Chapter 6 #2
Their whole family is here. Both sisters, Tucker, and their brother, Easton, who I haven’t met before, but he sends me a nod.
He doesn’t give me the creeps at all. In fact, he looks nice.
A lot like Tucker, with dark hair and green eyes and muscles that rival his brother’s.
He also has all the tattoos in the world down one arm.
The sexy gene is prevalent in this room.
Greg is in a chair, his eyes pinned to the TV as Xander, the only sibling not here, skates over the ice, a puck on his stick, weaving through the opposing team.
We all go quiet as we watch, collectively holding our breath, and then Xander sends the puck into the net, and we all erupt into cheers. I high-five Tucker and then take a bite of my food and feel my eyes go wide.
“Okay, who catered this? These are freaking good.”
Tucker smirks and shoves his hands in his pockets.
“I made the food, Duchess.”
“Duchess?” I hear Ava whisper-yell at Harper, and it makes me grin.
“You’re a good cook, Hotshot.”
“Hotshot?” Harper doesn’t bother to try to whisper back at Ava.
Tucker chuckles, and when the TV switches to a commercial, Greg stands and crosses to me.
“I’m sorry for my manners,” he says as he holds his hand out for me to shake.
After just a heartbeat, I take it, and his hand feels warm and firm, but not at all angry or mean.
His energy screams welcome, and I feel my shoulders relax.
“I’m the dad around here. I hope my kiddo is treating you well. ”
“He’s been great, thanks.” I smile up at Tuck and find him watching me with sober eyes.
“She brought sugar-free dessert for everyone,” Tucker adds.
“You and I are going to be good friends,” Greg says with a wink. “I’m grabbing drinks. Who needs a refill?”
Harper raises her hand. “I can’t get off the couch. I’m a whale.”
“You’re beautiful,” I tell her.
“I’m a beautiful whale,” she counters with a laugh. “Seriously, just roll me around.”
“What can I get you, Darby?” Greg asks me.
“Oh, just some water would be great.”
He nods and then he’s gone, and Tucker motions for me to sit in an empty chair.
Easton’s in a Denver Flurry T-shirt. Ava and Harper are both wearing Xander’s jersey. Even Tucker’s shirt is navy blue, one of the team colors.
“I love the team spirit in here,” I tell them as I finish my fajita. Tucker has some crazy good cooking skills, which only makes him more attractive. “Do you always get together for games?”
“Not always,” Easton says. “But we try to often. Xander will FaceTime us after the game, and the big weenie likes it when we’re all together. He’s an attention whore.”
I snort at that, and Ava kicks Easton.
“Be nice,” Ava says.
“I am nice,” Easton replies.
Yeah, I like it here. The whole family calms my nerves, and that only happens when I’m around my own family.
“I want dessert,” Harper announces. “I already can’t move, so why not go all the way?”
“I’ll dish it up,” I offer, and then turn to Tucker. “Although, I don’t know where everything is.”
“I’ll help,” he replies and leads me to the kitchen.
Greg has already refilled the drinks, and he’s back in the living room. The game is on again, and they’re cheering for Xander.
“This is fun,” I say quietly as Tucker pulls down plates and hands me a knife. “Do you always host?”
“I have the biggest space, but sometimes we go to Harper and Blake’s. Just depends on the night, I guess.”
I nod and cut into the cake and start serving it onto plates. When my finger comes back covered in whipped cream, Tucker gently grabs my wrist and pulls it to his lips, wrapping them around the digit and licking it clean, and a zing makes its way down my spine to my clit.
Holy Christ in a rowboat, I’ve never been this turned on.
I clear my throat. “How is it?”
Yeah, that’s my voice, sounding all needy and rough.
“Delicious. The whipped cream is good too.”
My lips twitch. “Are you flirting with me, Hotshot?”
“Look who’s just catching up. I’m usually the slow one around here.” He grins and leans toward me. I’m positive he’s going to kiss me. Do I want him to? Maybe. Yes because holy shit, Tucker is what dreams are made of. No because I don’t think I could stand to live with only one kiss from this man.
“Where’s the dessert?” Harper yells out, snapping us out of this sexy moment, and I grab a plate and a fork.
“I’d better take this to the pregnant girl.”
Tucker presses his lips together and nods, and we deliver dessert to everyone, then settle in for the rest of the game.
It’s a damn good game, and Xander only spends time in the penalty box twice.
Not ten minutes after it’s finished, Tucker’s phone rings, and he answers it and holds it up for the whole family to see.
“You kicked ass,” Greg says in greeting, and Xander’s whole face lights up.
“Hey, you’re all together for this one,” he says. “What did you eat?”
“You just scored four goals and you want to talk about food?” Ava asks.
“I’m hungry,” Xander says with a shrug. “Hey, who’s the pretty addition you have there?”
I look around the room, and then Tucker laughs.
