Trusting Tanner

For the Secrets of Success girls—you know who you are, and I love you!

Chapter One

Juliana approached the door and took a deep breath. Her heart raced, and her hands trembled. Why am I so damn nervous? She was only meeting her new roommate for the first time. No big deal at all, right?

She lifted a fisted hand and gave one hard knock before blowing out a pent-up breath. Hello? She pushed open the door with her shoulder and awkwardly lugged her bags into the room. I’m Juli—

What the fuck! her roommate screeched. She rushed to cover her breasts with her arms and then turned around, her shiny white ass a stark contrast to the dark-colored furnishings.

Oh my gosh! Juliana’s eyes widened, and then she quickly turned her head, but not before she got an eyeful of her roommate’s boobs. Holy double D’s. Her face warmed with embarrassment. I’m so sorry. I didn’t—

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

Right. Sorry. Juliana nodded, kicked the door closed, and dropped her bags. I knocked, but no one answered. I assumed the room was empty.

After slipping into a pair of denim shorts, the girl turned around and shrugged. No biggie. You must be my new roomie. I’m Rebecca.

Yeah. I’m Juliana Shea. She extended her hand. But everyone calls me Jules.

Rebecca flopped down on the bed positioned against the left wall. Well, welcome to McKenzie Hall, Jules. She grinned as if that was the most ridiculous name she’d ever heard. The RA can be a bitch, but almost everyone else on the floor is cool.

Jules nodded and dropped her hand. Good to know. She moved her bags to the foot of the unoccupied bed that would now be hers and then sat. So, you’re a junior, too, right?

Yep. Rebecca snatched her phone from the headboard, glanced at the screen, then laughed.

Was she texting a boyfriend? Jules looked around the room. It was set up differently than her room last year. This had the beds pushed against either wall with the headboards right beneath the windows. There was a large nightstand between the beds, and at the foot of each was a dresser and a simple desk with a chair. It definitely wasn’t luxurious, but it would do.

Looking up, Rebecca said, My last roommate was a real dick. I hope you’re not going to be like her.

Juliana’s jaw dropped. She was afraid to ask what Rebecca meant by being a dick, but she refrained, not wanting to start a fight with her roommate after only knowing her for five minutes. She cleared her throat. I pretty much keep to myself. I spend a lot of time in the library studying.

Admitting she was a boring study-holic without much of a social life probably wasn’t the best first impression to make, but she wasn’t going to lie about who she was, either. She stood and lifted her bags onto the bed, intent on unpacking and having a quiet night before classes started on Monday. Before she could get her suitcase open, her phone vibrated in her back pocket. She pulled it out and a grin split her face. Are you back already?

No, I’m leaving home now to head to campus, Devon said.

Then why are you calling me? Her tone held a lightness she hadn’t felt in months.

Seriously? He laughed. I haven’t seen my best friend all summer and you’re going to give me shit about calling you?

No, it’s just odd. You usually only call once you’re back. Besides, we have literally talked or texted every single day.

Yeah, and you were supposed to call me when you got back. I was starting to worry.

Sorry. That was the thing about Devon: he worried about her way too much. He really was like the big brother she never had. I was busy meeting my new roommate and unpacking.

Yeah? She hot?

You’re an ass. She laughed.

Hey, it’s a valid question that, conveniently, you didn’t answer. Don’t hold out on me, Jules. The sound of a horn blaring pierced her eardrum, and she held the phone away from her ear. Fucking moron! After a moment, he said, Sorry about that. So, this roommate…?

Jules glanced over her shoulder at Rebecca, who still had her head down and her cell phone in her hands. She was not going to talk about her while she sat across the room. When are you getting back?

Few hours. You wanna grab some food later?

Of course. Like she’d ever say no to hanging out with him. We’ll eat until we explode, and we can catch up on everything.

She’s in the room, isn’t she?

Uh-huh.

Devon chuckled. All right. Cool. I’ll text you when I get to the frat house.

Sounds good. Drive safe. She ended the call.

Who’s that? Your boyfriend? The sound of Rebecca’s voice startled her.

Devon? Juliana laughed. God no. He’s my best friend.

He must be gay then.

What? No. Why would you say that? She couldn’t stop the angry indignation from creeping into her voice.

Rebecca lay down on her bed, her black hair spread out around her. Juliana couldn’t deny she was a beautiful girl. Devon would be happy about that. Because there’s no way a straight guy could be BFFs with you and not want to tap that. Hell, I don’t swing that way and I want to bang you.

