Chapter Eleven
Tucker
The sky outside was pink and gold when I picked Libby up and carried her upstairs to the bedroom. Her long hair hung down my back, tickling between my shoulder blades, as she rested her head on my shoulder.
“You aren’t going to tuck me in and go home, are you?” She asked quietly. She lay on the coverlet still and quiet. She watched me with a face that was carefully neutral, waiting for me to reject her, or claim her. She made my chest tight, just looking down at the shape of her on the bed.
“I’ll go home, eventually,” I replied, trailing a finger along the curve from her shoulder to her hip. “I’m in no hurry to go.” I leaned over and kissed her soft mouth, running my fingers through her hair and pulling her head back to expose the long, sensual curve of her throat. “When I go, are you going to run and hide from me again?” I meant it lightly, but she pulled away from me and sat up, hugging her knees to her chest.
“I’m not going to run from you, but I’m not picking out a ring, either, Tucker. There’s more to this than being attracted to each other, even more than being friends,” she added as I started to argue. “I did it all wrong once. I can’t make those mistakes again. I have to think of Olivia.”
I pulled her into my lap and put my arms around her. The scent of her skin and shampoo filled my nostrils as I held her warm body against mine. Even though she didn’t pull away, she didn’t relax in my arms. I knew she was still thinking about how and when she planned to walk away.
“How about we stop borrowing trouble from tomorrow, and get some food in you. You’re so thin, I feel like I could break you with my hands.” She scoffed, then sighed and leaned back into me.
“I guess this past year has been more down than up. But don’t worry about me. One day, I’ll be happy and safe, and sure of food getting on the table, and you’ll know I made it, because I’ll look like a beached whale.” I chuckled and squeezed her breast.
“Going to have to toss that Thai downstairs. It’s probably turned lethal from sitting out. Let’s go get a beer and pretend that we’re not worried about screwing up each other’s lives, since we don’t have Olivia or Kennedy to rush home to.”
“It has been a long time since I kicked your ass at pool.”
“There is that, also. So, how about it? One last night of freedom, no worries about the will, or whatever her name is, or your business. Then tomorrow, we’ll start with your work, and end with the will.” I kissed her neck and breathed her in. “I’d planned to impress you with my worldly tastes, but I think you’re going to have to settle for pizza and beer.”
“Those are your favorites,” she laughed.
“But they’re not yours.”
“I have worked up a pizza and beer appetite, though.” She slid out of my lap and disappeared into the bathroom. I heard the shower come on and moved to join her, but stopped myself at the door. If she wanted me she’d have invited me. But the thought of her in there, soapy and naked, was almost more than I could stand.
When she came out, wrapped in a bath sheet with a towel wrapped around her head like a turban, I traded places with her and rushed through a quick shower. It might not have been the most romantic or swanky idea I’d ever had, but it was casual enough that she wouldn’t freak out on me, so, by the grace of God, we were getting our first date. I remembered the way she felt on me, the way her body fit so perfectly with mine when I held her. She was every woman to me, soft in all the right ways, sexier than she had a right to be and stronger than I thought Andrew had bothered to notice.
I forced myself to stop thinking about Libby long enough to finish my shower and dressed in the bathroom in the clothes Libby had left, folded, on the counter. She was dressed in tight jeans and a tank top, and her hair was slicked back in a ponytail that fell between her shoulder blades in long, wet line. I did my best to ignore the all-to-familiar tightening of my jeans as my body reacted to her natural beauty. With no makeup, she looked younger, more carefree, and I loved it. I escorted her to the car, with her hand on my arm. She gave me directions and we headed out, her smiling and relaxed, me wound tight as a spring and hoping she couldn’t tell.
My Exe’s Bar wasn’t exactly a dive, but it was close. It was the locals-only hangout, and it was wall to wall people. We managed to catch a high-top table as its occupants cleared out, and a perky young waitress shot us a smile to let us know we’d been seen. I handed Libby a menu from the center of the table, and looked around the room. There were familiar faces, but no one I knew, until I felt someone watching me, and looked around to see Libby’s neighbor from the pool. He was standing against one of the columns that separated the high-tops and booths from the pool tables and air hockey in the back.
He tipped his beer to me, and I looked away, my jaw clenched so hard it hurt. Libby was chatting away with a pretty girl with dyed purple hair and a nose piercing, and Libby invited her to sit with us while they caught up about their kids and work.
