Tucker

by Lori Foster

  He...what?

  “You don’t mind that I invited him, right?” her dad asked.

  “You invited Tucker?” She squeaked over her faux pas. “I mean, the sheriff?”

  Tucker pulled off his glasses, giving her the full impact of those direct green eyes. And he smiled. “Yeah, I’m invited.”

  No and no. When she finally got a chance to really talk to Tucker again, it couldn’t be with all of her family hovering around. She needed some privacy. She needed—

  Tucker turned to Gabe. “Can I bring anything?”

  Her dad was looking far too...smug? Yes, that’s exactly how he looked. “But...”

  He said, “Thanks, Sheriff, but we’ve got it covered.” He steered Kady around and started her toward the van. “Cleets is waiting for you.”

  She looked back over her shoulder at Tucker, but he stayed by the tree, his body relaxed, the glasses back on, his mouth still tilted in that sexy little smile.

  “Watch where you’re stepping, honey.”

  “What? Oh.” She moved around a clucking chicken, pecking at the ground. “So.” She sought the right words.

  “Hmm?”

  Kady cleared her throat. “You invited the sheriff?”

  They reached the van. Cleets was around back by the cargo area, puttering with something, but she heard him closing the doors.

  Gabe said gently, “Course we did.” He waited until she slowly pivoted to face him, then added, “Once he told me you two would be dating, it seemed like a good idea.”

  Once he told me... As the words sank in, her jaw loosened and her mouth fell open.

  “We expect you there bright and early.”

  Kady gathered her flagging wits and snapped her mouth shut. She knew she was glaring—something she rarely did to either of her parents—but this was serious stuff! “What do you mean that he—?”

  “Told me you kissed him.” Gabe gave her a speculative look, waiting, but when she only pinched her mouth tighter, he continued. “Apparently, he liked it, because he said he’d be asking you out and he didn’t want any surprises with the family.”

  She looked past her dad to see Tucker talking with Mrs. Jenkins. As if he’d felt her attention, he glanced up.

  Oh, how she’d like to go set him straight right now. How dare he discuss things with her father even before he discussed them with her? Shouldn’t she have been the first to know his intentions? But no. He’d been avoiding her; she was sure of it.

  “Yes, I kissed him,” Kady stated in defiance. “I’m old enough to go after what—or who—I want.”

  “Yes, you are.” He cupped her shoulders in his hands. “I just don’t want to see you hurt.”

  Did he honestly think she could go through life without a few bumps in the road? “I can take care of myself, Dad.”

  He nodded. “I know, but I’m your father and I like taking care of you. So if you ever need me, for anything, I’m here.”

  Good grief. She laughed. “I’m not going off to war, you know.” Aware of Tucker still watching them, she turned and opened the passenger door. “It’s just a date,” she said with a careless shrug. “Not a big deal.”

  “Tell me that if you want, but don’t fool yourself, okay? I went down that road of denial once, and it wasn’t fun.” After that bit of solemn advice, he stepped back and closed the door.

  Through the open window, she said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dad.”

  “Looking forward to every minute of it.”

  She watched her dad walk away, and wondered why the words had sounded like a warning.

  * * *

  “NICE GIRL,” Mr. Jenkins said.

  “What’s that?” Tucker brought his attention back to the elderly man.

  “Kady Kasper. She’s real nice.”

  “Pretty, too,” Mrs. Jenkins added, her expression knowing.

  “Yes, she is. Very pretty and very nice.” He pulled off his sunglasses, hanging them on the open front of his shirt. “She’s also good at flirting.”

  The Jenkins couple stared at him.

  “You’ve seen her, right?”

  “I’ve seen her be real friendly,” Mr. Jenkins said. “She’s pretty much that way to everyone.”

  And that was the problem for him. He didn’t want Kady to see him the same as everyone else...because he saw her differently.

  “And helpful.” Mrs. Jenkins nodded. “She’s a people person. Outgoing. Friendly.”

