Next to his computer was a magazine… with a picture of him, Mama Porter, Braxton, and Johnson on the front page.The Rising Star. His breath caught. He wondered who had snuck it in. He knew the article was supposed to come out this week, they’d hyped it so much on social media he would’ve had to be a hermit without the internet to not know. Maryn had emailed him to approve the article, but he’d told her he trusted her and whatever she printed was fine with him. It didn’t really matter to him how the public perceived him, no matter what his PR people stressed about. He’d told Sylvia, his PR contact yesterday to just deal with Johnson from now on. He was done worrying about that kind of bunk and Johnson didn’t mind it. Yet, he was still terrified of how Maryn truly perceived him.
He swallowed hard and picked up the glossy magazine. Slowly, he turned the pages until he saw the spread. Lots of pictures of him, his friends, and his house. Johnson had taken those pictures and Tuck had tried to pose and look happy. It had been torture. He scanned the entire article but there were no pictures of Maryn. He breathed a sigh of relief. He didn’t like how that James guy had exploited her to advertise the article. He considered threatening the guy with a lawsuit or better yet a boxing match, but he kept reminding himself that Maryn was a big girl and could stand up for herself if she wanted to.
Leaning back in his office chair, he started reading.
The first impression I had of Tucker Shaffer was to wonder why in Hades a fine-looking, charismatic, and well-spoken man would hide away from the world. As I learned his story, I realized he has every right to stay hidden and it’s the world who is missing out.
Tucker grinned. He devoured the article, gratitude for that feisty blonde and an even stronger craving to be with her accompanied him. She painted him in much too kind of light, sharing a bit about his history and the way he developed Friend Zone and how Johnson helped it take off. She told about the feelings of warmth and friendship in his house. How he’d taken in these people, and though at first she thought they were kind of an odd bunch, four adults living the life of recluses together, they were one of the most amazing family units she’d ever been around. The article went on sharing how generous he was and all they each did to help others.
Tuck sat the magazine down and gazed out the window. The snow had almost melted over the past few weeks and everything looked fresh outside, the green boughs of the pine trees sparkling in the sun. Another storm would bring more snow, but he wondered if he’d be here to see it. He needed Maryn. Two weeks apart had done nothing to detox him from craving her laugh, her touch, her funny expressions. The only cure was Maryn. What was he doing giving James unlimited access to her and not fighting for his chance?
He stood and strode into the living room. Johnson, Braxton, and Mama were all there talking. “What do you think if we pack some clothes and fly to California?”
Mama whooped and clapped her hands together. Braxton gave him a knowing smile. Johnson muttered, “Finally pulled your head out.”
Tucker grinned and turned on his heel.
“Where are you going?” Mama Porter asked.
“To pack.”
She giggled and he couldn’t help laughing at himself. Now that the decision was made, he couldn’t get to Maryn fast enough.
ChapterFourteen
Maryn dried off from the shower and threw on an old t-shirt and jogging shorts. She’d driven to the beach and gone for a run earlier tonight. Her own treat for the article’s success and it had been a huge success. Highest circulation in the history of the magazine. James told her she was getting a bonus. He tried to talk her into dinner again but she begged off, claiming she was tired.
She checked her phone one more time, hoping for another text from Tuck. The texts helped, but weren’t enough to satiate her craving for Tucker Shaffer. Not even close to enough. She missed him, Mama Porter, Braxton, and Johnson, but especially she missed him. When would she see him again? She hadn’t asked if he’d read the article, but hoped he liked it if he had.
Her doorbell rang. Wet hair and not a stitch of makeup. Oh, well, it was probably just James. He claimed he loved her so he’d better not be bugged by seeing her au naturale. Tuck had seen her looking absolutely horrible, banged up and makeup running down her face and he’d told her she was beautiful and taken the sweetest care of her. Dang she missed him and wished their goodbye kiss hadn’t been a one and done kind of kiss.
Glancing through the peephole, her legs trembled and she braced herself against the doorframe. “Tuck,” she whispered. Even distorted by the peephole, he looked amazing. She swung the door open wide and just stared. His dark hair seemed a bit longer, but still had that amazing curl. His large frame filled out a pair of jeans and short-sleeved button down shirt in a way only Tuck could do. Those chocolate brown eyes were warm and fastened on her face.
Maryn ran a hand through her hair and bit her lip. “Hey,” she managed. Her mouth was dry. All words were gone. All she could think about was the last time she’d seen him and that kiss. Had he missed her as much as she’d missed him?
“Maryn.” He gave her a ghost of a smile. “I’m sorry, I didn’t call before, but I wanted to surprise you and…” His eyes swept over her then he crossed the threshold in one large step and pulled her fiercely against him. His mouth covered hers with a possessiveness and fire that was all Tuck. He pulled back much too soon, dropping his arms to his side. “I’m sorry… I missed you.”
“No, it’s fine, it’s great.” It was better than great. Why had he pulled back? She self-consciously pushed her wet hair out of her face. “Do you want to come in?”And keep kissing me, please.
Tuck shook his head quickly. “I shouldn’t.”
Maryn felt a pang. Despite the kiss, there was an awkwardness between them. Didn’t he want to be alone with her? Why was he here and why had he kissed her like that? Just to elevate her hopes and then crush them? That was so cruel.
“I, um, wanted to ask you on a date.”
“A date?” She stared at him with her mouth open.Come on, girl, you know what a date is!
“Yes.” He shuffled his feet and glanced past her. “But I understand if you don’t have… time.”
“Oh, I have time. Freelance writer, remember? I can work anytime I want. In fact, I do, work anytime I want, sometimes four a.m. if I can’t sleep and it’s too dark to go for a run and the stinking gym doesn’t open until five even though I’ve begged and offered to pay extra…” She trailed off. “Sorry, I’m rambling. I’d love to go on a date with you.”
His slow grin had appeared during her monologue. When she finally stopped talking, he turned serious again. “Tomorrow at eight a.m.?”
Whoa. She was not a morning girl, despite her desire to have the gym open at four. That was only when she couldn’t sleep for all the ideas percolating in her head or when she was missing Tuck so horribly sleep wouldn’t come. Usually, she fell asleep around two a.m. and woke after nine. “Sure. Eight sounds perfect.”
“I’ll see you then.” He smiled again and turned on his heel.
“Tuck!”