24. Bex
Chapter 24
Bex
“Do you have time to stay for breakfast?” Tucker asked, sitting up against the headboard. The morning sunlight streaming in from the bedroom window cut a path over his mouthwateringly bare chest. “Wasn’t sure what time your flight was.”
I crawled back into bed after having used the restroom. A sigh slipped from my lips when I tucked myself against his side, and his strong arm pulled me even closer.
My eyes fluttered shut when his hand slid down the length of my hair in slow, soothing strokes. “Breakfast sounds nice.”
“Can I drive you to the airport?” Though he tried, Tucker couldn’t stop his voice from breaking when asking that question.
“I have to return the rental.”
“Oh.” I never knew one tiny syllable could hold so much sadness.
Twisting in his hold, I wanted to look him in the eye when I said, “But I still have a few more days.”
His eyebrows shot high on his forehead. “What?”
A tiny smile teased at the corner of my lips. “Pushed my flight. ”
Confusion flickered over his features as he struggled to process my change in plans. “Why—” He shook his head. “Why would you do that?”
My hand skated up his chest, coming to rest at the side of his jaw. “Isn’t it obvious?”
Those warm blue eyes widened. “For me?” It was almost as if he couldn’t believe he could be the reason for my delayed departure.
“Partly for you. Partly because I’m not ready to deal with the fallout waiting for me in Chicago.” My eye roll couldn’t be contained. Aaron wasn’t going to take getting dumped lying down—as proven by his little “I’ve been cheating” outburst—and I had a feeling I was walking into a shit storm at work.
Tucker’s lips dusted over mine. “I’ll take you any way I can get.” He let out a little huff. “Sounds pathetic, but it’s true. Would have killed me to watch you walk out that door after last night.”
Vivid flashes of the unspeakable acts we’d performed last night came to mind, and my cheeks heated automatically.
A husky chuckle sounded. “I can’t stop thinking about it either. I always knew we’d be good together, but damn. It’s a miracle we didn’t set the house on fire.”
Yeah, it was pretty hot.
Probably wouldn’t have been as electric between two fumbling virgins if we’d gotten the chance all those years ago before everything blew up. But I already knew it wouldn’t have mattered because we loved each other. We would have figured it out together as time went on.
There was no use in wasting time thinking about what-ifs since we couldn’t go back and change anything now.
It was more important that we enjoyed these next few days before I was forced to return to Chicago .
“So . . .” I dragged the word out. “Breakfast in bed”—my fingers trailed down his torso, teasing the line of dark hair set below his navel—“then stay in bed?”
Tucker’s eyes closed on a throaty moan, and I bit my lip, watching his cock come to life and tenting the sheets. What I didn’t expect was for him to circle my wrist with his fingers and pull my touch away.
I pouted, pressing kisses to his warm skin. “But I want to play.”
He cleared his throat. “Yes, well.” God, I loved how his voice grew deeper when he was turned on. “Given the pounding your pussy received over an extended period of time last night, it’s my, um, professional opinion that we let it rest, giving it time to recover.”
“Professional opinion,” I purred, my lips moving upward along the side of his neck until I reached his ear. “Is that so, Dr. Grant ?”
“Fuck, woman.” Tucker’s head dropped back on a groan, and I could sense his resolve crumbling.
“Yes, you should definitely fuck the woman.” My hand slipped beneath the sheets, and his hips bucked when I began to stroke his stiff cock. I squeezed his length tighter with each pass. “You’re so hard. Isn’t that painful, baby?”
His throat bobbed on a swallow, and he rasped, “Yes.”
A wicked grin curved on my lips, and I began to slink down his body, my intent clear before taunting, “Maybe I’ll just have to kiss it better.”
Those brilliant blue eyes snapped open, and I was on my back in a flash.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he growled, tugging my lower lip between his teeth.
A victorious thrill shot through me. “Guess it’s a good thing I know CPR, then.”
Here’s to making the most of these extra days.
Tucker finally dragged me out of bed around noon. At which point, we both realized that all my clothes were at my mom’s.
While I didn’t mind lounging around in Tucker’s clothes—or better yet, wearing none at all—he was insistent on taking me out. Though he refused to disclose our destination, wherever it was would require the use of my own clothing.
His pickup rolled to a stop outside the quaint two-bedroom house I’d called home for the first eighteen years of my life, and out of nowhere, the nerves roared to life.
Mama had been at the wedding, had probably seen Tucker cart me out of the event over his shoulder, but suddenly, I felt like a teenager again, afraid of getting caught sneaking into the house after spending all night with a boy.
Except that I wasn’t seventeen anymore, and it wasn’t just before dawn with the hopes of my mother still being asleep. Now, I was a grown woman fully capable of making decisions about whom she slept with and when, but that didn’t mean I needed to disrespect the woman who’d raised me by casually walking into her house with the man I’d let defile me by my side. While also still wearing his clothes, I might add.
