What Might Have Been (3 page)

“You can’t change the past any more than I can erase the scars Will left on me.” Her voice dropped to a lower pitch that rumbled along his nerve endings. Suddenly, the spacious hallway seemed to close in on him.

The thought of any man hurting a woman pissed Tanner off. Knowing it had been Macy being hurt, he saw red. He fought to keep his emotions in check. Tanner took her hand in his and smoothed his thumb over her ring. “I see you aren’t wearing a wedding ring. Didn’t things work out with your former beau? I see he didn’t show up. I’m glad. After that comment, I’d have to rip him a new asshole.”

As she stared at their entwined hands, the tension returned to his gut. No one had ever called him the king of tact, especially when he saw something he wanted—and he wanted her. “I know it’s none of my business, but I had to ask. I’ve heard he was beyond impossible.”

“You’re changing subjects rather quickly. It’s hard to keep up.” She peered up at him through her dark lashes. “But you could say things have fizzled considerably, since he’s married to a woman named Melissa and lives in New York. Lis is exactly what he wanted. Me? I never fit the bill.”

“How?”

“Things had to be perfect or he’d lash out. He always had a temper, but it got worse over time.” Her smile appeared forced and didn’t quite make it to her eyes. “You know, I got really good at hiding the welts. Give me a hoodie sweatshirt—”

“Mace.” Fury boiled in his veins. No woman deserved to be abused. Ever. But what could he say? He hadn’t been there to help her.

“It made me stronger.” She picked at the wrinkles in his shirt, her touch soft against his chest. “I’m not the shy girl you remember and I rather like it that way. It’s damn good to be comfortable in my skin.”

His heart leapt. If he lowered his lips just a bit, he could taste her, delight in her. His cock swelled. They needed to find a better place to be alone. Somewhere with a little romance, low lighting, and soft music. A bar? Nah, too obvious. A club? Not in Mason. The little town didn’t have any upscale club venues. Well, shit. Before he could sort out his plans for the rest of the evening, the announcement over the loudspeaker interrupted him.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the Class of ‘97, the building will close in fifteen minutes, but we’d all love to see you tomorrow at the formal dinner. Have a great night.”

Macy slipped her hand from his grasp. A faint smile fluttered at the very corner of her mouth. “Saved by the announcement, I guess.” Her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Tanner saw his chance to continue the conversation dwindling. Fuck, no. He wasn’t about to let her get away now. In his thirty-three years, he’d learnt three things. A man felt better about money if he made it through hard work, alcohol didn’t solve problems…and never let a sexy woman slip through your fingers twice.

“How about I walk you to your car? The parking lot is still notoriously dark and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you.”

He held his breath for a heartbeat, hoping she’d at least let him treat her with dignity. In truth, he wanted to strip her down and sample her sweet curves until she screamed his name. What would she look like stretched out across the hood of his BMW? Dynamite. Hell, he knew she wrote erotica for a living and was damn good at it. He’d read every one of her books cover to cover. But her choice of profession wasn’t the draw—her quiet nature and disarming smile reminded him of why he’d fallen for her so long ago.

Maybe they could work out a scene for her books including the Beemer… The idea held serious promise.

When she grinned, the harsh lighting twinkled in her hazel eyes. “Well, if it’s for the sake of safety, then I’d be honoured.”

Tanner nodded.
Safety indeed.

Chapter Three

I made mistakes and I’d like to fix them
…
Macy played Tanner’s words over and over in her mind. Life only granted so many chances. Sure, she’d acted impulsively in high school—asking a jock for a date and believing he’d be interested. Fifteen years had made her wiser, and guarded to the point of forgetting emotion entirely. What if she jumped at the opportunity to be with him now?

When they stepped out into the humid air of the July night, she whisked a few errant strands of hair off her forehead and thanked God for the slight breeze. What would happen if they kissed? She’d imagined the taste of him so many times over the years, but damn, she needed to keep her body in check. In three days she’d be on her own and the furthest thing from his mind.

“Where are you parked, Mace?”

Her heart skipped two beats. No one except for Remi and Berto had called her by her nickname in far too long. Hearing it on Tanner’s lips once again sounded like heaven. After a pregnant pause to compose her thoughts, she found her voice. “The black Silverado in the corner.”

