Page 118 of Let Me Be the One
“Yes.”
“—fuck a local hick?”
The insult didn’t faze Tanner; God knew he’d been called worse things by his own father. But Callie didn’t take it well. Lurching away from Tanner, she stumbled on her hurt leg without acknowledging it. “Howdareyou?” She thrust up her chin, her shoulders rigid. “He’s a better man than you’ll ever be! He’s honorable and caring. Kind and strong.” Almost vibrating with anger, she yelled, “He’samazing.”
Sutter’s lip curled in disgust. “When you’re done slumming, give me a call. Then we’ll decide if we have a relationship or not.” After that cutting remark, he turned to go.
Callie shouted, “I hope you hold your breath waiting!”
Okay, so yeah, Tanner knew his eyes had widened over that whole bizarre exchange. He was kind, strong,andamazing?
Like a bull ready to charge, Callie was still heaving. Sutter got behind the wheel, slammed his car door, stepped on the gas and sped away.
Gently, Tanner brought Callie against him. “Ease up, honey, before you blow a gasket.”
She drew in one more sharp breath, and then whispered, “Oh, God.” Her face contorted and she bent like an old woman who’d just suffered a painful blow.
It scared Tanner, thinking it was regret that caused that look.
Until she cried out,“My leg…”and clutched at him.
“Shit.” He caught her against him, carefully taking some of her weight. “What can I do?” If he lifted her in his arms, it’d only hurt her thigh more. She was so bruised and battered, he wasn’t certain what to do to help her. “I was nice because you asked me to be, damn it, and now I really wish I’d smashed his face.”
“Me, too,” she said brokenly. “Tanner, I desperately need to sit down.”
He kissed her temple and helped her to turn back toward the house. “I told you adrenaline blocked pain.”
“Then I wish the adrenaline would return.” She hobbled forward a single awkward step…
And they both heard applause. They looked up and found Dirk and Lang at the edge of their property, their faces amused—until they spotted her left thigh and arm and got a good look at her face.
Dirk crossed the yard in angry strides. “What the hell happened?”
If he hadn’t been busy holding Callie, Tanner might have slugged him for whatever insinuation he tried to make. “She fell.”
“Out of a plane?” Lang asked.
“My attic, actually,” Callie replied breathlessly, still struggling to get it together.
“Good God. You could have killed yourself!”
That Dirk sounded so enraged on her behalf surprised Tanner. “Get her door, will you?”
“Right.” He rushed ahead and held it open, a frown of concern masking his usual cockiness.
One thing was certain: both of the brothers were appalled by her injuries. It would have been convenient to blame them for the broken window, but Tanner tried—whenever possible—to be fair.
Lang muttered, “I saw her asshole ex was here and told Dirk.”
“Yup.” Tanner hadn’t forgotten seeing the brothers talking to Sutter in town. Now might be a good time to find out what that was about. Blu wisely stayed close, his posture still protective, as Tanner got Callie in the house. “Either of you know how to make coffee?”
Oddly enough, they each held up a hand.
Now that they had company, Callie was gritting her teeth trying her best not to groan. He needed to see to her, but he also knew she loved her coffee with a few cookies.
Pointing to the kitchen, Tanner said, “Through there. Coffee and mugs are in the cabinet over the maker. Put on a pot, will you?”
Dirk went utterly still, then his gaze shot to Callie and he frowned some more while nodding. “I’ll see to it.” He took off.
