Trusting Tanner

by Lexi Lawton

Overview

Tanner Collins is the embodiment of perfection—tall, dark, sinfully sexy—and completely out of Juliana Shea's league. Knowing she'd never survive a repeat of her last disastrous relationship, she parks Tanner firmly in the friend zone. But man, he's hard to resist.

Juliana is exactly what Tanner wants, and he's determined to win her over with his kindness and humor… But one night—a night he can't even remember—threatens to take it all away.

With the flick of a "send" button, their hope for a future together is shattered. But Tanner isn't the type to give up on what he wants—and he wants Juliana.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633757974
Publisher:	Entangled Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	05/08/2017
Series:	The Collins Brothers , #1
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	394
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Born and raised in Central New York, Lexi Lawton is an only child who found companionship in books. When she was old enough to put pen to paper, she began writing her own stories of love, suspense, and heartbreak. She hasn't stopped since. Represented by Dawn Dowdle of Blue Ridge Literary Agency, Lexi has her butt in the chair and her fingers on the keyboard, writing several new stories.

Today, Lexi lives in Michigan with her husband, three kids, three pit bulls, and two cats. When she's not writing, she enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her family and friends, and obsessively listening to anything by Luke Bryan.

Read an Excerpt

Tempting Tanner

The Collins Brothers: Book One

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By Lexi Lawton, Karen Grove

Entangled Publishing, LLC

Copyright © 2016 Lexi Lawton
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-63375-797-4

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CHAPTER 1

Juliana approached the door and took a deep breath. Her heart raced, and her hands trembled. Please don't let me walk in on them having sex. The mere thought that she might see them like that sent a wave of panic-induced tremors through her. She'd barely survived the "rusty knife to the heart" feeling she got last semester when she had to watch them together, and she wasn't mentally or emotionally prepared for it this semester, either.

She pressed her ear to the door and listened. Silence. Thank God! Blowing out a pent-up breath, she pushed open the door with her shoulder and awkwardly lugged her bags into the room. "Tell me again why we're still living in the res hall during our senior year of college."

"Jules!" Rebecca screeched. She rushed to cover her breasts with her arms and then turned around, her shiny white ass a stark contrast to their dark-colored furnishings.

"Oh, please. It's not like I haven't seen you naked before."

"Shut the damn door!" She yanked an extra-large T-shirt over her head.

"Right. Sorry." Juliana nodded, kicked the door closed, and dropped her bags. This wasn't the first time she'd walked in on her roommate buck naked. At least this time, though, she wasn't in the throes of passion with her boyfriend. Juliana shuddered at the thought of seeing the man she secretly loved in bed with someone as selfish as her roommate. "How was your summer?"

After slipping into a pair of denim shorts, Rebecca turned around and shrugged. "It was okay."

Jules tilted her head and studied her friend. Rebecca's eyes were red, and her face was puffy. "Have you been crying?"

"No." She grabbed a tissue and wiped her nose. "I've been sick. That's all."

"Oh. Okay." She'd lived with Rebecca for two years now, and she knew her roommate's mannerisms. There was something wrong. "Have you seen Tanner yet?" Saying his name made Juliana's heart flutter, and she blew out a breath. Less than thirty minutes back on campus and I'm already lusting after Rebecca's boyfriend. It's going to be a long damn year.

"He's on his way over," Rebecca said.

And that's my cue to get the hell out of here. After allowing herself to fantasize about Tanner all summer, she was not ready to see him again. Not yet. She needed a bit more time to reconstruct the walls she put in place specifically for when she was around him.

"I'm already pissed he's made me wait this long. After three months of nothing, I need some damn attention." She pouted. "Plus, he promised to take me out someplace expensive, and I'm not letting him forget that." She held her left hand out in front of her, studying her fingers. "And I think it's time he shows me exactly how committed he is, too. Wouldn't a diamond look fantastic on me?"

