Page 10 of Tucker
“Hi,welcome to the conversation. I’m Leah, the human seated across from you, andyou are?”
Mylips twitch up. “In for a long six months it seems.”
Chapter Three
Leah
Thelast two weeks living out in the country have been relaxing and wonderful.Tucker is a moody ass but at least he sometimes answers me with an actualsentence instead of a grunt or an uh-huh. He hasn’t made it any secret he’dprefer it if I weren’t here, but a deal is a deal. Besides, I think I’m growingon him.
“Doyou always have to be so…happy?” he grumbles, shoving on his work boots. I’mnot sure how to respond to that. I know I’m a little excitable and optimistic,but what’s wrong with that? Before I can think of anything, he’s out the backdoor and on his way to his workshop.
It’sa beautiful day and it’d be a shame to spend it cooped up inside so I grab mylaptop and drink and head out to the porch to write. The air has cooled and thetrees are glowing with color. It has nothing to do with the fact I can seeTucker without a shirt, sanding down a picnic table. Nope, total coincidence.Sawdust clings to his sweaty muscles, and dirty has never looked so good.
Laughterfrom behind me pulls me from my little fantasy and Ayda takes a seat beside me.“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt the show.”
“Noworries. It’s pretty much a daily showing.”
“Nowonder you like it here.” She places the baby’s seat on the ground beside her.Ollie doesn’t even stir.
“He’sout like a light,” I remark.
“Ofcourse, it’s daylight. Midnight tonight he’ll be screaming his lungs out.”
“IsDerek here?”
“No,I wanted to get out of the house, so I thought I’d come visit. How is thewriting going?”
Myplan was to write about my past, but somehow I’ve written a sex scene between ayoung college drop out and her brother’s friend. There’s no way I’d admit tothat, though.
“Good.I’m trying to get my daily word count up so it doesn’t take a year, butsometimes I hit a wall.” A big sweaty forbidden wall.
Shesmiles at me. “Dare is proud of you, you know. I know he gives you shit, buthe’s so proud of how you’ve handled everything.”
“Iowe him a lot.”
“Hedoesn’t see it that way.” She shifts in her seat and watches as Tucker bendsover, still sanding the wood. Nodding toward him, she changes the subject.“That man has an ass from heaven. I hadn’t really noticed before. He was sothin.”
“Youmet when he was homeless, didn’t you?” I ask. There are so many things I wantto know about Tucker, but I can’t be obvious about it.
“Yes,he lived on the street near my apartment. I always tried to get him help, buthe wouldn’t hear it. I don’t know what Dare said to him, but I’m so glad hedid.” Her gaze meets mine, a knowing look in her eye. “He’s a good guy, youknow.”
“I’mnot…I mean, we’re not…he calls me kid,” I sigh, frustrated, and Ayda laughs.
“Trustme, he doesn’t look at you like a kid. Just, whatever happens, be careful. Iknow him pretty well, maybe better than most, but I think there’s a lot hekeeps to himself. Something eats at him that I don’t think he’s shared withanyone.”
Olliestarts to whine, and I rock his seat with my toe. “Don’t worry. I’m just hereto write and get away.”
Aydagrins when he waves at her. “Doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the view though.”
“Exactly,”I reply, and we both giggle.
Aydaand Ollie hang out for an hour or so before she heads home, and I go inside tomake lunch. Even though Tucker never remarked on my offer to make all the mealsand keep the house clean as a thank you for letting me stay, I’ve still beendoing it.
Hecomes in and washes his hands when I yell to tell him lunch is ready.
“Aydaleave?” he asks.
“Yeah,she stopped by to give me some of her old workout clothes. I need to startrunning again.”
