Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Kate
I beat Tucker to the Grill, somehow, and head straight for an empty table in the back after waving at Jasper, who’s at his usual station behind the bar. Jasper sends Billy, one of my weekend-only waiters, over immediately, and I smile and ask for two beers and two menus.
I obviously don’t need a menu––I know it by heart––but I want Tucker to be able to order whatever he wants instead of sharing my food like we usually do. And just watching him while he peruses the menu would be awkward and uncomfortable, wouldn’t it?
Okay, so maybe I’m overthinking it, but I’m allowed to be a little psychotic right now.
It’s been a hell of a day.
Because in the last number of hours, I’ve experienced several things for the first time. Physical and emotional .
But no, I can’t allow myself to think about the emotional part. Not even for a second. Because if I do, I’m going to start crying, and I may never stop.
I made a deal with Tucker and with myself. No strings. No hopes for any kind of future. We’re just having a little fun, and in a couple of days, it’ll be over. For good.
And if the thought of his leaving sends a little shock of pain lancing through my chest? Well, no one will ever know about that.
The door swings open and he walks in, a grin lighting up his features the second his eyes meet mine. Breathe, Kate. God, he’s so beautiful.
“Hey,” he says, sliding into the chair across from me and subtly nudging his toe against mine beneath the table.
“Hey,” I attempt, but it comes out like a croak, so I clear my clogged throat and try again. “Hi.”
His gaze searches out every corner of my face, and his lingering, soft smile warms me all over. I can tell he’s thinking about the things we’ve done together today, and that he’s eager for more of the same.
As am I.
I clear my throat again and stiffen my spine, asking, “How did it go with Miss Ginny? Did she suspect anything?”
His smile slips the tiniest bit, and he coughs into his fist before saying, “It was…fine. She––”
“Well, hello there. You must be the best man I’ve been hearing so much about.”
My stomach sours at the sound of that voice, my eyes narrowing as I look up at the face of Kaylee Harper. Tucker looks up at her in askance, then his gaze flits over to me like he’s waiting for a polite introduction.
Over my dead freaking body.
“Oh, Kate. Hey,” Kaylee says, then her eyes travel down my body and back up before adding, “I don’t know how I missed you sitting there.”
I see Tucker’s chest puff up from the corner of my eye, and I realize he didn’t miss the insult in Kaylee’s words. I keep my gaze locked on Kaylee, though, because every good outdoorsperson knows you never take your eyes off a viper when you cross paths with one.
When she realizes I’m not going to introduce her to Tucker, she exhales impatiently and turns her body toward him before holding out a hand. “I’m Kaylee Harper.”
Tucker’s eyes narrow as he stares at her hand like it’s poisoned, then his gaze lifts to meet her eyes. “Kaylee Harper? Owner of the ice cream shop?”
“That’s me,” she says, then pauses for a beat longer before realizing he’s not going to take her hand. Dropping it back to her side, she adds, “And you’re J.T. Gibbs, Logan’s best friend from college, and much hotter than the gossips around town have given you credit for.”
Her voice turns husky with that last bit, and hand to God, she bats her eyelashes and runs the tip of her tongue along her lips. I finally glance over at Tucker to see if he’s affected by her bullshit. But I have no reason to worry. I can see the disgust in every line of his face .
“And you’re the one who sent your greasy little wimp of a cousin to insult and sexually harass Kate.”
Oh, shit. He just called Kaylee out, and the anger in his voice and expression on my behalf is doing funny things to my insides. I’ve never needed a man to stand up for me––I can handle myself––but damn, does it feel amazing to have it.
Tucker’s never been hotter than he is right now.
“What? Sexual harassment? No,” Kaylee blubbers in an attempt to exonerate herself. “He’s single. She’s single. I was just trying to help two lonely souls find a little companionship.”
Bullshit.
“Bullshit,” Tucker barks like we’re psychically connected. “You’re a petty little girl who gets her kicks from causing pain and embarrassment to others.”
“Fuck you, asshole,” Kaylee growls, losing all that sugar and spice she was oozing a minute ago and showing Tucker the ugliness beneath the surface.
Then spinning around, she stomps off in a huff before slamming through the exit. I watch her go, and when I look back over at Tucker, he’s staring at me with apologetic eyes.
“I’m sorry, Kate. I know it’s none of my business, and you don’t need me fighting your battles, but I couldn’t help it.” When I just continue to stare, his shoulders slump. “Please. Say something.”
