Chapter Four
Tucker watched as Lucas left the room to get his daughter. He smiled thinking how relaxed he felt being around the other man.
Other than the other night, he hadn’t had a chance to hang out unless it was with his brother and nephew. Tucker got up, pickingup the empty beer bottles and walked into the kitchen dumping them into the trash. He liked what little he’d seen so far and noticed a pattern with the entire Hamilton clan, filthy rich but don’t live or act like it.
Money didn’t dictate their standard of living and Tucker liked that about the entire family. Lucas’ home looked as inviting on the outside as it did on the inside. From what he guessed, it wasa four-bedroom, three-bathbrownstone.The neighborhood was so quiet he almost forgot that he was in New York. Heopened the refrigerator and got a bottle of water. He needed to stay a bit sober since he still had to drive back to his hotel.
“Cheese, that’s all you want? You’re going to have to eat more than just cheese, Zoi, or at least that’s what your grandmotherkeeps telling me.”
Tucker leaned back against the counter and watched as Lucas walked into the kitchen with Zoi in his arms. She turned and stared at Tucker as if wondering who he was and what was he doing there in the first place. He smiled at her hopingthe effect he had on her the night before lasted. It didn’t seem as if that was going to be the case. Her expression remained stoic.
What a serious kid.
He waved at her, and when he didn’t get a response, he mentally shrugged and drank more of his water.Lucas set her down, and she held onto his pants still looking at Tucker.
“I guess whatever magic I had last night wore off,” he commented.
“Don’t feel bad, she gives my parents the cold shoulder sometimes, as well.”
Tucker realized that Lucas was trying to soothe his ego as he walked over tothe fridge and got a stick of cheese from the refrigerator. He opened the package giving it to Zoi, who whispered a thank you so low Tucker had to strain to hear it.
“I guess I should start dinner . . . I did promise you that,” he said looking at him.
“I could help, if you want,” Tucker said.
“You don’t have to do that,” Lucas said chuckling.
“It’s cool. And I want to,” Tucker told him truthfully. “I don’t think Zoi will be letting go of your leg anytime soon.”
“I could put her in her booster seat. I think as long as I’mclose she’ll be fine. And the longer you’re around she’ll get used to you.”
“All right.”
Tucker set his water bottle down, walked over to the sink and washed his hands. Grabbing the towel resting beside the sink, he turned as he dried his hands. “What do you need me to do?” Lucas already had Zoi sitting at the table with a coloring book and a few crayons in front of her. He must have had them hidden somewhere and Tucker tried to remember if he had seen any in the immaculate kitchen.
“I already have the steaksmarinating,” Lucas said. “Damn, I forgot to ask if you had any food allergies.”
“Only to horrible cooking,” Tucker said with a smile.
“Okay, good, let’s get cooking.” Lucas smiled walking over to the sink washing his hands. Tucker handed him the towel he still heldin his hand, their fingers brushed together, and he felt a spark pass between them. “Thanks.”
He watched Lucas to see if he noticed but he seemed more eager to get cooking more than anything else.Why do I feel disappointed?“You seem eager,” Tucker told him.
“Ah, yeah, I get to show off my amazing cooking skills.” Lucas draped the towel over his shoulder.
“That confident in your cookingskills,are you?” Tucker chuckled.
“You’ve met mymother,right? It’s a rule that all Hamilton men know how to cook, including my dad. However, I must warn you, I like things spicy,” he said with a wink.
“Well, then, Hamilton, wow me with your magnificent skills,” Tucker said with a chuckle.
* * *
Lucas smiledwhile watching Tucker help Zoi color. After Tucker helped Lucas put together the salad and prepped a couple of things, Zoi’s icydemeanor started to melt. She became the lively little girl he knew, pulling Tucker’s attention from his task.
“Blue, are you sure?” Tucker asked Zoi when she gave him the crayon.
“Yes,” she said with a giggle then covered her face.
