“It’s not okay. I’ve never seen Pacino like this before. And he deserves to be happy. But his fucking family…”
“Don’t worry about it, Scotty. We were… done.” At least with that round.
Scotty flushes as he puts it together, and I giggle as I walk back to the bedroom. That was kind of fun. I’m learning why Tucker likes to rib people like he does.
Shutting the oven door, I reach for the timer. I can’t wait for Tucker to come home to the dessert his mom used to make for him. Or at least a variation of it.
Assuming his oven doesn’t burn it. I’ve had to learn quite a few adjustments to the way it bakes.
His kitchen could really use an upgrade. Or twelve. But it’ll do the job.
“I wonder what he’ll choose to eat first,” I murmur to myself as I smirk.
If I set a carrot bar on the nightstand while lying naked on the bed, which would he dive into first?
“Me,” I answer and giggle.
And it’s the truth. This man can’t get enough of our intimate moments together. He’s the most attentive man I’ve ever met in my life, and I love being able to please him.
He gives me a confidence that I’ve never had before. Around him, I feel sexy. And he never looks at me like he wishes I would tame my attitude. Be less of myself.
Tucker makes me feel like I’m good enough just the way I am. He doesn’t want me to change, and I want to find ways to show him how much that means to me. I know I’ve changed since being with him, and while I’m not exactly proud of everything—like stabbing Jake—I finally feel like a strong woman.
I’ve never felt that way before.
And I’m pretty sure he loves me whether he realizes it or not. He doesn’t tense when I look at him during sex anymore. The first few times after he told me about Joanna, he struggled. But he wouldn’t let me give him a break. He was determined to get pastit.
Then he told me something that still floors me. He needs me to look at him. To see him and watch him because he wants that connection. And he hasn’t wanted that with anyone until me.
Now, he stares into my eyes as he comes, and he smiles at me afterwards. The only thing better than Tucker smiling is Tucker laughing.
God, I will do anything to make him laugh. It’s not something he does often or gives away freely—unless sarcastically—and it’s like climbing Mt. Everest. Sure, he chuckles. And snorts. But laugh? It’s one of those things I live for, and I love that it’s possible but not something everyone can do.
The house alarm goes off, and I wait a moment, expecting Tucker to turn it off and appear in the kitchen. He would show up early and ruin my surprise for him.
But it doesn’t turn off, and I wonder if Scotty somehow forgot it was set before heading outside. I open the fridge and grab the cream cheese to set on the counter to get to room temperature for the frosting as I hear footsteps.
“Did you forget the alarm was on, Scotty?” I ask, shutting the fridge door and freezing.
Scotty struggles against three large men in black suits, one of them holding a gun to his temple.
They’re here for me. They have to be. And when Ryan walks in behind them, it confirms it.
I drop the cream cheese on the floor and stare with wide eyes. “Please don’t kill him.”
Sarah would be inconsolable if Scotty died, especially because he was trying to protect me. And I’d never forgive myself because it’s me Ryan wants.
All I get is a menacing smirk from the men, but Ryan steps forward and runs the back of his hand over my cheek. “That’s up to you, Phoebe. Will you come willingly?”
“Don’t do it, Phoebe,” Scotty says. “They’ll just kill us both.”
The alarm continues to blare in my ears, and I can’t think. I can’t find a way out of this. Is there even one? I can’t outrun them. And I definitely can’t outrun bullets.
Besides, running would ensure they kill Scotty.
The only safe place in the house is the safe room. In the basement. And I cannot go down there. Even to save my life. I’d go mad and probably hurt myself worse than what they’d do to me.
Knowing there’s no other option than going with them, I nod my head.