  “All true,” he agreed. He already knew everyone around Buckhorn adored her. And why not? As Mrs. Jenkins had just said, Kady was considerate of one and all.

  “But I can’t say I’ve ever seen her flirt.” The woman’s brow wrinkled. “In fact, can’t say as I’ve ever seen her date, either.”

  Hmm. Tucker wondered if he’d misread things, if perhaps his feelings for Kady had colored his perception. Entirely possible since most of his focus with Kady had been in resisting her. Now that he’d given up that idea, maybe he needed to better inform himself.

  “She’s special,” he said, and got smiling nods from the elderly couple.

  After he wished them a good day, he headed back to the station. Deputy Egan was there, doing some paperwork. He was the same age as Kady and had known her for a lot longer, so Tucker approached him, wondering how to bring it up.

  He didn’t have to.

  Moody saw him, sat back in his chair and grinned. “So you and Kady, huh?”

  Damn, news traveled fast in Buckhorn. “Where’d you hear that?”

  “Is it true?”

  Tucker shrugged. He had a strategy, but he didn’t yet know how it was working. “We’ll see.”

  “Huh. I’ll take that as a yes.” Moody straightened. “Never really known Kady to date.”

  He eyed Moody. Apparently, he was the only one under the misconception that she’d gone out often with men. He’d have to rethink his impressions. “Did you ask her?”

  “Me and every other guy with a heartbeat.” Moody stood, but propped a hip on his desk. “She shuts down just about everyone. Figured she was more interested in growing her career, you know.”

  Or waiting for the right guy. The idea that he’d be the right guy teased him, making him edgy.

  Now that he’d decided to go for it, he wanted another kiss.

  And more. A whole lot more.

  But he still had his lame arm to contend with. It was better, but short of inviting Kady to straddle his lap, he wasn’t sure how physical he could get. And given her insistence of inexperience, he couldn’t see putting the work on her. At least not their first time.

  A few more days, Tucker thought, and he’d be able to lose the sling.

  Overall, he’d wanted to wait to see Kady again until he’d lost all restrictions. It had been a good plan—until her relatives waylaid him.

  Half a dozen of them had managed to run into him—circumstances he was sure weren’t coincidental—where questions about the wreck had led to more personal questions.

  It wasn’t until Amber, Morgan’s daughter who was recently married and a very lovable busybody, had egged him on by saying she planned to introduce Kady to a friend of hers.

  A male friend.

  He’d taken the bait like a big dumb carp. Even knowing she did it on purpose, he hadn’t been able to resist, and before he knew it he’d admitted to her that he planned to ask Kady out himself.

  Satisfaction had glowed in her face, a silent knew it shining in her eyes. True enough, Amber did seem to have a sixth sense when it came to matching up couples. She’d been instrumental—or so she liked to claim—in marrying off several family members, including quite a few cousins, and her brother. Once Tucker had made up his mind, he’d found it prudent to forestall further interference from her family.

  He’d found the elders all together in th
e diner and wrangled an invite to join them.

  The varying expressions of expectation on their faces had been nearly comical. Gabe, particularly, had given him a hard stare as Tucker drew over an extra seat and ordered a coffee.

  Tucker respected them all, with good reason. In his midsixties, Sawyer Hudson still ran his medical practice out of his house. He was the quintessential small-town doctor, and at one time or another had probably treated everyone in Buckhorn, young and old.

  Morgan Hudson, the imposing second son, had once been the sheriff himself, but was now the long-standing mayor. Also in his sixties, but still built like a brick wall, he relished his tough-as-nails reputation. Tucker had already learned his bark was worse than his bite.

  Jordan Sommerville, their half brother, a veterinarian who had a magical way with animals, was the easiest to reason with—unless you hurt an animal. He had zero tolerance for cruelty and didn’t mind making it known.

