20. Dakota
I shifted slightly on the porch swing at Hope’s, pulling the blanket up tighter around my legs as I worked the yarn between my fingers. My crochet project—a new scarf I’d decided to start now that I’d finished the sweater I was currently wearing—rested in my lap, the rhythmic motion of the swing and my hook calming me.
The last week had flown by, a blur of long hospital shifts, cozy evenings, and fun moments with my usual crowd, plus Tucker, Colt, and Austin. Every day had been busy—sometimes chaotic—but also filled with a sense of something... more.
I bit my lip, focusing on the scarf, though the silky smooth texture of the Merino wool wasn’t doing much to distract me from my own thoughts. Tucker’s face, his rough laugh, the way his eyes always seemed to linger just a bit too long on mine—all of it had been playing on repeat in my head.
There hadn’t been any more kisses since the one I’d planted on his cheek outside the haunted house, as if there was something unspoken about not doing it too often for fear of getting used to it.
But the tension between us hadn’t faded one bit. If anything, it had only grown stronger. I smiled to myself, thinking back to the Weird Pumpkin Rally we’d gone to a few days ago. Tucker mentioned it was one of the strangest events he had ever witnessed, which was probably saying a lot considering his line of work. But leave it to Charlotte Oaks to make something like weird pumpkins into a big event. Farmers from around the area showed up with their strangest-looking gourds, proudly displaying the ones that had grown in odd shapes, with lumps or curls that looked like they belonged in a Halloween cartoon.
Austin had been fascinated by a pumpkin that had practically sprouted two heads, his eyes wide as he tried to figure out how nature had gone so wrong. Tucker had made some sarcastic comment about never wanting to see another pumpkin pie again, in case it was secretly made with one of the monstrosities on display, but I could see the amusement in his eyes.
And maybe it was just me, but there’d been something about the way he’d stayed close to my side the whole time—like we were in our own little bubble, his gruff teasing and low laughter seeming so natural now.
It was moments like those that made it hard to remember that this was just a fling. That he was planning to leave.
I tugged at the yarn in my lap, a sigh slipping out before I could stop it. I needed to think about the case whenever I started thinking too much about Tucker, himself. It helped put things into perspective before I started having dreams that weren’t worth having.
I was still staying with Hope, just in case. She worked a lot, but whether it was because she liked the idea that I’d be here if I wasn’t at work and she was, or if she liked having me there at night, I didn’t care. That was just what friends did.
Tuck and Colton had spent most of the week digging into the case, but they still didn’t have much to go on regarding Syd’s whereabouts, and I could tell it was starting to weigh on Tucker.
Ya know, kinda like how his exit hung over me like a dark cloud.
One silver lining about how much time they spent digging into Syd was that Tucker finally caved about Austin helping out at the gym. It likely still worried the protective big brother that Austin was settling in so much, though. He’d been forming bonds with people in the town, and getting used to us and this place.
I could almost relate to Tucker’s unease, come to think of it, considering how much time Phoebe spent around Austin. How upset would she be when they left? Sure, they weren’t together while she was in school, and even though Austin was already homeschooled back in Colorado and had been doing his schoolwork out here, Phoebe had to know he wasn’t staying, right?
At least I’d have a friend to binge-watch rom-coms while eating pints of ice cream with whenever that day came.
And wow , that sounded pathetic.
I finished another row of stitches, but before I could get too lost in my head or the next row, I heard the familiar creak of footsteps on the front porch. I didn’t even have to look up to know who it was. There was a certain way Tucker moved—quiet, but sure, like he was used to being unnoticed but couldn’t hide the massive presence he brought with him.
He stopped in front of the porch swing, casting a glance at the bundle of yarn in my lap and then at the sweater I wore. “Is that sweater made out of that ball I caught that day?”
I shot him a playful glare. “It is. And it’s called a skein , not a ball.”
“It was shaped like a ball.”
“Fair point.”
“Who’s it for?” he asked, jerking his chin toward it.
A smile tugged at my lips. “Depends on whether you plan to stay long enough for me to finish it. If not, I might just give it to someone else.”
