Page 12

Chapter Eleven

TUCKER

I crawled around on my hands and knees, inspecting tables, chairs, and power cords for anything sharp or dangerous. Chloe crawled along beside me, enjoying this new game, and keeping up a steady stream of conversation in her adorable babble. I made sure to answer her with appropriate oohs and aahs.

I spotted an open outlet and quickly shoved a plastic cover into it then turned to her. “Well, what do you think, Inspector? Are we done with the living room?” Her head tilted to the side as if seriously considering my question. A wide smile spread across her face, but she was gazing past me, focusing on something over my shoulder.

Bryson walked in, two steaming mugs in his hands. His half-smile widened when he saw Chloe, revealing the dimple in his left cheek. Setting the mugs down on a side table, he dropped down beside me, sitting cross-legged. “I brought you a coffee, but I can see you’re in the middle of baby-proofing. At least you have a good helper by your side.”

“I never realized how dangerous everything is around here. Now that she can move, nothing is safe.”

As if that was her cue, Chloe quickly crawled over and stuck her hand into the basket of tools I’d been using. I swooped in just before she stuffed something in her mouth. “Exhibit A,” I say, lifting the safety latch out of her grip. “A criminal mastermind.”

“An extremely cute one, I might add,” Bryson cooed.

“She is that.” I wiped the line of drool that was dripping down her chin with my sleeve. “She's also faster than me, which makes this doubly as hard.”

He snatched the baby from me. “Sounds like Uncle Tucker is just getting old, doesn’t it, Chloe,” he teased, holding her up to look in her eyes. Chloe giggled in agreement, reaching out to yank on his hair.

I let out a mock gasp. “Are you two ganging up on me now?”

Her laughter echoed around the room as I reached out and began tickling her tummy. She squirmed in his arms, peals of laughter erupting from her tiny body. “Oh, you think that’s funny? What about if I do it to you?” I said, turning on Bryson with a predatory gleam in my eyes.

He yelped in surprise, landing on his back as I lunged for him. Loud laughter rang out as he attempted to squirm out of my reach. Sensing I had the upper hand, he set Chloe to the side. She watched with excitement as I continued my assault, tickling Bryson until he begged for mercy.

I stared down at him, panting. His face was flushed, his eyes bright with humor, and his chest rose and fell in rapid succession. My eyes zeroed in on his pulse which fluttered wildly at the base of his throat and the sudden, powerful urge to bend down and kiss it washed over me like waves crashing upon the rocks.

My eyes traveled back to his, but he was busy staring at my mouth. He licked his lips and a groan rumbled up from my chest. Hazel eyes darted to mine and held, the moment stretching out. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking, but before I got the chance, we heard something else.

“Da da.”

Bryson’s eyes rounded. “Did she just?—”

“I don’t know.” I scrambled off of him and he sat up, both of us staring expectantly at the little girl on the floor. “Did you say something, honey?”

She grinned, a flash of white showing from the tiny tooth in the bottom of her mouth. “Da da,” she repeated, clearer that time.

My heart lurched, pride mixed with longing, joy mixed with heartache. My brother should be here for this. He shouldn’t have to miss hearing his daughter say his name. Bryson looked at me and the stricken expression on his face told me he was thinking the same thing.

I picked her up, holding her close. “Good girl, Chloe. You said your first word.” I kissed her forehead. “Your daddy heard it to. Wherever he is, I know he heard it too.”

The wheels bumped along the sidewalk, but Chloe was unbothered, her eyes wide and curious beneath the shade of her stroller. She rode like a tiny queen, overseeing the blooming landscape of Lakeside Ridge. The air was rich with the scent of wet earth and new growth, trees budding under the warm glow of an April sun. I popped a wheelie to clear the curb as we crossed over to Duncan’s Donuts it’s almost time for her nap.”

Duncan stood as I settled Chloe back into the stroller. He brushed some flour from his jeans and looked at me with intent. “Seriously, man. Just one night. You’ll thank me.”

