Still The One - Carrie Elks Page 0,42
Tanner suspected she’d be climbing over the bar to help herself. “Come on, Sam. Just one more.”
He recognized that voice. Tanner tilted his head to the side, stealing another glance. Despite the curtain of bleached hair, he knew who it was. Kimberly. Van’s mom. He took a deep breath and turned toward her. “You okay?” he asked.
“Who’s asking?” She tucked the curtain of hair over her shoulder and turned to look at him.
“I’m a friend of Van’s.” He didn’t want to tell her his name. He was her landlord, after all, even if she didn’t know it. This had the potential to get messy as hell.
Kim slid off the stool and tried to steady herself on the counter. Next to him, Tanner could feel the warmth of Nate’s scrutiny. “Hello, friend of Van’s,” Kim said, her lips curling into a smile. “I don’t suppose you want to buy me a drink?”
“No, I don’t.” Tanner folded his arms across his chest. “You should probably go home.”
“Ha!” She tipped her head back, but lost her footing, tottering on her high heels. Tanner reached forward to grab her arm, steadying her.
She snapped her head around. “Don’t touch me if you’re not buying me a drink.”
“Sam’s stopped serving you.”
She licked her lips, then lifted her head to stare at him. “Do I know you?”
“I’m a friend of Van’s,” he said again.
Her brows knitted together. “Van. Perfect Van. Don’t tell her I’m here, she’ll go crazy.” Her words were all slurred together. He had to lean his head in to hear her properly. “Oh, you’re pretty,” Kim said, reaching up to trace his lips with her finger. He could smell cigarette smoke on them.
“I really think you should go home,” he told her softly. “I’ll walk you back.”
She laughed, a glass-like tinkle that cut right through him. “No sex unless you buy me a drink.” She attempted to smile. “I’m a lady.”
Tanner tried not to shudder.
“Is everything okay?” Chrissie asked, walking to the bar to join them. Her eyes widened when she realized who Tanner was talking to. “Oh, it’s you,” she said, looking Kim up and down. “Is she drunk?” she asked Tanner.
“Chrissie Fairfax. Johnny’s favorite little girl.” Kim lurched forward, only stopping herself from falling by putting her hands firmly on Tanner’s chest. He gripped her forearms, looking around for somewhere he could set her. Christ, she was drunk.
If Van could see her now, she’d be mortified. He needed to get Kim home before she embarrassed herself – and her daughters – any more.
Chrissie glanced at Tanner, her eyebrows lifting. “Should we call the police?”
“You’re so much like your mom, you know that?” Kim said, still swaying in spite of Tanner’s hold. “I bet you’re as much of a bitch, too.”
Chrissie blinked. “At least she’s not a drunk,” she replied, her voice full of disgust.
“Yeah well,” Kim said, pulling from Tanner’s hold as she turned to face Chrissie. “It’s a shame she can’t keep a man. Your dad’s slept with half the women in Hartson’s Creek.” Her smeared lips curled up into a satisfied smile. “No wonder your mom’s such an uptight bitch.”
Chrissie straightened her spine. “I’m calling the police. I shouldn’t have to deal with this.”
He shook his head. “No need to call anybody. I’ll get her home.”
“I know you, don’t I?” Kim said, turning back to him, as though she’d forgotten about Chrissie. “You’re Van’s friend. Tanner Hartson.”
His voice was graveled. “That’s right.”
“The boy I kept finding in bed with her.” She laughed again. “And now you want to take me home.”
This was excrutiating. With Chrissie on one side of him and Nate on the other, he felt like everything he said was being scrutinized. He was acutely aware of the way Chrissie was pulling her phone out of her purse, her fingers poised and ready to call the local cops.
“That’s forty-five dollars,” Sam said, loading eight full glasses onto a tray in front of Nate.
“Can you take the drinks over to the table?” Tanner asked Chrissie. “Nate’s bound to spill them.”
She glanced from Kim and back to him. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“It’s all good. Kim’s going home now, aren’t you?”
Chrissie picked up the tray, balancing it carefully as she stood up straight. Tanner turned to take Kim’s arm again. But then she stepped forward, her hand reaching out to grab a drink from the tray Chrissie was holding. It was like watching a train wreck in double-slow motion. Kim’s hand caught the lip of the tray, her shuddering movement