Or rather, the beginning of something rather spectacular between them.
6
It had been a very long week since Tucker had invited her on a Valentine’s date. She was impossibly nervous and excited all at once. A flock of butterflies danced in her stomach.
He’d emailed her a very specific list of instructions, and somehow that had made her more nervous.
“It’s because you are a control freak,” Crystal said when they had gone shopping for the right outfits on the previous Sunday afternoon.
“I am not!”
“Of course, you are. You’ve always been a wonderfully strong and determined person and a control freak. You like to be in charge and do things your way. It’s why you are good at your job, it’s how you saved up for your house, and there’s nothing wrong with it.”
“I just like to do things properly.”
“Same thing. What about this?” she asked, holding up a short, beaded dress.
Tucker said she needed beachwear and an overnight bag that contained a pretty dress. “He said pretty not sexy.”
“I think it’s pretty sexy.” Crystal laughed. “Anyway, I don’t think Tucker is the type to order you to wear a sexy dress, is he?”
She shook her head. “Definitely not.”
She flicked through another rack of clothes. Nothing jumped out at her.
“We’ll keep looking.”
In the end, they had ended back in that same shop and bought that exact dress, which was now in a small overnight bag along with two types of pajamas, sexy and staid, and an outfit for tomorrow. She was wearing a bikini under denim shorts and a pink T-shirt. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and she had on a white Panama hat.
And she was waiting downstairs for Tucker as instructed.
Except when a limousine pulled up and a chauffeur got out and introduced himself and asked her name, Tucker wasn’t there.
“He’ll be meeting us at our destination,” she was informed by the chauffeur as he closed the door.
That meant more time to be nervous. And more time to wonder about the day and what it all meant. What if Tucker was really just asking her out as friends? Maybe she’d read it all wrong. Then again, who sends their friend a limo?
The car snaked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and turned north toward the beaches. They headed through Mosman over the Spit Bridge and down toward Manly. What did Tucker have planned?
The limousine pulled up in front of Manly Wharf. She could see people running to catch the next ferry. The water was sparkling, and the sun was shining. If Tucker had ordered the weather himself, he couldn’t have done a better job.
And then she stepped out of the car, and he was standing there looking ever so sexy in a pair of khaki shorts and a crisp linen shirt. He also wore a huge smile.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, and by the way he was looking at her, she knew this day was not about friendship.
Tucker tried to look cool and casual when Mel climbed out of the limo, but that wasn’t how he felt. How could she be more beautiful than he remembered in just simple shorts and a T-shirt? He felt his heart beat fast and his pulse quicken as he closed the space between them and leaned in for a hug.
“Hey, Tucker,” she whispered into his chest.
The limo driver handed Tucker her overnight bag, and Tucker loped his other arm over her shoulder.
“Perfect day,” he said.
“Perfect,” she said. “I’m kind of excited about our adventure. Crystal says I’m a control freak, so not knowing is hard for me.”
“I remember you always peeked at your Christmas presents when we were kids,” he said, smiling down at her.
“You remember that?” He gave her a nod. “I sure do.”
“I guess I haven’t changed much.”
“Guess not. No need to change when you’re already terrific.”
She rewarded him with a grin. “So, do you want to let me in on the plans now?”
“Not yet.” He led her around the wharf to where a charter boat was waiting for them.
“Welcome aboard,” said Brad, the captain. Tucker handed him the bag he had promised to keep safe for the day.
“This is for us?” she asked.
“Just us,” he said, resting his hand on the small of her back and guiding her forward. Brad the captain took her hand, and she stepped onto the small boat. “Brad, this is Mel.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Mel, I think you are in for an amazing day.”
“I think you’re right,” she said, grinning.
Tucker hopped onto the boat. “Okay. Good to go.”
“Excellent.”
It wasn’t far to their destination, but Brad faked a right as they exited Manly Cove and did a small swing toward Forty Baskets Beach before heading back across the bay to Store Beach.
It was only early, and because it wasn’t a weekend, there were only a couple of canoes and paddleboards on the beach, which could only be accessed by water. Brad and his team had been there earlier and set up a small tent and two banana lounges for them as well as supplying a cooler full of food and drink and masks and snorkels. It was as close to being dropped on a tropical island in the middle of Sydney as you could get.
Mel’s eyes bugged out of her head as the boat pulled into the beach. “Seriously?”
“Uh huh.” At least, so far, he hadn’t gotten anything wrong.
Brad hopped ashore and offered Mel a hand, and Tucker followed her onto the beach.
Mel watched the boat leave and turned to Tucker. She was overwhelmed by the effort he had put in. Who did this? It must have cost a mint, but that wasn’t it exactly, it was the attention to detail and the thoughtfulness that blew her away.
“Tucker, this is seriously awesome.” She gave his hand a squeeze and walked up the beach to check out their tent. “I mean, look at this. It’s . . . amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it. This is a pretty amazing spot.”
“I’ve never been here.” It was like a hidden treasure.
