“No! Sorry.” The guy was shaking now and Tucker would’ve felt bad for him if he wasn’t so angry. “I got paid to follow her. That’s all. The guy just wanted to make sure she was okay.”
That was a punch in the gut. Somebody was afraid Tucker would mistreat Maryn? “Who paid you?”
“I don’t have a name. Preppy dude. Dressed real nice. Blond hair.”
“How long have you been following her?”
“Just for today.” The guy squirmed, but didn’t try to push his way to freedom.
“From her apartment?” Tucker wondered if it was that James guy. It would actually make him feel better if it was, a jealous ex-boyfriend was better than a stalker or worse.
“Yeah, he gave me the address and told me to be there before eight, follow you two wherever you went, and make sure she was safe. I caught the ferry over and found you.”
Tucker bent down a few inches, his fingers curled around the guy’s shirt until he heard the fabric rip. He waited a couple more seconds before speaking, “Tell whoever paid you to back off. Maryn is mine and no one is messing with her.” His face flushed as he said it. He had no rights to Maryn and maybe the guy who sent this dude really wasn’t looking to hurt her, but he wanted the message sent anyway, just in case. “Got it?”
“Sure, man.”
Tucker released him. “How’d he find you?”
The guy straightened his shirt and studied the sink behind Tucker. “I work for an agency that does private investigating and this sort of stuff.”
“What were you going to do if I did hurt her?”
The guy’s gaze flitted over him then quickly away. “When I saw how big you were I had to change my game plan. I would’ve called the cops.”
Tucker nodded, grateful this guy seemed to be on the up. “Good plan.” He turned and banged out the bathroom door. Luckily, it was a decent walk to the beach. He needed that few minutes to calm down. It was bothersome and scary that someone was tracking Maryn. Should he tell her?
When he saw Maryn in her bright pink and blue swirled swimsuit, trying to balance on a paddle board, all those protective instincts fired again. He wanted to be the one to take care of her and make sure no one hurt her. What right did that guy have to pay someone to follow her?
He watched her for a minute, enjoying the way she looked in her suit that was fitted but modest. Her shape was definitely beautiful and she could’ve looked amazing in a string bikini, but he liked that she didn’t feel the need to display everything.
Maryn lost her balance and with a little scream fell into the water. It was only a foot deep so she didn’t go all the way under. Tucker couldn’t help but laugh. She saw him and called out, “Come on! You need to share in some humiliation. This isn’t easy on waves.”
Tucker jogged to the water’s edge then plunged through to her side. He lifted her onto the board and kept his hands at her waist steadying her. Touching her never failed to get his blood pumping. “You just need me teaching you.”
“Maybe I just need you.” Maryn winked and Tucker’s chest swelled. He hoped she really did.
* * *
Their day together had been near perfect, but Maryn didn’t want it to end. As they got into his Lexus parked next to the Dana Point Harbor, Maryn asked, “Can we go see Mama Porter, Johnson, and Braxton?”
“They’d love that. You know Mama Porter will make you stay for dinner.”
She fingered her hair. She’d showered before they left the island, but without any product, her blonde locks were looking pretty frizzy. Tuck didn’t seem to be bothered by her make-up free appearance. “No way would I miss out on Mama Porter’s cooking.” Though it was more about staying with Tucker longer.
“Let me text them to make sure Johnson is home. He’s been busy lately with some real estate transactions but he’d be mad if he missed you.”
The drive was only about fifteen minutes. Tuck parked out front and got Maryn’s door. The house was impressive, not that she’d expected anything different. It was three sprawling stories, overlooking Laguna Beach. She had a hard time appreciating the arches and columns or the stucco entrance as Braxton swung the door open. She ran to him and gave him a hug. He was stiff but smiling. “Ms. Howe. It’s wonderful to see you again.”
“You too,Mr. Braxton.”
“Did you recover well?”
“Perfectly. You’re the best stitcher upper a girl could ask for.”
His starched exterior seemed to be cracking as he almost grinned at her.
“Would you look who’s here?” Johnson called from a formal room off to the right. He swept her into a bear hug. “Glad the big guy finally grew a brain,” he muttered.