Chapter 6
Maria
As we head inside the pet store with Marbles, my body still aches, my lips still tingling, wanting more, wanting to finish what we’d started in the Nook’s kitchen. Tuck holds the door open, the boys barreling past us in a blur of excitement.
I move by him and his fingers brush mine.
Not accidental. Not subtle. I suck in a breath, my gaze flying to his in time to catch the heat in his eyes.
Honestly what happened in that kitchen shouldn’t have happened.
I know that. But there’s this ridiculous, fizzy bubble of anticipation rising in my chest, and I can’t seem to pop it.
Am I really considering this?
Considering another night in Tuck’s bed—or rather, on the kitchen counter—with the hot hockey player I can’t seem to ignore? Just to get it out of our systems. Which is exactly the kind of lie people tell themselves right before they make terrible decisions.
“Over here, Mom,” Josh calls.
I follow his voice, acutely aware of Tuck behind me. The warmth of him. The space he takes up. The way my entire body seems tuned to his frequency.
I’d rather be on top of you.
God, did I really say that out loud? I don’t even know who I am when I’m around Tuck.
But what I do know is that maybe he’s right.
Maybe, just once, I can make myself top priority.
We’re both fully aware this isn’t going anywhere.
It can’t. Sure, he’s keeping the kitten for my boys, but that doesn’t mean he wants to step in and be a role model—a father figure—for them.
He just didn’t want to see the poor thing go back to the shelter… or worse.
So if I know what I’m getting myself into, if I know what this is and what it isn’t—getting into his bed with my eyes wide open—what could possibly go wrong.
Oh, so much, girlfriend, so damn much.
I turn the corner to find the boys chatting with a pretty young clerk while Josh cradles Marbles, giggling as the kitten snuggles into his neck.
“We need everything,” Lucas announces.
The clerk smiles at me, as Tuck moves around to stand next to me. “You must be Mom and Dad.”
“He’s not our dad,” Lucas corrects immediately.
Her eyes widen slightly. “Oh my God. You’re Tuck Delray,” she says a second later, recognition flashing across her face.
Tuck chuckles. “That I am.”
“Our place is too small,” Josh explains. “So he’s going to let us keep Marbles at his house. It’s huge.”
Her gaze leaves his face, dropping to his…let’s just say, below his belt. “I bet it is,” she murmurs, her eyes flashing with desire as she measures him up.
Are you kidding me right now?
Tuck clears his throat, bringing her attention back to his face.
“So you need…everything?” she asks, and I’m beginning to think she’s no longer talking about pet supplies.
Josh starts listing things off. “Food, litter, bed, scratching post.”
“Scratching post. Oh, yes, every little kitty needs a scratching post.”
What is happening before my eyes right now? Do all women lose their brain cells and turn into aroused puck bunnies around Tuck? Yes, yes, they probably do and I’m no exception.
She steps a little closer to Tuck, tilting her head up at him. “First time pet owner?”
A sharp, irrational spark of jealousy catches in my chest.
Tuck nods. “Yeah. Marbles sort of fell into our laps.”
“If you’d like,” she says, twirling a strand of hair around her finger, “I could stop by and help you get him all settled in.”
Lucas snickers.
Wow. Subtle.
She scratches under Marbles’ chin. “He’ll probably keep you up all night with his purring. I’d be happy to stay and help.”
Something in the store catches Josh’s eyes and he steps away, calling Lucas.
Completely ignoring me, she toys with the top button on her shirt and before I can stop myself, I step closer to Tuck.
Close enough that our arms brush. Tuck stills for half a beat.
Then his hand settles at the small of my back.
Casual.
Possessive.
Like it belongs there.
“I appreciate the offer,” he says easily. “But I’ve already got help.” His thumb presses slightly into my lower back. “The boys and Maria are staying at my place to help out, figure out the rules.”
We are…
“We are?” Josh blurts out, taking the words right out of my brain as he comes running back.
“Yeah, I thought we settled on that, earlier. Big house. Lots of bedrooms. Executive kitchen.”
Kitchen.
I’d rather be on top of you.
Oh. My. God.
“Awesome,” Josh yells and disappears to tell his brother the good news.
Is it, though?
I mean, really I could put a stop to it.
But am I going to…
Disappointment flickers across the clerk’s face before she recovers. “Okay. Let’s get you set up.”
She grabs a cart, and we follow her through the aisles while the boys debate toys versus practicality.
Tuck fills the cart with food, litter, bowls, and more treats than one kitten could reasonably need.