“Speaking of work, did I hear you’re a stylist?” I asked, shooting Libby a quick look. She picked up on my intention and colored instantly. “Did Libby tell you she’s an amazing graphic artist?” I asked, and she shook her head.
“What kind of work do you do Libby? Honestly, you weren’t doing anything last time you came in.” She reached out for Libby’s hand. “You were still in kind of a bad place, I figured you were taking a break, before you got back into the world,” she said, giving me a knowing look that made my face heat up. Libby smiled at her and deflected her by waving to the waitress and flagging her down.
She ordered food and I added a pitcher of beer and a twenty for quarters, so we could play pool or a little air hockey. Her pierced friend called over to a burly guy wearing a sleeveless plaid work shirt and a trucker hat.
“Well, I didn’t see that coming,” I teased as she skipped back over to her friends and the big guy.
“Oh stop. They’re adorable.” She laughed and punched me in the arm. I shot a glance back over at the young couple, hanging all over each other, making out in the middle of the bar.
“Are we too old for that?” I nodded towards them.
“Only in public,” she laughed. “I think they would’ve been impressed by our couch gymnastics.” I choked on the peanut I’d just tossed into my mouth, and she pounded my back, laughing.
“Oh, God. Oh. I do not know what to make of you, Libby Garcia Peele.”
“Look Tucker, if you aren’t trying to force me into the background of my own life, I can be kind of fun.”
“You are a lot of fun.” A beer appeared at my elbow and I nodded my thanks the hand that had set it down. Libby glanced at the person behind me and smiled and nodded. I looked up, and it was the same guy who’d been watching us when we walked in the door.
“Sam, hi! Thanks for the beers, but we had a pitcher coming,” she grinned and lifted her pint in a salute. He sat down in the empty chair at the table and scooted closer to her, and turned his back to me. I fought to keep my cool, but I could feel the muscles in my jaw tense, and when I looked down, my hands were fisted so hard my knuckles were white. Libby glanced at me, and then at the table. A second later, she gave a quick, humorless smile and got up to use the ladies’ room. I watched her neighbor as stared after her.
“Is there something you wanted?” I asked, barely keeping my voice calm.
“Just being neighborly,” he replied, finally glancing my way. “You’re not drinking your beer.” I smirked and rotated the pint glass in my hands.
“Not all that thirsty, all of the sudden. Maybe you should take it to someone who wants your company.” He grinned, but it didn’t touch his eyes.
“Libby seems to like my company just fine. Or do you think your suit is going to tip the scales in your favor?”
“I don’t much care whether Libby likes you or not. I don’t—and tonight, she’s with me. I’m sure you’d want the same courtesy, if our positions were reversed.” He pursed his lips and nodded.
“Guess I would.” He got up from the seat and started to walk away. “I really thought I was gonna get to beat you down tonight, Suit.” He tipped his hat and grabbed the full beer that was still in front of me, with a wink.
“Then you made the smart choice walking away. Because no one’s ever got the best of me yet. Don’t let the suit fool you, cowboy.” He nodded and sauntered off, and I took a deep breath and unclenched my hands, staring down at the little moon shapes I’d dug into my palms with my fingernails. The cute little waitress set down my pitcher of beer and a couple of frosty mugs.
“Your food’s on the way.” I nodded and glanced toward the restrooms, wondering how long Libby would hide in there before coming back. I poured myself a beer and slid the pitcher to one side as the food showed up, laughing at the sheer quantity she’d ordered.
“Is this the whole menu?” I asked, as another plate was slid onto the table.
“Oh, no sir, she asked for only half at a time. So, we’ll bring the rest out when there’s room.” I laughed, waving my hands over the food like I could magically make it disappear.
“Room on the table, where I am supposed to put all this to make room on the table?” The busboy laughed.
“I’d start making friends, sir, you’re gonna need ‘em. Upside is, most people in here will follow you around for a beer or some nachos.” I laughed and waved down the purple haired stylist, pointing at the food and trying to look helpless. By the time Libby returned, we had to squeeze her in next to me, half on my lap, just so she could reach her beer. She gaped at me and I shrugged.
“I figured you ordered that much, because you wanted it to be a party. So, I invited my friends.” I happened to glance toward the pool hall in the back and the cowboy was still watching us. I nodded and turned back to the bikers sharing my pizza. Lesson learned, I thought to myself, if you want to send a message, say it with leather-clad, studded collar-wearing bikers.