19. Summer
The bold reddoor on the sleek, modern building stood out, and I waited patiently for it to open.
bitch, if you’re going to do this you’d better find a sexy one.
or a rich one.
one who’s gonna die soon. preferably one who can’t get his dick up.
I smirked at Amara”s text.
So far, I’d met with four different men. Twice a week. Had five cancellations. And, after tonight, had one more scheduled but with two different first names, same last name. Brothers, maybe?
I’d spent my free time working in mom’s garden, buying the list of clothing brands Olivia had emailed me, and looking for a new lawyer, since Terrance had ghosted me. It was stressful, as every one had either turned me down, or hadn’t bothered to call me back.
After a long moment, I checked the number on my phone again. Condo #104.
Knocking one more time, I typed into my phone, I’m here.
A few seconds later, I heard incoherent words behind the door, then it swung open.
“Yes? Can I help you?” asked a short, blonde woman with bright blue eyes. From here, the succulent scent of creamy, buttered sauce called to me.
”Is Tucker,” I glanced at my phone to make sure I had it right, ”Waylon Maxwell the fourth here?”
He”d typed the bloody thing out in his text to me, I may as well use it.
Smile frozen in place, she blinked at me. ”And you are?”
I stared at her for a brief moment.
I actually recognized her. She’d been at the Magnolia that day.
”I”m the charity case,” I deadpanned, my own smile frozen on my face.
Hers faltered and she stepped back, revealing a large apartment. ”Summer? Duvall, right?”
I nodded. ”That”s right.”
“Did Tucker invite you here?” Heels clacking against the hardwood floor, she led the way, and I took in a deep breath as I shut the door behind me.
”He said to meet him at seven.” I was talking to her back. She had a shoulder-length bobbed haircut, and was wearing a black, form-fitting dress that came to mid-thigh.
”Sounds about?—“
”Summer!” A deep voice interrupted her as we entered a large and bright kitchen. A man I recognized from the Magnolia was standing in the middle of it. He was wearing a pressed, white, button-up shirt, sleeves rolled upward to reveal sexy, strong arms, and a pale blue apron that matched the tie tucked inside it.
”Just in time! Here,” he thrust a wooden spoon at me, ”try it.”
I closed my lips around it and spices burst on my tongue. ”Mmm, that”s good.”
His smile was genuine. ”You like it?”
I nodded. ”It”s delicious.”
”Crawfish etouffee. It”s my grandmother”s recipe.” He nodded towards what looked like a well-used recipe book. Countertops held chopped vegetables, garlic, spices, and an open laptop. Blue gas flickered under chrome simmering pots. ”She published several of them.”
”It smells great.” I suddenly felt awkward; both of them were staring at me. ”Thank you for inviting me.”
”You”re welcome. Of course,” he waved a hand. “I have to invite the newest member of the Magnolia.”
Tugging on Hello Kitty oven mitts, he pulled out two sizzling casseroles from the oven, tossing them on the counter. “Portobello mushrooms stuffed with artichoke and spinach,” he pointed to one, then the next, “sweet potato and gouda gratin. Sorry. I wasn’t sure what you would like, so I just made a little bit of everything.”
“Wow. Thank you.”
”Would you like me to set the table?” Grace shut the laptop crisply.
”It”s okay, Grace. You can go.” He stirred a pot.
I looked up just in time to see the flash of anger in her eyes before she turned away, placing the computer in her leather Gucci bag. ”I”ll see you tomorrow, then?”
”Yes, of course,” he waved a hand at her, his attention on the stove.
”Are you sure you don”t want to stay?” I asked her. I didn’t want to interfere with whatever they had going on.
Grace’s hand on her bag stilled but Tucker didn”t look up from the stove. ”Of course not, we”ll finish tomorrow.” His voice was sharp.
She gave me a tight smile before slinging her bag over her shoulder. ”It was nice to meet you officially, Summer.”
She didn”t wait for me to answer her before she turned her back to me, her petite, athletic frame and pert butt swaying as she strode from the kitchen.
”She”s a great assistant,” he said, shaking his head as he stirred his sauce, ”but she”s only an assistant.” I was certain she could still hear him but she didn”t look back. ”Not like you.”
”I”m nothing special?—“
”Nonsense. If the Magnolia has decided to accept you, then you”re pure enough.”
I blinked at him, uncertain what he meant. He pointed towards the cupboards to his right. ”Do you mind pulling out some plates? This is just about finished.”
“She’s in love with me.” Tucker said after Grace shut the door behind her, setting down a bottle of red wine as I set out two place settings. The dining room was large and spacious, with beautiful aged, bronze furnishings and a soft candle chandelier. “Unfortunately, I don’t have the same feelings. I’ve tried to let her down gently but,” he shrugged and gave me a sad smile, “she refuses to listen. So I have to be a little more firm.”
“I see.”
”Please, sit,” he pulled out my chair, and I sat while he served me. I watched him curiously.
“You’re different than the others.”
“Of course I am,” he rolled his eyes. “They’re brutes. All of them. Don’t know how to woo a woman.”
