by Holly Renee
We sat at a large round family table where everyone could see each other and talk easily. The conversation was relaxed and everyone was smiling and laughing. JoJo talked to me about a book that I had recommended to her that she had already managed to finish. She was fangirling hard over it, and it made me entirely giddy.
Tucker and the boys talked sports and fishing. Tucker kept his hand on my leg, his thumb rubbing circles on my skin, his touch driving me insane.
Even when he wasn’t talking to me, he would turn to me every few minutes to make sure that I was okay or to see what I was talking about with his mom. His attentiveness was getting to me more than his touch was. I didn’t know where we stood. Were we exclusive? Was this just sex?
I didn’t want to be that girl either. The girl who demanded a title for what we were. Who needed more than what he was willing to give.
My worries and fears bubbled up to the surface as I sat there looking around me. JoJo was laughing at something Brooke was talking about. The guys all seemed captivated by a fishing story Arnie was telling, and I was just sitting there, worrying my lip between my teeth.
Tucker looked over at me momentarily, and I smiled at him. He smiled back and turned back to his dad, but quickly looked back at me.
“You okay?” he whispered close to my ear.
“Yeah. Of course.” I nodded my head.
He pulled back slightly and looked me over. I smiled at him again, but I wasn’t sure if I was convincing either one of us.
He slid his hand along my face gripping my jaw then leaned his head into mine. He devoured my lips and stole my breath.
When he pulled away from me, I felt light-headed and swoony, and I wished there was no one else in the room. But Tucker had managed to push my insecurities down once again.
He placed his forehead against mine as he ran his fingers through my straight hair.
“You get me?” His words were barely a whisper, but I heard them loud and clear.
“I get you.” And I did. There was no mistaking the statement he had just made by kissing me like that in front of his family and friends, and when he settled back into his seat, I couldn’t stop smiling. Everyone was looking at us while also trying to pretend they were still having a conversation, and I blushed as Tucker took my hand into his.
By the time it was time for us to leave, my stomach was full and my worries were gone. I felt grounded, yet carefree, and deliriously happy. I promised JoJo that I would text her when we made it home, and I also promised her that I would read the book she recommended so we could talk about it.
She pulled me into another long hug before I made my way out the door. “Take care of my boy, Kennedy. Don’t hurt him. He deserves good.”
“Trust me. If anyone hurts anyone, it will probably be the other way around.”
She smiled down at me like she understood exactly what I meant, and I was sure that she did. Tucker acted just like his father, and she was clearly as in love with him as she had ever been. She knew the power these men could have on a woman.
“One word of advice, honey.” She leaned in closer even though no one else was near us. “Those men in our books will never hold a candle to the Moore men. Remember that.”
I giggled, but I knew exactly what she meant. Tucker was surpassing them all.
“We’re going out tonight.” Liam rubbed his hands together.
“But we have to leave early in the morning.” Brooke looked around our room that the two of us were currently lying in.
“So, get everything packed up tonight, but we’re going out to the bar. Get ready.” He closed the door behind him, and Brooke and I looked at each other.
“I’m doing your hair and makeup.”
I groaned. Loud.
“You have to look nice for your boyfriend,” she teased.
“He is not my boyfriend.”
“Then what is he exactly?”
“Umm,” I hesitated. “I’m not really sure, to be honest.”
“Well then let’s make you so hot that there will be absolutely no confusion.”
I buried my head under my pillow, but the more I thought about it the more her idea sounded good.
“Deal.” I peeked out from behind my pillow.
She squealed then started running around the room like a maniac.
“You do know we have to get all of this packed tonight.” I waved my hand around at all her clothes and hair and makeup products that were thrown all over the place.
“That is not top priority right now.”
I was hauled up out of the bed, and she pushed on my shoulders to get me to sit down in front of the mirror.
“Now let the master do her work.”
I laughed at her, but the look on her face made me shut up.
For good reason too. When I finally stood in the mirror, fully dressed and ready to go, I was almost as excited as she was.
I looked like myself, just a much sexier version.
My long, black hair fell in soft curls down my back, and Brooke had managed to give it volume that normally wasn’t there. The makeup around my eyes was dark and smoky, and it made my green eyes pop in a way that I had never been able to manage on my own. They looked alluring and almost seductive. Words that had never been used to describe me. Ever.
I was wearing one of Brooke’s dresses, and because she was much smaller than me, the black material clung to my skin and showed off every single one of my curves. Normally, I would have hated it, but I loved the way it looked on me. I felt beautiful. I felt sexy even.
“Please just put them on.”
I looked down at my bare feet then back at Brooke who was swinging a pair of black heels from her hand.
“I. Will. Fall.” I sounded out every word to make sure she heard me clearly that time.
“I promise that I will not let you fall. Just try them on. If you hate them, you can take them off.”
I grumbled but slipped my feet into the shoes. I grew about four inches instantly. And my legs. Did heels always do this to other girl’s legs? Because my legs looked awesome. I spun around in a circle. Honestly, just checking myself out.
