by K. Street
A smile graced my lips as I parked the car and got out, making my way into the bar. The music hit my ears as I pulled the door open. Stepping inside, I scanned the crowd, and Macy’s gorgeous mane of red hair wasn’t hard to spot. She was sitting at one of the vinyl booths near the bar, and when her eyes landed on me, she raised her hand and waved. As I approached, she stood and pulled me into a quick hug.
“Camryn, it’s so good to see you,” she said, taking a seat.
“Sorry. I hope you weren’t waiting long.” I settled in beside her.
“Girl”—she stopped mid-sentence and took a sip of a fruity-looking cocktail from a mason jar—“don’t even worry. I just got here about ten minutes ago.” Her voice was slightly raised to be heard over the music.
“And you already have a drink.” I laughed.
“Mack, the guy who owns the bar, is my dad’s best friend, so he’s more like a surrogate uncle. It’s definitely a perk on nights like tonight.” She waved a finger toward the crowd.
I nodded as I looked around for a server and saw one headed in our direction.
“Hey, y’all,” she greeted us with a friendly smile.
“Kel, this is Camryn.” Macy gestured her finger at me. “Camryn, this is Kelly, Mack’s daughter.”
“So, you’re the new girl in town?” She smiled, her perfectly straight white teeth on display.
“Are they still calling me that?” I mean, I’d been here long enough to not be considered the new girl in town.
“They’ll probably call you that until someone else moves to town,” she joked. “What can I get for y’all?”
I ordered a Corona, and Macy ordered another strawberry-whiskey lemonade and some pretzel bites with beer-cheese sauce.
“So, tell me,” Macy said and conspiratorially leaned in, “how’s everything going with Tucker?”
My smile was wide, and I felt the heat rush to my cheeks.
“Damn, girl. That’s what I’m talking about.” She laughed. “Is the cat out of the bag?”
What she really wanted to know was if we’d told Shayne.
I nodded and said, “Tucker told Shayne this morning. We took her out for breakfast.”
“Wow.”
Just then, Kelly returned with our drinks and appetizer. We assured her we were fine, and she hurried away to attend to other patrons.
“I’m so happy for y’all. God knows, if anyone deserves to be happy, it’s Tucker.”
“He’s amazing.”
“They don’t make ’em like that anymore; that’s for damn sure.” Macy dipped a pretzel into the cheese. “First, that bitch Holly … then losing Dani and raising Shayne on his own …” She popped the food into her mouth, swallowed it, and then picked up her glass.
“Holly?”
Who the hell is Holly?
A deer-in-the-headlights look crossed her face, and she set the drink back on the table with a thud. “He hasn’t mentioned Holly?”
“No.”
“It’s not a big deal, and it was practically a hundred years ago,” she exaggerated. “Let’s just forget I said anything.”
Unsure of what to say, I picked up my beer and drained it. I was a little bothered that Tucker hadn’t shared that part of his past with me, but everybody had a past and obviously, Holly wasn’t relevant. I set the empty bottle down on the table just as the jukebox started playing “Somewhere on a Beach” by Dierks Bentley.
“I love this song. Come on, girl. Let’s go shake our moneymakers.” She stood and pulled me from the booth.
“Moneymakers?” I busted out laughing. “Did you start drinking before you got here?”
“Oh, hush and move your ass.” She playfully bumped her hip into mine.
We made our way to the small dance floor and began moving our bodies to the beat of the music. After we danced to several more songs, Macy and I returned to our table and ordered another round of drinks.
While we waited for Kelly to return with them, I asked, “What’s the deal with you and Nash?”
“It’s a long story.” She hesitated before continuing, “We were high school sweethearts, and before I went off to college, we broke up. Things did not end well.”
“That sucks.”
“There’s a lot of history between us, and the past can’t be rewritten.” A hint of sadness lurked in her eyes.
Kelly returned with our drinks and quickly left to wait on other customers.
