Page 19 of Sugar Plum Serenade

CHAPTER 8

More than one glass of wine wasn’t a good thing. At least, not for her. Whether it started in a can or a bottle, she needed to be more careful. Thinking back on last night…

She hadn’t made any huge mistakes, and she hadn’t been so far gone that she couldn’t remember what had happened, but still, she’d probably said a few things she shouldn’t have.

Olive was doubly thankful that Saturday was a short day at Dawn’s Radiance. The regular customers were aware of the hours, so the morning was busy enough that she only thought about her upcoming date a time or two. Maybe ten. The red dress hung in her closet, waiting. The shoes were magnificent. She did hope Tuck didn’t expect her to walk far to wherever they were going for dinner.

Time to be honest with herself. She didn’t give a fig about dinner. She hadn’t felt this way about a man in a very long time. Her time in Seawolf Beach would be short, and she didn’t want to waste a single day. She wasn’t looking for a permanent guy, a real relationship, a forever love. But that didn’t mean she should waste her time here, ignore whatever this was with Tuck. He was unexpected, a surprise of sorts. A Christmas surprise?

The matter was decided. She was going to sleep with Nathaniel Tucker. Tonight.

As if he knew she was thinking about him, he walked in five minutes before closing time. Shoppers had cleared out, leaving her alone to handle a few bookkeeping details before locking up. He smiled. Her stomach knotted. Tonight.

“I thought I’d run you to The Magnolia to pick up your car as soon as you’re done here.”

“Thanks. Almost ready.”

He nodded, then browsed a shelf of creams and lotions while she took care of end-of-day paperwork and storing the bank bag of cash in the back room safe. Most people charged their purchases, but a few paid with cash and she had to keep an appropriate amount of change on hand. Monday she needed to make a trip to the bank before opening the shop.

She didn’t want to think about Monday, banking, or customers. Tuck was on her mind. Boy, was he.

His truck was parked at the curb. She locked up. He opened the passenger door for her and held her hand while she stepped up and in, and they were on their way. He didn’t talk much during the short drive and neither did she. When they pulled into the parking lot of his bar, she wondered if she’d wasted an opportunity. She wasn’t going to be here long. She needed to make the best of whatever time she had with Tuck.

Half an hour after leaving the boutique, she parked in her driveway. Tuck, who’d been right behind her, pulled into his. She had a few hours to get ready for their date, more than enough time, so when he headed her way she didn’t protest.

“Got any coffee?” he asked.

“Always.”

“Make me a cup?”

“Sure. I could use one myself.” And maybe a cookie.

“Sold,” he said with a charming grin.

Was she an idiot, falling for that grin? Maybe. She didn’t really care.

Olive kicked off her shoes, dropped her purse in an empty chair, and headed toward the kitchen. Pod coffee and store-bought Christmas cookies were hardly gourmet, but they’d do. Tuck stood in the kitchen doorway and watched her. He looked better than he had the last couple of days, less stressed. More himself. Whatever had upset him had been resolved or forgotten.

He took the cookies into the living room and placed them on the coffee table. When she walked into the room with two mugs of coffee, the lights on her tree were twinkling. He’d turned them on. She didn’t mind at all.

She handed him a coffee cup and sat beside him. He’d kissed her here, on this couch, a few days ago. If she was smart she’d move her purse and sit in the chair, to avoid temptation. Where Tuck was concerned she wasn’t smart. Not at all.

“Where are we going for dinner tonight?” she asked.

“There’s a really great seafood restaurant in Biloxi. I made reservations.”

“It’ll have to go a long way to beat Maggie’s,” she said, then she placed her half-empty coffee mug on the coffee table by the cookies she had no appetite for, at the moment.

“Trust me,” Tuck said.

Did she trust him? Yeah, she did. “I’m sorry if I was… difficult last night.”

“Difficult?”

“Okay, woozy. I overindulged. I was kinda drunk.”

“Kinda?”