by Barbara Gee
He tapped her temple lightly with his index finger. “There’s a lot going on in there.”
Maddy cleared her throat, trying to ease the ache from holding back her tears.
“I’m glad we talked,” she eventually said, because it was a safe thing to say and it didn’t reveal her tortured emotions. “I don’t want awkwardness between us like there was today. If friends are what we’re destined to be, I hope I can be a good one.”
Tuck’s eyes dropped to her mouth, then he closed them for a moment, his jaw tight. Finally he stood up.
“I have to go, Madison.”
She nodded. “Thanks again for everything you did for me today.”
“Want me to get the lamp?”
“Sure.”
He put a finger on the switch, gave her one last long, searching look, then flipped it.
“Good night, Madison.”
“Good night,” she replied. “And Tucker? My friends call me Maddy.”
“Good night, Maddy,” he said, a smile in his voice.
Chapter 20
The days on the Full Heart passed pleasantly for all of them. Maddy’s physical discomfort diminished by the day, and she and Libby spent a good amount of time outside, either driving around in the Gator, or sitting out in the beautiful yard in the back of the house, enjoying the North Dakota spring weather, which was still cool but getting warmer every day. Maddy couldn’t wait until she was more mobile so she could enjoy more of what the ranch had to offer.
Things between Tuck and herself had returned to “normal.” That is to say they were able to talk and laugh and spend time together without noticeable tension. That’s not to say it was always easy. Maddy found herself missing him when he wasn’t around, her eyes lingered on him too long when he was, and when she went to bed she was all too aware of him in the next room. Libby had become more adept at transferring her in and out of the wheelchair but still couldn’t manage the high bed, so Tuck continued to get her out of bed in the mornings and put her in at night. Maddy couldn’t help but look forward to those brief moments.
He never lingered, though. They didn’t have any more late bedtime chats. Tuck was sticking to his guns and Maddy didn’t try to dissuade him.
On Tucker’s second to last day on the ranch, Libby again brought up the need to find someone to help with lifting Maddy in and out of bed, and carrying her up and down the porch steps when they went out on their excursions.
Maddy smiled at her friend across the lunch table, not looking at Tuck. “What about the guy we talked to in the stable yesterday?”
Libby’s face lit up. “Oh, gosh, yes, that’s a great idea. His name is Cal, do you know him, Aunt Kay?”
“Only enough to know which one he is. He’s the tall blonde guy with the cute smile, right? Virgil, how well do you know Cal? Can we trust him with our Maddy?”
“He’s certainly strong enough,” Virgil said. “I can talk to him about it.”
Tuck didn’t comment, and Maddy admitted to herself that she was a little disappointed. She had rather childishly brought up Cal, hoping for at least a hint of jealousy. Instead, Tuck didn’t say a word, just piled some more potatoes on his plate.
After lunch Tuck announced that he was going into Grand Forks to take care of a few things, and wondered whether anyone needed anything. Kay wrote him out a quick list of grocery items that weren’t readily available in the local stores, and Libby requested shampoo and moisturizer from an upscale department store.
“Anything for you, Maddy?” Tuck asked.
“No, thanks, I’m good,” she said.
“Oh come on,” Libby protested. “You’re saying there’s not a single thing you want?”
There were plenty of things Maddy would like to have, but she wasn’t going to let Tuck pay for them.
“I’m good,” she repeated.
“Surprise her, Tuck,” Libby said.
He smiled enigmatically and left. Maddy felt his absence more than she liked. Tomorrow was his last day at the ranch, and with so little time left, she hated that he would be gone until after dinner today.
When he finally returned at nine o’clock that evening, the Suburban was loaded down with groceries and a ton of other things. While Libby and Kay were busy putting things away in the kitchen, Virgil and Tuck each came in carrying large boxes.
“Here are your surprises, Maddy,” Tuck said with a slow smile. The men set the boxes close to her chair, then Virgil went to find Kay.
