Callie jerked and spun to face her attention on her mom.
“Uh, yes, I’m listening.” Callie felt Tucker’s gaze on her, and when she glanced at him, he smiled. Oh, why did he have to be so good-looking? Why did she have to crush on him? She felt like a kid having a tantrum.
“Okay, the rules are simple,” Clementine said. “You’ve got two hours to build your sculpture. There will be no imported sand.” She gave Will a pointed look. “Once your two hours are up, Grandma will judge, and then we’ll announce the winners.”
Francis put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. “And then we’ll have the Chapman bonfire tonight.”
Tucker leaned down. “Chapman bonfire?”
“Yeah, it started when the grandkids got old enough to know they didn’t win, so it’s like a runner-up prize. We build a big fire, roast hot dogs, and make s’mores.”
“It sounds like a good time.” Tucker smiled. “I’m not sure I want that date night now.”
She laughed. “Honestly? Most of the time the winners don’t go on their date because it is fun.”
His phone rang, and he pulled it out of his pocket. The smile he’d been wearing dropped as he looked at it. “It’s Stacey. Let me get this.”
Callie nodded. “Sure.”
“Thanks,” he said, answering it as he walked away. She couldn’t help but think the man looked gorgeous coming and going. The way this shirt strained against his broad shoulders and how it clung to his muscled back…Was it suddenly hotter than it was a second ago? She fanned herself and tried to shake his cute butt from her mind.
“Hey, Callie,” A deep male voice said behind her.
She whipped around. “Edmund?” He’d shown up and jet skied with the guys the first day they arrived, but he’d left her alone. Why was he hovering now?
“I was invited.”
“But I’m married.” But I’m married? What kind of lame response was that? She was a writer, for goodness sake. It was like her vocabulary went poof.
Edmund shrugged. “So I hear.” The way he said it made her pause.
What did that mean? They’d never dated. Kissed once, yes, but never dated. “Whatever. What do you want?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
What was his game? Edmund never just wanted anything, but there was one way to find out. “I’m fine. How are you?”
His lips quirked up, and all Callie could think was that it wasn’t nearly as dazzling as Tucker’s smile. “I’ve been doing okay. I made partner two months ago.”
She knew he’d wanted that for a long time. Working to put a little enthusiasm in it, she said, “That’s great.” More than likely, his dad helped him with that promotion.
His smile widened. “Yeah, I was pretty stoked.”
“Hey, I’m back,” Tucker said as he slipped his arm around Callie’s waist.
“What was the call about?” Callie asked.
“We’ll talk later.” He winked.
Hopefully, it was good news. She so wanted good things for him. “Okay.”
Tucker stuck his free hand out to Edmund. “Hello, again.”
Whoa. Tucker’s jaw was tight, and his tone was firm. Where was that coming from? It wasn’t like he wanted a real relationship. Maybe he was just playing the jealous husband in case something like this happened when they got to LA. Yeah, that made sense. Not that she was such a hottie that he’d need to be, but it was nice to know he could.
“Hey, some party last night,” Edmund said as he shook Tucker’s hand.
“I liked it, and since it was my bachelor party, I think that’s all that matters,” Tucker said.
Edmund caught Callie’s gaze and held it. “Guess the fun gets curtailed when you’ve been caught facedown on a sidewalk. But, you’ve had it pretty rough all around.”
Callie crossed her arms over her chest. “Don’t start, Edmund.”
Tucker pulled her closer. “For a while, but now I have her, and things couldn’t be better.”
She had to give it to him. He was good at this. She’d have to up her game if this was how things were supposed to be. She smiled up at him and leaned into him. “He’s so sweet, but I had nothing to do with it.”
“I’m writing again. I’d say you had plenty to do with it.”
Writing again? Oh, that was amazing news. In her excitement, Callie lifted up on her toes without even realizing. “Really?”
“Last night I wrote a whole new song.”
“That’s fantastic.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m so proud of you. It’ll be wonderful; I just know it.”
His lips quirked up in a wide grin. “Oh yeah? And all I get is a kiss on the cheek?” Holy cow, his flirt game was off the charts.
