“It’s really pretty. Thank you, Tucker.” She moved in and kissed his cheek.
His mother’s cell phone buzzed on the coffee table. “Everyone I know is here,” she said, glancing to the screen. “Hello?”
“He’s here…yes…hold on.” She handed him the phone. “It’s your manager.”
Tucker snagged the cell. “Merry Christmas,” he said into the microphone.
“Are you with Mackenzie?” Jessica asked, all business, no holiday.
“Yeah.” Tucker glanced to her.
“I’ve been trying to reach you since yesterday,” Jessica continued.
It’s not like Tucker had any reason to be in contact with his manager over Christmas.
“My cell’s been off. It’s Christmas. I’m enjoying the family,” Tucker responded. Though, truthfully, he’d mostly enjoyed Kenzie.
“Go someplace she can’t hear,” Jessica directed, like this was a CIA spy call.
Tucker’s stomach pitched, and not in a good way. What the hell was going on?
“Sure.” Tucker stood and headed for the kitchen. “What’s up?”
“Mackenzie told Eileen you’d do a song for a movie. Signed a contract with the studio that says once you agree, she gets lead credit.”
That was what she was getting at in the truck. And back at the premier. None of this was real. This was Kenzie using him to get her way. To advance her career.
“That doesn’t sound right. I think you’re mistaken.” Although, in all the time he and Jessica had worked together, Jessica had never been mistaken.
“She didn’t mention doing a song for a movie?”
Well, yeah, she had.
“I don’t think it’s like that.” God, he hoped it wasn’t like that.
He walked to the doorway and glanced to Kenzie. She looked up, her expression concerned.
He did his best to appear relaxed. Even crossed his ankles and leaned against the doorjamb.
“Got a copy of the contract right here. Says she’s got until the new year to get you on board. Rumor has it, she went to Colorado to get under your skin. Make this happen.”
“Who sent it to you?” Tucker asked.
“I’ve got people watching all corners of the industry. It’s my job.”
“You’re sure?” Of course she was sure. This was Jessica.
“I’m sure.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.” Tucker turned off his phone. Stared at Kenzie while she laughed at something his sister Cassidy was saying.
The room went from warm and happy to a slow-motion massacre. The massacre being to his heart.
Kenzie glanced to him again. Her eyebrows puckered. “Tucker?”
She’d probably said his name, that’s what it looked like she’d said. But there was no sound in the room right then. Not for him. Not when his world was flipping upside down.
“Kenzie.” He was going to ask her. Right here. This involved his family, too. They deserved to know if she’d done this. “Jessica said she has a contract you signed with Eileen that says you’re only here to get me to agree to write a song for her movie. Is that true? Is this all pretend?”
There. He’d asked.
Kenzie froze. Her eyes got big. Her mouth fell open, but she quickly caught herself. She licked at her lips and turned to his mother, who looked as confused as Tucker felt.
“Tell me it’s not true,” Tucker continued.
Please, God, let her tell him it wasn’t true. That Jessica had fucked up.
“There’s a contract.” Her voice wobbled. “That’s true.” She wrung her hands together. “Things changed when we got here. When I met everyone. When we talked.”
“You never thought to tell me, in all of that, there was an agreement that involved me?” Tucker kept his tone neutral. No emotion.
Emotion could come later.
“I didn’t think you’d agree otherwise…” Kenzie glanced around to everyone in the room.
They were all stoic. The Christmas cheer drained from the air.
His family had his back. He knew this. They might’ve been digging Kenzie, but they had his back. Trust meant everything to a McKay.
His dad said nothing, rolled out of his recliner, headed for the door and grabbed his hat.
The door clicked closed behind him.
Jenny stood. “C’mon, kids. Let’s go find the snowmobiles.”
She herded her kids to the back door. Her husband, Brian, in tow.
None of them looked at Kenzie.
And Kenzie only looked at Tucker.
“Tucker, c’mon. Things changed. You know things changed.”
“I told you no. Twice.” Still neutral, he wasn’t giving her anything else. He’d already given her everything.
“I just figured once we got some time together you’d see that I need this. That it’s important—”
“So you inserted yourself here. With my family.”
“Tucker, you invited me. Coming here was your idea.”
Sierra and Cassidy, Brody and Cord all moved toward the back door. None of them said anything. They didn’t have to. They knew what was going down. How it was wrecking him.
His mother, however, didn’t move. She just stared at Kenzie like Kenzie had kicked her in the stomach.
Tucker could relate.
“We got here and you’re singing again,” Kenzie continued. “And things between us are good. I figured we could talk about it again later.”
“You figured that you’d get under my skin and then I’d say yes.”
Fight or flight. And he couldn’t fight with her. Not when he felt so much for her.
No, he reminded himself, not her. The woman he’d started to fall for wasn’t real. She was a persona Kenzie employed to get her way.
“Tucker…” She started to talk, but he was already heading to the door.
She kept on, “Please don’t do thi—”
He closed the door behind him. Headed for his truck.
He’d call Jessica. Have an extraction prepared for Kenzie, so he’d never have to see her again.