“The old Quarantine Station is in the next bay, and this beach, Store Beach, is where they used to drop their supplies. Now it is a penguin colony.” He pointed to the bush behind the beach. “Lots of little penguins live in there.”
“Amazing.” She sat down on the banana lounge and kicked off her flip-flops. “I never would have guessed this in my whole life, and I spent a lot of the week guessing what you had planned.”
“That’s good, then. I succeeded in surprising you,” he replied, looking appropriately pleased with himself.
“So, too soon for champagne or would you rather snorkel first?”
Was it ever too soon for champagne? Maybe it would help calm those butterflies that had not settled since she laid eyes on Tucker.
He popped the cork and poured them each a glass of expensive French Champagne.
“To Valentine’s Day.”
“To Valentine’s Day.”
They sat on their lounges and looked at the view. She wasn’t sure who was more nervous. Mel pulled out her phone and took a couple of photos. “This seems unreal to me, Tuck. I might need evidence.”
He laughed. “You and me both. I can’t believe we’re here, together.”
The weight of the word together was obvious. “I’m glad we are.”
“Me too. I’ve been really nervous. It’s kind of ridiculous.”
She laughed. “Ah, I’m kind of more used to my dates playing it cool, Tuck.”
“Yeah, well first, I don’t want to hear about your other dates, and second, I guarantee you I’m nothing like them.”
That was already obvious. He was way better. Were there other guys out there like this, and if so, why, oh why, had she spent so many years dating jerks? That was a question for another time. This was a time to live in the moment.
She just smiled at him. “Well, this is magical.”
She sipped the champagne and let the bubbles dance across her tongue. So far, the nerv
es were not abating. The stand-up paddleboarders took off across the bay. She’d never tried it. Another thing to add to her list.
“Have you ever done that, Tuck?” she asked, pointing.
“No. You?”
“Not yet.”
“Maybe we can do it together sometime,” he said casually.
“That would be nice.” Sometime. There was going to be more sometimes. It felt funny because being with Tucker had been so easy the last few times, but now there was a nervous sizzle and neither of them wanted to screw things up.
“Ready to snorkel?”
“Sure.”
Tucker needed to move. He had energy to burn. He wanted to grab Mel, kiss her, and never let her go. That, however, didn’t seem like a great way to start, because if she wasn’t receptive, well, this was going to be a very long day indeed.
He grabbed their snorkels, and he prepared himself for seeing her in a bikini once again. This one was pink floral and rivaled the white one for sheer sexiness. His mouth went dry. He headed straight to the water and prepared their masks. Spitting in the masks wasn’t very romantic and hard with a dry mouth, but entirely necessary if he didn’t want them to fog up. He squatted at the shoreline and rinsed them. She came up behind him and rested her hand on his shoulder, her feet with pink-painted toenails just in the water.
“The water is so warm.”
“It’s about as warm as it ever gets in the harbor right now.” He looked up and smiled. “Lucky us.”
She sat next to him in the sand and put on her flippers, her shoulder brushing against his. Skin to skin contact. She said, taking the snorkeling gear from him, “It’s kind of hard to look attractive in a mask and snorkel.”
“I’m sure you’ll manage.”
They slid on their snorkels and entered the water. It was almost tropical in its warmth. Tucker reached out his hand for Mel’s, and she took it. They snorkeled that way for an hour. Hand in hand, side by side across the small bay. Pointing to fish species and shellfish and popping their heads up occasionally to comment on something.
When they swam ashore, it felt normal again. Like the weirdness had somehow been washed away.
“That was awesome,” Mel said, peeling off her mask.
“Did you see that huge bream?”
“I know, he was amazing. It’s kind of scary when they brush past you, even though I know they can’t hurt me.”
“I would protect you,” he said.
“I know, Tuck. That’s part of why I did it. I might have been too scared otherwise.”
His eyes bugged. “I didn’t know you were scared.”
“Not scared, I suppose apprehensive. I’ve only snorkeled in Fiji. It just feels different doing it here. I’m so glad I did it.” She grinned at him.
“Time for more champagne then.” He reached out his hand and pulled her up. She lost balance, and her soft, wet body pressed against his. Dear lord, she felt good.
Then she reached her arms up around his neck and hugged him. “Thanks, Tuck, best Valentine’s Day ever.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, and his resolve not to kiss her evaporated. She was right there already in his arms and hugging him. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.
He was worried she would pull back, but she didn’t. She tasted salty like the sea but oh so sweet. He wanted to deepen the kiss, but he didn’t. There was plenty of time.
“Come on, let’s get something to eat as well.”
Tucker had just kissed her. Admittedly, she had thrown herself at him, but then he’d pulled away just as quickly. Was she misreading the signals, or was he just being cautious? He hadn’t dropped her hand as they made the short walk to the beach. In fact, he’d held her hand the whole way through the snorkel, and that was all that had made her feel safe because some of the creatures swimming beneath them, whilst beautiful, were kind of scary. She struggled to get a read on him. She knew he liked her, but he was taking things agonizingly slow. Mel wasn’t a one-night stand kind of a girl, but she also wasn’t one for chaste romance.
