18. Tucker
Chapter Eighteen
TUCKER
“Lift your hands and bring them together over your head,” Gemma said in her soothing yoga voice.
I was trying to stay soothed, but Skylar was here this evening. I discovered it wasn’t the best plan to have her come to yoga class because I was seriously distracted.
I’d almost been late and ended up a row behind Skylar in the room.
Not only did I have an excellent view of the sweet curve of her bottom every time she bent over but I could also see her silhouette from the side.
I could see just a hint of her breasts, which were absolutely perfect.
I knew that because they filled my palm just so.
Gemma was moving around the class quietly. She paused beside me, using her index finger to adjust my arms, murmuring, “Focus, Tucker.”
I risked a glance at her face and saw the sly glint in her eyes.
She didn’t laugh, though. Gemma rarely lost her composure.
I snapped my gaze forward to the mirrors.
After Gemma had started running these classes last year, Nora had mirrors installed on one wall.
Sometimes we faced the view out the windows and sometimes the mirrors.
Unfortunately, when I looked in the mirror, my eyes immediately wandered to glance at Skylar.
Jesus. This was not me. I was not the guy who got distracted by some woman in yoga class. This was supposed to be relaxing. I forced my eyes away and refused, by act of will alone, to look at her again. It was for my own sanity, so I didn’t embarrass myself and end up with a hard-on in yoga class.
Once we were done, I bolted out of class, practically running out of the lodge and through the trees to the staff house.
I took a cold shower to get through the rest of the night without losing my mind.
Doubts skittered along the edge of my thoughts, but the thing was, I wanted Skylar.
It felt as if a crack had formed along the side of my heart.
The very heart I’d thought was immune to anyone reaching through my guard again.
When I walked through the side entrance at the lodge. I almost collided with Flynn when he was coming out of the door to the private apartment he shared with Daphne. Cat was in the process of moving into the staff house.
“Hey, man,” Flynn said as he held open the door to the kitchen for me. “How were your flights today?”
The door swung shut behind me as we walked through. “Uneventful,” I replied.
“That’s how we like it,” he returned. “Should I grab you a beer?” He paused by the opening into the pantry.
“Sure.”
“Just grab a six-pack,” Grant called.
“Will do,” Flynn returned as he cornered into the pantry.
My gaze arced about the kitchen. A few guests were scooping up to-go dinners, which Daphne had started providing on staff-only dinner nights. Many guests went into town for dinner as well.
Skylar was seated at the dining room table, the long table that ran the length of the room in front of the windows. Her dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, swinging as she turned to reply to something Cammi said.
Diego caught my eyes, winking as he grinned. “You should just go over there,” he teased.
“I usually do,” I retorted.
Jesus. I didn’t even want my friends to know I’d asked Skylar out to dinner.
That nugget of information would lead to all kinds of teasing.
I loved working with my friends, the friends I considered part of my family, but there were downsides to everybody knowing your business.
I didn’t think Skylar would say a word about it. She was way too guarded for that.
Flynn appeared at my side again, holding a six-pack in his hand. He handed me a beer from the local brewery.
“What’s for dinner?” I asked Daphne as I paused by the corner of the island.
Daphne narrowed her eyes at me. “Just go sit down.”
“I don’t get to ask what’s for dinner? You know I’ll love it.”
Daphne smiled. “Spicy stir-fry tonight.”
“Ooh, that sounds good.”
“There are appetizers over on the table,” she added.
“Excellent.” I cracked open my beer, tossing the cap in the trash tucked under the counter before striding across the kitchen into the dining area.
I sat down beside Elias, which happened to be across from Skylar, but it was the natural place to sit given the current configuration of people at the table.
Cammi was at the end with Elias on the corner beside her and Skylar on her other side.
I didn’t intend to have a direct line of sight, but now I did.
“How’s it going?” I asked Cammi when she cast a smile my way.
“Good.”
“You always say good. Is it really always good?” I teased lightly.
She rolled her eyes. “Okay, no. Nobody’s life is always good, but it’s pretty good. I’m busy, my businesses are running well, and?—”
Elias slid an arm around her shoulders, and Cammi’s cheeks pinkened. “We’re good,” she added.
“Remind me when the twins are due?” I asked.
“In four months,” Cammi replied, her eyes widening a little as if she hadn’t calculated how soon that was.
“Dude, you don’t even know what to do with yourself anymore,” I teased when Elias leaned down to press a lingering kiss on her cheek.
“What do you mean?” he returned as he lifted his head.
I took a swallow from my beer and grinned. “You’re not too cranky anymore.”
“He is every morning until he has coffee,” Cammi chimed in.
“And he has the best coffee in town at home,” I offered as I leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table.
“That must be nice, but you go in early,” Skylar commented.
Elias shrugged. “I’m an early riser, no matter what. Cammi leaves before me, but she does make me my own coffee.”
“Sometimes, he comes in with me when I’m going to the truck,” Cammi piped up.
“Really?” Skylar smiled at them.
Cammi nodded. “He helps me open up.”
“Oh, that’s sweet,” Skylar replied.
Elias narrowed his eyes at Skylar in a mock glare. “Don’t call me sweet.”
“That is sweet,” she insisted.
When Skylar’s eyes bounced to mine, her cheeks flushed slightly, and then she looked down, reaching for what looked like a fresh spring roll from a tray on the table.
“Those are delicious,” Cammi said. “Make sure to use the dipping sauce.”
“Does Daphne ever run out of things to make?” Skylar asked after a bite.
“Sometimes she repeats things, but every week there’s something new,” I replied. “We have our favorites like her chipotle bacon mac and cheese.”
“Oh, my fucking god.” Elias groaned and turned in his chair, calling to Daphne, “Can you make that next week?”
“Make what?” she called in return.
“Your mac and cheese. We haven’t had it on staff night in a while.”
“Well, if you still lived here, you’d get it,” she retorted.
“I’m not moving back, but I miss that mac and cheese.”
Daphne smiled indulgently. “I’ll make it next week. Skylar, make sure to come out again.”
“Do you like mac and cheese?” Cammi asked her.
Skylar’s ponytail bounced with her nod. “I love mac and cheese, but I’ve only had it out of the box. It’s comfort food.”
“Oh yeah, straight out of the box is the best comfort food,” Cammi agreed.
“Have you ever had it with ketchup?” Elias asked.
Skylar looked at him askance, and he shrugged sheepishly. “Maybe I’m skeptical about that,” she replied.
“It’s good. It sounds trashy, but it is good. It makes it a little sweeter and a little tangier, I swear,” he explained.
“You’ve never made that for us,” Cammi said, looking at him.
“Well, most people are kind of snooty about mac and cheese,” Elias said defensively.
“I’m not,” Daphne said as she crossed over. “That is a Southern specialty.”
“Mac and cheese out of the box with ketchup?” I prompted.
“For sure. Don’t bash it until you try it,” she countered with a grin.