Page 48 of Out of Bounds
“Tanner, I—” I wrap my arms around his wide shoulders because if I look at him, if I speak, I’ll cry. And crying is not my thing. Crying is exactly how I’ve ended up taking advantage of Tanner’s generosity.
I sense his hesitation, right before his arms wrap around my back and his cheek meets my head. Nelson’s own daddy can’t even bring himself to hold him and here’s Tanner, my brother’s friend and teammate, my driving instructor and, recently, my rock, creating my son a nursery. All this effort for a few days.
“I wish I could give something back for all this. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for making us feel…” I pull back from him and eventually find the right word. “Wanted.”
“Keep letting me see those happy dimples, Annie, that’s all I want in return.” He tucks wisps of my hair behind my ear and smiles at me in a way that makes me give him all he wants in return. “Maybe a pecan pie once in a while.”
“I can manage that.”
“There’ll be no pecan pie on my watch!” a male voice announces, startling me.
Tanner rolls his eyes. “That’s Aaron. My nutritionist and chef. Come meet him.”
As if Nelson knows food is imminent, he stirs in his car seat and, thankfully, wakes in good spirits. I scoop him onto my hip before joining Tanner and Aaron in the kitchen.
Tanner has already taken a seat on a stool by the counter and Aaron is decanting food from shopping bags.
“Aaron, this is Annie. Annie, Aaron.”
He says it so casually, as if it isn’t a big deal that I’m living in his seven-million-dollar home, greeting his personal chef.
It’s not as if I haven’t been around money. Colton earns plenty of it now, but he doesn’t have all these life add-ons that Tanner has. I guess that’s the difference between a four-year vet and a thirteen-year vet who’s been one of the best, if notthebest, tight ends in the league for a long time.
“Good to meet you, Annie,” Aaron says.
I detect an out-of-state twang that I can’t place. He’s an athletic-looking guy, not much taller than me, slim with prominent veins atop tight muscles.
Despite the fact Tanner has moved a woman and her baby into his house when he’s never even had a long-term relationship, and even though Aaron most likely knows who I am and why I’m here, he acts completely blasé.
I narrow my eyes on him as he shifts food into the refrigerator. “Tanner told you to act like this is completely normal, didn’t he?”
He side-eyes Tanner. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Now, what can I fix you for lunch, Annie?”
“Oh, you don’t have to do?—”
“It’s my job. What do you like? I’ve bought a selection of stuff – fish, meat, veggie.”
Tanner is shoveling almonds into his mouth with one hand and reaching out to take Nelson in the other, tucking him onto his lap and pulling a bowl of fruit toward them. I suppose he’s learned that Nelson gets a fruit snack and a glass of milk after his nap.
“Well then, I’ll have whatever Tanner’s having?”
“Chicken and quinoa salad? I can guarantee you’ll get bored of the footballer diet quickly.”
“Who knows, maybe it will finally shift these baby hips of mine.” I pat them in my jeans.
“Annie, there are women all over the world who would kill for those hips.”
I fix on the man holding my child, who hasneversaid anything about my body. I haven’t said anything about every hench rugged inch of his studly frame either. Because that’s not…friendly.
“You have no business talkin’ ’bout my hips, Tanner Pace.”
He gives a short laugh as he snaps off a piece of banana and hands it to Nelson. I keep a pout firmly planted on my lips but inside, there are all kinds of things dancing in my stomach.
Aaron turns to the stove but I see the rise of his cheeks. I’d say he enjoys his friend being in trouble with the ladies.Thislady.
“What about Nelson, Annie?” Aaron asks. “Kids love a mac ’n’ cheese.”
“You won’t carb shame him?”
