Page 32 of Trusting Tanner
“What about you?” Tanner’s full attention was on her now. His hand still rubbed her back, and the heat of his palm seeped through her clothes. “You coming over tomorrow?”
“Damn right she is,” Devon said before she could answer. “She owes me quesadillas, and there’s no better time for them than during a football game.”
“Thanks, Dev.” She laughed. “Guess I’ll be there, then.” She’d already planned to say yes anyway.
“Are you sure I’m invited?” Brittany spoke up, and all eyes turned to her. “I’m a Cowboys fan.”
Everyone laughed. “Well, I’m not a football fan at all, so I’ll cheer for the Cowboys with you,” Jules said.
“Hey now.” Tanner’s hand slid around to her side, and he pulled her closer. “You really should be rooting for my team.”
“Why?” She snuggled into his side. “Because it’s your house?”
“No, because the Giants are going to win.”
“You really need to work on your confidence.” She stuck her tongue out at him. The screen flickered and the opening credits forGreasestarted. She’d always wanted to watch this movie—or any of her favorites—while cuddled up with a guy who actually wanted to be with her and wasn’t doing it simply because she’d nagged him. It was silly, but after spending so much time with a boyfriend who was selfish, it was the little things that began to matter.
“We could make it interesting.” His voice was low at her ear, his warm breath a caress against her cheek.
“Interesting how?”
“A friendly wager.” His deep brown eyes danced in the dark, the light from the movie screen highlighting his face in flashes.
“All right, Collins. What’re your terms?” She didn’t need to ask, but she wanted to hear him say it because she’d die of embarrassment if she assumed incorrectly. “What do you get if your team wins?”
“You know damn well what I want.”
“A date,” she whispered.
His only answer was a raised brow and a smirk that somehow managed to show off his dimple. Her heart raced, and her throat went dry. The more time she spent with him, the more she liked him. He was everything Zach wasn’t, and when she’d mistakenly thought Tanner had moved on, the pain had been worse than finding her ex in bed with someone else. She’d even contemplated changing her entire class schedule so she wouldn’t have to see him with another girl. If she continued to tell him no, he would eventually move on. And, God, she did want to go out with him. She didn’t want to lose him because she was scared of what might happen.
“Okay.” She nodded. “You’ve got yourself a bet.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, seriously.” His team had better be as good as he claimed because she needed them to win.
After packing up all the stuff Tanner had brought, which turned out to be everything except the blankets, and piling it in his car, they headed toward her res hall. He pulled up alongside the curb and killed the engine.
He got out and opened her car door, extending his hand. She took it and let him help her out. “Thank you for going tonight,” he said, walking beside her.
“It was fun.” She smiled. “Thanks for inviting me.” Drowsiness clouded her senses, and she yawned.
“I’m going to see you tomorrow, right?”
“Mm-hmm.” She wouldn’t dream of missing it.
“Good.” He rested his butt on the brick banister and crossed his arms. “You know, this would’ve been a hell of a first date.”
She chuckled. “Probably.”
Uncrossing his arms, he pinched the front of her sweatshirt, tugging her toward him. She stepped between his parted legs. His hands settled on her waist, and she put hers on the back of his shoulders, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Friendly good-bye hug?” she asked.
“I’d be highly disappointed if I didn’t get one.”
Her heart skipped a beat. Did he really mean that? She slid her hands up his neck and around to his nape, his silky soft hair grazing her fingers. His eyes darkened like the midnight sky, and her breath caught. Before he could say or do anything, she buried her face against his broad shoulder and hugged him. His hands didn’t move at first, but then they trailed slowly up her sides, over her rib cage, and around to her back. She pressed closer, squeezing him a little tighter, and inhaling his woodsy scent. A groan rumbled from deep within his chest and vibrated throughout her body. She’d never physically felt another person’s emotions before, but that’s the only way she could explain what was happening. Tanner’s desire for her poured out of him in waves and crashed into her soul, completely enveloping her.