Tucker reached for the door handle of his truck, but I halted him with a hand to his forearm. “You think you could stay here while I pop inside?”
His gaze shifted toward the house before returning to meet mine, and I could have sworn I saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes .
I was probably mistaken. Because there was nothing funny about not wanting to flaunt our pre-marital sex in front of my church secretary mother.
“Okay.” He nodded his agreement. “At least let me get the door for you.”
Before I could open my mouth to reply, he’d already hopped out and was rounding the hood to get to my side.
Manners. They were practically non-existent in the city. Doors weren’t held open, seats weren’t vacated on public transit for pregnant women or the elderly. Everyone was only out for themselves. It made me sad that common courtesy had fallen by the wayside in most places, but there was comfort in knowing it was still alive and well down here.
My door was wrenched open, and a hand was extended from the man standing before me, a silent offer of help in climbing down from the cabin.
I slid a palm against his, allowing his warm fingers to curl around my hand as he eased me onto solid ground.
Pressing a kiss to my cheek, he said softly, “I’ll be right here. Take your time.”
“Thanks.”
I turned on my heel and climbed the few porch steps before reaching the front door. Peeking back, I found Tucker leaning against his truck, his legs crossed at the ankles, his hands stuffed in his jeans pockets, and the cowboy hat gracing his head tipped down enough that it cast a shadow over his handsome face.
My smile was automatic. As was the rush of arousal that pooled low in my belly.
Jesus. I needed to get a grip. My lady bits were throbbing—yeah, that professional opinion he’d offered earlier had been spot on—but I was still tempted to say, fuck it , and jump his bones anyway .
Shaking my head, attempting to clear the lust taking over my brain, I inhaled deeply before pushing inside the house.
“Bex, honey, is that you?” My mother called out from the direction of her bedroom.
I latched the door behind me. “Yeah.”
“I was wonderin’ when you’d drop by to say goodbye.” Mama turned the corner, dressed down for a quiet Sunday afternoon and evening, now that church service had concluded and she had the rest of the day free.
My gaze dropped to the floor as my face flamed. “I, uh, decided to delay my return to Chicago.”
“That so?” Her tone remained completely neutral, but for some reason, I found myself getting defensive.
“I’m not ready to leave yet, okay?” I clapped a hand over my mouth when those words came out sharper than intended.
Shame curled through me, and slowly, I lifted my head to view my mother’s reaction to being snapped at for her innocent question.
An apology was poised on my tongue, but it died there when I found nothing but love and understanding shining back at me when I met her eye. “Of course, that’s okay, honey. This is your home.”
I shifted on my feet. “There’s this pull . . .”
Mama laughed softly. “Pretty sure that pull is the man leaning against his truck outside. He’s your home.”
Home. It took until now to realize I’d always viewed that word as synonymous with Tucker.
When I left this place, I was running from him.
When I stayed away, it was to protect myself from seeing him.
Now that I was back in his arms, I never wanted to leave Rust Canyon .
Sensing I’d been struck silent, my mother spoke again. “You want my advice?” I nodded, so she continued, “Live every day like tomorrow’s not guaranteed.”
“Mama . . .” Tears sprang to my eyes, knowing her advice was borne from experience. She’d barely been my age when my daddy passed.
“No.” She gave a firm shake of her head. “Don’t you go feeling sorry for me. Even if I knew at the start how it was going to end, I would do it all again. Because I loved your father, and he gave me the greatest gift I would ever receive. My beautiful girl.”
I swiped at the tear I couldn’t stop from leaking out.
“I know it’s complicated, sweetheart. Love usually is. But at the end of the day, it’s worth fighting for.”
A nod of agreement was all I could manage with the lump formed in my throat.
“You and that boy out there?” She jerked her head toward the front door. “You’re being given something most people don’t get. A second chance. Now you need to decide if you’re going to let it pass you by or if you’re willing to make the most of it.”
There was no doubt that Tucker was all in. But the questions lurking at the back of my mind were enough to give me pause.
Could it really be this easy? For the two of us to pick up where we left off?
Were we moving too fast? Yes, we had a history, but we’d spent more time apart than we had as a couple.
What about my life in Chicago? Was I willing to walk away from a position I’d spent years working toward?
If I did—uprooted my life and came home to be with the man I loved—what would I do for work? There wasn’t much need for a corporate lawyer in Rust Canyon, and my pride wouldn’t allow Tucker to support me financially—which I knew he’d insist upon—while I found my place in the community.
The uncertainty surrounding our relationship threatened to drag me under if I thought about it too hard.
So instead, I decided to take my mama’s advice. I had a few more days with Tucker before I had to leave—for how long, I wasn’t sure—so I was going to make the most of each and every one.
