The sound of my phone rang in the background. I groaned rolling from my side to my back, dragging my arm over my eyes to shield the bright light streaming through the sheer curtains. The ringing stopped. But the ache between my legs didn’t. The ache? Oh. Shit. I popped up, eyes wide, looking at the other side of the bed, finding it empty but definitely ruffled. Oh. Shit. I brushed my hair from my face, glancing around the room.

The ringing started again. Crap, where the hell is he? I tossed the covers aside, the cool air hitting my naked body as I jumped from the bed. I grabbed my robe, tying it around my waist, dashing out of my bedroom and down the hall in search of my phone. The ringing stopped. After tossing my scattered clothes aside and army crawling for five minutes, I found it under the couch in the living room.

It must have fallen from my pocket after Tucker threw my jeans last night. Oh. God. Tucker. Last night. Not good. Well…actually it was really good. Better than good. Mind-blowing and earth-shattering are better descriptions for what he—Ugh! No. No, no, no. I needed to stop thinking about how wonderful it felt and more about how terrible of an idea it was.

The ringing resumed. I answered immediately.

“Hey,” I squeaked, peering out the window as I hid behind the curtain like a spy.

“What the hell, Lottie?” Hannah’s irritated voice rang in my ear. “I’ve been on pens and needles all damn night, waiting on you to call me back.”

“Don’t be so dramatic,” I whispered.

“Why are you whispering?”

“I’m not whispering,” I whispered again as I traveled through the small house in search of Tucker.

He was nowhere to be found. Instead of being relieved like I should have been, I was disappointed.

“What’s going on, Lottie? You’re acting weird. And you never called me back after you spotted the hot contractor guy on your doorstep.”

“How do you know he’s hot?”

“Please. Don’t insult my intelligence. I know you, Lottie. You get all cagey when I ask you about him. Not to mention all the heavy breathing I hear through the phone whenever he’s there working…wait a minute. Oh. Oooh… You slept with him, didn’t you? You got nailed by the hot contractor!”

I groaned. “Maybe…”

She snorted a scoff.

“Okay. Definitely. I did. Oh, God. I’m such an idiot, Hannah.”

“That bad?”

“No. That great.” I sighed, sweeping my hair into a bun atop my head, the phone pressed between my cheek and shoulder.

“Then what’s the problem? It sounds like you were doing your vagina a favor. I need details, woman.”

I bit the corner of my mouth. I hadn’t exactly been truthful with Hannah about my contractor and our past.

“Did he show you his hardwood? Was there some tongue and groove to ensure an easy lay?”

“Seriously, Han?” I walked into my half constructed kitchen in search of the Keurig I’d picked up earlier in the week.

“Did he pull out his drill and screw you to the wall?”

I rolled my eyes, setting up my mug and pressing brew.

“Or did his hammer nail you to the floor?”

Okay. That one was pretty accurate.

“Are you done yet?” I crossed my arms, leaning against the cabinet.

“Nope. This is fun. Please at least tell me he kept his tool belt on while he did it.”

“Sorry to disappoint. He had nothing on. We even went bareback. Three times.” With more than three orgasms. It seemed Tucker was still more of a giver than a taker.

“You dirty little hooker.” She laughed. “But really, Lottie. What’s the deal?” Her voice turned serious. “Wait… You like him, don’t you!”

“It’s hard to explain.”

“Well, I’ve got time for once, so start explaining, sister.”

I explained. All of it. Our whole sordid past, which only made me feel worse about my moment…eh…moments of weakness from the night.

“I’m going straight to hell, Han. I know it.”

“Now who’s being dramatic? So you had sex with an old flame. You didn’t act on it alone. Plus, he was the one to initiate it, so don’t beat yourself up over this.”

I sighed. “He left without a word.”

“Maybe that’s for the best. No uncomfortable morning after conversation that way. Unless…”

“Unless what?”

“Nothing. Forget I brought it up.”

“No. Now you have to say it.”

“Fine. Unless, maybe you want more than the usual fling you’re so determined to always have.”

“No. No way. I’m leaving as soon as he’s done with the house. Maybe sooner, now.”

“Sure.”

“I mean it. It can’t happen again. And I’m going to talk to him and let him know it was a mistake.”

“You really think that’s a good idea? Telling him it was a mistake after everything that’s happened between you?”

“Well, maybe I won’t say it in those words. I’ll figure something out.”

* * *

Avoidance. That was all I could come up with. I avoided the pounding on my locked door as I hid behind the couch. I avoided him calling my name through the door. I avoided going to Sunday dinner at Grams.