Maybe that’s what she had done all these years. She had no idea. She didn’t know if it was her or if Tucker had an image or idea of her that he’d kept in his mind since they were teenagers.
What she knew was she was on the most romantic date of her life, with the kindest and sexiest guy she knew, and she definitely had big, big feelings for him. Weren’t they supposed to be all From Here to Eternity down on the sand?
Tucker handed her a glass of champagne and stepped in close. “Cheers.”
“Cheers.”
He took a slow sip of his and muttered something under his breath that sounded a bit like dammit. Then he pulled her in close with his free hand, and his mouth came down on hers. Hot and urgent and full of longing, and her body responded to the warmth of him and the solid feel of him, and the fact that even though her legs were like the jellyfish they’d swum over, she knew he wouldn’t let her fall.
Then he pulled back. “Uh, sorry, I mean, not sorry I did it, but you know, sorry because I was trying to well, you know?”
He still had his arm around her waist. She shook her head at him. “You were trying to what, hold back?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?” He let go of her, and she wished he hadn’t. “I’m a big girl, Tucker. I’m not fifteen, you know.”
“I know, and thank god you didn’t look like this at fifteen, I just . . . we have plenty of time. I want to enjoy the day . . .”
“You didn’t enjoy kissing me?” she teased.
“Obviously, I hated every second,” he deadpanned. “Torture.”
She swatted him. “Okay, I asked for that. I don’t think you need to be so worried about treating me like I’m made of glass, Tucker.”
“Hungry?” Okay, he wanted to change the subject.
“Starving actually.”
“Excellent.” He bent over the cooler, and it gave her a fine opportunity to examine his rear end. He really was a spectacular-looking guy. And lucky her, he was all hers.
He placed a seafood platter on the small outdoor table between their chairs. Oysters, prawns, crab, dipping sauces, and sliced fruit. It was amazing.
“If I’m ever stranded on a tropical island, Tucker, you’re my guy,” she said.
“I hope so,” he said firmly. “Now let’s eat. I was at the airport mighty early this morning. Sleep deprivation makes me hungry.”
“You flew in today?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I had some serious meetings I couldn’t reschedule yesterday. It seemed like the best plan.”
Which, of course, made the fact that Tucker had organized all this even more amazing. “Tuck, that’s incredible. I’ve been meaning to ask you. What is your title at the architectural firm? Like, what do you do exactly?”
“I’m a partner now. It’s another older guy and me. It was two old friends and one retired and one, who is my mentor, is still there with me.”
“You’re a bit of a big shot, then, Tuck?” she teased. The truth was, though, he probably was. “Tell me about your latest project.”
They sat there enjoying their seafood and champagne in the heat of a perfect summer day while Tucker explained the design of a small shopping center for a rural Queensland town to Mel. He was passionate about his work, but his explanation was also clear and engaging to her.
“Is that your favorite sort of project, you know, commercial property?”
“Not at all,” he said, taking an oyster from the platter. “I got into architecture to design houses, well, homes actually.”
“Not big projects. Don’t all architects want to design a skyscraper or a museum?”
“Yeah, most do, but for most people, their entire life is about their home. They save to buy it, they imagine it, they spend the bulk of their time in it, have a family there, and entertain. Their homes are their lives. Better housing means a better life. To me, that was the attraction.”
“That’s so beautiful, T
uck.”
“I don’t know if it is beautiful, but it is true. A house isn’t a home, but if the structure is well designed, it makes it more than a building.”
“Like your house. You can really see the time and care you put into it.”
Tucker sat back in the limousine. They’d finished lunch and had another snorkel before Brad had come back with the boat to collect to him.
Now in the back of the car, Mel was nestled in the crook of his arm, all warm and sun-kissed.
“So, are you ready for another adventure?”
“That’s not the end?” she asked, her nose wrinkling in surprise.
“Not if you don’t want it to be. I have a few more things planned, but you can pull the plug any time you like.”
“I’m definitely not ready to pull the plug yet. This day has been so great.”
Part of Tucker wanted to quit while he was ahead, but he had a lot more planned. “Okay, you’re the boss.”
She laughed. “I don’t think so. It seems like you are very much in charge today.”
“Well, the bar is fully stocked. Do you want a drink?”
“Really? Well, it would be a shame not to.”
He cracked a couple of piccolos of champagne and poured them one each. She took a selfie of them. And then they toasted.
“I just want to say, Tucker, whatever happens, this has been seriously the best day ever. In fact, every day I’ve spent with you since we met up again has been amazing. Thank you.” She pressed a soft kiss to his lips.
He didn’t like the phrase “whatever happens” in the mix, but he’d focus on the kiss instead.
“I’m glad. It has been great for me too. You’ve made me realize I’ve been spending too much time alone and at work or working on my house. You’ve opened my eyes to the other possibilities.”
“Am I one of the possibilities?”
“Possibly,” he teased. They were on their way to the airport. He didn’t want to blow it now.
Be Mine: Valentine Novellas to Warm The Heart Page 8
