Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2)

by Lauren Runow

  His smoldering stare lights my insides up.

  Thankfully, Sienna leans across the table, her bracelets banging on the wood as she asks, “Tell me all about New York.”

  Everyone at the table gets lost in conversation about the city and what we’ve all been up to, and of course, they fill me in on the latest gossip with everyone we went to high school with.

  Though music has been playing through the speakers above us the entire time we’ve been here, employees move the tables on the dance floor, marking the official start of dancing time, which they didn’t have last night. When I was younger, I’d try to sneak in just to dance, so being here legally now, there’s no way I’m going to miss out.

  “Who’s down to dance?” I ask the table.

  The girls holler, jumping off their stools, and the guys follow right behind them. When I look to Tucker, he stands without hesitation. We all head toward the dance floor, moving around in a group, as the DJ spins some country tunes, which makes me laugh, as it’s such a change from New York, where clubs only play pop and Top 40 songs.

  Being here, with my old friends from high school and dancing around like fools, really puts my mind at ease. When groups of people start line-dancing, my heart feels at home. Tucker joins right in, and I love seeing him move smoothly to the steps that he obviously knows very well.

  I smile at Laken, silently thanking her for begging me to come out yesterday and joining me tonight. She grabs my hand and playfully swings me around before shaking her booty once again.

  When a slow song begins, the couples all pair up while others head to get another drink.

  Before I can leave the dance floor to get my refill and rest for a minute, I feel a hand tugging me back. When I turn, I see it’s Tucker with a smoldering gaze under the soft lights shining down on us.

  “Dance with me?”

  I glance around, not sure how I feel about slow dancing with a man I barely know after everything that happened. I know my body is attracted to him, but I wonder if I’m mentally up for any of this. It’s just making my head spin, but I keep wanting more even though my mind is screaming no.

  Then, I remember the way he helped me today. If he wanted to take advantage of me, he could have when we were driving in his truck or when he was standing behind me with the tire. If anything, I felt safe with him today. The safest I’d been around any man since that fateful night.

  Taking an inhale, I nod. After all he did for me, a dance doesn’t seem harmful.

  He places his palm on my lower back as we head to the middle of the crowd. I turn to smile at him, and he instantly takes my hand, swinging me around until I’m facing him again.

  Holding me close, he leads me around the floor. Being in his arms fills me with warmth. His grip on my hand and back is tight but in a comforting way, not a possessive way.

  His fingers tug on my lower back, and I willingly move closer to him, pressing my body against his. I instantly want to rest my head on his chest and breathe in his scent that seems to welcome me in, but I stop myself. I remind myself that I barely know him, and no matter how secure he’s making me feel right now, I still have to have my guard up.

  “So, you’re a dancer too?” I ask, fidgeting and unsure of myself and the emotions running through me.

  In high school, you just held on to each other and pressed your body against the other while you moved in a tiny circle. I can honestly say I’ve never had a man move me around like you see in the movies, which is exactly what he’s doing right now.

  “Every man should know how to move a beautiful woman around the dance floor.”

  I feel my face flush, and I turn my eyes away from him to hide it.

  “You’ve been gone so long that you don’t recognize a gentleman when you see one. Those city guys don’t know how to treat a woman.” He pushes me out slightly and holds his arm up to twirl me around before bringing me back in.

  “And a country boy like you does?”

  A low rumble sounds from his throat. “No doubt about it, I’m no boy.”

  As he pulls me closer, I swallow hard, feeling every hard edge of his very masculine frame. “Is this how you woo all your women?”

  “Most women want me for what I do up there.” He motions toward the stage. “Sadly, I don’t get the chance to dance as much as I’d like.”

  I lean my head back and look up at him. With a challenge in my tone, I say, “For someone who never hangs out, you’ve made a point to be out two nights in a row.”

