The Sweetest Thing, page 22
“People who’d all have front row seats for your prank.” She stepped forward, holding up her hand. “You know what—this is stupid.”
“What prank?” She wasn’t making any sense. He was the one who’d had his pride hurt and his heart broken, not her.
“Dane, don’t.” She looked—and sounded—disappointed. “Leave it alone. Let’s drop it.”
“No.” She had no right to look at him like that. “You think I wronged you somehow. I have a right to know what I did. Supposedly.”
“Supposedly?” Her right eye twitched. “You know.”
Like hell I do. “Humor me.” He took a deep breath and added, “Please.”
She stared at the new hive box for a long time, her lips pressed tight and her jaw clenched. “I was tipped off. You’d planned a big surprise to humiliate me. The when and where were unknown but they didn’t want me to get hurt. They said it would be a big production.” Tansy’s tone was clipped and aloof. “And then you asked me to prom and I had visions of Carrie and pig’s blood and things went downhill from there.”
“I’d have used honey. No pigs.” It was a poor attempt at a joke, and Tansy wasn’t amused. “Who told you this?” It was hard to keep the edge out of his voice.
“Frances Yanez and some of her friends.” The look on her face gutted him.
“That group included Kate Owens. My father’s most recent ex? That Kate? The woman that started a rumor that she and I were sleeping together while they were married? That Leif’s on drugs? And Dad’s an alcoholic?” He took a deep breath. “That Kate?”
She frowned. “That’s Kate now, not Kate ten years ago.”
“She wasn’t as obvious, maybe.” Kate had always been bad news. That’s why he avoided her—then and now.
Tansy stared at him. “Frances said it—”
“Frances didn’t want to get on Kate’s bad side—hell, she’s still scared of Kate.” All this time, this is what Tansy thought? “Why did you believe them?”
“I-it made sense.” She sniffed, wrapping her arms around her waist. “Why else would you ask me to prom? In the middle of a pep rally? In front of everyone?”
“I thought things were changing between us.” Might as well get it all out there. “Say Anything was your favorite movie. I knew it was special to you. I saw the look on your face when we watched it instead of working on our economics presentation. Both times.” He cleared his throat. “I wanted you to look at me that way.”
She didn’t blink or move—was she breathing?
“I didn’t do any of that because I wanted to hurt you or uphold some stupid family grudge, Tansy.” He broke off, swallowing hard. “I did it because I wanted you. To impress you. Go to prom with you.”
She stayed quiet for so long, he began to worry. “You did?” It was the softest whisper.
“I did.” He nodded. “Now that we’ve got that straight...” He wasn’t sure how to feel. On the one hand, she hadn’t flat-out rejected him. On the other hand, she’d believed him capable of something pretty damn heartless. “It’s getting pretty dark.”
“Okay,” she mumbled, heading back the way they’d come.
Five minutes ago, his heart was Tansy’s. Now he was feeling too bruised and vulnerable to know what to do. Where did this leave them?
The house came into view and they slowed. She stole a glance his way but didn’t say anything. Dane was no better. After he collapsed the wagon and slid it into the back of the van, he turned toward her. The streetlamp she’d parked by cast just enough light to make out the features of her face. Dammit. Her lower lip wobbled and she wiped at her cheek. She was crying and, dammit all, he couldn’t bear it. “Hey. It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not.” Tansy stared up at him, she swiped at another tear. “It’s horrible. All this time—” She broke off. “I’m sorry.” She gripped his forearm.
“Me, too.” His hand covered hers.
“No, I mean it.” Tansy closed the gap between them and slid her arms around his waist. “You’re a condescending know-it-all who gets far too much enjoyment getting under my skin but you’re not evil.”
“Thank you?” He pulled her closer against him.
Her laugh was muffled against his chest. “You were trying to do something wonderful.”
“Yeah, I was.” He was content to stand there holding her. “What happens now?”
She stared up at him. “I don’t know.”
