Lacey smiled, the knots in her stomach relaxing slightly. “I’ve had a few boyfriends over the years, but I can honestly say that I’ve never met anyone that shook my entire foundation, made me believe in love.”
“I’m going to be completely frank, because that’s the way I do things,” Brant started, making those knots curl back tighter than ever. “I’ve learned that it’s best to be honest and not beat around the bush.” He paused, lifting his tea to his lips. She watched the motion, her own mouth drying out watching him flick his tongue out onto his lips. She curled her fingers into a fist under the table, hating the way her body was reacting right now.
“That scares you, doesn’t it?” Brant chuckled, and she found herself nodding in agreement before she could stop herself. He reached over and put his hand over hers, the one that had been holding her sandwich, now forgotten. “I want to get to know you. I like you a lot. I know we don’t know much about each other, but that’s why I’m being honest. I’d like to see where this could go. Can I have your phone number? Can we see each other again, as something other than vet and dog owner? I promise to make Max behave and not take you away from me.”
Lacey forced herself to take a deep breath, registering the words she had a feeling were coming. Her very soul was screaming to make her mouth open and say the word ‘YES’, but her brain, the part of her that wouldn’t stop thinking this would only end badly for both of them, kept a firm grip on her lips. Before she could stop the war going on inside her, Brant scooted his chair next to her.
The sandwiches forgotten, Lacey looked into the blue of his eyes, so different from hers. The scent of him tickled her nostrils, and she knew that her heart rate was through the roof. What was he doing? It was a good thing she was sitting, because she wasn’t sure her legs would support her right now. It was like the noise of the sandwich shop, busy at lunchtime, fell away, and all she could see was Brant’s chiseled cheekbones, tan skin, and luscious lips right in front of her. His eyes seemed to look right through her, and Lacey thought it was possible that she wasn’t even breathing.
She flinched involuntarily as he lifted his hand to touch her face, but that didn’t stop him. The second his hand, slightly rough, touched her cheek, her eyes fluttered closed on their own volition. She felt him lean closer to her, his lips against her ear.
“Lacey,” his voice rumbled, the warmth of his breath tickling the inside of her ear and making her tremble. She could feel his cheek against hers, his slight stubble scratching her smooth face. She couldn’t move. Her mind and heart were screaming equally now, both so loud she couldn’t hear anything. He backed up so that his face was mere centimeters from hers, and used his other hand to touch the other side of her face. She couldn’t move, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to.
His eyes scanned her face, starting at her lips and moving up to her nose, then back to her eyes, where he stopped, just looking at her. What was he going to do? What did she want him to do? His gaze flicked back to her lips, and she licked them without thinking. He rubbed his thumbs along her cheeks, then took one and traced her lips with it. She gasped, the feeling of him touching her sending shooting shocks throughout her body. Her body was a traitor. She didn’t want to feel anything for him. She refused to.
A small smile made one side of his lips quirk up, and just like that, he withdrew, scooting his chair back to where it was before. It was almost like that didn’t even happen. Which was probably for the best, she admitted. Apparently he made her stupid and lose all rational thought. She would never want him to kiss her in the middle of a deli. Would she? No, she wouldn’t. He was a player; he knew exactly how to get to girls. She needed to remember that.
“Will you come over tonight, after I get Max home? You know, to check on him?” He grinned, and she saw right through him. He was using Max to get her to come over.
“I don’t know.”
“Just dinner, Lacey. I promise, I won’t bite. I’ll even cook.”
“You’ll cook?”
“Yes,” he laughed. “You think guys can’t cook? I cook for myself daily. I make a mean grilled chicken breast and brown rice.”
Lacey held out her hand, and he looked at her quizzically. “Give me your phone.”
Brant fished the phone out of his pocket and put it in her hand. She picked it up and added her number to his contacts, trying to ignore the panic that was threatening to overtake her. Her heart was winning right now, and her head didn’t like it. Not one bit.