My heart feels like it’s pounding its way right out of my chest, and my core is reaching critical meltdown status. My mouth drops open as I pant for sweet oxygen, and Tucker’s expression turns more worried by the second .
My chair screeches backward along the floor when I stand too suddenly, and I’m sure we’ve gained the attention of a few nearby patrons. But I don’t think too long or hard about that. I need… I need…
Grabbing Tucker’s hand, I tug, and he stands. Holding onto him tightly, I lead him behind the bar, through the kitchen, and all the way to my office. Pushing the door open, I pull him inside and shut the door behind us. Twisting the lock on the knob, I turn back to Tucker and lunge for him. He freezes for a second, but the moment my lips land on his, he snaps out of his confusion and wraps his arms around me.
His hands immediately find my ass, squeezing it roughly as his tongue plunders my mouth. Then he’s spinning us around and backing me up until my ass bumps into the edge of my desk. Breaking off the kiss, Tucker keeps his indigo gaze locked on mine as he unbuttons and unzips the shorts I changed into before meeting him here.
“Tell me, Kate. Have you ever fantasized about being devoured right here, on top of your desk while your employees are working just outside the door?”
He pushes my shorts over the swell of my hips, and they drop to the floor with a soft thud. Swallowing thickly, I nod. I may not have had a true point of reference when I imagined it before, but I did have some vague notion of what it might be like to be taken against this desk.
And now? Knowing what it feels like to have Tucker’s mouth on me? Making me come until I see stars?
I push down my underwear and shimmy until they join my shorts on the floor while Tucker’s lips lift in a sexy smile. Gripping my hips, he lifts me up onto the edge of the desk, and a shiver runs up my spine as my bare butt hits the cool wood.
“Stay just like that,” he says when I lean back a little, bracing my weight on my outstretched arms. “Keep those beautiful brown eyes on me, Kate. I want you to watch me make you come all over my mouth and this desk.”
I swallow thickly and give him a little nod, and he drops to his knees before spreading my thighs wide and shuffling forward. Keeping his gaze locked on mine, he licks me in one long, smooth, stroke. My eyes threaten to close at the pure pleasure of it, but I manage to keep them open. Tucker must be aware of the struggle, because he shoots me a proud smile before diving back in to lick me in earnest.
My breathing picks up as his tongue finds my clit, attacking it with the perfect amount of pressure and speed. Watching him work amps up my need, sending me spiraling in seconds. I’m hovering on the edge when he slips a strong finger inside me, and my inner walls clench around it as my orgasm rockets through me.
I don’t know how I do it, but I manage to bite back the shout trying to force its way up my throat. No need to let the kitchen staff know exactly what’s going on in here.
Tucker pumps his finger to draw out my release, his tongue working me over through the aftershocks until I’m all wrung out. Pulling his finger free, he sits back on his heels and pushes it between his lips, sucking it clean with a groan, his eyes still holding mine captive.
“Every time you come in here to work, you’ll remember this moment and think of me,” he says in a deep, husky voice.
All I can do is nod, because he’s right. I’ll never look at this desk the same way again.
Rocking back up onto his knees, he leans in and presses a kiss to my inner thigh before pushing himself to his feet. Bending to pick up my underwear, he guides my feet through the holes and pushes them up to my knees before doing the same with my shorts. Then he helps me off the desk and brushes my hands away when I try to finish dressing myself. With slow, deliberate movements, he pulls my clothes up the rest of the way, buttons and zips my shorts, then smooths the hem of my shirt around my hips.
Dipping his head, he presses a kiss to the side of my neck as he takes my hand. I follow as he leads me out of the office, through the kitchen, and back out to our table. Billy materializes beside us as soon as we take our seats, and Tucker orders a plate of chili-cheese fries for us to share without even glancing at the menu I’d procured for him.
I can’t curb my smile, and Tucker returns it before quietly excusing himself and heading to the bathroom. I watch him go, images of the last few minutes swirling through my mind.
My gaze falls to the beads of sweat dripping down my beer, and I track a single drop as it descends all the way to the bottom of the glass, my mood plummeting. The wedding is Sunday. The day after tomorrow. And on Monday, Tucker will be gone.
I shake my head to dislodge the negative thought and force my lips back into a smile. I’ve known all along his stay here was temporary, and the things we’ve done today haven’t changed that.
Tucker made that crystal clear before we took things to the next step, and I assured him I understood and that it changed nothing.
I can do this. I can enjoy him while I have him, then let him go with a smile on my face. I have to.
Fake it ‘til you make it, right?