Like she has so many times before, Ruth rolls her eyes at me. “That was before.”
I wait for her to elaborate, but she doesn’t, forcing me to ask, “Before, what?”
Ruth sighs. “Before I found out you weren’t a total jerkface.” She fishes her phone from the back pocket of her jeans, waking it up. “Now give me your number and tell me what I have to do, so I can mentally prepare.”
I wish I could tell her she didn’t need to prepare, but this probably isn’t going to be anything like the walk we just took to the park. We’re pretty much going to have to fly by the seat of our pants and go with the flow. There’s only one direction I can really give her, and it feels fucking weird coming out of my mouth.
“The only thing you really have to do is pretend you love me.”
6
Ruth
Ishould have just accepted Tucker’s offer of a check and moved on. Let him feel like a good guy for helping me and Birdie out while I laughed all the way to the bank.
Maybe if he hadn’t insisted on going to the park with us, I would have. Maybe if he hadn’t happily spent an hour and a half of his day playing with my little girl like he was actually enjoying himself, I could have done it.
But somehow, in the span of a few short hours, Tucker Bradshaw managed to make me feel guilty about not just taking his stringless offer, but also my initial plan. In all honesty, I felt slightly bad about it from the start, but had to get over it. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep my daughter safe. And if it comes down to Tucker or Birdie, I’ll choose my daughter every time. Without question.
The hiccup I keep experiencing is that part of me believes that’s what Tucker would want—for me to put Birdie first, even if it fucks him over.
Because he’s not at all the kind of man I expected him to be.
Which is also why I’m sitting in his driveway for the second time, staring up at his big beautiful home, working up the bravery to knock on his door.
At least this time I’ve been invited.
Before I can get myself together, the man in question comes sauntering out onto his porch, looking way too attractive for his own good. I understood his appeal from the beginning. Knew why other women were falling over themselves to wind up in his path. But now that I’ve spent a little time with him, I can see how easy it would be to fall into his bed. Thankfully, falling into anyone’s bed is the last thing on my mind right now, making me immune to his charm.
Mostly.
I manage a smile even though I feel awkward as hell, and wave with one hand while opening my door with the other. I climb out, turning to get my daughter from her car seat, but Tucker beats me to it.
Opening the back door, he grins widely at Birdie. “Hey, Little Bird. How are you this morning?” He scans the buckle strapping her in place, smile tipping downward. “What sort of restraining system have you got going on here?”
“Let me.” I hustle around him, expecting Tucker to step back and give me room. Instead, he hovers close by, the heat of his body warming my side as I press the button that releases the chest straps keeping my daughter in place. “It’s not as complicated as it looks.”
“Maybe getting her out of it isn’t, but I can imagine wrestling that tiny tornado into that thing is no easy feat.”
I snort. “You have no idea.”
While I pull my daughter free, Tucker grabs the diaper bag from the floorboard, hooking it over one shoulder. My eyes drift around as we walk up the driveway, checking to see if someone’s watching us. The property is huge, and I’m pretty sure his wholefamily lives here. There’s not another house in sight, though, so I don’t know that anyone would be able to spy without being caught.
But there’s no way a man would ever be as helpful as Tucker is being without some sort of motivation. And since he’s not trying to get in my pants, I have to assume it’s a performance meant to gain accolades.
“Is something wrong?” Tucker must notice what I’m doing, because he starts looking around too. “Did you see a bobcat?”
I hold my daughter a little tighter. “You see bobcats out here?”
“Not often, but occasionally.” He brings a hand to my back, maneuvering me toward the porch. “Toby and Titus have to keep a close eye on their dogs to make sure one doesn’t try to snag them during a potty break.”
That is… Unnerving.
I’ve always lived in town, so imagining wild animals casually strolling across the backyard is all but impossible. And a little unsettling.
“But don’t worry.” Tucker gives me a wink, hand still on my back as he urges me up the stairs. “I’ll protect you.”
If only that were possible. Unfortunately, what I need protecting from is way more dangerous than a bobcat would ever be.
