That's a joke, right?"

Ezra shakes his head. "I don't think it's intended to be."

"Can they seriously ask me to do that?"

"Their client can."

"The answer's no," I say, taking Zara's hand in mine.

"You want me to go back and say that?" Ezra asks, his fingers poised over the keyboard.

"Yeah, I do, and now might be a good time to raise the fact that Sabrina and her lawyers somehow knew about Zara being fired before Miss Montgomery had even spoken to her."

Ezra nods his head. "Would you like me to find a way to phrase that which makes it sound suitably threatening?"

"Absolutely," I say, and turn to Zara. "Are you okay?"

She shakes her head. "I hate this."

"So do I, but I'm not giving in to her. I won't give up Nash, either."

"Nor will she," Zara says. "She loves her son."

"I know. If I didn't believe that, I'd never have agreed to let Nash live with her. She may be difficult, selfish, and downright argumentative… her methods may not be the same as mine, but she loves Nash just as much as I do."

"Then why does there have to be so much conflict?"

"Unfortunately, conflict and Sabrina seem to go together."

We both turn to Ezra, watching as his fingers fly over the keyboard, before he grabs the mouse, moving it up a little, and clicks.

"That's done," he says, letting out a sigh, and resting his elbows on the desk.

"Okay." I stand, pulling Zara to her feet. "Thanks for your help, Ezra. Let me know when you get a response."

"They'll have to speak with Mrs. Pope to get her instructions, so I doubt we'll hear anything today." He turns to Zara. "Try not to dwell on it too much. These things have a habit of dragging on, but we'll get it resolved, don't worry."

He must have heard what we were saying, and I smile at him, nodding my head, as we make for the door. Zara still seems on edge, despite Ezra's words, and even jumps when his computer pings behind us. I'm going to have to do something about that, and I rest my hand in the small of her back, as I reach for the door handle.

"That was quick," Ezra says, and we both spin around, turning to face him.

"What was?" I ask.

"They've come back already."

I feel Zara stiffen beside me, and put my arm around her, guiding her back to Ezra's desk, where we both sit, facing him once more.

"She must be at their offices," I say, and he nods his head.

"It looks that way."

He rests his hand on his mouse, scrolls up and down, frowning, and turns to face me. "She's saying you can only continue to have access to Nash on the current basis if you agree that Miss Howell won't be in the apartment at the same time as him."

"Absolutely not."

Zara grabs my hand. "Wait a second. Don't just say ‘no' like that. I can…"

"You can what?" I turn to face her. "You can go somewhere else every weekend? I don't think so. Aside from the fact that I'm damned if we're giving in to Sabrina's demands, Nash loves having you around."

She smiles up at me, and I turn to Ezra again. He leans forward, holding up a forefinger. "Before we go back with a hasty response, can I just say I feel like we have the upper hand here?"

"What makes you think that?" Zara asks, and he turns his attention to her.

"Because our earlier message made it clear to Mrs. Pope's lawyers that their client had lied to them. Now, they're backtracking, because they've realized they don't have even a hint of a case."

I move to the edge of my seat, although I keep hold of Zara's hand. "Okay. Go back and tell her I don't want her boyfriend collecting Nash from school anymore."

He nods his head. "That's fine, but how does it address her demand?"

"It doesn't, but if you're right and we've got the upper hand, I may as well try to get something out of it. So, tell her I'll collect Nash from school every afternoon from now on. I'll take him back home to her, except on Fridays, when he'll come back to my place and spend the weekend with me and Zara."

Ezra smiles and starts typing, while I turn to Zara. We know Sabrina's waiting for our reply, so there seems little point in leaving, but I can sense her anxiety, and while I'd love to lift her onto my lap and hold her close, this doesn't seem the right place for that. Instead, I grip her hand in mine and gaze into her eyes, hoping she'll draw some strength from me. She sighs and leans her head on my shoulder, and doesn't move an inch, even when Ezra stops typing and raises his head to face us.

"Let's see what they make of that," he says, sitting back, his eyes fixed on me. "If you want my opinion, your ex wife doesn't like the idea of you being with Miss Howell… or anyone else, for that matter."

"That's not my problem, though, is it? Nash is the only connection between us now, so she can't dictate my life, or how I live it."