“I’m sorry,” I said and tipped the bottle to my lips, taking a long pull. All the dancing had made me a little sweaty, and ice-cold beer cooled me from the inside out.
“It is what it is, right? Besides, I hate him.” She bent her head to capture the straw in her mouth and sucked down her drink.
The look on Macy’s face and the tone of her voice told me she was lying.
“You know what they say … there’s a fine line between love and hate.” I smiled innocently. “Drink faster, and let’s get back out there.”
We finished our drinks and hit the dance floor again, moving our bodies in time to the music, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had so much fun.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to the ladies’ room,” Macy shouted over the music.
Since I didn’t have to go, I continued to dance solo. Macy had been gone mere seconds when a pair of hands gripped my waist from behind. Warm breath hit my neck, and it made my skin crawl. The stench of alcohol oozed from his pores, and I froze.
“Don’t stop, baby,” a male voice I didn’t recognize growled in my ear. “We’re just getting started.” The stranger tightened his hold, fingers digging into my hips, his erection at my back.
“Let me go.” All my senses came back to me, and I tried to struggle free.
The pressure of his grip increased. “Don’t act like you don’t want it. You’re out here, shaking your ass, practically begging for it.”
For a split second, I panicked until everything my dad had ever taught me came rushing back.
I can do this. He only has to think I want him.
I placed my hands on top of his and played along, reminding myself to keep my wits about me. It was working because his grip loosened just enough for me to turn to face him. He had a few inches on me, but he wasn’t quite as tall as Tucker, and he was stocky. I flattened my palms on his chest, using my touch as a distraction. With my lip pulled between my teeth in a way that suggested I liked his hands on me, we moved in time to the music. His hands held fast to my waist, but I managed to create enough distance between us for what I had in mind.
I made a fist, pulled my arm back, and drove it forward, landing a hard punch to Mystery Man’s nose. He stumbled back, his hands going to his face. Red seeped between the cracks of his fingers.
“Fucking bitch,” he snarled.
Wiping the blood on his jeans, he lunged at me with his fist cocked, but before the stranger could do any harm, a different pair of arms yanked me out of the way, and I was pitched backward into a hard chest.
Chaos erupted around me.
“You fucking piece of shit.” The sound was a thunderous roar.
Chairs scattered, glass shattered, and a table was upended.
I tried to struggle free of the arms wrapped around my torso.
“Easy there, slugger.”
I recognized that voice. “Nash?” I asked, turning my head back to look at him.
Just then, Macy appeared beside us.
“What the hell, Cam? I left you alone for less than five min—”
“Macy, you two stay the hell back.” Nash’s words cut her off. “Do not let Camryn out of your sight,” he demanded, half-shoving me at Macy before he lunged forward.
“Tucker! Come on, man, that’s enough!” Panic surged through Nash’s voice.
Mystery Man was on the ground, and Tucker was on top of him with his forearm across my aggressor’s throat, putting enough pressure on his windpipe that Mystery Man’s face was turning purple.
“Oh my God,�
�� I shrieked. “Tucker.”
I took a step, but Macy grabbed my arm. “Camryn, don’t.”
I wrenched out of her grasp and went to Tucker’s side.
My hand shook as I reached out to place it on his bicep. “Tucker, look at me.” I waited for his eyes to lift to mine, and when they did, I said, “Tucker, it’s okay. I’m fine.”
His eyes roamed over my face before they moved down my body, searching for the truth. Finally convinced, he turned his attention back to the man beneath him. “Apologize to the lady,” he seethed and removed the arm from his throat to allow him to breathe.
Mystery Man coughed and wheezed as he attempted to suck air into his lungs. He looked like he might tell Tucker to go to hell but seemed to think better of it. When he managed to suck in enough oxygen, he pinned me with a glare. “Sorry,” he rasped out. Looking back at Tucker, he said, “Get the fuck off of me.”