Juliana resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Apparently the "It's All About Rebecca All The Time" show was starting early this year. Seriously, what did Tanner see in her? He could do so much better. He deserved better. "Well, you two have fun. I'm going to meet Devon."

"Right. That stupid back-to-school ritual you have." Rebecca flopped down on her bed.

"It's not stupid."

"Whatever. Why don't you two just fuck and get it over with?"

"Ew, no. That's just gross. Devon's like a brother to me." She put her luggage on her bed so she'd be forced to unpack later. Otherwise, she'd procrastinate and end up living out of her suitcase for most of the semester.

Rebecca propped herself up on her elbows. "In all the time I've known you, you haven't had a boyfriend or even brought a guy back to the room. You saving yourself for marriage or something?" She laughed. "Or maybe you're a lesbian."

"Funny," Juliana said with a flair of annoyance. Rebecca never did have much of a brain-to-mouth filter, but she was being extra bitchy today. What a wonderful start to a new semester.

"That's it." Rebecca sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed. "I'm going to help you find a guy."

"Uh, thanks, but no thanks. I don't need help finding a guy." And even if she did, Rebecca would be the last person she'd ask.

"Suit yourself." Rebecca stood and stretched her arms over her head. "I'll probably stay at Tanner's tonight, so don't wait up for me."

Juliana's stomach churned, and she swallowed hard as she pulled her cell phone from her pocket. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow, then." She walked out the door, her heart racing, and headed toward the lounge at the end of the hall. She often wondered if Rebecca dangled Tanner in her face just to be vindictive. Did Rebecca know how she truly felt? No, that wasn't possible. Juliana had been meticulous about keeping her feelings for Tanner a secret. There was only one other person in the world who knew the truth, and she trusted him to take it to his grave.

Juliana sat in the oversize armchair in the corner of the lounge and sent a quick text to Devon. hey. r u back?

His response was immediate. no. tomorrow. u?

She frowned and typed a response. wtf? it's move-in day. where are u? i'm sitting in the lounge like a loser. She waited for his reply, but instead of getting a text, her phone rang. "Hey!"

"You haven't seen me in three months and you're already giving me shit," Devon said.

"That's what you get for ditching me. We have a standing date, remember?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow."

"Um, no." She shook her head, knowing he was giving her a hard time. It's what he did. "We've always spent move-in day together."

"Have I ever let you down?" He chuckled. "So, how was your summer?"

"Oh, you know. The usual. Spent the days falling head over heels in love with a sexy stranger who rocked my sexual world every night only to leave me heartbroken and alone. I don't think I'll ever be able to love again." She gave a dramatic sigh.

"You're still secretly lusting after Tanner Collins, huh?"

Juliana groaned. "Shut up."

Devon was the only person who knew about her feelings for Tanner, and the only reason he knew was because he'd caught her staring hard at Tanner one night during a frat party. Then, in her drunken stupor, she'd blabbed everything.

"I'm telling ya, get the hell out of that building and get off-campus housing. You'll feel so much better."

"Yeah." She'd given the idea serious consideration this year, but off-campus housing was much more expensive than living in the residence halls. And if she did move into an apartment, she'd have to rely on public transportation back and forth to campus. Right now, she could walk everywhere, which was so much easier. "How was your summer?"

"Not bad. I met someone. We had a good time, but she's not long-term material."

Juliana shook her head. "They never are, are they?" Since meeting Tanner two years ago, calling her interactions with the opposite sex "dating" would be a stretch. It was more like required social interaction that was usually awkward and uncomfortable. Apparently, it hadn't gone unnoticed, either. If Rebecca, the single most self-obsessed person Juliana knew, had picked up on her nonexistent love life, who else had noticed?

"No." He sighed. "But you have no room to judge. I'm literally your only friend. And you haven't had a boyfriend the entire time I've known you." His tone was kind and compassionate.

Ouch. What is this? Harp on Jules day? "Boyfriends are more trouble than they're worth. Besides, you're the only friend I need."

