church where I would hear from John from beyond the grave.
His hatred for me was in every pore of the letter. For this “job”, Tanner would be paid $250,000 by Parker. That money was in a trust separate from the house one and the one set up for Courtney.
“Oh, my God…” I said quietly as I laid the letter on the coffee table in front of me. “I knew he hated me, but I never knew how deep it went…”
“I’m so sorry, Shannon… I wasn’t going to tell you…” Tanner started.
“You weren’t going to tell me? You were just going to break my heart into a thousands pieces, leave me standing at the altar and cash your check?” I bolted up from the sofa with tears streaming down my face. I headed for the front door, but Tanner cut me off and slid his body between me and the door.
“No… Shannon, please listen to me for a minute. Just a minute, okay?” Tanner pleaded.
I stepped back and crossed my arms in front of me.
“A minute,” I said sharply as I stared into his piercing green eyes.
“When John tried to hire me for this extra job, I knew he was basically blackmailing me. If I didn’t comply, or at least tell him I would, he wouldn’t help me find Emmy. I would do anything for that little girl… just to brush those blond ringlets from her face or hold her hand while we go get an ice cream… You have a daughter, you know what I am saying here,” Tanner said, his face melting and my heart sinking.
“I know… But how could you say you’d do it? What kind of man does that make you?”
“I said I would do it because John promised he had connections that would find her. As the months wore on and he got sicker, Parker stopped answering my calls. Then, when John died, he called and said the plan was on. He said that he had a file on his desk with information about Emmy. He said that as soon as I left you standing at the altar, John instructed him to give me the file and the money…”
I felt like my legs were turning to Jello. Here it hadn’t even been two weeks since John died and another man was already screwing up my life, my heart.
“Shannon, when I saw you in the kitchen, wine all over you dancing around, I realized that John was the jerk. When I talked to you, danced with you, threw my body over yours, I knew that you were a good person. I knew I had to tell you. I couldn’t hurt you like that, even if it means I don’t find my daughter as quickly. I have integrity, and that can’t be bought…”
The response I felt in my gut stunned me.
“I cannot keep you from seeing your baby, Tanner. If it means that I have to pretend to fall in love with you and pretend to get jilted at the altar in front of everyone I know, I will do it… for you… to see your daughter,” I said looking up at him.
“Shannon, I would never dream of doing that. I don’t want the money. Don’t you understand? It was never about that. It was about Emmy. But then I met you, and I can’t hurt you either. I care about you…” He stepped forward and tipped by chin up with his index finger. I didn’t pull away or move back.
Slowly, he leaned down without diverting his eyes. His lips pressed into mine, and I felt a shiver up my spine. His lips were soft and moist and divine. He moaned slightly as he reached his hand around to hold the base of my head. The other hand made its way to the small of my back.
Sensations wracked my body in ways that I hadn’t ever felt before. This man wanted me. He had been honest with me. He was protecting me. I reached up and put my arms around his neck pulling him closer into me, running my fingers through his thick hair.
He kissed down my neck and around behind my ear. I could feel his warm breath on my neck and I arched my neck back from the electricity I felt. I wanted more of those lips and turned my head to meet them.
His kiss was more wanting and desperate this time. Our tongues met as we
His hatred for me was in every pore of the letter. For this “job”, Tanner would be paid $250,000 by Parker. That money was in a trust separate from the house one and the one set up for Courtney.
“Oh, my God…” I said quietly as I laid the letter on the coffee table in front of me. “I knew he hated me, but I never knew how deep it went…”
“I’m so sorry, Shannon… I wasn’t going to tell you…” Tanner started.
“You weren’t going to tell me? You were just going to break my heart into a thousands pieces, leave me standing at the altar and cash your check?” I bolted up from the sofa with tears streaming down my face. I headed for the front door, but Tanner cut me off and slid his body between me and the door.
“No… Shannon, please listen to me for a minute. Just a minute, okay?” Tanner pleaded.
I stepped back and crossed my arms in front of me.
“A minute,” I said sharply as I stared into his piercing green eyes.
“When John tried to hire me for this extra job, I knew he was basically blackmailing me. If I didn’t comply, or at least tell him I would, he wouldn’t help me find Emmy. I would do anything for that little girl… just to brush those blond ringlets from her face or hold her hand while we go get an ice cream… You have a daughter, you know what I am saying here,” Tanner said, his face melting and my heart sinking.
“I know… But how could you say you’d do it? What kind of man does that make you?”
“I said I would do it because John promised he had connections that would find her. As the months wore on and he got sicker, Parker stopped answering my calls. Then, when John died, he called and said the plan was on. He said that he had a file on his desk with information about Emmy. He said that as soon as I left you standing at the altar, John instructed him to give me the file and the money…”
I felt like my legs were turning to Jello. Here it hadn’t even been two weeks since John died and another man was already screwing up my life, my heart.
“Shannon, when I saw you in the kitchen, wine all over you dancing around, I realized that John was the jerk. When I talked to you, danced with you, threw my body over yours, I knew that you were a good person. I knew I had to tell you. I couldn’t hurt you like that, even if it means I don’t find my daughter as quickly. I have integrity, and that can’t be bought…”
The response I felt in my gut stunned me.
“I cannot keep you from seeing your baby, Tanner. If it means that I have to pretend to fall in love with you and pretend to get jilted at the altar in front of everyone I know, I will do it… for you… to see your daughter,” I said looking up at him.
“Shannon, I would never dream of doing that. I don’t want the money. Don’t you understand? It was never about that. It was about Emmy. But then I met you, and I can’t hurt you either. I care about you…” He stepped forward and tipped by chin up with his index finger. I didn’t pull away or move back.
Slowly, he leaned down without diverting his eyes. His lips pressed into mine, and I felt a shiver up my spine. His lips were soft and moist and divine. He moaned slightly as he reached his hand around to hold the base of my head. The other hand made its way to the small of my back.
Sensations wracked my body in ways that I hadn’t ever felt before. This man wanted me. He had been honest with me. He was protecting me. I reached up and put my arms around his neck pulling him closer into me, running my fingers through his thick hair.
He kissed down my neck and around behind my ear. I could feel his warm breath on my neck and I arched my neck back from the electricity I felt. I wanted more of those lips and turned my head to meet them.
His kiss was more wanting and desperate this time. Our tongues met as we
Similar Books
The 30-Minute Vegan's Taste of the East: 150 Asian-Inspired Recipes--from Soba Noodles to Summer Rolls
Mark Reinfeld, Jennifer Murray
