Stealing Taffy (Bigler, North Carolina #3) - Susan Donovan Page 0,71

she was racking up community-service hours, but they’d never discussed the details of her felony charges and probation. The closest they’d come was the day they met, when Tanyalee admitted to forgery and shoplifting and told a tale of murder, kidnapping, and flying squirrels. Since that day, there had been no opportunity to discuss it further. They were either busy arguing, clawing at each other like bonobo monkeys, or in the company of others.

He thought back to those awkward moments when Garland Newberry had cornered him in the pink bathroom at the top of the stairs. He’d asked about his “intentions” with his granddaughter. Dante’s answer had been complete bullshit.

But he knew the time had come for him to answer that question honestly. Not for Garland, but for himself. Before he opened his mouth again he need to be clear on what he wanted with Tanyalee. It wasn’t rocket science. If he wanted to pursue a relationship with her, he would initiate real conversation that included truthful facts and feelings. If he only wanted more of that hotel-quality sex, he would avoid all real conversation, feed her, make her laugh, and then drag her off to his bedroom.

But what if, for the first time ever, he wanted both? And what if, because of her criminal record, he couldn’t have what he wanted?

Tanyalee attempted to escape his lap. Dante grabbed her wrist. She stared at him, the bottomless blue eyes wide with challenge. He knew this would not be easy.

“I like you, Tanyalee. Quite a bit. I don’t usually invite women to my place—in fact, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve made dinner for anyone.”

She blinked, waiting for more.

“I was hoping we could just relax and enjoy each other’s company tonight, you know, talk and get to know each other better. But you’re obviously upset about something, so I think that’s where we should start.”

She stared at him like he was soft in the head. “Don’t be silly.”

“Whatever it is, it will stay just between the two of us. You have my word.”

Tanyalee smiled politely. “That’s so sweet of you, Dante.” She leaned in to kiss his cheek, trying to distract him while she slipped from his grasp. He didn’t fall for it, and wrapped his arm around her waist.

“You’re about a second away from bursting into tears, Tanyalee. I can see it.”

She turned away, pursing her lips. He watched the tendons in her neck pull taut.

“You can talk to me.”

Tanyalee began to shake her head and push herself away from Dante. This time she did it with such desperation that he didn’t try to stop her. She reached the coat closet in seconds, talking as she fumbled with her trench coat and bag. “I shouldn’t have come here. I made a mistake. I was driving here and … Oh, shee-it!” Tanyalee struggled as she tried to get her arms inside the coat.

Dante moved toward her.

“I made the damn-fool mistake of calling my sister earlier and she called me back just as I was on my way to your place. So now I’m … Shee-it!” She ripped the coat from her body and flung it to the floor, then she hurled her bag against the wall.

He gently placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.

“No!” She pushed him away. “I’m a disaster, Dante. This … this…” She gestured to herself. “This is a lie. I am a lie from head to toe and I’ve been nothing but a lying bitch all my life, and there are so many people I need to make amends to and I can’t keep putting it off anymore—in the next few days I have to take my ridiculous self to the lake house to apologize to Cheri and J.J. and I…” Tanyalee caught herself, looked up at Dante with eyes filled with tears and fear, and began to shake her head again. “I do apologize. You went to all the trouble of making dinner. Maybe we can reschedule—”

I must be as crazy as Tanyalee.

Dante simply wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight. Her body was rigid for several seconds, but eventually he felt her belly soften and her cheek settle into his chest. A quick sob escaped her before she went silent again.

“It’ll be okay.” He held her, stroked her hair, and realized he had started rocking her in a gentle back-and-forth motion, something he was certain he had never done to anyone, ever. In fact, Dante wondered how he