by Lauren Runow
As we pull up, he scans a key card, and we drive through the boat launch to an area where boats are stored.
“Which one is yours?” I ask.
“You’ll see.” He exits the truck and grabs a bag from the backseat.
“What’s in there?” I point to the bag.
“Lunch.” He takes it in one hand as he leads us down the walkway. “What’s up, Steve?” he says to a guy as we walk by, who greets him in the same way.
Another person waves and then another, and I get the feeling that every person we pass knows exactly who Tucker is. He must come here often.
We walk past a few boats, and when a houseboat comes into view, Tucker says, “There she is.” He points to a boat that’s smaller than a ferry but box-like in size with a walkway that leads around the entire watercraft.
“You have a houseboat?”
“Yep. There’s a ski boat behind it, so we can get on the lake a little faster.”
As we step around the back of it, I see McLovin written on the side and laugh out loud. “Did you seriously name your boat McLovin?”
He smiles with pride. “Hell yeah, I did.”
I shake my head as I laugh lightly. Stepping onto the boat, I check it out for the first time. I’ve never been on a houseboat before, so it’s interesting, seeing how it’s laid out.
I walk around the interior of the boat, and in the back, there’s a ladder that goes to the roof. Close to where it’s docked is a door, which leads downstairs to a tiny kitchen, bathroom, and a bed. Everything is neat and tidy, and even his bed is made.
When I look through the windows to the inside of the sleeping area, I notice how much stuff is physically here, like clothes, and the kitchen seems fully stocked.
“Do you …”
“Live here? Yes. My ex got the house, and I got the boats. After a few months of this being the only place I had to go to, I realized how much I liked living here. It’s peaceful, you know?”
I nod, looking around at the massive lake surrounding us. The sun is shining down on the still blue water, reflecting beautiful shades of yellow, amber, and orange on the glasslike surface.
“I can understand that,” I say as I close my eyes and breathe in the fresh mountain air.
It’s quiet here. No nosy neighbors, no lawn mowers, no chimes of the church bells. It’s even more peaceful than the small town of Mason Creek.
Something my parents said suddenly makes more sense as well. If he doesn’t live in town, they can’t keep tabs on him, so I can see how he’s this enigma that no one can figure out.
He points to the ski boat tied off to the side and walks us toward it. “That is what we’ll take to get out there. This thing pretty much just stays parked. Here.” He offers me his hand and helps me get in.
He hands down the bag and some towels to me before he steps in as well. When he cranks the engine, it roars to life, and water turns from behind us. After he backs the boat away from the dock, he starts moving us forward at a slow pace so as not to create a wake.
With his arm slung over the seat and his feet spread wide, he looks in my direction. I take a deep breath, letting the quietness of the moment wash over me.
After a few breaths, I point to the rack above us. “Do you and your son go wakeboarding?”
The smile that grows on his face is one that only a proud father wears. “We do. He’s pretty good too.”
“Tell me about him.”
“He’s such a great kid. We hang out and go fishing or just work on his truck together. As long as he still wants to hang out with me, I pretty much do whatever he wants to do. Even go paintballing.” He rubs his arm like he’s remembering the pain. “Those things hurt when they hit you. But he’s also a really good baseball player. Even being scouted by some D1 colleges. I never miss a game.”
“Nice. I played softball in high school. I love the sport.”
“You should come with me to a game. They really are the most fun you can have in this town.”
Him mentioning taking me to his son’s baseball game shocks the hell out of me. I’ve never dated anyone with kids, but I would think there’s some rule about introducing someone to them.
He continues, “I didn’t play any sports in high school. I was more of the auto-shop guy, hence what I do for a living.” He grins. “Now, are you ready to see why I love it out here so much?”
We pass the buoys that mark the end of the no-wake zone. Instantly, he drops the throttle, and we propel forward, skimming over the water as fast as possible.
I place my hand on my hat so it doesn’t fly off as we bounce over waves and fly through the water. The wind feels amazing against my hot skin, and the freedom racing through me puts a huge smile on my face.
He zooms the boat through the open water faster and faster, making me scream in both fear and excitement, which earns me a sexy smile from him. He drives like this for a few minutes as he navigates the large lake with ease, seemingly knowing exactly where he wants to go.
When we turn a corner, he slows the boat as we move closer to the shore, and a small cove appears in front of us. When he finds the perfect spot, he cuts the engine and stands to face me.
“Welcome to my favorite spot on the lake,” he drawls.
I glance around us. The shore is a couple hundred feet away, and there’s not a person in sight. I think of how red flags should be popping up everywhere since I’m with a guy, all alone in the middle of nowhere, but there’s none.
I feel at peace.
Out here.
With him.
It’s still surprising that I feel so comfortable with him, but it’s quickly becoming more of a normal reaction.
Reaching into the bag he brought, he pulls out two beers. “Want one?”
I take it from him and pop the top.
“I brought snacks and sandwiches and even some cookies for dessert.” He shows me the contents of the bag.
“Do we plan on staying here long? That’s a lot of food.”
“Yep. We have all day to sit and do nothing.”
