Page 31 of Country Winds
Tucker found Luke in the barn and then escorted Ellie to her SUV. He wanted another kiss like they’d shared on their picnic but settled for a gentle brush of their lips. The promise of a more passionate kiss the next time they were together was in her eyes, and he knew it was in his, too.
Ellie said goodbye to the Border collies, giving each a hug.
Tucker opened the SUV’s door, and Ellie slid behind the wheel.
She pressed the start button, foot on the brake, then looked at Tucker as the engine came to life. “Thank you for such a terrific day.”
“Get on home now.” He gave her a smile that he hoped wasn’t too suggestive but let her know how much he cared for her. “Be careful driving.”
“I will.” She kissed two fingers and pressed them to his cheek. “We’ll talk soon.”
Tucker closed the door and stepped back, his cheek still tingling from Ellie’s touch. He watched her drive away until he couldn’t see her vehicle anymore.
* * *
Ellie couldn’t stop smiling. It had been a wonderful day, and she felt like they’d grown closer during their time together.
Her phone rang, and she answered it via her car.
“Ellie, this is Doug. Doug Eisenhower with Zephyr Game Labs.” The guy sounded like a kid, but he was Zephyr’s Vice President. It surprised her that he hadn’t had her agent call instead of him.
“Hi, Doug.” Ellie put a bright note in her voice. “I’m excited about the upcoming release.”
“So are we.” Doug’s voice altered due to static, but that cleared. “We’d like to ask you to join us at Universal Game Expo in Phoenix, the first weekend in May.”
His request took her off guard. “What would I be doing?”
“You will sign autographs as the voice of Nyx Cox.” He sounded enthusiastic like this was the best idea in the world. “The fans will be crazy to meet you.”
Ellie couldn’t imagine anyone would want her autograph. “The game will only have been out for a week by then.”
“Plenty of time.” No doubt Doug could not be deterred. “Game fans are rabid, and you’ll meet plenty who’ve played Myth Hunter obsessively until they beat it.” He chuckled. “Not many will have done it, but they can try.” He shifted gears again. “There will be plenty of fans who want to meet you.”
Ellie enjoyed new experiences, and this was right up her alley. “I’d love to. It sounds like fun.”
“Great.” Doug’s voice was even more charged up. “We’ll email you the details. My cell number will be in the sig line.” He spoke so fast it was like he was on speed or something. “Call me if you have any questions. Looking forward to meeting you in person, Ellie.”
He clicked off before she could respond.
Ellie smiled as she thought about the possibility of having fans, and a game expo sounded like fun. Yeah, this had been one hell of a great day.
8
Ellie glanced at Tucker as he drove the black dually toward Sonoita along AZ State Route 83. She was excited to spend another day with him. They’d been talking on the phone daily, but it was never enough.
On their way out of town, they stopped at a drive-thru for burgers and fries so they wouldn’t drink wine on an empty stomach.
“Did you graduate from Gold Canyon High School?” She tipped her head to the side. “You’re a big guy. Did you play football?”
“Yeah, I graduated from GCHS.” He nodded. “Never played high school sports, though—I rodeoed.”
She smiled. “Don’t tell me you were a bull rider.”
He flashed her a grin. “Bronc riding.”
“You were one of those cowboys.” She shook her head. “I bet you broke some bones over the years.”
He nodded. “A few.”
