Ginny: Great. Now I have this image of him as a giant spider.
Dare: LOL. I just meant the whole secret sexy rendezvous thing was pretty spectacular, but this has more long-term potential. That makes me happy.
That was the bit that scared Ginny to death. The long-term part. She wanted it—she was sure she did. But was she good enough for him?
Ginny: He is a great guy, and I’m really happy to try the next thing. I hope it works.
Dare: It will. If you need me for anything, give me a shout. I will rain down sisterly indignation on anyone who needs it. Now go. Enjoy your evening.
Ginny: <3
She put her phone away and turned back to the mirror one more time. Her jeans were newer, the dark blue contrasting with the pale powder blue shirt she’d layered over a creamy tank top. She’d left her hair down, which she would probably regret somewhere after the third or fourth dance.
Ginny grabbed an elastic and shoved it in her pocket for the inevitable moment she’d return to a ponytail.
A final check. The faint layer of cosmetics, including a lip balm she’d made, were enough to make her look bright and happy yet not overdone. She looked good, so it wasn’t concern over her appearance making her heart pulse rapidly as a knock sounded on the door.
She swung it open to discover Tucker standing in front of her. Sheepskin-lined jean jacket, his dark hair slightly messy as always. Clean-shaven with not a trace of five o’clock shadow.
His face was sheer perfection because of the look of appreciation in his eyes. “Damn, you’re beautiful.”
She snickered, grabbing her coat and pulling it on quickly. “Thanks. I’m glad your taste runs to low-key and casual.”
He stepped inside and closed the door behind him, keeping the warm air inside as she pulled on her boots.
“My tastes run to beautiful women who wear clothes that make their eyes shine.” He caught her by the hand and tugged her forward. “Go dancing with me?”
“That’s the plan,” she teased.
He leaned in close. “Need to steal a kiss before we leave.”
She slid her hands up his chest and over his shoulders, easing closer until their torsos made contact. “Is it stealing if it’s freely given?”
He answered the best way possible. Hands sliding down to cup her ass. Mouth coming in contact with hers in a way that set her blood pumping and lit up every bit of anticipation possible.
He squeezed her butt gently before letting go and stepping back, reaching for her hand again and tugging her out the door. “Come on. I hear Ryan’s got something new happening tonight at Rough Cut.”
It was all kinds of incredible to have him help her into the passenger seat of his truck. To have him glance disapprovingly when she went to buckle up.
“Move,” he ordered. Then he helped slide her into the middle seat.
Yes, teenager Ginny would have totally approved of getting to sit next to him, their thighs touching, his arm around her shoulders as they drove into town to go dancing.
“Thank you for making one of my adolescent dreams come true,” she said impulsively.
Tucker chuckled. “I’m glad I had no idea you had a crush on me all those years ago. It would’ve freaked me out.”
“You should’ve heard my mother,” Ginny said. “She never came right out and told me I was too young for you at the time. Not in those specific words, but she definitely told me I had to wait.”
They were on the highway, a few other vehicles also headed into town. The red taillights ahead of them appeared and disappeared in intervals as the road rose and fell.
“Your mom was great,” Tucker said softly. “I hope she would’ve approved of us.”
“I’m pretty sure she did. Just not when I was still a kid.” She twisted so she could examine his face as he focused forward on the road. “One of the cool things about my mom was that she didn’t give you more than you needed at one time. But she was pretty clear on what she thought was important.”
“Have you been reading through her journal?”
“A bit,” she confessed. “Sometimes it feels unreal. As if any minute she’ll walk back through the door and give me hell for snooping.”
That got an actual laugh out of him. “I can see that.”
Ginny considered then figured Tucker was the one person she could absolutely trust with this. “I’ve been opening up the journal at random and reading bits here and there. I was trying to figure out why, and it suddenly hit me that if I start at the beginning and go all the way to the end, at some point I’ll be finished.”
He caught her fingers, linking them with his and squeezing gently. “You don’t want it to end.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “I guess not.”
They sat in silence for the rest of the trip, and once again Ginny was thankful that this was Tucker and not some other guy she was attempting a first date with. It wasn’t an uncomfortable silence, but a moment of sharing something precious and intimate.
When he pulled into the parking lot behind the bar, Tucker paused and turned to her to press a kiss on her forehead. “Your mom will always be part of your world. I promise.”
Which was exactly what she needed to hear.
“Thank you,” she said sincerely.
He dipped his chin.
Ginny took a deep breath. “Ready for this?”
“I was born ready,” Tucker drawled.
Which meant Ginny was laughing as he pulled her out the driver’s side door with him then tucked her fingers into the crook of his arm to guide her across the parking lot, up the steps, and into the bar.
She’d been there a week ago with her friends, yet as they headed into their corner, music welling around them, Ginny found herself tangling with a strange mix of apprehension and curiosity.
How would her friends deal with the change in relationship about to arrive?
Rose was the only one in their usual spot. She smiled as Ginny and Tucker reached her side.
“You made it,” Ginny said. “Thought you had a date with your sister.”
“Fern’s appointment got changed to yesterday, so we’re all good to go.” Rose’s gaze dropped, eyes widening for a split second as Tucker slid his arm around Ginny’s waist. Her gaze snapped up to Ginny’s, and a slow smile curled her lips, but she made a typical Rose report without commenting. “Tansy is on the dance floor, regretting her life decisions because she found somebody with three left feet. Kelli and Luke are dancing, and Fern is over there with the rest of her posse, making eyes at your youngest brother and his buddy.”
Ginny peered over to where Rose had pointed. “Fern knows Charity?
Rose all but rolled her eyes. “Fern knows everyone, and everything. At least according to Grandma Sonora. Grandma also thinks Fern needs to be careful with her dangerous source of knowledge, because at some point, it’s going to get her in trouble.”
“Fern doesn’t seem the type to go snooping where she shouldn’t,” Tucker said cautiously.
Rose waved a hand. “It’s not that. I think she’s openly sneaky. Walks right into the middle of a conversation and stands there, and for some reason, people keep talking. Add in that the girl doesn’t forget a thing, and she could pretty much have blackmail material on anyone in this town.”