Page 20 of Tucker

“But I can’t say I’ve ever seen her flirt.” The woman’s brow wrinkled. “In fact, can’t say as I’ve ever seen her date, either.”

Hmm. Tucker wondered if he’d misread things, if perhaps his feelings for Kady had colored his perception. Entirely possible since most of his focus with Kady had been in resisting her. Now that he’d given up that idea, maybe he needed to better inform himself.

“She’s special,” he said, and got smiling nods from the elderly couple.

After he wished them a good day, he headed back to the station. Deputy Egan was there, doing some paperwork. He was the same age as Kady and had known her for a lot longer, so Tucker approached him, wondering how to bring it up.

He didn’t have to.

Moody saw him, sat back in his chair and grinned. “So you and Kady, huh?”

Damn, news traveled fast in Buckhorn. “Where’d you hear that?”

“Is it true?”

Tucker shrugged. He had a strategy, but he didn’t yet know how it was working. “We’ll see.”

“Huh. I’ll take that as a yes.” Moody straightened. “Never really known Kady to date.”

He eyed Moody. Apparently, he was the only one under the misconception that she’d gone out often with men. He’d have to rethink his impressions. “Did you ask her?”

“Me and every other guy with a heartbeat.” Moody stood, but propped a hip on his desk. “She shuts down just about everyone. Figured she was more interested in growing her career, you know.”

Or waiting for the right guy. The idea thathe’dbe the right guy teased him, making him edgy.

Now that he’d decided to go for it, he wanted another kiss.

And more. A whole lot more.

But he still had his lame arm to contend with. It was better, but short of inviting Kady to straddle his lap, he wasn’t sure how physical he could get. And given her insistence of inexperience, he couldn’t see putting the work on her. At least not their first time.

A few more days, Tucker thought, and he’d be able to lose the sling.

Overall, he’d wanted to wait to see Kady again until he’d lost all restrictions. It had been a good plan—until her relatives waylaid him.

Half a dozen of them had managed to run into him—circumstances he was sure weren’t coincidental—where questions about the wreck had led to more personal questions.

It wasn’t until Amber, Morgan’s daughter who was recently married and a very lovable busybody, had egged him on by saying she planned to introduce Kady to a friend of hers.

A male friend.

He’d taken the bait like a big dumb carp. Even knowing she did it on purpose, he hadn’t been able to resist, and before he knew it he’d admitted to her that he planned to ask Kady out himself.

Satisfaction had glowed in her face, a silentknew itshining in her eyes. True enough, Amber did seem to have a sixth sense when it came to matching up couples. She’d been instrumental—or so she liked to claim—in marrying off several family members, including quite a few cousins, and her brother. Once Tucker had made up his mind, he’d found it prudent to forestall further interference from her family.

He’d found the elders all together in the diner and wrangled an invite to join them.

The varying expressions of expectation on their faces had been nearly comical. Gabe, particularly, had given him a hard stare as Tucker drew over an extra seat and ordered a coffee.

Tucker respected them all, with good reason. In his midsixties, Sawyer Hudson still ran his medical practice out of his house. He was the quintessential small-town doctor, and at one time or another had probably treated everyone in Buckhorn, young and old.

Morgan Hudson, the imposing second son, had once been the sheriff himself, but was now the long-standing mayor. Also in his sixties, but still built like a brick wall, he relished his tough-as-nails reputation. Tucker had already learned his bark was worse than his bite.

Jordan Sommerville, their half brother, a veterinarian who had a magical way with animals, was the easiest to reason with—unless you hurt an animal. He had zero tolerance for cruelty and didn’t mind making it known.

Their mother, who’d been widowed, then divorced, which explained the different last names, was still married to Gabe’s father, Mr. Kasper, but they lived in Florida. Tucker had met her only once, and liked her a lot.

The brothers might have had different fathers, but Tucker had never known men to be closer. If he hadn’t found them all together in the diner, he had no doubt they’d have shared his news within the hour.

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