Memories surface of being cheated on by my ex, Jeff, and sympathy for Tanner fills me. It's one of the worst feelings I've ever felt in my life. All my insecurities flared when Jeff cheated, and I replayed conversations and situations over and over in my head, imagining him thinking I was a fool the whole time for believing everything he'd ever told me. I started to doubt myself in ways I never had, and when you added all that new doubt to the lack of faith I already had in myself, I was a walking bundle of confusion and humiliation.
"I'm sorry." My voice is soft and I hear the traces of pain in it that I still feel over the betrayal. It happened just over a year ago, but some days, that pain rears its ugly head and is as fresh as it was then.
His eyes narrow on me. "You've been through it, too?"
"Yeah, my boyfriend of seven years cheated on me with someone he worked with." I rub my thumb and pointer together in my lap. "They'd been together for a year before I ever realised."
"You must have met him when you were young?"
"We were high school sweethearts from the age of sixteen. I thought he would be my forever. As soon as I found out, I left him and then a couple of months later, I got evicted from where I was living, so I took the plunge and moved to Sydney to follow my dream of working in fashion. It's been hard, but things are starting to work out and leaving him was the best thing I ever did."
He doesn't say anything, just watches me for a beat before asking, "Do you want dessert here, or are you up for some fun?"
I'm wary of what his kind of fun might be, but I take a chance. "I'm up for some fun."
His face breaks out in a huge smile and he practically jumps up. "I'll be back in a minute." Before I have time to ask where he's going, he leaves, and I wonder exactly what I'm getting myself into.
Tanner is pulling me under his spell. After spending some time with him the other night and now tonight, I bet he has women falling at his feet. Not only is he good-looking, he has the kind of personality that charms you and leaves you hanging for more time with him.
My phone sounds with a text, interrupting my thoughts. It's my sister.
Lesley: How's your date going? Did Mr Ink prove you were right about not wanting to date him?
Me: No, he bloody proved me wrong.
Lesley: LOL. So what happens now?
Me: I don't have time for dating.
Lesley: Everyone has time for dating. You need to move on from Jeff and put yourself back out there.
Fear curls through my stomach at that thought.
Put myself back out there to be trampled again. I've only just started recovering from the last time.
Lesley: You still there?
Me: Yes, and I know, but I think I need more time to think about it.
Lesley: God, you think too much! Just do it. Take a chance for once in your life.
Me: What does that mean?
Lesley: It means you spent seven years with Jeff in your comfort zone. You took a chance by moving to Sydney but then you moved back to your comfort zone. I'm worried you'll end up an old spinster. Get back out there. Love can hurt like a bitch but it won't kill you. Don't end up like Mum.
Her words sting and I shove my phone into my purse. She's right, even if I don't want to admit it. Mum never found anyone after she left Dad. Instead, she closed her heart to love and refused to even consider dating.
I don't want to be my mother.
"You ready?"
Looking up, I find Tanner smiling down at me, holding his hand out.
I refuse to be my mother.
Placing my hand in his, I stand and nod. "I'm ready."
Chapter Six
TANNER
"We're nearly there."
"You do know that heels aren't made for this kind of thing, right?" she grumbles, but it's only a half-arsed grumble. Beast mode has completely left the building and I'm fucking ecstatic about that. I estimate a week, tops, and her walls will be down.
"Sweetheart, heels aren't made for anything."
We've walked about seven blocks and are now climbing the stairs inside the building that will take us up to the most breathtaking view of Sydney I know of. The chef at the restaurant I just took her to is a friend of mine and lives in this building. I borrowed his key for this. She's a few steps up from me, and turns to look down. Pausing on the step, she says, "So you're telling me that at this very minute, you're not loving the view of my legs in these heels? You'd take flats over these heels any day?" The grumble has disappeared from her voice and in its place is a new sexy tone that I'm digging.
Goddess mode.
My gaze traces her legs down to her shoes, and I appreciate everything she has to offer. Juliette must exercise like a demon, because her legs are made of some gorgeous muscles and tone.
"Well?" she challenges me.
Grinning up at her, I hold my hands up in defence. "So it turns out heels were made for something."
Heat flashes in her eyes and those pouty lips of hers twitch with a smile. "I rest my case." With that, she turns and continues her climb while I slow my pace down so I can enjoy the view a little more. She reads me like a pro, though, and says, "Come on, Mr Ink, don't slow down now. You have fun to show me."
I chuckle, loving the hell out of her new playful tone. Picking up my pace again, I catch up to her and murmur near her ear, "What's with the Mr Ink?"
At that moment, we reach the end of the stairs and as she steps out onto the roof she turns to face me. I'm so close that she ends up in my arms. Our eyes lock, and the world spins around us while we both catch our breath.