Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
JULIE
I’d forgotten all about the old rumors Nate had thrown around about Tucker. Honestly, I never thought they’d gotten around, but my guess is that Carson has been asking just about anyone about Tucker, since he’s my new boyfriend.
Ugh. Stupid small-town drama.
“So, I saw Tucker out riding with Carson,” Mom hums as we stand over the sinks, washing dinner dishes. “I’m glad they’re getting along.”
“Yeah,” I say flatly, wishing I could punch my brother in the face. He has to know those rumors aren’t true. Everyone knew Tucker got a rodeo scholarship, but now, I’m left wondering if Carson has passed along the information to my parents. “Carson said something about some old rumors with Tucker…”
Mom furrows her brow. “What rumors? I’ve never heard anything about Tucker. Well, except that he and Nate had a falling out, but that came from you.”
I nod, breathing out a sigh of relief. The rumor must’ve only circulated around the friend group. My brother and Nate were once in the same circle. That had to be how it made its way to my brother’s ear. “Tucker is a good guy.” I don’t know why I find myself feeling the urge to defend him, but I can’t help it.
Maybe I don’t want my family to think he’s a handful.
He’s been nothing but a gentleman since he arrived, and honestly, I had no idea this town was so cruel to him, too. We have way more in common than I thought.
“I like Tucker so far,” Mom says to me, a smile on her face. “I mean, he’s only been here a day though. It could change.” She nudges me playfully, and I roll my eyes, grabbing a towel and wiping my hands.
“I’m going to shower,” I tell her, noting the quiet of the house. Jessie, Carly, and Carson left right after dinner for their own house, Dad had a meeting in town, and Tucker… Well, I have no idea where he went.
Probably to his room to escape all of us.
“I have to meet with Sally Jenkins about the Christmas parade this year,” Mom says, stopping me before I can exit the party. “Are you going to ride Rudy this year with the Roundup Club?”
“Mom,” I make a face, my inner embarrassment already growing at the thought of Tucker in the audience. “No. I don’t want to this year.”
She frowns, pooching out her bottom lip. “But you ride every year, and Carly was hoping to go with you… I was thinking Tucker could go, too?”
I burst into laughter, shaking my head. “There’s no way that man would ride in a parade. Besides, you’re supposed to dress up and all that. I cannot envision Tucker as Santa.” Maybe the Grinch though.
“If a man doesn’t accept you for who you are and support you, he’s not the one,” her voice takes on an air of sternness. “You’ve always ridden in the parade. Rudy makes the cutest little reindeer.”
“Not wanting to ride in the parade has nothing to do with my relationship,” I groan. “But also, I get tired of wearing that elf costume…”
“Well, I already signed you all up.”
My expression falls flat. “Of course, you did.”
Mom grins. “It’ll be fun.” She pats my shoulder and then grabs her keys from the hook. “Have a good evening. You and Tuck have the house to yourself tonight.”
My heart stumbles with nerves. “He’s probably already sleeping,” I stammer out, feeling a wave of nerves for absolutely no reason. I spin on my heels and head for the stairs as she exits through the door to the garage.
I thunder up the stairs, feeling a strong longing for a shower and some alone time with a good book. I go straight for the bathroom door, and whip it open…
Instantly wishing I hadn’t.
“Whoa!” Tucker startles, just a towel wrapped around his waist. However, a wicked grin stretches across his face as my face grows beat red. “Knocking is part of having good manners, Julie.”
My eyes drop to my feet as something totally incoherent comes out of my mouth. “Bah…” I can’t put my thoughts together, and it’s so embarrassing that I’m frozen—like I’ve never seen a shirtless man before? In fact, I’ve seen Tucker shirtless at pool parties before. What is wrong with me?
“Okay, I’m not that repulsive,” Tucker snorts, grabbing my attention.
I whip my eyes back up at his damp, disheveled hair and strong chest. “You’re not repulsive at all,” I blurt out, and then continue to embarrass myself. “It’s just that my mom is gone, and we’re here alone, and there’s this parade…”
“Are you drunk?” Tucker’s expression shifts to amusement. “Because you’re making no sense, Jules.” He chuckles, and then takes a step toward me—close enough that I catch a scent of his masculine, leather and bourbon scent.
And I could get intoxicated by that smell.
He gestures for me to let him through, and I step awkwardly to the side, mumbling my own version of “sorry” as I do. I facepalm myself as he slips past me, not sure what in the world came over me, embarrassment hitting me like a ton of bricks. I close the bathroom door behind me and lean against it, trying to get my thoughts together.
I need to just focus on making that deal happen for Tucker, the sooner the better. It’ll make this easier on both of us, if he knows he can get what he wants. I start formulating a solid plan, knowing that first, I need to get Tucker and my dad together in a setting where they can talk business. My dad needs to know that Tucker is serious, and that he’s got a plan—so even when Tucker and I ‘break up’, Dad will keep his end of the deal, because that’s just how he does business.
