“Yeah, but she doesn’t have you anymore,” Tucker pointed out.
Ginny dipped her chin slowly. “I was glad I finished my journeyman program in time to be there when Dare had her twins. And while I have now had way too many sleepless nights for a nonparental human, I adored being there with the babies. But now it’s time to do the next thing. For both of us.”
“Which means you here at the ranch?” Tucker asked.
He really needed to know the answer to this. It had been hinted at yesterday, but never straight up said. All of his plans were for nothing if she wasn’t sticking around. Because as much as he wanted to help his uncle, as much as he loved Silver Stone…
Ginny was the deciding factor.
She straightened, her breasts pressed to the front of his T-shirt. He ripped his gaze back up to her eyes, and she smirked. “You are so easy to distract.”
“Answer the question, woman.”
“Yes.” She nodded firmly. “I’m home, and I plan on being the best…something. I have no idea how to finish that statement right now, because there’s a lot of things up in the air, it seems.”
She had no freaking idea.
Tucker shook his phone. “Luke told me there’s a hockey game starting at eleven a.m.”
Ginny frowned. “Which teams have games on Boxing Day?”
A laugh escaped before he could stop it. “Ginny. Pond hockey. Your brothers, me. The poor Southern gentleman who’s probably never been on skates in his life.”
“Oh, that kind of hockey.” Mischief danced over her face. “I wonder if my old skates are still in the basement.”
“You can be goalie for my team,” Tucker offered.
Her jaw dropped with an exaggerated gasp. “Number one, no way am I standing defenseless while my brothers flick rock-solid pucks at me.”
When she didn’t continue, he frowned. “What’s number two?”
“There is no number two. Number one pretty much says it all. I like my teeth in my mouth, thank you.”
He curled his arms around her and rolled until she was on top. “I like the way you’re put together, too. Teeth, lips, spectacular breasts.”
She folded her hands over his chest and rested her chin on them. “Really? This is an interesting conversation twist.”
“Just continuing the one I mentioned before. Regarding sexing.”
She didn’t stiffen, but Tucker knew enough about Ginny’s body language to read she was in wait-and-see mode. A little cautious in case he threw something unexpected at her.
He wasn’t ready to lob the true grenade yet, but at some point, it was happening. Until Caleb gave them the go-ahead, Tucker couldn’t assume his place was a shoe-in. Which meant not changing his and Ginny’s relationship.
Yet.
Only one thing was non-negotiable. “We’ve had good reasons to keep our adventures discreet. Until there’s a need to change that, I’m okay with Dare being the only one who knows.”
Okay, so Ashton had also implied he had his suspicions…
Tucker met Ginny’s gaze steadily. It was mere days at the most before he’d be able to confess to that part.
Ginny twisted her head slightly. “You didn’t say the but yet, did you?”
“Smart woman. The but is… if anyone finds out, we agree to tell the truth and don’t scramble like we’re living in some awkward sitcom. We tell them that we’re adults, and our decision didn’t involve them. Keeping something from my friends because it’s none of their business is completely different from lying to their faces.”
Ginny raised a hand in the air. “I am the most truthful person in the entire Stone family. Plus, I agree with you, but please, can we avoid spilling the beans, if possible? I really don’t want anybody to beat you up. It’s bad enough when you and Luke go off and pound on each other—I still do not approve, by the way.”
Tucker raised his brows, ignoring her comment about fighting because that was a confrontation just waiting to happen, and he didn’t want it now. “I’m sure Luke would claim it was your fault. Which it totally was if we’re being honest.”
“You wanted me just as much as I wanted you,” Ginny said.
He had, after the shock of her coming onto him had faded. “I never suspected a thing, but I’m damn glad you made a move when you did. At least, looking back.”
She grinned hugely. “Yeah, once you got over trying to be heroic. And then once you got over being scandalized at the idea of doing Luke’s sister. And once you got past the…”
“You done anytime soon?” he drawled.
She smacked a hand down on his ribs then turned it into a tickle.
She knew all his hot spots and took merciless advantage. By the time he had caught her wrists and tugged until she was spooned against him, they were both once again relaxed and content, comfortable with each other in a way that made Tucker drift back to some very specific thoughts.
It was good to have some things be straight forward and simple. Everything else was tangled these days. Even one of the messages from Luke had been a little off. In the middle of hockey talk and a plot that involved skidoos, Tucker’s friend had dropped a what the hell.
Sometime today we need to talk.
Um, yeah? Tucker was all for that, but the mysterious comment made him wonder if Luke had an inkling about Ginny and Tucker’s real relationship.
Current relationship, which Tucker couldn’t wait to move to the next level.
Ginny squeezed the arm he had tucked around her. “Let me up. I need to know.”
She crawled out of bed as he sat, curious what she was up to.
Before they’d started fooling around, she’d placed the envelope on the present balanced on top of the dresser. Now she returned with the envelope in her hand, staring at it as if it was a snake about to strike.
“You going to open your present?” he asked quietly.
One long, slow inhale later, she shook her head. “Just this.”
Then damn if she didn’t crawl right into his lap. She arranged his arms to her liking, curling them around her torso until he anchored her in place.
She slipped the envelope open and pulled out a card.
“Merde,” Ginny whispered.
Tucker pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Stop when you need to.”
“I want to do this.” She twisted the card upright and held it so he could see as well. It was a store-bought one with an idyllic pastoral scene on the front. Horses grazed in the foreground with huge mountains rising behind them.
She cracked the edge open, and a folded piece of paper and a silver chain slid into her lap. Ginny ignored them both and finished opening the card.
The inside was blank except for two separate bits of writing.
Happy sweet sixteen to my little girl who’s not so little now. This coming year will be full of adventure, and all the years after that. I know that whatever you choose to do, you will be brilliant at it, because you’re my live-wire. Always full of energy, always brightening up wherever you go. Happy birthday, sweetie.
From your daddy.
* * *
Happy birthday to my wild outdoor girl. Watching you grow has been a joy and delight. Sixteen is a special birthday, so here’s to a lot of candles and a lot of fun. Love you.