13
Chapter Thirteen
“May I use your telephone?” Kenzie used every bit of training she had to keep her shit together.
She’d ruined everything she and Tucker were starting, and her cell was back at the ranch. Too comfortable. She’d gotten too comfortable and let this happen. She’d opened herself up, then the shutters had slammed down and Tucker’s feelings had turned frigid—chilling even the fillings in her teeth.
Lori had started to speak a few times, paused, and started again. It was all right though, Kenzie didn’t need her sympathy. Kenzie had made this mess. It was hers to wallow in. Lori handed over the phone.
Kenzie punched in Leah’s number and waited. “Hi, you’ve reached Leah. Leave a message.”
“Leah, it’s Kenzie. I need a pickup.” Kenzie paused. Closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. “Please.”
Tucking tail and running like she was a thirteen-year-old who had messed up made her head ache.
Leah might not respond for hours. There was only one other person to call. Kenzie dialed, her pulse pounding.
“Hello?” Her mother’s voice came through the line.
“Mom?” Kenzie asked. She kept her voice calm. “I’m in Collbran, with Tucker’s family. Can you send a car?”
She’d never made a call like this before. Kenzie had never allowed herself to be put in a situation where she’d need to do it.
“Of course,” her mother replied, as though they did this all the time. “Are you at Tucker’s or…?”
“At his parents’ house.” Kenzie had no idea where she really was beyond that.
Lori motioned for the phone. Numb, Kenzie handed it to her.
“Hello, this is Tucker’s mother… Yes…” She relayed the address. “She’s all right. They had a disagreement… Yes… No… She can stay here until someone comes… I don’t mind… Yes…you can reach her at this number.”
Lori turned off her phone and set it on the arm of the sofa. Her expression was tense.
Kenzie hated, absolutely hated, that she was responsible for that.
“I know we don’t know each other well yet,” Lori said quietly.
“I’m so sorry I ruined your Christmas,” Kenzie replied. An apology wasn’t enough, but she had nothing else to give.
Lori shook her head. “Nothing’s broken that can’t be fixed.”
Kenzie sighed. “Tucker probably disagrees.”
“Tucker needs some time to figure out how he feels. But for those of us who know him best, we already see he’s so far gone for you he’ll never come back.” Lori set her elbows against her knees, her booted ankle angled to the side. “I think you feel the same way. The looks you two have been giving each other. Those aren’t the looks of a Hollywood-brand relationship. They’re the real kind.”
“I appreciate everything you’re saying. I do. Tucker’s right, though. I did hope he’d come around and do the song. It was all about me.” She was a spoiled brat, just like her mother always said.
“Well, of course this was all about you. You don’t know what it’s like to work as part of a team. Not in the family sense.”
Kenzie squinted toward her. “I’m not sure I understand—”
“I just spoke with your mother—she’s unique—and earlier today I saw how you went from skittish with all the crew to relaxed. After talking with your mama, I can see why. You’ve never had this before. The craziness of a family that has your back. That’s as obvious as the sun rising in the east.” Lori took a long breath. “You’ve always had to look out for yourself. Tucker’s always had us. He doesn’t know any different. I didn’t always have a family like this. So, I built one. I think you’ll do the same. And if Tucker gets his head screwed on right again, he’ll see that he wants it to be with him.”
Lori’s phone buzzed on the armrest. She didn’t even glance at it before she handed it to Kenzie. “Everyone I know is here.”
Kenzie glanced at the Caller ID.
Leah.
“Hello?” Kenzie asked.
“I’ve got a car headed your way. Already coordinated with your mother. Tucker’s manager connected, too. That’s who I was talking with when you called.”
Kenzie swallowed the cotton that had taken up residence in her throat. Tucker wanted her gone bad enough he’d called his manager.
There’d be no working any of this out.
“The car will take you to your mother’s condo in Vail. I’m getting a charter flight there now. We can figure out the rest this afternoon.”
Kenzie looked to Lori.
Lori was wrong.
Leah had her back, Tucker wasn’t coming around, and Kenzie wouldn’t open herself up to someone again.
“That’d be great,” she heard herself say the words, but inside she felt numb.
Numb was better than pain. Numb was a good place to be.
A weight had fallen on her life, like the winter storm dumping a foot of snow on the mountains. The difference was, for her, the weight wouldn’t melt away when spring came.
Her career was probably over. She wasn’t coming back from the last box office disaster. The man she’d started to fall for would likely never speak to her again.
She’d made an epic mess of things.
And now, it was time to figure out what came next.
Tucker had gone for a drive. The back road, country Christmas kind—long and winding. And it did nothing to clear his head.
He pulled up to the ranch.
His father sat in one of the rocking chairs Jenny had placed outside the door, whittling a piece of wood. The pile of shavings at his boots said he’d been at it awhile.
“Where in the hell have you been?” he asked, not looking up from the knife and the hunk of pine.
“Getting away. Same as you.” Tucker dropped to the other rocking chair.
Dad whistled out a breath. “Boy, you are an idiot.”