His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t quite place—something deeper than his usual sarcasm. But he shrugged it off with a smirk. “Might have to stick around then. Can’t have anyone stealing my scarf.”
He backed up, leaning casually against the porch railing with his arms crossed over his chest. That was when I noticed it. I blinked, staring at him for a moment, then glanced down at my sweater.
“Wait a minute... are you?—?”
“What?” he asked, eyes full of concern and confusion.
I put down my crochet project and started to take off my homemade, oversized sweater.
“Uh—” I heard him say, then heard his chuckle when he realized I had a shirt on beneath it.
When it was revealed fully, he scowled. “Is that?”
“Yep.” I couldn’t hold back the laugh. I’d liked his flannel on instinct when I’d first seen it, only to realize a half-second later that it was nearly identical to the brown-and-black plaid I wore.
“Wow,” he said, shaking his head. “Put your sweater back on.”
“No way,” I said, biting my lip to keep from laughing harder. “Looks like we’ve hit that phase of the relationship where we accidentally coordinate.”
His face twisted in mock horror, and he immediately pushed off the railing, turning like he was about to head back to the B&B. “I’ll go change. I can’t be seen like this. So domestic .”
He’d said the last word with a literal shudder, and I cackled at his back as he practically ran away from me. But before he could get far, I jumped up from the swing, grabbing his sleeve and tugging him away from the steps.
He let me, of course.
“Oh no, you don’t,” I said with a laugh as I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind. “You’re not goin’ nowhere. I kinda like the idea of us bein’ ‘those people.’”
I felt more than heard his rumble of laughter as I kept my cheek to his back. Then, he tugged on my hands and extricated himself from my grasp, only to turn to face me and wrap my arms around his waist once again.
He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching as he reversed, backing us up. He settled back against the railing and kept holding me firmly to his front. “You mean those obnoxious couples that show up everywhere in matching outfits? Those people?”
I shrugged, the grin still playing on my lips. “Could be worse. At least we both look good in this shirt.”
He shook his head, raising a hand to my cheek and dragging his thumb over it. The playful banter mixed with quiet sweetness between us felt so natural, so easy. Even as we avoided the bigger conversations—the ones we both knew were looming over us—this was our way of keeping things light. Maybe if we kept joking, kept teasing, it wouldn’t hurt so much when he inevitably left.
“So,” I said, keeping my tone casual, “how’s the case going?”
Tucker’s playful smile faded slightly, replaced by his serious look. He glanced out over the yard—right to the spot where he’d been shot—then back at me. “When are you going to stop staying here?”
I gave him a bland look.
“I mean it. Have Hope come stay with you at your parent’s place. It doesn’t make you even a little uncomfortable being here—on the front porch, no less—twenty feet from where I was shot?”
“Oh, wow, that’s exciting. Sounds like you guys are makin’ some real progress!” I said with a wide smile.
He sighed. “Fine. The case. We’re getting closer. Colt and I have been digging up more on Syd Wharton, and we found out he bought a piece of property right before he disappeared. We’re going to check it out tomorrow.”
“You think that’s where you’ll find the treasure?”
“We don’t have anything that suggests it’ll be there, but we don’t have any other leads right now, so it’s worth checking out.”
“Are you gonna bring me?” I asked, blinking up at him.
“Do I have a choice?”
I shook my head.
He only smiled, slowly lowering his forehead until it met mine.
The soft clinking of silverware and the low hum of conversation filled Hope’s cozy dining room, the warm light casting a soft glow over the rustic wooden table. It felt peaceful here—safe. But even with the comfort of Hope’s homey space and the smell of her famous cornbread in the air, the tension was still there, simmering beneath the surface.
We were halfway through dinner, the table scattered with plates of half-eaten food. I sat across from Tucker, who had his usual serious expression on, his brow furrowed in thought as Colt talked about the house we’d be visiting tomorrow. Hope was next to him, offering a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She might’ve been a bit more worried about all of this than she let on.
