After the Hurt by Shana Gray Page B

All she could do was ask for forgiveness.
    “Is he here?” Pepper asked.
    Blue eyes speared her. “Why do you want to know? So you can hurt him again?”
    “I, ah…no…um.” Caught completely off guard by the accusation, she was momentarily at a loss for words, though all she wanted to say was that hurting Tank was never her intention at all. Quite likely, she would be the one getting the boot and being hurt.
    “Save it. Yes, he’s here.” Meg turned to watch for her car.
    Pepper sensed him before she saw him. That strange physical presence she was so attuned to. As if his energy came across the air and wrapped around her, lighting her up. She swung her gaze and there he was, waiting behind a throng of people lined up to come through the glass doors. You couldn’t miss him. He towered over everyone. Pepper’s breath caught in her throat. The anticipation of talking to him again made her tremble. God! Why couldn’t she just keep herself together?
    Seconds later, Tank pushed through the revolving door, holding a cellphone to his ear. An odd flash of emotion sparked in his eyes when he saw her. Then it was gone. He nodded and turned to Meg. He spoke a few words into the phone then disconnected and slipped it into his pocket. Pepper watched every move he made with great appreciation. The way his fingers patted his pocket. How he reached out to hold Meg’s elbow. The delicious hug of his coat as it rode his wide shoulders and ended snugly about his trim hips. Pepper swallowed and blinked a couple of times to snap out of it, pretty sure she was close to drooling.
    “Have they called for your car?” he asked Meg.
    Pepper ached, wishing his voice sounded as full of caring for her as it did for his sister. He used to talk like that to her, only much more sensually. She hoped he would again someday.
    “Yep. I’m so glad you came this morning.” She hugged Tank, and the two of them carried on a conversation as if Pepper wasn’t standing awkwardly next to them.
    Pepper tried not to feel ill at ease or stare at them, but the affection they showed each other was like a knife slashing through her heart. She’d once been a part of their family unit even if her and Meg hadn’t become best friends. But not anymore. She stood silent and sad, watching Tank help Meg into the driver’s seat of the heavy-duty four-by-four truck and then slam the door. Meg’s gaze flickered ever so briefly through the passenger-side window at Pepper before she waved to Tank and drove off.
    He gave a few dollars to the valet, then slowly turned to face Pepper. Her heart stilled and she was breathless. What was he going to say? He looked at the bags scattered about. “So, what’s going on?”
    “I’m checking out.” She righted the one on the ground, then picked up her duffel, setting it on top.
    He nodded. “And you’re going where, then?”
    She shrugged. “Not sure yet.” She paused and glanced at him, a million thoughts racing around in her brain. She hadn’t really given any thought to where she would go and realized in that instant she had nowhere to turn. Except maybe for one place. Dare she ask? Was it her unconscious plan all along?
    “There’s an extra room…you know, the loft. I’d appreciate staying there until I get my feet back under me.”
    He laughed loudly, garnering a few curious looks from people around them. Pepper’s cheeks heated. “You’ve got to be kidding. You can’t stay with me—”
    “It wouldn’t be with you, Tank. It would be my own space, and don’t forget, it’s partly mine, you know.” She didn’t want to throw it out there like that, but it fell out of her mouth before she could stop it. A moment of awkward silence strained between them.
    Tank shifted his weight before planting his feet firm and wide, his arms crossed over his chest. The nicely worn leather coat did nothing to hide the power that radiated off him. His icy blue eyes were cold yet hot at the same time. It was all she could