Page 45 of Trusting Tanner
“Yeah.” She stepped around Rebecca, giving her a cautious look.
“Have fun.” Rebecca snickered and slammed the door.
He silently led Juliana out to his car, wondering what he was going to say to her and how she’d take it. Not that he had anything to hide. He opened the passenger door for her, and she slid in without a word. It wasn’t until he was behind the wheel and headed down the street that she spoke.
“What was that back there? How do you know Rebecca?”
He tightened his grip on the steering wheel and clenched his jaw. Rebecca was one person he wished he had never met. At least he understood why Juliana hadn’t wanted him anywhere near her room. He couldn’t imagine having to live with someone like her.
“Oh God.” Juliana had her hands over her face. “Please tell me you did not have sex with her.”
“What?” Eyes wide, he whipped around to look at her. “No.”
She didn’t respond, and his stomach dropped. “Why are we here?” she asked when he pulled into the parking spot in front of his apartment.
“Because we obviously need to talk, and I wanted somewhere we wouldn’t be interrupted. Jason is out with Holly for the day, so I have the place to myself.” He walked her inside. He sat on the couch and pulled her down next to him.
“You swear you didn’t have sex with her? Because that’s a deal breaker for me.” The desperate pleading in her gaze tugged at his heart. “I mean, you have a past. So do I. And neither of us can change that. But it’s…weird to be dating the same guy my roommate slept with.”
For the first time in his life, he was glad he hadn’t given in to his basic male urges, and he’d been tempted back then, especially because he’d been in an extended dry spell. Hell, he still was. “I swear on my life. I did not have sex with Rebecca.” He took her hands into his, caressing her knuckles.
“Did you kiss her?”
“No.”
“Did you take her out on a date?”
“No.”
“Did you ask her out?”
“God no!” He was not the least bit attracted to Rebecca.
“Didanythinghappen with her?”
He blew out a shaky breath. He wished he could say no to that question, too, but lying to Jules was not an option. “I had a couple of drinks with her at a party. We danced. That was it.”
“Wait.” She started to pull away, but he held her hands. “She’s the crazy girl from the party who wouldn’t leave you alone? The stalker?”
He could see the shock written on her face, and he knew what she was feeling because he felt it, too. “Yep. I had no idea she was your roommate. You’d never said her name.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Jules. You’ve already said she’s been difficult to live with, and I’m sure this won’t make it any easier.”
“You don’t need to apologize. You said you didn’t do anything with her, and it’s not like you assigned me to live with her.” She was stiff as a board, angling her upper body away from him, almost like she was trying to protect her heart.
“I’m not just saying it, Jules. It’s the truth.”What if she doesn’t believe me?Beads of sweat popped up along the nape of his neck, and he exhaled slowly.
“I’m sorry I interrogated you. That wasn’t fair.” The tension visibly left her body, and she scooted closer.
Wait, that was it? No more questions? “It’s okay.” He cupped her cheek, his thumb running across her bottom lip, amazed by how easily she’d given her trust to him. Now, more than ever, he wanted to prove he wasn’t a dick like her ex. “I don’t want this to be a problem for us, though.”
She leaned into his palm and closed her eyes momentarily. “I can’t say I’m happy my roommate is obsessed with the guy I like. But it certainly isn’t your fault.”
Easing his hand around to the back of her neck, he pulled her mouth to his, brushing his lips over hers. Her soft sigh encouraged him, and he dipped his tongue inside, taking a languid taste. Her flowery scent mixed with the faint taste of peppermint swirled around him, heightening his need. She was hesitant at first, like she wasn’t sure she believed him enough to let him kiss her, but then her hands flattened on his chest and moved up until her fingers were clasped around the nape of his neck.
“I don’t care about her, Jules. You’re the only one I want. You know that, right?” His heart raced, and his lips tingled with a kiss cut much too short.
“Sometimes it’s hard to believe that.”
Leaning back, he pulled her over onto his lap, and she straddled him. The position was so familiar and comfortable, he had to remind himself this was still new for both of them. “Oh, honey.” He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. “What did he do to you to make you doubt yourself like that?”
