Page 79 of Pucking Good Girl

“How is trying to protect you from making a huge mistake hypocritical?” Tucker asks, his brow knitted together.

My laugh comes out more like a snort. “Seriously? Are you telling me that if you had walked in on them with any other woman in town, someone you aren’t related to, you’d have had the same reaction? And what about your own relationship? Taryn is dating Nash and Colsen, too. Would she be demeaning herself if she were with two of you at the same time?”

My tone is triumphant at the end because, frankly, I got him.

Or maybe not.

“That’s different.” Tucker bites out. “We’re in love with Taryn. We’re one hundred percent committed to her. We’re not just trying to get our rocks off to walk away when we get bored.”

Macklin intervenes before I can say anything in response. “So are we.”

“Come the fuck again?” Tucker barks.

“I’m in love with Talia and so is Becks. And she’s in love with us.”

He takes my hand in his, and Becks comes to stand on my other side to take the other.

“Yeah. We love Talia, and we would never do anything to hurt her.”

“Love?” My brother snorts. “That’s rich coming from someone who convinced my sister to fake date him. What are you going to do when Gen gets the message, and he ends the deal you two made, huh?”

Macklin sighs, frustrated. “The fake dating was fake. I’ve been in love with Talia for months. I’ve had the biggest crush on her for years. I was desperate for her to notice me, and when I realized that she liked my brother, I offered her a deal.”

Macklin explains everything that happened between us since our first kiss at the Zeta party.

“Holy shit,” Vaughn whistles. “So you’re really both in love with Talia? Not that I blame you. I’ve had a crush on her since we were kids, too.”

“You too, Heston?” Tucker’s head snaps in Vaughn’s direction.

Hands in front of him in a defensive stance, Vaughn recoils at my brother’s aggressive tone. “An innocent crush. You have to understand where I’m coming from, man. Your sister is awesome. She’s beautiful and smart, and she’s fierce as hell. And that’s sexy as fuck. But she’s also kind and generous. Any man would be lucky to catch her attention. So I don’t blame Mack for the fake dating idea. I wish I had thought about it first.”

Tucker’s scowl deepens. “What, do you have a batshit crazy ex and a brother who wants in my sister’s pants too?”

“Cut it out, will you?” I roll my eyes.

To my surprise, Tucker deflates. “Fine. I’m sorry, Tal. If they’re in love with you, and they aren’t just trying to act out some x-rated fantasy, then I’ll let them live.”

“Gee, thanks.” Macklin snorts with an eye roll of his own.

“But,” Tucker’s index finger is up in warning. “If either of you even thinks about hurting Talia…”

Becks finishes the sentence for him. “You’ll kill us slowly and painfully and bury our bodies in an unmarked grave. We know. We’ve heard that threat once a week since I got here.”

“Nope,” Tucker’s lips curl in his trademark smart ass smile. “That was for someone who flirted with my sister. If you’re with her and you break her heart, there won’t be enough left of your sorry asses to require a grave. Unmarked or otherwise.”

Macklin and Becks look unfazed by my brother’s threat.

“We have no intention of hurting Talia,” Macklin says.

“We would do anything for her.” Becks agrees.

Tucker exhales a slow breath before looking at me. “Fine. As long as you’re happy, sis. I’m sorry for being a little too protective.”

“A little?” I snort, arching one eyebrow.

“Ok, you’re right. A lot overprotective. But I promise it isn’t because I don’t think you’re capable of choosing what’s best for yourself. You’re the person I love the most in the whole world aside from Taryn. I just want to see you happy. I’ll do my best to tame down my big brother’s instincts, if you’ll forgive me.”

When Tucker opens his arms, I walk into his embrace.