Read Online Torn by Love (Scarred by Love #4) by C. A. Harms - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: C. A. Harms
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bought, and he was telling me he wanted to be more than just friends.
I battled with the warnings my head and heart were both giving me. I knew without a doubt that Tanner could hurt me. I wanted to believe he wouldn’t, but it didn’t erase my knowledge that he could.
“Say something, please,” he pleaded.
“I don’t want to be afraid of taking this chance on you, but I am. I’m terrified of what the outcome may be,” I confessed.
“Don’t damn us before you even give us a shot.” He led me to a chair and directed me to take a seat. Kneeling before me, he then placed his hands on the sides of my legs. “I’m no saint, I know this. I’ve been an ass more times than I can count. I’ve done shit without a second thought, not caring who I hurt in the process. I know I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry for that.”
He slid in closer, nudging my knees apart. “I wasn’t ready then.” His gaze locked on mine. “I’m ready, Lil. I am so ready to take this step now.”
In all the time I had known Tanner, I had never seen this look in his eyes. He was begging me with his stare. I knew I couldn’t deny either of us the chance. I wanted Tanner just as much, if not more.
“Just don’t break me,” I whispered.
His shoulders relaxed as he took in a deep breath. “I’ll never break you, I promise.” He rose up on his knees and then pulled me to him and kissed me with everything he could offer.
***
I woke up the next morning feeling peaceful and relaxed—a feeling I hadn’t had in a long time. Tanner and I spent close to two hours at his house yesterday, sharing ideas and visions for each room. The excitement in his eyes was beautiful. When we were done he took me to dinner at a little Italian restaurant at the edge of town. I couldn’t help the laughter that spilled from me when he got jealous over the way our waiter looked at me. It was a reaction I wasn’t used to seeing from him, but I’d be the first to admit, I loved his jealousy. It made me feel like I actually meant something to him.
After he dropped me off and kissed me good-bye, I sagged against the door with happiness. Tanner wanted more, finally.
The girls had planned to go out today, insisting we needed a day to ourselves. “Saturday makeovers,” they called it. I was slightly intimidated because when Kate was involved, it could get scary.
I didn’t take the time to do my hair before I left. Why bother when the salon would be our first stop? I just wadded it up in a messy bun and slipped on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, and my strappy sandals before grabbing my purse from the table.
Just as I was about to open the front door, the bell rang. I was supposed to be meeting the girls at Renaissance Salon, so I knew they weren’t here to pick me up. As I peeked through the window at the side of the door, my heart rate sped up. Tanner stood on the other side, looking all rugged and sexy. He wore a baseball cap backward, and his hair peeked out from under the brim at the base of his neck. It was crazy how he made me feel.
Opening the door slowly, I was slightly embarrassed by my rumpled look. “Hey,” I said.
He tilted his head to the side and grinned. “Why are you hiding behind the door, Lil?” He pushed against it, and I stepped back, my hands going immediately to my messy hair.
“I’m not hiding, I’m just a mess.”
He shook his head and stepped just inside. “Sexy as fuck, yes,” he whispered as he backed me up farther into the room. “But a mess, hell no.”
He had always made my knees weak, but now that I knew we had crossed the threshold into commitment territory, he made my entire body weak and needy. His leaned in, and his lips grazed mine on the path to my ear. “I’ll be working all day today, so I wanted to stop by on my way into the shop. That kiss last night only left me wanting more.”
Oh my God, I knew exactly what he meant. “Tell me about it,” I whispered, smiling when he grinned at my
I battled with the warnings my head and heart were both giving me. I knew without a doubt that Tanner could hurt me. I wanted to believe he wouldn’t, but it didn’t erase my knowledge that he could.
“Say something, please,” he pleaded.
“I don’t want to be afraid of taking this chance on you, but I am. I’m terrified of what the outcome may be,” I confessed.
“Don’t damn us before you even give us a shot.” He led me to a chair and directed me to take a seat. Kneeling before me, he then placed his hands on the sides of my legs. “I’m no saint, I know this. I’ve been an ass more times than I can count. I’ve done shit without a second thought, not caring who I hurt in the process. I know I’ve hurt you. I’m sorry for that.”
He slid in closer, nudging my knees apart. “I wasn’t ready then.” His gaze locked on mine. “I’m ready, Lil. I am so ready to take this step now.”
In all the time I had known Tanner, I had never seen this look in his eyes. He was begging me with his stare. I knew I couldn’t deny either of us the chance. I wanted Tanner just as much, if not more.
“Just don’t break me,” I whispered.
His shoulders relaxed as he took in a deep breath. “I’ll never break you, I promise.” He rose up on his knees and then pulled me to him and kissed me with everything he could offer.
***
I woke up the next morning feeling peaceful and relaxed—a feeling I hadn’t had in a long time. Tanner and I spent close to two hours at his house yesterday, sharing ideas and visions for each room. The excitement in his eyes was beautiful. When we were done he took me to dinner at a little Italian restaurant at the edge of town. I couldn’t help the laughter that spilled from me when he got jealous over the way our waiter looked at me. It was a reaction I wasn’t used to seeing from him, but I’d be the first to admit, I loved his jealousy. It made me feel like I actually meant something to him.
After he dropped me off and kissed me good-bye, I sagged against the door with happiness. Tanner wanted more, finally.
The girls had planned to go out today, insisting we needed a day to ourselves. “Saturday makeovers,” they called it. I was slightly intimidated because when Kate was involved, it could get scary.
I didn’t take the time to do my hair before I left. Why bother when the salon would be our first stop? I just wadded it up in a messy bun and slipped on a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, and my strappy sandals before grabbing my purse from the table.
Just as I was about to open the front door, the bell rang. I was supposed to be meeting the girls at Renaissance Salon, so I knew they weren’t here to pick me up. As I peeked through the window at the side of the door, my heart rate sped up. Tanner stood on the other side, looking all rugged and sexy. He wore a baseball cap backward, and his hair peeked out from under the brim at the base of his neck. It was crazy how he made me feel.
Opening the door slowly, I was slightly embarrassed by my rumpled look. “Hey,” I said.
He tilted his head to the side and grinned. “Why are you hiding behind the door, Lil?” He pushed against it, and I stepped back, my hands going immediately to my messy hair.
“I’m not hiding, I’m just a mess.”
He shook his head and stepped just inside. “Sexy as fuck, yes,” he whispered as he backed me up farther into the room. “But a mess, hell no.”
He had always made my knees weak, but now that I knew we had crossed the threshold into commitment territory, he made my entire body weak and needy. His leaned in, and his lips grazed mine on the path to my ear. “I’ll be working all day today, so I wanted to stop by on my way into the shop. That kiss last night only left me wanting more.”
Oh my God, I knew exactly what he meant. “Tell me about it,” I whispered, smiling when he grinned at my
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