Page 110 of Let Me Be the One
“Good thing I was close.”
True, but that led to a new question. “It’s late, so why are you here?”
Tanner got to his feet. “We’ll get to that, but first let’s see if you can stand.”
“Of course I can. I ran outside, remember?”
“You were riding on adrenaline then. Come on.”
Again with care, she slowly got to her feet. Tanner’s supporting arm around her back helped, and it wasn’t too excruciating, even when she put weight on her leg. “See, no real damage, just colorful.”
“You’re going to feel it tomorrow.”
More than she felt it now? Not an uplifting thought. Determined, she started to limp her way to the kitchen. With a full day tomorrow, she’d need to get to bed soon.
There’d been a time in her life when thoughts of sleep wouldn’t have occurred to her until at least midnight. Clearly, those days were long past.
Tanner carried the makeshift ice packs in one hand so he could keep his other arm around her.
So much for her show of independence.
In the kitchen, he replaced the ice in the plastic bag, and substituted the frozen diced onions for frozen French fries. “Be as pissed at me as you want—you still need to keep icing both spots, okay?”
“I’m not pissed.” Not anymore. Mostly she was confused, and she wanted to hear more about him liking her, but she didn’t want to badger him for the info.
At the refrigerator, she reached for the milk but Tanner got it before her.
“You’re hungry?” he asked. “What do you want? I’ll get it for you.”
Exasperation overwhelmed her and that turned into a frustrated laugh. When she looked at his frowning face, it amused her even more. “I haven’t seen you for over a week, Tanner. Eight whole days. Not a peep.”
“I know how long it’s been.”
“Perfect. So give me a reason for your visit tonight, and then give me some privacy so I can tend my bruised body without an audience.”
The way he stared down at her, those brown eyes searching yet unflinching, put Callie on the defense.
“Well?”
Tanner pulled her check from his pocket. He showed it to her, then ripped it in half, then into four pieces and tossed it in her trash can. “Addie doesn’t want it. Kam and I don’t want it. We’re happy to have Rebel though, so if you really don’t mind us keeping the horse, then we thank you for the gift.”
She’d forgotten all about the check and tonight she didn’t have it in her to fight about it. “Fine. The horse is yours. He was already yours, really. I appreciate how you’ve cared for him. Now I need a cookie”—or two or twelve—“with my milk, and I need to be alone.”
Leaning back on the counter, Tanner said, “The check was a great excuse, by the way.”
Oh, that did it. “I didnotgive Addie the check as an excuse to see you! I waited until you wouldn’t be there.”
“I’m aware, which means you were dodging me, not the other way around.”
Her eyes flared. Damn it. She wouldn’t let him put this on her. “You made yourself clear—”
“Apparently not.” He touched her cheek oh-so-gently. “What I meant was that returning it to you gavemea great excuse to seeyou.”
If her body wasn’t aching, Callie would have thrown up her hands. He had her interest, so instead she drew a calming breath and said, “A cup of milk please, and just bring the whole pack of cookies. I’m going to need them.”
Tanner’s mouth curled in the barest of smiles. “Thank you, Callie.”
She didn’t bother replying. For real, she needed to get off her feet. With Blu keeping pace at her side, shereturned to the couch and managed to get settled with only a few groans of misery.