“Now text me, and I’ll have yours. You know, just in case Max needs something.” He pressed a few keys, then she felt her phone vibrating in her purse. Taking it out, she smiled as she saw his text, then that feeling settled in her chest again, the one that made her want to run away.
Max says thank you for taking such good care of him.
“I need to get back to work,” Lacey said, pushing back her chair. She had hardly touched her food, but knew she wouldn’t be eating. Her legs wobbled as she took a step away from the table, and she shook her head at her foolishness.
“You hardly ate,” Brant observed. “Want to wrap it up and take it?”
“Sure.” Brant got a to-go container for her, then led her out of the busy deli to her car. They sat in comfortable silence on the way back to the office. Her mind was racing a thousand miles an hour, wondering why in the world she not only gave him her phone number, but agreed to go to his house for dinner! Just to make sure Max is okay, she reminded herself. But she knew that wasn’t the reason she agreed, and she hated herself for it.
“Coming in to see Max again?”
Brant leaned back against her car, his sunglasses hiding those expressive eyes. Did she sound too hopeful when she asked that? He reached out for her and she stepped closer. Maybe she didn’t need him to come in; maybe she needed to spend the next five hours knocking some sense into herself. Yes, that’s exactly what she needed to do.
“If you really think he can come home tonight, then I’m going to leave for now. I need to do a few things before he gets home, including grocery shopping for a hot date I have tonight.” He lowered his glasses and winked at her, making her stomach flutter.
“I’ll call you if Dr. Jenkins doesn’t think that’s still the plan, but I’ll tell him that I can check on Max tonight as well.”
“You’re going to tell your boss you’re coming over?”
Lacey hesitated. “Well, I can tell him I’ll check on him. You know, as a doctor/patient.”
Brant smirked, pulling her closer than she had allowed herself to go. “You know, I kinda like that idea.”
Lacey furrowed her brow, not understanding. He leaned over so he was whispering in her ear again. “Doctor, patient. I kinda like that, Doc.” She shivered, despite the hot midday sun. He was really laying it on thick, now. He’s a master at this, she reminded herself. Don’t fall for it.
“Max is the patient,” she teased, and he pouted. “I do really have to go, though. Be here to pick him up at six unless I tell you otherwise. I’d bring him, but he wouldn’t be comfortable in my car.”
“You got it, Doc,” Brant said. “Thanks for lunch.”
“Thank you, too,” she answered, turning to walk away.
“Lacey.” She turned back to look at him, trying to ignore how sexy he looked standing there.
“I can’t wait to see you tonight.”
She smiled and nodded, turning to walk back to work. As she walked in the door, she saw that Brant hadn’t moved a muscle. He was still there watching her, even after the office door shut after her.
Lacey rushed into the office, heading for her desk so she could drop her purse off and get to her next patients. She was sure she was late. Her mind was reeling from everything that had happened in the last twenty minutes. Somehow, she had agreed to go to dinner at Brant’s house tonight. So he was hot. And nice. She could do this, right? He was just a guy. A guy that she knew she couldn’t get involved with, no matter what.
“Lacey,” a voice came
from behind her. She turned, seeing Chloe hurriedly walking, a smile on her face. She had gotten to be friends with Chloe since she started working there a few months ago. She was a few years younger than her, and married with a two year old little girl.
“Hey Chloe, what’s up,” Lacey answered, opening her desk drawer and putting her purse inside. “Sorry if I’m late. I lost track of time…”
“I bet you did,” Chloe interrupted. “I would too if I went to lunch with the Brant Tucker and he whispered sweet nothings in my ear.”
Lacey’s mouth dropped open. Oh God. She had seen her. She knew her face was probably a million shades of red at that moment. “W-what?”
Chloe grinned, obviously enjoying Lacey’s discomfort. “I was at the deli getting a sandwich when I saw him whispering in your ear. You were so involved you didn’t even see me. That was super hot, by the way.”