Maddy frowned. “I didn’t need anything. And I can’t pay you back because I don’t have my credit cards or checkbook here.”
“It’s on me, and before you refuse, at least take a look at what I got.”
She obediently leaned over and looked at the boxes. The first one was a shower chair, which she realized would allow her to actually take a shower instead of washing up at the sink, providing she could wrap her casts with something to keep them dry. Even as that thought crossed her mind, Tucker handed her a package of waterproof cast wraps. She had to blink back tears at his thoughtfulness, and she quickly turned to look at the other box before he could see them.
“I have no idea what that is,” she admitted, reading the words ‘bed trapeze.’ “I don’t think I’m ready for the circus.”
He chuckled as he squatted down to her level and patted the box. “This contraption will take care of the issue of getting you in and out of bed. It has an arm that sticks out over the bed and has a trapeze thing that hangs down so you can grab onto it and help lift yourself up. Between this and Libby, you should be able to handle the transfer from your chair pretty easily. I’ll get it set up tomorrow.”
Maddy looked at Tuck and smiled, her eyes sparkling. “These are really good surprises.”
He gave her a crooked grin. “And they eliminate the need for a big blonde ranch hand with a ‘cute smile’ to come into your bedroom.”
Maddy laughed. “Libby might be upset about that, actually.”
“You’re not?”
“Not at all. But I’ll still need Cal to get me down the porch steps when Libby wants to cart me all over the ranch.”
He stood and looked down at her. “Oh, didn’t I tell you? I have a crew coming tomorrow to start putting a ramp off the north end of the porch.”
Maddy’s jaw dropped. “Tucker! We can’t modify Virgil and Kay’s porch just for the short time I’m going to be here!”
“Virgil was all for it when I made the suggestion. It’s something they’ve been planning to do anyway.”
“Are you sure? I know it’s going to be expensive,” Maddy said, her eyes worriedly searching his.
Tuck leaned over and put his hands on the arms of her wheelchair, his face close to hers, his gaze earnest. “Let us do this. I know you’re not used to being on the receiving end of things, but we want to do it. And trust me, the cost isn’t an issue.”
“It just seems like too much.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I want to know you’re taken care of when I leave.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell him she didn’t want him to leave, to beg him to stay. Of course she didn’t, but some of what she was feeling must have shown in her eyes. Tuck’s expression softened and he smoothed a hand down over her hair. Maddy thought she saw regret in his own eyes, but then he straightened up and turned away from her.
He hoisted the box with the shower chair onto his shoulder.
“I’m going to go get this thing put together.”
“Thank you, Tucker,” Maddy said sincerely.
“You’re more than welcome. Oh, one more thing.” He walked behind her and she heard the rustle of a plastic shopping bag. He put it in her lap as he passed by on the way to the stairs. “I couldn’t resist, but probably should have,” he said over his shoulder, his white teeth flashing as he grinned.
Maddy watched him go up the stairs before opening the bag, because watching the man from behind had become one of her favorite things
to do—second only to watching him come toward her. God had sure known what he was doing when he put Tucker Simon together. His long, lean, muscular build and the athletic grace with which he moved was a potent combination, and Maddy was definitely not immune to its effect.
“Whatcha got there, Maddy?”
Libby’s cheerful question drew Maddy’s attention from Tuck to the bag in her hand.
“I don’t know what this is yet,” she said, indicating the bag, “but Tucker just took a shower chair upstairs to put together for me, and he got this trapeze thing for my bed so you and I can get me in and out by ourselves.”
“Ooooh, you’ll finally be able to take a shower,” Libby crowed happily. “I know you’ve hated washing up at the sink. And this—” she gave the big box on the floor a light kick, “this is Tuck’s way of making sure there are no cowboys coming to your room when he’s gone. I know my big brother all too well.”
“He’s just trying to make it easier for us,” Maddy said, even though Tuck had basically admitted the same thing.
“Open the bag,” Libby urged. “It’s from the same store all my stuff came from, so it’s gotta be good.”
