“Detective Pole was asking a lot of questions about you. He knows you argued with my dad.” He flicked his gaze toward me.
“Well, yeah. I told him.” I frowned. “I wasn’t going to lie about that.”
“Unfortunately, I didn’t volunteer the argument just because I didn’t want him to focus on you.” He sighed. “But it soon became obvious he’s not someone I want to lie to. He’s sharper than he looks.”
“Oh, yeah. He’s rockin’ that whole Columbo vibe—rumpled but cunning.” My nerves jangled at the thought of being interviewed more in-depth by Detective Pole.
Tanner pulled into the parking lot of the police station, taking a spot under a tall palm. He shut the engine off and shifted to face me. His face was tense and his expression earnest. “Just tell him the truth and you’ll be fine.”
I nodded. “I know better than to lie to cops.” While I’d been arrested multiple times for prostitution, drugs, and petty theft, the police I’d dealt with had mostly treated me fine. There had been a few assholes, like there were in any job. But overall, I had a healthy respect for cops.
He leaned in and touched my face. “I missed you last night.”
My stomach fluttered with attraction. “Yeah?”
“I just wish we could go surfing today and have dinner together. Then I’d love to take you back to our rental and fuck.”
My cock warmed at his words. “Shit, you’re getting me all turned on.”
He licked his lips. “I wish I didn’t have to go back to San Luis Obispo tonight.” He leaned in and took my mouth roughly, and I sighed against his lips. He worked my mouth, slipping his tongue between my lips.
I clutched his shirt and tugged him closer. Something about kissing Tanner always made me feel better. I opened my mouth wider, pushing my tongue against his and sliding my other hand up his thigh. I wanted him so bad. I just wanted to lose myself in him. I wanted to feel his hands on my naked flesh, and his weight on me, pressing me to the mattress. My favorite moments were just me and Tanner, touching and blending together.
He lifted his head, his eyes glittering with lust. “I guess my timing is bad.”
“Maybe just a little.” I laughed gruffly, willing my cock to go down. “But I feel better just touching you.”
He smiled. “Yeah? That makes me happy.”
“I don’t want…” I swallowed nervously. “I don’t want to lose this… whatever this is. I want it.”
“Me too.” His voice was husky. “I want more with you. I want that so bad.”
My chest hurt holding his heated gaze. “I’m afraid the minute we go in that building, things are going to change between us.”
He wrinkled his brow. “Why?”
“There are… reasons.”
He tilted his head, a line between his dark brows. “I wish you’d let me in, Seth.”
I dropped my gaze. “Please just know that if you hear bad stuff about me, I’m not that person anymore. I’m not.” I lifted my gaze nervously. “The real me is who you see.”
“You worry me when you say shit like that.”
I leaned in and kissed him again, gently, letting him feel my need and affection. When I ended the kiss, I whispered, “This is me. Remember that.”
He nodded slowly. “I will.” His voice wobbled and I could see he was nervous and confused. “Maybe one of these days you’ll trust me, Seth—trust me with your secrets.”
Forcing myself to move away from him, I opened my door. “We should probably go in and get this over with.” I had a horrible feeling that once we walked through those doors, I wouldn’t have any more secrets to keep.
Chapter Sixteen
Tanner
Detective Pole split me and Seth up into separate interview rooms. I can’t say that move surprised me. Of course he wanted to see if our stories matched up. But the way Seth had been in the car had me anxious. He’d been so warm and open for a moment there, and then he’d gone back into his shell. I knew he wanted me as much as I wanted him, but he seemed like he didn’t think he deserved to be loved.
Shock rippled through me as I realized what I was admitting to myself: I loved Seth. As I sat in that little barren interview room, with the fluorescent light flickering feebly above my head, I struggled to assimilate my feelings. From the moment I’d met Seth he’d affected me, and my feelings had slowly grown over the past weeks. Every time I’d seen him, the little flame had sparked and spread deeper into my heart.
