Chapter Five

Tanner hesitated, knowing the answer would upset her.

“Mia,” he said softly, “they’re saying that this storm could last another forty-eight hours.”

Her crestfallen look made his heart ache, and he leaned forward and took her hand.

“Hey,” he soothed. “One problem at a time, okay? Let’s focus on what we can control. I can go get your car, and bring you some dry clothes, and we can go from there. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered, and squeezed his hand.

Tanner watched the sparkle that came into her eyes as she smiled at him and felt his heart double-thump in response.

Oh, boy. I’m in deep, deep trouble.

Reluctantly, he pulled his hand back.

“Okay, then. I’m gonna go get your car. I’ll be back in about forty minutes.”

He felt those emerald eyes of hers watching his every movement as he turned and walked out of the room.

***

He called me honey!!! Oh my God!! Mia’s inner fangirl raved. The only thing that could have made that any sexier would be if I’d been wrapped up in his arms when he called me that.

Mia rolled her eyes at her inner monologue before she could stop herself.

But he’s Blake’s best friend, and Blake is so protective of me. I don’t know that us getting together would be a good idea.

Why not? fangirl retorted. We’re both single, consenting adults. Blake doesn’t get a vote here – and you’ve wanted to be Tanner Greysen’s girl for years.

Okay, first of all, you’re assuming Tanner Greysen is single, and that’s a great big assumption, and you know what they say about assuming….

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shut up. I saw no wedding band, at all, fangirl shot back.

And that means zilch, dear. He may still have a girlfriend or a fiancée. Hell, he could even be married and just not wear a ring for some reason. And we haven’t even covered the obvious yet.

Which is?

What if he’s not interested in you like that?

Party-pooper.

***

She is off limits. She is off limits, his brain chanted in the background as Tanner drove to the highway, pivoted, then backed up in front of her little Honda.

But why is she off limits? She’s an adult, and I’m an adult, he reasoned.

You know how Blake is. You mess with Mia and he finds out, he’ll skin you alive. And then, he’ll get really mad, came the answer. Besides, she may not be single.

I saw no ring of any sort, bro.

Doesn’t matter, bro, his conscience echoed. She may be in a relationship. And since when do you talk like a surfer?

“Gah,” Tanner snarled as he hooked up the car and pulled the lever to move it up onto the flatbed.

He continued the internal discussion all the way back to the garage, where he backed the rig into bay one and lowered the garage-style door.

At least do the stand-up thing, and talk to Blake first, his conscience pointed out. Not to get his blessing, necessarily, just so he’s aware of how you feel about her.

“How would that go, if I talk to him and he shoots down the idea?” Tanner mused out loud, then immediately dismissed it.

If I do that and he gets mad, it might strain our friendship. And if I don’t give him a heads up and I pursue her and he finds out, that might strain our friendship, too.

Dammit.

Not to mention – how do I feel about her? he asked himself as he climbed into his four-wheel drive pickup truck and turned the key.

The question dogged his steps all the way back to pick Mia Jones up from St. Claire’s.

***

Tanner had been back by her side for about twenty minutes when the nurse came in.

“Here’s your discharge paperwork, honey,” the woman said. “Get somewhere warm and stay there for the next couple of days, all right? And go easy. Light activity only.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mia said.

Once the nurse left, Mia asked, “Tanner, can you set my suitcase up here on the bed, please?”

“Sure.”

He did as she asked, and she unzipped it and rummaged around.

“Huh. These will have to do, I guess,” she said, pulling out a sweater and jeans. “My sweatpants and overcoat are soaked.”

“We’ll put them in the wash when we get to my house,” he assured her, and she nodded.

“And I brought you this,” he continued, and held out one of his coats.

“Thanks! That looks toasty,” she grinned, and he grinned back.

“I’m gonna step out so you can get dressed. Holler when you’re ready to go and I’ll get your suitcase for you.”

“Okay. Did you call my mom?”

“Just about to,” he replied, waving his cell phone at her.

He walked out into the hall and dialed the Jones residence.

“Hi there,” he said to Gladys when she picked up.

“Tanner! What a pleasant surprise! How have you been?”

“I’ve been doing well, Mrs. Jones, thanks. I wanted to call and let you know that Mia’s car broke down, but she’s here in Winters, and she’s with me. She’s fine, but with the weather like it is they’ve closed the highway.”

“Well, I have no doubt you’ll take good care of my baby,” Gladys responded immediately. “I take it she’s aware that Blake’s flight got cancelled.”

“Yes, ma’am, I let her know that the airport shut down.”

“Well, not much to be done but hunker down and wait it out, I suppose. What’s wrong with Gracie?”

He chuckled. “I’m not sure yet, but my plan first thing in the morning is to start running some diagnostics. But no worries, Mrs. Jones. If for some reason I can’t get Gracie running, I’ll bring Mia home myself once the weather clears.”

“Well, you could come along either way, dear. We’d love to see you, and I know Blake would, too.”

“Thanks, I think I’ll take you up on that.”

“Tell Mia I love her and I’m glad she’s safe, and that I’ll talk to her in the morning.”

“Yes, ma’am. Good night.”

He disconnected the call and tucked his phone in his pocket, then knocked on the door.

“You ready?” he asked.