Almost Midnight (20 page)

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Tanner said, throwing the apricots into the cart.

“Why, hello, Mr. Clearbrook,” Hannah replied sweetly. “Fancy meeting you here.”

Tanner froze. A twinge of pain suddenly sliced through his stomach like a torched sword. It didn’t take a Ph.D. to note the sarcasm in Hannah’s tone. He smiled blandly as two green eyes raked him over the coals. “Hello, Hannah.”

Wrong thing to say. Jack Smithers jumped onto Hannah’s name like a dog to a bone.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

“Hannah Elliot?” Jack asked with a curious twinkle in his eye.

“The one and only,” she said prettily, batting her lids.

Emerald green eyes turned on Tanner, darkening into slits of rage. A simmering heat crawled up his neck.

Now was not the time to offer an apology.

Jack Smithers was oblivious to the storm brewing and took hold of Hannah’s hand, introducing himself. “I must say Reach wasn’t very happy to have to hand you over to the boss here. Your resume was outstanding.”

“Oh?” she said innocently.

Jack angled his shiny bald head toward Tanner and grinned. “Seems he got to you first. Mr. Clearbrook bought Reach Medicals earlier this year, you know. Who would have thought you’d be working for him instead of us?”

Hannah’s smile was tight, but only Tanner seemed to notice. Behind them a toddler screamed, wanting his mother to open the box of cereal in her cart.

Tanner felt like screaming himself.

“My, who would have thought that I would have been working for Mr. Clearbrook instead of Reach Medicals?” Hannah said in a voice as calm as a summer day. “But if I had worked for Reach, I would have been working for Mr. Clearbrook too.” She managed a small laugh. “How comforting.”

Jack looked confused.

“Hannah,” Tanner interrupted. “I can explain.”

“No need to explain,” Jack said forcefully. “Her resume was remarkable, as I said. No man in his right mind would let her out of his sight.”

His insinuation was clear, and Tanner could see the anger flashing in Hannah’s eyes. It would take more than a five-carat diamond, a T-bone steak, and a baked potato slathered in butter to get out of this one.

“And did you set aside my resume, Jack?” Hannah turned her best smile on the man. “May I call you Jack?”

The man reddened. “Oh sure.” He stepped closer. “Your resume is still on file, of course, but since the boss here called and told us he had a job for you, well...” The man threw up his hands. “There was nothing I could do. You see, I was just hired for Reach Medicals right after Mr. Clearbrook took over. We haven’t met until today. The Vice President hired me, and well, you know how things go. Mr. Clearbrook and I talked over the phone.”

“I see,” Hannah said icily. Bending down, she grabbed a pack of raisins. “I use these for my cake, Jack. Lady Baltimore, you know.”

“Do I know?” Jack exclaimed with excitement. “My wife makes that cake every year at Easter.”

Tanner’s thoughts were scampering as fast as a dog at the races.

When Jack finally left, Tanner grabbed hold of Hannah’s elbow. “Listen, I can explain all of this.”

Hannah jerked away. “Don’t touch me,
Mr. Clearbrook
.”

“Aw honey, come on.”

“Don’t
aw honey me
! You manipulated my life. You made decisions for me, without even telling me!”

“You were my employee. Why should I tell you everything?”

“Employee? So that’s all I am to you? Your employee? Well, let me tell you something, Mr. Clearbrook. I quit!”

“You can’t quit.”

“And why not?”

“You haven’t given me your two week notice.” 

Dumb, Tanner. Really dumb answer.
Tanner wanted to beat his head against the shelf.

Hannah slammed the box of raisins into his cart. “I’m giving you my notice now and taking vacation. And another thing, about that marriage proposal, you can forget it.”

Tanner felt as if she had whacked him in the belly. “Hannah. Please.”

“Don’t Hannah me. It’s Miss Elliot. Since I was your employee, we shouldn’t be so informal. Oh, and here’s the flour.” She threw the bag at him. “You might need it since you’re down to half a cup at home.”

Before Tanner could answer, a billow of white powder exploded in his face. He sneezed and waved away the cloud of white. “Hannah, for Pete’s sake, don’t be a fool—” 

But it was too late. She was gone.

“So, let me get this straight. You left Mr. I’ve-got-it-made-Millionaire, high and dry?” Turning her car into their apartment complex parking lot, Candy shook her head in disbelief. “Bet that’s a first. Wonder if he’s still at the store buying dinner, thinking you’ll show up at his house later?”