She playfully popped him on the chest. “Stop flirting.”
“Absolutely not.” He winked.
“Uh, still here,” Edmund said.
Tucker pulled his gaze from Callie’s, and as he opened his mouth, Callie’s mom clapped her hands, getting everyone’s attention. “Dad had a great idea. We’re going to mix it up this time. We’re putting all the names in a hat, and then we’re drawing partners. This way, no one has an advantage,” her mom said.
“This should be interesting,” Edmund said and smiled.
“There’s an odd man out, now that Edmund’s in the game,” Ethan said to the group, like he’d had some hand in what was coming.
Rachel raised her hand. “And what about the kids?”
Her mom and dad whispered to each other. “Dad will be on a team, and the kids will have their choice of which team they want to be on,” her mom said.
“That seems as fair as it can be,” said Denver.
“And since no one ever goes on these supposed dates, we’re competing for bragging rights only.” Her dad smiled and winked at her.
Callie rolled her lips in to keep from showing the huge grin on her face.
Heath, Michelle, and Georgia nodded in agreement. Once everyone finished writing their names down, the little pieces of paper were dropped into one of her dad’s old snapbacks. When it came time for Callie to pick a name, dread pooled in her gut. Of course, with her luck, she picked Edmund. And her dad drew Tucker’s name. What would her dad talk to Tucker about? Thank goodness her mom wasn’t participating too. If she’d been on a team with Tucker, it could have been a disaster.
When the kids got to pick, Mary picked Tucker’s. Unfortunately, none of the kids picked Callie and Edmund’s team, which meant she’d be stuck with him all by herself for the next couple of hours.
“Are you going to be okay having him as a teammate?” Tucker asked quietly as he pulled her aside.
“I’ll be fine. He’s harmless.” Mostly. She didn’t want to tell Tucker how relentlessly Edmund had pursued her. It was silly. Edmund didn’t really want to be with her; he just didn’t like losing. It made him a great lawyer but a lousy person sometimes.
Tucker cupped her cheek and held her gaze. “If you’re sure.”
The way he was staring at her made her brain feel like mush. Forming words was beyond her ability, so she just nodded.
“I was serious when I said you’d inspired my writing.”
If she didn’t know better, she’d almost believe him. He seemed so sincere, but she’d read the contract. She knew what the deal was, and she needed to put the brakes on this before her heart galloped out of her chest. “Tucker, no one’s here. You don’t have to lay it on so thick.”
He blinked as his hand dropped from her cheek, and he got the strangest look on his face. “Yeah, you’re right,” he said and stepped back. “I guess I got carried away.”
“I—”
“Hey, Tucker, you ready to build a sandcastle?” her dad asked as he and Mary stopped next to her.
“Yes, sir.” Tucker grinned as he looked at Mary. “You ready to stomp these losers?” he asked and winked.
Mary jumped up and down. “Yes! I knew I picked the best team!”
�
��Then let’s get ’em.” Tucker quickly kissed Callie on the cheek and walked a few hundred feet down the beach, nodding as he passed Edmund on the way.
Edmund rubbed his hands together and smiled. “You ready to have some fun?”
Callie didn’t know what she was ready for. She’d gotten the craziest vibe from Tucker, like he actually might really like her, but that couldn’t be. He saw her as a fan, someone he knew back before he was famous, and they weren’t meant to be. The moment he found out what she did for a living, he’d have nothing to do with her. Ever. Which was another reason to keep her heart on lockdown. Tucker was a heartbreak waiting to happen, and she knew it.
Chapter 14
Tucker worked on the arm of the mermaid they were building, letting his mind drift back to Callie. It had to be his lack of sleep messing with his head. That was the only explanation for kissing her the way he had and for the flirting.
She’d sure brought him down to earth quickly. He had been laying it on thick, but he’d been so caught up with her that he hadn’t even realized it. From the moment his pencil touched the notepad, something had changed for him.
