They finished rinsing and stepped out of the shower.
She peeked over at him as she dried off her face, trying not to stare at his abs. Was it ridiculous that she still couldn’t get enough of looking at his body even after all these months? She finally tore her eyes away. “Did Elliot Webster admit to killing Whitaker’s friend and the other lady?”
Tanner dried off that sexy chest, then wrapped his towel low around his hips. “Not that I’ve heard. I’m sure Whitaker will keep us posted, but as far as I know, Elliot hasn’t talked at all.”
“I guess that doesn’t serve his best interests to admit to multiple murders.”
“Speaking of multiple murders, you going to be okay with the whole Jeter situation?” Tanner leaned back against the vanity counter and grabbed both edges of her towel, pulling her up against him.
She sighed and leaned against him. “Honestly, I’m just trying not to think about it. I’m definitely relieved about not having to testify. And I had never really thought about his sentencing. But I don’t guess I can blame him for working out a deal where he can’t get the death penalty. And I can’t blame the prosecuting attorneys for wanting to get this over with as quickly and inexpensively as possible.”
“But?”
She shrugged. “I guess it just all seems too easy.”
“Sometimes people take the easy way out when they don’t have better options.”
“Yeah, I know. But I think maybe I mean it was too easy forme.”
Tanner pulled her in closer to his chest and she breathed in the warm, wet, male scent of him. “Nothing about the situation with Jeter has ever been easy for you.”
“Maybe it was that I had accepted that I was going to have to face him when I testify, even though I was scared. I was finally going to look him in the eye and make people understand what amonster he is, not only for the terrorist stuff he did, but for what he did to me. Although, I guess in the greater scheme of things that’s really not what’s important.”
His fingers came up to comb gently through her wet hair. “He had all the power when you were a child. He did unspeakable things to you—you’ve got the physical and mental scars to prove it. It’s more than understandable to want to finally take some of that power back. To look him in the eye and make him know that he holds nothing over you now.”
“Yes.” All that. Tanner understood. He always understood, even when she didn’t.
“I’m sorry you don’t get to have that. You deserve it.”
“No. The important thing is that Jeter is going to jail for the rest of his life. He’s not going to have control over anything, especially me.” She squeezed him again, realizing how much she meant it.
They walked into the bedroom together. Bree smothered a yawn. She didn’t want Tanner to think she was too tired to utilize the lovely-looking king-size bed here in the hotel. He got so overprotective when she did stuff like pass out from exhaustion.
But at least he was watching her as she dropped the towel to the ground and slipped under the sheets naked. “So, I guess our part is done here since Elliot is in custody.”
“Yeah, Penelope will take over now.”
“Perfect Penelope.” Bree knew she was sulking, being ridiculous, but couldn’t help it. She didn’t even like to hear the woman’s name.
Tanner climbed in bed beside her. “Not perfect, but I was pretty impressed with how she’s handled this entire investigation. It’s a lot of pressure and she seemed to manage her people pretty well.”
“And she also happens to be blonde and gorgeous.”
“Why, Miss Daniels, I do believe you sound a little bit jealous.”
“What could there possibly be to be jealous of? The woman is smart, has a career in law enforcement, could be mistaken for a supermodel and is attracted to you.”
Before she even knew what was happening, Bree found herself rolled over and tucked under Tanner’s big, naked body.
“There’s only one person I’m interested in, and she very fortunately happens to be in this bed with me.”
Bree’s eyes drifted closed, her breath hissing slowly out of her as his mouth found her neck and began nibbling down the side of it. This man had taught her everything she knew about pleasure. Everything she knew about trust. Everything she knew about love.
“I’m sorry for what I said at the ranch.” Before they made love again she wanted to make sure the air was cleared from that. “I know I said something wrong and it hurt you. I’m sorry.”
Tanner shifted his weight onto his elbows and looked down into her eyes. “We’ve got some stuff to work out, that’s for sure. Things we need to sit down and talk honestly about—plans. What we both want now, and what we both want going into the future.”
“I wantyou.”