Was that supposed to be a compliment? Juliana refrained from rolling her eyes.

Do you have some sort of friends with benefits thing going on? Rebecca smirked.

Ew, no. That’s gross. Devon’s like a brother to me. She tucked her phone into her back pocket. Her stomach rolled with unease. She’d never been the gossiping type, and she sure as hell wasn’t the type to talk about her personal life, especially with someone she’d just met.

Rebecca propped herself up on her elbows. Do you have a boyfriend?

No, Juliana said. Do you?

There are a few guys I hook up with every now and then. But nothing serious. Rebecca sat up and swung her legs over the side of her bed. I know. I’m going to help you find a guy.

Uh, thanks, but no thanks. A relationship was the very last thing she wanted. She still hadn’t gotten over the train wreck of the last one she’d been in.

Aw, c’mon, why not? One night with one of my guys and you’ll be thanking me.

My guys? Was Rebecca a pimp or something? She needed to tone down the snark if she was going to make this work. Sighing, Jules sat on her bed. It’s not that I don’t appreciate your offer, I do, it’s just… Bile rose in the back of her throat, and her palms became sweaty.

It’s just what?

The promise she’d made herself this summer raced through her mind: I won’t let my junior year be as shitty as my sophomore year, and I’ll go out of my way to open up and make more friends. Actually, it was a promise she’d made Devon, but she’d taken it to heart. I recently got out of a bad relationship, and I need some ‘me’ time to get my head back on straight.

Rebecca leaned forward like that was the most interesting thing she’d ever heard. What happened?

Jules tucked her hands under her legs and averted her gaze. A lot. She swallowed hard. He cheated on me with his ex. More than once. She shook her head with disgust and self-loathing. I was stupid and bought into his lies and fake apologies. Then he started to say some pretty awful things, telling me I wasn’t good enough to keep a man happy and that I wasn’t long-term girlfriend material. Letting out a nervous laugh, Jules stood and wiped her palms on her jeans.

He sounds like a first-class dick bag.

You’re being entirely too nice.

Seriously, the fastest way to get over an ex and boost your confidence is to hook up with a new guy, get him to fall crazy in love with you, and then dump his ass. Trust me, it will make you feel so much better.

That was probably the worst advice she’d ever heard. She wasn’t the type to do random hookups. Not to mention, she wasn’t going to hurt some poor, unsuspecting guy just to make herself feel better. She wasn’t cold and heartless like Zach.

Let me know if you change your mind. I can find you a guy, like that. Rebecca snapped her fingers. She stood and stretched her arms over her head. I’m going out with some friends, so don’t wait up for me.

She hoped Rebecca wouldn’t be the type to stay out late partying and then come in at all hours of the day or night. Her last roommate had been a partier, and Juliana got cranky when she didn’t get enough sleep. You’re leaving now?

Yeah, I’ve got a few things to do before I meet them. Do whatever you want with the room. If there’s anything you need…clothes, bathroom stuff, whatever, feel free to use mine. And then Rebecca left.

Jules blew out a breath. It was certainly going to be an interesting year. She busied herself with unpacking. Even taking her time, it only took about two hours for her to settle in. Devon wouldn’t be back for another three or four hours. Checking to make sure she had some cash, her ID, her meal plan card, and her phone, she left the room and walked to the closest dining hall.

It was early afternoon, and all the parents who were on campus for move-in day seemed to have flocked to the dining hall. One final meal before they left their almost-grown kids to fend for themselves. The looks of uncertainty and sadness on the parents’ faces were met with expressions of impatience and excitement. The kids wanted the parents to go, and the parents wanted to stay. A stab of longing for things she’d never get to experience pierced her chest, but she forced it away before it could take hold and ruin her day. The start of every semester was always hard, but it was worse than normal this year.

She got in line and grabbed a bottle of water and an apple. She knew she’d eat a ton with Devon later, so she didn’t want to eat too much now. Making her way outside, she found her favorite spot beneath the largest tree and sat. It was the same spot where she and Devon usually had lunch since meeting a year and a half ago. As she ate, she watched the bustle of students and parents.

Her gaze was drawn to a group of guys standing not too far from her. They were all attractive, but the tallest of the three was downright sexy. Dark hair. Dark eyes. He flung his head back and laughed. Whoa. Those dimples. They were like craters on either side of his full lips. His T-shirt was either a size too small or his muscles were too big to be contained. His cargo shorts looked like they were made specifically for his body, hugging all the right places. She’d seen him around before, in some of her classes and at Devon’s frat, but she didn’t know his name. And that was probably for the best. After what happened with her ex, she’d sworn off men for the foreseeable future.