“You’re a truck girl?” Tanner’s low whistle split the air. He chuckled and a broad smile brightened his face. “I think I’m in love.”

Her breath caught in her throat and she stopped at the tailgate. Did he just say…
in love
? He couldn’t have. His words had to be flippant or a figment of her overactive, libido-driven imagination. She tamped down the giddy feelings and shoved her inner romantic to the back of her mind.

 
“Damn, this is a nice set of wheels.” He caressed the fender and clicked his tongue. “I suppose you like to crank her up to top speed and roll down the back roads with the windows down and the breeze tossing your hair around?”

She laughed out loud. He’d read her mind and described the drive to Mason to a T. “I’ve had the truck for the last five years, and yes, I like to blast the music.”

In two long strides, he met her at the rear of her truck. “I bet you look sexy as hell,” he said in a low rumble that vibrated deep within her pussy.

His last comment tripped her up. Her? Sexy? The compliments kept coming. Was he for real? Couldn’t be. She fluttered her hand in the air and backed away from him. Her knees weakened. “I think the allure of my vehicle has fried your brain.” Grasping the rear fender, she held on for support.

“Not in the least.” He bridged the gap between them, giving her no room to escape and a healthy view of his
perfect white smile. “I like the truck a lot better than that brown beater you drove in high school.” He smoothed his hand over hers and tangled their fingers together. “Whatever we all called it.”

“The Turd? How could I forget the old girl?” Speaking of her first car brought back fond memories and eased the tension building in her lower back. The little Tempo hadn’t been the prettiest car, but had run well and got her where she needed to go. “She was ugly as sin, but she started in that blizzard during our senior year when no one else’s did.”

“The truck suits you,” he murmured.

As he spoke, Tanner inched even closer. The spicy scent of his cologne drifted around her. If she tipped her head back, she could kiss him. The fluorescent lights of the parking lot glittered in his eyes, along with something else. Lust?

To hell with common sense and protection. Time to live a little…and find passion in his arms, if only for one night. She took the lead and eased him against the fender.

“You said you wanted to fix some mistakes. I’m staying at the Free Bridge Inn over in Butler and I hear the restaurant is pretty nice. Drinks are on me.” There. She’d met him flirt for flirt. She drew lazy circles on his side with the pads of her fingers, dipping lower with each pass until they rested at his hip. She wasn’t a giddy teenager anymore. She knew who and what she wanted—on her terms. “It’s not much, but it’s something.”

“You’re hard to ignore.” He tucked a rogue lock of her hair behind her ear, lingering a bit too long for courtesy. She didn’t care. When his lips parted, her heart thundered in her chest. Using the pad of his index finger, he caressed her jaw.

“Best way to be.” She ground her hips against the bulge in his pants. The bite of the zipper rubbed her clit. “I take what I want.”

 
“And you want me?” His breath caught and his eyes dilated. A thin strip of blue ringed the dark depths. “I’ve got the silver Beemer.”

A BMW? He
had
moved up in the world from the rusty two-tone Chevy he had sped around in during high school. Although it crossed her mind to feel him all over, she settled for his chest and poked him with the tip of her finger. The steely muscle never moved. “Just keep up with me.” There, she’d made a joke to lighten the otherwise heady mood.

“Is that a challenge?”

“Absolutely,” she purred. Maybe she could handle this romantic thing after all.

He wiggled his brows. A rebellious gleam sparkled in his darkened eyes. “I like a woman in charge. You’re on.”

Untangling herself from his embrace, Macy strode along the side of the truck. She unlocked her door and slid up onto the seat. In the rear view mirror, she watched Tanner cross the lot. He moved with such grace and confidence. Even if she wanted to look away, she couldn’t.

She gulped air and rubbed her forehead. The man would be a challenge, but she welcomed it with open arms. If he made love like she’d imagined in her fantasies, the experience would be sheer bliss. But reality never quite matched fantasy. If she could just rebuild the walls around her heart while she took the ride of her life in his embrace, she’d be fine. Talk about asking the impossible.

