Page 84 of Wildest Dreams

“Thing is, I could swear that all of my messages have been delivered and read – you know, because it fuckingshows meas much when you open up my goddamn texts. So tell me,baby–how am I texting a phone that you don’t use anymore, when everyone else is texting you on another number?”

The silence that stretches between us, filled only by the rapidly increasing fall of the rain and our quickening breathing, answers his question.

He shoves one of his hands into his hair, lake water spilling down his tan cheeks and over his swollen biceps.

“I knew it. I knew that you fucking liked me.” He removes his hand from his hair so that he can cup it around my cheeks. The warmth of his touch makes me gasp, my eyelashes fluttering. “You kept a phone contract going forfour years, justso that I could keep on texting you?”

I remain strategically silent but he already knows the truth.

Because how on earth can I ever rationalise having two phones, especially when one of them is only there so that Tanner can contact me?

He leans in closer so that we’re pressed nose to nose. “No matter how hard you pretended not to care, I knew that you still felt it – still feel it.” He pushes his forehead against mine and murmurs, “Scared little chicken.”

I frown against him, making a smile tug faintly at his lips.

“I don’t… I don’t want you,” I whisper, biting back a whimper as he brushes his forehead more firmly into mine.

“Yeah?” he rumbles deeply. “Whose hands are currently gripping into my pecs for dear life?”

I swallow hard.

Those would be mine.

I immediately try to pull them back but Tanner is quicker, and he grabs my wrists, keeping my hands in place as he closes his eyes.

“Just tell me, Aisling,” he murmurs. “Tell me what happened.”

“Tanner…” I say warily, shaking my head.

Because the truth of it is that I’m scared that he’s right – that I’m a scared little chicken.

I’ve invested so much time in trying to convince myself to not want him that I don’t know how to navigateallowingmyself to want him.

“It’s okay.” His warm thumb brushes firmly against my jaw. “I’ll fix it all, Aisling. All you’ve gotta do is tell me.”

I nod my head, and recount my eighteen-year-old heartbreak.

Chapter 22

Aisling

Four years ago

There are two large forearms wrapped gently around my waist, soft hair tickling my cheek as he nuzzles his face into my neck. His chest expands against my back on a deep slow inhale, and it falls just as soothingly, content and fast asleep.

I tentatively lift my quilt cover, peeking down at the thick pair of arms – large, tan, and so wonderfully warm. What was it that he said he did again? I remember him saying that his family was military but I can’t remember him saying what he did.

Did I even ask him?

I sink my teeth into my lower lip, frowning slightly as I stare down at his forearms.

The warm weight pressing into my back suddenly pulls me closer. His hands move to massage both sides of my waist as he slips his thick quad between my thighs.

“Aisling,” he rumbles, groaning quietly as he pushes himself against me. “Good morning.”

I bite harder into my bottom lip as liquid heat pools in my belly, his quad rubbing back and forth beneath me making me feel hot and lightheaded.

But most of all I’m burning up because he actually remembered my name.

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