Page 24 of Shelter for Tanna

“Uh, yeah. Sorry. Thinking about something. What did you say?”

“Dad asked you if you’ve always lived here.”

Tanna shook her head. “No. When Michael was in the service, we were all over the place. It wasn’t until he came back from Iraq that we settled back here with my family. His parents are both gone, and he only had one brother. Honestly, I don’t know where Jeffrey is these days. I haven’t heard from him in several years, so he’s not in our lives. Last time I saw him was at the funeral, and he didn’t come to the house or early for visitation, just slipped in and out.”

“That’s a shame. You’ve got two fine young men here,” Jake said and gestured toward Daniel and Max.

“Thank you. Being a single parent isn’t easy, but I love them both so much. They’re my whole life.”

“Hope you’ve got a little extra room in there,” Braden said with a wink in her direction.

Tanna gave him a big smile. “I bet I could manage.”

The rest of the meal was magical. Max said please and thank you, then asked if he could go out in the yard and play again. Instead, Braden encouraged all four boys to wander the property and look around, with an admonishment to stay away from the edge of the pond. As she watched, the kids ran across the back yard and toward the tree line. A moment of panic seized her as they disappeared into the woods, but she felt a pair of strong hands on her waist and a voice whispered, “They’ll be fine. Come sit down and chat. We can clean up everything later.” She didn’t have a chance to protest before Braden took her hand and led her into the living room to settle in.

They all laughed and talked for over an hour. It was later in the afternoon before Jessica and David rounded up Devon and Drake, with a promise to get together soon. They were no more out the door than Marsha appeared, serving dishes she’d brought in hand, and hugs and kisses were passed around. Tanna was surprised when Max hugged Marsha and then Jake. He never let anyone touch him.

When his parents were out of sight, Braden stepped in behind Tanna and wrapped both arms around her waist. “Let’s get them occupied. I’ve got something I want to show you.” Ten minutes later, Max and Daniel were settled in front of the TV with drinks and snacks, and Braden led Tanna up the stairs. He stopped on the landing and said, “Tell me what you think.” With one hand, he opened the door nearest him and slung it open.

It was a bedroom, and a good-sized one at that. It had a queen bed, some bookshelves, and a desk and chair. When he stepped out, she followed, and he opened the door at the top of the stairs, revealing a small but neat bathroom with brand new tile and fixtures. Then he opened the third door. It was a bedroom almost identical to the first, but instead of the blue and gray of the first bedroom, it was red and gray. The furniture was similar, and it was plenty large enough. “What I think about what?” she asked.

Braden leaned against the wall, crossed his ankles, and folded those big arms across his chest. “Your boys. Do you think they’d like it here?”

“Braden, I don’t think?”

“What did you think of my family?”

She couldn’t stop her eyebrows from popping up and she shrugged. “I like them. They were really nice to me and the boys. Max seems to like them. Your sister’s kids are very well-behaved, and mine really seemed to like playing with them. But don’t you think?”

“Could you see yourself here? Do you like the house? The property? Does it feel comfortable to you?”

Tanna was overwhelmed. What was he wanting? “Yeah. It’s very comfortable. I like it a lot.”

“Good. Yes, it’s a little soon.” She opened her mouth, but before she could speak, he laughed. “I know that’s what you were about to say! But this just feels right, doll. We have a lot of ground to cover before we make those kinds of decisions, but I wanted to know if this is something you’d even consider. You know, the house and… me.”

Something came over Tanna, something she couldn’t explain, and she marched right up to Braden and looked up into his face. She surprised both of them when she said, “Kiss me.”

“Babe, you don’t have to tell me twice!” he said with a chuckle before he captured her lips with his soft, warm ones. Arms tightening around her, Braden deepened the kiss, and Tanna felt she’d explode with joy. When his tongue slipped inside her mouth, hers met it, and they played along each other, heightening her sense of longing and need. She almost giggled when his hands slipped from her waist downward and cupped her ass, pulling her into him until she could feel his rigidness against her belly. And he groaned. God, that was a beautiful sound.

Pulling back, he stared down into her eyes and she could feel herself melting. His voice was strained when he said, “You and the boys. I want you here next weekend, all weekend. And I want you in my bed. How does that sound?”

Holy shit! Sex with Braden? She was pretty sure it would be amazing, and god knew she needed it. She was afraid she’d have to sweep the cobwebs out of her cooch for the occasion, but that was doable. “Sounds good,” she whispered back and kissed his chin.

“I’ll be around during the week, but we need that time together, all four of us, to see how we’re going to interact and what problems we might run into. But I want you, baby, in all the ways that count. You’re exactly the kind of woman I’ve been looking for. I can’t wait to see where this goes.”

“Me too.” Leaning into him, she rested her cheek against his chest and almost purred when his hand stroked her hair. It was a simple gesture, but one that made her feel loved and appreciated. Against her better judgment, she blurted out, “I want to… be yours.”

A swell of laughter rolled through his chest and tickled her ear. “Well, I sure don’t have anybody else in mind, so I’d say that’s kinda your position already!”

“Good. Don’t go rescuing some model and carrying her down the ladder and off into the sunset, okay?”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” His finger under her chin lifted and turned her head and those dark eyes smiled into hers. “You’re all I want.”

You’re all I want. Tanna remembered those words all afternoon and evening, even after she’d gone to bed and said goodnight to Braden in a text. She was all he wanted. Could she be enough?

She didn’t know for sure, but she was certainly going to give it her best shot.

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