by Rachel Hanna
“Sorry about that. I just figured you might be hungry.”
“I’m starving. But I do need to check my phone.”
He pursed his lips. “Why?”
“Excuse me?”
“Why do you need to check your phone?”
“Because I have cases, Tucker. I have responsibilities that I can’t just shirk.”
He sighed. “Fine. But you have to agree to turn the phone off for the rest of the day.”
“I’ll turn it over, but not off.”
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told,” she said with as much of a smile as she could muster. Everything in her body hurt.
Tucker handed her the phone. “Better go check the bacon.”
Samantha looked at her phone. She had three voicemails and six text messages. Part of her wanted to turn it off and forget she was an attorney. Some days, it was all too much responsibility. She loved her job, but running her own large firm was exhausting. It left little time for a real life. She didn’t travel or spend time with her friends much. Most nights, she was alone in her office until well after dinnertime, reviewing case files and answering emails.
“Eileen?”
“Sam? Thank goodness! I’ve been texting you since last night. We have some big issues on the Miller case. John totally dropped the ball…”
“Eileen…”
“Oh, and we got a continuance on the Salver Seafood case. Again. Ugh.”
“Eileen…”
“And the file on the Lander case is missing. Did you take it with you?”
“Eileen!” Samantha yelled into the phone.
“What? Jeez, you just about burst my eardrum, Boss!”
“Stop talking.”
“Okay,” Eileen said softly.
“I had an accident last night. I spent the night in the ER.”
“Oh no! What happened?”
Sam recounted the events of the last twenty four hours, including the wedding. When she was done, Eileen was quiet for once in her life.
“Is there anything I can do?” she finally asked, seriousness seeping into her words. And Eileen was rarely serious.
“No. I’m going to be fine. But I can’t really work or look at my phone for a few days. Otherwise it could set back my recovery. So, have Lou take over my cases until I call you back next week, okay? He should be able to handle things.”
Lou had been working for her for only a few months, but he was young and good at what he did. At least he could keep things moving until she got back.
“So, this guy… Tucker… he’s going to watch out for you? Do you trust him?”
Samantha smiled to herself. “I do, actually.”
“Hmmm… There’s something in your voice… Do you like this guy?”
Samantha paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully as any good attorney would. “I’m only here for a month.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“But that’s what I answered. Talk later,” Samantha said with a smile before she pressed the end button.
Samantha slowly walked down the hallway. She wasn’t supposed to be up walking around yet, but she was getting awfully bored lying in bed alone, staring at the prickly ceiling in her sister’s guest bedroom. She held onto the wall for stability, not so much because of her head injury but because her ribcage ached in a way she couldn’t describe.
“What are you doing out here?” Tucker asked, jumping up from the armchair where he was sitting watching some sporting event on TV.
“I’m getting a glass of water.”
Tucker blocked her exit from the hallway and crossed his arms. “Back to bed, lady.”
“I’m thirsty.”
“Then you could’ve called for me.”
“I didn’t want to bother you.”
“When has that stopped you before?” Tucker asked, a quirk of a smile on his face.
“Just let me get a bottle of water, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“Out of my hair?”
“Yes. I know how this works. A man likes to watch his sports crap alone.”
Tucker looked at the TV and then back at her. “I’m not watching sports.”
“I just saw it, Tucker. It’s fine. I just need to get a water, and then I can go stare at the cobweb forming in the corner of my small bedroom.”
Tucker chuckled. “First off, that was a news break that happened to include sports, which I don’t actually watch. Secondly, I’ll get your water.” He turned and jogged to the kitchen.
“I’m so bored in there,” Samantha whined.
“It’s only been a few hours,” Tucker said, handing her the bottle and turning her around to face the bedroom. “You’ll survive, I promise.”
“I don’t handle boredom well.” As she gingerly slid back into bed and opened the water bottle, Tucker stood in the doorway and smiled slightly. “What?”
“You really like to keep busy, don’t you?”
“Yes. I can’t do anything in here. I’m not tired anymore, and I’m going to go stir crazy in here.”
“Well, I definitely don’t want to see that side of you.”
Samantha stared at him for a moment and then patted the bed next to her.
“What?”
“Sit. Please.”
Tucker looked surprised and then uncomfortable. “Sam, I don’t think we should…”
“Oh, be serious! I’m just looking for some company, and you’re all I have in this whole town. Well, you and Sophie, but she almost killed me so we have some beef between us right now.”
He smiled and slowly walked around the bed before sitting down. “So what do you want to do?”
“Well, we could talk, I guess.”
“About?”
“Our lives. Our hopes and dreams. Pet peeves. That kind of thing.”
“That sounds… terrible.”
“Come on. Just play along.”
“Fine. But I get to ask a question first.”
Samantha nodded and leaned back against her pillow. “Ready.”
“What is your biggest fear in life?”
She looked over at him and laughed. “Wow. That’s a really serious question to start with!”
“Hey, it’s your game.”
“It’s not a game, Tucker. It’s called conversation.”
