by Cat Johnson
“Rebecca!”
“What?” God that had come out sounding whiny, but Emma was being too demanding for this early in the morning.
“Tell me what happened.”
If Becca knew her sister at all, she was wearing a deep frown and breathing heavily right about now. She enjoyed that image.
The water in the teakettle started to make bubbling sounds. That was promising. She managed to get her mug out of the cabinet without dropping it, which also boded well for her hope there would be caffeine in her near future.
“I called him. He came over with takeout. We decided to be friends.” Friends with benefits. Very, very nice benefits. She smiled at the memory of exactly how nice and grabbed a teabag out of the box in the cabinet.
“Just friends? Are you crazy—” Emma’s rant was cut off by the beeping of another call coming in on Becca’s phone.
“Hang on. I got another call.” She certainly was a popular person this morning. After dropping the teabag into the mug, she pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at the caller ID; the number she saw stopped her dead in her tracks. Finally knocking herself out of the shock, Becca brought the phone back up to her head. “Em, I gotta go. I’ll call you back later.”
Emma had begun to protest when Becca hit the button and switched to the incoming call. “Hello.”
“Hey there. I didn’t wake you, did I?” Tucker’s deep, sexy voice filled her ear.
“No, I was awake. Just making some tea.”
“You find your tea cup all right?”
She laughed. “Yes, smart ass. I know where that is. Right next to the stove, where it should be.”
“Of course. Because that’s where the hot water is. On the stove.”
“Exactly. See, there is a method to my madness.” She smiled. “How are you this morning? You get up in time for your workout?”
“Yeah. Just finished that. It was just a run . . . well, a run in full combat uniform including our packs, but it was only five miles so not so bad.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Oh, sure. That’s nothing. I do at least that every morning, you know, before tea.”
He laughed. “I’m sure. So, what are you doing today?”
“I don’t know. No big plans. You?”
“I was thinking it might be my duty, as your friend and all, to show you around town. Someone needs to teach you where all the good bars and restaurants are so you don’t keep thinking there’s nothing more around here than those take-out places down the street from you. It may be a college town, but there is more than takeout in Stillwater, you know.”
“That would be nice. I am getting tired of eating like I’m living in a frat house.”
He let out a chuckle. “I bet you are. So, I can be over at, like, ten. We can explore a little, then have lunch if you want.”
“That sounds great.” Just two friends, hanging out . . . Sure. Her heart had started to pound the moment she’d heard his voice. “I’ll see you then.”
“See you then.” He disconnected and she spun toward the teakettle, willing it to whistle already. She had to shower, figure out what to wear, blow-dry her hair, put on makeup, avoid talking to Emma, and make the bed . . . just in case.
Her pulse pounded harder. Just friends, her ass.
Chapter Sixteen
“And there is the bank I use.” Tuck pointed out the side window of the truck. “The university will set up direct deposit for your checks if you ask them.”
Listening to himself drone on, he had to stifle a groan. Could his tour of Stillwater be any more boring? He was really making an effort to honor Becca’s can we be friends request, even though he had taken advantage of the friends’ benefits package more than once last night in her apartment.
She followed his gaze and then turned back. “I guess I’ll have to open an account.”
“Do you want to do that now? They’re open.”
Her stomach grumbled, deep and loud. Her eyes opened wide as she covered her belly with her hand.
“Or we could stop for an early lunch. I could definitely eat.” He laughed.
He pushed aside naughty thoughts about the parts of Becca he’d like to nibble on and realized after his workout with the cadets this morning he was more than ready for some food. Another dose of caffeine, too, come to think of it.
“You wouldn’t mind if we ate?” She glanced at the dashboard clock and cringed. “It’s barely eleven.”
“Yup. It is, and I’ve been up since zero-five-thirty so no, I won’t mind. Not one bit. I’m ready for lunch. You in any rush to get home?”
“Nope. Nothing planned for the rest of the day.”
“Good.” Though with Becca sitting next to him in a sundress that would make any man stand up and salute, he was ready for more than lunch. He was ready to head back to her place, but that would have to wait until later. “There’s a place I know that makes the best smoke sauce and jalapeño hush puppies you’ve ever tasted.”
He checked the mirrors and swung the truck into a wide turn, heading for the road out of town toward a spot he knew. It was in Drumright, which was a bit of a drive, but it had great food. And since it was so far out of town, there was little chance of someone from the university seeing Becca and him on what might look like a date.
It was bad enough he’d spent a considerable amount of time breaking the school’s non-fraternization rules with her last night. They’d probably break those rules again later today if he had anything to say about it. But he didn’t think he should push his luck by taking her to lunch someplace where a slew of OSU people—either faculty or students—were likely to be.
He looked over and saw Becca glancing at him and smiling. Tuck narrowed his eyes. “You laughing at me, woman?”
“Never. It’s just . . .” She shrugged. “Besides the fact I don’t even know what a hush puppy is, forget about having ever had one to compare these to . . . I’m finding it kind of nice having somebody to show me around. Take charge of little decisions like where to eat so I don’t have to.”
