Probably not. “I know enough.”
“What the heck is that supposed to mean? I don’t like the idea of you having details about my life, Finn. Details I haven’t shared with you.”
“Give me your ankle.”
“What?”
Waving his fingers at her, he said, “Give me your ankle. And tell me something I couldn’t learn in any report.”
Reluctantly, Tucker slipped her foot up onto the seat of the booth beside him. Shaking his head and subverting a grin attempting to spread across his lips, Finn grasped the heel of her boot and eased it off. Wrapping his fingers around her ankle, he gingerly lifted it until her foot rested on his thigh—as elevated as he could get it at the moment.
Scooping the medicine up off the table, he handed it to her along with the glass of water. “It’s been long enough that you can take more.”
Tucker stared at him for several seconds, but finally reached out and took the pills. “Thanks.”
More often than not, she seemed to be the one taking care of everyone and everything—her staff, customers, and every last detail at the bar. Finn got the impression she wasn’t used to anyone taking care of her.
Which only made him want to do it all the more—not because she needed it, but because she deserved the same care and attention.
“Are you going to answer me?”
Tucker turned away, glancing out over the diner like the people around them were suddenly fascinating. “Not much to tell.”
It was obvious he’d made her uncomfortable.
“That’s a lie. You’re one of the most complicated and interesting women I’ve ever met. But even if that was true, I need to know the little details. The things you’d share with a new boyfriend. Your family. Your childhood. Your hopes and dreams.”
She didn’t want to answer his questions. Finn wondered if that was just the way she was—overprotective and closed off—or if her reluctance was exclusive to him.
Either way, he could understand and identify. He’d never been an open book, but his time overseas had made him even more reluctant to let people in.
His experience with Bethany had left him floundering. He’d been wrapped up in his own life, blind to what she was dealing with, and he’d missed the signs she was in trouble. He’d never forgive himself for that. But then he’d been assigned to the K9 team and received his orders to specialize in uncovering drugs. Most soldiers he served with were unaware of Duchess’s special training, and keeping them in the dark made his job both more and less difficult. But he’d felt he had a purpose. An opportunity to atone for his mistake and save someone else.
He’d been vigilant, trained hard and put everything he could into the job. But that still didn’t prevent him from being blindsided one evening in the barracks when Duchess alerted him to drugs hidden in the belongings of one of his best friends.
That story had a happy ending because the man had gotten the help he’d needed. But Finn had lost a friend.
He’d begged Finn not to turn him in. He’d promised that it was just recreational, to take the edge off when things got to be too much. He hadn’t had a choice.
He could still clearly remember the rage and betrayal on his friend’s face. He’d been forced into a treatment program, though, and was now clean as far as Finn had been told.
Patty plopped their plates down in front of them, pulling him out of the unpleasant memory. “Enjoy.”
Tucker spun her plate around, as if she was trying to decide which angle to attack the omelet from. She did the same with her stack of pancakes, moving the butter to the side of her plate and spreading peanut butter between the layers before dousing the entire thing with a river of syrup from the warm carafe. The sweet scent of maple filled the space between them.
“Don’t think this gets you out of answering my questions.”
She glanced at him from beneath her lashes, a wide grin spreading across her luscious mouth. “Oh, I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Finn just shook his head. “Peanut butter?”
“Ever tried it? No? Don’t judge until you have.”
Finn hadn’t even bothered to glance at his food. Watching Tucker was too entertaining. She attacked her plate with the same energy she did everything else, cutting off a large bite and shoveling it into her mouth.
Her eyes closed and a loud moan rolled up from her chest. His body responded as if he’d caused the sound instead of the food.
She chewed, swallowed and then looked him square in the eyes. “Okay, you were right. These pancakes are amazing. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until just now.”
Without waiting for his response, she went back to annihilating her breakfast. Finn ate his own, a little more slowly because he kept getting distracted by the sight of her.
In the middle of it, she held out a bite of peanut-butter-covered pancake for him to take. There was something intimate and comfortable about the way she did it, grabbing more food for herself from the fork they’d just shared without batting an eye.
The way she relished each bite was...arousing. He wondered if she’d savor every moment with him the same way.
No, scratch that. He knew she would, because he wouldn’t accept anything less. He wanted to carry her off to the nearest bedroom and indulge every whim for the next handful of hours.
Instead, he finally said, “It’s sharing time, kitten.”
“What?”
“Reprieve’s over. Tell me everything I need to know about you.”
* * *
SHE HAD BEEN STALLING, hoping Finn would get sidetracked and they’d end the night without her having to give him anything further.
He’d already stolen two kisses, making her bones melt in the process. He was at a distinct advantage because apparently he had a nice little report on her entire life. She couldn’t imagine what else he wanted to know about her.
But just the fact that he was asking left her uncomfortable.
The problem was, she wasn’t entirely certain if that reaction stemmed from being forced to share pieces of herself when she wasn’t ready—or the fact that it was him asking the questions.