Every so often, when the boys aren’t looking, his fingers brush my lower back again. Or his shoulder grazes mine.
Not accidental.
Never accidental.
God, this is such a bad idea.
A terrible one.
But as Tuck leans down near my ear and murmurs, “You okay?” his breath warm against my skin.
“Fine,” I tell him.
He arches a brow, his eyes teasing, playful, and my entire body burns with need. “Seems like you were jealous earlier.”
“Not at all,” I lie and his grin tells me he knows it. But I’m not about to voice the truth, that jealousy burned hot when a twenty-year-old clerk in lip gloss flirted with him for thirty seconds. “I just didn’t like the way she was throwing herself at you in front of my boys.”
“She’s not the one I want,” he murmurs, his body close, his hand grazing mine.
I swallow. “What you said, about us staying. I realize that was to shut down her advance, but the boys—”
“I meant what I said,” he cuts in, his voice deep, firm, skating down my back like an erotic caress. “I agreed to keeping the cat, but the boys have to take care of it.”
“Right,” I manage to get out as my throat tightens. “It’s probably best if they help get her set up.”
“All set?” the clerk asks, coming around the corner and Tuck inches back. “I can ring you in.”
We follow her to the cash, and Tuck and the boys empty the cart. Tuck reaches for his wallet and I stop him.
“I can’t let you pay.”
“It’s fine,” he tells me. “We can work something out.”
He says it so casually, like those words are not full of sexual innuendo when we both clearly know they are.
The boys grab the supplies, and we head back outside, piling into Tuck’s car. Once we’re buckled in, Tuck says, “I’ll drive you guys home so you can pack a few things.”
“We’ll meet you at your place,” I tell him. “I’ll need the car to get to work in the morning anyway.”
“Mom, I’m starved,” Josh groans, collapsing into his seat.
I glance at the clock on the console. The trip to the pet store took longer than I realized. “I need to make dinner.” I’m about to extend an invite to Tuck—thank him properly for everything he’s doing for us—but he speaks first.
“You can cook at my place,” he says. “Try out the executive kitchen, or we can just get takeout. Save you the trouble. Although we’d have to go to the grocery store. I’m not well equipped.”
Oh, he is so wrong about that…
“You’ve done enough for us already, so I’m cooking for you,” I point out. “I have chicken in the fridge. I’ll pack up everything I need and bring it.”
The smile he gives me trips up my traitorous heart. “I was hoping you would.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Why do I feel like that was a set-up?”
He whistles innocently, and then adds, “I can help.” His words are followed by a wince. “Although I know my skills in the kitchen are mediocre at best.”
Oh, he’s so wrong about that, too…
“We all remember the pasta salad debacle.” I point out and he laughs. “How about you just watch.”
Heat flickers in his eyes—a slow, dangerous glow that makes me think he’s remembering the way he watched me in the kitchen earlier today…what that led to. I haven’t forgotten it either.
“Mom,” Lucas pipes up from the back seat, his thumbs flying across his phone. “Ari wants to come over to see Marbles before we go to Tuck’s.”
“I’m not sure we have time for that. We need to pack clothes, and I need to get started on dinner before Josh starves to death.”
“Why don’t you go with Tuck, and I’ll drive over later?” Lucas suggests.
“I’ll catch a ride with Lucas. Jacob wants to come see Marbles, too.”
I glance at Tuck, and he nods. “Um…I guess that’s okay,” I murmur, more to myself than anyone else.
“Sweet,” Lucas says, practically bouncing in his seat.
And just like that, my chest tightens. With the boys coming later, I know what that means—Tuck and I, alone, in his house, in his kitchen, of all places.
The backseat chatter continues, but I stare straight ahead, my brain firing a million little scenarios as Tuck maneuvers through the busy streets. We pull up in front of the café, and the boys jump out.
“Here, let me take Marbles while you guys get packed,” Tuck says, climbing from the car. Josh hesitates, then reluctantly hands over the kitten. The bond he already has with the kitten is so sweet.
Speaking of sweet…
I glance at Tuck. He tilts his head toward me, that faint smirk tugging at his lips. “What?” he asks.
Honestly, he’s such a contradiction. Part of him wants to keep his distance from my kids—that came across loud and clear when he balked at the idea of watching them play hockey—but then he does something like this.
I just don’t understand him. What happened in his past?
What secrets is he carrying, tight and hidden?
Not your business, Maria.
“Thank you,” I say, my voice low. “This means a lot…to the boys, to me.”
He shrugs, casual as ever. “Just don’t expect me to snuggle the damn thing.”
