On the other side of the table, Maddie and her mom were playing cards with Laura and her family, while Gray strummed his guitar and hummed, occasionally writing something down on the pad in front of him.
Tanner grabbed a half-full bottle of white wine, and walked back to where Van was sitting. He topped up her glass then took the seat next to her, stretching out his long legs.
“Thank you.” She took a sip. There was a light in her eyes that made him want to get lost inside of them.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She tipped her head toward him, her skin glowing in the dim light of the sun. “I was just thinking how lovely this all is. I’ve missed your family. I can’t remember the last time I sat in this yard and laughed so much.”
“They’ve missed you, too.” He ran his tongue across his dry lips. “You being gone for so long is my fault. I took this from you.” His chest tightened. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” Her eyes were soft. “It’s old news.”
No it wasn’t. It still felt new and painful. It was the reason he’d lost his best friend. But she didn’t want to talk about it, that much was obvious. He poured himself a glass of wine and took a sip. “I heard you talking about your job to Aunt Gina. I didn’t know you went freelance.”
“Yeah. A couple of years ago.” She smiled at him.
“Do you like being your own boss?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “I like being able to pick and choose my clients. Especially being able to say no to those ones who are difficult.” Van leaned back in her chair, her body angled toward his. His hand was close to hers, enough that if he straightened his arm he could touch her. He had to curl his fingers away to stop himself from doing just that. “And then there’s the flexibility,” she continued, as if she was oblivious to the chemistry building between them. “It meant I could come here when I was needed without being afraid of getting fired.”
“There are some perks to being in charge,” he agreed.
“Sure are.”
It was crazy how often their gazes were meeting. He’d never get tired of the way she’d make his body feel electric with a simple glance. It was a special kind of torment. Like a kid being tickled until he could barely breathe. He loved it and he hated it.
“How about you?” she asked. “Do you miss your work?”
He lifted his glass to his lips, thinking through her question. The truth was, in the past few days he’d barely thought about New York. His mind was too full of her.
“I miss being busy,” he admitted. “I’m not built to sit around doing nothing.”
She glanced at his body. “I don’t believe you do nothing. You run, you shop for Aunt Gina.” She smirked. “And you buy drive-ins on a whim.”
He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I guess that’s kept me busy.” He licked his lips, still studying her. “Will you go back to Richmond at some point?”
She still hadn’t mentioned his offer of a job. He wanted to talk to her about it, but right now their conversation was so easy, so flowing. He hated to interrupt it.
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “It depends on Zoe, I guess. And Mom.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and he recognized that expression right away. He’d seen it too many times when they were kids not to know it. He’d been the closest person to her then. He knew her tells, the same way a poker player would.
“Is Kim bad?” he asked.
Van nodded. “Like she used to be.” Her voice dropped as she told him.
“Shit.”
“Right?” She gave him a sad smile. “I can’t leave Zoe when she’s like this. So I’m here for a while.”
“Can you get child services involved?” Tanner leaned forward, his face earnest.
“Mom would never forgive me if I called them. She’d probably throw me out and refuse to let me see Zoe. I figure it’s better if I approach this softly. Maybe she’ll even surprise me.”
“Maybe.” He smiled at her. He loved the way she had it all together. There was something so alluring about the way she never faltered. With her perfectly fitting dress, her golden hair, and sunkissed skin she looked like a little piece of sunshine sitting next to him. It made his body ache for her. He wanted to peel that dress off her, inch by inch, and see the perfection underneath.
Wanted to taste her, touch her, make her sigh.
It had been way too long since he’d touched a woman. That’s what being a workaholic did to you.
It’s been way too long since you touched this woman. His lips curled at the sound of the voice in his head. It sounded way too much like Logan for comfort.
Her eyes caught his again, and widened, as though she could read the thoughts rushing through his brain. He didn’t blink, unafraid of his thoughts. He wanted her to know them.
And to reflect them right back at him.
“Tanner…”
“Yeah?” he asked, shifting so he was facing her. His knees grazed hers. Even through his cotton pants, he could feel the heat of her skin. Could smell her, too. Sweet and floral.
Damn it, he couldn’t ignore the need to touch her anymore. He slid his fingers between hers, curling his palm around her hand, swallowing hard at the softness of her skin. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, her eyes fixed on his. If they weren’t surrounded by people right now…
“I win!” Maddie shouted, standing and doing a twirl. “Did you see that, Tanner?”
Van immediately pulled her hand from his, her cheeks flushing as though afraid somebody might have seem them touching. Tanner smiled at Maddie, then glanced back at the beautiful woman next to him.
“You okay?” he asked.
This time she didn’t quite meet his gaze. “I’m fine. I should see how Zoe is doing.” She glanced at her watch. “It’s late and we both need some sleep.” She exhaled softly as she stood, putting down her empty glass of wine. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been drinking either. I feel a little light headed. Good thing we walked over.”
“I’ll walk you back.”
“There’s no need.” A calmness seemed to descend on her, like she’d flipped a switch and turned everything off. “Zoe?” she called out. “Are you ready to go?”
Chapter Twelve
As she walked across the soft lawn, Van could feel her cheeks blazing. Even though her back was to him, she could still picture Tanner perfectly. His dark hair falling over his brow, his strong jaw covered with the perfect amount of scruff. And his mouth. All night her gaze had been drawn to it. Remembering how sweet his lips had felt against hers all those years ago. How he’d known just the right way to touch her, until her skin was on fire and her heart was clammering against her chest.
It had been a struggle to keep her cool in front of him.
“Aunt Gina? We’re going. Thank you for a lovely evening.” Van hugged her tight.
“Don’t be a stranger, sweetie,” Gina told her. “You and Zoe are always welcome here. No need for an invitation.”
“Van, can we make s’mores at home some time?” Zoe asked, skipping over from where she’d been sitting with Becca by the fire. “They’re so good.”