“That makes two of us.” He smoothed the hair from her forehead.
“But I’m willing to find out.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “I mean, if you—”
He tipped her chin up and brushed his lips across hers.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” she murmured against his mouth.
He pressed a kiss at the corner of her mouth, along the swell of her lower lip, and then the other corner. “Yes.”
She mumbled something as she twined her fingers in his hair and tugged his face down to her. Dane was all too happy to comply. He met her, kiss for kiss, his hands sliding down her sides then up her back to hold her close. The way she wriggled and sighed against him had him leaning against the van to keep them upright.
There was a deep bark. Then another one.
“Shh, Oatmeal,” Tansy said between kisses. “Go to the house, Pudding.”
Another bark, high-pitched and squeaky.
“Butters...” Tansy sighed and let him go. “What on earth are you doing out here? Auntie Mags will be missing you.”
Dane assessed the motley crew of dogs. One massive Saint Bernard, two patchy red-and-white terriers, a scruffy-haired one-eyed Chihuahua and some midsize canine with thick brown fur and cockeyed ears. “Are all your animals named after food?”
Tansy shook her head, then stopped. “Actually, yes. Except for Beeswax the cat and Lord Byron.”
“That parrot’s still alive?” Dane hooked his thumbs into her belt loops. “He never liked me. Took a snap at my earlobe once. Left a scar, too.” He let go of one belt loop and touched the scar.
“Really?” Tansy reached up, too, rubbing his earlobe. “He did that? Ouch.” She cocked her head to one side. “Was this when your dad was dating Aunt Camellia?”
He nodded. “The good old days.”
“Interesting.” Her smile was all sass. And he loved it. “Animals are supposed to be a great judge of character.”
“Dogs. The saying is about dogs.” He could get used to her smiling at him that way. “I’m not sure that applies to mean old parrots.”
“Maybe... You’d better cover your ears, then. Lord Byron is alive and well and will probably stay that way for years—as long as he steers clear of Aunt Mags. They have a love-hate relationship. Meaning they both love hating one another.” She took his hand. “Want some lemonade or something?”
“In there?” He nodded at the house.
She made a production of patting her jeans pockets. “I don’t have any on me so, yes, in the house.”
“Sassy.” And he liked it. “You think it’s a good idea?”
Tansy seemed to mull over his words. “I’m game for living on the edge. You?”
“If you’re trying to challenge me, it’s working.” Dane laughed, letting her take the lead.
She led him up the back garden path, peaking in windows as she went, before climbing up the porch steps. “They’re all in the back parlor so we should be fine.” She opened the front door. “Up the stairs, last door on the left.” She pointed.
“Where are you going?” he whispered.
“Lemonade.” She smiled. “Maybe a snack. Now, shh.” She shooed him to the stairs.
Dane winced with every creak and squeak of the stairs and wooden planks of the hall. It was a relief to reach the safety of Tansy’s room. He closed the door and stooped to tug off his boots. Which I should have done before I ever stepped foot in the house. He set them beside the door and straightened.
Her curtains were drawn back so the room was flooded with moonlight. He tiptoed across the floor to the low bookshelf beneath the windows. The top was covered with an odd assortment of things. A blackened smoker, an old queen bee cage, a pair of gloves, a decorative box and two framed photos.
“You could have turned on a light.” Tansy flipped on her bedside lamp. “Here.” She handed him the massive glass of lemonade. “I thought we’d share.” She tossed a bag of cookies onto her bed and joined him in front of the bookcase. “Those are my parents.” She picked up the frame, smiling at the photo. “I’m sure you can identify those awkward little girls.”
“I think I can.” Little Tansy, Astrid and Rosemary looked like a handful. “Good-looking couple.”
“They were obnoxiously in love with each other.” She glanced up at him. “I grew up thinking that was normal.” She rolled her eyes. “Sad that it’s not.”