She’d had relationships over the years, but none of them had truly mattered. She’d purposely picked guys who weren’t really looking for anything more than what was on the surface.
When she did get involved with someone, it was on her terms. She decided when she wanted to begin something, and then when she wanted to end it. She picked guys who were easy and wouldn’t ask too much of her, men who would satisfy her physical itch, but not require anything else.
Finn definitely did not fit into that category.
He was demanding. Arrogant. Opinionated. Gorgeous and powerful. Honorable. Sweet, although he tried very hard not to let anyone see that.
She didn’t want to answer his questions because doing it felt like opening a door she’d never be able to close again.
It felt like a risk.
And while she had no problems taking risks with her business and her livelihood, she didn’t take risks with her heart. She’d learned a long time ago to be satisfied with being alone. It was easier. Safer.
She had no desire to let anyone into the details of her life. But Finn wasn’t content with that. She could ignore him now, but he’d either dig up the answers on his own or keep pestering until she got so irritated the answers exploded out of her.
Maybe he’d leave her alone if she gave him a little something.
“Fine. I’m a military brat. Raised by my dad. He was Air Force. My mom left when I was little. Don’t really remember her. And I don’t really care to since she decided her needs were more important than our family.
“When my dad was deployed I’d stay with an aunt in California. We didn’t exactly get along. She never wanted kids and res
ented being stuck with me, even if she always told my dad she was happy to have me.
“I’ve lived all over the country, but no place was really home. Until San Antonio. I was old enough and decided to stay when my dad moved on from here. Went to college. Tended bar. Created a business plan, inherited some money, opened the Rose. The rest is history.” Tucker leveled her gaze at him. “Satisfied?”
“Hardly.” He grinned at her. “But it’s a start.”
It was more than a start. It was all she intended to give him. Her entire life story condensed down to a few sentences, a handful of words. There was a part of her that thought it pathetic she was able to do that. But the rest was a little proud.
She refused to make her life into some sob story. Everyone had hardships. She was hardly the first girl to have a parent walk out. Or the first military kid left a little scarred by the constant moves and fear that she’d be left an orphan, depending on someone who didn’t really want her. She’d overcome those things and refused to let the past define who she was now.
“Why Kentucky Rose?”
“It’s my full name. My dad was from Kentucky and my mom’s name was Rose.”
There were days it bothered her she carried even that small piece of her mother. And she’d hesitated to use it for the bar. But then she’d realized using it made that piece of her into something good instead of a reminder of someone selfish and destructive.
Before Finn could pepper her with more questions, she decided it was time to turn the tables. “How’d you get involved with the K9 unit?”
If she hadn’t been watching him, she might have missed the way his mouth tightened for the briefest moment. Or the flash of pain that shot through his eyes.
“I joined the Air Force straight out of high school. My parents couldn’t afford college and I goofed around too much in school—didn’t qualify for scholarships. So, the military offered me the best options. My plan was always to put in my time, get out and go to college. Be an engineer or accountant or something.”
“Sure, because you’re a nine-to-five, suit-and-tie kinda guy.” No way did that fit. “So what changed?”
Finn’s arm shifted against the back of the booth. To anyone else watching, he probably looked comfortable and relaxed. But even after only a couple of days, Tucker recognized the evidence of tension drawing his body tight.
His gaze traveled around the restaurant. She was used to him cataloguing their surroundings, but this was different. Almost like he was searching for an escape instead of a threat.
“My sister died of an OD. Meth.”
Tucker sucked in a harsh breath. That was not what she’d expected. The pain the memory caused him was clearly etched into every line of his face.
Reaching across the table, she grasped his hand and squeezed. “I’m so sorry, Finn.”
Here she’d been lamenting her own sob story when he had one much, much worse. Yes, they’d both lost someone, but she hadn’t known her mother, not really. Only missed the idea of her instead of the reality.
Finn had lost someone he’d loved very much. Far too tragically and far too young.
“Thanks.” He flipped his hand over, snagged hers and wove their fingers together. Man, he wasn’t one to overlook an opportunity.
Tucker felt a zing of energy travel up her arm and down her spine. But that was soon overcome by a spreading warmth when his thumb began to gently brush across the top of her hand. Over and over, in a mindless rhythm.
“Why are you so afraid of my dog, Tucker?” His voice was smooth and hypnotic. She’d bet it was the same tone he used to calm Duchess down when she was wound up.
She really didn’t want to answer his question, because doing it would give him more insight into her psyche than she wanted to give him. Finn McAllister was already too keen for his own good.
But she also couldn’t very well ignore the question. He deserved to know why she didn’t want Duchess at the Rose.