“I’ll think about it. Promise.” His words ran through my head on a loop as we made our way home and the more I thought about it, the more I realized he was right. The only time Bryson or I went out was for the dad’s group. When was the last time we did anything fun just for ourselves? By the time I reached the house, I’d already fired off a text to Susie, asking if she was available to babysit Saturday night.

I slipped back into the house after having dropped Chloe off. Susie had been thrilled when I’d asked her to babysit, happily agreeing to keep her as long as we wanted. She was amazing, but I was still a little nervous about leaving Chloe there. That was until Susie told me she had spent the day before “Chloe-proofing” the entire downstairs. That had made me feel much better and I’d left my niece in Susie’s very capable hands.

Bryson had still been getting dressed when I’d taken Chloe, but he came walking down the steps when he heard me come back. My mouth went dry as I noticed how incredible he looked. The black skinny jeans he wore accentuated the toned legs he’d gotten from years of running and the green sweater he had on made his eyes appear more golden than hazel. His brown hair was perfect, styled with intent, and the scent of pineapple and coconut clung subtly to the air as he took a step forward.

“This was a great idea—where are we going?” His voice was bright, and he fidgeted a bit, adjusting the sleeve of his sweater.

I stayed where I was, arms folded casually, trying to hide the fact that my pulse had just jumped a mile ahead of me. “It’s a surprise. I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” I joked.

He rolled his eyes playfully. “As long as I don’t have to cook or clean, I don’t care where it is. This was a great idea. Thank you.”

“Even Cinderella got one night off, right?”

His eyes danced when he laughed, and my brain got snagged on how gorgeous he looked. I’d been doing that a lot lately. Noticing things about him I hadn’t paid attention to before, like how soft he looked in the morning with his hair all mussed and his cheeks still marked with lines from his pillow. And how he gnawed on his bottom lip when he was working on something that required a lot of concentration, or the soft sigh he’d make with every first sip of coffee.

That wasn’t all. There was also the gentle way he spoke to Chloe, the soothing sound of his voice as he sang her to sleep at night, and the careful way he held her, like she was the most precious thing in the world to him. I noticed it all, tucking each new piece of information away in my mind as if I expected to be quizzed on it later.

Where Chloe used to be the first thing I thought of each morning and the last thing before I went to bed at night, now it was the two of them. Bryson Kelly had somehow set up camp inside my brain and he seemed content to stay there. And it scared the shit out of me.

There was no denying I found him attractive. I had since the first time I’d laid eyes on him, but back then, I’d found him insufferably rigid, a stick in the mud that had put down roots and grown into a mighty oak. But now, I knew him better. I knew about his childhood and why he felt the need for all his lists and plans and schedules. I knew that they made him feel safe in an unpredictable world, and who could fault him for that?

I also knew what a good man he was. Smart, hardworking, and compassionate. The kind of man who would drop everything to help a friend. In fact, he had—leaving his home and moving in with a virtual stranger to take care of his best friend’s daughter. And while I’d teased him about ordering all those parenting books, the fact that he’d read them, and taken notes just proved how committed he was to Chloe and her well-being. He was an incredible man, but I had a sneaking suspicion that was only the tip of the iceberg.

I was jarred from my thoughts by the sound of his voice. “Well, I don’t know about you, but this Cinderella is starving. I hope wherever we’re going includes food.”

“Of course, it does. Come on, your chariot awaits.”

Moonlight shone across the lake, highlighting the ripples in the water created by an evening breeze. We stared at the view through the window next to our table, the smell of grilled seafood and the soft sound of jazz music in the air.

“Wow, Tucker, you really went all out tonight,” Bryson remarked, lifting his glass of water and taking a drink.

I shrugged nonchalantly. “I figured we deserved something special after all the hard work we’ve been doing lately. Plus, I wanted to go somewhere that didn’t include packets of ketchup or cartoon characters on the cups.”

His head tilted back with a laugh, and I felt my own grin widen. Why did it feel like such a victory every time I made him laugh? “This definitely beats chopped bananas and mushed broccoli.”

“And no one will throw food at you here,” I quipped, sharing another laugh with him.

