Page 20 of Property of my Boss

“I was paying some bills.”

She nods, though I know she wants to ask more questions. Questions she deserves to know the answers to. Answers I can’t give her.

No matter how long we spend together, how close we get, how hard I fuck her, I can never tell her the truth about Kade and Wren. Their existence, their whereabouts, their life will always be a secret to her. A truth only I can know.

That reality is rattling around in my brain when Tilly shoots another smile in my direction. “Ready to head to Fall Fest?”

“Go get in my truck, princess.” I toss her the keys. “I’ll be right there.”

She nods as I lock the top drawer to the desk and head out behind her, my heart and my head at war.

Chapter Ten

Tilly

“Let me drive,” I say, already sitting in the driver’s seat of Tucker’s lifted Chevy like we belong to each other because he came in my mouth once. I really should get a grip at some point. “It’s been so long since I’ve driven a truck.”

“What?” There’s firmness in his tone. “Out. I drive.”

“Or,” I grin playfully, “I can drive and you can be the passenger princess, just this once. Please.”

He stares at me for a long moment, no expression on his face other than annoyance, though I’m starting to notice he always looks like this. “Fine, but we switch out the second I tell you to.”

I grin wider than expected. “Yay! My dad used to have a truck like this. Well, almost like this. This one looks more vintage. Was it your dad’s?”

“My grandpa,” he says, climbing up into the passenger side with a groan. “You know how to drive manual?”

“Please! Don’t insult me.” I can’t get the smile off my face. “My dad always said automatic engines are for the lazy.”

He smiles. “I like your dad.”

“I think you would’ve. He was the tough type who built cabins and smoked cigars. Everyone always thought he was in an awful mood, but he was the sweetest guy. Every night he’d come home with flowers he’d picked for my mom. He’d compliment her meals and clothes, he’d spend time with my brother and I, and he never complained much about anything. I think the only time I ever really saw him angry was when this guy was talking shit about my mom, and then, of course, he turned into a different guy when she passed away.”

“What happened to her?”

I press the clutch and start the engine. “She had this genetic disease where parts of her body slowly turned hard like a stone. My dad went to heaven to be with her a year later. He stopped eating, started drinking, and got into an accident a week after New Year’s Eve. It was instant.”

“Jesus Christ.” Tucker draws in a heavy breath. “I’m sorry. You’re so young to have lost them. That must have been hard to manage.”

“Losing my mom was really hard, but by the time my dad went, I knew he was where he wanted to be. Thankfully I have my brother. He and his wife, Mira, are really good to me. It’s nice to still have some family.” I can hear myself sigh loudly as I shift the truck, release the clutch, and press the gas. “What about your family? I know you were close to your grandpa, but what about your parents?”

“My parents died when I was young. I don’t remember them much to be honest. They had me in high school and drugs took over their lives before they had a shot. My grandparents took me in, and I learned everything I know from them.” He glances out the side window, his shoulders stiff. “My grandpa and I spent every summer together working on this truck. When we pulled it out of his junkyard behind the house, it was a mess. Hadn’t been driven in years. It was a complete rebuild. We got the parts from all over. Most of it on trade for whatever else he had back in that scrap heap.” He smiles as he talks, his rough hands brushing together like he’s not used to riding or sitting idle. “This one guy traded us an old lawn mower for these seats. Grandpa thought he got away with murder.”

For a moment the only sound in the truck is the shifting gears and the rumble of the engine. I can only assume it was the casual mention of murder.

“I know your brother thinks he knows everything, and I get that you love and trust him, but I promise you,” Tucker sighs, “I’ve never killed anyone.”

“He said they tried to tie a murder to you once, but they couldn’t get enough evidence.”

“Because I didn’t kill anyone.” He laughs under his breath. “I’m not a good guy, I’ll be the first to admit that, but murder isn’t in my blood. Wouldn’t be unless—”

“Unless what?”

“Well, I say unless and you start thinking I might’ve murdered someone, but I didn’t and I wouldn’t unless… someone was hurting someone I loved and killing them was the only way to make it stop.”

“Who do you love?”

He glances toward me. “Love is complicated, isn’t it?”