If that’s what she liked, he could take charge, all right. Not a problem at all. After all, the military had trained him to be a leader. He could lead her to good chow. He could also lead her straight to the bedroom.
He couldn’t help his own smile. “I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“I am. Thank you—” The ringing of her phone interrupted her. Becca stared at her purse but didn’t make a move.
“Aren’t you going to answer that?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“It’s probably Emma.”
“And?”
“And she’s going to grill me about you.”
Tuck grinned and extended his hand. “Give me.”
“What are you going to do?” Her voice squeaked with panic.
“Let me handle your sister.”
She looked hesitant but finally handed over the phone. He glanced down and hit the button to answer. “Hey there, darlin’.”
He glanced over and saw Becca’s jaw drop at that, which was only slightly less amusing to him than Emma’s stuttering on the other end of the phone line.
“Um, I, uh was calling my sister?”
“You got her phone. Don’t you worry.” He couldn’t help laughing.
“Um, is she there?”
It was too much fun to tease these city girls. “She is, but we’re fixin’ to grab a quick lunch and then do a few . . . other things after. Is it okay if she talks to you later? But it may be much, much later, if you get my drift.”
As Emma seemed speechless on the other end of the line, Tuck grinned when Becca covered her eyes with her hand. Silly girl. As if that would do anything to block her from hearing him. “Anything else I can do for you, Emma?”
“Uh, no. Just tell Becca I will definitely be talking to her. Later.”
He had no doubt about that. “Will do. Have a great day.” He disconnected the call and handed the phone back to Becc
a. “There. All taken care of. See how easy that was?”
“Easy for you, maybe. I’m going to get the third degree when she calls back later.”
If she wanted a take-charge kind of guy, he’d be one. “If I’m still with you, I’ll answer then, too. I do have rodeo practice tonight with the team, though, but that’ll only take a few hours at most.”
“Army workout in the morning. Rodeo practice at night.” She shook her head. “You sure have a full life, Tucker Jenkins.”
“Don’t forget be Becca’s tour guide in the afternoon. That’s as important as the rest of my day.” And much more fun. He smiled and sent her a sideways glance before checking his mirrors and changing lanes.
“Thank you.” She blushed prettily at his comment.
“You’re welcome.” Though if she were really intent on thanking him, he’d come up with a few ideas of how she could . . . later, in private.
He navigated the truck onto the highway that would lead them to Joseph’s Fine Foods. The country station on the radio filled the silence between them, until he glanced over and saw Becca smirking. “What’s tickled you so now?”
“Are you listening to the lyrics of this song?”
He had been too busy salivating over thoughts of what he’d be ordering for lunch and thinking about what Becca could provide him later for dessert to be listening to the damn song. “No. Not really. Not a fan of country music?”
“I can’t say I’ve had much exposure to it.”
“Well, you will here in Oklahoma. That’s for sure. You can change the station if you want.”
“No. It’s okay. I’m going for the full immersion experience now I’m here.”
He’d like to immerse something into her. He kept that thought to himself. “Good for you.”
Tuck opened his mouth to ask if she’d like to come to his rodeo team practice as part of her Oklahoma culture indoctrination, then closed it again. He couldn’t be seen bringing Becca, the new English professor, to the OSU rodeo team practice. There was no reason for her to be there. Damn non-fraternization rule.
He got off the exit and drove down the street to the restaurant, where he parked easily enough. It was well before noon, so the place wasn’t packed with the usual lunch crowd yet. That was good. It would afford them privacy and cut down on the chances of being seen by anyone from the university taking the hike to get some of Joseph’s signature smoke sauce.
The hostess seated them at a back table, also good for privacy, and handed them menus. Two needs dominated him when he glanced over the menu at Becca, looking adorable across the table—food and sex. Since he wasn’t sure he should be talking about sex so early in the day, he figured he’d better stick to the other topic occupying his thoughts. Food.
“I’m not letting you leave here without having your very first hush puppy. We’re definitely ordering those. So besides that, let’s see what else looks good.”
She frowned down at the menu. “There’s a lot on here.”
“Not all that much.” He smiled at her. She most likely meant there was a lot of food on this menu she’d never had, and some she’d likely never heard of. “Want me to help you choose?”
Becca folded her menu and laid it on the table. “That would be good. I’ll eat anything except the fried smoked bologna sandwich.”
He couldn’t help laughing at that. “All right.”
“What’s so funny?”
“That’s my favorite.”
“Fried bologna?” Her eyes opened wider. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope. Love it. Get it near every time I come here. It’s an Oklahoma barbecue tradition. Hickory smoked and deep fried with melted cheddar on top and a side of steak fries.”
Her expression had him laughing out loud as she reached for the menu she’d put down. “I think I’ve changed my mind about you ordering for me. I’d better pick my own.”
“Stop. I won’t order you that. Promise.” He glanced down at the listings. The stacked sandwich with beef, sausage, and coleslaw piled high would probably send her running for the door, but he couldn’t let her leave here without at least trying some of the smoked beef served with smoke sauce. “How do you feel about the brisket?”