“He’s talking about you, Duchess. This is Darby. She’s working here on the ranch for a year.”
“Is she now?” Xander winks, and I assume it’s aimed at me. “Do you like hockey, sweetheart?”
“I love hockey.”
“I will kill you,” Tucker says, glaring at the phone, and Xander busts up laughing.
“I’m glad you all watched. I have to shower and get home, but I’ll text the group chat later.”
“Bye!”
“Love you!”
“Make good choices!”
That last one was from Harper, and then the call is over, and everyone starts helping to clean up from dinner.
Everyone except Harper, who really does look stuck on that couch.
“Come talk to me,” she says, holding her hand out to me. “Sit.”
With everyone else in the kitchen, I do as she asks and sit right next to her. Suddenly, Harper’s belly moves. Like the baby’s rolling around in there.
“Wow,” I murmur, watching.
“Wanna feel?” Harper grins. “Go ahead. I don’t mind.”
Tentatively, I lay my hand over her belly, and the baby rolls again, making me smile.
“Well hi there, little baby.” More rolling.
“She likes you,” Harper says.
“I like her too. How are you feeling?”
“Well, let’s see. My ankles are always swollen, my hips hurt, and I can’t sleep because I can’t get comfortable because my hips hurt. I’m pretty sure you could eat off the floor of my house because I can’t stop cleaning it.”
“You’re nesting.”
“I’m psychotic,” she counters. “Blake is great about giving me back rubs and foot rubs.”
“Nice. I need a massage.” But I can’t stand to be touched, so it likely won’t happen.
“Don’t we all?” Harper says with a laugh. “I’m just ready to have this baby so I can love on her and kiss her and Ava can take her to Taylor Swift concerts.”
I lift an eyebrow and Harper laughs.
“It’s something Ava said when we found out I’m pregnant. That she hoped it was a girl so she could be the cool aunt who takes her to concerts and stuff.”
“That sounds like Ava.” The baby moves under my hand again. “She’s active in there. Doesn’t surprise me, since her parents are totally outdoorsy and stuff too.”
“Blake already bought a pack he can wear with her in it when we hike,” she says, and her eyes mist over.
“Oh geez, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“That’s the other thing. I cry all the time. The stupid backpack thing is so sweet and fun, and I can’t wait to hike with her, and it makes me all emotional.”
“Harpsichord doesn’t need a reason to cry,” Ava calls out from the kitchen. “She cried when Xander took the ice tonight before you got here.”
“Hey, I’m proud of him, okay?” She wipes a tear away. “He’s going to be such a good uncle.”
“Okay, there’s a whole lot of emotions going on over here,” I call out. “Help!”
Greg’s wiping his hands on a towel as he walks in and joins us. He scoops his girl up and sits with her in his lap, brushing his hand over her hair. “Hey, it’s okay, baby girl. There’s no need to cry.”
And just like that, I feel like crying. What’s it like to have a father like that? To have someone in your life—a man—who’s gentle and loving and would never, ever hurt you?
I don’t know. Sure, I have Holden, and he’s the best. But I had a tyrant for a father, and I never trusted that he would touch me with anything but violence and pain.
I squeeze Harper’s hand and stand, then cross to the kitchen.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I say, mustering up a smile. I have too many emotions rolling through me, and I need to keep it together until I’m alone. “It was a lot of fun, and dinner was fantastic. I’m going to head out.”
“I’ll text you tomorrow,” Ava says.
Good, because I want to know what’s going on with Chad. But I can’t say that because if I talk too much, I’ll break down, and I will not do that here.
Everyone says goodbye except Tucker, and when I walk out, he’s following me.
God, please don’t follow me right now.
“I’ll be right back,” I hear him say as I hop down the steps. “Wait, Duchess.”
“Oh no, you go be with your family.” I send a fake-as-fuck smile over my shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Wait.”
Damn it, let me go fall apart in peace!
“You know, I’m tired, and I need to get to bed early.”
“Darby.”
His voice isn’t hard or angry as he catches up to my stride, and I stop and turn to him.
“What?”
Damn it, my eyes are wet. Fuck.
“Whoa, what’s wrong? What happened in there?” His hands immediately come up to cradle my neck and jawline, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, wiping away the tears that I fought so hard to keep at bay. “If someone hurt you, I’ll kick their ass. You have to talk to me, or I can’t fix it.”
He’s already dead, Hotshot.
I huff a laugh and then swallow hard. “There’s no fixing this. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re not fine.” He’s gritting his teeth, frustration lining his face.
“I will be.” I close my hands around his wrists and gently tug him away. “Thanks for tonight. It was fun. You’re an excellent cook. Maybe I won’t turn you down for dinner all the time anymore.”
He doesn’t smile. His features are hard, his mouth set in a straight line.
“See you tomorrow,” I say again, and then walk away.
This time, he doesn’t follow me.