“Say what?”
“Thought you were smarter than this.”
“I didn’t know what she was up to.”
“Not that. The letting that determine your future. She was taking care of herself. That’s all she’s ever known.”
“I don’t think you understand the ramifications of what she tried to get me roped into.”
“Would it have ended with you two together?”
“Maybe.”
“Then I don’t figure the rest matters.” A thick wood shaving fell at their feet.
“She lied to me.”
His father kept his focus on the wood, smoothing a bit with the pad of his thumb. “When you asked her if she did it, the girl didn’t hedge. She admitted it and tried to explain.”
“You left first,” Tucker pointed out.
Another deep sigh. “I left so everyone else would leave, so you two could talk. Not so you could take off to God knows where for two hours. The girl loves you. You love her. Both of you are too hardheaded to see it, but that’s how it is.”
Did he love her? Could a guy fall in love with a girl in the short amount of time they’d been together?
Maybe?
Holy shit. He did.
Sonofabitch.
“She doesn’t have what you have in a family. She only has herself. Are you going to let it stay that way?” Dad asked.
No, he wasn’t. “I’ll go talk to her. Is she still with Mom?”
“No. She left. An hour ago. While you were out lollygagging around, a car came and picked her up.”
Tucker’s throat felt covered in grit, his heart a weight in his chest holding him down. “I’ve got to find her.”
“First you’ve got to get her a decent Christmas present.”
Yes, yes he did.
And he knew just what to do.
Darkness had already fallen when Tucker pulled up to the condo in Vail. Kenzie’s mother was having her annual Christmas party. Tucker hoped his invitation was still valid.
He’d had Jessica find out where Kenzie had gone.
He’d spent the day perfecting Kenzie’s song. Driven two hours. And he was here.
To win her back.
It was below freezing, but Tucker was sweating.
Now was the time.
He stepped from the truck, his cowboy boots seeping into the slush. The valet took his name. Checked over the list. Then he took Tucker’s keys.
Tucker climbed the steps to the building like a man scaling a mountain. Slow and steady. One step at a time.
The butler opened the door and the party was in full swing. Champagne flowed while tuxedo-wearing waiters swirled through the room and Christmas music played.
He spotted Kenzie by a window talking to her manager, a glass of what he knew was untouched seltzer water in her hand. His heart tried to stop beating at the sight of her. He liked her polished up like this, but he liked her better with messy hair he’d mussed himself. Right now, he’d take her however she’d give herself to him.
He tipped the hired piano player two hundred dollars to take a break. Then Tucker sat at the keyboard, the thin sheen of sweat no longer just a sheen.
His fingers found the keys, he closed his eyes, lifted his lips to the microphone, and he sang for Kenzie.
Her song. The one he’d written for her that day.
Her Christmas present.
The room went quiet, as he’d known it would. Tucker McKay singing at a Christmas party didn’t happen.
This wasn’t for them, though. This was for Kenzie.
He put everything he had into the music.
When the final chord played, he finished with, “I wrote this for Mackenzie Bennett. It’s her song. Merry Christmas.”
He opened his eyes. Kenzie stood at the end of the piano, her expression gentle. She moved to where he sat. He didn’t move, afraid she’d get skittish and disappear. He’d lived through that once. There was no way he could do it twice.
“You’re here,” she sa
id, as though trying to believe it herself.
He turned off the microphone and pushed it away so their conversation would be private. “I couldn’t just let you leave. Not after everything.”
“I didn’t think you wanted me home with you anymore.”
He wanted to touch her, but he hadn’t earned that right. Not yet. “Kenzie, you’re my home. Wherever you are, that’s my home.”
She bit at her lower lip, her eyes misting.
“The song is yours to do with whatever you want. Give it to Eileen, whatever you want. It’s yours.”
“Leah let Eileen know I’m not doing the movie. This afternoon, she made a few calls.” Kenzie set her seltzer water on a coaster by the microphone. “I’m not going to let someone like that decide my career for me.”
“The song is still yours.”
“I…I’m going to produce my own screenplay. I thought about what you said. I want to do this, but I want to do it myself. Be in charge for once.”
“Then I’ll be there for you. With whatever you need.” Pride radiated through him. She was taking control of her destiny.
“I just need you, Tucker.” Her voice cracked on his name.
That’s when he stood, ran his hand through her hair, and kissed her.
And she kissed him right back.
Epilogue
Four Years, Three Months Later…
The limousine crept to the red carpet outside the Dolby Theatre. Kenzie looked to Tucker. He stared out the window, elbow on the armrest attached to the door, his fingertip tapping against his chin.
They’d been married for years. And they loved each other more now than the day they’d said their vows.
“Tucker will go first. Then me. Then Clint. Then you.” Kenzie squeezed Lori’s hand. “It’s loud and there are a lot of cameras. If it gets to be too much, tell Tucker. He’ll hurry you through.”
They’d already rehearsed everything, from the limousine exit to the best way to walk the carpet outside the industry’s biggest award show.
Rock Hard Cowboy Page 9
