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“Rochelle told me,” he says with a chuckle.
“I thought she was on my side!” I gasp. What happened to women sticking up for women?
“Baby girl, everyone in this town is on Whiteman’s side.”
I swoon where I sit when he calls me baby girl. It is like a tonic, immediately softening me and wrapping me up in a soft Tanner cocoon.
“Back to the roses. I know it was you because you left one in the living room for me,” I say with a smile. He’s not the only one being called out today.
I feel him tense next to me and snap my head up to look at him. His face is stern, deep concern etched into his brow. “I promise you, it wasn’t me, Victoria,” he assures me, and my body seizes a little. “Someone must have come here when you were gone.” He is serious, and I believe him. But that doesn’t have me feeling any less uneasy.
“But if it wasn’t you, who was it?” I ask, confused and a little scared. Thinking about who it could be, I shiver.
“You need security around here,” he says adamantly, taking my hand and softly squeezing it.
I sigh, my lips thinning as I think. I don’t really want this place locked up with cameras everywhere. That alone would make me unsettled. Josh did mention coming here when I answered his call… Maybe he left the rose. All the signs point to him, and he sounded desperate enough. I look at Tanner, wondering if I should tell him.
“You might be right,” I say, quietly nodding to him. “I’ll do some research on what cameras to get.” I tell him, already adding it to my mental to-do list, having no idea where to even start with all that. I don’t like the idea, but safety needs to come first.
“Will you let me help you? I have a team. They can get the cameras and install them. It’s your home, so you just tell them where to put them, but I can get them here for you,” he asks, his eyes searching mine.
I am so used to doing everything on my own, I feel almost odd accepting his offer. But he isn’t being bossy. He isn’t telling me what to do. He is asking me and respecting my independence, and as I take a deep breath, I find myself smiling. I am not annoyed by him wanting to take control. Instead, I like how he is being protective. It’s kinda sexy and makes me feel cared for. I’m not sure I can use my words right now, so I nod.
“Good,” he says with a matching smile, and as if he senses my fear, Tanner changes the subject and lets me calm my remaining nerves.
“I thought maybe you ran over the roses yourself with your injured ankle. How is it feeling anyway?” he asks, lifting my leg and placing it on his lap, where he inspects the small purple scar that now runs across my ankle before he starts to massage it.
“You massaging it is making it all so much better now,” I murmur, smiling, as his large hands run up and down my shin, his thumbs kneading my muscles. I’m putting the rose issue behind me. I am sure it was just someone who came by for a visit. A friendly neighborly gesture or something, and although I thought I had, I mentally scold myself for not locking the door.
Tanner chuckles, but his hands don’t leave my skin. He looks relaxed himself, his shoulders lowered, his normal scowl faded into a content smile.
Garry bleats, and we both look at my goat who is doing a great job, moving around a little before settling again. I don’t know how I know, but I feel like it is getting close.
“What’s your plan for this place once you’re done with renovations?” Tanner asks, and we sit back against the wall, getting more comfortable.
“I was thinking I would make it a farm stay for women who need a place,” I tell him, smiling.
“Why's that?” He looks at me curiously.
“Well, I needed a place. It came just at the right time in my life when I needed a change. I feel like others might need one too. Somewhere to help them get through a tough season in their life. I just think about the women who experience heartbreak or trouble from their husbands like my mom did or their boyfriends, who maynot be as lucky as me. Maybe I can give them a place to get over their heartbreak or bad situations in life,” I say, trying to formulate it, the idea still brewing in my mind as I talk.
“So, are you planning on staying long term, or just here for your season of change?” He’s not looking at me now, his jaw set as he stares straight ahead at Garry.
“The more time I spend here, the more I love it. It is starting to feel more like home than the city ever did. I am not exactly sure what I will do for work from here, though. Whispers doesn’t have a lot of options in that regard.” I take a sip of the hot coffee, letting out a little moan as he rubs my calf.
Small towns are great in many aspects, but employment can be scarce, especially for someone from the city. I haven’t thought too much about my long-term plans. When I took on Marie’s place, I did it to get myself out of the bad situation I was in. I was running away from something, not running to something. But now things are better, and my life feels like it is aligning and more settled, like I was always meant to be here. But I have no idea what I would do for work, and while renting out Marie’s Place will be able to pay some bills, I don’t think it is something I could rely on.
“I think Whispers looks good on you,” Tanner says, and I catch him watching me.
“I think it does too,” I say softly, smiling, and I get one in return, before Garry bleats out loudly and Tanner moves my legs to jump up.
“It’s time,” he says, and my panic flares.
“I am never having children,”I say adamantly as I try to recover from what I just saw. A baby goat lies next to Garry.
“Hold up, there is a second one,” Tanner says from where he is positioned next to the goat.
“A second one? What do you mean, a second one? How many do they have?” I shriek. They did not teach this at my school in the city, that is for sure.
