by Vivian Arend
Ginny stared at him.
Anger and frustration rose hard, and he dragged a hand through his hair. “Well, fuck. That’s not the conversation I wanted to have, but since we’re here, I may as well muddle forward. Yes. What you do isn’t always big and shiny, but it’s appreciated. Obviously, more than you know. You’ve got a very giving heart, and I think you’re wonderful, Ginny. It’s about time you started thinking that you are wonderful as well.”
Her lips twitched, and for a moment he thought she might cry.
Then the most beautiful smile spread across her face. She crawled across the hay bales, closing the distance between them so she could straddle his legs and curl her arms around his neck, squeezing him tight.
“I like you, Tucker Stewart,” she whispered.
To hell with it. “I know.”
She laughed out loud, leaning back and pressing both hands to his face. “You’re right. I did a lot of important things this week, mainly spending time with my family. The thing that I disliked the most was not getting to spend time with you.”
“We’re about to change that,” he said, “because that’s the thing I disliked the most, as well.”
Suspicion slipped in. “Tucker.”
He held her hips tight. “Ginny.”
“You’re still in the beginning stage of the biggest career change of your life.”
“And it’s not something I want to do unless I get to do it with you.” The confession was wildly ahead of time, but it was true. “If there’re complications, I’ll face them. But so far, there’s been nothing other than the typical small bits of grumbling from a few of the men about having another supervisor in their lives. Ashton is still here, Caleb’s rock solid. I don’t think the worry is as big as we considered it.”
“What are you saying?” She ran her fingers distractedly around his ear, tucking his hair back.
“I’m saying we’re dating, Ginny Stone. Officially.” He caught her fingers, because they were driving him crazy, and lifted them to his mouth so he could press a kiss to her knuckles. “What I’d like to do is jump about five steps forward and move into the cottage with you, but I think that might cause a few shovels to swing in my direction.”
She snickered. “If we’re dating, you will visit my house.”
“Yes.”
“And stay the night, sometimes.”
“Yes.”
She lowered her lashes and blinked them provocatively. “Take me dancing on Friday?”
He brushed his nose alongside of hers. “Absolutely. You okay if we make that our first official date?”
“Of course. When do you plan to tell Luke that while we’re starting to date, this isn’t the beginning?” She made a bit of a face. “Because it’s not something I will lie about. And while it’s still not really any of their business, it’s part of our relationship.”
“You’re right. I will most definitely talk to Luke. Soon.”
She eased in closer. “Good. I’ll let you take care of that. And trust me. It’s not that I plan to stand up and announce to all and sundry that we’ve been fooling around for the past nine years.”
“Jesus, has it been that long?”
She smirked. “But knowing this town, at some point, the information will come out.”
“I’m okay with that,” he said, still reeling a little at how long it had been. “Does it still count as nine years if you were gone for three of them?”
“It’s a little easier to say nine years than to say, ‘nine years less the three that Ginny was out of the country,’ don’t you agree?” She smirked at him.
“We don’t always have to take the easy route,” he reminded her.
She turned serious for a moment. “I hope this works. I want this to work,” she admitted, “but if you need us to take a break. If you need us to do something different, let me know.”
He caught her chin, and his fingers shook her gently. “Stop trying to fix things for everyone. It’ll be okay. You and I will figure things out going forward. Together.”
She took a deep breath and nodded decisively. “Together.”
16
The warm glow inside wasn’t getting any fainter. Ginny felt like a teenager getting ready for a date. It was pathetic, really.
Before she could stop herself, she sent a text to her sister.
Ginny: Please laugh at me and tell me to calm down.
Dare: LOL. What are you all kerfuffled about? Wait— It’s tonight, isn’t it?
Ginny: I have changed clothes four times. Which you will know is truly ridiculous considering my wardrobe consists of jeans, jeans, and more jeans.
Dare: Oh, sweetie. We both know there are umpteen different kinds of jeans. I hope you picked the sexy pair that makes your ass look great.
Ginny: My ass looks great in all my jeans.
Dare: There’s my Ginny! Of course it does. You’ll have fun tonight, and you don’t have anything to worry about. This is Tucker we’re talking about. He’s an amazing guy. I’m so glad you’re coming out of the shadows, so to speak.
Ginny: Great. Now I have this image of him as a giant spider.
Dare: LOL. I just meant the whole secret sexy rendezvous thing was pretty spectacular, but this has more long-term potential. That makes me happy.
That was the bit that scared Ginny to death. The long-term part. She wanted it—she was sure she did. But was she good enough for him?
Ginny: He is a great guy, and I’m really happy to try the next thing. I hope it works.
Dare: It will. If you need me for anything, give me a shout. I will rain down sisterly indignation on anyone who needs it. Now go. Enjoy your evening.
Ginny: <3
She put her phone away and turned back to the mirror one more time. Her jeans were newer, the dark blue contrasting with the pale powder blue shirt she’d layered over a creamy tank top. She’d left her hair down, which she would probably regret somewhere after the third or fourth dance.