  He laughs lightly. “It’s just by chance that I was here last night to relax and have a beer.” He leans forward, his voice a whisper from my ear. “I came here tonight, hoping I’d get to see you again.”

  Chills run through my body, and I take a sharp inhale at his blunt admission.

  I blink a few times and stare over his shoulder. He must sense the tension in my body because he rubs his thumb over the back of my hand.

  “I know I can be forward, but sometimes, that’s the best way to be. You’re newly back in town, and you have a lot of catching up to do, but I’d love to get to know you better, if you’ll allow me to.”

  His words are so sincere. If I’m being honest with myself, I do want to get to know Tucker better. There’s something about him. Maybe it’s because my friends like him or because he’s a father or a known singer or because he’s helped me out or because he’s so damn sexy that I find myself staring at his mouth when he speaks, wondering what it would be like to taste him. Whatever the reason, I feel like I can relax.

  “For a man who doesn’t woo women very often, you’re certainly doing a great job at it.”

  “You like my woo?”

  “It’s decent woo,” I say coyly.

  “Is that a challenge? All right. But I have to warn you, you might not be prepared for the full Tucker Simms experience.”

  “You make it seem like a ride at a theme park.”

  “I’m not gonna touch that comment with a ten-foot pole.”

  “What? No witty comeback?”

  “Only inappropriate thoughts, and I just said I was gonna show you what it’s like to be with a gentleman.”

  “Shame. I was starting to see what kind of a cad this cowboy really was.”

  “Challenge accepted then.”

  “You’re something else, Tucker Simms,” I breathe, and I can feel his smile radiate through his hold on my body.

  I grin and continue to dance. “Sure Be Cool If You Did” by Blake Shelton plays, and I tilt my head to meet his gaze. His lips turn up in a slight smile as we listen to the song talking about how he came to the bar to chill and had no intention of meeting anyone.

  Kind of like us.

  Walking into this bar last night and meeting someone new was the furthest thing on my mind. Yet here I am, dancing with a guy who’s caught my attention, even when I thought that part of me would be dead for a long while.

  He wraps his arm around my back, pulling me closer to him, and I go willingly. When I place my head on his shoulder, a sense of peace washes over me. I’ve never fit so well against someone. He’s just tall enough to where my head rests perfectly against his chest.

  He tucks my arm in, so he’s holding me closer, and I inhale the sweet smell of his cologne. I’m not normally a huge fan of men wearing cologne because it’s too strong, but the slight scent wafting off of him is woodsy and sexy, making me want to stay pressed against him even longer.

  For this second, I’m not the girl I was in New York. Right now, in this moment, I’m a woman dancing with a man I just met. The best part … I feel like I can breathe for the first time in weeks.

  I’m drawn into him even more as the song comes to an end, and he places his finger under my chin, tilting my head up to look into his eyes.

  “I really want to kiss you right now, but I won’t. We just met, and I want to show you that I’m a gentleman. You deserve every aspect of what that word means. I’m just hoping you’ll give me the opportunity to prove it to you by
giving me your number.”

  I close my eyes for a brief second, and when I open them, he’s staring at me, waiting with bated breath for my response. Seeing someone so interested to get to know me is like a warm blanket wrapping around me. I have this feeling like he’ll protect me if he gets the chance, and I’m thinking I want to see if he can.

  When I nod, he grins from ear to ear just as the next song begins. He pushes me out, twirling me around before bringing me closer to him again, and we continue our dance to the faster beat.

  We spend the rest of the night hanging out with my friends and dancing on and off. Tucker joins me for a few dances and stays back for other ones. The DJ doesn’t play another round of slow songs, and I’m torn that he doesn’t.

  I shouldn’t even be thinking about a man in any shape or form. My world is too upside down. Hell, I don’t even know where I truly live right now. I’m in limbo between cities, between two completely different lives.

  As the night comes to an end, we all exit the bar, and Laken nudges me toward Tucker. “You’d better ask him for a ride home.”

