From the Moment We Met (17 page)

“Seven o’clock, then.” This was really happening. “I’ll make another wine cake.”

And with that, his smile went full-blown. “Yeah, that sounds good too.”

“Is that all?” she asked, giving him a little “yeah, right” shove to the pecs. But she knew one more lesson sitting next to his hard, sculpted body on that way-too-small bench and he’d have her saying “Yeah, right.”

Yeah. Right there!

“Nope. One last thing.” This was the one he’d been gearing up for. She could tell because his smile turned wicked—and hot. “Since I don’t want to rush you, but I also need you to give this a real chance, you have to promise me we have until the end of this project. Think of it as half up front and half on delivery.”

“What half do you want first?”

Six hours later at a meeting Tanner had called to see where everyone stood, he was still hard-pressed to choose which half of Abby he wanted first. Maybe it was the high-collar shirt, but he’d always considered himself a breast man, and Abby was beyond impressive in that department. Hell, the way her snug blouse hugged her every curve as she studied the electrical plans in front of her was more than inspiring. But when she rested her hand on the table, lifting one of those sleek black boots, which had her even sleeker black skirt tugging across that perfect handful, he was having a change of heart.

Not that Abby didn’t have a pair of perfect tens. But her ass was the kind locker room legends were made from.

“The good news is I can start on the main runs and conduits as soon as the stock arrives, which should be tomorrow,” Ben Burns said. Tanner tore his gaze off Abby and back to the meeting at hand.

“Don’t you know you should always lead with the bad news? That way you end on a high note,” Abby said, studying the impressive electrical plans Ben had thrown together in the past few hours.

“Yeah, well, since the good news pretty much blows in comparison, I didn’t think it would matter, because unless I can find a new electrical panel that will work, none of the rest will matter.” Dressed in a black graphic tee and pair of black skinny jeans, floppy hair hanging in his face, Ben looked more like a basement-dwelling gamer than an electrician. Despite being only in his early twenties and preferring wires to people, he was one of the best electricians Tanner had ever worked with. Fast, creative, a perfectionist—and staring right at Abby’s cleavage.

“I called every supplier I know, and a panel running the kind of power we need doesn’t exist. At least not one made after Roosevelt took office,” Tanner said, shooting Ben his most threatening look over Abby’s head.

Wisely, Ben focused on the bundles of wires scattered through the warehouse, which ran the length of the exposed brick walls. Tanner knew without him having to say, they were too outdated to run a laptop and hairdryer at the same time without starting a fire, let alone do what Tanner needed them to
and
pass inspection. Which meant they would all have to be ripped out and replaced.

“I know a guy who makes custom boxes,” Gus said. “He takes the old panel then rebuilds it with all the new bells and whistles. I already gave him the specs on that old dinosaur over there.” He pointed with his cane, his posture a little straighter than it had been as of late. “He’s had some experience with that particular model. And he’s done a few projects for me over the years, so I know he does clean work and will charge a fair price.”

“That’s great, Gus,” Abby said and—
Jesus
—was his old man preening? Then she aimed that four thousand watts of joy his way, and it appeared it was an affliction that affected all Tanner males. “Is he available to come down today?”

“Yup.” Gus rocked back on his heels.

He looked healthier than Tanner had seen him look in months too, which made Tanner feel better about his decision to bring Gus on. Originally, he’d done it to get his dad out of the house, let him feel useful again—in a place Tanner could keep tabs on him. But maybe this would work out after all. His dad was smiling, flushed with excitement, and, more shocking, they had been in the same space for most of the day and hadn’t argued even once.

“Melvin said he can be here anytime after seven, but he’ll need help getting some stuff from his car.”

“Melvin from your poker group? As in Melvin Schwartz?”

Gus shrugged a thin shoulder.

“Dad, Melvin doesn’t have a car, and his electrical skills as of, oh, the last decade, consist of building engines for his model plane collection.”

“Which is why I lent him my truck. And before he retired, he wired things for Uncle Sam,” Gus said, and Tanner realized the only reason they hadn’t argued was because they’d been too busy working on different projects. “Before that he was in the CBs during Nam. And if he could figure out how to pipe in electricity to a jungle in the middle of a damn war zone, I think he can figure out how to keep cheese cold. Now, you hired me as your foreman. You going to let me do my job or keep nagging like an old hen?”

Tanner wanted to point out Melvin was practically blind, hence the lack of a car, and he was only available after seven because that was when he could sneak out unseen by the nurses at his assisted living complex, but he kept his mouth shut. Because that could be construed as nagging—and Tanner was not a nagger.

Then he started thinking about how he’d been since Gus moved into his place, and sighed. Shit, he was a nagger. He was also man enough to admit that, sight impaired or not, Melvin had a way with wires and could save their collective asses. Except for one glaring issue.

“Melvin’s state license expired when I was in high school.”

Gus obviously didn’t see a problem with that, since he started harrumphing and huffing as though gearing up for an argument, which Tanner knew would be epic. Well, too bad. Tantrum or not, Tanner was the GC, his word was final, and his dad would do best to remember that.

Something Tanner opened his mouth to relay when Abby shot him a look, then placing a hand on his dad’s shoulder, she said, all smiles, “Gus, that is a great idea about going custom. And you’re right, it would answer all of our problems.”

And wouldn't you know it, the man was back to preening. Abby, with all of her five foot nothing of sweetness, was acknowledging his old man while taking a firm stance. Something Tanner hadn’t managed to accomplish in a really long time.

Eyes still on Gus, as though genuinely interested in his opinion, she said, “I worked with this guy who finished installing all of the coolers for Ryo Wines last year. He actually retrofitted the old storage facility that came with the building with solar. Do you think he could handle customizing the electrical panel?”

