“Okay, I’ll take possibly.”
“Hey, are we going to the airport?”
“Yeah.”
“Tucker!”
“Yes, Mel.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Nowhere that exotic, I know you have to be back for work the day after tomorrow.”
“I’m sure it’s fun. Okay, let me guess.”
It didn’t take her long to guess Brisbane. “That’s very cool.”
Well, he hoped so.
He’d booked them in business class on the rival airline. “I feel like I’m cheating.” She laughed.
“I know, but you don’t have business class to Brisbane, and I didn’t want you to see people and feel like you were working.”
“You are so considerate.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. Okay, maybe being a nice guy was going to work out for him in the end.
7
Tucker was driving them across the city toward his house. The sun was setting, and the sky was a wash of pinks and purples as they made their way through traffic. Every so often he’d look at her and give her one of his sexy smiles, and her insides quivered.
He hadn’t kissed her again since that kiss on the beach, and the anticipation was killing her. Crystal was right, she was a control freak, and she felt completely out of control. Still, she felt safer with Tucker than she had with anyone. It was nice to sit back, relax, and let someone who had her best interests at heart steer the ship. Maybe that was it, she’d had to maintain control before.
“You look thoughtful over there, Mel,” he said.
“Yes, I was just thinking about how I’m letting you basically take over. I’m not very good at that usually.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah, I like to know what’s going on.”
“You want me to go all Dr. Freud on you?”
“Sure,” she said, laughing. “Shoot.”
“I think it is because you grew up in that lovely but crazy family. People in and out, boys wrestling in the living room, your parents yelling from room to room. You learned to control what you could.”
She blinked hard, and her eyes pricked with tears. Tucker squeezed her hand. “Did I upset you? I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m not upset.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. How embarrassing, Melissa Garibaldi did not cry. “I’m just touched that you have thought about it, and you know you’re probably spot on.”
“I’m not criticizing your family, Mel. I loved them, but you know I could walk home to calm and serenity and things being exactly where I left them and how I liked them. You never had that.”
“Until I bought my flat, I’ve never had my own space. You know, shared housing, it’s not all that flash.”
“Oh, I know, I lived in that fraternity, remember? And it is nice to have nice things.”
“Is that why you did your house, Tucker?” He hadn’t let go of her hand. And it felt so warm.
“Actually, I built that house hoping I’d find someone to share it with and help fill it up with some noise and craziness.”
Man, she loved his honesty. That was kind of an overwhelming reveal too.
“And if that doesn’t happen?”
He shrugged. “I’ll probably sell it and start a new project. Let some other crazy family make it theirs.”
“But you put so much work into it.”
“It’s like I was saying to you today. At the moment it is a house, and a beautiful one I agree. It needs a family to make it a home.”
They turned into the driveway of his house. The front was dripping with pink bougainvillea, and the thought that Tucker might part with it made her sad. Then again, maybe he wouldn’t need to.
He clicked the door opener, and they were in his cool garage. A shiver crept over her.
“Cold?”
She wasn’t cold. It was anticipation, but she fibbed. “Perhaps a little.”
“Come on, it will be warm upstairs,” he said, holding out his hand to her. “And you might want a shower, too, to wash all the salt off.”
The staircase led into that beautiful kitchen, and her breath was a little taken away again. Even though Tucker said it was just a house, it wasn’t. She could see him everywhere. The attention to detail, the care, the quality all screamed Tucker to her. They were good qualities in a person and a house.
The clock on the oven said it was five fifty-five. “What time are our dinner plans? I assume we have dinner plans.”
“We do. Not till seven.”
“And you are not going to let me in on them?”
“Not yet.” He gave her a cheeky smile.
“You’re so loving this.”
“I kind of am. I guess I’m a planner too, but you know, it’s usually all about me. It has been nice to be making plans for someone else for a change.”
“Well, I’m glad you chose me,” she said.
“Me too.” He looked like he had more to say, but he held back. “Water?”
He busied himself getting their drinks, and she watched him. He moved easily. He was a big guy, but he didn’t move like he was weighed down. He seemed almost fluid to her, light. He also didn’t look like he was trying too hard. His clothes were now crushed and salty, his hair was sticking up in odd directions, and a light five o’clock shadow was scattered across his chin. He had never looked sexier.
When he crossed the room to give her the glass, she had to touch him. Mel grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss.
“Thanks, Tucker.”
“If you’re going to do that every time I get you a drink, you’ll never be thirsty again,” he teased when they finally pulled apart.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Okay, so the guest bathroom is, well, you know, you did the tour, it is off the guest room. Towels, soaps, etc. are all in there. Help yourself and if you need anything extra, sing out.”
“What if I’ve brought the wrong outfit?”
“Impossible.”
