Page 27 of Hot Times in Heart Falls, Vignettes Vol 3

“May as well.”

How she managed not to suggest strip poker as a great starting point—sainthood waited for her, right around the corner.

The wind rattled the trailer’s aluminum skin. It was only February, so winter had a long time to hang on. The night smelled more like thawing mud than snow, with a Chinook wind blowing from the west, but in Alberta, thinking of spring now was more than a fool’s game, it was downright wrong.

She watched Tucker’s hands as he shuffled. Strong. Familiar.

And hers, if she could just get him to admit it.

“You were a good friend to Dare tonight,” he said finally, passing her the cards and going to the small fridge to grab them drinks.

Ginny exhaled softly. “I tried.”

“You succeeded.” He brought back two cans of ginger ale and offered her one.

“She’s the strongest person I know, but sometimes even that strength turns in on her.” Ginny shrugged. “She misses them. Her sister, her parents. The hurt just sneaks up.”

Tucker nodded, slow and thoughtful. “And you were the only one who could keep her steady until we got there.”

Ginny snorted. “That was me keeping her steady? You missed the part where she tried to strip off her tank top to make a ‘sacrifice to the whiskey gods.’ I stopped her by bribing her with more cherries.”

A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Smart. Effective.”

Ginny smiled but didn’t look away. “I’m serious. Thank you. For coming tonight. For helping her. For helping me.”

Tucker glanced up, and something in his eyes flashed that looked like regret. “You don’t have to thank me. You’re family.”

Family.

She let the word sit between them. Not out of bitterness—she knew what he meant. But God, if only he knew what she meant.

“I’m not a kid anymore,” she said, quiet but sure. “I’m all grown up.”

Tucker raised a brow, his gaze flicking up and down in a deliberately light-hearted gesture. “No argument from me.”

“Don’t look at me like that,” she snapped, patience wearing thin.

“Like what?”

“With lying eyes.”

Tucker blinked in surprise. “What’s that mean?”

“That you’re totally looking and like what you see but pretending that you’re not. Probably because I’m Luke’s little sister or something equally stupid, but you have noticed that I’m not twelve anymore.”

He shrugged and picked up the cards again.

“You’re not going to admit it? That you’re interested? That we’re interested in…more.”

Tucker determinedly shuffled the cards, not meeting her eyes.

“Tucker.” This time she said it softly. Yearning and yet somehow unable to straight out say it. I want you. I’ve wanted you forever.

The expression on his face as he cautiously glanced up said he’d heard it. The said and the unsaid. The drift of his eyes over her torso burned as clearly as if he’d dragged a finger over her, heat smoldering just under her skin.

A second later, it was as if he’d been poked with a cattle prod. He stiffened, and an unnatural smile replaced the smolder.

The pretending version of Tucker turned cocky. One of his brows winged upward. “Ready to play?”