Page 10 of Shelter for Tanna

HotShot held up his hands in submission. “Nothing! Nothing at all. If there’s anybody I would imagine could handle that, it would be you. You’ve got the patience of Job.”

Braden stared at him in disbelief. “You think so?”

“Oh, god, yes. Question is, do youwantto? Because that’s taking on a lot.”

Braden shrugged. “Dunno. That’s why I’m trying to learn about it. I mean, when you get to be my age, you figure anybody you date is probably going to have kids.”

“Her only one?”

“No. She’s got a teenage son too. I haven’t met them yet. Guess I’m trying to be prepared.”

“Then it’ll probably be fine. Go in expecting the worst and what you get will seem pretty good. By the way, I’m a little surprised you’re going out with her.”

“Why?”

“Because… I mean, I didn’t really think you were into girls with a little more junk in their trunk,” HotShot said as he rose and headed to the coffeemaker.

“What I’minto,” Braden spat, a little more than offended, “is someone who’s smart, funny, hard-working, patient, and responsible. I think she pretty much fits all those categories, and she’s got beautiful eyes and a killer smile. I didn’t realize everybody thought I was so shallow.”

“I’m just saying, the women you’ve dated in the past?”

Braden stood, too frustrated to sit any longer. “You see any of them around? No. Becausetheywere all shallow. Seems I recall you going through a few before you met Lana?”

“Now wait a minute?”

“No,youwait a minute. I’m fucking tired of women using me as a good time or somebody to brag about. I think Lana was the first woman you dated who didn’t wear fake eyelashes or try to bowl in three-inch heels. Am I right?”

HotShot turned, coffee in hand, with a wistful smile on his face. “Yeah. You’re right. I got tired of the bleach blonds who wanted me to tattoo their name on my chest so everybody would see it the first time I did a firefighter beefcake calendar. Which, by the way, two of them tried to arrange. The calendar, not the tattoo.”

“Yeah, so, that’s what I’m talking about. Somebodyreal. Somebody who likes me for me, not for the turn-out coat or the fact that I try to keep in shape. Hell, at first I didn’t think she liked me at all, much less liking me for me. But I get the impression she doesn’t have time to be fake. She’s got her hands full with real life.”

As HotShot took his seat at the table again, he set his cup down and wrapped his hands around it. “That’s the kind of relationship a guy could really sink his teeth into if he was ready to settle down.”

Braden sat back down too. “I haven’t been fixing up that house for the last few years to ramble around in it by myself forever. It needs to be lived in. If I’m always going to be alone, I could do that in a one-bedroom apartment somewhere. That’s not why I bought a house. I bought that house for a family.”

“A woman like that would provide you with a ready-made one. Unless you want your own kids.”

“Who says they wouldn’t be my own kids? Parents aren’t the people who give birth to you?they’re the people who love you and raise you. If I love somebody, I could most certainly love her kids. Babies aren’t the only ones who need dads.”

HotShot leaned back into his chair. “You’ve got the right attitude about it, I have to say. But I’ll say this too: Any woman would be lucky to have you. You’re a good guy.”

Braden’s brows tented. “Thanks! That means a lot to me coming from you.”

“You’re welcome. I think you should go for it, see where it goes. At least this woman would be mature enough to stay friends with you if that’s all the relationship ever became.”

“That’s true.” Braden hadn’t thought about it that way, but he got the impression HotShot was right. Even if they weren’t romantically involved, he had a feeling Tanna could use one more friend. Her life couldn’t be easy. And if they just didn’t hit it off in a couples way, being friends with her wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Nobody could have too many friends, he supposed.

But he had to admit, when he thought about those gloriously round hips and that ample rack, being friends sure wasn’t the first thing on his mind.

* * *

It seemed like Thursday night was rushing toward her, and she was dreading it, mostly because she knew it would be a first and last date. Once Braden met Max, it would all be over.

She never said a word to Max about the date. It would only cause him to have a meltdown, and she didn’t need that to happen before she walked out the door. Nita would be able to handle him, she knew, but she hated she’d be dropping her friend into that situation. Even so, Nita dealt with him at school and she knew what she was getting into. On her way home, Tanna made sure to stop at the store and stock up on her arsenal. Nita might need it.

At five thirty, there was a knock on the door and she opened it to find Nita standing there, all smiles. “Look at you! You look amazing!” the younger woman gushed.

“Think so? It’s nothing, really. But thank you.” Tanna had put on her best jeans, then found a black top to wear with them. Her black flats were a bit scuffed up, but they were all she had, so they had to do. She’d tried several different things with her hair and all of them looked stupid, mostly because she had no idea what she was doing, so she just gave up and let it hang. It wasn’t the prettiest color in the world, but at least it was full and shiny.

---