Read Online Taming Tanner by Drea Riley - Free Book Online Page B

imp questioned before rounding the table to peek in car seats that held the Westbrook twins. Mijoy had been utterly enamored with the little boys all weekend long. “My mommy says he is a stone-cold fox. She didn’t say he was smart.”
    The entire party snickered at the table, trying hard not to succumb to raucous laughter a third time over.
    “So maybe your mommy is right, little one, but if I were you, I wouldn’t repeat that in front of your papa, okay?”
    “Oh no, Mommy gave me three cookies and told that if Daddy asks, I’m supposed to pretend we are in church and the hushers are standing behind me.”
    The little girl spoke with the earnestness that only a child could have before skipping around the table, grabbing Sophia’s hand and tugging her back toward the compound’s large kitchen.
    Though Sophia pretended to be totally engrossed in the child's conversation, she couldn’t help the distinct feeling that Tanner was staring at her ass as she walked away.
    Risking a glance over her shoulder she nearly tripped when Tanner winked at her and licked his lips, catching his bottom lip between his teeth.
    “Damn chubby-chaser,” she muttered under her breath while flipping him the bird over little Mijoy’s head.
    “What’s a chubby-chaser, Miss Soapy?” the little girl asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
    “Never you mind all that, let’s go run your mamma out of the kitchen before your daddy gets her and we all get in trouble.”
     

     
    Tanner watched and waited as the last of the reception guests left the barn. Letty and Jeramy’s ceremony had been amazing. It was like a fairytale. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked around the dimly lit barn that was covered in hay, sawdust and heart-shaped confetti in hundreds of shades of pink and red. The cleanup crew had their hands full, trying to gather all the empty cups and plates that littered the tables. He didn’t envy them the task. To do so would mean he’d have to expel energy in their direction. Honestly, he was reserving all of that to hold himself still in the shadows as he watched his prey.
    Sophia had looked amazing today, though she hadn’t participated in the ceremony like he had. She had been present throughout the vows, sitting front and center, representing Jeramy’s family, along with his mother, sister and Tanner’s own parents. She’d been stunning in her wine-colored dress. Somehow the jeweled tone of the fabric made her dark skin shine like polished stone.
    Again, he was jealous of every man, woman, and child that got close to her. From his position as best man, he could have easily taken two or three steps to her and pulled her from her seat before dashing away to some dark little corner and having his way with her. But he was a patient man. Even if that patience was running thin.
    Watching her now was driving him nuts. She was gently packaging the top tier of the wedding cake, as well as several smaller packages of cakes and fruit that he assumed would probably be delivered to the hotel where all the bridesmaids were gathering the next day for a spa day. He and the other groomsmen were supposed to be treated to a round of golf, but Tanner had a feeling he’d be missing out on a great tee time.
    Once Sophia finished her task, she instructed another of the staff from her bakery on what to do with all the packages. Tanner chose that moment to step forward and offer to help her back to the foreman’s house.
    “Hey, you,” he spoke as he approached. “There’s no way you can walk in the dark in those shoes carrying that plate of goodies. Let me help you.”
    Sophia gazed up at him as if she was about to decline, but something in her eyes told him she was going to accept his offer, if only for the sake of her aching feet.
    “Thank you very much, Tanner. I was just wondering how I was going to manage the trek. You’d think a big girl like me would have had more sense than to wear shoes like this on a ranch. As if I