Becca pursed her lips and finally nodded. “Okay.”
“Good.” When she didn’t put down her menu right away, he reached out and took it away from her. “Stop. I know you’re looking at the chicken Caesar salad or something equally safe, but you can’t eat in an Oklahoma landmark famous for its special sauce and smoked meats and order something you could get anywhere in New York. As your tour guide, I won’t let you do it.”
She finally relinquished her hold on the menu. “All right. Since you’re my tour guide, and since you’re not making me eat the deep-fried bologna thing, I’ll listen to you.”
“Oh, I won’t make you order the bologna, but you’re sure as hell gonna take a bite of mine.” That came out a bit more suggestively than he’d intended, but she didn’t seem to mind.
“Oh, really. Is that a fact?” Becca leaned in, her voice low and sultry, and his gaze dropped to her tempting lips.
“Yes, it is.” He noticed his own voice had dipped lower.
“If I do, I certainly hope it lives up to expectations.” Her eyes narrowed.
He let out a snort. “Oh, it will. Believe me.”
And now he had a raging hard-on from talking about fried bologna sandwiches. Though not really, because somewhere along the way, this conversation had taken a severe left turn.
They definitely weren’t talking about sandwiches anymore. As hungry as he had been for food, he was hungrier for Becca. All he could think of now was her lips wrapped around him. He was ready to say forget it and forgo eating. Get back in the truck, find a private road, and do with her what he’d dreamed about so many times.
“Have you decided?” The waitress, pad in hand, stood by waiting for their order and putting the kibosh on his fantasy plan.
“Oh, yeah. I’m good and ready.” With any luck they’d order, get their food before the lunch rush arrived, and be in and out of here fast. After that conversation, he wasn’t going to be satisfied no matter how many fried bologna sandwiches he ate.
Chapter Seventeen
Becca unlocked the door and had just turned the knob when Tucker grabbed the back of her head, spun her around, and crashed his mouth into hers. As he kissed her silly, he backed her into the apartment, kicking the door shut behind him. He didn’t stop until they’d hit the kitchen island.
She broke away from the kiss, a little breathless, but she still managed to ask, “What got you all . . .”
“Horny?” he suggested before he latched on to her earlobe with his teeth and tugged.
That proved so distracting she had to struggle to maintain her train of thought. “Not exactly my choice of words, but yes. That. You’ve been looking at me strangely since the restaurant.”
“The bologna sandwich conversation got to me.” He growled his answer near her ear and then nipped the skin of her neck.
A tingle ran down her spine, even as she pulled back. “Are you serious? Bologna sandwiches got you turned on?”
“Oh, yeah.” The dark, overt sexual desire she saw in his eyes now, and to a lesser extent every time he’d looked over at her in his passenger seat, was proof he wasn’t lying.
His raw need was more than enough to make Becca’s insides heat. She supposed it was a good thing they’d made it through lunch at all. At this rate, they could both waste away to nothing, because sex with Tucker was much more enticing than food.
He lifted her as if she weighed nothing and set her on the kitchen island. With a near feral growl he bit her neck while his hands settled on her thighs.
“What are you—” She didn’t have to finish the question, not that she could have since his mouth had found hers again. The answer was more than obvious when he pushed the hem of her sundress up her legs. She leaned back. “Tucker! Oh, my God. Here?”
“But the bedroom is right there—”
“I know very well where your bedroom is. If I’d wanted to take you there, I would have.”
“But—”
“Live a little dangerously, darlin’. You might like it.” His smile looked devilish. “You will if I have anything to say about it.”
This did seem dangerous, all right. She was pretty high up, sitting there on the island. One wrong move and she could fall off, break a tailbone or something. It was almost as scary as when he’d tried to pick her up in the shower last night and she wouldn’t let him. Slips and falls in the shower were a very real danger. How would she have explained that in the emergency room?
“Stop thinking so hard or I’ll be forced to do something to distract you.” He issued that order just before he leaned over her.
He slipped the tip of one finger beneath the elastic of her panties. That was certainly distracting. He plunged his other hand beneath her hair and held her head captive as he claimed her lips again. After a few heat-filled moments, he pulled back, but the clenching need low in her belly didn’t stop just because the kissing had.
“Mmm, you keep any honey in this place for that tea you’re always making?” He spoke so close to her ear, the warmth of his breath sent another tingle of desire through her.
“Yes.”
“You remember which cabinet it’s in?” There was laughter in his question.
Maybe. She wasn’t sure she could think right now with what he was doing to her. “Next to the stove, where the cups and tea are. Why?”
“We didn’t have any dessert, but I’m thinking we can come up with something both of us will enjoy.” He leaned back and raised his eyebrows. “If you’re game.”
Her cell phone rang on the counter inside her purse. He reached for it and glanced at the readout. She watched as he answered and said, “She’ll have to call you back, Emma. She’s busy. Bye.”