Page 49 of Steers and Stowaways
“Yes, please.” At the risk of scaring Chip off for good, Tucker figured it was time to make one thing abundantly clear. He claimed her lips in another very thorough kiss.
She looked dazed when he raised his head. “We just started dating.”
“I know.” He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “And now we’re getting married.”
“This is crazy.” Her hands flew to cover her mouth. “You realize this is completely crazy?” Her words came out muffled from behind her fingers.
Yeah, he did. “I’m starting to like crazy.”
She glanced away from him. “We probably need to talk this out a little more first.”
He was fine with that, as long as they endedup married. “Chip and I will be following you back to the ranch. We can talk after that.”
“Okay.” She returned her gaze to him, searching his features.
He wanted so badly to kiss her again, but he could tell she needed more time to process everything that had transpired between them. Instead, he reached over to curl his pinky finger around hers. “Drive safely.”
She gave his pinky finger a light tug before letting it go. “You, too.” She backed toward her Jeep, which ended up being parked a few vehicles down from his truck.Go figure.She was such a hoot.
After watching her drive off in her Jeep, he angled his head at Chip to follow him to the rental counter.
He nodded and fell into step beside him. “If you’re gonna tear into me about something, you might as well get it over with.”
“Old Glory.” Tucker kept his voice down. “I need you to find out where the bull is that Mallory’s dad gave her. Pronto, as in yesterday.” He jabbed a finger at the kid for emphasis. “I don’t care how you do it, but it’s gonna be my wedding gift to her, you hear?”
Chip nodded meekly. “Yes, sir.”
“Tucker,” Tucker corrected. “Already told you I’m not old enough to be your dad.” He was warming to the idea of being his older brother, though. Or his joint sponsor, if it came to that.
Chip nervously adjusted his Stetson. “If I live through my next encounter with my parents, I’ll help you track down Mallory’s big, cantankerous bull.”
“You’ll live,” Tucker assured. “I’ll see to it, since I’m gonna crash at Evans Ranch.” He was already mentally rearranging the belongings inside Mallory’s farmhouse.First, the desk where Martina Silva did her bookkeeping would be moved from the living room. Not just to another part of the house, but out of the house. She could continue her slimy criminal activities from a shady corner of the barn, for all he cared.
Chip’s expression brightened. “Wanna stay in the barn loft with me?”
Tucker frowned at the question. “You don’t live with your parents?”
Chip shook his head sheepishly. “Nah, I moved out. Mallory doesn’t know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Tucker sensed there was more to the story. “How long have you been roughing it?”
Chip didn’t quite meet his gaze. “Since we arrived in town. It’s a long story. I’ve gotta space heater out there and everything. It’s not too bad.”
If you say so.Tucker sped through the paperwork, signatures, and final payment for the rental truck and trailer. Only when he and Chip were walking toward his Chevy Colorado did he speak again. “We’ve got ten to fifteen minutes before we reach the ranch. Plenty of time for me to listen if you need to talk.”
Chip claimed the seat Mallory had vacated and buckled himself in. “I’ve told you everything I can think of.”
“Except why you moved out,” Tucker reminded.
“It was mutual.” Chip gestured vaguely. “My parents have shady characters coming and going at all hours. People they don’t want me around. My moving out made it easier for all of us.”
Yeah, it sounded like he was better off in the barn loft. Tucker made a mental note to talk to Mallory about getting Chip moved into one of her guest rooms where they could keep a better eye on him. “You ready to face your parents?”
“Not really.” Chip stared straight ahead as Tucker drove out of the parking lot. “They aren’t gonna be too happy about my missing game console.”
“I’ll tell them it was my fault and offer to replace it.” Tucker made up a story on the spot about how he’d supposedly knocked it out of the truck by accident and broken it. “That sound okay to you?”
Chip’s hopeful expression said it all. “You’d really do that for me?”