As soon as the words leave his mouth, Marbles climbs up his neck like it’s where he’s always belonged.
“Careful, Tuck,” I warn, trying to sound steady.
“Careful?” he repeats, one brow quirked.
“You just might find yourself liking him.” I think someone should be giving me the same warning. “Coming up?” I ask, as he cradles Marbles.
“Nope. I’ll keep him out here, give him a bit of fresh air.” He sets the tiny kitten on the grass, crouching protectively beside him, and my heart does a little wobble.
“I’ll be fast.”
“No hurry,” he says, as I dash to the side steps.
Inside, I peek into the boys room, and find them shoving clothes into their bags, their voices bouncing off the walls.
“I can’t believe we’re staying at Tuck’s,” Josh shouts, excitement practically vibrating through him. “Jacob’s going to lose his shit when I tell him.”
“Language, Josh.”
“Oh, sorry. I thought you were still outside.”
I duck into my bedroom and grab a bag, and honestly, Josh has a point. I can’t believe we’re staying at Tuck’s either. He must have enough bedrooms for all of us…right?
“Mom.” Josh’s little head peeks around the doorway, a sheepish grin on his face.
“What’s up?” I ask, bracing myself because I know that look.
“Do you think Tuck is ugly?”
I laugh. “You heard Stella too, huh? That little girl is going to be the death of her parents someday.”
He chuckles. “Yeah, she’s hilarious. She said Tuck isn’t married because he’s not in love.”
As he draws out the word love, my stomach twists. Wait…has he ever been in love? And how does a five-year-old know more about a man’s heart than I do? “Where does she come up with this stuff?” I ask.
“Beats me. But you didn’t answer my question.”
Ah. Right. My stomach tightens as the real reason behind this conversation sneaks up on me. “Of course I don’t think he’s ugly, Josh. Tuck’s…handsome. Really handsome. And one day, he’ll find the right woman and get married.”
He steps cautiously into the room. “Do you…think about getting married again?”
I force a smile. “I have my two boys. That’s all I need.”
He eyes me carefully. “Yeah, but you must think about it. You’re single. Tuck is single.”
Oh boy.
“Tuck and I are friends, Josh. Just friends,” I add carefully.
“We’re staying at his place tonight because of the kitten.
No other reason. Don’t get your hopes up about something that’s never going to happen.
” A mischievous grin spreads across his face and I give a final warning. “Josh, put an end to those thoughts.”
“Okay,” he says, bouncing away, but I catch that gleam in his eyes, the one that says he’s already scheming.
Damn, maybe I shouldn’t be staying. My kids have had loss, and I don’t want to set them up for anything like that ever again.
But what I do know is that Tuck will always be in their life, because my boys are part of the Bucks family.
I just need to be careful not to do anything to shatter that relationship.
Which means, no, there can’t be another round of sex to get him out of my system. I’ll stay tonight to get the kitten settled, then I’ll take the boys back and forth when they need to go, but keep my distance. I’ll make all this clear when we’re alone.
Decision made, I finish packing, and head to the kitchen.
I grab a bag and fill it with the chicken, and all the fixing I need to make my dish.
I do love cooking for my family and I know how much Tuck will appreciate a home cooked hearty meal.
Boots sound on the stairs and I turn to find Tuck entering with Marbles.
Lucas comes in and takes him. “Careful driving to Tuck’s,” I say. “Keys are on the counter.”
He nods and holds the kitten up to his face. “Do you want to meet Ari? She’s my girlfriend. No stealing her.”
I grin and catch Tuck’s eye, and find him smiling at the adorable teen, who always tries to act tough, weaken under the kitten’s spell.
“Come on. Let me show you my bedroom.”
He disappears with the cat, and Tuck moves to the doorway. “What can I do to help?”
“You can carry this bag to the car.” I hand him the groceries, and pick up my overnight bag.
“What are you making?”
“Sun-dried tomato chicken pasta.” He chuckles. “That’s funny?” I ask.
“No, I was just thinking about what Rowyn said to me when they had me over for dinner.” I arch a brow and he continues, “She told me I needed to find myself a partner who loves to cook.”
I cock my head, my voice teasing when I say, “Why don’t you have a partner, Tuck?
” His eyes narrow, his hands going in his pockets.
“Oh wait, I know the answer to that.” A deep worry moves across his face, and I laugh to let him know I’m playing.
“Stella let the boys know that you’re not married because you’re not in love… ”
A smile tugs at his lips, but now my curiosity is piqued. What was really behind that worry?