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And with that, Dad walks into the house.
I watch as Tucker steps out of his car and glances over at Dad’s place. When he sees me sitting on the back porch, his face breaks out into a wide grin.
God, I’m going to miss seeing him every day.
I offer him a small wave, then walk across the grass to him, the same way I did when we were kids. Tucker sweeps me up in a hello kiss that would rival any chick flick out there.
“Hello there,” I say when we come up for air.
“How was your day?”
“Pretty great. How was yours?”
“It’s looking a lot better now.” He laces his fingers with mine and leads me into his house. “Is Lexi with your dad?”
“No, Dad’s by himself.” Tucker turns and raises a brow. “He was just given the okay to go back to normal from Gretchen.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”
“Me, too.” Tucker sits on the couch with a sigh, and I climb into his lap, lay my head on his chest, and soak him in. “Was work bad?”
“We had an accident,” he says and buries his lips in my hair. “Two little ones didn’t make it.”
“I’m sorry.” I kiss his chest. “I guess I forget about this side of your job. I always think about speeding tickets and drug cartels.”
He chuckles and gives me a squeeze. “It’s usually somewhere in the middle of those two.”
“When was the last time you took a vacation?” I ask.
“A couple years ago,” he replies. “Why?”
“Well, if you can swing it, I’d like to go to Nashville for the weekend. I haven’t been home in months, and I’d like to check on my house and stuff. Honestly, I’d like to show you and Chloe what I’ve been up to all these years.”
“When would you like to leave?”
“Friday morning.”
“That’s two days away.”
“I know.” I’m not looking at him. Honestly, I’m nervous that he’ll turn me down. “But Chloe’s last day of school is tomorrow, and you usually have weekends off.”
“I’ll make it work,” he says, and my head whips up in surprise.
“Really?”
“Sure. Getting out of town for a few days will be fun. Chloe might kill me if I say no.”
“We wouldn’t want that.” I kiss his cheek. “I’ll make sure Lexi can look in on Dad. I know he’s been given the all-clear, but looking in on him won’t hurt.”
“I guess I’d better make a couple of calls,” Tucker says with a smile. “Seems my lady wants to take a trip.”
“Seems she does,” I confirm. “So, I’ll go and let you get things straightened out. Oh, and Dad said to tell you we’re having pork chops for dinner.”
“I’ll be over in a few.”
I lean in and kiss his lips softly before I pull away and saunter toward the door, more excited than I expected for the upcoming weekend away.
“See you soon.”
“This is my bedroom?” Chloe asks, looking around the guest suite on the second floor of my home in Nashville. We just arrived at the house, and I’m pleased to see that my staff aired out all the rooms, changed the linens, and stocked the kitchen for us.
“Don’t you like it?” I also look around the space, taking in the big, four-poster bed and the white linens. “You have your own bathroom in here, and a balcony in case you want to get some fresh air.”
“Oh my gosh, it’s awesome,” she says, her voice shrill. “It’s a princess’s room. I could have twenty people over for a sleepover.”
“Oh, good. You scared me.” I kiss her head and look over to Tucker, who’s leaning against the doorframe, his hands in his jeans’ pockets, watching us. “You can unpack your things if you like and get comfortable. Your dad and I will be downstairs.”
“Okay. Dad, can I have my phone so I can FaceTime Jenny and show her this room? She won’t believe it.”
“Sure,” Tucker says, passing her the iPhone.
“Thanks,” Chloe says. “And thanks for this cool room, Scarlett.”
“My pleasure.” I pat her shoulder, and then Tucker and I walk down the hall to the other side of the house where the master bedroom is. “Should you also stay in a guest room? Of course, I want you with me, but Chloe’s so young, and I don’t want to assume—”
“Chloe and I talked about this,” he says, surprising me. I walk into my bedroom, and Tucker joins me. The staff has already brought up our luggage. “She’s cool with me staying in here with you as long as I don’t tell her about the kissing.”
I feel my lips twitch into a grin. “Well, I think we can manage that.”
“Your home is beautiful.” His voice is soft, but I feel him holding back.
“But?”
“But it’s a little intimidating. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a house this big.”