“And is that what you’re doing?” I asked as he sat. “Trying to woo me?” Somehow, it felt like he wasn’t, though he was being an incredible gentleman. No one else had cooked for me.
He tipped a fork towards my mouth, “Try.”
I gagged, spitting it out before I thought about it. He laughed, the sound rolling through me, warm and comfortable.
“Well, I know not to make that again.” He was still grinning, mischievous eyes on me.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be! More for me.” He poured me a half glass of wine, then some for himself. Leaning towards me, he gave me a sly look. “Now, tell me about yourself. I want to know all your secrets.”
“Are you trying to get me drunk so I’ll spill my guts?” I smiled.
“Wine and secrets are my favorite.” He teased, taking a bite of the sweet potato and gouda gratin thing. “Maybe we start with something easier. I read that you just graduated high school.”
“Yes,” Nodding, I took the bite he offered me, “mmm, you have a talent for this.”
“What college are you going to?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Do you know what you want to study?”
“They say it”s like picking a life path while blindfolded. No pressure, right?” I forced a smile to my face, but he only looked at me expectantly. “I was thinking permaculture horticulturist, or agriculture.” I’d been enjoying working outside so much, I thought I could make a living out of that.
“What even is that?”
“It’s sustainable practices. For farmers, landscape designers, those kinds of people. Using more locally sourced plants, self-sustaining food systems, water conservation… There’s so much more we could be doing to be better to the planet, and still feed everyone.” I halted, suddenly realizing that I was climbing on my soapbox. But Tucker only looked on with interest.
“That’s fascinating. And you think you could learn that at Netherveil?” The local university. “Or would you have to go to school somewhere else?”
“I’m not sure. I—” I let out a sigh, shoulders drooping. ”Who knows? Everything”s a bit hazy right now—” I bit down on my next words, sudden emotion washing over me. Up until now, I’d been able to hold it together but I felt the weight of everything pressing down on me. I blinked, holding back tears.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Tucker soothed, rubbing my arm. “I understand. It can all be a little much.”
Nodding, I ran a napkin under my eye.
“But I promise you, things will work out. I’ll help you.”
“You will?”
“Of course. In fact, I think we could come to?—”
Suddenly, there was a loud noise as the front door slammed open. “Tucker!” boomed a low voice that made my chest blossom with heat. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
Tucker jerked to his feet, an abrupt change coming over him. “Rook,” he growled, “what are you doing here?”
“Don’t you even fuc—” Rook heaved, staring between the two of us.
“You need to leave,” Tucker grit out. “You’ll have your time with her.”
“I don’t—she’s not…”
“He’s trying to tell you that he didn’t put in an application for me.” I’d specifically checked, and was unable to stop the disappointment I’d felt. I stood next to Tucker, facing him down.
“You didn’t put in a…” Tucker gave Rook an incredulous look. Then a slow smile spread across his face. “Then would you mind explaining why you’ve shown up here? Bursting in here like a caveman.”
“Summer,” Rook snarled at me, “You need to leave. Now.”
“She doesn’t.” Tucker said.
“Exactly,” I folded my hands across my chest. “You’re not the boss of me.”
Rook’s dark gaze burned into me, making a lump form in my throat. The look he was giving me. Why did I… why did I feel like I was, somehow, cheating on him? His stare was wild and possessive and took a hold of me, hooking into me like an anchor.
My insides burned with that look.
Throughout my entire life, I’d yearned to be my true self.
But the world rebuffed messiness, insisting on neatness and order, demanding self-possession and composure.
Chaos wasn”t tolerated; only order offered safety.
But the strangely familiar presence Rook radiated, the way he was looking at me, his chest heaving, the possession in his gaze, the way his fingers twitched at his side, as if wanting to reach out to me but was withholding—it called to me.
Like a savage roar in the jungle, it beckoned to the wild, chaotic part of me trapped inside, longing for release, like a vicious wolf protecting the vulnerable bunny; I was safe with him.
With a sudden jolt, I knew in that moment that I belonged, not to Tucker or any of the other men that I’d met, but To. Him.
And yet, who was he?
I didn’t even know or understand, how or why he was familiar. Why this strange bond I felt for him, even though he’d been nothing but rude and demanding and controlling and…kind and protective and giving.
“I can’t.” The words lumped in my throat and I took a step backwards. Fear had seized my chest, crawling up my belly and tearing through my insides. I shook my head. “No.”
I couldn’t.
The world wasn’t safe.
I had to be the protector.
I couldn’t let down my guard.
I had to maintain my walls, push down the feelings bursting, couldn’t manage a crack in my armor.
“You need to leave, Rook.”
“Like hell I am,” in two sudden steps, he was at me. I was backed into the table, couldn’t move right or left. “I’m not leaving without you.”
With a sudden jerk, he’d grabbed me by my hips and threw me over his shoulder.
“Mppphhhh!” I screeched, clawing and kicking, but Rook’s hold was a steel band.
He only paused to point a finger at Tucker, “You touch her again and I will kill you.”
Then I could only see the fleeting look of longing on Tucker’s face before Rook stole me away like a feral beast into the dark night.