“Not a chance.” A burning tightness filled Hannah’s throat. “He tricked me. He told me he needed me, but behind my back, he pulled my resume from Reach Medicals.” 

She brushed a tear from her eye. “Can you believe he owns the company? I mean, I knew he was into buying companies and such.” She sniffed. “I have no idea what I would have done if you didn’t pick me up.” 

Candy frowned as she parked, pulling her keys from the car. “Tanner and his brothers seem to own everything else in Clearbrook Valley, why not Reach Medicals? Heck, the town’s named after their ancestor who was related to some duke, what did you expect? Even that Dr. Rafe seems to own the hospital, not literally, but you know.”

“Yeah, I do know. But Tanner lied to me.”

Candy handed Hannah another tissue. “I wouldn’t exactly call that lying.”   

“What would you call it then?” Hannah blew her nose. “He used me.”

“What do you mean? You played tutor for a lonely kid this summer? You call that using? You enjoyed it, Hannah. Tell me you didn’t? I think he didn’t want to lose you. He was wrong in a lot of things, but it isn’t as if he wasn’t paying you a good salary. No one’s perfect. I’m not condoning what he did or didn’t do, but don’t make any hasty decisions, okay?”

Hannah bit her lip and blew her nose again. She was so confused, she didn’t know what to think anymore. But what she did know was that Tanner hadn’t told her the truth. He had deliberately kept her from getting that job at Reach Medicals, and now she had nothing - nothing but lies.

After thanking Candy for the ride, Hannah told her friend she would be fine and entered her apartment alone. Hot tears welled in her throat, and the sob she had been holding back finally burst forth into a string of uncontrolled weeping. Had she been so blind that she couldn’t see how much Tanner was like Nick?

She had no idea how long she had been crying when the insistent knocking on her door jerked her head from the sofa pillows. She wiped her face and stuffed the tissues between the cushions. Had Tanner come to offer an apology? What would she say? What would she do?

“J-just a minute.”

Swallowing her pride, she walked to the door, hoping she would have the courage to accept what he had to say.

“Hello, Hannah. Do you mind if I come in?”

Surprised, Hannah stared back at Alex. He stood there, dressed in navy blue suit, concern written over his face.

“I’m a little out of sorts, Alex. Now’s not a good time.”

He smiled, slipping a hand in hers. “Candy told me you had a falling out with Clearbrook. It’s just as well, you know.”

But I love Tanner. I love Jeremy. I don’t want to lose them.

Hannah felt the tears begin to well again. “I r-really don’t want to talk about it, Alex. And I though you were supposed to leave?”

“My plane was delayed. Just thought I’d stop by one more time before I left.” He tipped her head with his finger and frowned. “You aren’t crying over that fiend, are you?”

Hannah forced a smile, then dropped her head, not able to stop the tears. “I feel awful.” She began to sob as old wounds began to open again.

Alex folded her into his arms, soothing her with kind words and stroking her hair. “It’s all right, darlin’. Alex will take care of you. Just leave everything to me.”

Hannah cried harder and Alex’s hold on her grew tighter.

She had no idea what kind of picture they made, the two of them standing in the hall, her head buried in the crook of his beefy arm. Soon he was patting her back, and she felt her tears subsiding and her breathing steadying.

“Cozy, aren’t we?”

Hannah’s head shot out from under Alex’s arm. Her watery gaze locked on two icy chips of gray. Tanner stood at the end of the hall, his broad shoulders shadowing the light from the ceiling lamp behind him.

“Tanner?” Her voice was a raw whisper.

“Forget me already?” he asked, raising a scrutinizing brow. “Or are you playing the gold-digger again?”

Hannah felt the color drain from her face.

Alex scowled, holding Hannah firm. “Want something, Clearbrook?”

“Want something?” Tanner glared back, his cool expression raking over Hannah’s still form. “I owe you Richards. You just saved me from a life of unbearable pain.”

Hannah’s chin trembled as Alex wrapped his arms around her waist in a protective gesture.

“Don’t worry about it, Clearbrook,” Alex replied harshly. “You don’t owe me anything. I got what I want.”

“Yeah, Richards. Better you than me.”

Swallowing a sob, Hannah stared back at Tanner. He turned the corner onto the staircase, his thudding footsteps hammering against her heart.