Holding her close the night before, kissing her—and he could still feel the zaps of electricity from that kiss. Being with her fulfilled something he didn’t even know he was missing. Yeah, he’d known he was lonely, but not how empty. And as much as he wanted to keep his distance, there was something irresistible about Callie. Something that kept pulling him to her. Had it been like that before and he’d been so focused on his music that he didn’t see it?
He liked her smile and the way her eyes lit up when she was excited. The sway of her hips when she walked had his heart beating double-time. He sighed, thinking how soft and delicate her shoulders looked in a simple colorful sundress. The fact that her lips were so plump and kissable didn’t hurt either. There was something between them. He felt it. Didn’t she?
“So, I heard the short version of how you met Callie, but why don’t you tell me the long version?” Francis asked, interrupting the silence that had lingered for about an hour.
Most of their talking had been concentrated on the sandcastle and what they were going to build, and when they’d figured that out, they’d fallen into a comfortable silence while they worked—minus the nine-year-old who talked a mile a minute. She was cute, though. Tucker had fallen in love with her. She was quirky and sweet and funny. And knowing what she’d been through, he admired her.
He glanced at Mary who was working on the tail part of their mermaid. It was what Mary wanted to build, and neither of the men had wanted to fight her about it. Who argues with a cute little girl about a mermaid? He was comfortable enough in his manhood that a mermaid wouldn’t mess with his confidence.
Mary grinned up at him. “Yeah, how did you meet Aunt Callie?”
Crud. He needed to keep it as generic as possible. Too many details, and there was no way he’d be able to give Callie the rundown of what he’d told them. “Um, well, like we said, we met while I was on tour.”
“In Vegas, right?”
“Yes, sir. I was doing a show there. The next day, I was taking a walk and ducked into a little café. There she was, pretty as a picture.”
“I’ll give you that. All my girls are pretty as a picture,” her dad said. “How long ago was this?”
Aw, shoot. How long had they said? “Uh, six months, give or take. With touring, it’s hard to remember what city I’m in, much less the date.”
“Her last year in college, she sure did talk about you a lot. To the point that I wondered if you two were dating.”
Tucker’s heart pounded double-speed. “She did?”
Her dad chuckled. “Believe me, as much as she talked about you, it’s not something I’d forget. Did you two date back then?”
He wasn’t a deer in headlights; he was a deer hitting the windshield. Did he lie to her dad? If he told the truth, would Callie find out?
Her dad stopped working on the mermaid and narrowed his eyes. “I’m taking your silence as a yes.”
“Uh.”
“Callie did tell you I started my law career as a prosecutor, didn’t she?” Her dad grinned like he was a cheetah clamping its jaws on an antelope.
Tucker swallowed hard as beads of sweat rolled down the sides of his face and back. “Uh, no, sir, she didn’t mention that.”
“I was known for being able to spot a lie a mile away. At the time, I had the highest rate of conviction in the state of North Carolina. They called me Daredevil ’cause I could tell when someone wasn’t being truthful.”
And he thought Clementine was scary. Callie’s dad? He wasn’t Daredevil. He was the very definition of a wolf in sheep’s clothing with his Tim Conway looks and his Pennywise demeanor. All the man needed was a sewer and a few balloons. “Yes, sir, we dated.” The words rushed out.
He smiled and went back to work. “That’s what I thought. She never would admit it, but I always knew. Can I ask what happened?”
“Well, we were both concentrating on our futures and decided it was best to break it off. It was mutual, I swear.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, sir.”
He nodded. “Interesting. She said the same thing, only I could tell she didn’t quite have her whole heart in it.”
Tucker stopped working and let his gaze drift down the beach to Callie. She and Edmund were working together. They even seemed to be getting along. Just then, she laughed and slapped Edmund on the arm. He’d spied on them several times, and each time it seemed they were cozier than the last.
“Really?”
“If you think I’m good with complete strangers, imagine how much better I am with the people I’m close to.” The man finished the spot on the torso he was working on and moved down to the tail. “Plus, she said she wasn’t sure she’d ever care about anyone the way she cared about you.”
Tucker whipped his gaze back to Francis. “She said that?”
