Page 22 of Tucker

She wasn’t timid, wasn’t reserved, yet misgivings flogged her determination on the drive over—only for her to find that he wasn’t yet home.

Damn.

How desperate would it look if she waited? No,notdesperate. She wouldn’t let it seem that way. After all, she was a Good Samaritan, here to clue him in.

She saw no point in going to the kitchen door when he wasn’t home, but neither did she want to sit in her hot car. The front porch, at least, was shaded. She took a seat on a step, her legs stretched out before her, one shoulder leaning against a post, and watched the squirrels running around the yard, up and down the trees.

The minutes slipped away, and by the time he finally pulled into the drive some thirty minutes later, she’d worked herself into a major pique.

Tucker saw her at once, of course, and even behind those blasted sunglasses he wore, she knew he was frowning.

How could a man be even more handsome with a scowl? She wasn’t sure, but he was. Of course, when he laughed, it gave her goose bumps, and when he stared at her so intently...well, somewhat like he was doing now as he closed his SUV door and started toward her with purposeful strides, her pulse raced.

Getting to her feet on the step, she stuck her hands on her hips and got the ball rolling.

“You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?”

He kept walking.

“You blabbed to everyone.Beforeyou’d even discussed it with me!” He was closer now, almost to her, and he took off his sunglasses, showing her his fiercely direct gaze. Her heart began to thunder, and she tried to rally. “You might not realize it, but my family will be all but marrying us off now, and I’ve only kissed you the one time—”

“Let’s correct that,” he said when he reached her, and bent his mouth to hers. His left arm was in the sling, caught between their bodies, but with his right he pressed the small of her back, keeping her close.

Scorching surprise caused her hands to drop from her hips. Seconds later, while his lips played over hers, her palms crept to his chest—so warm and firm—and then up and over his shoulders. She remembered his injury and resisted the urge to squeeze him tight.

“Your shoulder,” she murmured.

“Can’t even feel it.” His mouth opened, his tongue touching her bottom lip until she opened hers, too. He tilted his head for a tantalizing fit, and the kiss changed in a way she hadn’t known was possible. Hot, uncontrolled and so possessive she wanted to melt right there in his front yard.

She realized that she wasn’t really kissing him back, that she just stood there accepting, enjoying.

Loving.

Just as she started to get with the program, he eased up, his mouth slowly retreating with small nibbles until he was gone. A little devastated, she continued to lean on him for support.

Her lips tingled, as did other parts of her body, and she breathed, “Oh.”

His gaze remained serious, but he gave her a small smile. “I know your family, Kady. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

Don’t worry...?That brought her around really quick, and she stepped back with a frown. “Tucker—”

“The dog will want out.” He took her hand and led her up the steps to the front door. “You can’t stay, though.” He glanced at her. “Maybe only long enough for me to kiss you a few more times. Then you need to head home.”

She started to ask why, but he continued.

“While you’re here, you can help change out the bedding for the pups. With my shoulder, I had a bitch of a time getting the blanket under there in the first place.”

The door opened, and he gestured for her to go in.

Talking about his injury effectively diverted her from her annoyance. “I’m so sorry you were hurt because of me.”

“Not because of you.” He closed the door, removing his hat to hang on a coat tree and setting his keys on a console table. “Because of an idiot who broke the law.”

If that idiot had slammed into the back of the van, Tucker could’ve been killed. “I hope they lock him up for a very long time.”

“At the very least,” Tucker promised her, “he’ll lose his license for a while.”

The dog came running out with a single bark, saw them, and with her curling tail swinging, headed for the kitchen door and the backyard.

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