"No, she can't. She's skating on very thin ice here, just like she did at the beginning of your divorce proceedings, and no judge would have looked favorably on the way she's behaved. I imagine her lawyers have informed her of that, now they know she's been lying to them. As for their behavior…" He rolls his eyes.

"I guess it's not their fault."

"Yes, it is. They should have checked their facts. I would have done."

His computer pings again, and we all sit forward, Zara straightening in her seat. Ezra raises his eyebrows, a slight smile forming on his lips, and for the first time since Thursday afternoon, I let myself hope.

"What's she saying now?" I ask.

"She's backing down."

"Seriously? Just like that? No extra demands?"

He shakes his head just as my phone rings. I reach around and pull it from my back pocket, hearing Zara's gasp when she reads Sabrina's name on the screen.

"What is it?" Ezra asks.

"My ex-wife. Should I take it?" He nods his head, and I connect the call, putting it on to speaker, because it seems like a good idea.

"You win, Tanner," she says, her voice filling the room. Zara stiffens beside me, but I keep a firm grip on her hand.

"It wasn't a contest, Sabrina. Not until you made it one." I take a breath, but not a long enough one that she can start in on anything. "Did you encourage Anita Knox to speak to Miss Montgomery?"

She laughs. "She didn't need much encouraging, Tanner. Anita doesn't like your new girlfriend very much."

"That's fine. I don't like Anita, either. But I hope you're both proud of yourselves."

"Why? Because your precious Miss Goody-Two-Shoes has lost her job?" I wonder what I ever saw in Sabrina.

"Yes… although I fail to see what you've gained out of it."

"The satisfaction of knowing how hard it'll be for her to get work anywhere else," she says, with a horrible gloat in her voice.

"Other than with me, you mean?"

"You?"

"Yeah. Zara's working with me at the bookstore, and we're loving every second… so thanks for that." I can't help at least trying to score points, and judging from the silence on the end of the line, I think I might have hit home.

Sabrina coughs, and I imagine her squaring her shoulders for the next onslaught. "What's your problem with Dean collecting Nash from school?" she asks.

"Why? You've agreed he won't be doing it from now on, haven't you?" I glance at Ezra and he nods his head.

"Yes, but I want to know what the problem is."

"I already told you when I came to see you the other day, he doesn't look after Nash properly."

"You mean, he doesn't wrap him up like you do?"

I refuse to be baited, and I shake my head, even though she can't see me. "I'll collect him from now on, like we've agreed. Okay?"

"Are you sure you'll have the time?" She's dripping with sarcasm, but I'm good at that myself.

"Sure. With Zara working in the bookstore, it'll be a breeze."

"I hate you sometimes," she says, raising her voice.

"I don't care."

"I don't know why I should give in to your demands."

"They're not demands, Sabrina. I'm not the one who started this. You did. Now, can we focus on Nash and put everything else to one side?" She doesn't reply, although I think we can all hear her breathing, so she's clearly still there. "Well?" I say, after a while. "Do you agree?"

"Y—Yes." I can hear the crack in her voice, and it surprises me. "You've never threatened to take him from me before, and I—I can't lose him, Tanner."

It's been years since I've heard so much emotion from her, and while it's tempting to tell her it's her own damn fault, I doubt that will get either of us very far, so I let out a long breath, shaking my head. "I know. I feel the same. So, can we just stop all this?"

"I guess. As long as your girlfriend won't be there."

"Where?" Is she reneging? I glance at Ezra, feeling less than reassured by the frown on his face.

"With you, each day, when you bring Nash home after school."

I squeeze Zara's hand again. "No. She won't be with me. I'm not looking to make trouble, Sabrina, and I'm not asking you to be Zara's best friend. Just tolerate her, okay?"

"Are you gonna tolerate Dean?" she says, sounding more like herself again.

"I'll do my best." I want to add that I don't think he'll be around long enough for me to worry, but like I said, I'm not looking to make trouble.

"Okay," she says, and hangs up.

There's a collective sigh of relief, and I take a moment to put my phone back, before I look up at Ezra.

"Well, that was a waste of everyone's time," he says, resting his hands on his stomach. "Although I have to say, you were a lot kinder than most people would have been in that situation. Mrs. Pope hasn't just put you both through a lot of stress, she's also been at least partly responsible for Miss Howell losing her job."

"Maybe, but I'm done with Sabrina's games." I turn to Zara and stand, pulling her up with me and holding her in my arms. "We've got a future to plan."

