Suzy was my sister-in-law, a beautiful and kindhearted woman who immediately won over my family's hearts the day Tanner brought her home. And then there was my nephew Dannie, who was only three years old and full of life. Everyone loved him.
I couldn't imagine the pain Tanner must have gone through watching them die and living with their memory. It must have been unbearable.
"So... any special ladies in your life?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
I shrugged. "Not really. Just the usual flings and one-night stands. How about you?"
Tanner's face twisted in disgust. "No, it's been just me and the bottle. Until Jasamina, at least."
Tanner and I have always been able to tease and joke like brothers and buddies. I couldn't resist teasing him and whispered, "That's nice. Have you two... you know?"
"What? No, no. Of course not," he replied, pausing before continuing. "She did offer the first time I helped her, but I refused."
I couldn't help but smile. "You've always been an honorable man, Tann."
"I'm not. I just helped someone in need," he said, staring at his beer bottle.
"Well, you're a good man all the same. Cheers to you," I said, clinking our bottles together before taking another swig of my beer.
"What are you going to do about Jasamina? Her husband is going to be on your case soon about his missing wife," I reminded him.
"I know. I called him before I came here to let him know that I located her. But I'd rather not think about that now. Let's talk about us. You and me," he suggested.
His lips curled up. "I'd like that very much."
JASAMINA
The morning sun shone bright, and the melodious chirping of birds pierced my subconscious, bringing me back to reality. I opened my eyes to a brand new day, feeling a mix of emotions as the events of the previous day flooded my mind.
Despite feeling tired from being woken up twice in the middle of the night to breastfeed and change my baby's diaper, I couldn't help but smile at the sight of Jaimie sleeping peacefully. His rosy plump cheeks looked so adorable, and I couldn't resist giving him a gentle kiss before getting out of bed.
As I stood up, a memory of the previous night came rushing back, and I blushed at the thought. I couldn't believe that I hugged Tanner. It was so unlike me to show physical affection towards men, but I felt safe and at home in his arms.
Surprisingly, I had gotten used to Tanner's presence, and even Jaimie seemed to like him. However, the thought of hugging another man, even Tanner's brother, made me shudder. Men had always scared me, and for good reason too.
I had seen firsthand what they were capable of doing, and my mind drifted to the bounty hunter, Xazix. The fact that Dane had hired a bounty hunter for me showed how desperate he was to have me back. The thought sent shivers down my spine, and I bit my lips as a momentary panic flooded me.
Xazix had believed me and had refused to take me back to Dane. I couldn't express the depth of my gratitude towards him, and I silently prayed that he never had to face Dane's wrath.
Feeling grateful and relieved, I decided to make a delicious meal to thank Tanner and Xazix for their help. After taking one last look at my sleeping baby, I headed into the connecting bathroom to shower and freshen up.
Dressed in a casual dress that Tanner had bought for me, I felt more like a human than I had in a while. As I walked into the living room, my eyes fell on Tanner and Xazix, sprawled on the floor, their breathing leveled and eyes closed.
They had fallen asleep after conversing almost all night, and I couldn't help but feel sorry for Tanner. I couldn't imagine the pain that had driven him to leave the people who loved him and turn to alcohol. I hoped that he would eventually open up to me and tell me his story.
I tiptoed past them to the kitchen, determined not to wake them up.
TANNER
As I slowly opened my eyes, a sweet fragrance tickled my nose, and Suzy's smiling face filled my mind. For a moment, I was lost in a pleasant reverie. However, I blinked hard and cleared my mind, rising up from the ground to see Xax still sleeping beside me.
I deduced that Jasamina must be in the kitchen, so I set out to find her. But before I could get to my room, I heard the whimper of a child. The sound caught my attention, and I immediately headed towards Jasamina's room, where I found a little boy opening his eyes.
"Hey there, little man. Don't cry," I murmured softly, approaching Jaimie who had stopped whimpering and was watching me intently.
My heart ached at the sight of the child, bringing forth memories of Dannie that I had tried hard to bury. Overwhelmed with emotions, I looked away, trying to regain control over myself. However, the Jaimie seemed to understand that I was not going to pick him up, and he started whimpering again.