Lacey breathed a sigh of relief. Chloe was the only one that had seen them. What was she thinking? She couldn’t get involved with him. She was a doctor, a professional, not a teenager.
“Stop freaking out,” Chloe said. “I’m just giving you a hard time. He’s one of the most eligible bachelors of Nashville, and I’m just jealous as hell that he wants you.”
“He doesn’t want me. It was just lunch to thank me for helping Max.” And what was dinner? She pushed the thought away. “And eligible bachelors?” Lacey felt like the world was spinning.
Chloe gave her a ‘look’. “Yeah, you know every year they run that silly article in the newspaper about Nashville’s hottest men? He was number one this year.” Lacey had no idea what she was talking about; she had no time for articles or television.
“I think it’s great,” Chloe babbled, sensing her unease. “I’m just teasing you, Lace.”
“I know,” Lacey said, forcing a smile on her face. “It’s nothing, though, really. He’s a nice guy but I’m not interested.”
Chloe looked at her like she lost her mind. “Not interested? What’s wrong with you? Are you blind?”
She shrugged on her white coat and checked her schedule, avoiding Chloe’s penetrative gaze. “I have to run, Chloe.” She left the room, leaving an open-mouthed Chloe staring after her.
Lacey walked around the corner away from Chloe and pressed her back against the wall, closing her eyes. Tears threatened behind her eyes, and she fought to keep them at bay. She had to keep him at arm’s length. This couldn’t happen. She knew she had to find a way to not go to dinner at his house tonight. The more she put herself in his path, the more likely it would be that she got hurt.
Brant carried in the bags from the store, whistling to himself. He couldn’t say he’d been this excited about something in quite a while. He knew that when they were at the deli, something happened and Lacey shut part of herself off. He hated to think that it was because he was a model, because she didn’t seem like that type of girl. But he thought possibly he had broken down that wall she constructed during lunch. After all, she had given him her phone number and agreed to come over for dinner. But he could almost see the war going on inside her. He was up for the challenge, because he thought she just might be worth it.
Putting the ingredients for dinner in the refrigerator, he thought back to the look on her face after he had whispered in her ear. She almost looked like she wanted him to kiss her, and he had wanted to… badly. But he didn’t feel like it was the place, and that she wouldn’t respect him for doing that so soon. And he wanted her to respect him. Seeing her big blue eyes, staring back at him, her breath ragged and her body betraying her, it had just about done him in.
He didn’t know what in particular it was about her. Maybe it was the casual innocence she exuded, or the slight edge she had because she had lived through so much pain. Or possibly it was her determination, her drive. All he knew is that it was so much more than just being a pretty face. A gorgeous face. She put many of the models he worked with to shame.
He couldn’t wait to get Max back. He knew he wouldn’t be bounding in the kitchen for scraps, or chasing birds in the backyard. But, he was still alive. His phone shrilled from the counter, and he hoped it was Lacey. But it wasn’t.
“Mom,” Brant said into the phone. He hadn’t talked to either of his parents in quite a few weeks, and any time his dad wanted something from him, he had her call. It wasn’t that he didn’t love his mother. She was, and always had been, a loving mother. It was just that she refused to stand up to her husband where Brant was concerned. He detested the spineless part of her, and wished that someday she would tell his father what she really thought. He never wanted that in a partner, someone who thought they had to agree with him on everything.
“Brant!” The tone of her voice made Brant stop what he was doing and wait for her to continue. The other thing about his mother was that she hardly ever got rattled about anything. Her voice was always annoyingly passive and sweet. “I need your help!”
“Mom,” Brant said, worry settling in his gut. “What’s going on?”
“It’s your dad,” she strangled out, her voice tight. “They’re taking him by ambulance to the hospital. I’m going to ride with them. Can you call your sisters and then meet me there?”
“What happened?” Brant asked, already throwing everything else in the refrigerator and grabbing his keys. He and his dad might have their differences, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to stand by while he was suffering.
