Page 111 of Tanner

“You guys couldn’t have known. Your dad even said the day of the accident that—”

“She hit a fucking deer. Fucking damn it. They had this entire thing laid out.”

Harper grips me hard. Her arms are wrapped around my waist and clutching my back. I can feel her fingertips digging into my skin. She’s grounding me, letting me know she’s here. We’re here. It’s going to be okay.

It will. I hope.

I pull her close and run my hands through her hair. “I have to talk to my brothers. Can we put our honeymoon on pause for a second? I think—”

“Tanner, don’t worry at all about our honeymoon. We need to go to San Francisco.”

25

HARPER

What a whirlwind my life has become. Being Mrs. Sexton already has its perks as we fly to San Francisco first-class. We order drinks, a surprisingly good meal, and watch a movie. At least, I try.

I can’t help but worry what his brothers are going to think of me.

Hi, I’m Harper. I married your little brother, who is eight years younger than me, after only a few weeks, and, oh, yeah, I think your dad and your stepmom set up your mom’s accident.

I drop my head to my chest. I’m so screwed.

Tanner places his hand over mine. “Stop worrying.”

I glance at him. “How am I not supposed to worry? Do your brothers know we’re married?”

He turns in his seat, so he’s fully facing me. “No, but that doesn’t matter. They will love you, just like I do. I have no doubt.”

“How come you haven’t told them? You called my best friend and my dad yet no one in your family?”

“Harper, stop overthinking it. I called April and your dad because they were in the same city. You know exactly why I didn’t call my father, and I didn’t want my brothers trying to interfere. If they had met you first, I would have invited them in a heartbeat. Since they hadn’t, I knew they wouldn’t approve.”

“They’re gonna freak out when they find out, right?”

He shrugs. “Probably.” My face sinks right before he gives me a sexy smirk. “I’m just kidding. They won’t say shit because they know it’s too late. They’ll be by my side, supporting us. I promise.”

He kisses my cheek as the captain comes over the loudspeaker, telling us to prepare to land.

The thought makes my stomach flip. No matter what I do or say, I’ll be meeting my new brothers-in-law within the hour. And, from the way Tanner’s knee is bouncing upon descent, I know he’s gearing up for the big conversation.

The plan is to go straight to Bryce’s house. If he’s not home, we’ll go to Austin’s. Apparently, going to the office is out of the question since Tanner doesn’t want anyone to know we’re in town.

* * *

When we pull up to Bryce’s building, I feel like I have to pee, but I know, in reality, it’s just the nerves of meeting his family. Tanner gets our luggage out of the trunk.

I stare at the building, scared to walk inside. “Are you sure there’s room for us? I don’t want to intrude.”

“I heard his girlfriend just moved in, but he has a huge place, so it’s fine.”

I grab his arm as he steps past me. “When did they move in together? Tanner, we can’t stay with a new couple. We’re totally going to cramp their time together.”

“His girlfriend’s name is Tessa, and she has a son, so we are imposing on a family of three.” He laughs at my dropped jaw. “Don’t worry. His place is the size of Alcatraz. Trust me; there’s plenty of room.”

The doorman stops us as we enter, saying we need to be announced, but once he sees who Tanner is, he smiles, they shake hands, and he lets us up without a hassle.

As we enter the elevator and the doors shut, I chuckle to myself. “Let me guess … penthouse?”