Ginny grabbed an elastic and shoved it in her pocket for the inevitable moment she’d return to a ponytail.
A final check. The faint layer of cosmetics, including a lip balm she’d made, were enough to make her look bright and happy yet not overdone. She looked good, so it wasn’t concern over her appearance making her heart pulse rapidly as a knock sounded on the door.
She swung it open to discover Tucker standing in front of her. Sheepskin-lined jean jacket, his dark hair slightly messy as always. Clean-shaven with not a trace of five o’clock shadow.
His face was sheer perfection because of the look of appreciation in his eyes. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”
She snickered, grabbing her coat and pulling it on quickly. “Thanks. I’m glad your taste runs to low-key and casual.”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, keeping the warm air inside as she pulled on her boots.
“My tastes run to beautiful women who wear clothes that make their eyes shine.” He caught her by the hand and tugged her forward. “Go dancing with me?”
“That’s the plan,” she teased.
He leaned in close. “Need to steal a kiss before we leave.”
She slid her hands up his chest and over his shoulders, easing closer until their torsos made contact. “Is it stealing if it’s freely given?”
He answered the best way possible. Hands sliding down to cup her ass. Mouth coming in contact with hers in a way that set her blood pumping and lit up every bit of anticipation possible.
He squeezed her butt gently before letting go and stepping back, reaching for her hand again and tugging her out the door. “Come on. I hear Ryan’s got something new happening tonight at Rough Cut.”
It was all kinds of incredible to have him help her into the passenger seat of his truck. To have him glance disapprovingly when she went to buckle up.
“Move,” he ordered. Then he helped slide her into the middle seat.
Yes, teenager Ginny would have totally approved of getting to si
t next to him, their thighs touching, his arm around her shoulders as they drove into town to go dancing.
“Thank you for making one of my adolescent dreams come true,” she said impulsively.
Tucker chuckled. “I’m glad I had no idea you had a crush on me all those years ago. It would’ve freaked me out.”
“You should’ve heard my mother,” Ginny said. “She never came right out and told me I was too young for you at the time. Not in those specific words, but she definitely told me I had to wait.”
They were on the highway, a few other vehicles also headed into town. The red taillights ahead of them appeared and disappeared in intervals as the road rose and fell.
“Your mom was great,” Tucker said softly. “I hope she would’ve approved of us.”
“I’m pretty sure she did. Just not when I was still a kid.” She twisted so she could examine his face as he focused forward on the road. “One of the cool things about my mom was that she didn’t give you more than you needed at one time. But she was pretty clear on what she thought was important.”
“Have you been reading through her journal?”
“A bit,” she confessed. “Sometimes it feels unreal. As if any minute she’ll walk back through the door and give me hell for snooping.”
That got an actual laugh out of him. “I can see that.”
Ginny considered then figured Tucker was the one person she could absolutely trust with this. “I’ve been opening up the journal at random and reading bits here and there. I was trying to figure out why, and it suddenly hit me that if I start at the beginning and go all the way to the end, at some point I’ll be finished.”
He caught her fingers, linking them with his and squeezing gently. “You don’t want it to end.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I guess not.”
They sat in silence for the rest of the trip, and once again Ginny was thankful that this was Tucker and not some other guy she was attempting a first date with. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but a moment of sharing something precious and intimate.
When he pulled into the parking lot behind the bar, Tucker paused and turned to her to press a kiss on her forehead. “Your mom will always be part of your world. I promise.”
Which was exactly what she needed to hear.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
He dipped his chin.
Ginny took a deep breath. “Ready for this?”
“I was born ready,” Tucker drawled.
Which meant Ginny was laughing as he pulled her out the driver’s side door with him then tucked her fingers into the crook of his arm to guide her across the parking lot, up the steps, and into the bar.
She’d been there a week ago with her friends, yet as they headed into their corner, music welling around them, Ginny found herself tangling with a strange mix of apprehension and curiosity.
How would her friends deal with the change in relationship about to arrive?
Rose was the only one in their usual spot. She smiled as Ginny and Tucker reached her side.
“You made it,” Ginny said. “Thought you had a date with your sister.”
“Fern’s appointment got changed to yesterday, so we’re all good to go.” Rose’s gaze dropped, eyes widening for a split second as Tucker slid his arm around Ginny’s waist. Her gaze snapped up to Ginny’s, and a slow smile curled her lips, but she made a typical Rose report without commenting. “Tansy is on the dance floor, regretting her life decisions because she found somebody with three left feet. Kelli and Luke are dancing, and Fern is over there with the rest of her posse, making eyes at your youngest brother and his buddy.”
Ginny peered over to where Rose had pointed. “Fern knows Charity?
Rose all but rolled her eyes. “Fern knows everyone, and everything. At least according to Grandma Sonora. Grandma also thinks Fern needs to be careful with her dangerous source of knowledge, because at some point, it’s going to get her in trouble.”
“Fern doesn’t seem the type to go snooping where she shouldn’t,” Tucker said cautiously.