  I open my eyes wide. “You’re my ride home.”

  She laughs as she runs away. “Nope. You’re on your own tonight. Love you.” She giggles as she turns to look over her shoulder with a huge smile on her face.

  “So, yeah, she’s leaving me here.” I point to Laken, who’s walking away as Tucker approaches me. “Would you mind giving me a ride home?” I say coquettishly.

  His lips tilt up into a sly smile. “You know I’d love to.” He takes my hand in his and leads me toward an older Chevy truck.

  “Are you a farm boy at heart?” I ask, tilting my head toward the truck.

  “I’ve had this baby since I was sixteen.” He leans into me. “One of the perks of now working as a mechanic. Everything under the hood is brand-new, but the outside is just as I’ve always had it. Plus, it helps carry the equipment for the band.”

  “When did you start singing?”

  He rubs his jaw. “I guess I started playing guitar around fifteen. I wanted to impress the girls.” I laugh, and he continues, “It wasn’t until about five years ago that I formed the band and got more serious about it. I knew Matthew, my son, was going to need college tuition, and there was no way I could afford it on just my salary. So, I got some guys together, and it kind of took off.”

  “Kind of took off?” I ask with a laugh. “Local legend is more than kind of took off,” I repeat the words some of my friends said when I introduced him to them tonight.

  “Those were your friends’ words, not mine,” he says modestly as he opens the passenger door.

  “I think that’s pretty cool.” I grin as I step inside the truck.

  He pauses, meeting my eyes, and I see the appreciation he feels for my words.

  After he hops in on his side of the truck, he cranks the engine and backs out of the parking spot. “Where to?”

  I give him my parents’ address, and we drive, listening to the radio. Sitting with him is comfortable. I don’t feel the need to talk even though the music is low enough that we easily could. He hums slightly to the song as he drums his fingers on the steering wheel.

  In a town so small, we’re only in the car for a few minutes before he’s pulling in front of my childhood home. After placing the truck in park, he jumps out and walks over to my side, opening the door for me.

  “Okay, now, you’re just showing off,” I tease him as I exit the truck, standing mere inches from him.

  “I told you, I’m a gentleman.”

  I place my hand on his chest. “You don’t have to try so hard.”

  His large hand covers mine, and I feel the calluses he has from working on cars and playing guitar. Our eyes meet, and the strong pulling sensation we’ve had all night is there more than ever. I instinctively wet my lips as his part, letting out a breath.

  After a moment, he grins and says, “See you soon, Justine. I’m glad you came out tonight.”

  I inhale a breath and nod. “Yeah, me too.” I remove my hand and head toward my house. “Thank you for the ride.”

  “Wait.” He reaches for me and pulls me back toward him. “I haven’t gotten your number yet.”

  I hold my palm up, silently asking him to hand me his phone. As I punch in my number, I question what the hell I’m doing, but I do it anyway. His lips tilt slightly to the side when he hears the faint noise of my ringtone coming from my purse. I hand him the phone back.

  “Night,” he says, all breathy, sending chills down my spine.

  I rub my lips and take a breath in. “Good night, Tucker.”

  As I walk up the driveway, I turn to wave good-bye and find him staring at me. Seeing his attention locked on me as I walk away fills me with butterflies, both good and bad.

  Feelings like this never work out right. The thought kills the mood instantly.

  Chapter Four

  Justine

  “You were out late last night. Did you have fun?” Mom asks the next morning while we’re sipping on our coffee and sitting on the couch.

  “We did. I got to see some people from school. And Tucker was there again.”

  “Really? Was it him or Beau who helped you with my tire?”

  “It was him.”

  She lifts her eyebrows, and I can tell she’s contemplating something with the way she’s taking an extra-long sip, keeping her head straight and staring off into space.

  “What is it, Mom?”

  “Did you two plan to meet there?”

  “He mentioned he might go again, but it’s not like it was a date or anything.”

