Page 37 of Necessary Roughness

“I know I should stay out of it, but you asked out the wrong woman, Tanner.” She reached out to pat his upper arm. “We didn’t have a lot to say to each other. It’s not because I don’t think you’re a good guy. There was no spark. We’ll be friends, but we’re never going to be lovers.”

“Okay,” he said. He wanted to argue with her, but she was right. It smarted a little to hear her put into words she wasn’t interested, but at least she was honest.

“There were enough sparks to burn the house down between you and Jordan, though,” she said. “Why aren’t you dating her?”

“She’s my physical therapist,” he said.

“That’s quite an excuse. I saw how you looked at her. You turned into Mr. Personality the second she showed up too.” Tabitha took a few steps away from him but turned to face him again. “Ask her out.”

He watched her walk to her car, get in, and drive away. She tapped the horn as a good-bye. She was right. He’d called Tabitha because he thought he should start his social life again. He didn’t ask the woman he really wanted to spend time with. It had nothing to do with the fact he was DP’s client. It had everything to do with the fact he was afraid she’d reject him.

He hadn’t had to chase a woman for years now. They chased him. It was a pretty sweet deal for any guy who covered up his fear of rejection by acting like an ass. Unfortunately, this made sure that someone like Jordan would have never approached him, either. It was time for him to man up and do a little chasing for a change.

***

TANNER WALKED BACK into his house to see Jordan spooning diced bacon out of the bottom of the spinach salad container. She spread it over an empty plate and added a little of the shredded cheese they’d used on their quesadillas.

“Is it okay if Sadie has some of this?” she said. “I know she can’t have a lot of the vegetables.”

He lowered himself back into the chair he’d been sitting in and rested the crutches against the side of his chair. He was getting more mobility as he continued working with Jordan, but he still used the crutches or a cane when he had to walk any distance at all.

“Want some, Sadie girl?”

Sadie appeared out of nowhere, rushed to the plate, and halted inches away from it. She sat, tail thumping against the deck as she gazed up at Tanner. She drooled a little. Tanner stroked her head.

“Does she always wait for food?”

“Of course. She’s a good girl. Go ahead, Sadie.”

Sadie attacked the plate as if she hadn’t eaten for a week. Thirty seconds later, the plate was clean, and Sadie moved closer to Jordan’s chair to lick her hand.

“She knows you fed her. Now she’ll be your best friend,” Tanner said. He leaned back in his chair and stared out at the lake. “Would you believe it if I told you seeing my dog inhaling that bacon makes me happier than if I ate it myself?”

“Maybe,” Jordan said.

The silence stretched between them. Sadie laid her head in Tanner’s lap. Jordan leaned back in her chair and stared at the lake. The boaters must have decided to call it a night; the only sounds she heard were slight waves and a few birds in the trees in Tanner’s neighbor’s yard. She had things to say to him, but she wasn’t sure where to start. The combination of the wine she’d had and the warmth of the sun left her unwilling to do anything at the moment besides relax.

A yawn escaped before she could stifle it.

“You’re tired,” he said. “Maybe you should hit the hay and I’ll take care of this.” He nodded at the tableful of plates, utensils, and wineglasses.

“You can’t pick up all this stuff. You’ll wipe out. I can do it. Plus, you paid for dinner.”

“Did you think I was going to charge you for it or something?”

“I wasn’t sure what you were thinking. All I know is that I was about to take your dog for a walk and I found myself invited to dinner.”

She saw his mouth curve into a grin. “That must have been traumatic.”

“Tabitha’s great. When are you going to see her again?”

He gazed into her eyes. “We decided we’re going to be friends. Maybe she’ll stop by for a drink or something soon.”

“How did this happen?” She kept her voice casual. She tried to form her facial expression into bland disinterest.

“Tabitha?”

“No, the last NATO agreement. What did you think?”

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