A Special Kind of Love by Tamara Hoffa Read Free Book Online

reverse and backed out of her parking space. He
tipped his hat in parting and turned back to the barn with a spring in his step.

 
 
 
 
    Chapter Three

 
    That
night, after Aaron had finally wound down and gone to bed, Sharon lay in bed
reading the latest Kerrelyn Sparks novel with a glass
of wine. The long day in the fresh air had tired her out, but energized her as
well.
    Just
as Howard Baar was about to get his first kiss, her
cell phone rang. Damn, someone always interrupts at the good parts. It was
probably her mother again. Sharon picked up her phone and frowned at the
display. It was an unknown number, with a local area code. Her heart skipped a
beat, maybe it was Tanner.
    “Hello?”
    “Hi,
beautiful.”
    The
deep baritone of his voice rolled over her skin like a caress. She felt hot and
cold at the same time and goose bumps crawled down her spine. She was in such
big trouble.
    “I
didn’t expect to hear from you so soon,” she cooed.
    “I
don’t want to scare you off, but I really had a great time today. I want to get
to know you better. I thought Aaron would be asleep by now and we could talk.”
    “He
is…asleep I mean. What do you want to talk about?”
    “Where
are you?”
    “Um,
I’m in bed.”
    “Oh,
man, now I have that visual in my head. I’ve been dreaming about you in bed. In my bed.”
    Dang this man was coming on strong.
But I kind of like it .
    “Really? You are a naughty boy.”
    “You
have no idea. What are you wearing?”
    Sharon
laughed. “Sorry to ruin your fantasies, big boy, but I’m wearing flannel pajama
pants and a T-shirt. I’m sure that’s not what you pictured.”
    “I
was picturing nothing…” Sharon barked a laugh “That’s not what I meant! I mean
I didn’t have anything specific in mind.”
    The
poor guy was stammering. She loved being able to fluster him.
    “What
are you wearing , Mr. West?”
    Silence
met her question.
    “Tanner?”
    “I’m
not sure I should answer that question.”
    “Fair
is fair, I answered your question. Now answer mine.”
    “Boxer
shorts,” he mumbled.
    She
closed her eyes and pictured him in her mind. She knew he was muscular, she could just imagine his chest, smooth and tan.
Would he have a hairy chest or smooth? Smooth she bet, considering his Native
American ancestry. A six pack, at least and maybe a happy
trail heading down behind the waistband of his shorts. She licked her
suddenly dry lips.
    “Do
they have smiley faces on them?”
    “No,
never. SpongeBob.”
    She
laughed again. When was the last time she had laughed this much? Not in too long
to remember.
    “I
don’t believe you.”
    “No,
really they’re just plain. But I made you laugh.”
    “Yes,
you did. You do that a lot. Thank you.”
    “I
love the sound of your laughter. I want to hear it all the time.”
    That
had to be about the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.
    “So
where are you?”
    “I’m
in bed, too. Our first date and we’re already in bed together.”
    “You
might want to slow down a little bit there, Tonto, I’m not that kind of girl.”
    Oh shit, had she really said that? Dumb,
dumb, dumb .
She probably offended him.
    Tanner
laughed and her anxiety eased.
    “I
think we should move on to a safer subject. Tell me why you became a
firefighter.”
    “Growing
up around here, fire was always a threat. Wyoming can be very dry and windy.
With all the woods, brush fires pop up all the time. I wanted to do something
to help the community, and protect the wildlife. So it just seemed natural to
go into firefighting.”
    “Do
you like it?”
    “Most
days I love it. Now that I’m chief I can’t say I love doing all the paperwork.
But I love the rush I get from fighting a fire. The satisfaction I get from
saving someone’s home or family. Gaines is a great community and I love being a
part of it. I feel like I really make a difference. I can’t imagine doing
anything else. What about you? What made you decide to become a