Page 70 of Grizz

Tanner presses his forehead briefly against the window.“I will never own you,” he whispers to the car.“But I will think about you often.”

I hit him on the shoulder.“You’ll survive.”

He sighs deeply, dramatic to the end.“Some losses stay with you forever.”

“I’m sure we could find a fit more within your budget,” the salesman says, trying to rally.

I hold up a hand, deciding Tanner doesn’t need anyone egging him on.“How about we look around and we’ll call you over if we find something he’s interested in?”

The man’s expression crumbles but he nods.“Of course.I’ll just be over there.”

We walk a few steps toward another set of cars.“So,” Tanner says, hands shoved in his pockets.“Daisy—how’s she doing?”

My spine locks.I don’t look at him but give a noncommittal grunt.Very convincing, I’m sure.“She’s… fine.”

Tanner hums.The sound of a man filing that away for later destruction.“Uh-huh… now you wanna go silent and do theaww shucksroutine, eh?”

The silence stretches and we walk another few steps.

I clear my throat.“She’s my PR rep.”

“Sure she is.”

“It’s just a fling,” I add, because apparently, I enjoy lying badly.

Tanner stops walking and turns fully toward me with an expression I don’t like.It borders on having me figured out.“My man,” he says slowly, “you’redating.”

I scoff.“No, I’m not.”

“What you have,” he continues, undeterred, “is dating energy.Hell, practically married energy.”

I finally look at him.“Christ, Tanner.We arenotmarried.Not even close.”

“I didn’t say you were married,” Tanner says.“I said you’re giving offmarried energy.”

“That’s insane,” I sputter, outraged he’d even think such a thing, but inside I have to admit… that level of commitment isn’t as off-putting as I once thought.What would a full life with Daisy look like?

“It’s observant,” he says, bending down to check out the interior of a Maserati.

I shake my head.“It’s a casual lay, Tanner.Nothing more.”

Tanner laughs so loudly the salesman who was helping us visibly jumps and looks around startled.

“Casual, my ass,” Tanner says, wiping at his eyes.

I open my mouth to argue but nothing comes out.Because… yeah, this isn’t casual at all.

Tanner’s smile softens—not teasing now, just watching.He nudges my shoulder.“Come on.Say it.”

“Say what?”

He shrugs.“Anything real.”

I exhale through my nose.“She… gets under my skin.”

Tanner doesn’t laugh.He lets me continue.

“She doesn’t flinch,” I add.“Doesn’t back down.”