Hey, Jules! Mariah waved.

Hey!

Mariah was Lucas’s long-time girlfriend, and Jules knew Lucas because he was part of Devon’s frat. She wouldn’t call them good friends, not like her and Devon, but they were strong acquaintances who were always nice to her. It was calming to see a friendly face among the chaos of move-in day.

Mariah walked over and smiled. Where’s your sidekick?

Devon? He’s taking his sweet-ass time getting back to campus. She laughed. What’re you up to?

Mariah held up a shopping bag that had the bookstore logo on it. Trying to beat the rush.

Did it work?

Not really. Mariah grinned. This whole damn place is crazy today.

Juliana glanced around again. No kidding.

Well, I still have a lot to unpack. I’ll see you around Alpha house though, right?

Yeah, of course. She smiled tightly. The mere mention of frat parties had her appetite vanishing and a knot tightening in her chest. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something she could avoid. Devon wouldn’t let her. Him and his stupid get back up on the horse cliché advice.

Great. See ya later then. Mariah gave another wave and walked off, her long ponytail swishing behind her.

Juliana tossed her half-eaten apple in the trash and then walked back to her res hall, enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

When she arrived back at her room, she unlocked the door and walked in, but the sound of a man’s voice cursing caused her to look up. Juliana’s eyes widened, and her heart slammed against her chest so hard, she took a step back. Oh. My. God. Rebecca was naked—again—and this time she was on her knees, blowing some guy. Some big guy with dark, smooth skin whose muscles had muscles, and it was hard to miss the fact his head wasn’t the only bald thing on him.

Holy shit!

Juliana’s face heated with embarrassment. She quickly backed out of the room and slammed the door. She leaned against the wall and squeezed her eyes shut to ward off the images she’d worked so hard to bury. But it was useless. The too-vivid memory of walking into Zach’s room, finding him with his pants around his ankles and the redhead on her knees with a mouthful of his cock filled her mind. That was the first time she’d caught him cheating on her. She’d been so stupid back then. Naïve. Blinded by what she thought was love. The threat of tears burned her throat, and she swallowed hard. She sucked in a deep breath, counted to five, then blew out slowly, repeating the process until her racing heart slowed. Then she turned and headed for the lounge at the end of the hall.

…

Mondays should be illegal, Devon complained as he drove around one of the campus parking lots, searching for an empty space.

You say that every Monday morning. You’d think by now you’d be used to it. Juliana stifled a yawn.

Yeah, you’d think. He finally found a spot and pulled into it.

Your car seems to be running better, she said. He’d had engine trouble on the way back to campus and hadn’t arrived until after ten p.m. As a result, they hadn’t been able to hang out, which is why she’d been stuck sitting in the lounge like a loser for five hours while Rebecca entertained her friend.

It should after the money I dumped into it yesterday.

The car was a classic and the reason she’d become friends with him in the first place—their mutual love of cars. One of her many foster dads, the only one she ever actually liked, had taught her everything she knew about cars. But she often wondered if Devon was overcompensating for something with the Hemi engine. Not that she’d ever ask him because it would lead to him making some perverted joke about showing her his dick. He was so proud of his ’68 Road Runner. It was a graduation gift from his parents, and she swore he cared more for this car than any human being.

Shutting off the engine, he got out, and she did the same. She adjusted the strap of her backpack on her shoulder. Her bag was mostly empty, which made trying to carry it awkward, but she’d be going to the bookstore later and would need it. They walked toward the quad together in silence.

We’re still on for lunch, right? Devon asked. He opened the door to Fallon Hall and nodded for her to go first.

Yup. And you’d better not ditch me, either. She bumped his hip with hers and stopped outside the door to room 112. This is my class.

You know I didn’t ditch you on purpose. He subtly jutted his chin out toward someone behind her.

Who’re you looking at? She twisted and glanced over her shoulder. Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome from the other day lifted his hand in a half wave. His gaze landed on her, and a thrill raced up her spine. She quickly turned back to Devon.

Tanner. He’s a frat brother, Devon said.

Tanner. Even his name was sexy. I thought he looked familiar.

All right, I’m outta here. I expect to hear all about your new roommate at lunch. Fair warning.