“It is sad,” Dane agreed. They looked young and fit—too young to have died. “What happened to them?” He froze. “You don’t have to talk about it—”
“Mom drowned when Rosemary was a baby. My sisters and I took swimming lessons for years—we are all like Olympic-level swimmers.” She shrugged, hurrying on. “When Mom died, Dad became superdad. Involved and active—our biggest cheerleader.” She set the photo down. “Dad had a car accident years later. When he passed, the aunts and Poppa Tom and Granna Hazel stepped in to take care of us.”
He wasn’t sure what to say so he took her hand.
“Anyway.” She smiled up at him. “Enough of the serious stuff.” She took a deep breath. “I hope Honey Hill Farms winning the blue ribbon next weekend won’t upset you too much. It’s important. Winning, I mean. Really important. I don’t know how Honey Hill Farms will make it, otherwise.”
Things hadn’t been easy the last few years. He’d never stopped to think about the Hills’ situation. His hand tightened on hers. “I had no idea, Tansy.” He couldn’t imagine losing his home. It would crush him.
“No, it’s not exactly common knowledge.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “So, if you can keep that to yourself.”
“My lips are sealed.” Dane was in shock. She was trusting him.
“Not that I’m looking for pity, Mr. Knudson.” Tansy rolled her eyes, all sass.
“May the best honey win.” He grinned at her. “And so you know, I won’t let who wins interfere with you and me, in case you were worried.” He wasn’t sure why he’d added that but it was too late to take it back.
“Which will be us.” She patted his chest, her smile growing when he laughed. “So, what do you want to do now?”
He pulled her into a loose embrace. “I was thinking we should do more of the kissing and maybe watch a movie or something?”
“I’m on board for both.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss him. “Movie recommendations?” Her arms slid up his chest and around his neck.
He rubbed his nose against hers. “How about a little John Cusack, Diane Court, questionable stalking-like behavior and Peter Gabriel?”
She blinked up at him. “Are you serious?”
“About the stalking-like behavior? Or watching the movie?” He waited. “Either way, it’s a yes.”
“I always thought it was a grand romantic gesture.” Tansy frowned, pushing against his chest. “But I haven’t watched it in years.”
“What do you think he was thinking, while he was holding that boom box over his head?” He paused, smoothing a long strand of auburn hair from her shoulder.
She stared at his chest, her hands running over the fabric as she spoke. “He was thinking how much he loved her and that he knew she loved him, too. She was scared of trusting him, but he was going to stand there to show her he would always be there for her. He loved her, with everything he had.” Her gaze met his then.
He could get lost in those eyes. “All that? You’ve thought about this a lot.” Dane had to admit there was something captivating in her certainty. Who wouldn’t want someone to love them like that? “So he was waiting for Diane to scream out the window or something?”
“What? No.” She laughed. “He was waiting for her to come down, throw her arms around him and kiss him. Then he’d know it would all be okay.” She said it as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “If I was Diane Court, you can bet that’s what I would have done.” Her eyes were glued to his mouth and her arms slid around his waist.
“I bet you would have.” Dane was done talking about fictional characters. There were more pressing matters to attend to. “How about we start with some kissing?”
She nodded, her hands twisting in his shirt as she leaned into him.
He ran his nose along her temple, down the side of her face, to nuzzle the spot beneath her ear. He breathed her in, letting her scent flood him. He felt her shudder, felt her hands slip beneath the hem of his shirt and pressed his lips to hers.
She tasted of lemonade. He couldn’t get enough of the taste. Her mouth opened for him and things went from slow and sweet to white-hot and all-consuming.
He let go of her long enough for her to tug his shirt up and over his head. Once it was off, he caught her close. The slide of her hands on his stomach and the hitch in her breath had him twining his fingers in her hair.
“Dane,” she whispered, tugging him back to the bed.
He braced himself over her, groaning aloud when she wriggled out of her shirt and pressed her lace-covered breasts to his chest. She felt so damn good.
