Spring River Valley: The Spring Collection (Boxed Set) (3 page)

There he was. The infamous Tanner Croft. He stood near the small stage, setting up an electronic keyboard and laughing with the guitarist. In between the two men stood a beautiful brunette adjusting a microphone stand. While Evie watched, Tanner put his arm around the brunette and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. She smiled, and Evie’s blood heated.

What was wrong with her? Why an earth was she so ridiculously possessive of a man she’d spent less than three hours with? “I can’t believe this,” she muttered, staring daggers at him while he nonchalantly laughed with his band mates. “That’s the guy from the self-defense class.”

Bailey’s eyes narrowed. “You mean
Mr. Major Player? I hate guys like that.”

Of course she did. She’d practically been engaged to one and hadn’t even known it. Dan Archer had chased every skirt in the Valley without Bailey’s knowledge, and here Evie was, nervous as a schoolgirl at the sight of a guy who was cut from the same cloth. She despised herself for not being able to tear her gaze away, and she nearly hyperventilated when his bottomless gaze met hers.

She expected—if not a positive response, considering her article—at least a spark of recognition. Their eyes held for a split second, during which he smiled neutrally, then returned his attention to the brunette.

Evie cursed. “I don’t
believe
him.”

Bailey glared in his direction. “He completely dissed you.”

“I suppose I deserve a cold reception for calling him out about his prowling, but that was…just frigid.”

“Well, he is about to go on. Wait until his song is over and see if he does anything then.”

Evie viciously stirred her second drink with her straw. “I’m not sure I can stand it that long.” She didn’t like the way he looked at the brunette at all.

“Do you want to
leave?” Bailey asked, her tone just a little too hopeful.

“No, I’m going to stick this out. Mr. Croft isn’t getting away that easily.”

A few minutes later, the guitarist stepped up to the microphone, and the rowdy crowd quieted. “Introducing The Love Notes,” someone said, and the strains of a popular song drifted from the keyboard.

The brunette leaned into the microphone and began to sing, and the guitarist joined her for the chorus, their voices mixing in a sensual duet. Evie barely heard them, though. She stared raptly at Tanner, watching his long fingers caress the keyboard and reluctantly admiring his concentration and his skill. She would have never guessed the hands that had delivered her belly
- up to the practice mat the other night could be so gentle. His movements made her mouth water. She found herself wishing he would sing as well, but to be honest, a third voice might have ruined the perfect harmony of the lovely singer and the guitarist.

Beside her, Bailey swayed to the music, her eyes half closed. “They’re great.”

Evie nodded grudgingly. Now she felt compelled to go up to Tanner when the song was over and congratulate him. She wondered if he’d pretend he didn’t know her then.

Ending the song with a flourish, the singers gazed at each other for a breathtaking moment in which Evie was almost sure they were going to kiss. Thundering applause broke the spell between them, and for a second Evie felt sorry for the brunette. She looked embarrassed, disappointed
, and a little bewildered as her colleagues took a bow.

“Now’s your chance,” Bailey said. “Go let him have it.”

“I’m going.” Evie hopped off her stool and strode toward the stage as Tanner stepped down and began removing his equipment. If only she had any idea exactly what she was going to let him have.

She’d almost reached the stage when someone tapped her on the shoulder. Unsure if she was relieved or disappointed at being interrupted in her quest to give Tanner Croft one more piece of her mind, she turned and found herself staring at…Tanner
Croft.

*

“Hey, beautiful.” Tanner lost the battle to hide his satisfied grin. The moment he’d laid eyes on Evie Prentice, sitting at a table near the stage, he’d been working his way toward her through the crowd. He held back only long enough to be certain she had Taylor in her sights. Sure enough, she headed toward his brother the moment the song ended, obviously thinking he was Tanner.

It would have been funny to see her reaction when his brother didn’t recognize her, but Tanner decided he couldn’t wait that long. He wanted her attention on him, not his twin, so he pushed through the audience and tapped her on the shoulder.

The look on her face when she turned and realized the same man, or a mirror image thereof, stood both in front of her and behind her was priceless.

She gaped. “You…you’re—”

“Twins. Hilarious, right? We get that reaction all the time.”

She glanced over her shoulder again, as if she had to make certain she really was seeing double. She was so cute when she was flustered.

Tanner sidled closer, partially to be heard over the noise in the bar and partially just to get nearer to her. “You looked pretty determined a second ago. Did you have something you wanted to say to my older brother?”

“Older?”

“By three minutes. He never lets me forget it. Well?”

“Well
, what?”

“I can introduce you, if you want to speak to him.”

“I just…wanted to tell him how much I enjoyed the song. He plays beautifully. And the singers—”

“Owen and Claudia.
The three of them make a great team. You wouldn’t know he was a veterinarian by day, would you?”

People surrounding them began to shift to allow the next set of performers to the stage. Someone knocked into Tanner, and he stepped forward, right on Evie’s foot. He caught himself and her before they both fell into the nearby tables. “Whoa, sorry about that. Are you okay?”

“Fine. I’m fine.”

“Why don’t we grab a seat so we’re not in anyone’s way?”

“I’m with my friend…” She nodded to the redhead who’d shared the pub table with her. Tanner waved, and the woman responded with an uncertain smile.

He laughed. “Your friend isn’t too sure about me.”

“Well, she’s skittish around…”

“Gigolos?”

“I was going to say men, in general. I don’t believe I called you a gigolo.”

“No.” His fingers closed around her elbow, and he led her across the room toward the wall along which the pub tables sat. “Not in so many words, but your article made it sound like I’m out to find myself a sugar mama.”

