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I quirk an eyebrow and stare straight ahead, holding a hand over my mouth, speaking behind it. “Glad I have impressed you both. My long game is dedicated, and I have plans formulated. I will be keeping an eye on her for you. The neighbors are good friends of mine, and they are good men. Ophelia and Gwendoline will be safe while I am away.”
She nods. “Tread carefully, but surely. Ophelia’s been through a lot. You have Chance’s number. Use it if we can be of any assistance in the future,” she says hurriedly before moving away as though she was never there.
Look who is shippingTuckelia.
Come on. Tucker and Ophelia don’t work nearly as smooth sounding as Brangelina or Bennifer.
Thirty-Eight
HUG TRAIN AND BABY GIGGLES
Ophelia
Aubrey offers me the gift bag she has prepared for Alice with a mischievous smirk.
“Care to enlighten me on what is going through that gorgeous brain of yours?”
“Nope. Just happy you have met a guy like Tucker.” Then she whiplashes the conversation before my brain can think up a response to that statement. “I gave Teagan a quick tour of your tiny houses while Chance entertained Alice. I hope you don’t mind. She is just using the bathroom inside the main house and will join us in a moment.”
“Of course not. I’m glad you could show Teagan around. I got caught up here.”
“I can see that. You got lucky living next door to the MacDougalls. They are good men. If you ever need help, they are just a stone’s throw away.”
Tucker moves in behind me.“Hamlet, do you mind if I use your bathroom?” His hands rest on my hips in a too familiar way while his breath fans my ear.
This time there’s nozapbut a whole lot of zinging going on between my legs when my mind goes back to the last time we were together alone.
I quickly step away, so my va-jay-jay can calm her farm and turn and face him. “Sure, go on inside the house. There’s one near my office to the left of the kitchen area,” I tell him with my poker face mask in place.
His intelligent eyes devour me for five seconds, too long to be a casual glance.
Was that code for a rendezvous?Surely not.Maybe?Nooo.
Tucker’s cocky grin grows until it reaches his eyes, crinkling them up in the corners.
I take hold of his forearm. “Begone, man, and go relieve yourself.” He lets me spin him, so he faces away from me, then I slap him on his fine arse, sending him on his way.
His deep throaty laugh as he walks away nearly undoes me. The urge to go chasing after him is strong. It’s like my body can’t help itself, but I show it who the boss is and keep my feet planted and remind myself he’s leaving for ten weeks—end of the story. We had fun—time to get back to reality.
Aubrey laughs softly, reminding me she is close. How did I forget? “Honey, you have so much to catch me up on before we go home.”
“I do?” My lame attempt at diversion is pitiful.
“If I can be forward as your loving friend and say don’t push Tucker away because of what you told Chance,” she says gently. “I know you didn’t tell us because you needed to keep the pain inside, but we are here for you if you need us. Anytime, night or day. We are family. Gwendoline is your rock; I love her already, and Chance told me she was there for you together with her family, and she is here for you now.” She draws me in for a hug, and I hold on a little longer than a quick hug, feeling Aubrey’s strength.
“Thank you,” I whisper, “for not pitying me and giving me the space I need to talk about it when I am ready.”
“I would be the same. We love you, girl.”
“I know.” We pull apart.
Silence falls between us while we watch Alice and Gwendoline playing with the goats. The Mighty MacDougall Brothers are their attentive audience.
Chance walks over with CJ cuddled against his chest. “Princess, you better not be wanting to trade me in for a Scotsman.” He kisses her possessively on the mouth, with no care for who is watching. He’s claiming his woman and marking his territory.
Before, I would have rolled my eyes at my cousin’s behavior, but now I see it as a caveman move and kind of sweet and sexy and growly.
I gently pry CJ from his father’s arms, taking several steps away from the snogging couple because my cousin and Aubrey are having a moment. Not that anyone is paying attention.
