Now and Forever (25 page)

“Since we’re being honest, why didn’t you tell me you snored? I went to feed and change Ariel a few hours ago and when I returned, you sounded like a foghorn.”

Grace’s jaw dropped. Fire flared in her eyes. His audacity, uh, honesty, had pushed her buttons for sure. Immediately, she extricated herself from him. Her hands balled into fists after she yanked the sheets away from him and covered her bare breasts. Huffing, she slugged him in his chest.

“Ouch!” Tanner exclaimed, laughing uncontrollably.

“Well…I…never…” she said, biting back a chortle.

“Actually, you did and I heard you.” He tossed his head back, while mirth rumbled from deep in his belly. Tears streamed down his face. They were tears of joy and spirit. The bed shook as his body convulsed. He lost his breath and struggled to catch it.

Pleasantly offended, she’d seen and heard enough of his guffaws. Heck, didn’t he know Kevin had previously alerted her to the unfortunate and unladylike condition she possessed during one of his many tirades? She had gotten over the embarrassment years ago. But he was having a little too much fun at her expense. Darn it, she was turned on.
Again.
The creases at the corners of his eyes crinkled adorably. His washboard stomach rose and fell like a golden current. Her eyes became fixated upon his sculpted physique. Moments later, she suffered the symptoms of seasickness. Her senses had gone overboard. Averting her glare, she shook her head. The man was too sexy for his own good. He had her tumbling over herself. Could she blame him because she was a sucker for a gut-churning smile on a man whose body resembled a gladiator? Yes. No.
Maybe.
She decided the time had come to turn the tables on mister man. When she finished with him, laughing would be the last thing on his mind. “I can get down and dirty, too.”

Grace crouched in the bed, a hungry tigress newly freed from captivity. Intoxicated with lust, her vision blurred. Although her sight diminished, she still managed to find her target. Her hands crept up Tanner’s tight thigh, savoring the feel of his flesh. As soon as her fingers connected with his sex, it grew erect.

“Hey, now,” he said soberly.

Ignoring him, Grace drew his hot swollen shaft into her mouth and moved her lips slowly. She kissed down the length of him. His body quaked when her tongue grazed the pulsating tip. Madness paralyzed him as her tongue swirled, licked, tickled every inch. Sliding deeper down her throat, she applied additional pressure to the throbbing organ with her mouth. His husky groans and murmurs echoed loudly against the walls.

“Grace…”

She felt like giving him a taste of his own medicine with good-natured taunts of her own. That would have to wait for another time. Her body was a burning inferno. She ached at the apex of her legs. Giving pleasure to someone never felt so good. In a low and strained voice, she heard him say, “I’m about to explode.”

In one swift motion, he eased from under her and settled his body over hers. She wrapped her legs around his waist eagerly, waiting and stimulating. Her blood rushed through her veins like wildfire once he plunged into her moist center, gliding and sinking. She received him easily. She raised her arms and gripped the headboard, clenching her muscles, while he rocked her body. Untamed and brutish, he rode her like a Stallion.

Grace thrashed her head from side to side, feverish and damp. Tanner’s powerful strokes had placed her in a hazy state. Crying out his name, a mind-numbing spasm ripped through her, causing her entire body to convulse. His body jolted and he gripped her hips tightly. He buried himself deeper inside her, grinding his teeth and arching his strong back as he succumbed to an earth-shifting, body-quaking orgasm.

“My darling, Grace,” he whispered against her ear.

Tanner McGregor had the last word and she didn’t mind.

*

“Are you still coming to The Pigeonhole tonight?”

Tanner looked up from feeding Ariel.
“Definitely.”
He readjusted the active bundle of joy on his lap as food fell on her bib. “Remind me again, is there something special happening tonight?”

“Nope,” Grace said, tossing her Berry Luscious lip gloss into her purse. “I just want to hang around you some more.”

The corners of his mouth tilted upwards with a humorous expression. “Woman, you’re going to see me so much from this day forward that you’ll probably get tired.”

“Not a chance that will ever happen,” Grace said, bending low and smacking a kiss on his lips.

“Nice,” he said with a hazy look in his eyes. “Is there more where that came from?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. If you’re good boy, you’ll find out later.”

Tanner exaggerated a shiver. “I intend to be on my
best
behavior. Just thinking about what we did this morning is enough to keep me on the straight and narrow path.”

The doorbell rang and sliced into their serene setting. A quizzical look came over Tanner’s face. He exchanged a glance with Grace. Agitation streaked in his eyes. “I’m not expecting anyone.”

She stood and volunteered. “I’ll answer it.”

“Thanks,” he said. Over his shoulder, he said, “Tell whoever it is to go away, especially if it’s Bud or
Lorilee
. I have my two favorite girls here with me and I don’t feel like sharing.”

“No way.
You’ll do your own dirty work.”

“Rats,” he blurted. “Well, I would do it myself, but this kid is really enjoying her applesauce.”

She heard Ariel burble. Tanner egged her on, trying to double up on the cuteness factor. Wagging her finger, she said, “Using an innocent child is just shameful.”

“It was her idea,” he accused mirthfully.

“Shameful.”

She opened the door. A giant sturdy-looking man stood on the porch. Seemingly made of muscles, he wore a white from head to toe—shirt, shorts, baseball cap and sneakers. His well-groomed mustache gave him an air of dignity even in his casual attire. In his hand, he carried a fluffy pink stuffed rabbit. A shimmer of hope brightened his eyes. His free hand tugged on his cap more times than necessary. Not knowing whether to smile or frown, talk or remain silent, he stared at her anxiously. Nervously, he bounced from one foot to the other.