Colt, though, had barely taken his eyes off Hope all evening. He wasn’t being obvious about it, but I’d been watching closely enough to notice the small, subtle moments. The way his eyes softened when she laughed, or how he leaned a little closer whenever she spoke, as if every word she said was the most important thing in the room.
It would be a hot topic at our next girls’ night, no doubt about it.
“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” Hope asked, leaning forward slightly. “If you’re gonna do a stakeout, don’t forget to call it in on the non-emergency line.”
Tucker and Colt shared sardonic smiles before nodding at her, promising they would. This wasn’t their first rodeo, though, and they knew they were supposed to let the local PD know they were watching a house or a person in case someone else called in about them.
“Why not go tonight?” Hope asked.
Colt looked at her, impressed. “Tonight, huh?”
I watched as his lips quirked into a slight smile—small enough that no one else might’ve noticed, but I did. And I knew Hope saw it too, even if she didn’t react. I tucked that little moment away, wondering if she felt the same strange energy I did between them. It was like a thread pulled tight, waiting to snap.
Before I could dwell on it too long, Tucker cleared his throat. “The idea’s solid,” he admitted, his gaze flicking to me for a second, then back to Colt. “But you know why we can’t.”
Colt smirked, casting me a knowing glance.
“Um, hello? Care to tell the rest of the class?”
“He wants to go during the day because then Austin will be at the gym with Travis, and you’ll be at work.”
Tucker exhaled through his nose. “Thanks. Nice.”
I gaped at Tucker. “Really? I thought you said I could come.”
“I didn’t, actually. You assumed I would.”
Austin, sitting at the other end of the table, didn’t seem to mind this turn of events nearly as much as I did. He was probably used to being sidelined thanks to Tucker’s protectiveness, but I sure wasn’t. “That’s silly. Let’s go tonight.”
Tucker shook his head, pushing his empty plate aside. “And what about Austin? I’m not bringing him on a stakeout.”
“Colt can stay with Austin,” I said with a shrug. “Come on! I wanna go on my first stakeout. It doesn’t sound nearly as dangerous as comin’ right up to the door with you.”
He sighed.
That was the crack in the armor I needed. I straightened up in my chair, my fingers tightening around my fork as I shot Tucker a playful glare. “Sounds settled then,” I said, casually leaning back. “But I’ll only go if you let me bring my crochet hook and scarf.”
Austin gave me an incredulous look. “How are you planning to crochet in the dark?”
Keeping a straight face, I shrugged. “I’ll just use the overhead light in the car. It’s not a problem.”
For a second, the room fell silent. Tucker and Colt both stared at me like I’d just announced I was planning to streak in the middle of a blizzard. Their expressions were so priceless that I almost couldn’t hold back the laugh bubbling up inside me.
Then Tucker blinked. “You can’t be serious.”
I wasn’t, but I bit the inside of my cheek, keeping my expression as neutral as possible. “Oh, completely. Unless you’ve got night vision goggles. That would probably work better.”
Before Tucker could process my ridiculous suggestion, Austin chimed in, his eyes bright with excitement. “He totally does.”
That was it. I couldn’t keep the laughter in any longer. “Perfect! It’s settled, then. I’ll bring my crochet, and we’ll call it a date.”
Tucker groaned, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitching like he was fighting back a smile. He crossed his arms over his chest, casting a sidelong glance at Colt, who was shaking his head with an amused smirk of his own.
“A date, huh?” Tucker finally muttered, raising an eyebrow at me. “Only you would think of turning a stakeout into a date with a side of crafting.”
“Gotta make use of the downtime somehow,” I shot back, grinning. “Besides, I wouldn’t want to cramp your serious stakeout style with all my chatterboxin’. This way, I’ll be quiet and occupied.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Hope said, laughing from her side of the table. “Gotta keep things light while we wait for somethin’ to happen.”
Colt nodded. “Just don’t let her crochet anything too suspicious-looking. Don’t wanna give ourselves away.”
I shot him a mock glare, then turned back to Tucker, feeling a warmth spread through me at the easy banter and the way the tension in the room had lifted, if only for a moment.