“Are you sure Susie didn’t mind babysitting? Did Chloe seem happy when?—”

“Hey, now! Remember our agreement? Tonight is for adults, no more kid talk.”

Bryson sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry. It’s just hard switching out of parenting mode sometimes. The other day, I was on a conference call and my prospective client sneezed. I told her I hoped she wasn’t getting a wittle cold.”

“No!”

“Yep. She looked at me like I was crazy until I explained what was going on and then she wanted to see pictures. We spent thirty minutes just talking about our kids and gushing over pictures. Still, I was embarrassed. That was the first time I’ve ever been anything but completely professional at work.”

“Doesn’t sound like it turned out so bad though.”

“It turned out great, actually. She liked me so much she ended up signing a contract with our company that same day.”

I smiled warmly. “Who wouldn’t be charmed by Chloe, or you for that matter,” I added without thinking. I noticed my slip when I saw the shocked look on his face. Thankfully, I was saved from having to explain when the server arrived to take our drink order.

Dinner was delicious—stuffed crab for him and fried shrimp for me. As we finished our entrees, Bryson leaned back in his chair with a contented sigh. “This has been incredible, Tucker. Thank you for planning such a wonderful evening.”

I felt warmth spread through my chest at his words. “I'm glad you're enjoying it. I have to admit, I wasn't sure if you'd want to leave Chloe.”

He nodded, a wistful smile playing on his lips. “I was hesitant at first, but you were right. We needed this.” His eyes met mine, a depth of emotion in them I couldn't quite place. “It's nice to just be... free for a while.”

The air between us suddenly felt charged. I cleared my throat, trying to dispel the tension. “So, tell me something I don't know about you, Bryson Kelly.”

He chuckled, running a hand through his hair. “Something you don't know about me. Hmm...” His eyes drifted to the side as he thought. “Oh, I've got one. When I was in college, I used to be in an a cappella group.”

My eyebrows shot up. “No way! I never would have pegged you for the singing type, you know, publicly. But I’ve heard you singing Chloe to sleep. You’ve got a great voice.”

“Thanks. We even made it to nationals one year,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “We didn't win, but it was still an incredible experience.”

I leaned forward, intrigued. “So, what was your signature song? Please tell me it was something embarrassingly 90s.”

His cheeks flushed slightly. “We may have done a medley of Backstreet Boys songs...”

I burst out laughing. “Oh man, I would pay good money to see that. Please tell me there’s video evidence.”

Bryson's cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of red. “God, I hope not. Though knowing some of the guys in that group, I wouldn't be surprised if footage exists somewhere.”

“Well, now I know what I'm searching for on YouTube later,” I teased.

“I'm never going to live this down, am I?” He groaned, burying his face in his hands.

“Not a chance,” I said with a wink. “Okay, your turn. Ask me something.”

He thought for a moment, tapping his finger against his chin. “Alright, what's the craziest thing you've ever done while traveling?”

I leaned back, a slow grin spreading across my face as I recalled some of my wilder adventures. “Well, there was this one time in Borneo...”

Bryson leaned forward, eyes sparkling with interest. “Oh, this should be good.”

“I was staying on this tiny island, and some locals told me about a secret beach you could only access by swimming through an underwater cave. They swore it was the most beautiful place on earth.”

“Let me guess—you just had to see it for yourself?”

I nodded. “Of course. So, the next day, I swam out to where they said the entrance was to the cave. The problem was, I couldn't find it. I dove down again and again, searching, but nothing.”

“That sounds terrifying.”

“It was, but I was determined. Finally, on my last attempt, I spotted it—a tiny opening, barely big enough to swim through. I took a deep breath and went for it.”

“And?”

“It was the longest moment of my life. The passage was narrow, and it twisted and turned, and just when I thought my lungs would burst, I surfaced in this incredible hidden lagoon. Crystal clear water, a pristine white-sand beach, and not another soul in sight. It was like something out of a movie.”

“Wow,” Bryson breathed. “That sounds amazing. And terrifying. I don't know if I could have done that.”

