truly love him, Victoria.”
She yanked her head up and looked at him. “Why would you think that?”
“Because I know that with love come sacrifices and compromises.” He handed her a handkerchief from his jacket pocket and said, “I was a rancher who loved being a loner. I had my family, Whispering Pines and an occasional hookup when I felt the need. I was happy. Content. Then I met Diamond and fell in love. As an actress, her life was about being in the spotlight. That was something I detested and definitely hadn’t planned for. However, once I fell in love with her, I knew I would gladly become part of her world, even if it included being cast in the limelight with her. I would accept it as one of the costs of loving her. She was worth it. I put up with the tabloid reporters’ lies, which they still sometimes print, by the way. Bottom line, falling in love with someone means falling in love with who they are, what they are and whatever problems and issues that come with them.”
He chuckled softly. “Last I read, Diamond and I are getting a divorce, but then according to the tabloids, we’ve been getting that same divorce now for close to twelve years. It doesn’t faze us anymore and we’re preparing and educating the kids, so it won’t faze them when they grow up,” he said of his son and daughter, ages eleven and eight.
Jake then said, “Roman is a well-liked and popular senator who is going places. What you have to decide is whether you want to be by his side. He will need a woman who loves him as much as he loves her. A strong woman who can take the heat. So I guess the main question is, if Roman being a politician in the limelight, and loving him the way you say you do, is worth it to you?”
* * *
TANNER GLIMPSED AT his watch. It was past noon and Lyric hadn’t called him back, and that had him worried. What if she’d already seen the article, believed what she read and now refused to talk to him? Hank had been right—there were a number of reporters camped outside the club waiting for him when he walked out. After giving them a terse statement of “no comment,” he had gotten into his car and left. His destination was the NOFD where Lyric worked. He didn’t know if she was there or out in the field somewhere doing inspections, but at least finding that out was better than doing nothing.
A short while later he walked into the building to find that same chatty blonde whom he’d spoken to the last time he was there. The same one who’d given him Lyric’s work schedule. He hoped that she was just as chatty today. He felt a semblance of hope when she smiled when she saw him. “You’re back.”
“Yes, I’m back. I have a question about the original inspector’s report. A Lyric Evans. Is she here? I need to talk to her.”
Still smiling, the woman said, “Lyric was here earlier but I think she got sick because she went home unexpectedly. Would you like to speak to someone else here who can help you?”
“No,” Tanner said, as he headed for the door. “There’s no one else.”
When he got into his car, his phone began ringing. He didn’t recognize the caller. If some reporter had somehow gotten his personal number, the person would regret it. “Who is this?”
There was a pause. “Tanner, this is Roman Malone. I got your number from Blade Madaris. I hope we can talk.”
Tanner nodded. “Yes, we can talk.”
“I guess by now you’ve seen the article.”
Tanner rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Yes, I’ve read it. And it’s all lies. Victoria and I are not engaged to be married. We never even dated.”
“I know. I spoke to Jake Madaris earlier and he said Alex Maxwell is on the case.”
Tanner nodded again. “That’s what I’ve been told, as well. I’m certain Alex will find out who started those lies.”
“I am certain he will, as well. In the meantime, this is my plan...”
* * *
A SHORT WHILE later Tanner was knocking on Lyric’s door. At first, when she didn’t open, he was beginning to think that maybe she’d gone to the gym instead of coming home, when her door suddenly swung open. One look at the anger on her face and he knew she’d seen the article.
“If you let