The Dare Collection: March 2018 - Nicola Marsh Mills & Boon e-Book Collections

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      He nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. ‘You could be right, considering the length of time she’s taken to approach you. But she’s your mother. Take it from someone who lost my mum far too early and who’d give anything to have more time with her. Don’t waste time analysing her motivation. Just give it a chance.’

      I reached over and squeezed his hand. ‘Thanks. You’re a good friend.’

      ‘Anytime.’ His smile faded as the frown slashing his brows returned. ‘As for Tanner, I think you need to give him time. Space. Let him brood. Sulk. Whatever.’

      He held up his hand and crossed his fingers. ‘And hopefully this time, he won’t screw up the best thing to ever happen to him.’

      I valued Remy’s advice. But as someone who’d walked away from a relationship without looking back, I hoped Tanner wouldn’t do the same.

       CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

      Tanner

      ‘YOU’RE IN A foul mood.’ Hudson strolled into my office and perched on the edge of my desk. ‘Woman troubles?’

      ‘Fuck off,’ I snarled, not wanting to talk about Abby. Now or ever.

      ‘Nice.’ Hudson tapped at the screen of his cell and turned it towards me. ‘What do you think of this?’

      Work I could do. Work would keep me focussed and driven. Work I could understand. Unlike the tumultuous feelings eating at me from the inside out, tainting every waking moment and most sleeping ones too.

      It had been three days since I’d walked out of Le Miel. Seventy-two long hours where I’d fought every instinct to contact Abby. To explain. To apologise. To do something to ease the pain she must be feeling.

      Because if she felt half of what I was feeling, she’d be in frigging agony.

      I squinted at the screen. ‘A live show?’

      Hudson nodded. ‘Lots of the Vegas clubs are doing them these days. Hosting special live events to draw in the crowds.’

      ‘We’re not known for being a live venue.’

      ‘Which is why this is so innovative.’ He brandished the cell at me again and I swatted it away. ‘What’s happened to the guy always ready to take a risk?’

      I’d taken a risk with letting Abby into my life and look how that had turned out. Risks were for suckers.

      ‘Do a proposal. Set out figures for me. Then email me and I’ll take a look.’

      ‘That’s the spirit.’ Hudson gave me a thumbs up. ‘Now how about we hit the town tonight? Boys’ night out. Involving copious amounts of alcohol and luscious babes. What do you say?’

      The thought of being near another woman right now set my teeth on edge. Crazy, because Abby and I were over. I owed her nothing. But it was too soon.

      ‘Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be working late tonight.’

      Hudson stood and huffed out a breath. ‘Look, at the risk of getting my teeth punched out, you’ve been locked away in here for three days straight. You snap at anyone who ventures close. The staff are afraid of you. And I’m sick of you treating me like an enemy rather than a friend.’

      He jabbed a finger at me. ‘So do whatever it takes to lighten the fuck up, okay? Confront what’s got you so riled. Get it out of your system. Deal with it.’

      The only thing that would lighten my mood was to see Abby again and that wasn’t going to happen. Not in this lifetime.

      ‘Thanks for the pep talk, mate,’ I drawled, and pointed at the door. ‘Now get the hell out and leave me alone.’

      ‘Dickhead,’ he muttered, shaking his head as he strode towards the door, where he paused. ‘For what it’s worth, I liked you better when you were dating that Abby chick. She made you happy.’

      I made a growling noise and stood, my fingers clenching into fists.

      Hudson held up his hands in surrender. ‘Just saying,’ before he closed the door on his way out.

      Abby had made me happy but that was over.

      The faster I got my head around it, the better.

       CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

      Abby

      ‘WHAT DO YOU THINK?’

      I glared at Makayla as my back twanged for the umpteenth time. ‘I think Pilates is for pretzels.’

      ‘It’s your first class. You’ll get the hang of it after a few more.’ Makayla interlinked her fingers and stretched overhead. ‘It’s brilliant for flexibility and core strength.’

      ‘I’ll take your word for it.’ Wincing, I managed to stand. ‘In the meantime, I’ve got a hot bath with my name all over it.’

      ‘Fancy going out tonight?’

      It had become Makayla’s standard invitation over the last three days. Ever since Tanner had walked out of my life and I’d let him.

      ‘Thanks, but I’d rather chill.’ I rolled my shoulders, hoping they didn’t spasm. I had a big croissant order to fill tomorrow.

      ‘A night out might do you good.’ Makayla slung a towel around her shoulders and mopped her face. ‘Get him out of your system.’

      Nice in theory. Sadly, I had a feeling it would take a lot of practice to get Tanner out of my system.

      ‘You’re a good friend. But I’m okay, honest.’

      A total lie, but I’d managed not to shed a tear yet, and I aimed to keep it that way. Easier to keep busy at work, then watch mindless sitcom reruns at night and fall into bed exhausted. I had a feeling if Makayla started asking questions about why things ended with Tanner, delved too far beneath my fragile surface, I’d crack. Once that happened, everything I’d been keeping locked away tight might spill out and that would be disastrous.

      ‘You don’t have to lie to me.’ Makayla slumped onto a bench lining the mirrored wall of the exercise studio and patted the spot next to her. ‘I can see how much you’re hurting all over your face.’

      I grimaced as I sat next to her. So much for my poker face. ‘That obvious?’

      ‘I’ve been there. It sucks.’ She shrugged. ‘Did he give you a reason why he split?’

      ‘Uh...we haven’t spoken.’

      Her eyebrows shot up. ‘What do you mean?’

      ‘When Remy got back, he left, and we haven’t spoken since.’

      Makayla stared at me in confusion. ‘You haven’t called him to ask what’s going on?’

      ‘Nope.’

      ‘Why the hell not?’

      ‘Dignity. Pride. Nonchalance. Take your pick.’

      ‘You’re nuts.’ Makayla elbowed me. ‘It’s been three days and you haven’t wanted to see him? To talk to him?’

      I knew exactly how long it had been since I’d last seen Tanner, beyond that fleeting glimpse when he’d brought Remy in. The morning I’d left him sexy and sleepy in my bed. The morning he’d held my hand, stared into my eyes and opened his mouth to say something, possibly momentous, before he’d chickened out.

      I had too. I could’ve nudged him, given him another opportunity. Instead, I’d bolted for the shower and waited until he’d left before coming out of the bathroom. If I’d known that would be the last

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