Fuck. Did he even care anymore? So what if they did? He was beyond done with this situation, especially if it was causing Jodi this much pain.
He didn’t respond to Liz, but continued toward the back stairs and took them two at a time. He’d never been upstairs in their living space. He felt slightly awkward, but he also couldn’t wait to reach the top.
He took a deep breath and then, without knocking, opened the door. The space he entered was a combined living room kitchen area. It was slightly dark because the blinds were closed and Jodi hadn’t bothered to turn on a light. She stood at the kitchen sink, hands on the counter, head bowed. “Just give me a second, Dad. I’ll be right down.”
Tuck continued forward. When he reached her, he set his hands on her hips.
She flinched and jerked her head up.
He smoothed his palms around her body and hugged her against his chest. His heart was racing from the contact, but his soul was soothed. Nothing had ever felt so right. “I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair, nuzzling his face near her ear. It was the only thing he could really say.
She blew out a breath and relaxed against his body, her hands coming up to cross over her chest and thread with his under her breasts. “Me too. You don’t need me acting like a weakling on top of everything else.”
“You’re not weak, Jodi. You’re the strongest person I know. There isn’t another woman alive who would put up with what I have silently asked of you.”
She leaned her head against his chest. “I can do it.”
“I know you can, but I hate that you have to. It’s affecting your work. It’s not worth it anymore. I’ll go talk to the producers. Throw in the towel.”
She shook her head. “No.” She released his hands and spun around in his arms to face him, tipping her head back to meet his gaze. “Don’t give up now. You have six days left.”
He frowned. “I’d rather spend them with you.”
“But you’re not going to. Like you said, this is worth a lot of money. You need it for your mom. I would never jeopardize that. Finish this thing up, and we’ll get it behind us.”
She said “we.” He reached for her face and tucked a curl behind her ear. “I don’t deserve you.” He searched her face as she pulled herself together and forced a smile.
“You’re going to have me anyway. In six days.”
“You think you can get a night off after this is over?”
She shrugged. “Probably, but not the same night you have off.”
He chuckled. “Good point. Then we’ll go on a lunch date. How’s next Monday? I plan to be at the courthouse filing for divorce the moment they open at nine. Can I pick you up after?”
She gave him a smile that made his knees weak. “I’d like that.”
He held her gaze for a long time, glancing at her lips when she licked them. Full, pink lips he was dying to taste. Why the hell he bothered to stick to the arrangements of the contract, he did not know. It would be so easy to lower his face and kiss the sense out of her. No one would ever know.
Something held him back though. Not just the contract, but the fact that he respected Jodi too much to start their relationship while he was technically married to another woman. That fact alone told him how very special Jodi was.
Even though he hadn’t taken her out on a date, not kissed her, not allowed his hands to roam over her body, he had fallen hard for her. Every time he saw her smile, it lit him up inside. He couldn’t wait to get to work each day just so he could be in the same room as her. He’d started taking long showers every morning so he could close his eyes and get some release while thinking of her. Fuck Katia and the possibility she listened closely from the other side of the bathroom door. He no longer cared. Nothing in his contract said he couldn’t masturbate in the shower.
Jodi set her forehead against his chest, her hands flattening on his abs. “Go back downstairs. Give me a moment. I’ll be there soon.”
He kissed the top of her head and groaned. “Jodi…”
“Please, Tuck. I promise I’m okay.” She lifted her gaze again, a smile plastered on her face. “This was all I needed. I shouldn’t have doubted you. I’m good.”
He felt like a world class dick.
She smiled wider. “Seriously. I got a hug and a promise of a date. I can do this. Swear. I feel much better. Go. Catch the asshole who’s dropping drugs into people’s purses. At least you have a better idea what you’re looking for.”
He chuckled. “Women with purses?”
“Yep.”
He held her gaze, smiling wider too. His heart was slightly lighter from this momentary banter. In six days he would have this with her every day. In front of people too. Reluctantly, he released her, clutching her hands in his as he slowly retreated until he was forced to let go.
Chapter 12
Three days later, Katia got on Tuck’s last nerve. “I’m gonna catch you in the act, you know.”
Tuck closed his eyes and inhaled slowly. He would not let Katia make his blood pressure rise. She was nothing to him. Absolutely nothing. All he had to do was play this stupid game for a few more days and it would all be over. He’d never have to see her or hear her voice again.
She strolled closer to where he sat at their small kitchen table trying to enjoy his lunch while flipping through the latest news on his phone. She set her hands on the table and leaned into his face. “I know you’re sleeping with that waitress.”
He cocked his head and glared at her. “Really. And how exactly do you know that?” They were off script today. It happened. The producers didn’t even care. Most of the time ratings were higher when they strayed from the plan anyway.
“Ha.” She shoved off the table, cocked her hip, and planted her hands on her hips. “I have spies. It’s not hard. You spend ten hours a day at that stupid bar.”
“I work there, Katia,” he pointed out.
“Sure you do,” she drawled. “How often do you sneak to the back room with her?”
Interesting. The back room? Katia obviously didn’t know much if she thought the office would be the best place for Tuck to hook up with Jodi. Apparently, Katia wasn’t even aware Jodi lived above the bar and there was an entrance to upstairs from inside the building.
He returned his attention to his phone. “You’re full of shit. Go back to your Instagram and try to sell some lipstick or something.”
“Are you making fun of my job?”
“Job?” He lifted a brow.
“I make way more than you do, Tucker. So, yes. Job. It’s a legitimate business. If you had even one tenth of the followers I have on Instagram, more people would know who you are. How do you expect to get ahead in this world without name and facial recognition?”
He chuckled sardonically. “Oh, I don’t know. Hard work? I have no interest in being recognized. It’s a pain in the ass.” He hoped this whole fiasco would blow over soon and people would slowly forget him.
“You’re pathetic,” she said as she spun around and flounced across the room to the sofa. Seconds later, she was sitting in her usual spot, legs tucked under her, laptop on her thighs. And she thought he was pathetic.