She stuck out her tongue, and he laughed, the sound following him down the hall. Shaking her head, she walked into the room and made her way through the rows of lab tables, hoping to find an empty seat.

There was one in front of the room and one next to Devon’s frat brother. She hesitated for the briefest of moments and then opted for the seat in the front. As much fun as it would be to sit next to the gorgeous guy, he was out of her league. And if she couldn’t keep a pathetic excuse for a guy like Zach happy, there was no way in hell she could keep a guy like Tanner happy.

Dr. Shaw came through the door and cleared his throat. We’re changing things up this year. Everyone on their feet and line up here at the front of the room.

Juliana groaned as she stood. Dr. Shaw was one of her favorite professors, but she hated when he decided to get creative. Last time, she’d ended up with a lab partner who didn’t know what deodorant was and thought he could breeze through the class with his sense of humor. Problem was, the only person who thought he was funny was him. His jokes were downright offensive.

Dr. Shaw set his briefcase on the desk. I’ve randomly assigned each of you a lab partner for the semester. When I call your name, find a table and sit. He took a yellow legal pad from his briefcase and started reading off names.

Jules held her breath as student after student left the line and took a seat. She shifted on her feet, waiting to hear her name. And then…

Juliana Shea and Tanner Collins.

Her ears rang, and she was frozen in place, even though Tanner had stepped forward. He glanced at what remained of the line. Slowly, she stepped forward. He smiled, his clean-shaven face showcasing his dimples. Her heart raced.

God, this is not happening.

Chapter Two

Fuck. Yes.

Tanner had been paired with the stunning brunette. Talk about winning the lab partner lottery; he was tempted to pump his fist in the air and whoop with joy.

Where do you want to sit? he asked. If he had his way, they’d be all the way in the back, but he hadn’t missed how she’d gone straight for the front row when she’d arrived.

She shrugged. It doesn’t matter to me. I’ll follow you wherever you go. Her eyes widened a fraction of an inch as if she realized the implication of her words. I mean, I’ll sit wherever you want. I’m not picky.

His lips curved up, and he covered his chuckle by clearing his throat. All right, then. He led them to one of the last empty lab tables near the back of the room.

She took the stool near the window, and he sat beside her. We haven’t ever officially met. I’m Juliana.

Yeah, I know. He’d seen her around, but this was the first opportunity he’d ever had to speak to her. I’m Tanner. It’s my pleasure to finally meet you.

She retrieved a notebook and pen from her backpack, and then let her bag drop to the floor beside the table. Her entire body was rigid, tense, and she kept her gaze forward.

You can call me Jules. Everyone does.

Tanner shifted closer, a whiff of her sweet, flowery perfume tickling his senses. She smelled as great as she looked. He suppressed a groan. Do I have to?

Do you have to what? Slowly, she turned on her stool and faced him. Her big brown eyes were unreadable, but they were breathtaking. Damn, he never knew eyes could be so sexy.

Call you Jules? Maybe I want to call you Juliana.

Why?

Because I like the way it rolls off my tongue. Hell, he’d bet his left nut that everything about her would roll nicely off, under, over, and around his tongue, and he’d give his right nut to find out. She’d captured his attention from the very first time he’d seen her, but now, being up close and personal, she was a million times prettier than he realized.

She twisted back around to face the front, her long brown curls flipping over her shoulder. You can call me whatever you’d like. Except bitch. You refer to me that way and we’re going to have problems. A faint smile pulled at her lips, the only indication she was teasing.

Tanner blew out a shaky breath. Okay, fair enough. But I should warn you I don’t like to be called hot or sexy.

She whipped around to stare at him. What? She laughed.

Good God, her laugh. It was like someone had shoved a hot, sharp poker down his throat and stirred his insides. Everything in him clenched and sizzled. Nerve endings he didn’t know existed sparked to life, creating a slow burn starting deep in his gut and quickly spreading to the rest of his body.

I see myself in the mirror every morning. I don’t need to be told how I look. He grinned.

She shook her head. Well, I can promise that won’t be an issue.

Ouch. He chuckled. So you don’t think I’m hot?

You just got done telling me not to call you that, so I guess you’ll never know. She propped her elbow on the table and dropped her chin into her hand.

He’d walked right into that one. Before he could say anything else, Dr. Shaw cleared his throat, garnering the class’s attention. Welcome back. Now that you’re all paired up…

Everyone in this class had had Dr. Shaw at least once before. He was one of the only doctors on staff who taught labs. Thankfully he wasn’t one of those professors everyone hated. His classes were tough but fair, and Tanner respected him.