He paused for a moment, then said, "All right. I'm heading your way."

On the other end of the line, Juliana heard a car engine start. "I was kidding about you coming back today. Stay and spend time with your family. I survived before I met you. I'm sure I can survive a day without you now."

"Oh, Jules. Haven't you learned that you're completely hopeless without me?"

She feigned a shocked gasp. "Oh, what will I ever do without a man to provide for me and protect me?" she mocked in a bad southern-belle accent.

Devon laughed. "I promise as long as I'm around, you'll never have to find out."

"Thanks."

"Seriously, Jules. Get the hell out of that dorm and meet me at the diner off campus. We've got a tradition to uphold."

Juliana stood. "Fine." She left the lounge and headed down to the lobby.

"You're in a toxic situation. It's only going to get worse the longer you stay there."

She groaned. "I swear, if you start to psychoanalyze me right now, I'm going to stop being your friend." She reached the lobby and pushed out the front door, the sun hitting her face. She savored the warmth for a second before she heard the one voice she'd wanted to avoid.

"Hey, Jules. I didn't think you'd be back until later," Tanner said.

Her heart stopped. She looked up into his dark, alluring eyes, and the world around her ceased to exist. He smiled, showcasing the dimple in his left cheek, and the gentle breeze ruffled his naturally messy hair. He was much sexier than she remembered, and she cursed her memory for betraying her all summer.

"Hey, are you still there?" Devon's voice in her ear snapped her back to reality.

"Huh? Yeah, sorry." She shook her head. "Hey, I gotta go. See you soon." Ending the call before he could ask any questions, she tucked her phone in her pocket. "Sorry about that," she said to Tanner.

"Where are you rushing off to?" He crossed his arms over his chest, and she didn't miss the way his muscles bulged. If she wasn't mistaken, he'd spent the summer working out. Damn, he looked good. She wanted to lick every inch of him, to trace every hard line and curve of his body. She lifted her hand to fan her face before she realized he was watching her. Quickly lowering her arm, she tucked her hand into her pocket.

Snap out of it, Jules! "Um, I'm meeting Devon."

Tanner's eyes darkened, but he didn't say anything. His silence, combined with his "I'm irritated" look, made her uncomfortable, and she shifted on her feet.

"When did you get back?" she asked, just for the sake of breaking the silence.

"A few hours ago."

That was odd. Normally, upon arriving on campus after an extended break, Tanner's first stop was to see Rebecca. Juliana's suspicions intensified — there was definitely something going on.

"Where are you meeting Devon?" he asked.

"At the diner off campus."

"Do you need a ride?"

Her eyes widened. He was offering to give her a ride? Granted, this wasn't the first time he had, but usually he only offered if he was going in the same direction as her, and Rebecca was always with them. "That's sweet, but you don't have to. I know Rebecca's waiting for you." Those words were bitter on her tongue. She didn't want to encourage Tanner to go to Rebecca; she wanted to keep him here, with her.

"I'm sure she'll survive the ten minutes it will take to drop you off and come back," he said.

She was tempted to take him up on his offer, because, hello — being alone with him in his car? Did she need another reason to say yes? It would be one of her many dreams come true, but she refused to torture herself.

"That's okay. I'll take the bus." She gave him the fake smile she'd perfected to hide her personal torment. "I'm sure I'll see you around." With a wave, she walked toward the bus stop, her heart thumping hard and loud. She needed to build that wall ... and fast.

The bus pulled up, and she climbed on, finding an empty seat near the back. Resting her head on the window, she closed her eyes.

Maybe Devon was right. Maybe she needed to suck it up and get the hell out of the res hall. At least on her own she wouldn't have to watch Tanner and Rebecca together. But then she wouldn't get to see much of Tanner at all. Sure, they'd probably have classes together again this semester, and even though limiting her interactions with him to strictly class time was the smartest thing she could do for herself, that's not really what she wanted to do.

Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and sighed when she saw Rebecca's name. still don't know why you don't hook up with dev. it would be good for you.