"And unless I'm much mistaken, significantly nicer games to play," Ezra says, and I laugh. Zara joins in, even though she's blushing, and he shoos us away with a wave of his hand.

"He's nice," Zara says when we get out onto Main Street. It's threatening to rain, but I don't think she cares about that any more than I do.

"Yes, he is."

"Do you think he'll help with my landlord, should the need arise?"

I turn, putting my hands on her waist, and pull her close. "I'm sure he will, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," I say, kissing the tip of her nose. "Speaking of that, though, why don't we go over to your place and take those photographs now?"

"Have we got time?"

"Of course."

"Katie won't mind?"

"Not in the slightest… especially if we pick up some sandwiches from the deli on the way back."

Zara nods her head, and I take her hand in mine, leading her across the street.

For a Monday afternoon, it's been remarkably busy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about that. I like being busy. I just wish Zara and I could have spent a little more time together. As it was, we returned from her place, armed with sandwiches, and barely had time to eat them, although I found a few minutes to fill Katie in on what had happened at Ezra's. She was delighted with the outcome, although we've been rushed off our feet ever since.

By the time we close the door for the last time, and I turn the key, leaning back against it, we all let out a sigh of satisfaction. Busy or not, it's been a good day.

"I'm going home," Katie says. "Roger's taking me out for dinner tonight."

"That sounds lovely," Zara replies.

"Is that your way of telling me you'd rather go out than stay home?" I ask her, but she shakes her head.

"No. I'm too tired to do anything other than crash on the couch and watch you cook." She smiles over at me, and I nod my head.

"So, dinner's on me, is it?"

"Yes."

Katie chuckles, wandering through to the back of the store. We follow, arm in arm, and while Katie lets herself out the back door, wishing us ‘goodnight', we go up the stairs to the apartment.

Zara makes straight for the couch, and although I know I'm supposed to be cooking, I follow, and sit right beside her, turning, so we're facing each other.

"Before I get started on the dinner, can I just say how happy you've made me today?"

"Me? I haven't done anything."

"Yes, you have. You've been right by my side, every step of the way, and you have no idea how good that feels."

She shifts over slightly and leans against me. "I do, Tanner, because you're right beside me, too."

I lean back and stare down at her. "It's good, isn't it?" She nods, and I smile. "Wanna keep doing it?"

"Yes, please." I slide from the couch, dropping to one knee, and she gasps. "Oh… I didn't realize that was what you meant. I mean… please, don't…"

"Dear God… the first time I asked you to have dinner with me, you told me not to be ridiculous, and now I'm asking you to marry me – or trying to – you're practically begging me not to. I thought you loved me."

"I do… and that's precisely why you don't have to do this. You've been burned by marriage, Tanner. Badly burned. I can't ask…"

"You're not asking. I am… or I would be, if you'd let me?" She hesitates for a second, then nods her head, and I shuffle closer, taking her hand in mine. "Please, Zara… Will you agree to become my wife?"

"You're sure that's what you want?"

"Never been more sure of anything in my life, babe. This isn't a spur-of-the-moment thing. I've been thinking about it for some time."

"Really?"

"Yes. Now, do you think you could give me an answer? This floor's really hard and my knees are killing me."

She chuckles. "In that case, my answer is yes… even if you are clearly far too old for me."

"Oh, am I now?"

I stand and lift her into my arms, walking straight to the stairs and carrying her up them, before dropping her on the bed and leaning over her.

"What about dinner?" she says, grinning up at me.

"It can wait, and I can't."

"Is that an age thing too?" she says, trying not to laugh.

I shake my head at her, parting her legs with mine and nestling between them. "No, it's a you and me thing. I'm not that old, baby."

"Do you wanna prove that?"

"I thought you'd never ask…"

The End

Thank you for reading Teaching Tanner. I hope you enjoyed it, and if you did, I hope you'll take the time to leave a short review.

There will be more from Hart's Creek soon, with the next story – Craving Cooper – an age-gap, workplace romance.

Cooper White is the town dentist, who lives life by his own set of rules, until Mallory comes along and changes them.

He may never have wanted to settle down, and the thought of being with one woman for the rest of his life might have always filled him with fear, but he's willing to reconsider. He's willing to do anything for Mallory.

All she has to do is let him.