“You’re very sure of yourself, mister.”
“No, I’m sure of you.”
Tucker headed to his room to take a lightning-fast shower. He was banking on the fact that Mel would be longer to give him time to put the final part of his plan into action. Being busy and a little rushed was an excellent distraction from thoughts of the beautiful woman he knew he loved being naked in the shower down the hall. He really would rather just join her in there and let the rest of the evening’s plans fall apart, but he’d come this far.
She was now kissing him. This was a good sign. Maybe it was the romance of the day, but he didn’t think so. She was looking at him and listening to him and seemed really genuinely interested in his life and his work.
Tucker toweled off and put on a shirt and some dress pants and a whack of his favorite aftershave before heading to the kitchen. The caterers had just texted to let him know they were here.
He ushered them quietly into the kitchen. One guy headed out to the balcony to set up, and another gave him instructions about the meal. They were quiet and stealthy and gone in under ten minutes, all evidence of them having been there hidden when Mel emerged, looking like a vision, at ten minutes to seven.
The dress she wore was white and lace and beads, and she looked like a mermaid come ashore. Her dark hair was cascading down, and she wore cute little silver shoes. Tucker reminded himself to breathe.
“You look amazing!”
She did a little twirl. “Thanks, I hope it really is appropriate.”
Tucker had many adjectives twirling through his mind. Hot. Sexy. Goddess. Appropriate wasn’t on the list.
“Absolutely.”
“So, do we need to leave soon?”
Tucker picked up his keys as if he were driving her away. “Yep, this way.”
He led Mel out the side door to the balcony that was dark except for about fifty glowing candles in hurricane lamps, ornamental birdcages, and tealights. The table was set and covered with
pink rose petals. Soft music was playing, and the pool was lit up like a small lake. It even had a boat with floating candles on it.
“Tucker.” She sucked in her breath. “This is . . .”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Mel,” he whispered from behind her. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a soft kiss to the side of her cheek.
She turned in his arms so her perfect mouth was upturned to his. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Tucker.”
He pressed his lips to hers, and they parted, welcoming him in. It was a kiss filled with passion and promise. A kiss he hoped would be the first of a series of kisses that never ended.
“I can’t believe you’ve done all this for me, Tucker.”
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, Mel, but I kind of like you.”
“Kind of, huh?” She smiled.
“Yeah, kind of a lot.”
“Even so, Tucker, this is almost too much.”
“You want me to blow out some candles . . .”
She gave him a swat. “That’s not what I mean.”
“I know. I just wanted to make it memorable. You’re special to me, and so I wanted to show you that. I’m more of an actions rather than words kind of a guy.”
“Well, you showed me all right. I kind of don’t feel worthy.”
Tucker took her face in his hands. “The thing is you are worthy, you’ve always been worthy, and any man who doesn’t know that isn’t worthy of you.”
He gave her another slow, languid kiss.
“Okay. That is a concept that might take a bit of time to sink in.”
“I’ve got time, and I can’t think of a better way to spend it.”
She let go of him, and he missed her instantly.
Mel walked across to the table. She pulled her phone out of her bag and took a couple of photos. “Tuck, I need to remember this forever. It’s like a fairy garden.”
“It does look pretty cool.”
“How did you do this while I was here?”
“Fairies,” he teased.
“It is breathtaking.” She turned back to Tucker. He was looking at her, watching her sizing it up and taking it in. He looked casual, but she knew he wasn’t. She knew he wanted her to say or do something to assure him that this was going somewhere.
She couldn’t help but think that maybe Tucker was just too good for her. That this was more than she deserved. Look at this guy, he had everything going for him.
“Hey, Mel, champagne?”
“Sure. It’s a champagne kind of day.”
“I know. I may need to drink green smoothies the rest of the weekend.”
“You drink green smoothies?” She wrinkled her nose at the thought. “Maybe you’re not as perfect as I thought.”
He let out a guffaw. “I’m so far from perfect it’s not funny.”
“Not from where I’m standing.”
“I think it’s the dim lighting. No one is perfect, Mel. Everyone’s got flaws and foibles. It’s what makes people interesting, after all.” He handed her a champagne. “I don’t think you’re perfect.”
“You don’t?” She didn’t know whether to be hurt or not. “You look at me like you do.”
“No, I look at you like you’re perfect for me. Not the same thing.”
She couldn’t help but smile. That was it. He was perfect for her. She could see that now. He was a little uptight, maybe a bit serious, and that scared her. He wanted things she wasn’t sure she was ready for, so maybe not perfect, and he lived in another state. Yet, he was perfect for her. She could picture them together. And the thought of not seeing him, not talking to him nearly floored her.
“You’re right, Tucker,” she said. “You’re not perfect, but maybe we are perfect for each other.”
