Page 11 of Shelter for Tanna

“You really do look great,” Nita repeated as she stepped inside. “Max in his room?”

“Yeah. I bought extras this afternoon at the store. They’re up there in the box,” Tanna said, pointing to a plastic box up high on top of the cabinets. “Daniel can reach them with no trouble.”

“Great. Hey, Danny boy!” Nita called out and waved to Daniel.

“Hey, Nita! Glad you’re here! Do you think you could keep Max busy long enough for me to listen to an album in my bedroom later? I haven’t gotten to hear the whole thing through.”

“Sure. No problem. I might have to come and get you to…” Nita pointed up at the box.

“Anytime you need them!” Daniel answered with a laugh.

Tanna was about to say something when her phone pinged and she checked her text messages. It was from Braden.

Leaving my place. Be there in 20. Can’t wait, doll.

There he went again, calling her doll. That forty-five minutes he’d said he’d need was looking more like a scant five all the time.I’m ready anytime, she texted back. That got a thumbs-up and a smiley emoji.

She and Nita were talking about one of the new teachers at the school when there was a knock at the door. “Oooo, he’s here,” Nita whispered. “I get to see him!”

“Yep. Here we go.” She strode across the room and opened the door, and the sight on the other side almost took her breath away.

Braden stood there, all six feet and three inches of rock-hard muscle wrapped in a dark blue tee and the most form-fitting jeans Tanna had ever seen. The jeans legs ended in a pair of dark brown biker boots, and she almost swooned. All she’d ever seen him in was his turn-out coat, and that didn’t nearly do him justice?lawd, no. She didn’t realize she was standing there, staring and not breathing, until he gave her a lopsided grin and said, “Can I come in?”

“Oh! Oh, god, yeah. Come on in. Please. Um, Braden, this is my friend, Nita, and she’s staying with the boys tonight.”

He held out a big hand and Tanna watched Nita melt as she placed her tiny one in it. “Pleasure to meet you,” the diminutive woman whispered.

“And you too. Thanks for doing this for Tanna. I promise we’ll bring you some dessert back,” he said and winked. Nita looked like she’d pass out, and it was all Tanna could do to keep from laughing aloud. “And who do we have over here?” he asked as he released Nita’s hand and turned toward Daniel.

Before Tanna could speak, Daniel rose and glided across the room in three strides. “Daniel, sir. Pleasure to meet you.”

“And you as well. Hope this is okay with you,” Braden said, as though he were asking Daniel’s permission.

Tanna watched her son’s spine straighten and his face grow stern. “Yes, sir. As long as you treat her right, it’s fine with me.”

Braden gave the boy a nod. “Then you have nothing to worry about. Your mother is a lady and I intend to treat her like one.”

“Thank you. I hope you guys have fun. Mom, should I?”

“No. We’ll make a trip down the hallway. Would you like to meet Max?” Tanna asked Braden.

“Of course.”

“This way.” When they stopped at his door, she gave it a slight rap. “Max? We have a visitor.”

“Who?” he yelled.

“A friend of mine. I want you to meet him. I’m opening the door. Remember how we’re supposed to behave.” She swung the door inward and waited for Braden’s reaction.

The room was a disaster, but she knew Max well enough to know that he knewexactlywhere everything was. When she glanced at Braden, nothing was registering on his face, so she decided to forge ahead. “This is my friend, Braden. Braden, this is my son, Max.”

Braden didn’t move or hold out a hand for shaking. “Hi, Max. It’s good to meet you.”

“Why?”

“Because your mom is my friend and it’s important to me to meet you, since you’re her son.”

“Why?”

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