Page 45 of Grip Me Tight
“There’s nothing for me to do. I didn’t do anything wrong,” I snap. “We’re supposed to be meeting about Ajax and then taking a fucking break. I’m fucking done here.”
I turn to leave, and a hand slaps my chest. Noah shoves his phone in my face. “Get that thing away from me, Noah.”
“Tell me I’m not seeing what I think I’m seeing,” Noah’s voice sounds strangled. “If it is, you’re lucky it’s not my fist in your face.” He lowers the phone, his mouth twisting in anger. “What the fuck is Sterling doing in this picture?”
“It’s not what you think.” I hold up my hands.
“Really? Well you’d better start telling me what I should think because Mom’s friend Jennifer sent her this link congratulating her on her future grandchild.”
I close my eyes, drawing in a slow breath. “I didn’t sleep with her.”
His eyes widen. “Did you touch her?” He shakes the phone and I look at the photo. It’s a different one from the headline photo and in it I’m partially blocking Sterling, but there’s no denying the desire on her face and the way my hands are hooked into her robe. It does look like I’m holding her belly. Fuck. At this angle, with her robe gaping a little on top and the material bunched around her middle, it’s clear she has no clothes on underneath and the shot’s a prime candidate for a bump watch example.
Fuck. “She’s an adult, Noah.” It’s the wrong thing to say and Noah’s face turns a mottled shade of red.
Laird gets in between us, taking my arm. “Back off, Noah. He’s right. She is an adult.” He turns to me. “But she’s also an employee right now.”
I shake off his arm. “I know it looks bad.”
“Looks bad! Why was she in your room? On your balcony with no clothes on!” Noah’s shouting now and Blaine and Slade get to their feet.
“Settle the fuck down, guys.” Laird holds up his arms like a referee between two fighters. I’m angry and I’m hurt about Noah thinking the worst, but I don’t blame him. I haven’t slept with her but there’s a big ‘yet’ at the end of that sentence and it’s screaming in my head. I feel like I’m on a runaway train that’s going to end in chaos and disaster, but I can’t quite hit the brakes.
“Vera’s on it. She thinks it’s a good idea to say Sterling’s is Tanner’s girlfriend.”
“What the fuck, Laird. Absolutely not.” Noah throws up his hands. “She’s not a goddamn prop.”
“Noah’s right, Laird. She’s not a prop.” I point at Noah, “but she does know her own mind.”
“And what, Tanner? What do you know about her mind?”
Slade comes up behind Noah. “Hey, man, relax. This is your best friend.”
Noah frowns. “Yeah, you’re supposed to be my best friend. So, tell me what my baby sister was doing on your balcony this morning.”
“She stayed the night.”
Noah pushes past Laird, grabbing the front of my shirt. “Are you fucking kidding me? Of all the women out there, women willing to do anything to be with you, you had to target her? Are you going to give her a parting gift too, when you’re done?”
“I didn’t target anyone, least of all her.” Noah knows me better than anyone. He knows I don’t really fuck around, and I’ve never been in a relationship, even though he’s always going on about how fantastic it is. “What if she wants me, Noah?” I’m not asking his fucking permission, but if I was, is he finally telling me what I always tell myself? That I’m not good enough.
No matter how big a star I am, no matter how much money I have, I can’t fix myself.
“She doesn’t know what she wants, Tanner. She was sick forever! And now she’s just starting her life. We thought she was going to die.” He points a finger at me. “You were there. You saw it! What happens if she gets sick again? Are you going to take care of her?”
The derision in his voice rocks me back on my heels. “She’s fine.”
He shakes his head. “She is now. But no one knows how long it’ll last.” He swallows hard. “Have you even told her about your mother? About the real reason you’re such a control freak?”
Noah stares me down and he doesn’t say another word, but he doesn’t need to. He’s right and the thought of not being there when Sterling might need me, of being too caught up in my own mindfuck to see if she’s hurting, is like a blow to the head. Suddenly dizzy, I stagger to a chair and sit down, my stomach turning.
“I’d never do anything to hurt her.”
“Not intentionally. I know that. But what if…?” He trails off.
What if? That’s the big fucking question, isn’t it? I know what he’s asking. What if I’m like my mother? What if I’m incapable of taking care of another human being?
“Anyway, Laird. I’m heading to Stella’s place in Nashville tomorrow and Sterling can come with me,” Noah says.