There was no way I could sit there having a wholesome family dinner while knowing all the dirty things Tucker and I had done less than twenty-four hours before. So I did what any woman who was avoiding the dreaded day after conversation with a one-night stand would do—faked an illness. It was the only way out. Grams wouldn’t accept any excuses otherwise.

I was so nervous about making that call to her that I gave her a little TMI, describing my fictional explosive diarrhea and vomiting in detail to ensure she wouldn’t insist I come anyway.

Only slightly starting to relax as the summer sun began to set, I prepared Apollo for a ride to help clear my head and figure out what I needed to say. Afterward, I’d have a bubble bath, a glass of wine, and get a good night’s sleep. Then I’d be ready. Then I’d be prepared to face Tucker Monday morning.

I entered the barn, picking up my saddle to prepare Apollo for our ride. Apollo nickered his greeting, nudging his nose against me as I stepped into his stall.

“Hey, boy. Glad to see me?” I cooed, petting just above his muzzle.

“Guess you’re feeling better,” a deep voice came out of nowhere behind me.

I yelped, dropping to the ground, ducking behind the stall walls.

“Seriously, Lottie?” Tucker sighed, his tone amused.

I held my breath, burrowing further down into the straw floor.

“I know you’re in here.”

I raised my pointer finger to my lips, giving Apollo the universal ‘be quiet’ signal. He snorted and grunted, his head nudging at me once again as I tried shooing him away. I guess it wasn’t universal for horses.

I covered my face with my hands as Tucker’s footsteps neared. Not ready. So not ready.

“Lottie.” Tucker smiled an amused smirk, peeking over the stall wall, his arms resting on top.

“Oh! Hey, Tuck…” I sang with a nervous grin. “Was just...looking for my phone. Thought I dropped it.”

He shook his head, entering the stall, amusement dancing in his eyes. He offered his hand out to help me up. I took it. As he pulled me to my feet, I brushed the straw from my ass with my one free hand. He didn’t release my other, instead tugged me closer to him, our bodies colliding together, his small smile transforming into a sexy grin as his eyes hooded over.

“You’ve been hiding from me.”

“It was a mistake!” I shrieked without thought, my mind all flustered. Well, damn…so much for my efforts.

His brows pinched together, the humor in his eyes gone.

“The hiding or last night?”

“Both. Neither. Shit. I don’t know.”

His arms dropped from my body as he took a step back, his hand rubbing the back of his neck raw. I waited a minute, my mind reeling before settling on telling him the truth.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Tuck. I’m just really confused. Last night was great. But I’m leaving. That’s not gonna change.”

“Shit, Lottie.” He dropped his hands to his hips, focusing on me. “You think I didn’t know that last night? I’m well aware. I know anything that happens with us isn’t going anywhere.”

“Okay. I…as long as we’re on the same page.”

His body relaxed, his expression softening. “We are. Now will you get your ass over here so I can kiss you properly?”

Relieved from his assurance, I smiled, taking a step forward, landing back in his arms. He slanted his lips toward mine, then pulled back right before they brushed.

“Wait. You weren’t actually sick, were you?”

I shook my head, shrugging shamelessly. “Sorry.”

“I guess I’ll be keeping Grams’ homemade chicken noodle soup she sent with me then.”

“The hell you will. She made that for me!”

“Under false pretenses.”

“Don’t make me call Grams.”

“And what? Admit to her you purposely missed her Sunday dinner and lied to her no less? Be my guest, sweetheart.”

Damn. He had me there. “Halfsies?” I grinned, dramatically batting my eyelashes.

He chuckled. “We’ll see.” He plucked a piece of straw from my hair, flicking it to the ground. “I’m sorry about disappearing on you last night. I didn’t want to wake you and couldn’t let Lily wake up to me not being there in the morning.”

“I get it. It’s fine.”

Apollo snorted, his hooves stamping the ground restlessly.

“Were you going for a ride?”

“I was thinking about it. Wanna join me?”

“Sure. But this time”—he kissed me chastely—“no jump starts.” He headed toward Dolly’s stall.

“Whiner.”

“Cheater.”

“Please, we both know I’ve always been a better rider than you,” I tossed confidently over my shoulder, leading Apollo out of his stall.

“Ha,” Tucker mocked, saddling up Dolly. “You have an advantage riding Apollo. I’m stuck on Dolly. She’s an old mare who wasn’t bred to race like him.”

