Page 30 of All Night with the Cowboy
She and Tanner had been consumed by each other, and if they’d stayed together he would have ended up holding her back. Not because he’d have ever intended on doing it, but because they were like that. They were always joined at the hip, so she would never have taken a job that would have meant extended periods of time away from him. And she would definitely have resented being the plus-one in his life rather than growing on her own. The older she got, the more her financial independence meant to her.
And that was assuming they’d stayed together. That Tanner wouldn’t have strayed or wished he’d had the chance to be with other women instead of committing to the girl he’d lost his virginity to. And maybe he wouldn’t have been so fearless in the ring. Or maybe she would have tried to stop him from doing something so dangerous.
There were so many what-ifs, it made her head spin.
Lauren turned around and admired the view one last time before heading back down Mount Vomo. In the end, it didn’t matter. Shit happened, and her life had been good. She had an amazing career, a home she was proud of, and her family was her rock. She’d long ago forgiven them for their decision about Tanner, but it didn’t mean it didn’t still hurt like hell, because it damn well did.
But now she was at a crossroads. She was running back to the Beach House, headfirst into Tanner, the former love of her life, and the only man she’d ever truly loved. And maybe the only man she ever would.
***
“I thought you’d caught the first helicopter out of here.”
Tanner watched as Lauren collapsed onto the sofa. Her face was red, hair that had escaped her ponytail was stuck to her skin, and her eyes were shut the second she hit the cushions.
“Been running,” she said, slightly out of breath.
Tanner picked up the phone and waited until someone answered.
“Room service.”
“Can I have orange juice, fresh fruit, and pancakes for two please?” he asked. “And a couple of strong coffees.”
He waited for the order to be repeated to him, thanked the woman on the other end of the line, and turned his attention back to Lauren.
“How was it?”
“It just about killed me but it was amazing.”
Tanner stretched out, wishing he didn’t feel like an old man and jealous of her workout. He was itching to exercise, to run and sweat and push himself. Instead he was facing a day of painful massage, some light training, and maybe a swim or two. Hardly anything to moan about—he got how lucky he was—but he wasn’t great at doing nothing. After a ride around the ranch back home or a big run or working with cattle all day? Hell yeah, he liked to laze about and do nothing. Trouble was that doing nothing had been his life for the better part of two months now.
“I need to run that mountain,” Tanner said. “I want to run to the top and beat you.”
Lauren groaned and sat up. “You want to race me?”
“Damn straight.”
Her laughter made him scowl. “You don’t think I can beat you?”
“I don’t think you could have beaten me before your accident, let alone now,” she said, her face less flushed and her breathing noticeably less rapid. “But we can definitely start with a slow hike and build up to a jog.”
Tanner didn’t want a slow jog, he wanted a damn-fast, lungs-screaming, arms-pumping kind of sprint.
“I don’t want to take a gentleman’s jog, Lauren. I want to kick your butt.”
This time she didn’t laugh. Maybe she’d seen the determination within him, or maybe she just didn’t want to burst his bubble.
“Okay, well, you’d better behave and do whatever I tell you to do then,” she said. “Call me when breakfast is ready, I’m going for a quick swim.”
Tanner expected her to change into a bikini and dive into the pool, but instead she kicked off her shoes, socks, and running top, and ran barefoot out onto the patio and down to the beach in her teeny running shorts and sports bra. He moved to the big open glass doors to watch her cross the beach and run into the water, diving into the aqua-blue ocean. He was tempted to join her, but he decided to leave her be. They were here for work, not pleasure, and that meant letting her do her own thing.
He watched her a bit longer, squinting to see her in the water, and then there was a knock at the door. Breakfast was served.
The butler laid out their food and drinks at the kitchentable, refusing to let Tanner help, so he grabbed a towel and went out to find Lauren. She was walking up the beach when he made it back outside, and he crossed the deck, opening the towel for her.
She looked radiant—her hair was slicked back off her face, the tie around her wrist and her hair loose down her back. Her skin was still wet, droplets clung to her lashes, and he fought not to look down her body at the sports bra and soaking wet shorts.
“Hungry?”
