He rubbed the center of his sternum. Man, that hurt. He glared at Dylan.
To his credit, Dylan had stepped away from her. “She doesn’t drink much, does she?”
“I sure don’t.” She faced Dylan again and leaned forward. “You’re cute,” she said, booping his nose. “But you’re no Tanner.”
Tanner’s eyes widened. He would have enjoyed that compliment except she was a sheet and a half to the wind and had no idea what she was saying. He moved close behind her in case she became unsteady again.
“I didn’t know she was such a lightweight,” Dylan said. “She seemed fine a minute ago.”
“How much has she had?”
“Three cosmos. That’s it.” Dylan shoveled his hand through his perfect hair. “I put half of the vodka I usually do in the third one.”
“Where’s my cosmo? I want my cosmo.” Anita started to waver again.
Tanner looked around the room. The guests were gone and so was Harper. Good. Anita would be mortified if she knew she was acting this way in front of the partygoers. He put his arm around her shoulders and said to Dylan, “I’ve got it from here.”
“I’m sorry. I really am.”
Since he appeared genuinely sorry, Tanner tempered his anger.
“I’m gonna get my check from Harper now,” Dylan said. “You’ve got the situation under control.”
“Tanner, Tanner, Tanner.” Anita leaned against him and sighed.
“Let’s go outside for a minute.” But as soon as she tooka step, she stumbled. He moved his hand to her waist and looked down at her feet. He’d forgotten she only had one shoe. She fumbled trying to slip it off. He bent down and took it off for her.
She gazed down at him, a dreamy, tipsy look in her eyes. Then she winced. “I ruined Harper’s party, didn’t I?”
“You didn’t ruin anything,” he said, standing up. Then he opened the back sliding door and nudged her outside. “The party’s over anyway.”
“It is?” She stepped out onto the stone patio. Then she halted. “Wait, I’m supposed to go out with Dylan after the party.”
His chest squeezed. Harper was right. He was outright jealous, something he’d never experienced before.
“But I’m not going to.” She snuggled against him. “I’d rather be here with you.”
Relieved, he smiled. Whether she was drunk or not, he liked what she was saying.
“You’re my knight in shining armor, you know that?” She put her arms around his waist, leaning her cheek against his chest.
He was no knight, that was for sure. If he were a better person, he’d take Anita back inside and make her a cup of strong black coffee. And hewoulddo exactly that... after he rested his chin on her soft hair for a minute. Or two. He closed his eyes and put his arms around her.
Heaven.
“Hmmm hm-hm hm hmmm.”
His eyes flew open. Was she humming?
“By the dawn’s early light...”
Tanner fought back a laugh. Tough to do when she was hum-singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” in a key unknown to man.
Anita stopped humming and lifted her head. “I wanna go sit by the lake.”
“I don’t think that’s a good—”
She shoved away from him, and he had no option but to let her go. She swayed a little as she walked on the grass, heading toward a gravel path he assumed led to the lake. He hurried after her.