“Would you prefer to go get your own horse? I’d love to see Midnight anyway. He was always one of my favorites.”

“No... We don’t have him anymore. I got too busy with my construction company to ride him much. It wasn’t fair to him. I gave him away a few years back.”

“That’s too bad. Couldn’t have been an easy decision. You always loved that horse.”

We walked side by side, leading the two horses out of the barn. It would be a short ride with the sun setting.

“Yeah. It wasn’t…what about you? What do you plan to do with Dolly and Apollo once you leave and sell the farm?”

I looked over at my horse, another wave of sadness falling over me at the thought of selling him. “I’m not sure.”

“Well, if you need help finding a home for him, let me know. The place that took Midnight was a ranch for underprivileged kids. They have a great facility with a great cause.”

I nodded, internally shaking off my sudden somber mood. I needed to snap out of it. It’s not like I could take him all the way back to Seattle with me. And up until a few days ago, I hadn’t exactly been around to bond with him. Regardless, he was still mine. And I’d known he was still here. Even if I wasn’t. In a couple weeks, neither of us would be. And the farm…well, it would no longer belong to me.

I climbed into the saddle, holding a restless Apollo steady. “Care to make a wager?” I taunted, all but rubbing my hands together with an evil grin.

He chuckled. “Still competitive as ever. You’re on, sweetheart.”

* * *

“Holy… Oh… Shit!” I cried, trying and failing to lift my head as my body tensed with its beautiful release, the slow building pressure finally becoming too much, bursting through my shuddering limbs.

I closed my eyes, basking in the euphoric state, feeling Tucker crawl up my body. His tongue still sweeping, lips still sucking as he made his way north. His mouth met mine with a delicious onslaught. As our lips separated, I opened my eyes to his smug face.

“You’ve gotten good at that over the years.” I grinned stupidly, still unable to move. After that orgasm, I may never be able to move again.

He rolled off me onto his side, one hand holding his head as he stared down at me. He trailed his other along my hip, a tickling sensation causing me to squirm a little. “I’m older and wiser, baby. There are a lot of things I’ve gotten better at.”

“Older. Wiser. Sexier.” I kissed him, wrapping my limp arms around his neck. “But still the same charming, loving guy I once knew. The one who always made me feel like the only woman in the world… I never deserved you, Tucker.” My admission was a whisper, the confirmation more for myself.

“You’re a beautiful, strong woman, Lottie. You deserve to be cherished.” He moved his body back over me, lining us up where we fit perfectly together, his mouth dropping delicate kisses along my sensitive skin. “Let me cherish you, baby.” He pushed back inside me, owning my body and clearing my mind of any undeserving thoughts.

* * *

Once Tucker had left for the evening, I drew myself a bubble bath to soak in before heading off to bed. I lit a lavender candle, poured a glass of wine, and slipped under the blanket of bubbles, lolling my head back. My sated body relaxed, my eyes falling shut. As I sat in silence with only my thoughts to keep me company, the bliss from my evening with Tucker turned into a slow rising panic.

My phone vibrated with a call, rattling the closed lid of the toilet seat it sat on. I sat forward, answering the phone when I saw it was Hannah.

“Well, how’d it go?”

“I slept with him. Again.” I leaned back in the tub.

“Holy fuck. You did not.”

“Yeah. I did. I’m paving my way to hell. There’s no turning back now. Might as well enjoy the ride.”

“You could always try opening your heart and mind for once, and not just your legs.”

I scoffed, idly playing with a mound of bubbles floating near my hand. “Not helpful, Han.”

“Not helpful or not willing?”

“Hannah,” I warned. “We both know that’s not an option.”

“Fine. But if you ask me—”

“I didn’t ask you.”

“Well then, consider yourself lucky you’re getting my unsolicited advice for free. I think you should give it a chance.”

“No. We want different things. And I can’t give him the life he wants. His life is here. Mine is in Seattle. I love my life. And he loves his family, who all live here.”

“I’m willing to bet he loves you too. At least from what you’ve told me.”

“He did at one time…not sure he does now. I think he’s just enjoying our rumbles in the hay. Which is fine by me.”

“Mm-hmm.” Her sarcastic tone irritated and nagged at my resolve.

“It’s true.”

“I didn’t say it wasn’t. Why so defensive?”

“Stop. I know what you’re doing. You can’t reverse psychology me.” She could. Damn. Why is this working?

“Well, I guess your mind is made up then?”

“It is.”

“Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Great.”

“Great.”

“Now that we have that settled, let’s talk about when I can fly out there. I miss your face.”