I’ll show Tucker it’s worth his time.
I finish my shower, and step out, wrapping myself up in my towel. I dry my hair, and ensure my face is makeup-free, before stepping out into the hallway…
And making a mad dash for my room.
I don’t want to chance Tucker running into me in just a towel, even if it is more modest than half the trendy clothes anymore. My feet slip on the floors, but I make it, closing my door with a relieved sigh. I change into a pair of red and green flannel pants, and slide on a Grinch T-shirt.
Yeah, I know Tucker could relate… But as the dots connect, sadness pulls at my chest. The Grinch didn’t have a family or a place to go on the holidays either…
Ugh, poor Tucker.
A knock on my door startles me, and I rake my fingers through my hair, before going to open it. As I swing it open, Tucker is standing there in a pair of light wash jeans and white T-shirt. “I figured you’d be going to bed.”
“Meh,” he shrugs, brushing my arm as he slides past me. “I don’t really feel like being held hostage by Frosty.”
“What?” I furrow my brow.
“Nothing,” he mutters, plopping down on the edge of my bed. He runs his fingers over the quilt, and then looks up at me.
“My mom signed us up to ride in the Christmas parade,” I blurt out, folding my arms across my chest. “I do it every year…”
Tucker grimaces, visibly disgusted. “Uh…”
“I know you never went to it when you lived here,” I say quickly, beginning to pace. “And I was totally going to just sit it out, but my mom told me that she already signed us up, and Carly is supposed to ride with me…”
“Okay…” Tucker’s voice trails off as he watches me. “And so why do I have to go? Can’t I just stand on the sidelines and cheer?”
“I don’t know… But my mom seemed pretty serious about you ‘supporting me’ and all that…” I say the words with caution, chewing on my bottom lip.
He lets out a heavy, painful sigh, like I’m asking him to sell a kidney or something. “Fine.”
“You have to dress up,” I squeak out.
Tucker rolls his eyes. “Whatever.”
“Do you have a business plan?” I ask, thinking back to my end of the deal.
He instantly appears confused. “For what? The parade?”
“No,” I laugh. “For your cattle operation? I was hoping maybe we could have lunch with my dad, and I can bring it up for you. He’ll want to know you’re serious about what you’re doing?—”
“I am serious,” he snaps, shaking his head. “I wouldn’t be playing fake boyfriend if I wasn’t serious about the deal. I need it.” His expression flickers with something I can’t read, and I take a seat beside him on my bed, turning to him.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Sure, but no promises on an answer,” he chuckles, his eyes dropping to his hands folded in his lap. “Go ahead.”
“Why did Maddie call you my protector? It was so out of left field. You didn’t like me.” I don’t know why I’m digging, but the past isn’t all that clear in my fuzzy heartbroken memory.
He lifts his gaze. “You think I didn’t like you?”
“I mean, we never really talked…”
“Yeah, because your boyfriend was a total jerk, Jules, and I had no problem reminding him of that.” He shrugs, and then stands to his feet. “You always deserved better than him. Always. ”
“You told that to Nate?” I can’t hide my surprise, my gaze following him as he inches closer to the door of my room.
“Yeah, I told everything to Nate. He knew everything about me, and he still chose to walk out on our friendship. He was the closest thing to a brother I’ve ever had, but it was nothing to him.” Tucker shakes his head, disgust etched into his handsome features. “He left me high and dry, and I was thrust out into the world on my own.”
My heart squeezes in my chest, knowing exactly what rejection from Nate Roland feels like. “I’m so sorry, Tucker. I had no idea… He always made it out like it was a mutual thing…” I swallow the lump in my throat, realizing that I’d bought into Nate’s story. Sure, I never bought the stealing theory, but I did believe that Tucker was wild—and the Rolands had probably had enough. Plus, Tucker and Nate were always fighting.
“The past is the past,” Tucker grunts, now halfway out of my room. “I don’t care what Nate said about me, but the closer I get to it all…”
“The more you don’t want to stay around, which is exactly why you’re already halfway out the door,” I nod to how he’s standing. “Literally and figuratively.”
He chuckles, drumming his fingers on the door frame. “Smart woman.”
I grin, and then pat my bed. “You don’t have to go, Tucker, and the thing is… Maybe if you stay and get the lease from my dad, the bygones really will be bygones. You’ll be showing the world how incredible you are.”
His lips pursed. “I suppose.”
“Tomorrow morning, we’ll hang the Christmas lights, and then we can have lunch with my dad.” I grin at him and notice the way his eyes slip down my facial features to my lips. Heat spreads across my face, and I cover the moment with a cough. “If you’re good with that.”
Tucker nods, bringing his gaze back to mine, his hazel eyes softening. “Yeah, sure. Whatever you wanna do, Jules. I’m just along for the ride.”
“Well,” I correct him, “More like the lease. ”