Her hands trailed along his sides, up his shoulders, and down his arms—and all the while her lips explored his. Soft and hot. Greedy and giving. She wrapped herself around him and left him aching and breathless.
He gave in, tracing the contour of her neck and shoulder, side and waist. The feel of her lace-clad breast filling his hand made him groan, and she moaned, too, as he cupped her. She arched into him, reaching around to unhook her bra. He watched, her green eyes ablaze as she tossed it aside.
He stared down at her. Her want, for him, left him shaking. And damn did he want her, too. All of her. But when she hooked one leg around his hip, he buried his face against her neck. He had a choice to make. He wanted her, so bad it hurt but... It was too much, too fast.
He rolled off her, his hands gripping the quilt beneath him. Dammit. This was the right thing to do.
Tansy lay beside him, panting. “So...movie time?”
He closed his eyes and nodded. Looking at her would be a bad idea.
“Dane?”
“I’m trying to do the right thing here, Tansy.” He ground out. “Maybe, put a shirt on.”
She giggled and the bed shifted. “Done.”
He opened his eyes. “That’s mine.” He propped himself up on his elbows. Tansy in his Texas Viking Honey shirt was almost as tempting as Tansy out of his Texas Viking Honey shirt.
“I’ll give it back.” Her gaze traveled over his chest and down. “Oh.” Her eyes went round, locked on the very prominent evidence of his arousal pressing against his jeans. “Oh.” She nibbled on her lower lip.
She wasn’t going to make this easy for him. She never did. “Tansy.” He flopped back onto the bed and threw an arm over his face.
“Right. Movie.” She blew out a shaky breath.
Dane lay there until he heard the television come on. “It’s safe.” She was smiling. “What streaming service do you think the movie’s on?”
Dane tossed the pillows on the floor and lay back, pulling her against his side.
Hours later, after the movie and lots and lots of kissing, Dane was dozing on the pile of pillows on Tansy’s floor while she snored softly against his chest. The wooden floor was sprinkled in cookie crumbs and nowhere near comfortable but he was where he wanted to be. And that scared the hell out of him.
At two, he forced himself up. He scooped her up and onto her bed, accepted the fact he was going home shirtless, and tucked a quilt over her. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her forehead. She smiled but didn’t open her eyes.
There it was again. That thread—tugging at his heart. Yeah, yeah. He grabbed his boots, turned off her lamp and tiptoed down the stairs with his phone’s flashlight on. The last thing he needed to do was trip over a dog or have a run-in with Lord Byron and wake the whole house. He pulled the front door open, slow and careful, then pulled it closed behind him. Free and clear and no one was the wiser.
It was when he was pulling away that one of the curtains in an upstairs window moved. He stopped, peering out into the dark. More like my eyes are playing tricks on me. It was after two in the morning, he was tired. The sooner he was home and sleeping in his own bed, the sooner he could dream of having Tansy back in his arms. He smiled all the way home.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“YOU’RE AWFUL CHIPPER this morning.” Aunt Mags peered at her over her newspaper.
“Oh?” Tansy made herself a cup of tea. “I slept well.” After all the cuddling and kissing and being tangled up in Dane, it made sense that her dreams were full of him. Waking up, on her bed wearing his shirt, had ended all that deliciousness and left her full of uncertainty.
It had been a wonderful night, there was no denying it. But would all the soft-spoken words and gentle touches continue now that the sun was out and there were other people in the mix? She didn’t know what to expect from Dane, so it was probably best to keep what had happened between them a secret for now.
“I’m glad one of us is.” Aunt Camellia was digging through boxes. “I don’t think I’ll sleep much until after this weekend is behind us.” She sighed, wiped her hands on her apron and turned—her gaze searching. “And that’s only if we win.”
“There is no if, Aunt Camellia.” Astrid sat, cocooned in cats, sipping tea.
Aunt Camellia made a noncommittal grumble.
“What’s wrong?” Tansy paused, watching her aunt closely. She was upset. “What are you looking for, Aunt Camellia?”