  Their mother, who’d been widowed, then divorced, which explained the different last names, was still married to Gabe’s father, Mr. Kasper, but they lived in Florida. Tucker had met her only once, and liked her a lot.

  The brothers might have had different fathers, but Tucker had never known men to be closer. If he hadn’t found them all together in the diner, he had no doubt they’d have shared his news within the hour.

  At the time, though, Sawyer had folded his arms on the table and asked, “Something on your mind, Sheriff?”

  Seeing no reason to beat around the bush, he’d replied, “Kady.”

  Jordan’s brows had climbed. “I suspected as much.”

  “Did you?” Morgan turned on his brother with a scowl. “You didn’t say anything.”

  “You’ve been out of town, if you’ll recall.”

  Gabe had leaned forward. “What about my daughter? She’s okay?”

  “Far as I can tell,” Tucker had said with a direct look, “she’s perfect.”

  There were general remarks of “Ah,” “I see,” and “Well, well,” from the others. But Gabe hadn’t blinked.

  Tucker had proceeded to tell them he’d been interested for a while, that he suspected that to be true of most men, but that they collectively had a way of discouraging interest.

  They tried to deny that, all except Sawyer who shook his head and called his brothers thickheaded.

  “She likes me,” Tucker explained. “And I’ve decided she’s more than worth any trouble the bunch of you might cause, so I’m letting you know now.”

  There were more denials, which he ignored. “I’m not asking permission,” he said. “Kady’s a woman with a mind of her own. She’s smart and independent—but she loves the lot of you.” He shrugged. “I just figured it’d be nice if I could avoid any hassles.”

  “Well.” Gabe sat back, looked at each of his brothers and then frowned.

  “Give it up,” Morgan said to Gabe. “She gets it from you, going after what she wants.”

  Jordan said, “I seem to recall you chasing Misty pretty hard.”

  Sawyer smiled. “She’s Gabe’s daughter through and through.”

  Which made Gabe wince. “If I’m supposed to be complimented, I’m not.”

  Morgan snorted. “Should scare you to death, actually.” He softened that by adding, “She is like you, but she’s circumspect like her mama. And Tucker’s right. She’s smart enough to know what she wants.”

  In the end, Gabe had seemed pleased by the conversation. However, Tucker hadn’t expected him to talk to Kady about it.

  But given Kady’s reaction after the shoot at the Jenkinses’ farm, that’s exactly what had happened. Which meant she probably wouldn’t wait until tomorrow to see him again.

  Despite his well-laid plans, anticipation crept in. He wasn’t sure if seeing her tonight would be a good thing or not, but he hoped she’d show up anyway.

  If nothing else, at least he could get another kiss.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  AFTER WORK, KADY tried to bide her time. Unfortunately, she wasn’t a patient woman. She took a long shower, washing and drying her hair, then dressed in her favorite shorts and cami—and all the while her thoughts were on Tucker. He should have talked to her first, instead of her family. She was still irked about that, and she wanted to give him hell for it.

  She sighed.

  He probably had no idea of the firestorm he’d started, and honestly, it’d serve him right to figure it out the hard way.

  But she didn’t want him scared off.

  After doing some laundry and eating her dinner, she gave up. Obviously she knew her family a lot better than he did, and she couldn’t in good conscience let him walk into their masses tomorrow without first warning him.

  When she decided to head to Tucker’s, she considered changing into a dress. He had said that he liked her in dresses. That would be so obvious though—when she’d already been very obvious. So instead she stepped into flat thong sandals, grabbed her purse and keys, and headed out the door.

  Was he home by now? It was nearing eight o’clock, so he should be off work. Did he have other plans? Would he be glad to see her?

  She wasn’t timid, wasn’t reserved, yet misgivings flogged her determination on the drive over—only for her to find that he wasn’t yet home.

  Damn.

  How desperate would it look if she waited? No, not desperate. She wouldn’t let it seem that way. After all, she was a Good Samaritan, here to clue him in.

