“I’m not sure, Torren. If you’d like to hazard a guess, have at it.” She crossed her kitchen and slumped down into a chair, not letting herself look at him. Tana was afraid that she would see just as much confusion on his handsome face as she felt. Her stomach knotted, and she regretted not following her initial instincts of swearing off all men, especially men as sinfully gorgeous as Torren Harrison. She was pretty sure that she hadn’t met a female resident that Torren didn’t date. Tana knew better than to fall for someone like Torren, but here she was, foolishly kissing him in her little kitchen. Torren crossed to where she sat and squatted down in front of her, pulling her hands into his own.
“Tana, look at me.” She childishly closed her eyes, trying to save herself from seeing his rejection staring back at her. “Tana, honey, please. Just look at me, give me a chance here.”
She peeped one eye open, and Torren laughed. She opened her eyes and found no rejection in his expression. Tana sighed and willed herself to relax. It was probably better if he let herdown now rather than later, after she lost her heart to him completely. Because losing her heart to Torren would be easy to do. With every passing minute that she spent in his company, she could feel another little piece of her heart slip away.
“I like you, Torren,” she blurted out.
“Well, I like you too, Tana.” His smile made the entire room brighten, and she couldn’t help but return it with her own.
“I don’t think that I can be in a relationship right now. I just signed my divorce papers, and my ex wasn’t a very nice person. I need to take a break from being part of a couple,” Tana admitted. Torren nodded, and she felt like she just needed to say the rest of what she was thinking—rip the Band-Aid completely off. “Besides, I’ve heard from people in town that you’re not a relationship kind of guy. I’m just looking for a good time, you know—just have some fun.” Torren’s expression fell, and she felt like a class A ass. He stood, releasing her hands and pacing her kitchen floor. Torren stopped in front of her and nodded.
“Fine, honey. You want to just have some fun, then I’m your guy. No need to bring a messy relationship into the mix. The girls will just think that I’m here visiting with Tuck and sharing my pizza. We can do casual if that’s what you want.” Tana nodded, wishing she could take back her words. She wanted to stand up and shout that she was a complete idiot, that she wanted whatever he was willing to give her, but she wouldn’t put her girls or her heart through that. It was time that she started thinking about herself and her girls—they needed to be her priority now, not dating her sexy-as-sin neighbor.
Torren leaned in to gently kiss her cheek and walked out to her backyard to get Tucker. She laughed at the way the girls booed him for taking the puppy away, but didn’t miss their cheers when he promised to bring him back over tomorrow night, with pizza. Torren walked back into her kitchen, puppy tucked under his arm, and grabbed his container of cookies fromthe counter. He nodded at Tana on his way to her front door and walked out, not saying another word to her. She felt a sob bubble up in her chest and knew that she had miscalculated Torren’s intentions. She all but called him a man whore, and that had to feel like a slap in the face. Tana needed to pull herself together—her girls would be in any minute, and they didn’t need to see their mother break down in tears again. They saw enough of that to last them a lifetime. She plastered a smile on her face and called the twins in for their baths, to another chorus of disgruntled groans. First, she would get the girls into bed, and then she would text her apology to Torren and ask him to forgive her rude comments. He deserved better, and she knew he was way out of her league.
CHAPTER FOUR
Torren got home and settled Tucker in his crate. He took a shower and hit the sack, still hurt and pissed by Tana’s assessment of him. He knew what people in town said about him. He was just hoping that Tana would be willing to look past all the gossip and get to know him. Hell, he wasn’t sure what he was expecting from her when he asked what she wanted to happen between the two of them. A part of him wanted her to admit that she wanted him, but a deeper desire surfaced, and he wasn’t sure what to do with it. Old Torren would have jumped on Tana’s offer of a casual fling and lighthearted fun. Hell, old Torren would have fucked her across her kitchen table, getting them both off before her girls had a chance to miss them. But he wanted to be better than old Torren. He wanted more, and dammit, he wanted it with Tana. He already broke rule number one and was now pursuing a single mother, and maybe that was his problem. Rules were not meant to be broken, no matter how hot the single mom in question was. And Lord, Tana was hot. She had no idea how sexy she was in those little cutoffs she wore, accenting all her soft curves and turning him inside out. He was sure that once he had sweet little Tana in his bed, he would neverwant to let her out of it. The irony of Tana just wanting a hot, fun fling was laughable. He spent his entire adult life pushing people away and keeping things casual with every woman that he bedded. Now he decided to find someone to settle down with, and she just wanted to keep things easy and uncomplicated.Fuck.He was tied up in knots over Tana already. Things couldn’t get more complicated for him, and all he did with her was some hot and heavy kissing. The fact that he wanted more with her completely pissed him off, but he wasn’t quite sure what to do with all these new feelings. Torren’s phone chimed from his bedside table, and he opened a text from Tana.