This is the syllabus. Dr. Shaw held up a stack of papers. The last page is a quiz. It’s a review of what we learned last semester. For those of you who manage to answer all the questions correctly, you’ll be given a free pass on the first written lab. Feel free to work with your partner, and consider this an exercise in getting to know each other and how you’ll work together for the rest of the semester.

The girl sitting at the table in front of them turned and handed Juliana the papers. She took one, handed one to Tanner, and then passed the others back. Flipping to the last page, she skimmed the questions. He watched in awe as she breezed through the first few questions, never once hesitating.

Clearly she was as smart as she was beautiful. A lethal combination in his mind. He tried to focus on the questions but… What if he sounded stupid to her? Would she think less of him because she was smarter than him? He shook the thoughts away as silly. Just because she was working through the questions faster didn’t mean she was necessarily smarter. It just meant she wasn’t nearly as bothered by his presence as he was by hers. He frowned.

Hey—Tanner leaned over and glanced at her paper—what did you get for number four?

She whispered, C.

If she turned her face half an inch, their lips would almost be touching. It was wrong of him to hope she would, but she didn’t so much as flinch. Hell, he wasn’t sure she was even breathing. Thanks. He nudged her with his shoulder and then moved away.

There was a long, slow exhale, and he smiled to himself. Maybe she wasn’t as immune to him as he’d originally thought. What about number nine? he asked.

A.

When you’re finished, you can leave your quiz on my desk. Please get your lab books before our next class and read chapters one through four. You’re free to leave when you’re done, Dr. Shaw said.

Tanner hesitated and peeked at Juliana’s paper. She was finished and could leave. But she wasn’t moving. Maybe, if he went slow, he could prolong their time together. As crazy as it was, considering he’d just met her, he didn’t want to part ways yet. Maybe he should ask her to grab some coffee after class. Or maybe he could take her to lunch. He chewed on the tip of his pen, contemplating his options. From the corner of his eye, he saw her watching him, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. Sweet Jesus, those lips.

Done, he announced a moment later, earning him a few dirty looks from students still trying to work. What’s your next class?

Medical Ethics.

With Donaldson?

She nodded.

I took that last semester. Donaldson likes to take test questions from the critical thinking pages in the back of the book, so study up on those.

Thanks. She stood and carried her quiz to the front of the room.

Tanner followed and set his paper on Dr. Shaw’s desk. Juliana was already out of the room, and he caught up with her in time to see Devon fling his arm around her shoulders, but she promptly shoved his arm away.

Hey, Tanner. Devon nodded.

Hey.

You take care of my girl during class?

Juliana elbowed Devon in the side, and he laughed, rubbing right below his rib cage. Tanner’s gaze settled on Juliana, who was doing a hell of a job avoiding looking at him. Again. Shit. Are they going out?

You gonna be at the party this weekend? Devon asked.

Nodding, Tanner said, I plan on it. You?

Of course, I live there, remember?

Right. Since Tanner had moved out of the frat house a year ago, he hadn’t paid much attention to who was living there anymore. What about you, Juliana? Are you going to be there?

Finally, she lifted her head and met his gaze. Maybe.

The possibility she’d be there, however small, was all the motivation he needed.

Devon flung his arm around her again. C’mon, I’m starving.

You’re always starving. It’s amazing you don’t weigh a ton. Juliana rolled her eyes but smiled.

Wouldn’t matter if I weighed ten tons, you’d still love me. He leaned toward her like he was going to kiss her cheek, but she pushed his face away, laughing.

You’re a dork.

Tanner listened, watching the way they interacted effortlessly with each other. He’d seen them together a lot and had wondered if they were a couple. Based on the way Devon was acting right now, Tanner no longer had any doubts. Juliana was off-limits. That sucked some major ass. Well, you two have fun. I’ll catch ya later. He headed toward his next class, disappointment weighing him down.

Tanner entered his Forensic Pathology class and sat in the back next to his friend and roommate, Jason. Hey. How long had Devon and Juliana been dating? Was it serious? Of course, the one girl he was interested in was already involved with someone else.

Did you hear me? Jason nudged Tanner’s arm.

No. I wasn’t listening. Sorry.

I asked if you’d seen Holly around this morning.

Tanner shook his head. Jason and Holly had been dating, on and off, for two years, but recently, they seemed to be off more than they were