Maddy obliged and pulled out bottles of shampoo, hair conditioner, body wash, and lotion, all in a peach-coconut scent. Libby immediately popped open the top on the body wash and inhaled deeply, groaning in delight.
“Oh my gosh, Maddy, this is divine. I might have to borrow it, if I ever find a guy to take me out on the town here.”
“Well, you’re going to have to think up a different way of getting to know Cal, since he won’t be showing up in my bedroom every morning and night.”
“I’ll think of something,” Libby said confidently. “The guy is seriously good looking, what with that sexy cowboy hat and all, don’t you think?”
“He is. And you can borrow this stuff any time. I’ve been using your things for a week now, after all.”
“Come on, let’s go see if Tuck has that chair together yet. You, my dear, are about to experience the best peachy smelling shower a girl ever had.”
“And I’m excited. Push me, Lib. Our elevator awaits.”
Tuck had a good start on the chair when they wheeled into the bedroom. Maddy watched him finish it up, noticing how competently he wielded the screwdriver, and that he hadn’t even unfolded the instruction sheet. The man was apparently handy with his hands, along with all his other talents.
He turned the last screw, flipped the chair right side up and leaned on the arms, wiggling it and testing its strength.
“I think it’s good to go. You ladies in a hurry or something?”
“This will be my first real shower in five weeks, what do you think?” Maddy asked, her eyes shining in anticipation. She was clutching her bag of goodies, and it made Tuck smile.
Libby hugged her brother. “Thanks, Tuck. You did good.”
He kissed the top of her head and then carried the chair into the bathroom, where it fit comfortably in the roomy tiled shower.
“Have at it, girls. Call me when you’re ready to get in bed, Maddy.” He left the room, smiling at the sound of their excited giggling.
An hour later, Libby summoned Tuck. He headed to Maddy’s room, smelling peaches as soon as he got within ten feet of her door. Yeah, it definitely might not have been the smartest thing to buy all that stuff for her. It’s not like he needed yet another thing to tempt him, but when he had seen it in the store, and made the mistake of stopping to smell it, there was never a question that Maddy would have it.
He tapped on the half open door. “You decent?” he called.
“Yep, I’m ready,” Maddy replied.
Tuck went in, grinning when his eyes fell on a beaming Madison. Her hair tumbled thick and soft and shiny around her shoulders, her skin glowed, and her wide smile turned him inside out.
“That was incredible, Tucker. The best thing ever. I don’t know how you knew to get that chair, but it’s the best gift I’ve ever had.”
Libby was tidying up the bathroom but she called out to him. “It’s awesome. All I had to do was put the wrap thingies on and then lift her in the chair and she took it from there. Our girl likes being independent, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“And the shampoo and all the other things are amazing. I felt like I was at a spa.”
Libby emerged with an armful of towels. “I’m going to run this stuff down to the laundry room. You guys okay in here?”
“Yep, I’ll take care of her,” Tuck said. “Night, sis.”
The girls said their goodnights, then Maddy held up her arm. “I’m ready. I sat under that wonderful hot water so long I’m more relaxed than I’ve been in forever, and that bed looks awfully inviting.”
“At your service,” he teased, lifting her into his arms. Unable to resist, he pushed his face into her hair and inhaled deeply. “Mmm. Smells even better on you than in the bottle.”
His low voice made her shiver and his arms tightened. Maddy didn’t look at him, because she knew he would be able to read everything she was feeling in her eyes. And she felt so much her throat ached from holding it all in.
He deposited her onto the bed and tugged the blankets up for her to tuck under her arms. She always sat up against the headboard while he was there, scooting down to lie flat later. He knew she was self conscious in the skimpy clothes she wore to bed, but she looked so good in them he was always sad to see the blankets go up.
He had put a box on the bedside table when he walked in, and he retrieved it now, settling down on the edge of her bed.
