My hands seemed to tingle where I’d touched him. I swallowed hard, hating how much I felt the loss of those strong arms around me. “I brought an extra sandwich. Want to have lunch with me?”
Tuck grinned. “Have I ever turned down any food you made?”
I tapped a finger against my lips. “I don’t think so.”
We settled down into my spot in the grass, and I handed him my second sandwich. He dug into it with gusto. “This bread with the rosemary,” he said around a full mouth, “it’s the best.”
“Nina from the bakery and Tessa came up with the recipe.” I took a sip of water.
Tuck motioned for my bottle, and I handed it over. He took a swig. “Those two come up with the most unlikely but delicious concoctions.”
“That they do.” I stared out at the grazing herd.
“I need to get some of this for my mom.”
I stole a peek at Tuck from the corner of my eye. “How is she?” Knowing when I could ask about his parents and when it wasn’t okay was a delicate balance. People thought that Tuck and his dad just didn’t get along that well. I knew the truth. Craig Harris had broken his son’s heart.
Tuck turned his gaze to the horses. “She says she’s fine. But he’s slowly stealing her life one day at a time. She just doesn’t seem to see that.”
I knew a little something about hoping a man would change even when he had given you all the signs in the world that he never would. After I’d gotten pregnant with Noah, and Cody had run off to who knows where, I’d hoped and prayed for months that he’d realize what he was missing and come back. That first night in the hospital after Noah had been born and I finally came to terms with the fact that I was going to raise him alone, I’d bawled so hard a nurse had come running.
“Give her time. Everyone has to find his or her own way to what makes them happy.”
Tuck turned to me. “And what about you? Are you happy?”
I plucked a blade of grass and twisted it around my finger. “I’m happy enough.”
An angry scowl took over Tuck’s face.
I chuckled and reached over to pinch his cheek. “Oh, come on, don’t be such a grumpy butt.”
“I’ll show you grumpy.” Tuck dove for me, going straight for my most ticklish spots, my sides just above my hip bones.
I shrieked, laughing and twisting, trying anything to escape his hold. “Okay, okay, you’re not grumpy.”
Tuck stilled his assault but stayed hovering over me as I lay in the grass. The heat of his body seemed to pour into mine. My belly tightened. His eyes tracked over my face. “I want you to be so happy, so full of joy it seeps out of your skin.”
My breath hitched. “Maybe one day.”
“Yeah, one day.”
13
Tuck
My eyes trackedthe movement of Jensen’s hips as they swayed on the dance floor. She wore jeans that might as well have been a second skin, and a top that dipped down low enough in the back for me to know there was no bra underneath. My back molars ground together.
One last get-together before Liam and Tessa left on his tour. It had seemed like a good idea at the time. Good friends, cold drinks. What could go wrong? Just me having to live through the nine circles of Hell in the form of the temptation on the dance floor.
Jensen threw her head back, letting out a cackling laugh I could hear over the country music that spilled out of the speakers. She spun in circles with Taylor and Tessa. They were all three sheets to the wind, but I was happy that she was letting loose. Even if it meant my jeans felt two sizes tighter.
There was heat at my side, but I kept my gaze on the dance floor. Firm breasts pressed into my arm.
“Hey, Tucker.”
I turned to take in Lucy Bigsby. My gaze traveled the length of her. She had certainly grown up over the past few years. I’d heard she was off getting her masters somewhere, but she must have been home for an end-of-year break. “Hey, Lucy.”
“How you been?” She blinked up at me, her long lashes fluttering.
