She smiled. “I like watching you, whatever you’re doing.”
He looked at her, amusement glittering in his eyes. “Funny, but I was thinking the same thing when you were cooking.”
“We’re different but so alike in some ways.” She clasped her hands on the breakfast bar. “Puzzle pieces.”
He closed the dishwasher and went to the sink. “Yeah, you’re right. I think we’re different in the best ways.”
“I forgot to tell you that I’ve been asked to sign at a convention in San Diego a month from now.” Ellie leaned back in her chair. “It’s a huge event, much bigger than the one I took you to. I think it’s a four-day convention, and I’ll be signing on Saturday. Would you like to go with me?”
Tucker was hand-washing the skillet in the sink, so his back was to her. He ran the skillet under the water to rinse it off, then set it in a dish drainer.
He turned to her and looked thoughtful. “It’s not my thing, but I’d like to go to support you.” He held her gaze. “I just like being with you whenever we can be together.”
She smiled. “I feel the same way.” She leaned forward, her arms on the breakfast bar. “I’m glad you want to go with me.”
He wiped down the counter, and no sign of dinner prep was to be seen. He hung the towel over a bar on the cabinet under the sink. He braced his palms on the counter as he stood directly in front of her. “Feel like streaming a movie?”
She nodded. “Let’s see if something good is on.”
They picked a popular movie, the only one that looked remotely appealing. It was a chick flick, and neither of them usually watched the genre.
They sat on the couch, Tucker’s arm around her shoulder. The movie wasn’t too bad, but she wasn’t into it, and her awareness of Tucker kept her mind on him more than the film.
He kissed the top of her head. “You seem as distracted as I am.”
She shifted in his arms so that she could look at him. “Not crazy about the movie?”
He turned the TV off, set the remote on the end table, and faced her. He reached up and skimmed his fingertips along her cheekbone as he looked into her eyes. “I’m crazy about you.”
She rested her hand on his thigh. “I feel the same way about you.”
“There’s something else I’ve been wanting to say.” He moved his hand and touched her bottom lip with his index finger. He looked almost serious, but maybe simply focused on what he was saying.
She squeezed his free hand in both hers and said nothing. She waited for him to tell her whatever it was he wanted to say.
“I love you, Ellie.” His words were strong, his tone sure. “I’ve loved you since the day we met, the moment I first saw you. My love for you gets stronger every day.”
Ellie straightened in her seat, blood pounding in her ears. Her throat felt dry, and his words bounced around in her head.
She took a deep breath and smiled at him. Her heart felt even fuller than it had earlier. She gripped his hand. “I love you, Tucker. I think it was love at first sight for me, too.”
He drew her into his arms and kissed her, long and filled with their love.
After a long kiss, she cuddled up to him, her head on his chest, his heart thumping beneath her ear. He wrapped his arm around her, holding her close.
“Like I said, I’m crazy about you.” He rubbed her shoulder with his palm and echoed her earlier thoughts. “I’m always thinking about you and ways we can spend time together.”
“That makes two of us.” She rested her hand on his thigh. “I think we’re doing a pretty good job of finding time together, whenever we’re not working.”
“We can keep on doing our best.” He nuzzled her head. “Just know it’s never enough.”
“Yeah, it’s never enough.” She sighed and snuggled closer. “Can you spend the night?”
“I’ll text Maddee and ask her if she’d mind feeding the horses in the morning.” He shifted her so that he could pull out his phone and unlock the screen. “Since it’s Saturday, that’s all I need to worry about.”
“Is she still seeing that firefighter?” Ellie watched Tucker as he texted his sister.
“I’m not sure.” Tucker was quiet for a moment as he finished his text. He lowered the phone and tossed it aside on the couch. “I haven’t seen him with her in a while.”