Taking a deep breath, Tucker tuggd her hand away from his. “When I was young, maybe six, seven? We lived right outside the base in a small house in North Carolina. You know, the kind crammed right on top of each other. Our backyard wasn’t big, but my dad tried to make the best of it. One of the reasons he picked the house was because of the amazing swing set in the backyard.” Just the memory of it had a smile flitting across her face. She remembered being so excited about that house. Thinking that maybe it would finally feel like home. “It had a twisty slide, a built-in sandbox and a turret just like a castle.”
“A little girl’s dream castle.”
Picking up her napkin, Tucker began to pull it into tiny strips. “Yeah. But there was this huge dog in the yard next door. He had this deep, growling bark. And every time I came outside he’d spend the entire time just snarling at me through the fence. He’d claw and dig. Jump so that his beady black eyes could see me.
“My dad promised he couldn’t get to me, but I wasn’t so sure. It got so bad that I started refusing to go outside, which only made my dad angry. Not that he yelled or anything, but I knew he was disappointed.”
The worst feeling in the world had been disappointing her father. He was all she had.
“One afternoon, it was late spring so the weather was perfect, Dad forced me to go out there. I didn’t want to, but I didn’t want to see him upset so I went. And, as usual, the dog growled and barked. Jumped. And then everything went quiet. I thought maybe the neighbors had let him into the house or something. I was so happy. Until I went down the slide and saw him waiting at the bottom.”
Tucker glanced up at Finn, taking in the stark line of his beautiful mouth. It was obvious he found the story unsettling.
“I ran. He chased. Knocked me down, ripped a hole in my jacket. Luckily my dad came running out before he could do more damage.”
“He did enough.”
Her lips quirked up at the corner in a half smile that held little humor. “True. Little dogs I can deal with. But big dogs...”
“Like Duchess.”
She nodded. “Like Duchess. I don’t like them. Logically, I realize they aren’t all like the one that attacked me, but...”
Reaching across the table, Finn placed his hand over hers, stopping the motion of her fingers that she hadn’t even been aware of. Somewhere in the middle of her story she’d started shredding the strips of napkin into little pieces until there was a small pile of white fluff on the table in front of her.
A blush flamed up her skin, the heat of it scorching through her.
Finn didn’t seem to notice or care. He simply twined their fingers together. “Thank you for sharing that with me, Tucker. I promise Duchess is the most well-behaved dog you’ve ever met, highly trained and obedient. I won’t lie and tell you she’s harmless because she isn’t. But I swear she would never take anyone down without the proper command.”
Tucker shrugged. What was she supposed to say to that? “Okay.” It didn’t really matter. Duchess was only on the periphery of her life because Finn was currently occupying it. But in a few days, or weeks, that would end and his dog wouldn’t be an issue anymore.
Releasing her hand, he nodded at her plate. “Finish your breakfast and I’ll take you home. You must be exhausted.”
She could argue with his order, but she really was tired and the idea of going home and falling into her bed held merit.
So what if the brief thought of Finn joining her flashed through her mind? She squashed it immediately—well, almost immediately.
Cleaning her plate only made the need for sleep worse. Now that she was full and sated, other needs were pushing to the forefront.
Finn didn’t even bother to argue about who was going to pay the bill. He snatched up the ticket as soon as Patty set it down and walked over to the counter to pay. Tucker opened her mouth to protest, but decided the le
ast he owed her was food.
He’d pretty much turned her life and livelihood upside down today.
Climbing into his Jeep, she said, “Drop me back at the bar so I can pick up my car.”
“Nope. Not happening. It’s late. You’re tired. You shouldn’t be driving with that ankle. I’ll take you home.”
Irritation spiked through her. “Your heavy-handed tactics are really annoying. How the hell am I supposed to get to work tomorrow without my car?”
Finn didn’t bother answering her. He just slammed her door shut and strolled around to the driver’s side like they weren’t in the middle of a debate. He took his sweet time settling into the seat and cranking the engine before turning to her. “I’ll come pick you up. What time do you need to be in?”
“That’s silly. I’m perfectly capable of driving myself to work. I’ve been doing it for years now.”
“Never said you weren’t. But we’re supposed to be a couple and there’s no way I’d let any woman I was dating drive home when she’s this tired.”
Tucker growled, the sound matching something she would have expected from Duchess.
Assuming the conversation was over, Finn put his Jeep into reverse and pulled out of the lot. Tucker crossed her arms over her chest and turned her body toward the window.
“You don’t know where you’re going and I have no intention of telling you.”
This time his laughter scraped down her spine, and not in a good way. “Kitten, I know about your MBA. You don’t think I know your address?”
She wanted to scream. The sound rumbled up through her chest and threatened to erupt from her throat. Somehow, she managed to push it back down. Gritting through her teeth, she said, “If you call me that one more time you’re going to get a matching handprint on the other cheek.”
He flashed her a little-boy grin that had the flustering effect of making her insides turn to mush, ratcheting up the urge to knock some sense into him at the same time.
“I get it. You’re into kink. Not a problem for me, kitten.”
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