Flawless Surrender Read Online Free PDF Page B

terrible evening. Eve had been on a bender and managed to drive Zoey’s car into a ditch between the Triple T ranch and town. Tanner had been the first one on the scene and he had been the one to pull her unconscious mom from the car. She still remembered the pity on his face at the scene when she explained how her mom was passed out drunk and not actually hurt.
    “Yeah, she left for a bit, but she appeared on my doorstep this afternoon. I’m stuck with her until she decides to move on, or until I get evicted.” She took another bite of food, but it didn’t taste nearly as appetizing anymore. Dropping her fork, she shifted the baby to the middle of her chest and dropped a quick kiss to her tiny forehead.
    When she looked up, Tanner was watching her with an odd look on his face. “Can’t you just tell her she’s not welcome?”
    “Would you be able to tell Dalton or Clint that, if they showed up tomorrow at your door? She’s family. Anyways, it won’t take long before she’s bored with Stone River again and moves on.”
    Tanner went back to eating and the only sound for a few minutes was the clink of a fork against a plate. When he had nearly licked his plate clean he settled back into his chair and ran his hand over his flat stomach.
    “That was the best meal I’ve had in months. Thank you.”
    Zoey laughed, “You’re welcome, but honestly it wasn’t much. You should try my French Toast, that’s heaven on earth.”
    Tanner’s eyes flashed, “Was that an invitation to breakfast?” Zoey’s mouth dropped open and her heart skipped a beat, but Tanner took mercy on her and let it drop. “So tell me why you would get evicted? Because of your mom?”
    “No, Carl Langley sold several of his properties to that new developer. Schmidt Properties or something like that. They are going to tear down the old houses and build new ones.” Zoey watched as Tanner stretched his thick arms up and over his head until he was bracing his neck. At that angle he looked arrogantly sexy, and she wanted to lick her way from his perfect lips down to his lean hips.
    “So where does that leave you?”
    “On the streets if I don’t find a new place I guess. I just found out today, so I haven’t really figured it all out yet.” Looking down, she realized Juliet had drifted off to sleep and the bottle was now just resting in the corner of her mouth, milk dribbling down her tiny chin. “I better get her into bed. Do you mind clearing away the dishes? I’ll come wash them in a minute.”
    Tanner shook his head no, “Go put her to bed and then sit down in the living room. You cooked, I’ll clean up. I might just be a backwoods rancher, but I have a few manners left in me.”
    She let out a laugh as she took the baby to bed, refusing to acknowledge the warmth building in her belly. Just being around him felt right, and this whole playing house scene did nothing to curb the longing she felt. She was going to have to get a grip on herself, before she got hurt again.
    Once Juliet was settled, Zoey flipped on the TV and stretched out on the sofa. Tanner reappeared wiping his hands on his jeans. “Kitchen’s cleaned up. Thank you again for cooking for me.” He flopped down on one of the chairs and rested his sock covered feet up on the coffee table, making himself at home.
    “Anytime,” she responded without even thinking and immediately wanted to kick herself.
    “So, I was thinking, I have Dalton’s old apartment over the garage that’s empty and I’ve been planning on renting it out. I could rent it to you until you find another place.” Tanner didn’t even look at her as he spoke. His head was tipped back so he was looking up, but his eyes were closed.
    Zoey didn’t know how to respond. Every instinct in her wanted to accept so she could be close to him, but her brain was rebelling. Being close to him was just asking for more rejection. He might be playing the nice guy tonight, but he hadn’t always.
    “Thank you, but