“I’m not sure. He was out in the fields, then Jack was running up to the house, screaming about calling 9-1-1. He’s lost a lot of blood, I don’t even know where it all was coming from. I think his arm, maybe his chest…”
Shit. This didn’t sound good at all. His dad worked with heavy machinery and wild animals all day. It could be either of those or a combination. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in thirty minutes. “Mom, take a deep breath. Is Jack still there?” When she didn’t answer, having already hung up, he ran for the truck, dialing his sisters as he went. They were a few hours away, but at least they could get there.
Brant paced the waiting room, waiting for any word on what had happened and if his father was going to be okay. His mom was huddled in the corner, where she had been for the last two hours. His sisters should be there any time. When he had arrived, his dad had already been in emergency surgery, and they hadn’t heard anything since.
When his phone vibrated, he thought it must be his sisters, announcing their arrival. But it was Lacey. In the whirlwind of the last two hours, he had forgotten to call her. He felt terrible, but there was no way he was getting Max or having dinner with her tonight. Shit.
“Lacey,” Brant said quietly, walking down the hallway. “I’m so sorry.”
“Brant? What happened?”
“There’s no way I’m going to be able to get Max tonight. Do you think it’s okay if he stays at the office one more night?”
“Of course. Are you okay?”
Brant filled her in on what happened. “I’m sorry I’m not going to be able to have dinner tonight. Rain check?”
“Don’t worry about me at all,” she responded. “Family first. Is he going to be okay?”
“We don’t know. He’s been in surgery since they brought him in. The waiting is killing me. I still don’t even know what exactly happened to him, only that he was injured on his property.”
“I’ll tell Max you’ll be there tomorrow,” she said, and he smiled. He loved animal people. Other people would look at you like you were crazy, but to him, Max was like a child.
“Thank you, Lacey. Tell Dr. Jenkins sorry I couldn’t get him. Max is doing okay?”
“He’s great,” she said. “He’s been sleeping a lot, which is to be expected with the medicine. I gave him a bit of soft food earlier and he’s tolerated that well. He’s going to be fine here.”
Brant turned and saw his sisters running down the hallway towards him. “I have to go,” he said to Lacey. “My sisters are here.” He disconnected the call just as Brooke and Heather re
ached him, both of them falling into his arms and dissolving into tears.
He couldn’t tell them that it was going to be okay, because he didn’t know that. So he just held them, using each of his hands to rub both of their backs, fighting the tears that threatened behind his eyes. He didn’t cry. Never had since the day his dad spanked him for crying over his dog dying when he was ten. Real men don’t cry, he had told him. You’re a Tucker. Act like it.
Finally, they pulled back, their identical green eyes, their mom’s eyes, red-rimmed. Both of them had their blonde hair pulled back into ponytails. An outsider would never tell them apart, but he knew that Heather had a little birthmark behind her ear, and Brooke had a certain gleam in her eye that set her apart from her sister. He had always been very close to them, especially over the last few years. While they still relied on their parents for college so they didn’t make waves with them, he knew that they supported and loved him.
“Let’s go in,” he said, indicating the waiting room. “I’m sure Mom will want to see you.”
When they walked into the room, it was the first time since they had arrived he had seen his mother move from the corner chair. She embraced her daughters, the three of them crying in each other’s arms. For a moment, he felt like an outsider, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it, because the doctor came into the room.
“Tucker family?” Brant scanned the doctor’s face, trying to predict what he was about to say. Was it good news?
“That’s us,” Brant answered, indicating the four of them. “Is he going to be okay?”
“Robert was lucky that he got here when he did. He had such a deep laceration to his arm that had he waited any longer, he would’ve bled out. He needed a couple bags of blood while we were in the operating room. We went in and cleaned it out and stitched it up. Unfortunately, while he was on the table, he had a heart attack and he flat lined for a few minutes.”
Finding Forever (Living Again #4) Page 5