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“I’m scared.” But Jade started to move.
“I know. I’m not saying it isn’t unsettling. But it’s going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.”
Amber would get Jade to the hospital, and then she’d talk to her bank. She had some equity in her town house and a decent credit rating. Once she found a job, she would qualify for a loan. So she’d find a job. She’d find one fast. She’d flip burgers if that was what it took.
Six
Tuck knew a losing hand when he was dealt one. But he also knew he couldn’t walk away from this. For better or worse, and so far it was definitely worse, the company was his responsibility.
It was Saturday afternoon and he’d parked down the block from Amber’s town house, waiting for her car to appear. The block was neat and bright, lawns trimmed, gardens tended, with kids playing in the park and people walking their dogs. The homes were compact, four to a building, with very little traffic passing on the street out front.
He figured he’d have the best chance if he tried to reason with her in person. It was too easy for her to hang up a phone. And he doubted she’d answer a text or email. Plus, her expression might help him, give him a signal as to which tactic might sway her and which was a nonstarter.
He knew it wasn’t about self-interest for her. And he couldn’t imagine she’d have one iota of sympathy for him. But maybe she’d care about the other employees. Maybe she would care that the demise of Tucker Transportation would be job losses and financial ruin for the families of her former coworkers. The way he saw it, that was his best hope.
He spotted her silver hatchback pull up in front of the town house, and he quickly exited his sports car. While she hopped from the driver’s seat he approached from the side.
Dressed in a pair of navy slacks and a striped pullover with a matching blazer, she was lithe and graceful as she moved across the sidewalk. Her hair was in a neat braid, while her low-heeled boots were a sexy purple suede. She was compellingly beautiful in the cool sunshine, her profile perky, her skin smooth as silk.
She hadn’t seen him yet, so she had a smile on her face. He supposed he’d change that soon enough.
It didn’t take long. She caught a glimpse of him, squinted at him and then frowned.
“Hello, Amber,” he said, covering the last few paces between them.
Her glance flicked behind him as if seeking context. “What are you doing here, Tuck?”
“Been out shopping?” he asked conversationally. It seemed like a reasonable guess for a Saturday afternoon.
“I’ve been visiting—” She stopped herself. “What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“I don’t have time to talk.” She started for the walkway that led to her front door.
“It won’t take long.”
She turned. “Then, let me be more blunt. I have all the time in the world, but I don’t care to spend any of it with you.”
“You’re still angry.”
“What was your first clue?”
“I didn’t want things to go this way.”
“Goodbye, Tuck.” She took a backward step.
“Dixon is still missing.”
She shrugged.
“It’s been over six weeks. I’m getting worried.”
“He can take care of himself.”
Under normal circumstances, Dixon could take excellent care of himself. But these weren’t normal circumstances.
“Who takes a six-week vacation?”
“Lots of people.”
“Not my brother.”
Even if their father had been healthy and at the helm, Dixon would never have left for this long, especially not without contacting them. Tuck’s focus had been on Tucker Transportation, but he was becoming genuinely worried about his brother.
“Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think you do,” said Amber.
“Clearly, I don’t. Why don’t you enlighten me?”
“Why should I know him any better than you?”
“You know him.”
It was in her eyes.
“You knew why he left,” said Tuck. “And you know where he went.” Tuck believed there was no romance between her and Dixon. But there was something—a closeness, respect, confidence.
“He doesn’t want to talk to you?”
“He’s got nothing against me.”