  “Hmm,” she says as she gets up to start cooking breakfast.

  “What do you mean, hmm?”

  “Nothing. He’s pretty popular around here, is all.”

  “Yeah, so?” I stand to follow and help her. She doesn’t need to be the only one cooking every morning.

  She sets some eggs on the counter while I pull out a bowl. “He’s a great performer, and I like to go to his shows when I can.”

  “Why do I sense a but coming on?”

  She sighs, placing her hands on the counter. “I’m sorry. I guess you’re a grown woman now, so it’s none of my business. He just …” She pauses, like she’s finding her words. “No one really knows his story. All the women in town think he’s this mystery to solve, but he has a history that makes me worry, is all. I’m just not sure if hanging out with anyone is a good idea for you right now.”

  I take a sip of my coffee, remembering how many times I had those same thoughts the past couple of days.

  “Never mind. Don’t listen to me. Besides, it’s not me you’ll have to worry about hassling you about who you decide to spend your time with while you live here. It wouldn’t matter if the man were a brain surgeon or the wealthiest person in town. Your father has never liked the male company you keep. And after what happened—”

  I hold up my hand to stop her.

  She lets out a breath and starts cracking eggs into the bowl, letting the silence suffocate the both of us.

  After a moment, I try to clear my mind and ask, “Where is Dad?” I search behind me to see if his shoes are sitting by the door.

  “He went fishing early this morning.” She washes her hands before grabbing a fork to scramble the eggs. “And I’d be ready, if I were you. After spending that much time with Tucker last night, don’t be surprised if he comes home, knowing you two hung out. If there’s gossip that happens at that bar, everyone knows it real quick.”

  “Why would this be gossip? I barely know the guy. We hung out with a group of friends.”

  “Because everything with Tucker Simms is gossip. People only know what he lets them know. Since he didn’t grow up here, he’s kind of a mystery, especially after he split with Michelle.”

  And there it is. She hit the nail right on the head. The town gossip. The main reason I haven’t missed this place. Believe me, it gets old when everyone knows your business.

 
“I’m not about spreading other people’s business, but just know, your father will have a problem if you decide to hang out with Tucker again—and not for the reasons you’re thinking.”

  “I wasn’t thinking any reasons, so why don’t you tell me what you’re talking about?”

  She pours the eggs into the pan and then sets the bowl down. She places her hands on the counter. “Everything I’ve heard is hearsay around town, and you know I try to keep my mind clean and my mouth shut when it comes to telling other people’s stories. Besides, it was years ago. Obviously, nothing big came of it, but that doesn’t mean your dad won’t be protective over you for it.”

  “Way to be cryptic, Mom.”

  I head to the coffeepot to refill my cup. I was confused on the feelings running through me already, but after this discussion, I’m even more confused. Funny how when someone says you shouldn’t do something, it only makes you want to do it more.

  Since I spent so much time dealing with my mom’s car yesterday, I thought I’d head to the local coffee shop to try to get some work done.

  As I enter Java Jitters, which wasn’t here when I lived here, I’m instantly welcomed by the homey vibe it offers. I glance around to see local artists’ paintings on the wall and a hodgepodge of couches and comfy chairs with throw pillows flung around, making it feel more comfortable than just plain tables and chairs even though there are a few of those mixed in as well.

  I’m thankful I got a slow start to my morning, and now that it’s ten, I’ve missed the morning rush, so my options for tables are wide open. I choose one by the window, so I can gaze outside when I need a moment to think of what the best word choice fits with what I’m trying to say.

  Walking up to the counter, I’m greeted by a sweet girl who smiles, saying, “Morning! What can I get you?”

  “Just a cup of coffee for right now.”

  I pay and am handed a mug, which I lift up to read. I laugh out loud when I see it has three spaced-out, horizontal lines on it with wording that says Go Away at the top, Not Yet in the middle, and How can I help you? at the bottom.