“I was hoping to catch you alone or at the very least not driving. I wanted to see if Preston had contacted you again and… to discuss something else.”
“I did call him and tell him very firmly not to send me anything ever again. I told him we were only friends and that was all we’d ever be.”
“Haven’t you told him all this before?”
“Well, yes.”
“And what did he say?”
Junie closed her eyes. “He said I was wrong and that I would find out soon.”
She didn’t dare tell him about the picture album.
“Don’t worry, babygirl, I’ll take care of it, and I can guarantee he’ll get the message.”
“Tanner, please don’t hurt him.” Her heart rate ticked up, and her chest closed down. She needed to get a grip. She wasn’t about to have a panic attack in front of Tanner even if he couldn’t actually see her.
“Only if necessary, babygirl. You’re going to have to trust me. Now, be safe.”
“What about the ‘something else’?”
“We’ll talk about that later, when you’re not in the middle of something.”
When she pulled up to Rainbow’s Edge, she turned to the dog one last time. “This stays between us, got it? He called me babygirl twice! Can you believe it?”
Pup stepped toward her and wagged his tail as if celebrating.
“Now, don’t read too much into that, Pup. No use jumping to conclusions.” She was talking more to herself than to the dog. She had to keep her guard up. If she didn’t, she’d slip up and embarrass herself in front of Tanner by doing something stupid, like calling him “Daddy”.
A shudder raced through her at the very thought. And not a shudder of revulsion. Get a grip, Junie. If she acted like he was her Daddy and he turned out to be teasing, that would be a disaster. If that happened, she’d probably have to move.
Shaking her head to clear her mind, she scooped the dog up, pressed a kiss on his head, and carried him inside. Nanabelle was going to fall head over heels in love with him. She just knew it.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The bell above the door chimed as Tanner pushed into Bread & Batter, one hand steady on the frame while the other cradled a squirming bundle of long-haired trouble against his chest. The squirmy little puppy, still too skinny but already showing signs of spirit, wiggled in his arm like he couldn’t decide whether to be terrified or thrilled by the new adventure.
“Easy, Pup,” Tanner muttered, keeping his voice low so he didn’t startle him. “I’m just bringing you back to the good Samaritan who saved you. I need to know your secret for bringing out the sweet in her because, after my last run-in with her, I haven’t slept worth a damn in the last two days.”
The rich scent of cinnamon sugar and warm vanilla sparked memories the second he stepped inside, the way it always did. Everything in this place was a reflection of Junie—the sweet, comforting aroma, the soft colors on the walls, the whole damn bakery. Hell, everything in the place pointed straight at her.
She stood behind the counter, that peach-apricot hair twisted up in a messy knot with wisps escaping around her face. Asalways, flour dusted her apron, and those beautiful blue eyes widened the moment they landed on him and the wriggling dog in his arms.
“Pup!” she squealed. “I can’t believe you brought him to me.” Junie’s voice went soft and sweet in that way that always hit him straight in the gut.
“Trace looked him over this morning,” Tanner said, crossing the room. “He made sure that your puppy was up on his shots. Other than that, the only real problem is that he’s underweight. He’s a long-haired miniature dachshund. Turns out, according to Trace, he isn’t faded, he’s got dilute coloring. That’s why he’s got that pretty cream, gray, and peach coat. You found a rare one. Hard to believe someone would abandon a dog like this.”
Junie came around the counter fast, her hands already reaching out. Tanner handed the puppy over. The way her whole face lit up was enough to make his day. And the way she laughed in that easy way of hers when Pup licked her chin was a bonus. And the way her eyes shone when the dog snuggled into her arms and fell asleep…
Something deep in his chest warmed, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
“You’re such a good boy,” Junie cooed, nuzzling the dog. “Yes, you are. Look at you letting Tanner carry you around like a little prince.”
Tanner leaned against the counter, arms crossed, letting himself enjoy the view. “He likes you better than me already. Traitor.”
Junie glanced up at him through her lashes, a shy smile playing on her lips. “Just goes to show what good taste he has.”
The words were light and teasing, but the look she gave him wasn’t. Heat curled low and heavy in his belly, slow and insistent. He’d been pushing the boundaries more and more lately, testing, flirting, seeing how far she’d let him go. Every blush, every soft, wondering look in those light blue eyes made it harder to remember all the reasons he’d held himself back for so long.