Rose waved a hand. “It’s not that. I think she’s openly sneaky. Walks right into the middle of a conversation and stands there, and for some reason, people keep talking. Add in that the girl doesn’t forget a thing, and she could pretty much have blackmail material on anyone in this town.”
Tucker turned to Ginny. “Want a drink?”
“A little later. First, let’s dance,” Ginny ordered. And it was an order, because she caught him by the hand, winked at Rose, then hauled him onto the dance floor.
Tucker’s confident arms wrapped around her. He whirled her in a rapid two-step full into the thick of things, his lips curled in the smallest of smirks. “I take it we’re going for full on blow their minds rather than easing into it.”
Ginny grinned, trusting he’d keep them from barreling into anyone on the crowded dance floor. “My mom always said when you’re going to do a thing, do it up right.”
“Seems I’ve heard that sentiment a time or two from my uncle,” Tucker offered.
They danced. For the first couple of moments, Ginny was curious what kind of reaction they might be causing. But the truth was, the longer they danced and the longer she was in his arms, moving to the upbeat music; the longer Tucker looked down at her in that intensely focused manner that sent all her nerves tingling; the longer it all went on, the less Ginny cared to see anyone else’s reaction.
This was where she wanted to be. Period.
“Your brother just spotted us,” Tucker informed her quietly.
Ginny didn’t care. Or maybe she did, because she stroked her fingers along the back of his neck a little more intently. “If the next song’s a ballad, I dare you to kiss me.”
Another near smile. “You’re an evil woman, Ginny.”
“Yeah, but you like me anyway.”
An outright laugh escaped him, and he gave her an extra hard twirl, dipping her back over his arm and smiling down with his eyes set to Smolder, Level-Ten. “Challenge accepted.”
Definitely not the move she’d expected. She teased, he responded, but in this case, he flipped all her expectations out the window.
Tucker pulled her upright, firmly against his body. With the hand pressed to her lower back, he sealed their torsos together. The other hand he brought to the back of her neck, fingers tangled in her hair to tilt her face up so he could lean in and kiss her. A slow, hot, demanding kiss that made it clear this was the type of evening that ended in the bedroom.
Somewhere between their lips making contact and his tongue dipping between her lips…
Somewhere between him accepting her teasing challenge and taking absolute control…
Somewhere between the start and the finish of all that, Ginny’s brain simply fizzled out. When he finally pulled her upright, and the two of them stood in the middle of the dance floor while amused patrons danced around them, it happened.
Ginny Stone fell in love.
17
Once again, Tucker had gotten a prime example of how being involved with Ginny never went to plan.
The next song was thankfully slower. Tucker kept Ginny in his arms, swaying together. It gave everyone plenty of time to gawk and talk, ripples spreading visibly around the room.
He wasn’t terribly surprised when Luke and Kelli were suddenly dancing beside them, his friend’s expression absolutely hysterical.
Unexpected was Luke stealing Ginny out of his arms while Kelli stepped in to replace her.
Tucker watched Ginny dance away with reluctance. “Well, drat. That’s a conversation I was supposed to have,” he complained, turning his attention on Kelli. “Hi. Having a good evening?”
“I don’t know if I should give you an award or hogtie you right now,” Kelli said sweetly.
“Let’s go with the award.”
She laughed. “I thought Luke was about to lay an egg.”
“So that’s what his expression meant.”
Interesting observation. “Ginny and I will do just fine,” he assured her. “I’m in it for the long haul. Or at least, that’s what we’re aiming for, a fact Ginny knows.”
Kelli nodded. “Luke’s not upset that you guys obviously…”
Her lips twitched as she seemed to struggle for the right word.
“Like each other?” Tucker suggested.
“Have carnal knowledge of each other seems more appropriate,” Kelli suggested.
Well. “It was a better kiss than I expected.”
Kelli fanned her fingers in front of her face. “Hell-o. Every one of Ginny’s cohorts plans to interrogate her as soon as possible. Just in case your ears are burning later tonight.”
It was impossible to keep in his smile. “I really do like her,” he said more seriously. “I’m glad she’s got all of you in her life again. She needs you, Kelli. She needs you and all her girlfriends more than she’ll probably ever admit.”
Kelli nodded slowly. “Yeah, she does. But you can’t help somebody who doesn’t ask. Know what I mean?”
Boy, did he ever. “We’ll have to figure out how to be the best secret Team Ginny supporters.”
Kelli patted him on the shoulder and tilted her head toward the side of the room where their things were. “Come on. Time to face the firing squad.”
Tucker braced, uncertain exactly what would happen next. But Luke simply gave him a brief chin nod then took Kelli back out onto the dance floor.
Then, because Ginny insisted, Tucker danced with Tansy who was downright gleeful about the kiss. Then he took Rose for a spin before handing her over to Alex.
It was a normal, ordinary evening out dancing with good friends. The only change was that he had a pretty woman he wanted to call his by his side most of the time.