Page 37 of Tucker

Relief flooded her, and on the heels of that came a desperate need to talk to Tucker. She had to tell him that she loved him. She had to know if he was safe.

“Kady!”

It was almost as if she’d summoned him.

“Kady, damn it, answer me!”

Stumbling quickly up the steps, she called, “I’m here!”

The basement door was wrenched open, and then he was there, soaking wet, his shirt plastered to his body, his expression feral.

Behind him, the kitchen was wrecked, but that hardly mattered given they were both okay.

“Tucker,” she whispered, and she unglued her feet to run up the steps.

He met her halfway, dragging her into his arms, holding her so tightly that she could breathe—and didn’t care. His wet clothes soaked her front, and his hair dripped on her shoulders.

“The storm?”

“It’s over.”

“Thank God.”

“When Cleets called...” He choked up, put a hand against the back of her head and kissed her temple. “God, Kady, I was so afraid I’d lose you.”

Strangled with emotion, she nodded. “I had the same worry for you.” She pressed back. “How did you get here so quickly?”

“I was down the street at Mr. Cummings’s house. His wife is disabled and he’s elderly, so I helped move her.”

He was such a remarkable man. “My family?”

“As far as I know, they’re all safe. Jordan knew he’d have his hands full at the animal clinic, so Morgan went to lend a hand. They got hit with thunderstorms, but the tornado didn’t get anywhere near there. Your dad was in town.” Tucker smoothed back her hair, then pulled her close again. “He took refuge in the hardware store after he got everyone else inside.”

“That leaves a lot of cousins and—”

“And they were all worried about you.” He pressed her back. ”You didn’t answer your phone.”

“I couldn’t get any reception down here, or I’d have called.”

He nodded, his hand stroking her cheek. “Sawyer was the last of your family to call. He’d already checked on most everyone. He said to tell you they’re fine.”

She slumped against him, but not for long because he suddenly thrust her back again. “Cleets called to say you were caught in a tornado, but then the service dropped and I didn’t know—” He stopped to take fierce gulps of air. “What the hell were you thinking?”

She blinked up at him. He was shouting at her? Tucker was usually calm, even imperturbable, but now he looked both furious and ravaged with fear. Kady put a hand to his chest, stroking lightly, feeling the heat of his body even through the wet shirt. “The dogs—”

Squeezing his eyes shut, he tipped back his head, but his hands still firmly grasped her upper arms.

“They’re okay,” she whispered. “We got downstairs without being hurt, but your kitchen is wrecked.”

He drew in another harsh breath, his nostrils flaring. He seemed to be struggling.

“Tucker?”

He kissed her hard and fast, his hold almost bruising. “My kitchen and half the roofs on this street are gone. A few garages are demolished. Trees are down.” He shuddered, this time kissing her more gently. “I love you, Kady.”

Her heart jumped into overtime. He’d said it almost angrily, but he’d still said it. “I love you, too.”

His hard mouth firmed even more. “Come on.” Turning, he led her upstairs.

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