Hey Tor - sorry to bother you, but I want to say something that is easier to just text. I don’t know that I could say this to your face, or even over the phone. I didn’t mean what I said earlier in my kitchen. I was being a complete chicken. I’m sorry.
He laid his phone back on the side table, wanting to ignore her text. He was pissed that she so easily shrugged him off, believing the gossip that flew around town rather than putting in the effort to get to know him. Honestly, he only had himself to blame; he dug himself into that hole. The question was, how was he going to get himself out? Torren closed his eyes and sighed, knowing full well that his thoughts about cutting his losses and walking out of Tana’s life were just his anger talking. It wasn’t going to happen. She made him feel things that he never felt for another woman, and even though that scared the shit out of him, he kind of liked it. He decided that texting Tana back would be letting her take the coward’s way out. He wanted to say what he needed to tell her face-to-face, letting the chips fall where they may. If he was going to pursue her, she needed to be on board and know exactly what she was getting herself into with him. He pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a T-shirt and, not wanting to wake the puppy, snuck past Tucker’s crate to go back across the street to Tana’s house. They were going to have a face-to-face conversation and then he’d decide what to do about his sexy little neighbor.
He quietly rapped on the front door. He knew that Tana had the girls on a schedule and that they were probably asleep by now, which worked for him. Some alone time with Tana was just what he was craving. She pulled the door open and shot him a murderous glance.
“Torren Harrison,” she whispered, “if you wake up my girls, I will destroy you.” He couldn’t help his chuckle—she was fierce when it came to her daughters. “This isn’t funny. What are you doing here?”
“I got your text, and we need to talk, honey.” Tana’s eyes grew to the size of saucers, and he could see her regret.
“Shit,” she whispered, crossing her arms over her chest. He couldn’t help but notice that she got ready for bed and was in a sexy little tank top and shorts. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and the thought of stripping her bare and sinking balls deep into her hot core flashed through his mind. Yeah, not the time for dirty pictures of Tana to start playing through his head, especially if he was going to get out what he came to say.
“Can we just pretend that tonight didn’t happen and start over?” Tana asked. She seemed so hopeful that he’d agree, but that would mean forgetting about the hot kisses that they shared in her kitchen.
“There are a few parts from tonight that I don’t ever want to forget, honey.” Torren liked the way her eyes flared when he reached out to touch her hand. “Invite me in, Tana.” He waited her out, holding her hand in his and running his thumb over her soft skin. He wanted to just barge into her house—push his way through the front door, but he had a suspicion that Tana had had enough of pushy men in her life. He waited for her to make up her mind, watching her as she seemed to weigh the pros and thecons of letting him into her house. She finally stepped aside, and he let out a pent-up breath that he didn’t know he was holding.
“Thank you, Tana.” He walked into her tiny family room and noticed the girls’ Barbie house sitting in the corner with naked dolls strewn across the floor in front of it. He smiled. “I love the way you decorated, honey.” Tana rushed across the room to pick up the Barbies and put them in the toy bin.
