Part 10 (2/2)

Chapter Eleven.

Something was getting under Tucker's skin and like a slow burn or itch, it wasn't going away. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that it would burrow deep and torture him for the rest of the weekend-because that something had an awful lot to do with Abby Mathews.

s.h.i.+t. He hadn't seen that one coming.

Tucker settled back in his chair, pushed aside his crumpled napkin, not bothering to hide his scowl as he watched Abby and Cooper chat near the chocolate fountain.

He'd been trying to get her alone all day, but every single time he'd approached her something or someone got in the way. Like the d.a.m.n wedding or-his scowl deepened-his d.a.m.n cousin.

”What's got you so p.i.s.sed off?”

Tucker didn't bother to glance up as Beau slid into the seat beside him.

”Or should I say who?”

Dinner had been cleared away, the speeches were done and in a few minutes, the music would start. The bride was posing for pictures with some girlfriends, and the new groom was shaking hands. Congratulations no doubt.

Tucker toyed with his half-full wine gla.s.s but didn't answer his brother. Instead he shrugged, his eyes still on Abby.

”So tell me again how you and this woman are just friends?”

Tucker shot a dark look at Beau. Guess the jig was up there.

”Because right now brother, you look jealous as h.e.l.l.”

”Yeah?” Tucker muttered.

”Yeah,” Beau replied. ”Looks to me like Cooper's got a bull's eye pinned to the back of his head with your name on it. So maybe you need to figure out what's going on before things get out of hand.” Beau leaned forward. ”Because a family wedding isn't exactly the time or place for the kind of s.h.i.+t that I know is brewing in that head of yours.”

A muscle worked its way across Tucker's cheek as he clamped down hard. He wanted nothing more than to plant his fist into Cooper's nose. He was wound so tight his shoulders ached. h.e.l.l, even his teeth hurt from clenching his jaw.

He knew he'd get grief if he started something with his cousin, but right now it was the only thing that would make him feel better.

f.u.c.k.

He needed to get Abby alone. He needed to tell her some things. The fact that he wasn't exactly sure what those things were didn't really matter. He'd figure it out.

His eyes narrowed as Cooper leaned in close and whispered something into her ear. Again. Something that made her smile. Something that had her looking up into his cousin's eyes as if...

Tucker was out of his chair so fast he nearly spilled his wine. He didn't bother looking back at Beau as he strode through the crowd. If he'd have taken a moment, he might have realized he was playing out the exact same scenario that had occurred the night before.

The one that had led to a kiss. A kiss that had pretty much kept him up for most of the night.

It was that kiss that he needed to talk about.

So he stayed focused and didn't look to the right, even though he knew his mother was trying to get his attention. He ignored his Aunt Virginia, which was a small miracle because the woman was wearing a bright orange dress and waved her arms madly. He ignored his brother Jack's girlfriend, and the knowing smile that curved Betty Jo's mouth.

h.e.l.l, he didn't even say a word to his baby sister, Grace, when she managed to come up for air after making out with her new boy-toy-and that had been bugging him since he'd first met the guy.

Tucker ignored it all, because he was done.

Done thinking about that kiss. Done remembering what it felt like to hold Abby in his arms and breathe her in. He was done wondering, and he was done sulking in the corner like a G.o.dd.a.m.n schoolboy.

Beau wanted to know what the h.e.l.l was going on? Well so did Tucker.

And it was about time he found out.

He reached Abby and Cooper just as the DJ called the bride and groom up to the dance floor.

”We need to talk,” he said trying to keep his cool and doing a c.r.a.p job of it. He knew this because Abby took a step back, a wary look in her eyes.

”Tucker,” Abby said haltingly. ”I don't think this is the place-”

”I don't care what you think; we need to talk.” Christ, he was blowing this. He took a moment-exhaled-and tried for a bit of calm. ”Please,” he entreated. ”Can you just come with me?”

”Tucker doesn't say please very often, Abigail. This must be important,” Cooper said. He leaned into her and Tucker's fists clenched when Cooper murmured. ”Save me a dance?” His cousin turned on his heel and disappeared into the crowd, milling near the edge of the dance floor.

Beau was right. If Tucker's hands were filled with darts every single one of them would be buried in the back of Cooper's head. Screw darts. He'd be using arrows for f.u.c.k sake.

”Are you all right?” Abby asked softly.

”No.” There was no hesitation. He was so far from all right at the moment that he wouldn't know what all right looked like if it kicked him in the a.s.s.

She cleared her throat, her hands on the pulse at her neck, and Tucker stared down into Abby's soft brown eyes, not knowing what to say-not knowing how to be calm with the heat surging through him.

”Let's go,” he said roughly, reaching for her hand.

He led her through the crowd, eyes searching for a place where they could be alone. Where there could be some quiet so he could think.

They were near the patio doors that led to the back garden when Tucker caught sight of his Aunt Virginia, deftly making her way toward them. No way did he have time for her. He turned sharply, Abby's hand still in his, and took a right until he was able to slip out the exit behind the head table.

Without pause, he took to the stairs, not stopping until he'd gone up another flight and then opened the first door on his left. The last rays of sunlight fell in from the window and illuminated what appeared to be a study or office.

”Tucker, slow down.”

Abby tugged her hand from his and stared up at him. There were questions in her eyes-probably the same ones in his-and d.a.m.ned if he was leaving this room until they were answered.

”What the h.e.l.l? Your family is going to think that you,” she blew an errant strand of hair off her face. ”They're going to think we're...that we...”

In that moment, he didn't give a flying f.u.c.k what his family or anyone else thought. How could he?

All he saw were eyes that tugged at him. A mouth that tortured him. And a heart-shaped face that made him crazy.

<script>