Fritz looked up from his checkerboard as Tanner stomped into the hall. “Dang it, boy. Took you long enough.”

Tanner planted his hands on his hips. “There isn’t going to be any food.”

Jeremy frowned. “What do you mean there isn’t going to be any food? Grandpa and me are starving. I thought you and Hannah were supposed to get it.” 

Tanner wasn’t about to acknowledge the dull ache that began in the pit of his stomach and radiated outward, not until he had a good stiff drink. He stuffed his hands inside the back pocket of his jeans and scowled. “There isn’t any Hannah either.” 

Fritz rubbed a hand across his chin. “She go home already? Her mother’s coming tomorrow. Guess she wants to get things ready, huh?”

“She’s gone home, period, and that’s all I’m going to say about it.”

Jeremy ran up to his father and tugged at his pants. “You mean she’s never coming back?” 

Tanner’s emotions were in such turmoil, he didn’t know what to say. “Jeremy, partner, she’s gone.”

“I can’t believe it,” Fritz shouted, his face red. “You are, by far, the stupidest son I have, not to mention Rafe and Max, but that’s beside the point.”

Tanner lips fell into a grim line. “I don’t need this, Dad. Not now. Hannah made her choice, not me.” 

Jeremy started to cry. “Hannah’s never coming back? Did you make her cry? Is that why?”

Tanner’s gut twisted into a hundred burning knots. Yes, he’d made Hannah cry. He had been a fool to have pulled her resume from circulation. It had been wrong. But what had the lady done as soon as something had gone wrong between them? When he had returned to her apartment to apologize, she’d fallen into Gorilla Man’s arms as if the two were made for each other. The sight had infuriated him.

He was a fool to think Hannah would have married him. She could have that job at Reach Medicals for all he cared. She could have any job but the job of being his wife.

Fritz groaned as he sank into his chair. “Dang it all. What will Lorraine say? She might never marry me knowing that my son is the one who broke her little girl’s heart.”

Jeremy raised his teary gaze to meet his father’s face. “You broke Hannah’s heart?” 

The words were said with such condemnation Tanner stood there, speechless. Had he driven Hannah into those apelike arms forever? A tidal wave of guilt swept through him.

Jeremy sprinted out of the room, blinking back tears. “I’m never going to talk to you again until Hannah comes back!” 

Tanner staggered to the sofa. “G-go to your room, Jeremy. We’ll talk about this later.”

Fritz came up behind Tanner. “You all right?”

Tanner looked up through glazed eyes and groaned again. There was an overwhelming pain below his belly. It was the same pain that had been nagging him all week, but this one was a hundred times worse.

“Hell no. Do I look all right?” he snapped weakly.

Fritz’s brows formed a concerned “V”. “I don’t think you’re going to die. But can’t say you don’t deserve it.”

“Well, whether you think I deserve it or not, you’re going to have to call Rafe. I think it’s my appendix.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“Well, John Tanner, I think we could let you out of here in a few days if you can behave yourself.”  

Tanner’s gaze turned deadly as Rafe stepped back from his bed.

“If I can behave myself?” Tanner stated icily. “For your information, Doctor, this is my home. You can’t tell me what to do here.”

The corner of Rafe’s lips turned upward into a wicked grin. “Me thinks you protest too much.”

“Can it, bro! I won’t stay in this bed another day. I have things to do.” 

“Now, now. You just lay in your bed another day, and I’ll think about it. Eat your mashed potatoes like a good boy. I hear Mable makes them with garlic now. Dad and Mable are giving me a list of everything you’re eating.”

“I’ve got better things to do then sit here like a helpless specimen under your care. If you think you can keep me a prisoner in my home, you’re crazy.”

Rafe shook his finger in the air like a stern schoolteacher. “That ulcer was a warning. You have to stop all this stressful living. Spicy foods won’t help either. And if you dare try leaving this room to go for the nearest Mexican Restaurant, I’ll call Max in here to hog tie you to the bed.”

Tanner scowled. Their youngest brother owned a ranch outside of town and would, without a doubt, do what Rafe said. They had tied each other up as boys and Max was the best.

“I’m gonna owe you for this.”

Rafe chuckled, stepping into the bathroom to wash his hands. “In a few days you’ll be thanking me. Now, be a good boy and get some rest. You’re lucky it wasn’t your appendix. But running around this week is out. Take the medicine I gave you and take it easy.”