Tuck rose from the table. “I’m leaving. And just so you know, if you have me followed, I’m not going straight to work today. I took a few hours off to visit with a SEAL buddy this afternoon. I’d rather not have his face and name dragged through the mud, so if you don’t mind, call off your goons. I’ll take pics to prove where I was.”
She gasped. “I do not have you followed. You’re an asshole.”
He turned back from the door. “Do you kiss your lovers with that mouth?”
She screamed in frustration. “I told you Brittany and Dawson are not my lovers. We’re just friends.”
“Who said anything about Brittany and Dawson?” he asked. She was so dense he couldn’t figure out how she managed to be an influencer of anything at all on social media. Then again. He shouldn’t wonder. She was gorgeous. That was all that mattered in her world.
She grabbed a pillow from the couch and launched it his direction, coming up short.
“Cute, Katia. So adult. And just so you know, I’m not stupid. I saw the pictures of you leaving that apartment. You looked like you’d been rolling between the sheets for hours. Your hair was a mess. Your dress was crooked. And you didn’t even have the same shoes on. Did you lose them under the bed?”
She turned beet red, and Tuck didn’t give her a chance to respond. He was out the door in less than a second.
He jogged down the outside steps and hurried over to his car, glancing every direction, hoping to escape notice. He should have taken Bill up on his offer to permanently trade vehicles for a while the night after he borrowed his car. Tuck didn’t figure he would have gotten away with the switch for very long, however. It probably wouldn’t have been worth it.
During the drive to McP’s he looked in the rearview mirror a thousand times. Somehow it seemed he managed to make it to his destination without a trail.
While Katia was in the shower that morning, Tuck had called his friend Nick, the one who got him into this mess with Cold Feet in the first place. Nick had suggested Tuck meet with him at the one place SEALs always met in Coronado, McP’s Pub.
As soon as Tuck stepped inside, the bartender spotted him and nodded toward the back door. “They’re on the patio waiting for you. I’ll keep your fans at bay if they come in. Give you some privacy.” He chuckled.
Tuck groaned. “Thanks, Ray. Appreciate it.” Ray had been tending bar there forever. He was one of the good guys. Tuck was certain he would indeed keep anyone who had followed Tuck from bothering him.
Tuck stepped through the side door, wondering who Ray meant when he said “they’re waiting for you.” He’d only expected to meet with Nick. Instead, three men sat on the patio. They all stood as Tuck approached.
Nick held out a hand. “Hey, Tuck. Brought some people along I thought you should meet.” As he shook Tuck’s hand, he nodded toward the dark-haired man. “That’s Clay. Retired. Team One.”
“Good to meet you,” Clay said as he shook Tuck’s hand.
The light-haired man reached in next. “Zach. Team Three. Active.”
As they took their seats, Nick poured a beer from the pitcher and handed it to Tuck. “Both these guys were involved with New Millennia Media at one point. They talked me down from the ledge when I reached the level of frustration I’m sure you’ve reached by now.” He chuckled.
Tuck glanced at the two men. “You were both on reality shows with New Millennia?”
“Yep.” Clay nodded. “Mine was called Hot House. Renovation show.”
“Mine was a decorating show. Did it for my girl. I’m not even going to tell you the lengths we went through to get what she needed to decorate with.” Zach shuddered.
Tuck smirked at Nick. “You got me into this.”
“Yeah, but I only signed you up for two weeks. You’re the one who took the bait and added three months to your contract.” He chuckled. “Still can’t believe you did that.”
“Money talks, I guess.” Tuck ran his fingers along the condensation on his glass.
“So, what are you up against?” Clay asked.
“Got three more days left before I’m done. I’m not sure I can last three more days living with Katia. That woman is unbearable.”
Nick laughed. “He’s not lying. I worked on set with her for a few weeks myself. In fact, she tried to get me to replace her groom on the show. That’s when I threw Tuck under the bus. No way was I going to pretend to be married to that woman. She drove me bonkers, and I didn’t have to sleep with her.”
Zach leaned forward, putting his elbows on the table. “You’re sleeping with her?”
“Fuck no. The apartment has cameras everywhere but the bedroom. I’ve been on the floor for eleven weeks.” He rubbed the kink in his neck just thinking about it.
All three men chuckled.
“Guys, you’re not helping. I need advice.”
“Why?” Nick asked. “You’re almost home free. Three more days and you can file for divorce and move on with your life.”
Zach grinned. “There’s a woman, isn’t there?”
Tuck cringed. “Yep. She’s the daughter of the owner of the bar where I work. Never thought I’d see this day, but I’m head over heels for her.”
Nick sighed. “And you can’t touch her because of your contract.”
“That sums it up. She’s been really understanding. I think she at least stopped watching the livestream of my constant banter with Katia. It was torturing her. But I feel like a total jerk stringing her along all this time. Probably makes her feel like she’s not as important as fifty grand. And she totally is. She’s far more important than that. I think I should pull out. Tell Maria I’ve been cheating. Let Katia win. At least my relationship with Jodi won’t start off on the wrong foot.”
“Yikes,” Clay responded. “That’s a tough situation. What does Jodi think?”
“She’s the sweetest woman I’ve ever met. Hasn’t even pressured me to break the contract, even though we probably could get away with it. Insists she can stick this out. I’m still worried though.” Tuck took a drink of his beer.
“So, let me get this straight,” Nick continued. “You have not even kissed this woman, Jodi?”
Tuck shook his head.
“You’re a better man than me,” Zach admitted. “Not sure I could have done the same thing in your shoes. I’d have caved and hoped I got away with it.”
“At first, I considered it, but the longer I knew Jodi, the more I realized she wasn’t just some woman I had the hots for. She’s the real deal for me. So, I backed off. No way was I going to mess around with her while I was married. Even if the marriage is a total joke.”
“It’s a legit marriage though?” Clay asked.
“Yep. Totally legal. I’ll have to file for divorce like any other disgruntled spouse. Plan on doing that Monday morning.”
“And Jodi? Does she want to wait until your divorce is final before she’ll go out with you?” Nick asked.
“Nope. Said she would go to lunch with me Monday.” Tuck shuddered. “If I had to wait any longer, there’s no telling how that might affect our already tumultuous beginning. No idea how long the divorce might take.”