Almost Midnight by Teresa McCarthy Page A

you.”
    She giggled, realizing the entire conversation was bordering on the ridiculous.
    “I say something funny?” he asked.
    “No.” Her eyes lit with amusement.
    “What is it then? My hair? Something on my face?”
    “Your face?” Hannah said, trying to swallow another chuckle as she suddenly recalled the way Mrs. Gould went on and on about the three Clearbrook brothers and their wild bachelor ways, especially Tanner Clearbrook and that sinfully handsome face of his.
    Tanner Clearbrook may be the richest man in town, the older woman had said, but there would be no sashaying his women in her library.
    Hannah wondered what the woman would say if she knew that Tanner smelled of ginger and vanilla, all because he wanted to make his little boy happy.
    Tanner stood, waiting impatiently for an answer.
    Without thinking, Hannah laughed and shook her head. “It was my boss, Mrs. Gould.” 
    She sobered quickly, knowing that she would not be seeing Mrs. Gould again. “That is, my ex-boss.”
    Tanner mumbled something and plowed a hand through his hair. “You lost your job?”
    Hannah avoided his gaze and nodded, wrapping her hands tighter around her waist, trying to keep warm.
    “I take it the lady didn’t like me attending to you while you worked?” he asked in an irritated tone.
    Didn’t like him? Even tough she had lost her job, Hannah eased out a smile. “Like you? She told me you were the worst kind of rogue, gallivanting over the globe, with females on every arm, spending money like it was going out of style. You were trouble and she wanted none of that in her library.” 
    Hannah wasn’t about to divulge the rest of Mrs. Gould insinuations about her and Tanner. Knowing the man’s temper, it might send him to the moon and back, taking Mrs. Gould along for the ride. At this moment, Hannah realized she still seemed to have her job as tutor. She couldn’t blow it now.
    Tanner’s lips thinned as he smoothly took her arm and led her to his car. Opening the passenger door and guiding her to her seat, he asked, “And you agreed with her, of course?”
     She cleared her throat, shocked at the way her body reacted to his touch. “No. I told her you were a wonderful father. I think the woman wants you for herself and only made up those horrible stories about you because she wanted something to gossip about at the next Bingo Party.”
    “Wants me?” he asked hoarsely, straightening. “The thought never crossed my mind. I thought it was my father she had her eye on.” 
    A rumble of laughter suddenly erupted from Tanner’s throat and Hannah laughed along with him, almost forgetting about her money woes. But when the laughs died down, they found themselves staring at each other. Hannah swallowed hard and averted her gaze, suddenly finding the library entrance terribly fascinating.
    Tanner closed her door and made his way around the Jaguar and into his seat. “I can’t say I’m a wonderful father,” he said roughly, turning lightly to stare at a moth caught on the windshield wiper. “At times, I feel I’ve failed Jeremy.” 
    The sudden emptiness that sounded in his voice moved Hannah. “You haven’t failed him. You only need to be with him more. What you did tonight was a start. At least you have a son.” 
    She felt her throat begin to tighten. “Most people never have the chance.”
    Why in the world had she said that?
    A hushed silence filled the Jaguar. Hannah wished she could leave the close confines of the car. Tanner Clearbrook was making her feel things she vowed never to feel again. She put her hand on the door handle and jumped in shock when his hand brushed her cheek in a light caress.
    “Never have the chance?” His words were said with such warmth, she felt her heart melt.
    She shrugged and fingered the window, trying to force a smile. “Well, some people never have a chance to have a child.” 
    His hand reached out and grasped hers in a gentle grip. “I have a vague feeling