Five minutes later, Tanner pulled out onto the highway en route to Butler. He memorised the shape of her tail lights. Memorised! The rational part of his brain took over. Macy Shibley was dangerous. She managed to get under his skin with her crooked smile and compassionate nature. Hell, he even liked her feisty streak. Damn it if she didn’t have the power to bring him to his knees all over again.

But this was supposed to be a one-night-to-reconnect-and-then-on-with-his-life thing.

He glanced in the rear view mirror at the stop light and smoothed his hair back into place. This wasn’t just another date. This was his chance to find out if what might have been in high school still existed between them. He pressed the accelerator and drummed the steering wheel. If he played his cards right, the flirtations at the school could translate into a night of passion and sex. If he didn’t calm down and get his nerves under control, she’d walk right out of his life. Again.

As he pulled into the hotel parking lot, he made up his mind. He’d get a table in the restaurant and show her he was the best combination of the gawky kid from school who knew a few moves on the football field and the business man who’d been around the block more times than he could count. He climbed out of his sports car and hurried across the brightly-lit parking lot.

 
“Macy!” Time to turn on the romance. “Wait up, Mace.”

She stopped short and her shoulders slumped. Tanner held out his hand. “Did you think I’d stand you up?”

“I had my doubts that you’d show.” She chuckled and slipped her fingers into his. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m not the same guy from high school—I grew up.” Tanner’s voice gained strength. He tugged her into the crook of his arm and cupped her jaw. Damn, she felt so soft and small in his bear-claw hands. “Let me romance you, Mace. Let me show you the time you deserved so long ago.”

Her smile faltered. “Never mind.”

“Never mind? What?” Tanner glanced over his shoulder in the direction of her glare. Fucking hell. Stafford Green.

“Well, no shit,” Stafford wiped his meaty hand on his flat stomach. “You two came all the way out here.”

Tanner groaned. “Damn it, Stafford. What’s the deal?”

Macy rolled her eyes and looked away. “He’s always been there to egg you on.”

“I didn’t invite him,” Tanner muttered.

“I’m staying here tonight and the bar is open to anyone.” Stafford slapped Tanner on the shoulder and his gaze flicked over Macy. “I thought I’d have a cold one before bed. Want one? It’s on me. What’ll you have?”

Macy notched her chin in the air. “A rum and cola. Thanks.” As she stepped out of Tanner’s arms and onto the concrete patio pad, the humid wind tossed her hair about her shoulders.

“Beer?”

Tanner nodded once. She’d stood up to Stafford—the one thing he’d never done. Time to take her lead. “I’d rather you take a fucking hike.”

“What a way to treat your best friend.” Stafford slapped Tanner on the back. “Things never change. Me and you, you and her… She’s beneath you, still.”

“You’re not my best friend,” Tanner growled. “Never were, really.” And if he didn’t get his butt in gear with Macy, he’d make the same mistakes all over again.

“And fuck you, too. You gonna screw her?” Stafford’s fingers bit into Tanner’s arm. “Hell, maybe I should fuck her. If that shit she writes is true, she’s learnt skills.”

“Drop dead.” Tanner turned on his heel and hurried into the bar. Where’d she go? He scanned the dimly-lit area. The thought of Stafford putting his hands on Macy soured Tanner’s stomach. The bastard couldn’t begin to cherish the gift of having Macy in his arms.

Tanner clenched his fist. Did he deserve her, either? He looked over the room once more. In the opposite corner, a woman sang a nasal karaoke version of a recent country song. At one of the tall bar tables, a couple clinked champagne flutes before meeting for a deep kiss. At the very edge of the space, Macy sat at a highboy table with her hands in her lap. With only two chairs, Stafford would have to find another table. Worked for Tanner.

Tanner crossed the room and butterflies swarmed in his stomach. Being at the hotel together increased the chances of their evening not ending with sharing a drink, but the odds meant nothing if the attraction wasn’t there. He’d cross that bridge when they came to it.

“Hello, beautiful.”

He couldn’t help but smile at the demure way she waited. She brightened the room and lifted his spirits. “I’ve never seen a woman look so delicious without even trying.”

“I’m sure you say that to all the girls.”

“I tell only the truth.” Tanner took the seat next to her and bumped his thigh against her knee. Tingles shot straight to his groin. At least the table hid his erection.