Pulling the door shut behind me, I suddenly feel self-conscious since I’m in my sleep shorts and a raggedy t-shirt that I’ve slept in for over a year, and he not only looks nice, but he smells nice, too. Damn. I didn’t even look at my hair before I came down here; it probably looks like a rat’s nest.
My cheeks flush as I run my fingers through the long, tangled strands to make sure they’re not standing up in different directions around my face. Clearing my throat, I talk softly even though the crickets are challenging me to see who can be louder. “Hi.”
Stepping closer to me, he tilts his head, scrutinizing my face. His deep voice is soft but threatening. “What’s wrong?”
Okay, direct it is.
“Uhm, I just have a headache.” Looking around the area behind him, I look for any strange shadow or someone who doesn’t belong.
He gently grips my chin with his thumb and finger, tilting my head up toward the light. “No, you’ve been crying. What’s wrong? Did any of those guys bother you?” The hardness of his tone has gone soft, the baritone caressing me all over.
My cheeks turn scarlet because I know I look like a basket case right now, but the fact he came here and woke Allison up to check on me makes my eyes sting with new tears. I don’t trust myself to talk, so I shake my head. First, I can’t tell him about Matt. The last thing I want is to look as bad as it sounds, and second, I don’t think I can keep my voice from shaking.
Turning his hand, his eyes soften as he cups my cheek, the calluses of his palm warm against my skin. “Tell me why you’re upset.”
With a sniffle, I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Why are you here?”
Ever so softly, he slides his thumb across my cheek as he sighs a deep sigh. “I wanted to make sure you got home okay after your shift, but you weren’t there. Stony said you went home sick. I wanted to check on you.”
The smile I’m trying to hold back spreads across my face, and all the worries of today feel just a bit smaller. “You wanted to check on me?”
Softness I haven’t seen in his eyes before holds my gaze, and he nods his head. “Couldn’t sleep until I knew you were okay.”
For six months, I’ve made my peace with being alone. On more than one occasion, I’ve missed my Grams more than I can express, her warmth and unconditional love is something I fear I’ll never feel again. Many nights I have missed being kissed, touched, and held, but I’ve come to accept it.
To some, his gesture might be considered small or even nothing that a good friend wouldn’t do, but to me it’s more than I’ve felt in a really long time.
The town grump, who everyone accuses of not caring about anyone, left the warmth of his bed to drive into town at midnight to ensure I got home safe. And the way he’s looking at me is like the most brilliant sunshine on a wintry day.
On the inside, my chest is full and the fluttering in my stomach is moving lower, but I can’t control the tears of relief that fill my eyes. Relief for what? For months, no one has checked on me; no one has cared if I’m okay. The sheer unexpected kindness from this wounded and closed-off man, here in the middle of the night, breaks something open inside of me.
Not wanting to look like a blubbering idiot, I reach up to swipe the tear that just broke loose, but he softly grasps my wrist to stop me and then cups my face with both hands, his thumbs swiping the tears off my cheeks for me.
Sliding one hand around my neck, he says, “Come here.” I don’t resist when he pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me.
He feels so good. Everything about him is strong and hard, and my arms instinctively go around his torso, my fingers finding the hard muscles of his back. I melt into the warm, spicy, citrus smell of his cologne, and for just a moment, life isn’t so hard, and I close my eyes with a sigh.
A cool breeze moves across the porch, lifting my hair to blow across his arm, and goosebumps erupt over my body, including my front that is not covered by a bra. I hope he can’t feel that.
Keeping his chin on top of my head, he mumbles, “You’re cold.”
With one small shake of my head, I mumble into his shirt, “Only just now.” I don’t want him to let me go, I don’t want this moment to end.
His arms loosen from around me.No!But he cups my face again as my hands fall to his hips. “Go back in and get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The gold in his hazel eyes seems to swirl as his eyes volley between mine, and I nod. “Okay.”
Lowering his head, he brushes his lips against mine, but before he pulls away, he does it again, only longer. Before I realize I’ve done it, I part my lips and slide my tongue along the seam of his lips.
Like a door has suddenly been opened, his control slips and he kisses me like I’ve never been kissed before. His tongue slides against mine, his lips claim mine with a gentle force that has my insides lighting up like a lighthouse in the middle of a storm, leading him in.
A small moan escapes my lips into his mouth, and he stops to pull away. We’re both breathing harder, and his eyes are hooded but severe, like it’s taking all he has to stop. With one more soft, slow brush against my lips, he croaks, “Go.”
With one last look, I force myself to let go of his shirt and turn to go back into the house.
16
TUCKER