“You call that an apology? Try again, asshole,” Tucker ordered.
Mystery Man’s eyes were full of disdain when he twisted his neck to look at me. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
“Better.” Tucker’s voice was full of condescension. “When I let you up, you’re going to go settle your tab and give Mack there a little extra for his troubles. Then, you’re going to leave, and if I ever see you anywhere near her again, I will rain hell down on you like the fucking devil himself.” Tucker stood and stepped over Mystery Man’s body, pulling me into his side.
The crowd dispersed and went back to their business like nothing had happened. Without any further incident, the nameless man got up and walked to the bar.
“You okay, baby?” Tucker held me at arm’s length while his eyes traveled over my body.
“I’m fine.”
He drew me into him.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I asked.
“I was going to grab a beer with Nash.”
I turned my head and saw Nash tipping the table back into its upright position. Then, he and Macy replaced the chairs around it. Kelly and one of her coworkers had a broom and dustpan in hand to sweep up the broken glass.
“Camryn, are you all right?” Worry filled Macy’s eyes as she looked me over.
“I’m fine.” I supported my right hand in my left palm. The burst of adrenaline had subsided, and it hurt like a bitch.
Tucker took my injured hand, gently cradling it in his. “Come on, you need to get some ice on that.” He led me to the bar with Nash and Macy on our heels.
A man, whom I assumed was Mack, stood behind the bar. He appeared to be in his late fifties with graying hair and kind eyes. He shook his head as he headed in our direction. Coming to a stop in front of us, he opened his mouth to speak.
“Uncle Mack,” Macy cut him off before Mack had the chance to get words out. “Can we get some ice for Rocky?” She jutted her thumb my way.
“Very funny.” I rolled my eyes at her and then turned to Mack. “I’m sorry about that.”
“Young lady, don’t apologize. That son of a bitch had it coming. I was coming out from the bar with my bat, but Tucker made it there before I did. Let’s get that hand taken care of.” Mack went to put some ice in a clean bar mop towel and then brought it back to me.
“Thanks,” I said as I took it from him. I gingerly placed the wrapped ice on top of my swollen knuckles, wincing at the contact.
Mack pinned Tucker and Nash with a glare. “If you boys are done disturbing the peace, maybe you ought to order a drink.”
“I’m good,” Tucker said while he reached into his back pocket for his wallet. He took out several bills and placed them on the bar. “Sorry for the disruption, Mack.” Tucker turned to Macy. “Mace, do you mind giving Nash a ride back to his place? I’m going to take Camryn home.”
“What about my car?” I asked.
I’d only had two beers, and we’d danced our asses off, so I wasn’t drunk by a long shot. Macy had had more to drink than I did.
Nash spoke up, “Are you blind, man? Macy is half-lit.”
“I am not.” She sounded indignant.
Nash turned to Macy. “Give me your keys.”
“No,” she argued.
“Knock it off, all of you.” Mack’s firm tone caught our attention. “Macy, give Nash your keys. You aren’t driving.”
“Uncle Mack—”
“You heard me,” he cut her off and then turned to me. “Rocky, go with Tucker. You can pick up your car tomorrow. It will be fine here overnight.”
“Great. Since that’s settled, Camryn and I are out,” Tucker said, and his hand went to the small of my back.
Reluctantly, Macy gave Nash her keys before she came over to give me a hug, careful to avoid my injury.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered in her ear.
“Don’t even worry about it. Next time, maybe we should go out for coffee instead.” She laughed.
“Sounds like a plan.”
The four of us walked out of the bar together. Nash and Macy headed in one direction, and Tucker and I went in the other.
We got into his truck and barely spoke on the way home. As we approached my front door, I awkwardly dug in my purse for my keys. My fingers wrapped around them, and I fumbled as I inserted a key into the lock.
“Here, let me,” Tucker said as he took the keys and unlocked the door. Then, he stepped inside and flipped on the light.
