* * *
Is that karma, or fate, or just some weird coincidence?
* * *
Doesn’t matter.
* * *
What does matter is that I have people in my corner who love me and care for me and want nothing but the best for me.
* * *
I don’t have to be strong on my own.
Ginny closed the book slowly, fingers slipping from between the pages in an almost caress. That had felt different. So very different from before.
It’d felt…right.
Then, because she had no idea when Tucker might get there, she headed into the kitchen and got started on dinner.
She may as well admit it. While there were a lot of things she couldn’t do, feeding a man—her man—was a thing she truly enjoyed.
To borrow Tucker’s favourite phrase, screw the rules.
When he got there shortly after five, he paused inside the door and took a deep appreciative sniff. “Ginny, it smells like heaven in here.”
She stepped forward, taking the colourful bouquet of flowers from his hand. “These are beautiful.” She went up on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”
While he took off his boots, she went and put the flowers in a vase and arranged them on the table, then returned and brought him with her to the loaded kitchen table.
He paused with one hand on the back of the chair. “Wow. You went all out.”
Ginny laughed. “I had a few things in the freezer, but yes. I figured you deserved your favourites.”
She had warmed up leftover roast, made spiced cauliflower, and a mountain of mashed potatoes. “There’s also green bean casserole with rosemary, and bumbleberry pie for dessert.”
He still had hold of her hand and lifted her knuckles to his mouth to kiss them softly. “Just to be clear, I really, truly adore your brain.”
After the highly emotional day, it was good to laugh. “Look, I can’t help it that you’re getting a fantastic package deal. I’ve got a great body, I love sex, and I love to cook. Face it, you hit the jackpot, Tucker.”
He pulled her against him for a brief, but firm hug. “Not going to argue. Like I said, you’re the smartest woman I know.”
If writing in the journal earlier had felt right, this felt even better.
Ginny wasn’t about to confess it out loud, but she admitted it to herself. She liked the idea of being a homemaker. Travelling had never been about being wild and free, but about finding that bit of home in every place she visited.
After dinner, Tucker washed the dishes while she put things away, easy conversation volleying between them about the tasks they looked forward to in the coming week.
Then they curled up on her couch, Ginny nestled under Tucker’s arm, her head resting on his chest as he opened Netflix and they settled in to watch a movie.
Homey. Peaceful.
After the show was done, Tucker clicked the screen off and pressed a kiss to her temple. “I want to stay the night.”
She looked up and traced a finger along his hairline, pushing away a curl. Sliding her fingertips farther down to rasp lightly on his five o’clock shadow. “I notice you didn’t mention sleep,” she teased softly.
“We’ll get around to that eventually,” he promised.
He walked her to the bedroom. Looked into her eyes the entire time as he undid her buttons, as he stripped her naked and removed his own clothes.
Strong, firm muscles pressed against her softness, Tucker crowded over her until she was blanketed by his body.
Slow, drugging kisses followed, his touch as well, mixing up pleasure between his fingers, his lips, and tongue, and teeth. Ginny closed her eyes and let her hands drift. Teasing back until both of them were vibrating with need.
Tucker rolled them both to their sides then pulled her top leg over his hip so they were in a tangled embrace as he slid them together. Slow thrusts, his hands on her breasts briefly before sliding over her belly to the apex of her sex.
She sucked in a gasp at the sharp shot of desire.
“Right there. That’s it,” he encouraged. “Let go. I’ll catch you,” he promised.
Ginny couldn’t have stopped if she’d wanted. Like springtime runoff, everything welled up to the point of no return until together they tipped over the edge and cascaded into pleasure.
They lay together for long moments after, stroking each other, staring into each other’s eyes.
Tucker left for just long enough to deal with the condom before coming back and folding her in his arms again. Face-to-face, hearts beating in time.
She watched as his lashes slowly closed, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips. Contentment rose from him like fresh, spring growth.
He was sound asleep, and Ginny was still staring. Still stroking her fingers over his body.
“I love you,” she whispered, just to try the words.
That too sounded very, very right.
19
Alex summoned Tucker over during coffee break a few days later. “I have a request to pass on from a friend.”
“Sounds intriguing,” Tucker said.
“My friend Ryan—owner of Rough Cut. He and his girlfriend have decided to tie the knot.”
Tucker had done his best to get up to speed on all the local happenings, which included all of the main players in the community. Uncle Ashton, surprisingly, had turned out to be a wonderful source of information, and considering Ryan was also part of the volunteer firefighters where Ashton volunteered time every week, the bar owner’s recent relationship adventures had been thoroughly discussed.
“Ryan and Madison are getting married? Man, that’s quick,” Tucker said. “Didn’t she show up in December?”
Alex shrugged. “When it’s right, it’s right. Besides, they’ve been good friends since they were young.” He gave Tucker a pointed look. “You might know someone like that. Someone who’s currently involved with a woman he spent a lot of time with when they were young, and who knows where it could lead?”
“Enough,” Tucker said, but he was amused. It was nice to have someone like Alex around who was willing to banter back more than just a ‘yes, sir.’ “What does Ryan need?”
“They’re holding the wedding over at Red Boot Ranch, but they hope to have all their friends join the party. Can you make sure everyone on the list has Saturday off?”
Tucker whistled. “Wow, talk about getting the job done double quick.”
“Ryan’s talking about them trying for a baby right away. Seriously, the man is very action-oriented, shall we say.” Alex grinned. “And that’s not me gossiping. Ryan has been telling absolutely everyone the same thing. Madison has given up getting him to stop oversharing. She thinks it’s funny.”
“Hey, whatever works for a couple’s relationship,” Tucker said. “Give me the list, and I’ll see what I can do.”
Which meant if he had to work a double shift, he would. Impulsive last-minute activities like this needed to be encouraged as far as he was concerned—