Follow Your Heart (Catalina Cove #4) - Brenda Jackson Page 0,45
placed even more meaning on what she’d told Roman. She was free to do whatever she wanted until Tanner placed a ring on her finger. And even then, she wouldn’t accept his ring until she knew for certain he was the man she loved.
* * *
LATE THAT EVENING Tanner sat in front of the computer in his office at the club. “There you have it, Blade. Hank talked to your electrical team today and they feel confident they’ll have the club rewired in two weeks. Simultaneously, two more stalls will be added in that first women’s restroom.”
“That will push things close, but at least we’ll be back on schedule. Why isn’t Wyatt on this call?” Blade asked.
Tanner chuckled. “I called him, but he is somewhat indisposed at the moment.”
“Indisposed?”
“Yes. I guess when a woman shows up for a booty call, you take care of business. You’ve been married too long, Blade, if you’ve forgotten that.”
“Whatever.”
“Oh, by the way, I ran in to Victoria today,” Tanner said.
“I thought you were keeping your distance.”
“I am, and it was a coincidence we ran in to each other. There is no way your great-grandmother could have arranged this,” Tanner said.
After Lyric had walked out on him, she’d sent someone else to give him a tour and a good workout. The woman was good, but she hadn’t been Lyric. If she thought she could dismiss him like that, she was wrong.
“Tanner!”
Hearing Blade almost holler into the phone made him jump. “Damn, man, do you have to yell like that?”
“Well, you hadn’t answered my question and I asked you twice.”
He had? His mind had definitely been elsewhere. “Sorry about that. I was looking over next week’s work order,” he lied. There was no way he was telling Blade anything about how a woman had him tied in knots.
“I asked did you get a chance to talk to Victoria, and if so, how is she doing?”
“Yes, we talked, and I was trying my best to keep it short. She seemed happy and she mentioned she’s dating someone.”
“Dating someone?”
“Yes, that’s what she said. And even said it might be serious.”
“Serious?”
“Yes.”
“And how do you feel about that?”
Tanner frowned. “And how am I supposed to feel about it? I told her I was happy for her. Wished her the best.”
Blade didn’t say anything for a minute and then said, “Victoria has to be lying to you, Tanner. There’s no way for her to be seriously dating a guy when she knows you’re her intended.”
“I am not her intended, Blade. And why would she be lying about it?”
“To save face. You’re supposed to be her guy and she knows that. Since you’re not making an effort to do anything about it, like starting a relationship with her, she doesn’t want you to think she’s somewhere pining for you. A woman has her pride, you know.”
Tanner rolled his eyes. “Let me say this again since there is undoubtedly something wrong with your hearing. I am not Victoria’s guy.”
“Trust me, all my brothers and cousins wish like hell that you’re not. We know your reputation and we’re hoping Mama Laverne made a mistake.”
“If she has selected me, then she undoubtedly made a mistake. A big one. But still, need I remind you that you and your cousins all were once womanizers like me, and that some of them still are?”
“Hey, no need to get uptight. We’re just concerned,” Blade said, clearly enjoying Tanner’s discomfort. “You’re one of my best friends and I would hate to have to work you over if you broke Victoria’s heart.”
“I don’t plan to fall in love with Victoria, Blade. It’s not in my makeup to fall in love with anyone when there are so many good-looking and accommodating women out there.”
Blade chuckled. “We all thought the same thing at one time.”
“And I’m still thinking that way. I won’t ever be ready to settle down with one woman, Blade. I like my freedom too much. Victoria is a nice girl, but there’s no way I will ever fall in love with her.”
“Not according to Mama Laverne.”
“Like I said, she’s made a mistake.” Tanner looked at his watch. “I spent practically all day at the gym and have a few items to catch up on before calling it a day. I’ll talk to you later.”
After ending the call with Blade, Tanner leaned back in his chair. Little did Blade know, but Victoria wasn’t the woman who’d gotten under his skin. Lyric Evans was.