“Sorry,” she stuttered nervously. “They were supposed to clean this mess up before bed, but then they started fighting about who loves your puppy the most, and I just sent them to their room. It’s been a long week.” She sighed, standing nervously in the corner of the room as if trying to stay out of his arm’s reach. “So, why are you here, Torren?” She crossed her arms over her chest again, and the sight of her in that little tank top nearly made him swallow his tongue. He needed to get his overactive libido in check before he did something that they would both regret. He didn’t want Tana to be just another one-night stand; he wanted to try something new with her, but had no way of knowing how to navigate this uncharted territory.
Torren sat down on her sofa, taking up most of it. “I came over to finish our conversation from earlier. I let my hot head get in the way and stormed out of here before I explained what I’m looking for—you know, between us.” Tana nodded and crossed the room to sit next to him on the sofa, her slender thigh touching his jean-clad leg. She was so tiny compared to him. She still refused to look at him and instead stared out her front window. Torren knew that she wasn’t going to like what he was about to say, but he had an almost irrational need to explain himself to her. Usually, he didn’t give a fuck what people thought of him, but with Tana, he seemed to care.
“Tana, please look at me.” He took her hand in his again, stroking her palm with his thumb. She seemed reluctant to face him, but she finally gave in to his request. “I’m sorry that youhad to hear all the nasty gossip that flies around town about me. If I’m being totally honest, most of it is true. Tana, that isn’t who I am now or who I want to be.” She gave him her full attention now, and it was his turn to want to hide, but he needed to convince her that he was worth taking a chance on. He wanted her to give him a shot, and honesty was the best way to go.
“They said some pretty awful things, Tor. Not all of it can be true, can it?” He smiled and nodded. “Hell, honey, I’m not sure why I did half of that shit. I was lost and I filled my void with women—lots of women.” Tana held up her hand, effectively halting his words by covering his mouth.
“Please, Torren, I neither need nor want all the gory details. I know that you dated a lot. I’m just trying to piece together why you did it. Didn’t you ever want—I don’t know, more?” He shook his head, taking her hand in his and gently kissed her palm.
“Not really. I just thought that we were all having a good time. I never made any promises that I didn’t intend on keeping, and the women all knew the score. I wasn’t out to date or have a relationship with anyone. I just wanted sex.” Tana groaned at his words, causing him to chuckle. She stood and started pacing in front of him.
“This isn’t funny, Torren. I told you that I just wanted to have a good time with you. I’m not sure I can handle another relationship right now. But instead of taking me up on my offer, you grabbed your puppy and stormed out of my house. What am I missing? Am I not pretty enough, like the girls in town? Is it the fact that I have kids? Because that is something that won’t change. I’m not sure that this was a good idea—maybe we are better off as friends.” Tana stopped in front of him, and he didn’t hesitate, grabbing her arm to pull her down into his lap.
“First, you are the most beautiful fucking woman that I’ve ever seen. Second, I think your girls are pretty spectacular. And third, this was a great idea you just aren’t ready for everythingthat I want.” Torren laughed at the irony. He was finally ready to have his first grown-up relationship, and he found a woman who only wanted casual sex. Tana wrapped her arms around Torren’s neck and pulled him down for a kiss. He liked the way she took her time kissing and nipping his lips and finally sealing her mouth over his. He rolled her underneath his body and pinned her to the sofa, breaking their kiss and leaving them both breathless.
“We need to talk first, then we can circle back to this.” Tana’s disappointed look made him smile. “Fine,” she spat. Tana sat up beside him and straightened her clothes. “Talk and stop telling me how beautiful I am or how great my kids are. When you say sweet stuff like that, it makes me lose my mind. How about we start with what you want from me exactly?” Torren pulled her onto his lap and wrapped her in his arms again. He loved it when Tana got a little feisty; it made him hot and a whole lot bothered.
“I want you, Tana. I want to date you,” he admitted.
Tana’s eyes lit up, and Torren could see that she was once again getting the wrong idea. He held up one finger, stopping her from agreeing to his plan because he wasn’t quite done. “I mean like go out on a date, take you to dinner, and all that jazz.” Tana deflated and sat back against him. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for us having sex too, but I’m ready for a real relationship and I’d like to try having that with you.” Torren suddenly felt shy. His face was warm, and if he had to guess, he was blushing.