“Okay, stop stalling. Is it a fear of snakes? Tight spaces? Monsters under the bed?”
She paused for a few moments. “Being alone.”
Silence hung in the air for a few moments. “Being alone in what way?”
“No follow up questions in this game,” she said, wagging her finger at him.
“I thought this wasn’t a game?”
“My turn. Same question for you.”
Tucker pursed his lips and thought a moment. “I’m a tough guy. No big fears here.”
“Oh please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Don’t think I didn’t see you eyeing that spider on the deck the other day.”
Tucker chuckled. “Well, they aren’t my favorite insect. But they also aren’t my biggest fear.”
“So what is it?”
“I hate this game.”
“Not a game,” she said again.
“Okay, I would say my biggest fear is failure.”
“Failure? What do you mean?”
“No follow up questions, ma’am,” he said, putting his hand up. “My turn. What do you mean when you say you’re afraid of being alone?”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “Maybe we should play Scrabble instead.”
“Too intense. Plus, I would totally kick your butt at that game. Answer the question, please.”
She took in a deep breath. “Fine. I worry that being so focused on my career will keep me from the other dreams I have for my life and that I will end up old and alone. There. Are you happy?”
Tucker looked at her, his face softer. “No. That doesn’t make me happy, Sam.”
“Why?”
“
Because you deserve a great life. You shouldn’t have to worry about ending up alone. Someone will come along and scoop you up.”
She laughed. “Well, first I’d have to actually go on a date.”
“Hey, you’re already fake engaged, so you’re well on your way to an actual date, right?”
“Right. So, let me ask you then… what failure are you afraid of?”
Tucker sighed. “I already failed at one marriage, and I’m afraid that maybe I won’t get a second chance.”
“You really want to be a family man, don’t you?”
“I do.”
“I can see that about you.”
“Really?” Man, the way he smiled at her in that crooked way, one dimple taking over his right cheek, gave her chills.
“Yes. You’ll be a great husband and father some day. You just have to meet the right woman.”
“And you just have to meet the right guy. And be nice to him so you don’t scare him off.”
“Excuse me?” she said, sitting more upright in the bed, but not without causing the muscles around her ribcage to spasm. “Ouch!”
Tucker reached out and touched her side. “What happened?”
“I’m okay. I just sat up too fast.” His hand lingered for a moment on her side before he pulled it away. “Now, what’s this about scaring him off?”
“You’re just a little… intimidating.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Sam, come on. You practically tore me limb from limb when we met.”
“I was just having fun with you,” she lied.
“Yeah, like a cat having fun with a chipmunk right before biting its head off.”
“Yuck. Thanks for that image.”
“I’m a vet. I’ve seen some things,” he said with a laugh.
“I don’t mean to be abrasive. I just have my guard up. Clark… and others… have made me a little wary, I guess.”
“Do you like ice cream?” he asked.
“Wait, are we still playing?”
Tucker smiled. “No. I just wanted to know if you’d like some ice cream?”
“But we haven’t had lunch yet.”
Tucker leaned in close to her ear. “Be a rulebreaker.”
Samantha struggled to get her bearings with his breath so close to her neck. “I like ice cream.”
“Great. I’ll go make us a couple of bowls.”
Tucker leaned into the freezer, letting the frigid air hit his face. Something needed to shock his system into realizing this whole thing was a very bad idea. He needed at least one whole room between them because sitting in the bed with her made him want to pull her close to him and wrap her in his arms.
Why did this have to happen? Why had he pretended to be her fiancé? Why had he followed her to the steps and caused an accident that led him to this place?
If he’d just kept his mouth shut, none of this would be happening. And now, all he could think about was how scared she was to be alone.
That had nothing… nothing… to do with him. She wasn’t the one. She was a high-powered, career-focused lawyer who didn’t even live in Whiskey Ridge. He was a down-home guy who loved dogs and cats and all things country. This was all a recipe for disaster.
And yet, here he was scooping her a bowl of ice cream so they could eat in bed together. Maybe he needed his head examined.
“Okay, favorite eighties band?” Samantha asked as she stared up at the ceiling. Tucker laid beside her, their heads touching as he stared upward too.
“Bon Jovi, duh!”
“No! Duran Duran!” Samantha yelled.
Tucker laughed. “Can we agree they’re both great?”
“Fine,” she said. “But Duran Duran is better,” she whispered under her breath.
“Favorite trip you’ve ever taken?” Tucker asked.
“Hawaii.”
“Who’d you go with?”
“My Mom and my sister. We were just kids at the time, but I was amazed at the beauty. Have you ever been?”
“No, but I really want to go.”
Samantha turned her head and looked at him. “What’s holding you back? I mean, you only have to worry about yourself, and a successful veterinarian can definitely afford a nice trip to Hawaii.”
“Well, Sam, what’s holding me back is the fact that I don’t want to go to one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world alone.”
She smiled sadly. “You’ll find her, Tucker. You’re too amazing to be alone for long.”
