“Five bedrooms and seven bathrooms.”
Her mouth drops. “What do you need all this space for?”
I shrug. “I want to get married and have kids,” I tell her honestly. I point toward the last room and let her enter my oasis by herself.
“Holy shit.” She turns and looks at me. “This view, Tanner.”
“I know.” I enter the room and open the French doors. Outside, the pool installers are putting their finishing touches on the inground pool, but it’s the dock, with the small sailboat tied down that gets my attention. “Did I go overboard?”
She shakes her head rapidly. “My God, no. This place is beautiful. I’m so jealous.”
I rest against the railing and tug on a strand of her hair. “Don’t be, Sophie. It’s just a house, waiting for someone to fill it with love.” I don’t know what spurs me on, maybe it’s being in my dream house with my dream girl, but I finally have a moment too good to pass up. My hand cups her cheek and I guide her to my lips and kiss her for the first time.
5
Sophie
The second his lips touch mine, it’s like every nerve ending in my body lights on fire. It’s been so long since someone other than Warren kissed me. It feels right, but I know I shouldn’t get close to Tanner like this. He’s my best friend’s brother. Which means too many complications.
Tanner deepens the kiss and a moan slips out of my mouth, spurring him on more. His grip around my waist tightens, pulling me into his body. I can feel his cock, hard and at attention. From what I can tell, he’s definitely not your average size male. He’s much bigger. The thought sends shivers all over my skin.
Tanner kisses a path down my neck, and I suck in a breath. “We have to stop,” I beg, stepping away from him. All I want to do is fist my hands in his blond hair and let him ravage me. My breaths come out as rapid pants and Tanner smiles at me with that wicked grin of his. He knows exactly what he’s done to me.
“Figured we should get some practice in,” he says teasingly.
Clearing my throat, I nod toward the door. I’m just glad his bed hasn’t been moved in yet. I could see myself getting into some serious trouble. “And we will,” I reply, trying to catch my breath. “But right now, we have to get you moved in. Let’s go get your boxes.”
Turning on my heel, I hurry out the door and I can feel him right behind me as we walk down the stairs. “I’m assuming Warren never kissed you like that?”
That makes me laugh. “Not at all.” Warren wasn’t what you call passionate. Yeah, he was romantic in the beginning, always buying me flowers and gifts, but when it came to the physical stuff, he didn’t know the first thing about what a woman wants or needs. It was all about him.
“Then why were you with the toolbag then?” he asks.
I make it down the stairs and face him. “Because there’s more to relationships than sex, Tanner.” But it sure was a good starting point. Guess I just got used to Warren only thinking about himself when it came to the bedroom.
His grin widens. “Yeah, but if you don’t have passion, what’s the point?”
As much as I try to think of a reason, nothing comes to mind. Tanner flashes a triumphant grin and I roll my eyes. “Come on, let’s get your crap out of the Jeep.”
Chuckling, Tanner follows me outside to his Jeep. The weather is perfect for February in North Carolina. Then again, it’s always finicky in the winter. One day it can be seventy degrees, and the next it could snow five inches. Today, however, is one of the warm ones. I’m taking full advantage of it.
“What’d you see in him anyway?” Tanner asks as he grabs one of his boxes.
Reaching in, I grab one as well and hold it to my chest. The words living room are written on the outside of it. “I guess we had a lot in common. We spent a lot of time together and it just made sense to see where it could go.”
I meet his gaze and he nods. “I can understand that.”
We take the boxes inside and I set mine down in the living room while he disappears upstairs. Everything has already been brought into the living room; all brand new by the looks of it. There’s a couch, a recliner and loveseat, all in dark gray leather along with a unique wooden coffee table with live edge sides. Tanner has really done well for himself. I’m impressed. His house is absolutely gorgeous.
Tanner makes his way downstairs as the movers walk in and out of the house, carrying things in left and right. I start for the door and we walk out together. “So, tell me about all your women in California? You’re a hot guy. I’m sure you had plenty of them.”
He laughs and reaches in his Jeep to grab a box. “Sure, there were plenty. Nothing serious though.”
I grab one of the boxes that has kitchen written on it. “No special someone you left to come here?”
“Nope,” he says, shaking his head, but then winks. “Can’t say I didn’t break a few hearts when I left though.” I can totally see that.
“I bet,” I laugh. We carry the boxes inside to the kitchen and finish up bringing in the others. While I start unpacking the kitchen contents, the movers take Tanner away so they can show him everything they’ve done. I can’t wait to see what all the rooms look like once they’re set up. As long as I stay away from Tanner’s bedroom, I’ll be fine.
Tanner walks into the kitchen and smiles. “Everything looks good. There’s really not much I have to unpack. Most of my stuff I had brought in brand new.” He nods down at the box of kitchen utensils. “Well, other than that. My mom was adamant that I take it.” The box was full of spatulas, serving spoons, and about a dozen whisks.
Giggling, I hold up one of the pink whisks. “Yeah, she did the same thing to me and Ellie when we went to college. I love your mom.”
He laughs along with me. “Why she packed me a pink whisk, I don’t know. I’m not going to use that shit.”
I shrug. “I love whisks.”
His eyes twinkle. “Then you can use it when you visit me.”
Pulling out all the different whisks, I find them a place in one of his drawers, making sure to keep from looking in his hypnotic blue eyes. I’m going to get myself in a shit ton of trouble if I do. “Now that you’re back, what do you think you’ll do with your time besides work?” I ask, meeting his gaze quickly before starting on the spatulas. “I know you like to surf, but you can’t really do that here in Raleigh.”
Letting out a deep sigh, he turns to the window, overlooking the lake. “No, which sucks ass, but the beach isn’t too far away. I plan on buying a couple of jet skis to sit out there with my boat. I’m sure I’ll find other hobbies to occupy my time.”
He glances at me over his shoulder. “What about you? I’m sure drilling and pulling out teeth isn’t all you do.”
“God, no,” I reply with a laugh. “Although I do love teeth. It was either that or a doctor, but I can’t handle blood spurting out of a body or anything like that. A little blood in the mouth is perfectly fine.”
Looking disgusted, Tanner shakes his head. “Don’t see how you do it.”