“There’s no maybe.” His mouth found hers, and he took her in a kiss that made her knees melt. He sat on a chair and pulled her onto his lap, never breaking the kiss.
“Wow,” she said.
His voice was ragged when he spoke. “Mel, do you know how many women I’ve loved in my life, like really properly been in love with?”
She shook her head. She wanted there to be only one answer.
“Just one. There was this girl I knew growing up. Smart mouth, lots of attitude, tough exterior, cheeky smile, and every time I saw her, my heart stopped. Just that one girl I’ve ever said I love you too.”
“Really?”
“I’ve waited a long time to feel that way about anyone again.”
“You love me?” She knew he did. She’d known from that first night in the pub. From the way he’d gone slow, been so thoughtful, done so much for her. He was right, he was a doer, and his actions spoke volumes. And somewhere along the line she’d fallen for him too.
“I do.” He nodded.
“Tucker? Guess how many men I’ve said I love you to.”
“I don’t want to know, Mel, it doesn’t matter . . .”
“Yeah, it does because the number is zero. I’ve never been with anyone who made me feel cherished the way you do, who made me feel safe. I love you, Tuck.”
“Really?”
She kissed him hard as if that would prove it. “Really.”
He gave her the biggest, sexiest grin she’d ever seen. It was a panty melter if ever there was one.
“Hey, Tuck. You think we could go try out that fireplace in your bedroom, if dinner will wait.”
He was on his feet with her in his arms in a heartbeat.
“Dinner can wait,” he said, carrying her toward his room. “I, on the other hand, don’t want to wait another minute.”
Author’s Note
This particular book has been a long time in the making. A few years ago, my husband had a side business going and we needed to deliver something from Sydney to Brisbane and we worked out the cheapest, fastest way to do that was for someone to take it in a suitcase and catch a plane. The someone in question turned out to be me.
I was in the very front seat of the plane, and a male and a female flight attendant sat opposite me discussing their lives. I heard quite a few intimate details, and it got me thinking. I came home and wrote this story that week.
For some reason for the past couple of years I kept meaning to get it finished and into the world, and it just didn’t happen. The fun part for me was when I reread this story late last year. I’d forgotten how many of the places I love most in Sydney featured in Mel and Tucker’s story. It’s as much a love story to Sydney and summer as anything else.
I hope you enjoyed reading Flight Bound as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Thank you for reading Flight Bound
If you liked Flight Bound, please leave me a review. Good reviews make an author’s day.
Sign up for my newsletter at www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com for information about new releases, promotions, and giveaways.
You might also like my other novels
Cinnamon Bay Romances
Love On the Boardwalk
Playing Doctor
A Christmas Arrangement
Courtside Romance Series
Playing at Love
Playing it Safe
Playing for Keeps
Playing with Trouble
Upper Crust Series
Any Way You Slice It, An Upper Crust Novella
Any Way You Dream It
Any Way You Fight It
Any Way You Plan It
Any Way You Want It
Any Way You Build It
Any Way You Spin It
Any Way You Like It
The Jewel Sisters Series
Something of a Spark
Something to Sing About
Something to Savour
Something Worth Saving
No Brides Club
No Time for Temptation, No Brides Club 4
Oceanic Dreams Series
Shut Up and Dance With Me, Oceanic Dreams 7
My stand-alone novels and novellas
/> Mr. Right and Other Mongrels
Hearts Afire
Alphabet Dating
Building Attraction
A Fair Exchange
Snowbound, a Chicklit Christmas Novella
Flight Bound, A Sweet Valentine’s novella
More Than Ornamental, A Christmas novella
About Monique McDonell
I am an Australian author who writes contemporary women’s fiction, including chick lit and romance. I live on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with my husband and daughter.
I have written all my life, especially as a child when I loved to write short stories and poetry. At University, I studied Creative Writing as part of my Communication degree. Afterwards, I was busy working in public relations and I didn’t write for pleasure for quite a few years, although I wrote many media releases, brochures, and newsletters. (And I still do in my day job!)
When I began to write again, I noticed a trend—writing dark unhappy stories made me unhappy. So, I made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending, and I have been writing happy stories ever since.
To learn more about me and my upcoming books please visit me at www.moniquemcdonellauthor.com.
Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
Goodreads
Bookbub
Don’t forget to read on for a preview of Something of a Spark.
Something of a Spark
A Jewel Sisters Romance
Chapter One
Caudal Bay unfolded before me like a vision. I drove down off the highway and there it was, the small beachside town I called home. I rolled down my windows and let the sea air in. Crisp and salty. Well, I didn’t actually call the bay home anymore because I lived in Sydney, but a part of me would always belong here.
Be Mine: Valentine Novellas to Warm The Heart Page 9