Mama must’ve seen the determination written on my face because the smile on hers grew. “That’s my girl. Live in the moment. I promise you’ll never regret it.”
How did she always know the right thing to say? I was beyond lucky that had God chosen her to be my mother.
She stepped forward to pull me into a hug so tight it forced the air from my lungs. It was as if she was making up for ten years of lost embraces.
Guilt flooded me, knowing how much pain it must have caused her when I stayed away for so long.
Voice thick, I promised, “I’ll be back.”
Mama stroked my hair. “I know, honey.” Pulling back, she thumbed away the last remaining tear that leaked from the corner of my eye. “Go enjoy your life. You only get one.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I nodded before running to my bedroom to change, intent on making the most of my second chance.
“A rodeo?” I couldn’t contain my surprise when we pulled into the dirt parking lot of our destination. “I haven’t been to one of these in forever.”
Tucker flashed me a smile so wide a dimple popped on his cheek. “Tripp mentioned he was heading out first thing to catch up with the team.”
It wasn’t out of the ordinary for Tripp to spend most of the spring and summer traveling around the local rodeo circuit with their bucking horses used in competition. When we were growing up, Jett had been the one carting their horses all over the state. With Daisy off work for the summer, sometimes the entire family—with me included as an honorary member—would tag along.
I would never forget that time Aspen got stars in her eyes while watching the barrel racers and declared that when she grew up, she wanted to be one. Jett had been less than amused. The whole reason he’d moved to the business side of rodeos was because he’d suffered a brutal injury as a bareback bronc rider.
Tripp was the less wild of the Sullivan children and had never once considered competing. He was more than happy to maintain his position in the family business, which kept him out of the spotlight and out of danger.
Tucker helped me down from the truck, but I didn’t make it two steps before he looped an arm around my waist, pulling me into his side as we made our way to the ticket booth. He handed over the cash for our entry fee, then guided me through the crowd.
“Hungry?” He gestured to the many food stands lining the walkway.
I shrugged. “I could eat.”
Once we were armed with corndogs, popcorn, drinks, and a funnel cake to share, we made our way into the stands. The roping competition was wrapping up when we sat down on the metal bleachers. Next up were the bronc riders.
“Made it just in time.” Tucker winked before taking a giant bite out of his corndog .
The horses were already in the chutes that lined the corral. They awaited the brave souls who would hop onto their backs and attempt to hold on for eight seconds until the buzzer sounded, signaling a successful ride.
From this distance, I couldn’t tell which ones hailed from Sullivan Ranch, but I eagerly anticipated hearing one of their names called out over the PA system, knowing those cowboys would be in for one hell of a ride. Jett had built quite a reputation for breeding some of the most spirited horses in the state, and as a result, they often landed near the top of the leaderboard—the horse’s performance counting for half of a ride’s total score.
Event organizers paid top dollar to have Sullivan Ranch horses in their lineup, aiming to provide the best entertainment value for their attendees.
The public address announcer’s voice came through the speakers placed throughout the arena, citing the name of the first bronc rider and their assigned horse, Starlight.
I let out a little squeal and bounced in my seat. “I named that one!”
A few curious glances were cast our way, and Tucker explained, “She’s a family friend of the stock contractor.” Then he motioned for them to face forward. “You’re not gonna want to miss this.”
The rider signaled that he was ready, and the gate was pulled away. Immediately, the horse kicked up its hind legs, bucking wildly to unseat the man on her back. He flopped around, trying to remain on horseback, but a split second after his hat flew off, landing in the dirt, and so did he.
There was a collective “ooh” from the crowd, and I winced, watching the thud of his body hit the ground.
Thankfully, the rodeo protection athletes—often referred to as rodeo clowns—on horseback led Starlight away while the ones on the ground helped the seemingly uninjured rider to his feet. There was a disappointment etched on his face, but he’d get a second ride on a different horse .
“Why would anyone willingly do this?” I mused while watching the second rider hold on for dear life.
Tucker chuckled. “Beats the hell outta me. Never thought it was a particularly smart idea, and that was before I had access to Jett’s medical records.” He shuddered beside me.
“That bad?”
“Who knows if he’d have made it to thirty if it weren’t for Aspen. Becoming a father probably saved his life.”
Aspen was born seven months after Jett officially retired from competition, which also happened to be exactly seven months after his final injury. Learning his wife was pregnant had been enough to scare him straight. His responsibility to his growing family became more important than chasing glory in half-full small-time rodeos.
After the broncs came the bull riders. About halfway through the lineup, the night sky opened up, unleashing a torrential downpour. Shouts and surprised yelps sounded from the crowd, and everyone jumped to their feet, ducking for cover.
Barely able to see past the sheets of water coming down from above, Tucker grabbed my hand, pulling me behind him as we ran toward where his truck was parked.
And just like that, date night was over.