Glee and trepidation jockeyed for position in Grace. This man was no stranger. During her days as a private investigator, she’d seen this man several times, coming out of hotels or parked on dark corners of a street. She knew his age, occupation and salary. Italian was his favorite food. Jazz music put him in a romantic mood. He preferred wine to beer. Trailing Sheila had provided her with oodles of information on the caramel colored man. By watching when he was with the striking, but vile woman, Grace had been able to see the unmistakable love in his eyes. Amazingly, she harbored no ill feelings toward him. Any fool could fall in love. Even with a witch. However, she wasn’t certain how Tanner would react to the man’s presence.

After several seconds of silence, the man found his voice. “Hi…um…I’m Carl Blakely…and…”

Grace flashed him a reassuring smile. “I know who you are. I was the one that called and left you the message.”

Carl acknowledged her statement without eye contact, trying desperately to peak around her shoulder into the house. “Is she here?”

Before she could respond, Tanner’s voice boomed, “Who’s at the door?”

Hearing him pad across the floor, she braced herself. When she had called Carl on her cell phone the previous day, she thought her mind and spirit would be duly prepared for any outcome—a torrent of stormy emotions or a calm resolve.
All on Tanner’s part.
He had become quite attached to the little girl, and the curly-haired tike was similarly affected by him. But she hadn’t been able to fight the niggling feeling in the back of her mind that there was a great possibility Ariel wasn’t his biological daughter. Besides, Sheila didn’t strike her as the kind of woman who had a courteous bone in her body. She only cared about herself, disappearing to parts unknown and leaving her daughter behind spoke volumes about her character.

Grace felt them before she viewed them.
Tanner and Ariel.
Then, her heart leapt and wailed at the same time. Ariel said, “
Da-da
.”

“Daddy’s girl!”
Carl breezed around Grace and grabbed Ariel from Tanner’s arms. Emotions surfaced in his eyes that men usually tried to save for those moments when they were alone in the dark. Relief and love flooded his face. He held onto Ariel like she a precious jewel. Grace believed the rest of the world vanished for Carl when he heard Ariel call him, stretching her tiny hands toward him. She could only imagine the joy springing in his heart. She could literally hear him biting back tears. There not an inkling of doubt left in her mind. Carl Blakely was Ariel’s father.

Tanner would be crushed, she thought.

After prolonging the inevitable, she faced him. Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach. The muscles in his jaw jumped. Happiness evaporated from his eyes. Shock and disbelief overshadowed everything else in his eyes. Darkness swam in them. The corners of his mouth curved downward. She was tempted to try and kiss away the pain his spirit exuded. In his present condition, the last thing he needed was a kiss. First, his mind had to register the scene playing before his eyes and recognize the implications. For him, there was no good news, unless he decided to factor in the immense delight Ariel experienced by being reunited with her father. Deep down, Grace believed he was touched. She assumed he would replay the scene in his mind during the wee hours. Staring at the limp expression on his face, she concluded that was a long time away.
Too long.
And her current predicament—trying to bear the brunt of Tanner’s seething gaze, while appearing to remain poised and unflustered—was downright impossible.

If courage came in a pill, she would’ve taken it without a second thought at that moment. She really wanted to dodge his glare by disappearing inside a shell like a turtle and returning once the bad episode passed. But that was a lame way of thinking. She wasn’t a coward or a reptile. She was every bit a grown woman. The man she loved looked like he could crumble. He needed compassion. He needed support. He needed answers.

She intended to provide him with all of that and then some.

Stretching her hand tentatively, Grace reached for his arm to caress and provide reassurance. Soothing words had even crept into her throat and yielded briefly, waiting for the appropriate time to assist. With the extension of her hand, they tried to push through, but faltered because Tanner had pulled away and moved out of reach.

*

Grace tried to maintain her composure as she stood the other side of the doorway, watching Tanner give Ariel’s diaper bag and favorite stuffed animal to Carl, who held her protectively. A thousand waves of emotion washed over Grace when she caught a glimpse of the steely, but soft gaze fluttering in his eyes as he planted a goodbye kiss on Ariel’s chubby cheek. She heard his voice crack when he called her Chipmunk. The little girl had really made a big impression on his heart in such a short period of time. His life had been blessed in so many ways with just the tot’s presence. It was obvious he didn’t want to live without her. But neither did Carl.

“Thanks,” Carl said, grinning from ear to ear. He slapped Tanner’s hand in a brotherly fashion. “I’ve been going out of my mind since my little girl has been gone. Now I can breathe again.”

Tanner smiled ruefully. “Unlike Sheila, you love this little girl. And she deserves the world, which I know you are willing to give her. But if she ever needs anything, don’t hesitate to call.”

Carl nodded. Then, his eyebrows shot up thoughtfully. “I hope it doesn’t take a crisis for you to pay us a visit. Ariel has grown quite attached to you. I’ll admit I’m a little jealous, but for her sake I pushed my feelings aside.”

Tanner shoved his hands in his pockets, beaming at the open invitation.
“Plan on seeing me a lot.”

Ariel shook her head wildly and gurgled, which sent them all into hysterical fits of laughter. And the last thing Tanner and Grace saw was Ariel’s smile before Carl secured her in the car seat. She could sense he was tempted to marched to the man’s green Toyota and seize the child he adored like she was his own. A vein popped out on his forehead and his jaws clenched.

The strength he exuded was remarkable.

He and Grace waved farewell as the car disappeared around the corner. Tanner closed the door. The air evaporated out the room. Tension settled in its place—thick and suffocating.