Chapter 2
Lucy
I couldn’t believe Maggie had roped me into this. Peter might have been handsome, but all he’d done during our date was talk about his boring accounting job.
He took a sip of his drink and gestured toward me. “So, seriously, if you ever need any tricks for deductions, I’m your man.”
Maybe he and I could barter services. Peter could be my accountant while I counseled him on how to actually get a life. Maggie had dropped the ball with this one.
We were pretty close to the bar, which meant I was sure Tucker could overhear much of my “date” with Peter. I’d noticed Maggie’s hot younger brother glancing over in my direction from time to time. Pretty sad that I’d been locked in on that throughout this date.
At one point Tucker held up a piece of paper with something written in black Sharpie.
Tell him the only thing you want deducted is this dumb date.
Thankfully, Peter’s back was facing Tucker. I did everything I could to stifle my laughter as I choked on my drink.
“Is something wrong?” Peter asked.
“No.” I coughed. “Sorry. Went down the wrong chute. All is well.”
“Ah. Okay.” He smiled. “As I was saying, the latest update for Excel has these new features that…” His words faded into the distance as my attention traveled to Tucker once again.
He held up another sheet.
Tell him the only thing he Excels at is boring the snot out of you.
I giggled under my breath and forced my attention toward Peter, despite not processing a word he said.
A few minutes later, Tucker held up a napkin.
Wink if you need help and want out.
I tried to tough it out a little longer, but eventually I decided life was too short to endure dates like this.
The next time I caught Tucker’s eye, I winked at him.
It took all of thirty seconds for him to make his way over.
“Excuse me, you wouldn’t happen to be Lucy Snow, would you?”
“I am.” I faked a look of surprise. “Why?”
“Someone is trying to reach you. Is your cell phone dead or something?”
“Oh goodness.” I reached into my purse and pretended to check the battery life. “Yes. I think it is.” I stood. “Will you excuse me one moment, Peter?”
“Certainly.”
I walked over to the bar and pretended to use Tucker’s phone to take the fake call.
After enough time had passed, I walked back over to Peter at our table. “I’m so sorry.” I frowned. “I have a bit of a family issue I need to attend to. I’m going to have to cut this date short.”
He stood, a look of disappointment on his face. “I’m sorry to hear that. Hope everything is okay?”
“It will be.” After I’m able to get away from you.
“Well, I certainly hope we can see each other again.”
“Thank you for tonight,” I said, without committing to anything else. Then I disappeared to a small room located behind the bar.
A minute later, Tucker peeked in. “You good?”
“Yes.” I sighed. “Thank you for that.”
“I’m keeping an eye out for when he leaves. You can come back when the coast is clear.”
As I nodded, I took a moment to appreciate how beautiful Maggie’s brother was.
Dressed in a fitted black T-shirt that showcased his muscular arms and dark jeans that accentuated his ass, I had to admire the handsome man he’d grown into.
He had a few tats on his forearms that only added to his appeal, and his once-short brown hair had grown out a bit.
He had just the right amount of chin scruff, which I imagined felt really good against a woman’s skin.
“Cool.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you, Tucker.”
Ten minutes later, he came back to let me know it was safe to return.
When I found a seat at the bar, waiting for me was one of my favorite drinks. “How did you know I wanted a tequila and soda with lime?”
He winked. “That was always your favorite, wasn’t it?”
I nodded. “It was pretty much all I drank back in the day—when your sister had parties while your parents were away.”
“I remember.” He grinned and winked again. “It’s on the house, of course.”
“Thank you.”
“I think you deserve it after enduring that date.”
I exhaled. “Thanks again for rescuing me.”
“I wouldn’t have had to if Maggie hadn’t had the brilliant idea to invade the bar with boring suits tonight.”
“Well, we both have a right to be annoyed with her, then.”
“Let’s give her hell when she comes back.” He snickered.
His teeth gleamed. I remembered when he wore braces. It felt kind of wrong to be having these feelings about him. But it was hard not to notice. And while the four-year age difference between us had seemed pretty big when we were younger, when you’re twenty-nine and twenty-five, not so much.
I stirred the small straw around in my drink. “Maggie means well, though.”
He wiped down the bar. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“This isn’t about underwear, is it?” I winked.
Once, when Tucker was ten and his friends were playing Truth or Dare, they’d dared him to ask me what color underwear I was wearing.
At the time, I was fourteen and mortified.
Pretty sure if he asked me that question now, I’d be okay with it.
Especially in that sexy voice. “What are you wearing, Lucy?”
“I guess I’ll never live that one down, huh?” He laughed.
“Nope,” I teased. “But sure, ask me whatever you want.”
“Why are you here?”
I narrowed my eyes. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t need to be set up with any of these goons. Men must flock to you without Maggie’s help.”
My cheeks warmed. “You’d be surprised. Sometimes I feel like I have the opposite effect on men. At least the right ones.”
“Well, then they’re intimidated.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Have you looked in the mirror lately, Snow?”
Tucker thinks I’m attractive. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t think of me like a sister, though.
He cleared his throat. “Anyway, I thought you were with some guy for ages.”
“I was. But then he ghosted our relationship, deciding to take a job overseas.”
“Damn. I’m sorry. Better to know now that he wasn’t the one rather than later, though, right?”
“I guess, yeah.” I shrugged. “But I’ll be thirty next month, and still can’t help feeling like I wasted a lot of good years on him.”
He leaned his gorgeous tattooed arms against the counter. “Thirty is super young. You have your whole life ahead of you.”
“Says the true youngun in this equation.”
“Not that young anymore, Snow,” he said with a glimmer in his eyes.
I can see that. Way too clearly right now.
“Hey!” Maggie called from behind me.
I turned. “Hey there.”
“Where’s your date?”
“Probably off fucking an Excel spreadsheet,” Tucker cracked.
I chuckled. “It didn’t work out.”
Maggie frowned. “He left?”
“Well, only after I excused myself to take care of a family emergency that never actually happened.”
Her eyes widened. “You lied and blew him off?”
“He was boring as hell, Maggie. I’m sorry.”
She crossed her arms and huffed. “Aw, man. I thought he’d be great for you.”
I rattled the ice in my drink. “I’m thinking the matchmaking thing is not for me.”
“Nonsense.” She smacked the counter. “I’ve already got someone in mind for you tomorrow night. And I promise to get it right this time.”
After she left, Tucker leaned in and whispered, “You know where to find me if you need to send an SOS.”
The feel of his breath on my skin gave me goosebumps. And he smelled so freaking good. The way my body reacted? It seemed to want a lot more from him than just an SOS. Damn it. Was I really lusting after Tucker? He’s Maggie’s brother! I could never.