Tucker sat up and faced her. “Did you just say I’m amazing?”
Samantha rolled her eyes. “Don’t get a big head.” She carefully eased up onto her elbows and then back against the pillow.
“I don’t think you’d allow me to get a big head.”
“True.”
“So, we’ve been asking each other questions for two hours now. Did this cure your boredom?”
“Temporarily. I hate being stuck in the bed, especially when it’s not even my bed.”
“The doc said you could watch some TV. Want to join me on the sofa and watch a movie?”
“What kind of movie? Something bloody and gory?” Samantha asked, wrinkling her nose.
Tucker laughed. “Definitely not a chick flick.”
“Excuse me, sir, but I don’t even watch chick flicks. I prefer action adventure movies myself.”
Tucker raised an eyebrow. “A woman after my own heart. Why don’t we go see what’s on demand? Maybe we can actually agree on something for once.”
“Maybe,” Samantha said cautiously. “But if you talk during the movie, I’ll have to smack you.”
Tucker tried not to look at her too much, but it was hard. She was a beautiful woman with striking features, especially when she had her guard down. When she wasn’t in full business mode or being mad about something, she had this serene look on her face. Peaceful. Happy. Calm.
He didn’t dare say that to her. Being calm and peaceful wasn’t something she seemed to relish. No, she seemed more content to appear strong and independent and totally without emotions.
It made him kind of sad.
But right now, he was exactly where he wanted to be. Sitting on one end of a cushy sofa, Samantha’s socked feet firmly in his lap, watching an action movie. No woman he’d ever been with had wanted to watch an action movie. Not even his ex wife. It had always been chick flicks mixed with the occasional paranormal romance movie complete with cute vampires or sexy ghosts.
Sam was different. She was hard to unravel, though. She was like a large onion with a bunch of different layers, but before you could get to the good part, she made your eyes water like poison was thrown in them.
“Are you staring at me, Doctor Ellison?” she asked without breaking her gaze at the TV.
Tucker turned back to the screen. “No. I thought I saw a fly.”
Samantha smiled, still looking at the movie, and for the first time since he was in high school, Tucker felt his face flush.
Chapter 9
The dull roar of the TV woke Samantha up. As she tried to open her eyes, she found it hard. Her head was pounding from the fall earlier, and her medicine had long since worn off.
Only the light of the TV flickering gave her a view of Tucker. He looked a little ethereal as he slept at the other end of the sofa. She pressed the info button on the remote and realized it was after midnight. They’d been piled up on the sofa for so long that they’d even slept straight through dinner.
After watching two whole movies and polishing off some popcorn as a snack, they’d fallen fast asleep. And Samantha felt comfortable, surprisingly.
Suddenly, and without warning, Sophie barked loudly and caused them both to jump. Tucker looked lost and confused for a moment before realizing where he was.
“What happened?”
“Sophie barked. I guess our nap exceeded the capacity of her bladder,” Sam said. Poor Sophie had been locked up in the laundry room much of the day just to make sure she didn’t knock S
amantha down again.
Tucker stood up, stretched and walked over to let the dog out. Sophie ran straight past Samantha and out the back door.
“I guess she did have to go,” Tucker said with a chuckle. “Man, I didn’t know it was so late. When I get her back inside, I’ll help you to bed.”
“I think I’ll just sleep out here,” Samantha said.
“But you’ll be uncomfortable.”
“No. What’s uncomfortable is sleeping in that hard bed back there. I don’t know where my sister got it, but I think they sold torture chambers there. I’ll get a lot more rest sleeping out here on this nice cushy sofa,” she said with a grin as she rubbed the cushion next to her.
“Okay. Let me grab your blanket and pillow from the bed and we can switch places.”
“Switch places?”
“Yeah. I’ll take the torturous bed, and you can have the nice cushy sofa,” Tucker said with a smile.
“You can’t stay out here with me?” Samantha asked. Tucker froze in place for a moment.
“You want me to sleep out here with you?”
“I’m not really tired, actually. I thought maybe we could put on something funny and just wait for the sunrise.”
“You’re an unpredictable woman, Samantha Ryan.”
She laughed. “I’ve been told that a few times in my life.”
“I mean, one minute you can’t wait to get away from me and then you want me to watch TV with you all night like we’re kids having a slumber party.” He sat on the coffee table across from her.
“Well, it has been a long time since I had a slumber party.”
“We’re not braiding each other’s hair. That’s where I draw the line,” Tucker joked.
“So will you do it?”
“Of course. What kind of pretend fiancé would I be if I said no?”
She smiled. “Great! Lock that crazy dog back up and grab those doughnuts from the kitchen.”
She was beautiful when she slept. Her features were softer, and that cute little smile that played on her face made him wonder what she was dreaming.
As the sun peeked through the blinds, Tucker mentally argued with himself. Why was he getting closer to this woman who wasn’t his type at all? Why was he developing feelings for someone who hated Whiskey Ridge and was leaving in a few weeks?