Francis nodded. “Not in so many words. I’m paraphrasing.”
Callie cared about him back then? More than cared. She’d fallen for him? Whoa. That was a lot to take in, but at the same time, he felt a warmth spread through him. Callie cared about him. Had he broken her heart when they broke up? It’d been mutual, hadn’t it?
“I do want to ask about the…partying. You’re done with that, right?”
His smile faded. “Absolutely, sir. I’m done. That’s not the life I want for myself or my family.”
“Do you? Want a family?”
That wasn’t a question he was used to being asked. Did he want a family? He’d always thought he did, until Petra had soured him on all things relationship. How did he answer the man? “Yeah, I do. I want the kids, house, and the white picket fence.” And he did, too. Despite what had happened with his ex, he knew in his heart that it was what he wanted more than anything. Maybe even more than his career, which seemed less important the more time he spent with Callie. Spending time with her had breathed a little life into him, and it felt good to see the future as something to look forward to.
“How about your singing career?”
“To be honest, I don’t know if I could ever stop singing. I love it.”
Her dad lifted his gaze to Tucker just slightly while he kept sculpting. “You think you’d keep touring?”
That was a good question. He wasn’t sure he wanted the tour being planned at the moment. “I’m not sure. It gets old.”
“Honesty is good.” Francis paused and then added, “A word of advice, for what’s it worth. Do you mind some?”
Tucker chuckled. “Sir, I’ll take all the advice I can get.”
“Since I didn’t get to say this prior to the wedding, I’ll tell you now. Marriage is the hardest thing you’ll ever do. Nothing is ever fifty-fifty. You have to give it your all, all the time. You have to decide that you love the person no matter how angry, hurt, or let down you feel. Love isn’t a feeling; it’s an action. Remember that, and you’ll do
just fine.”
Tucker nodded. He could almost hear his dad saying those same words. It struck him as funny that their parents would like each other and get along.
“I’ll take those words to heart, sir.”
“And stop calling me sir. My name is Francis. Or you can call me Frank. These boys here even call me dad or grandpa at times.”
“Yes, s―Francis. Thanks.”
He smiled. “Good. Now that the formal stuff is out of the way, we can get down to the fun. Let’s get this mermaid finished.”
Mary jumped up. “Grandpa, did you give that advice to my daddy and momma?”
“Yeah, sweetheart, I gave it to all my kids and extra kids.” Francis winked. “And now you’ve heard it early, so you can keep it with you when you start dating.”
Mary wrinkled her nose. “Ew, Grandpa. Boys are gross.”
“All boys?” Tucker asked with a chuckle.
She rolled her eyes. “Well, most of them.”
Tucker snorted.
“You just keep thinking that until you’re about thirty, okay?” Francis ruffled her hair. “Now, back to the mermaid.”
Tucker stole a glance in Callie’s direction, and he caught her staring at him. Even from where he stood, he could see a bit of a blush on her cheeks. Edmund followed her line of sight and threw a wave in Tucker’s direction. Tucker tipped his chin to them and watched as Callie and Edmund went back to working on their sandcastle. What Tucker wouldn’t give to be a little closer and hear what they were talking about.
Learning that Edmund told people he dated Callie in high school made Tucker…anxious. Although, he wasn’t sure why. Callie hadn’t said anything of the sort, and he’d shrugged it off when Ethan first told him. But seeing them together made Tucker wonder if she hadn’t been forthcoming. If they’d dated in high school, it wasn’t a big deal. It wasn’t like they were still together.
Something about Edmund bugged him. Callie deserved better than some smarmy lawyer with a greasy smile.
“Don’t worry about him,” Francis said.
“I’m that obvious?” replied Tucker.
Her dad laughed. “Edmund has pursued Callie for years, and Clementine encouraged it. I don’t know why, because Callie never showed the slightest interest. Oh, well, a small one, once in high school, but that was mostly due to her mom’s pushing. I don’t know why my wife likes the guy. He’s always come across as slimy. His dad has been after me for years to join his law firm, and I won’t do it because I have such an uneasy feeling about his family.”
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