  She saw no point in going to the kitchen door when he wasn’t home, but neither did she want to sit in her hot car. The front porch, at least, was shaded. She took a seat on a step, her legs stretched out before her, one shoulder leaning against a post, and watched the squirrels running around the yard, up and down the trees.

  The minutes slipped away, and by the time he finally pulled into the drive some thirty minutes later, she’d worked herself into a major pique.

  Tucker saw her at once, of course, and even behind those blasted sunglasses he wore, she knew he was frowning.

  How could a man be even more handsome with a scowl? She wasn’t sure, but he was. Of course, when he laughed, it gave her goose bumps, and when he stared at her so intently...well, somewhat like he was doing now as he closed his SUV door and started toward her with purposeful strides, her pulse raced.

  Getting to her feet on the step, she stuck her hands on her hips and got the ball rolling.

  “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?”

  He kept walking.

  “You blabbed to everyone. Before you’d even discussed it with me!” He was closer now, almost to her, and he took off his sunglasses, showing her his fiercely direct gaze. Her heart began to thunder, and she tried to rally. “You might not realize it, but my family will be all but marrying us off now, and I’ve only kissed you the one time—”

  “Let’s correct that,” he said when he reached her, and bent his mouth to hers. His left arm was in the sling, caught between their bodies, but with his right he pressed the small of her back, keeping her close.

  Scorching surprise caused her hands to drop from her hips. Seconds later, while his lips played over hers, her palms crept to his chest—so warm and firm—and then up and over his shoulders. She remembered his injury and resisted the urge to squeeze him tight.

  “Your shoulder,” she murmured.

  “Can’t even feel it.” His mouth opened, his tongue touching her bottom lip until she opened hers, too. He tilted his head for a tantalizing fit, and the kiss changed in a way she hadn’t known was possible. Hot, uncontrolled and so possessive she wanted to melt right there in his front yard.

  She realized that she wasn’t really kissing him back, that she just stood there accepting, enjoying.

  Loving.

  Just as she started to get with the program, he eased up, his mouth slowly retreati
ng with small nibbles until he was gone. A little devastated, she continued to lean on him for support.

  Her lips tingled, as did other parts of her body, and she breathed, “Oh.”

  His gaze remained serious, but he gave her a small smile. “I know your family, Kady. Don’t worry about it, okay?”

  Don’t worry...? That brought her around really quick, and she stepped back with a frown. “Tucker—”

  “The dog will want out.” He took her hand and led her up the steps to the front door. “You can’t stay, though.” He glanced at her. “Maybe only long enough for me to kiss you a few more times. Then you need to head home.”

  She started to ask why, but he continued.

  “While you’re here, you can help change out the bedding for the pups. With my shoulder, I had a bitch of a time getting the blanket under there in the first place.”

  The door opened, and he gestured for her to go in.

  Talking about his injury effectively diverted her from her annoyance. “I’m so sorry you were hurt because of me.”

  “Not because of you.” He closed the door, removing his hat to hang on a coat tree and setting his keys on a console table. “Because of an idiot who broke the law.”

  If that idiot had slammed into the back of the van, Tucker could’ve been killed. “I hope they lock him up for a very long time.”

  “At the very least,” Tucker promised her, “he’ll lose his license for a while.”

  The dog came running out with a single bark, saw them, and with her curling tail swinging, headed for the kitchen door and the backyard.

  So smart. “She’s adjusted amazingly well.” Kady trailed along behind man and dog.

  “She has,” he agreed. “She seems so tame, in fact, Jordan asked around for me just to make sure she wasn’t someone’s pet. A few people said they’d seen her with vacationers back in the spring.”

  “The spring?”

  He nodded, going out to the stoop while the dog raced around his backyard, watering various plants and trees. “I spoke with Garrett, too. He thinks the dog was abandoned.”

  Her cousin was a smart man, so if he thought it, it was probably true. “Why?”