The way he says that hits me deeply. For the past ten years, if I wasn’t doing something productive, I felt guilty. Like I was failing in life and only hurting myself because I was going to pay for it later when I was rushing to finish what needed to be done. I was always on deadlines—editing, writing, scouting, brainstorming, networking, and more. Sundays were spent doing everything I hadn’t finished during the week, plus cleaning my apartment and running errands before the hectic week started again.
I constantly had a to-do list a page long, and I began to feel like it was never-ending. I think that had a lot to do with what happened. Maybe if I hadn’t been so busy, I would have realized just how much trouble Jimmy had gotten in.
I instantly stop my mind from going there. I take a big inhale and let it out, like I’m letting go of the bad juju my thoughts just brought.
I look around, breathing in the peacefulness around us. “I don’t remember the last time I spent the day completely relaxed. Living in New York and working for a national publication are stressful. I’m always on the go.”
“Then, I’m honored you want to waste time with me.”
My mind starts to wander, thinking of what life would be like, living here, being able to do this more often. Thankfully, I’m broken out of the spell when Tucker reaches in front of me. His slight scent hits me just like it did last time, and I bask in it for a brief moment as he flips on the radio.
Before pulling back, he turns and smiles in my direction. “Always have to have music.”
I agree, “It’s a must.”
Country music blasts through the speakers that line the black railing above us, which looks to hold kneeboards as well.
“My mom always likes going to your shows because you play older country music but not many newer songs. Why is that?” I take a sip of my beer as I smile at him.
He sits back in his seat, placing his arm on the back and looking super relaxed. “I
like the old stuff. It reminds me of good times.”
“Not as many good times with the new ones?”
He grins, and I’m not sure if I want to know what that grin says exactly. “Of course there are. But the old ones bring me back to when I was younger. Experiencing life for the first time. Before I had responsibilities, a job, a son. When life was all about where you were going to get your next beer and which girl you wanted to get in the back of your truck.”
“Oh really?” I raise my eyebrows playfully at him.
“Or the front. I was totally okay with the front too.” He winks as he takes a sip from his beer.
“Now, I know why that truck means so much to you.” I laugh and shake my head.
He grabs some salami, crackers, and cheese from the bag and holds it out to me. “I figured we could snack, so the beer and heat don’t get to us too quickly.”
“Smart.” I grab a few of each and hold them in my hand.
“Sorry, I didn’t bring plates. I guess I’m not that prepared.” He shrugs, like oh well.
“I’m all about roughing it, and this is one damn good place to rough it.”
He stands and heads to the rear of the boat. “This entire back area is great to lie on.” He takes a towel and opens it to lie flat on the padded surface.
I stand and unbutton my shorts.
“I told you I’d get you out of those,” he jokes.
I wish I could see his eyes from under his glasses because the way the rest of his face looks, it feels like they are searing into me.
I take my time as I shimmy out of them, keeping my sight on him. This simple movement brings heat racing all over my body.
The way he’s watching me.
The way he’s making me feel like the sexiest thing alive in a simple gaze is so powerful.
So amazing.
And believe me, I want more of this feeling.
I lie down on my back where he laid the towel and relish in the heat washing over me. With one knee up, I glance over to Tucker, who’s approaching me with so much masculinity bursting out of him.
He removes his shirt, and all I see are cut muscles, tattoos, and pure man.
I never thought I would notice the difference between a twenty-something and a forty-something-year-old man, but I see it clear as day. In the way his skin is slightly worn but in a good way. He takes care of his body but not in a I lift weights and I’m beefed up kind of way. More in an I work for a living way. And it’s sexy as hell, and it’s making me lust in ways I shouldn’t be thinking of right now.
He hands me the beer I left on the other side of the boat. There’s a slight shake to his hand, but I ignore it and take it from him as he sits on the bench seat right below me, stretching out his legs and resting his head on the side of the boat.
“Do you do this often?” I ask, turning my head so I’m only a few inches from him.
He tilts his head to face me, and I wish so badly that I could see his green eyes under those glasses of his.
“As often as I can. This is my Zen place. Nothing but me and the water. I come here to think, reflect, and just enjoy life.”
“Sounds like you normally come here alone.”
He lets out a slight chuckle. “Yep. Don’t tell anyone my secret. You’re the first person I’ve brought out here.”
His words feel like a warm blanket wrapping around me.
We stare at each other for a breath. He’s so close, and I don’t know what I want right now, but I know if he kissed me, I wouldn’t stop him.
I watch his chest rise with an inhale before he sits up, obviously affected by our moment, just as I was.
“I’ll grab us some snacks to bring back here.”
The rest of our time is spent lying around, listening to music, and chatting about everything yet nothing at all. He keeps his distance, which I appreciate but it’s driving me nuts at the same time.
I want to touch him. I want him to kiss me. But then what? We’re out here all alone. Things could snowball real fast, and I’m not sure if I’m ready to take that leap yet. Every time I look at him, I know I wouldn’t be able to stop us if we started kissing, so for the time being, it’s good that he’s being the gentleman he told me he’d be.
For now at least.
Chapter Six
Tucker
“What are you searching for?” I ask Beau as I enter the office of the garage.
