Page 14 of Never Say Never

“Is this guy bothering you?” Will asks, eyes narrowed at Tucker.

“I’m not bothering her,” Tucker growls, glaring right back at him. “She’s family and I need to have a word with her, if you don’t mind.”

Will looks from Tucker to me. “You good?”

Tucker’s hand on my waist tightens. My pulse speeds even though it shouldn’t. I can’t remember the last time he had his hands on me like this.

I nod. “I’m good. Sorry about this.”

Tucker turns me to face him, our bodies dangerously close as people party and dance all around us. Tension thickens in the salty air.

His blue irises lock on mine and my breath catches in my throat. He’s moved us a couple of feet, putting other partygoers in between us and Will.

“Who is this guy and why have I never seen him around?”

I laugh in response. “Are you serious? Not that it’s any of your business, but I met him this week at Cocina Caliente and he’s a really nice guy. We’re having a good time—or wewereuntil a minute ago,” I say, feeling the heat from Tucker’s body seep into mine.

His nostrils flare. “In other words, you know absolutely nothing about this guy. For all you know he could be a—”

“Drop it, Tucker!” I spit out, anger getting the best of me. “You don’t get a say. Not now. Not ever.”

“I will always get a say, Daisy.” He moves even closer so that there is only an inch of space between us. Arousal erupts in my center, and I exhale a breath, trying to keep it at bay. “What if he hurt you? Jesus, Daisy… you don’t know this guy. You’re drinking. You should know better than this.”

Rage rushes through me, and I straighten my spine and glare up at him. We’re toe-to-toe. I watch Tucker blink a couple of times before his eyes drag down my body, like he’s just noticed how close we are. I jab a finger into his chest, where it connects with hard muscle, and the contact sends a shiver over my skin. “I’m not stupid, Tucker. And I’ve had enough of the big brother act! I am a grown woman, and I am capable of making smart decisions. I will date who I want to date. I will make my own mistakes. And you don’t get a say. Leave me alone!”

Tucker scowls, and there’s a noticeable tick in his jaw that matches the pulse beating on the side of his neck. Again, that spike of arousal blooms in my belly. Tuck is hot when he’s angry and he is definitely mad right now. His hand wraps around the finger that I have stabbing into his ribs and heat hammers into my skin.

“Daisy—”

“No. I’m so done with this,” I say, exhausted by this never-ending argument with him. My eyes sting, but I manage to keep my composure. The last thing I need is for Tucker to see me cry.“You don’t listen, and I’m tired of repeating myself. Have you ever stopped to think about how these over-the-top outbursts affect me? If you weren’t such a controlling ass maybe you would see that you ruin any potential relationship I might have. Any time a guy shows a little interest in me, you show up to scare him away. And for what? Just to make me miserable?”

I extract my finger from his hand with a sigh, the anger starting to drain from my body now. “Will is a good time,” I tell him. “I’m not going to marry him, Tucker. I’m not looking for anything serious and neither is he. I’m leaving for Italy soon, and I just want to have some fun before I go.”

Tucker’s eyes go wide. “’A good time?’ What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means exactly that. I’m not looking for anything serious right now. I’m not leaving a boyfriend behind while I’m gone.”

“Great. So, stay away from guys all together,” he says flatly. “Why do you need to have… fun?”

I shake my head in disbelief that I am having this conversation with him. “Do I really need to spell it out for you?”

“Yeah, I guess you do.”

“A girl has needs, Tuck. Guys aren’t the only ones.”

I watch as his expression changes from confusion to shock, and when he fails to say anything, I cover my face with my hands in embarrassment. He’s infuriating. I shouldn’t have admitted that. I should have just walked away. I kick myself for letting him get to me yet again.

Tucker gently peels my palms from my face and then lifts my chin so that my eyes meet his. As much as I want to look away, I can’t.

“You’re like a sister to me, and I worry about you,” he says quietly. “It would kill me if anything ever happened to you. I would pummel any guy’s ass to the ground if they did anything to hurt you.”

My spine stiffens. I’m like a sister to him. That is how Tucker sees me, and that is how he will always see me. I need to remember that.

“Look, I know what guys are like,” Tucker continues. “They want one thing. I just don’t want you to fall into that trap and get hurt.”

Slowly, I pull my hands away from his, needing to put space between us. I’m tired of the mixed-up emotions I feel when I think about Tucker. I’m so tired of him having the power to wreck me. Hoping that the disappointment I feel isn’t showing on my face, I turn away from him without a word. I’ve said enough already tonight.

I snake through the crowd, finding Will waiting for me where I left him. I don’t have to turn around to feel the heat of Tucker’s stare. And even after everything he just said to me, I love having his eyes on me just as much as I hate it.

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