Brooke looked like a giddy schoolgirl behind me. “You have to wear them. I lied you are not allowed to take them off.”
“I’m not taking them off, but if I fall, I will kill you.”
“Deal.”
We made our way down the stairs, and I could hear the guys talking and laughing in the living room. Brooke was in front of me, dressed similarly to me, but she was used to it. I wasn’t. I felt nervous. My heart was racing and my hands were sweaty.
When we finally made it to the bottom, I tried to pretend like I wasn’t dressed any differently than normal. I imagined that I was walking around in a pair of my Chuck Taylors and jeans. Comfortable. Not at all exposed.
But then I heard it, the sharp intake of his breath.
I finally looked up at him. He was wearing a black long sleeve button-up shirt that was rolled up to his forearms with a pair of dark blue jeans. He looked hot. He looked…
“Holy shit.”
Tucker was staring at my legs. His hungry gaze traveling over my body. His eyes tracked over every detail, taking his time, taking it all in. When he reached my eyes, he stalked toward me and buried his hands in my hair. He tugged me toward him, hard, and a shot of lust went through me. His lips crashed against mine, and I couldn’t stop my moan as his body pressed against me.
“You’re going to mess up her makeup.” I distantly heard Brooke say from my side, but I didn’t give a crap about my makeup. I didn’t care that they were standing there watching the two of us while went at each other like a couple of teenagers. All I cared about was that I was in Tucker’s arms and his lips were pressed against mine.
I felt drunk, and I hadn’t even had one drop of alcohol. My body was tingling. My knees weak. My heart racing. His tongue traced my lips and I followed its path before sucking it into my mouth. His hands on my back tightened, and I felt my dr
ess rise a little on my hip as the fabric bunched under his fist.
I wanted him. I needed him. Every single part of me was desperate for his touch.
“Well now that I’m hard.”
I pulled my mouth away from Tucker when Ryan’s words made it into my foggy mind.
“Really, Ryan?” Brooke’s hands were on her hips.
“What? That was hot as fuck.”
Tucker’s hands turned my head back in his direction and placed a soft, quick kiss to my lips.
“You look so damn beautiful.” He breathed against my lips.
“Thanks, Tuck.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
He continued to stare down at me without saying anything else, and everyone else was clearly waiting on us to leave.
“What are you doing?” I whispered to him.
“I’m trying to convince myself that I actually want to see my old friends tonight instead of marching you upstairs and fucking the shit out of you.”
My thighs clenched and I whimpered causing his eyes to darken even further.
“Firecracker.” His voice was a warning.
“I don’t need to meet your friends.”
His hand moved to my hip. His grip almost painful.
“Oh no, you don’t.” Liam pulled Tucker’s arm causing his hand to slip off my body. “A lot of people are meeting up with us, and we need to leave now before we never get you two out of the house.”
“You’re right.” Tucker didn’t look like he thought he was right. He looked like he wanted to throw me over his shoulder and carry me up the stairs. Which wasn’t a bad plan at all.
…
We walked into a small bar, and Tucker kept me tucked into his side. The place was crowded, and I saw Brooke’s eyes light up when she saw all the men that were greeting the guys as we walked in.
The only time Tucker let go of me was when someone would stop to hug him or slap his shoulder. He introduced me to almost everyone. You know, his good friend Kennedy.
I wasn’t expecting him to confess his undying love, but I thought maybe, I don’t know, that he would introduce me as more than just his friend. But instead of acting like I cared, I planted a big smile on my face and pretended like I wasn’t affected at all.
I knew it was unfair of me to be upset. We had spent one night together for crying out loud and we hadn’t talked about being anything more, but it was impossible for me not to be hurt. By the way he had treated me all day, I had thought that we were more than just friends. Maybe he just wanted to be friends with benefits?
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
We walked up to a table that had several guys sitting around it and a few women who were hanging on to them. The women were beautiful too. The type of girls I was used to seeing Tucker around.
He pulled a chair out for me to sit down, and I tugged on the hem of my dress to cover more of my thighs. Who decided this dress was a good idea again?
Tucker sat down beside me and introduced me and Brooke to everyone. I was too stuck in my own head to remember any of their names, but I nodded my head and said my hellos. Tucker put his hand on my knee and my anxiety settled a small bit.
I looked up at his profile. He was talking to one of the men who was sitting across the table, and he looked so carefree and happy. His jaw was still covered in scruff, and I decided that it was my absolute favorite look on him. His skin was tanner than normal from our days in the sun, and he looked unreal. Too good to be true. Too good for me. Too good to exist in my world.
I saw a flash of red hair, but I didn’t pay much attention until I saw her saddle up next to Tucker.
My Tucker.
She ran her blood red fingers down his arm and acted like seeing him tonight was the best thing that had happened to her all year. Not that I could blame her. He was the best thing that had ever happened to me as well.
“Tucker, you should have called me. I didn’t know you were back in town.”
