the kissing monster,” he said in a deep, Muppet-sounding voice. He began pecking at the top of her head, her cheeks, her shoulders, from where she sat in the chair at the table.
Bree played along, like he’d known she would. “Oh, no, not the kissing monster.”
Giggles broke out all over the room, then turned into laughing noises of disgust as Bree finally turned her head up and Tanner kissed her—very chastely—on the lips.
It was their routine. It had started out in jest, but when they’d realized how much some of these children, and their moms, needed to see men in a more easygoing, positive light, it had become a regular part of their day as Tanner picked her up to escort her home.
The noise in the room fell back to its dull roar, everyone returning to their activities now that the show was over, as Bree stood up and smiled at him.
Those green eyes still gutted him just as much now as they had the first time he saw her shoplifting in the drugstore over a year ago.
“Hi,” she whispered.
He looped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, but he didn’t kiss her the way he wanted to, mindful of the audience who might not be actively watching but were still aware of their every move. “Hi, yourself. Good day?”
He knew she’d had a wedding dress fitting today, and that that event tended to stress her out.
But he was also a man and knew better than to try to offer any advice or help. That would probably just get him killed. Not by Bree, but definitely by Cassandra or one of the other women in the throes of wedding planning bliss.
“Let’s just say I’ll be happy two weeks from now when all this is over and I never have to be the center of attention again.”
He trailed a finger down her cheek and leaned closer to make sure no one could hear them. “You may not be the center of the town’s attention, but I can promise you that once you are Mrs. Dempsey, you very definitely will be the center of my attention.”
He loved how her breath hitched and her mouth formed a little O shape.
“Hey, you two,” Cassandra’s voice rang out. “There are little eyes everywhere.”
Tanner was well aware of that. It was the only reason he didn’t have Bree pushed up against the wall kissing the life out of her.
He forced himself to take a step back. “I’ll behave.”
The look of disappointment on Bree’s face was almost the death of him. Whoever’s idea it had been not to have sex for the last two months before their wedding was a complete idiot.
Oh, yeah, that was him.
He forced himself to step away and sat down to talk about New Journeys and any issues. What happened here affected him on multiple levels. Personally, because of his tie to Bree and Cassandra. Professionally, because he was the captain of the sheriff’s department for this section of the county. Whatever he could do to help keep these women safe and secure, he was more than willing to do.
Sometimes that meant grabbing a hammer and drill and helping hang some pictures or adjust some light fixtures. Tanner didn’t mind. As a matter of fact, he and his brother, Noah, had been spending quite a few hours here during their time off. Both of them also realized that they were doing a lot more than some random honey-do list items by showing up week after week. They were trying, in some small way, to reclaim part of what had been lost by the years of violence perpetrated against the residents here.
It wasn’t enough. Wouldn’t ever be enough. But at least it was something.
Bree was talking schedules with Cassandra and Marilyn when Tanner felt a tug on his sleeve. He knew who it was before he even looked by how Marilyn’s eyes tracked the entire situation.
“Why, hello there, princess.”
Eva smiled up at him. “Hi, Captain Lips.”
Tanner managed not to grimace at his nickname. Bree had made the mistake of calling him by her private nickname for him—Captain Hot Lips—in front of Cassandra. His sister, never one to let a humiliating situation die naturally, started calling him that all the time. But at least the kids had overheard only part of it, and thus the nickname Captain Lips.
But this sweet child could call him anything she wanted if it meant she felt free enough to come talk to him.
Sam was standing next to her silently, not making eye contact with Tanner, but prepared to step in as best he could to protect his sister if needed. Tanner had nothing but respect for that.
“You ready for the camping trip next week?” he asked Eva. “You’re going to have a great time.”
Eva nodded vehemently, but her little face scrunched up as she pointed at the dog standing between her and Sam. “Mom says Tromso can’t go.”
Tanner reached down and petted the oversize pup named after the city in Norway where thousands of people flock every year to see the northern lights. Since the pup’s mom was named Corfu, after an island in Greece, the name sort of fit.
“Yeah, Tromso’s not quite ready for that type of adventure yet. He might get into something poisonous or run off before we could grab him. Better let him stay here where he’ll be nice and safe.”
Eva considered him soberly. “That’s probably true. Mom says Tromso can find trouble faster than anyone she’s ever seen.”
As if to make her point, the dog began pushing at Eva with his nose, wanting her to play. Eva giggled—a beautiful sound. Even Sam looked up and smiled when Tromso put his wet nose against the boy’s stomach.
Eva let out a sigh. “Mom also says we’ve got to get all our schoolwork done or we can’t go.”
Tanner couldn’t imagine any circumstances under which Marilyn wasn’t going to allow her children to go on this beloved camping trip, but he didn’t let that cat out of the bag. “You guys better work hard then. It would be a shame to miss it.”
“Do you think Mr. Noah will come back this Saturday?” Sam asked softly, staring down and rubbing at some invisible stain in the carpet with his foot. “He and I were supposed to finish hanging the shower rod in the new bathroom.”
“I’m sure he will,” Tanner said, knowing that even if his brother had to break plans, he would be here if it meant Sam wouldn’t be disappointed. Kid had already been let down too many times in his life.
Tanner’s words seemed to be all the encouragement the children needed. They made a beeline back to the table with their work. Marilyn mouthed the words thank you to him. He just smiled.
Tanner waited as Bree finished her discussions with the other women, listening and commenting when they asked for his opinion. He loved how confident Bree had become since starting her position here. He could still remember the first night Cassandra had mentioned the possibility and how Bree had scoffed at the thought of being able to teach others. But now she was much more easily able to speak her mind and share her opinions, at least with small groups. She’d battled through her fears and had come out on the other side stronger for it.
He couldn’t wait to make this woman his wife.
