CHAPTER 8
Today, Tucker was going to tell Lorelei how he felt. He laid his razor down and smoothed a hand over his cheek as he stared in the mirror. He’d been a coward for long enough. She might tell him she didn’t feel the same, but he believed she did. Last night, the way she looked at him bolstered his resolve. He’d seen something in her eyes he hadn’t seen before.
Lorelei had left after breakfast to take Jenna to the pediatrician for her annual checkup. She’d promised when she returned they’d sit down with Jenna and explain their relationship. He wasn’t sure he could describe what was between them. Did Lorelei think of him as her boyfriend? If she did, she had to feel something more for him than just lust and friendship?
After he put his stuff away, he headed downstairs to the office. About an hour into going over the accounts, Frances knocked on his door. “Tucker, Danny’s here to see you.”
He pushed the laptop to the side and stood. “Send him in. Thanks, Aunt Frances.”
Danny entered the room and held out his hand to Tucker. “You look good behind there.”
Tucker shook his friend’s hand. “I’ll never be as good at this bookkeeping stuff as my dad. Or you.” He motioned for Danny to take a seat and sat in his leather chair. “I’d take any day working the range over this.”
Danny snorted and leaned back in his seat. “Can’t argue with you there. Lorelei said you had some tree damage done to a few fences.”
“Yeah, the stretch of ponderosas and oaks between the hayfield and the east pasture. Took all damn day to fix the broken sections because we had to cut down the trees. Fortunately, none of the cattle got out into the hay. That would have been a mess.” He tapped his fingers on the top of the desk. “Would you like something to drink?”
Danny shook his head. “No, thanks. I just stopped by to find out how things are going. I would have asked Lorelei, but I figured she’d only tell me to ask you.”
Tucker leaned forward and rested his arms on the desktop. “Lorelei knows wants going on. I’ve been showing her how to take care of this place. She shouldn’t ever have to rely on someone else.”
Danny didn’t hide his surprise. “Good. I wanted to include her in more of the running of the ranch, but she never seemed too interested.”
With a shrug, Tucker said, “Maybe she realized the danger in her lack of knowledge.”
It wasn’t a barb toward Danny, but the way he tightened his lips, Tucker suspected he took it as such.
“So, what’s going on between you and Lorelei? Have you take me up on my suggestion? She said you moved in.”
“I moved in because the bunkhouse is gone and living at my sister’s wasn’t an option.” He purposely ignored the other man’s questions.
Danny stared at him. “Please don’t tell me you haven’t slept with her yet. Tucker, what are you waiting for?”
“What the hell are you talking about, Danny?”
Both men looked up to find Lorelei standing in the doorway. From her expression of incredulity, she’d heard a great deal.
Tucker stood up the same time Danny did. He came around the desk and held out his hand to her. “Lorelei, it’s not what you think.”
She glared at him and jerked away. “Not what I think. Sounds to me like my ex-husband told you to sleep with me. Is it true?”
Before Tucker could respond, Danny said, “Yes.”
She let out a bitter laugh. “Do you think I’m so pitiful I can’t possibly find my own man?” With fists balled at her sides, she turned on Tucker. “So, was I just another one of you flings after all?”
“No.” He took a step toward her but stopped when she gritted her teeth and scowled at him. “No,” he repeated a little more forcefully. “Lorelei, I wanted you for so long.”
When he paused to calm his frantic thoughts, Danny jumped in. “Lorelei, Tucker’s been in love with you since we were teenagers. I only gave him a gentle budge to go after you.”
“What?” Some of the fierceness melted out of her face.
This was his chance, and he took it. “It’s true. I have loved you since eighth grade.”
She stared at him. “But you never said anything.”
“Would it have changed anything?”
She blinked and a single tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t know.”
Danny rested a hand on their shoulders. “I should have never kept you apart. I did it for the most selfish of reasons.” She turned toward him, and he looked as if someone punched him in the gut. “I hope someday you can forgive me. I know you loved me, but if I’d have come out then, your heart would have been broken, yes, but you also would have had Tucker to help you heal. I was a coward. I could never have dated another woman. I did and do love you, Lorelei, but it’s never been the kind of love you deserve or need. I should have played the part I wanted--to be nothing more than your friend, the brother you never had. Instead I kept you away from truly living. Tucker is, and has always had been, the man for you. I’m sorry I stood in the way.”
He faced Tucker and gripped his shoulder. “Cousin, you are the best friend I have ever had until I met Paul. I hope you can also someday forgive me for my lies and the pain I inadvertently caused you. When you confronted me before mine and Lorelei’s wedding, I almost walked away. I almost admitted the truth, but fear of what my parents would think held me back. I lied to you both that day. If I’d been honest with you and with myself, I would have saved us all a lot of unfulfilling years.”
Before either he or Lorelei could respond, Danny walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
An awkward silence fell over the room as they stared at each other. He broke the deafening quiet first. “I need you to know Danny’s crazy suggestion had nothing to do with my sleeping with you. In fact, I was afraid to because I knew once did, I’d completely lose my soul to you.”
She looked up at him, but her eyes softened as she met his. When she rested her hand on his cheek, relief crashed over him. She stepped in closer to him and held his face between her hands. “Tucker, I love you. This past month has been amazing.”
He smiled and took her into his arms, pulling her tight against him, then he kissed her with a tender love and with a scorching promise.
When they broke apart, both of them breathless and a little dazed, a small voice behind them brought them both crashing down to earth.
“Momma, why are you always kissing Uncle Tucker?”
Lorelei stepped out of his embrace, but held his hand as she knelt before her daughter. “Uncle Tucker and I love each other.”
Jenna looked up at Tucker. “You mean like the princesses? Will you live happily ever after? Are you really a prince, Uncle Tucker?”
He chuckled and knelt beside Lorelei, who raised an eyebrow at him. “I’m not a prince, Jenna, but I am your momma’s cowboy.” He looked at Lorelei and squeezed her hand. “Forever if she’ll have me.”
Tears misted her eyes as she stared into his. “Forever. Welcome home, cowboy.”