"Ugh." Juliana turned off the screen. That woman was like a damn dog with a bone — and Juliana was unfortunate enough to be the bone.

Rebecca was incapable of being platonic friends with guys. She thought it was unnatural, and if a girl could be that close to a guy, she should be able to be even closer. In fact, if Rebecca had her way, Juliana would've slept with every single guy she'd ever looked at or spoken to.

Her phone vibrated in her hand again. She was prepared to shut it off completely until she saw Tanner's name on the screen. Her heart raced. The only time he ever texted her was when he'd missed a class and needed her notes. With a shaking hand, she swiped her thumb across the screen and read the message.

did you catch the bus? or do i need to come rescue you?

She smiled, even though his words brought an onslaught of hopelessness. She was in love with a man she could never have, and no amount of friendly banter would ever change that. Placing her hand over her heart, she willed the pain to go away. No matter what he said to her or how nice he was, the facts were the same: he was in love with her roommate. Hell, half the time she was near him, she expected him to tousle her hair and call her kiddo, like she was a little sister to him or something. i'm fine. no hero needed.

lol. you're cool, jules.

He said that to her all the time. It meant nothing. She closed her eyes, and images of Tanner played behind her closed lids. His dark hair, eyes to match. Full, kissable lips. God, if she'd only seen him first ... The bus came to a stop, and she stood. From here, it would be a quick walk across the street to the diner.

As soon as she opened the door and stepped inside, she stopped. No friggin' way.

CHAPTER 2

He stood near the counter, grinning. "Miss me?"

"Devon." She laughed and walked up to him, throwing her arms around his neck. "How the hell did you get here so fast?" Juliana pulled away and gave him the once-over.

She couldn't deny he was sexy with his classic all-American, boy-next-door looks: blond hair; blue eyes; natural, sun-kissed tan courtesy of the Florida weather; and a body indicative of his many years on the lacrosse team. Too bad she didn't feel any spark toward him. Her life would be so much easier if she were attracted to him as opposed to a guy she could never have.

"I was already here when you texted me. I'd just arrived at the frat house."

"You're a jerk." She playfully smacked him, and he laughed. "I really am glad to see you."

He flung his arm around her shoulders and led her toward an empty table. "I told you, I've never let you down, and I'm not about to start. We're going to eat food until we explode, and then we're going to the student union for all the festivities. Just like we always do."

At the start of every semester, the student union would host various social events in an effort to foster new relationships and promote a "family-like" environment among the student body. Juliana had started going simply to get out of her room, because Rebecca and Tanner were usually having marathon sex after being apart. Now, she actually looked forward to going and hanging out with Devon. It had become their thing.

She took a seat, and Devon sat across from her. The waitress was at their table before they could grab the menus tucked behind the napkin dispenser. "Can I get you two something to drink?"

"I'll take a large Pepsi, extra ice, please," Devon said.

"Me, too. I'll have the same." She smiled up at the waitress, whose nametag read: Lucy.

"Do you need some time with the menu?" Lucy asked.

"Nope. We'll have an order of chili cheese fries, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, and a double order of chicken quesadillas."

"Oh, um, we no longer have quesadillas," Lucy said. "We took them off the menu a couple of months ago."

Devon's eyes widened, and he gave an exaggerated gasp. Then he covered his mouth with his hand for dramatic effect. "No," he said, drawing out the word. "I demand to speak with your manager."

Lucy's face turned bright red, and she looked like she wanted to cry. Juliana kicked Devon's leg under the table and turned to her. "He's kidding. Bring us everything else, please."

Lucy nodded then rushed off.

"You're rotten." Juliana shifted in the chair and glanced out the window, her thoughts once again wandering to Tanner and his offer to drive her to the diner.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Tempting Tanner by Lexi Lawton, Karen Grove. Copyright © 2016 Lexi Lawton. Excerpted by permission of Entangled Publishing, LLC.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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