“Last thing, Maddy,” he told her, lifting the top off to reveal a shiny new iPhone. “Libby said this is the kind of phone you had before.”
Maddy’s eyes lit up and she nodded. “It is, but mine was an old model. You have to let me pay you back for this, Tucker. I won’t take it if you don’t.”
“We’ll talk about it later,” Tuck said evasively. “It’s activated and ready to go, but it’s not in your name, just in case Jimmy’s tech guy is smart enough to try to trace you through a cell account. For now you should use it to contact only Libby, me, Virgil or Kay. It does have a data plan, though, so you can use the internet. Just don’t google anything related to your old life or to Jimmy.”
He handed her the phone and Maddy reluctantly took it. “I hate being so indebted to you.” She turned the phone on and waited for the main screen to come up. When it did, Tuck reached over and tapped the icon for the contact list. Maddy smiled as a single name was displayed. “Tuck.”
“Now we can keep in touch,” he said. “That number is for my personal phone, which Jimmy doesn’t know about, so he can’t track any calls in or out. You can call, text, or email me anytime, okay? I’ll always be glad to hear from you.”
She giggled. “We’ll see how long that lasts after I start texting you a hundred times a day.”
“Feel free,” he said, chuckling. “I can’t guarantee I’ll respond to them all, but I’ll read them. And if you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”
“I know. I couldn’t ask for better friends than you and Libby.”
His expression darkened. “I’m not sure how you can say that, Maddy. We’re the reason you’re here.”
Maddy held up a hand, glaring at him. “Don’t start with that, Tucker. And if feeling guilty is why you bought me all this nice stuff you can just take it all back.”
He met her angry gaze for a long moment. “I do feel guilty, Maddy, I won’t lie to you about that. But that’s not why I bought the stuff. I bought it because I wanted to see you smile, and I want to be able to stay in touch with you. So basically my reasons are completely selfish.”
His slow smile drew a reluctant nod from Maddy. “I want to keep in touch, too, so I guess I’ll have to keep it.”
“Good.” Tuck stood up. He needed to get away from the fierce temptation that was Madison Harper. Sitting there all soft and warm and glowing and smelling of peaches—the desire to take her in his arms and k
iss her senseless had his whole body tense with denied need.
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” Maddy said softly. “Thanks again for all the stuff. My shower was so awesome.”
“You’re very welcome. See you in the morning.”
Maddy nodded, watching him go. He felt her eyes on him, and he wondered what she would do if he turned around and went back to kiss her the way he longed to.
She’d kiss you back. He knew that in his heart and soul. It was only his need to do right by her that kept him moving to the door. A final smile over his shoulder, then he flipped off the light and left her.
Chapter 21
Maddy slid down in the bed, pulled the covers up under her chin, and let out a long sigh. Could he be any more ideal? Tucker’s purchases showed the kind of man he was—thoughtful, intuitive, and generous. He didn’t miss a beat, either. He had already arranged a return trip to the Mayo Clinic for her checkup, hired the best physical therapist he could find, and contracted a guy to build a ramp off the front porch.
Although she was grateful for all he had done for her, Maddy also knew his well laid plans meant he wouldn’t need to make a trip back out to the ranch anytime soon, and for that she grieved. It had been so easy to get accustomed to his presence here at the Full Heart. The three of them had shared almost every meal, and spent hours together in the evenings, talking, laughing, playing cards, and watching TV.
One more day with him was all she had. The house would seem so empty when he left.
Maddy rubbed her eyes, smelling the lotion on her hand as she did so. She knew the scent of peaches would always cause her to think of him, and miss him. She hoped Tuck would sometimes think of her, too.
Tuck knew sleep would be elusive, so he went to bed late, hoping he’d be so tired his mind would shut off and let him rest. It didn’t work. He tossed for an hour, then two, then went downstairs to the kitchen for a cold bottle of water. When he walked by Maddy’s door, which was cracked open a few inches as usual, he smelled a hint of peach and smiled. The light, sweet scent suited her so well.