Gus scratched his head and Tanner found himself doing the same thing. “How old was the original building?” Gus asked.

“Built in the twenties.”

“Sounds pretty creative to me. I say he’d be a fit.”

“If I got you his number, would you want to give him a call and feel him out before you pass it along to Tanner?”

“I can do that,” Gus said, man with a mission.

“Great.” Abby turned and smiled sweetly up at Tanner, and he felt all of his earlier frustration fade. She wasn’t just giving his dad a way to salvage his pride, she was giving Tanner an out.

He wanted to lean down and kiss her, or at least say thank you. But everyone was watching, so he asked, “Any word from Eddie?”

“Nothing.” She shrugged, and a few of those curls she tried so hard to manage slipped free from her clip and framed her pretty face. “I’ll call him while you guys finish up. And thanks, Gus, for thinking of going custom.”

Abby rummaged through her purse, grabbed her phone, and—bingo—like a moth to the flame, Tanner zeroed in on her ass until she disappeared into what was to become the new office. So did Ben—until Tanner punched him in the arm.

“What was that for?” Ben said. “You were looking too.” Tanner leveled Ben with a look that had his eyes bulging. “Oh . . .”

“Right, oh.” When he was good and convinced Ben got the point, he turned to Gus, who was already heading toward the electrical panel, taking measurements and making notes.

Two seconds later, the office door swung open and out walked Abby. She handed Gus a piece of paper. “His name is Carlos. Just tell him I sent you. If you need me, call my cell. I’ve got to see a guy about a cheese shop.”

Frown firmly in place, she bent over to grab her purse and,
look at that
, Tanner had his answer. Ass, boobs, legs. Didn’t matter. Tanner was a confirmed Abby man.

Which was why when he saw her heading toward the parking lot, Mary Poppins bag in hand, hips swishing with purpose well before the quitting time, he turned to Gus. “Ray should almost be done pressure testing the plumbing system. When he’s finished, can you call Carlos?”

To that Gus only raised a brow and Tanner went for casual, as though Abby wasn’t already halfway to the door. “If he can come out tonight, that would be great. If not, we need him here as soon as—” out the door she went, “Jesus, can you handle it or not?”

“Yup. Was just waiting for you to finish flapping your gums.”

“Be back in two.” According to Abby’s rules, Tanner couldn’t officially blow her whistle until five, which meant he needed to make sure she was coming back. He saw her walk past the window, fiddling with her top, and he knew exactly where she was going. Despite Eddie not answering, it seemed she was planning a pop-in.

“Make that an hour,” he said over his shoulder, already fishing his phone out of his pocket and dialing Eddie. Halfway through the first ring the guy answered.

“What a surprise, I was just getting ready to call you,” Eddie said, his tone dialed to kiss ass, and Tanner had to suppress the urge to hang up. He knew Eddie had just sent Abby to voice mail. “I was in the office when your paperwork for the cave you’re putting in on the DeLuca property came in. I pulled a few strings and had them push it through for you, so you can come by the planning department anytime after tomorrow and pick up the permits to start drilling.”

“You didn’t have to do that,” Tanner said. He wasn’t going to be able to start drilling until the equipment was delivered. And before that could happen they needed to pour the foundation for the staging area.

“Hey, no problem,” Eddie went on as Tanner cut through the bottlery, taking the rear entrance to make up time. “That was some game last week. I still can’t believe the Seahawks won. I was telling my brother-in-law, who’s up with his wife visiting from Wisconsin, that if you were still playing we’d have had that in the bag. I mean, the fumble that happened at the end of the fourth would have never happened with you playing.”

“It was just a preseason game,” Tanner felt the need to point out. “They’re still feeling each other out, but they’ll come back.”

“That’s what I told my brother-in-law you’d say.”

He could hear the man self-fiving himself through the phone. Tanner would bet he told his brother-in-law a hell of a lot more than he was letting on. Most of it was probably BS. Which was why Tanner had no problem doing what he did next.

“Well, thanks, man. And for having my back I have two seats for next week’s game against the Packers. Fifty yard line. They’re yours if you want.”

“Are you serious?” Eddie’s voice exploded through the phone.

“Yeah, I can’t use them. Plus, you can take your brother-in-law if he’s still in town, show him what the Niners are all about. Have a few drinks on me.” He pushed through the door and scanned the lot. He didn’t see Abby or her car. He doubled back to check the front lot. “I can give them to you when you do the plumbing and electrical inspection on the Hampton project out at the old bottlery.”

“You’re working on the cheese shop for Babs?”

“Just signed on.” When he was absolutely sure he’d missed Abby, he kicked the curb. “I can give them to you—oh, wait, I have to have them Express Mailed to me. When do you come out for the inspection?”

“Tomorrow,” Eddie said. “But I was thinking of moving it to Friday, if that works better for you.”

What worked for Tanner was not having to talk to the tool while his date sped off.

“You know what, that’s a great idea, Eddie. Pencil me in for Friday so I can give you the tickets.”

For five freaking minutes Tanner fielded questions about who he thought had a shot at the Super Bowl, what he would have done differently if that had been him last week, and if the Niners were going to pull out a win this weekend against the Packers. And if Tanner wasn’t already sitting on the curb, he would have asked the guy if he wanted him to bend over so Eddie could apply his lips directly to Tanner’s ass.

Then finally,
finally
, when Tanner ended the call, he felt that familiar sense of frustration rise. Sure, he’d missed out on seeing Abby off and sure, he’d just bribed a city official with his name—two things that pissed him off. But what had his head pounding and his chest struggling to relax was that maybe Colin had been right.

Maybe all of his success in town had more to do with his being a celebrity than his being good at what he did. Tanner had always assumed it had a little to do with both, but that in the end, it was about the relationships he’d made and the hard work he’d put in.