“Guess that’s settled,” Tucker said with a sigh, his eyes locking with mine. “But try not to be too distracting, will you?”
I winked at him. “Oh, no promises, but I’ll try my best.”
The conversation around the table drifted into more casual chatter as we finished eating, but then Austin looked up from his plate, his eyes flicking between Tucker and me, his brows furrowed in thought. “So, now that you two are like… for-real dating, does that mean you’re moving to Charlotte Oaks?”
The clatter of silverware hitting plates was the only sound as everyone absorbed the bomb Austin had just dropped. Hope’s eyes widened slightly as she exchanged a look with Colt, who lifted an eyebrow in surprise.
Meanwhile, Tucker stiffened next to me, the fork he’d been holding hovering awkwardly above his plate. He swallowed, his expression somewhere between uncomfortable and confused.
Finally, he cleared his throat and asked, “Why would you think I was moving to Charlotte Oaks?”
Austin’s response was so matter-of-fact that I almost snorted. “Because your girlfriend lives here.”
Tucker’s eyes darted to me, probably hoping I’d swoop in and save him from the awkwardness, and I didn’t hesitate.
I placed my hand lightly on Tucker’s arm and gave Austin a gentle but firm smile. “Honey, your brother’s life and business are in Colorado with you and your mom. I don’t expect him to wanna stay in our tiny town forever. We’re just enjoyin’ each other’s company for now.”
Tucker’s shoulders didn’t relax, but he gave me a small, grateful nod.
Hope jumped in with a smile as sweet as pie. “Well, Dakota, you could always move to Colorado and be a nurse there.” She blinked innocently at me, but I didn’t miss the knowing glint in her eye.
I stifled a sigh, trying not to roll my eyes at her. This wasn’t the first time Hope had made this suggestion—not by a long shot. Ever since I started staying at her place a few weeks ago, she’d brought up the idea more times than I could count. Every time, my answer was the same.
Sure, I could move to Colorado, be a nurse somewhere else… but Charlotte Oaks was my home. I’d grown up here, built my life here, formed connections that ran deep into the soil. The thought of leaving? It wasn’t something I could easily imagine.
But then, there was Tucker. Tucker, who wouldn’t stay. Who couldn’t stay. His life was as unsettled and varying as the cases he worked—always on the move, chasing down leads and solving mysteries that had nothing to do with a permanent home.
So there was nothing I could do, right? Nothing but enjoy what we had for as long as we had it.
Out loud, I let out a small laugh and shook my head. “Girl, what good would that do? These two travel all over Kingdom Come chasin’ grocery store robot thieves and huntin’ for pirate treasure. Why would I live in Colorado all by myself?”
Colt let out a soft chuckle, but Austin—ever the fact-checker—piped up immediately. “The Marty theft was a local job.”
I grinned, shrugging nonchalantly. “Fine. But, hey, maybe fate will bring Tucker back to Charlotte Oaks someday, and I’ll get to see him again.” I glanced at Tucker, my tone light and teasing as I added, “And if so, hopefully, you don’t get shot in the other butt cheek.”
At that, Tucker’s head dropped back in mild exasperation. “I’ll never live that down, will I?”
I bit back a grin as I watched him shift uncomfortably in his seat, his body language telling me everything I needed to know. Not only was that butt cheek still sore, but he wasn’t used to having conversations like this—ones that hinted at a future, or even the idea of permanence. His hand ran over the back of his neck, and his jaw tensed, a faint flicker of uncertainty behind his eyes.
For a man as sure-footed and grounded as Tucker, the thought of things getting too real… well, it made him uncomfortable. And part of me understood why.
But another part of me? The part that felt that magnetic pull toward him every time our eyes met? That part wanted him to stay. Even if I didn’t dare admit it out loud.
I stayed quiet for a moment, watching Tucker’s body language carefully. His face had softened a little, though the tension hadn’t entirely left his shoulders. Something told me this was just the beginning of the conversation we’d been avoiding for weeks.