“I’m sure it didn’t. I just thought it might be wise to let people know they’re in for a lot of personal service when they take your class.”

“Would you like some personal service?”

“Not at all, thanks. I’ve had my share of your type, and it’s not my thing.”

“My type?” He clutched his chest. “I’m wounded. I thought I was just being nice, and you have me made out like some Don Juan. I’ve never dated any of my students, or done anything other than flattery and harmless flirting.”

“So the things you said to me were harmless flirting?” The challenge in her eyes had his nerve endings on fire. She was testing him, and he wasn’t quite sure why, but he desperately wanted to pass. He leaned close to whisper in her ear like he had that night at the rec center.

“Flirting yes, harmless…no.” Now he had her back to the wall. Her chest expanded with a deep breath that pushed her breasts toward him just enough to get his attention. He had to fight to keep his gaze trained on her eyes. Those curves were anything but harmless. “How about I buy you a drink and we talk a little more about personal service?”

“I’m with my…”

Someone tapped him on the shoulder and he resisted the urge to swat the intruder away. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Taylor, grinning, holding a beer in each hand.

“I hate to interrupt. This looks serious,” his brother said.

“It is serious
. Go away. Your set was awesome, by the way.”

Taylor ignored him and set his sights on Evie. He even handed her one of the beers. “Hi, I’m Taylor. Is my little brother annoying you?”

Her triumphant grin lit the room. “Why, yes, he is.”

“How about I escort you back to your table before this crowd gets
ugly?”

“I can handle that, thanks.” Tanner intervened. Hadn’t he just had a conversation with Taylor about him staying in his cave? Was he actually picking tonight to come crawling out into the light…and to horn in on Tanner’s territory?

Taylor ignored him and offered an arm to Evie, who accepted with a brilliant smile. “Right this way, ma’am.” Off they went toward the lonely looking redhead, leaving Tanner in the dust, shaking his head. He had no choice but to follow if he wanted to stay in the game.

“I’m a little confused here,” he said sidling up to Evie once again as she settled into her seat. Taylor was busy introducing himself to her friend who smiled sheepishly.

“What is it you’re having trouble with?” Her eyes flashed, the sapphire blue dark with annoyance.

“You told me you didn’t like slick, but you wander off with the first guy who hands you a beer?”

She grinned around the straw of her tropical drink. The effect had him licking his lips. “Oh, he wasn’t the first.”

“I think I get it now. It’s just me you don’t like.”

“I never said I didn’t like you. I just don’t particularly care for your methods. A woman likes to feel that she’s special and unique, not subject to the same tired pick-up lines as everyone else.”

He smiled. “Trust me, the tired
pick-up lines I used on you were not the same ones I use on everyone else.”

“Ah, so you admit to trying to pick up everyone?”

Tanner cringed. “No, you’re the only one I’ve tried to pick up lately, and apparently I’m not doing a very good job.”

“Maybe I’m a special case.”

Hadn’t his father told him to always steer clear of a woman with a jealous streak? He should have taken her hint and headed right for the door, but he just couldn’t tear himself away from her steely gaze. For one thing, he hadn’t seen his brother having this much fun in a long time. Clearly Taylor had advanced beyond his usual one beer. He was laughing with the redhead, and Tanner wanted to stick around and see if his reclusive, broken-hearted, workaholic twin might actually make a pass at someone. And for another thing, Ms. Evie Prentice presented a challenge he just couldn’t pass up. He’d been using his so-called “method” since high school. Charm and flattery, smooth words, deep gazes, and a gentle touch had made women fall at his feet since he was barely out of puberty. This had to be the very first time his approach hadn’t worked.

“Well, you’re the only person I’ve ever waded across a crowded room to talk to.
I’d say that makes you special.” He helped himself to the stool next to her just as the next band began their number.

With conversation
impossible at the moment, he could only watch her while she gazed at the stage, her lips moving to the words of the popular love song. He was mesmerized. He needed to make sure Ms. Evie Prentice gave him another shot at impressing her. He had to win her over, no matter what it took.

Electric shocks of awareness zinged through Evie’s overloaded nervous system every time Tanner’s forearm brushed against hers or his knee tapped against her thigh under the table. She’d already lost the battle to keep her attention focused on the band. The song was good, but not as entertaining as his brother’s group had been and the singers not nearly as compelling, so her mind and her gaze wandered until she found herself staring at him.

Tonight he’d traded the recreation department
T-shirt and sweats for stonewashed denim jeans and a black pullover with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms. The hint of a thin gold chain glittered just under the neckline, contrasting with smooth olive skin. His profile was perfect—strong chin, straight nose. A hint of stubble darkened his lower jaw. That was the only thing that distinguished him from his equally handsome twin. Taylor was completely clean-shaven, and he seemed to be missing that devilish spark in his eye that made her slightly suspicious of everything Tanner said.

When the song ended, Taylor ordered a round of drinks for the table
, then excused himself to go find his band mates. “I hope they haven’t killed each other,” he said in mock seriousness as he hopped off his stool. “Evie, if this guy continues to bother you, let me know. Bailey, it was really nice to meet you.”

Bailey stared after the departing Croft brother, her lips parted.

Evie hid her grin. Maybe a nice stable veterinarian with musical talent was just what the girl needed to finally help her get over Dan.

“I suppose I should go too, before you report me to the bouncer,” Tanner said, sounding dejected.

Evie didn’t buy that sorry act for a minute, and she wasn’t about to let him escape. “Maybe you should stay so we can keep an eye on you.”

“You can keep anything you want on me.” His sly grin returned, then he
seemed to gain control of his baser instincts. “Sorry. That just slipped out. So, is this what you do when you’re not reporting on rec classes?”