I open my mouth.And then close it again.Because the truth is, I’m not entirely sure I want him to.That realization is hard for me to process.Instead, I step back and grab my coffee from the table by the door.“Come inside before the neighbors have something new to gossip about.”
He follows me in with that faint almost-smile on his mouth.
Breakfast is simpler this time—toast, eggs, coffee for him, and Quinn stumbling out in pajamas a few minutes later with bedhead and a delighted squeal of, “Porch man!”
Tucker laughs under his breath and settles at the kitchen table like he belongs there again.I really need to get a handle on this.After Quinn disappears down the hall to get dressed, I turn back to him.
“You still can’t keep doing this.”
He looks at me over his coffee.“Probably going to anyway.”
I narrow my eyes.“You’re impossible.”
“Been established already, babe.”
I shake my head, but there’s no real heat in it.
He studies me for a moment.Then says, “You and Quinn busy Saturday?”
My stomach tightens.“Why?”
“Freedom Falls spring festival.”
I blink.Stunt.He really had been opening the door for this.
Tucker sets his mug down.“Come with me.”It’s a statement, not a request.
The kitchen goes very still.I lean back against the counter, suddenly aware of every single beat of my heart.“As in what?”
His mouth twitches once.“As Lucy, Quinn, and me going to the festival.”
“That clears up nothing.”I challenge
“You want me to say date?”
Heat rushes into my face so fast it’s embarrassing.“I didn’t say that.”
“No,” he agrees.“You didn’t.”
I glance toward the hallway to make sure Quinn isn’t listening.Then back at him.“You really want us to go with you?Don’t feel obligated because of what your friend said.”
“Brother.He’s my brother and I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t mean it.”
“Why?”
His gaze holds mine.“Because it’ll be fun for Quinn.Because you should get a day that doesn’t involve work or stress.Because I want to take you.”
My breath catches.There it is.No joke.No sidestep.Just truth.I look down at my coffee mug because looking at him feels too dangerous all of a sudden.This is exactly the kind of complication I don’t need.
A biker.
A club Vice President at that.
A man old enough to know better and intense enough not to care.
A man who sleeps on my porch because it helpshispeace of mind.
This should be an easy no.Instead I hear Marlaina’s voice in my head.He’s a good guy.