“You were pretty quiet on the way home,” I stated as I closed the door behind me.
“I was standing at the bar with Nash, waiting to order a drink, when I turned around and saw you with that asshole.” He tossed my keys on the coffee table and went into the kitchen.
“Tucker,” I called out, following behind him.
He opened the refrigerator, grabbed a beer, twisted off the cap, and took a slow pull.
“Look, I’m sure, from where you were standing, it probably looked bad for half a second.”
He set his beer down on the island and stepped closer. “It was the longest half-second of my life, Camryn, but I knew something was off by your body language. By the time I made it over to you, your fist was connecting with his nose.” He lifted my bruised knuckles to his lips and gently kissed them. “Remind me never to piss you off.”
“Tucker, I love you. I would never—”
He pressed his mouth to mine, effectively silencing my words.
“Come on, Rocky. Let’s go to bed.”
I grabbed his beer from the island and let him lead me to my bedroom.
29
Camryn
I cracked my eyes open, blinking against the sunlight pouring in through the blinds covering the window. A groan left my lips as I stretched my limbs. With his warm palm splayed across my stomach, Tucker pulled me closer, and I snuggled into him.
“Good morning, beautiful.” The timbre of his voice slid over me. Gravelly and thick with sleep, it was sexy as hell.
“Morning.” I turned my head, and he bent to meet my lips in a chaste kiss. “What time is it?”
“Not sure.”
“What time do we need to be at your mom’s?”
“Not for a while.”
We quietly lay there for several minutes, my back to his front. Tucker grazed the tips of his fingers back and forth across my belly. My sore hand brought me back to the memory of last night and the chat I’d had with Macy before it all went south. When I was facing away from Tucker, it was easier to work up my nerve to ask him the one question that I couldn’t get out of my mind. I had planned to leave well enough alone, but in the light of day, I needed answers to the questions running around in my head on an endless loop.
“Tucker?”
“Hmm?”
“Who’s Holly?”
His entire body tensed, and his fingers stopped moving.
“Macy mentioned her last night …” I trailed off.
“Did she now? Tell me, what did Macy have to say?”
“Nothing. When Macy realized I had no clue whom she was talking about, she refused to
elaborate.”
He exhaled, and I felt him relax the tiniest bit.
“So, who is she?” I pressed. I wasn’t jealous, just curious.
“Nobody.” There was an edge to his tone.
“Really?”
Everything about his reaction told a different story.
“She’s just an ex.”
No way in hell is she just an ex.
“Before Dani or after?”
The mattress shifted as he sat up. I rolled over in time to see him planting his feet on the floor.
He cocked his head over his shoulder to look back at me. “I told you before, there hasn’t been anyone since Dani until you. Holly,” he spat her name like a curse, “is irrelevant.”
He got out of bed, and the sight of his naked torso made my breath hitch.
“Tucker, wait.” I rose up onto my knees, and the sheet fell away, exposing my bare frame.
His eyes made a slow perusal over my body before they locked on mine.
Tucker’s entire demeanor had changed when I mentioned her name. Whoever the bitch was, she had obviously done a number on him, and I wanted my carefree man back, so I held out my hand to him.
“I’m sorry. I was just curious. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
He took my outstretched hand and gently tugged me closer. His arm went around my back as he brushed away the hair that had fallen across my face. “The past needs to stay where it is.”
“Okay,” I agreed, letting it go.
All the tension left his body. He leaned in, pressed his mouth to mine, and sucked my bottom lip between his teeth. Heat flared between my legs as he deepened the kiss.
His stomach picked that moment to growl loud enough that it nearly echoed through the quiet space. A low chuckle left his lips. “Guess I’m hungry.”
“Want me to whip something up? I can make omelets or maybe French toast, but I’m not sure if I have bread.”
“Camryn.”
“What?”
Those stunning hazel eyes pierced mine. “Forget about food. The only thing I want to eat is right here in front of me.”