Raw Burn (Touched By You) by Emily Jane Trent

Raw Burn
1 – Springtime
    The warmer weather brought beauty and cheer to New York. And it brought Natalie Baker’s birthday, which was a big deal to Tanner. He was taking her to King’s Carriage House for dinner, knowing that she’d been missing England. The restaurant was designed as a European manor house and the food was described as royally good.
    When they’d returned from Switz erland, Cheryl was already in Russia with Dani, so she wouldn’t be in New York for Natalie’s birthday. Jazzy had called to tell her she had come down with the flu, and would take her to lunch when she was better. And Martha, her mother’s new live-in, had called to say it wasn’t a good time for Emma to go out in the evening, so Natalie planned to drop by in a few days instead.
    S ince her family and friends couldn’t share her twenty-third birthday, Natalie was a little down. Even her extended yoga workout didn’t perk her up. And Tanner had been working more lately, leaving her feeling lonely. Plus, she’d heard him on the phone a couple of days before. He’d seemed so delighted and tickled about something.
    Holding the phone away from his ear, Tanner had waved for Natalie to come in when he saw her standing in the doorway to his home office. She couldn’t tell who he was talking to, but it was a woman’s voice. She attempted to rein in her jealousy, but was unsuccessful. She missed spending more time with him, and the sound of his laughter with another woman made her blood boil.
    Tanner put down the phone and opened his arms to Natalie. She sat in his lap and put her head against his cheek. Everything seemed okay, but she couldn’t be sure. His next words changed that.
    “I’ll be late tonight. There’s an appointment I cannot put off. I’ll call you when I’m on my way home, so you won’t worry,” he said.
    She was already worried. The late night appointment was unsettling. Could Tanner be seeing another woman? And who was that woman on the phone? It was distressing.
    “Do you have to?” She said.
    “Yes, baby,” he said. “No choice. But I’ll make it up to you when I get home.” He smiled, and Natalie tried to read something into his expression. There was something there, she was sure. Well, at least tomorrow he wouldn’t be late. It was her birthday dinner, and she knew he wouldn’t miss it.
    He hugged her, and she felt a tear roll down her cheek, unable to understand why she was so emotional over her imagined slights. With one finger, Tanner wiped the tear away.
    “What is it, baby?” He asked. “Tomorrow is your birthday. You should be happy.”
    Natalie smiled at him, trying to hide her inner turmoil. “Nothing, really,” she said. “Just that time of month I guess.” Maybe that was it. She was overreacting. Tanner wouldn’t be seeing someone else, would he? But then, he’d made no long term commitment to her. She couldn’t bear the thought that he’d be interested in another woman. She prayed it couldn’t be true.
     

2 – Natalie’s Birthday
    It was her birthday, and she wanted to look her best, planning to have a good time in spite of anything. Yet, Tanner frowned when he saw her. She’d chosen a Jovani, a beautiful sheer long-sleeved dress. Being a flesh-colored, sheer fabric, it was like wearing nothing at all. Except for shimmery rhinestones splayed across the bodice, and over key areas to give her some modesty. But it was outspoken and sexy.
    Even with the few gems that decorated the sleeves of the dress, it still exposed too much for Tanner’s taste. The hem stopped mid-thigh, which really didn’t matter since it was sheer up to the top of the thigh where thankfully some gems blocked the see-through effect.
    “You’re wearing that?” Tanner said, appalled.
    “Yes, I’m wearing this. It’s a party dress, and it’s my birthday. I plan to have fun,” she said and gave him a seductive wink.
    Tanner sighed, and shook his head. He didn’t want to ruin her birthday, and bit