He sighs as he drops his head back in frustration. “I worked all weekend on the Camaro, and I need a part that I’m having a really hard time finding.”
“Been there.” I place my hand on his shoulder. “That’s the fun of working on old cars. Finding parts can be a bitch sometimes. Did you check the salvage sites?”
“I’ve looked everywhere.”
I hear the door open and see Wilder James, a local rancher, walk in.
“Hey, guys.”
“Hey, Wilder. What can we do for you?” I ask.
“The truck’s sputtering a bit. Do you have time to look at it?” Wilder asks.
“See, this guy knows what it’s like, having an old truck. They take some work, but it’s all worth it,” I say to Beau.
“His truck is nowhere near as old as yours or my Camaro. You can’t compare a 1969 anything to something made in the 2000s, like his, or even the ’90s, like yours. You can still very easily find parts for both of yours,” Beau says.
“Then, maybe you should follow our lead and stick to trucks,” I tease as I nod my head to Wilder. “Go ahead and drive it back. I’ll meet you there.”
“Thanks.” Wilder leaves as Beau sits up, and we both walk to the back.
“What about you?” Beau asks. “What did you do this weekend since you didn’t have any shows scheduled?”
I feel a smile grow on my lips, but I try to stop it, not wanting to come off like an excited teenager. “I had a pretty good weekend. Actually met someone and spent the day on the lake yesterday together.” I instantly close my eyes as soon as the words leave my mouth and internally kick myself for speaking without thinking first. Thankfully, I didn’t say who since Beau’s wife, Anna, knows her, and I’m not sure if I’m ready for everyone knowing my business yet.
“Wait. Did Tucker Simms just talk about hanging out with a woman?” he teases.
I sigh, knowing this is why I shouldn’t have said anything.
People just assume I hook up with the women at my shows. I don’t do much to stop the rumors, but that’s all they are—rumors.
I had my fill of random women when I first started performing, but it got old quick, especially in a small town. Even though I played in other communities, they still seemed to know each other. The spiderweb weaved its way rapidly, and I put a stop to it all.
Besides, I’m not in my twenties anymore. I have a teenage son and already sowed my wild oats. These days, I enjoy my alone time on my boat, drinking a beer and being one with the nature that surrounds me.
That was, until this weekend.
I don’t know what it was, but hanging out with Justine intrigues me. It’s the first time I’ve even considered a woman in a long time.
“Did I just hear that too?” my son, Matthew, says as he enters one of the garage bays. “Is that why you didn’t call me back until late last night?”
I turn to see him and his girlfriend, Hannah, walking toward me.
“Hey, there’s my boy,” I say instead of answering his question.
“Whoa, not that quick. I’ve never heard you talk about a girl. Who is she?” he asks.
“Hi, Hannah. How you are, sweetheart?” I ask, making Matthew shake his head.
“Oh no. Don’t pretend I didn’t ask you a question,” he says before Hannah can answer.
I hear Beau laugh, and I glare at him in response.
Hannah laughs as well, ignoring Matthew’s comment and trying to let me off the hook. “Hi, Tucker.”
I move some stuff, getting ready for Wilder to bring the truck in, and Matthew comes closer. Wh
en he steps in front of me, I stop what I’m doing. I’ve never kept secrets from him, and I know I shouldn’t start now, so I give in.
“Her name is Justine, and that’s all you’re getting out of me.”
“Justine, huh?” He looks at Hannah. “I don’t know a Justine in town.”
“Yeah, she just moved back. My mom was talking to her mom the other day at the market,” Hannah replies.
“Only in town a few days and already snagged her up, huh?” he says with a nod.
“You don’t snag a girl.” I eye him and his poor manners.
“You know what I meant.” He glances at Hannah and reaches to hold her hand. She shakes her head and rolls her eyes in return. “But seriously, Dad, it’s about time. I’m glad to hear you talk about a woman. I hope it works out for you.”
“We just met, so don’t rush to anything. But what’s up? You didn’t come here to talk about my weekend.”
“We were hoping to hang out on the lake today.”
I smile at the thought of my summer breaks and how much fun I had without a care in the world. Then, I remember something. “Don’t you have practice?”
“Yes, but not until seven tonight.”
“Okay. Be home by four, so you can get out of the sun and rest before tonight. And make sure to drink water, so you don’t dehydrate before practice.”
Matthew chuckles under his breath. “I know, Dad.”
I hand him the keys to the boat. “Call me when you get there.” I pull him closer and whisper in his ear, “Respect the lake. Respect the boat. Respect her body. You hear me, son?”
“Yes, sir.”
I nod my best fatherly good-talk nod and call out to Hannah, “Have fun. Bye, Hannah.”
Beau guides Wilder into the garage when I hear the front door to the office open. I walk to the front and see Hattie Jackson standing at our counter.
“What’s this I hear about you snagging a girl?” she asks.
Hattie and her sister, Hazel Jackson, are the town gossips and self-appointed keepers of all that is Mason Creek. Even though they’re twins, they couldn’t be more different, except for one thing—the way they both work their way into your life whether or not you want them to.