Shockwave (Calendar Men: Mr. May) by D.L. Jackson Read Free Book Online Page B

when I take you back to my room.”
    She choked and coughed, slamming the glass down nearly empty.
    “The old ladies are your hot button. I’ve never seen anyone abuse water like whiskey in order to avoid answering a question.”
    “What? I’m not avoiding anything.”
    “I call bullshit. Tell me what they said—after I left.” He leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. He’d known them for six year, well most of them. Lannie’s grandmother was a new acquaintance, but every bit like-minded when it came to her granddaughter’s happiness,  and it said a lot if the ladies were trying to set them up.
    They’d tried before in the past with several of their granddaughters, and he’d always passed. They were experts at applying pressure and blindsiding their granddaughters who had no idea he existed until they sprung the trap was their specialty. If they thought there might be a remote possibility of getting them together, which the closet incident would make them certain of, they’d go for the throat. He had an idea the direction of the conversation, but he wanted to hear what they had to say from Lannie—see what they’d given her to put him under her spell. They weren’t in short supply of ideas, not after all the racy novels he’d read them.
    She squirmed, shifting in her seat, opened her mouth and the waitress came over with their pizza, setting the pan between them. Ding, ding. Saved by the bell . Tanner gave her his most wicked smile. “Later.”
    “I’m starving.” She grabbed a slice of the pie, folding it in half and taking a bite while she pretended she hadn’t heard him. Oh, but she had. Her hands shook and damn if the woman didn’t look spooked. Before the sun rose and the cock crowed, he’d find out what had her ready to flee as if he jumped at her and said boo .
    As a cerebral person, he loved solving mysteries, and Lannie Sawyer was a puzzle he would enjoy dissecting. Yeah, he knew he should be running for the hills, considering all the trouble she’d caused him in the past, but now that he’d kissed those plump lips, he didn’t want to run.
    On second thought, maybe he ought to loosen her up first. Any more tense and she’d snap. One thing might work. It had been a long time since he’d gone out dancing, and spinning Lannie around the floor held a great deal of appeal. “There’s a country bar down the road. You ever dance—the two step.”
    “No.”
    “Then tonight is your lucky night. I happen to know how.”

 
     
     
Chapter Four
     
     
    Lannie scuffed her boot on the hard oak, taking note of the sawdust on the floor. She’d have to watch her step or risk landing on her ass. She’d never been all that coordinated and, as she watched the couples move around the room, her anxiety rose.
    He’d heard her out, but he hadn’t given her an answer yet, and she’d no reason not to humor him, even if country music wasn’t her thing. Tanner dropped a twenty at the door for their cover and came up behind her. He turned her around and walked her backward, toward the open area in front of the stage. Grabbing one of her hands, he guided her palm to his waist. The other, he held. “Ready?” He gave her a shit-eating grin.
    “I don’t know how to....”
    “Follow my lead. Do everything I do, backward. Right back, left back, right slow, pause, left slow. Then we’ll do the steps again.”
    The band started up, with a twangy guitar, and Tanner stepped forward with his left and on her foot. “You have to move. Try again. Here we go, on the count of three. One. Two. Three.” He stepped forward and she stepped back. They repeated on the other side. “Right, left, right, pause, left, bring them together. Quick, quick, slow, pause, slow, together.” Within seconds, they were moving around the floor. After about ten minutes, Tanner spun her and screwed up any control she’d maintained.
    Lannie tripped, but he caught her with a hand behind her back and made her klutziness