Page 11 of How I Love You

I put my arm around Hope’s shoulders and we shared a smile, but when I turned back to Tucker, his hotness had kicked up another notch. He looked almost sick at the words I’d spoken, and that scowl that fit so well with his tall, dark, and dangerous persona slipped straight into a protective one.

I kinda liked it.

Okay, I really liked it.

It was just one more reason why this brutish man probably made other men instinctively take a step back when he entered the room, but I wasn’t the least bit afraid. Not to mention how casual he and Colton were around each other, and they were like yin and yang. If Tucker was the dark and stormy one, Colton was the sunshine. He was still tall and strong and seemed like he could kick some butt, but in a fun way. He was the fun one. And if Tucker’s best friend was the token fun one, that meant Tucker himself couldn’t be all bad, right?

Speaking as any group’s token fun one, I knew when I was loved and appreciated for the sunshine I brought to the party, and I knew when the hurricane that usually came with it just plumb wasn’t welcome.

I tried to steer clear of those party poopers.

“You stayed there last night?” Tucker asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Yep.”

“Where a guy had just been shot?”

“Yep.”

“Can I butt in?” Colton asked.

I snorted at the butt pun, which earned me another scowl from Tucker and an apologetic wince from Colton.

“Did you say the cop’s name was Adam Wilson?” He asked. “About my height, dark hair, Marine Corps vet?”

Frowning, I nodded. “Yeah, why?”

“Small world.”

“You know him?” Tucker and I asked at the same time.

“Served with him. I knew he was from Tennessee but didn’t know the name of the town. He’s good people.”

Tucker grunted.

“He really is!” I agreed with a grin. “We were just about to go see him if you wanna tag along. I’m sure Tucker here needs to go hang out with his boy. The one he doesn’t think we can see creepin’ closer to us every time his daddy’s back is turned.”

Colton frowned in confusion, but Tucker whipped around, locking eyes with the lanky teen leaning against a light pole about ten feet away.

“Oh, you mean Austin?” Colton asked, catching on. “That’s Tuck’s little brother, not his kid.”

Tucker shot Colton a glare that screamed in warning, but I smiled. “Ah, cute. I can see the family resemblance. Shoot, he must only be thirteen, and I think he’s already taller than me.”

“Twelve,” Austin called, seeming to decide he might as well join us since he was already busted for eavesdropping.

“Tucker exhaled through his nose, looking around our group with almost wild eyes, like a man who was used to having lots of control, only to find out he’d boarded a runaway train to nowhere. A haunted one. At night. Shudder.

“Okay, know what?” Tucker ground out, his voice dropping into that no-nonsense tone that left no room for argument. “The wild card is right. You should go talk to your old Marine buddy, and I’ll handle Austin.”

The sudden authority in his voice was like a switch had been flipped. Gone was the teasing banter, replaced by a man who was clearly used to taking control when things went sideways. It was enough to make everyone straighten up a little, even Colton.

“And you two,” he added, turning his steely gaze on Hope and me. “You should find somewhere else to stay for a bit.”

Hope frowned. “I’m not leavin’ my house just because you were shot there. Doubt it had anythin’ to do with me.”

“Ah, she speaks,” Colton said with a wink at my friend.

I waved a hand. “Everyone seems like an introvert when I’m on a tear. It’s my fault, sorry, Hope.”

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