“Sorry, Julie. We just came in to see the family and my boys.”
He slowly moved her hand off him, but I was still staring daggers at her. I never wanted to rip another girl’s hair out so badly in all my life. I was the girl who complimented other girls in the bathroom. I was not the jealous girl. At least not until now.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and I pulled my glare away from Tucker. There was another woman standing on the opposite side of me, except this woman was my favorite person in the world.
She leaned close to me and whispered in my ear, “Let’s go to the bar.”
I nodded my head then scooted my chair back to follow her. I saw Tucker’s gaze flash to me, but I didn’t stop to tell him where I was going. I just got up and followed my best friend.
“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you,” Brooke said as she handed me a shot.
“I’m not jealous.” I pouted. I actually pouted.
“Okaaayy,” she exaggeratedly drug the word out.
“I’m just frustrated.” I threw the shot back.
“Hey! We were supposed to take those shots together.”
“Then I’ll get another one.” I waved down the bartender.
“If it makes any difference at all, Tucker hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you got up.” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down.
“It doesn’t.” I raised my second shot, and she hit hers against mine before we downed the contents.
“Hey, ladies. Can I buy you all a drink?” I looked at the guy who was standing behind us. Brooke’s smile became bigger when she looked at him, and I knew why. He was hot. Like really hot. His head was covered in a baseball cap, his smile was sexy, and his body was built. It was easy to see even through his clothes.
“Hi. I’m Brooke.” Brooke placed her hand in his, and his sexy smile became even hotter.
“And what’s your name, sweetheart?” He turned to me.
“I’m Kennedy.”
I didn’t stick my hand out to him because I’m awkward and I forget how to act in normal situations when hot guys are around. He brushed my awkwardness off though, and he slipped my hand into his much larger one.
“It’s nice to meet you ladies. I’m James.”
He flicked his hand out and the bartender stepped in front of us. I was already feeling the effects of the two tequila shots that we had just taken, but I needed alcohol to get through the night so I threw caution to the wind and ordered a margarita.
Why the hell not?
I felt heat against my back. Pressed completely against the back of me, and I looked over my shoulder. Tucker was there staring daggers right at James.
“Tucker, what’s up, man?” James slapped Tucker on the shoulder, but Tucker didn’t look like he was happy to see him at all.
“Hey, James. I’m just coming up here to get my girl.” He wrapped his arm around my middle. “It seems she ran off without telling me.”
Excuse me?
I jabbed my elbow into his stomach to give him a warning to quit being a jerk, but he barely even budged. I wasn’t even sure if he felt it.
“This is your girl?” James looked down at me, but before I could answer with a big fat negative, the bartender set our drinks down in front of us.
James pulled his wallet out of his jeans, but Tucker beat him to it. He held out a twenty-dollar bill and James grumbled.
“Now, Tucker. I offered to buy these ladies a drink.”
“Well, James. I’m sorry, bud, but no other man is buying my girl a drink.”
I. WAS. FUMING.
“I wasn’t your girl a few minutes ago when you were introducing me to your friends.”
I heard Brooke snort, and when I looked over, she was hiding her smile by taking a sip of her drink.
“We didn’t talk about how you wanted me to introduce you,” he growled into my ear.
I turned to face him. “Yet, you didn’t care what we talked about when you came over here to piss all over me.”
“Kennedy.” His voice was a w
arning, but I didn’t care.
“Tucker,” I said back in the exact same tone.
He was staring down at me, but he didn’t have near as much height on me as usual with the heels I was wearing. When he didn’t say anything else after a moment, I started walking away from him and back toward the table.
Screw him and that damn margarita.
I didn’t make it but a few steps when I was tugged back against him.
“Don’t do that shit.” He growled, low enough that only I could hear him.
“Do what? Practically ignore you all evening then let you sit beside me while another man has his hands all over me?”
His grip tightened around me.
“I didn’t ignore you.”
“Whatever, Tuck. I don’t even care.”
“Yes. You do.” He pressed a barely there kiss behind my ear.
“Not anymore.” I attempted to stomp off, but he didn’t allow it. Instead, he threw me over his shoulder and stormed toward the door.
“Tucker!!! My dress.” I frantically tugged against the fabric to make sure it was covering my butt.
He slapped my ass, hard, and I yelped. He used the same hand to hold on to the fabric on my dress keeping me covered. The people around us cheered. They were all drunk and excited that Tucker Moore was carrying his girl out of the bar, but not me. I was furious.
“I am so damn mad at you, Tucker.”
“I got that, Firecracker.” He continued to walk, and I felt the temperature change when we stepped outside.
“Put me down.” My words were pretty jumbled since my body was bouncing against his shoulder.
“Not happening.” And he didn’t. He carried me the whole way to the truck, and only set me on my feet then.
“Get in the truck.” He pulled the door open.
“What is with you? You can’t just throw me over your shoulder when you’re not getting your way.”
“It’s worked so far.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Get in the truck.”
