Tucker shook his head. “Only when we have a guest.” He cracked a smile. “And we never have guests.”
“Well, I feel privileged.” Yet she didn’t feel like a guest. She felt like part of a family, something she’d only dreamt of. She tried to cut some meat. Tucker stood and cut everything up for her. “I feel like a little child,” she complained.
“You don’t like anyone taking care of you, do you?”
Maryn bit at her lip. “Never really had anyone taking care of me, well, besides Alyssa.”
“You mentioned her before. Tell me about Alyssa.” Tucker sat down and tore a bite off the roll.
“We’ve been best friends our whole lives. Kept each other alive through college and starting careers. She’s a sweetie and an amazing photographer. You have one of her pictures in your room. The one of the old man and little girl.”
“She’s A.A.?”
“Yes.”
“That’s crazy. I have some more of her work in my Laguna Beach house. I like the way she captures people.”
Maryn nodded. The bite of ribs melted in her mouth. “She’s super talented, but she got married this past summer so I’m a loner again.”
“The men in L. A. must be idiots if you’re a loner.”
Maryn smiled. She wasn’t a loner because she couldn’t get dates, but because she really didn’t have the deep, lasting relationships she dreamed of. James and Alyssa had always been there for her, but the rest of her friends were more fun or convenient. James was probably worried sick. She hadn’t called him yesterday. “Did you get a hold of James?”
Tucker’s eyes darkened. “James, the boyfriend?”
“No, James my publisher.” And semi-boyfriend, but she didn’t want to get into that again.
“Yeah, Johnson said he got a message through and they were concerned for you and wanted him to keep them up to date. I’ll make sure he calls again tonight.”
“Thank you.” James’ blue eyes and blonde hair were getting a bit fuzzy as she stared at the dark-haired man before her. Alyssa’s Granny Ellie would say Tucker was, “Lots of man.” She smiled to herself. She missed Granny Ellie, who had passed away last spring. Alyssa and her husband, Beckham, were in Honduras for a few more weeks so they wouldn’t notice if Maryn didn’t respond to an email or text for a couple of days. How was she going to find all her contacts with her cell phone missing?
“What’s the frown for?” Tucker asked, taking a drink of water.
“Just thinking about what a pain it’s going to be losing my cell phone. Without the SIM card I won’t have any of my contacts.”
“If we can’t find the phone, you can at least look at your cell phone bill and it will give you the numbers you’ve called.”
“Oh, good idea.” Maryn ate a piece of potato, loving the buttery flavor and perfect texture. “Mama Porter is amazing. Can I take her home with me?”
Tuck shrugged. “Can we all come?” He studied her as if gauging her answer. Her heart rate picked up and she wished with everything in her that she could take him home.
“Sure, but my apartment is just a bit smaller than this place.” She held up her first finger and thumb about an inch apart.
Tuck laughed.
“So back to the story.” Her back and head were starting to ache. Maryn knew she had a few more bites of dinner and a few more minutes of learning about Tuck before she’d have to beg for more pain pills and a ride in Tuck’s arms back up to bed. At least the ride would be pleasant.
“I thought we finished the story,” Tuck muttered.
“Not when you obviously haven’t forgiven yourself.”
Tuck set his fork down. “You know there are two types of men who want to be in the armed forces?”
“No. Explain.”
“There are those who want to be the hero, save the little old lady and the children, right the wrongs of the world, and there are those who want to kill the bad guy.”
She bit at her lip. “You were the hero?”