I shrugged. “Honestly, looking back, it was pretty reckless. Any number of things could have gone wrong. But in the moment, the thrill of discovery outweighed the fear.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “I can't even imagine doing something like that. The most adventurous thing I've ever done is...well, I guess moving here to take care of Chloe.”

I reached across the table, giving his hand a quick squeeze. “Hey, that takes a different kind of courage. One that's way more admirable than my reckless stunts.”

Our eyes met and held for a moment. I felt a spark of something pass between us, and my breath caught in my throat. Bryson cleared his throat and pulled his hand back, breaking the spell.

“So, um, what's next on the agenda for tonight?” he asked, his voice a little husky.

I glanced at my watch. “Well, it's still early. How about we head over to Lucky's for a drink?”

His face lit up. “That sounds perfect. I could use a beer after all this fancy food.”

We settled the bill and headed out into the cool evening air. The short drive to Lucky's was filled with comfortable silence. As we walked into the bar, the familiar sounds of clinking glasses and laughter washed over us. A few regulars called out greetings, and I felt a warmth spread through my chest. It was nice to feel like part of a community again.

I steered Bryson towards the bar, ordering us each a beer. As we waited, I couldn't help but notice how the dim lighting softened his features, making him look even more handsome than usual.

“So, what do you want to do?” I asked, handing him his beer. “We could grab a table, play some pool...”

His eyes lit up. “Pool sounds fun. I haven't played in ages though, so go easy on me.”

I grinned. “No promises. I'm pretty competitive.”

We made our way to an open table and racked up the balls. As Bryson leaned over to break, I couldn't help but notice how his jeans hugged his ass perfectly. I quickly looked away, taking a long swig of my beer to distract myself.

“Not bad,” I said as a striped ball sank into the corner pocket. “Looks like you've still got some skills.”

He smirked. “Don't sound so surprised. I may be a bit rusty, but I used to be pretty good back in college.”

“Hmm, is that so? Well, in that case, perhaps we should make things a little more interesting. Care to make a wager?”

“What did you have in mind?”

I thought for a moment. “How about... if I win, you have to change all the dirty diapers for a week.”

He laughed. “And if I win?”

“Name your price.”

He considered this, taking a sip of his beer. “If I win, you have to cook dinner every night next week. And I mean really cook, not just ordering takeout.”

“Deal,” I said, extending my hand. We shook on it, and the game began in earnest.

As we played, the conversation flowed easily between us, punctuated by playful trash talk and laughter. I found myself watching Bryson more than I probably should have, admiring the way he moved around the table with surprising grace.

“You're staring,” he said at one point, a slight smirk on his face as he lined up a shot.

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, caught off guard. “Just trying to psych you out,” I recovered quickly, flashing him a grin. “Is it working?”

He chuckled, sinking the ball with ease. “Not even a little bit.”

The game remained close, each of us making impressive shots and equally embarrassing misses. As he bent over to take his final shot, I let my eyes trace the curve of his back, lingering on the sliver of skin exposed where his sweater had ridden up slightly and I felt a familiar warmth spreading through my body.

“Yes!” His triumphant shout snapped me out of my daze. I blinked, realizing he had just sunk the 8-ball. “Looks like you're on cooking duty next week, Murphy.”

I groaned dramatically. “I demand a rematch. You must have cheated somehow.”

Bryson's eyes sparkled with amusement. “Face it, Tucker. You've been bested by the a cappella nerd.”

“Never thought I'd see the day,” I chuckled. We finished our beers and decided to call it a night, both of us eager to get back to Chloe.

Susie greeted us with a warm smile. “How was your night out?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.

“It was great,” Bryson replied, a hint of surprise in his voice as if he hadn't expected to enjoy himself so much.

“Chloe was an angel,” she assured us. “She's been asleep for about an hour now.”

We thanked her profusely then gathered Chloe’s things and walked home. She must have been worn out because she didn’t stir, not even when I slid her jacket off and laid her in her crib. Bryson flicked the monitor on, the soft glow of her nightlight, casting gentle shadows across the walls.

Quietly, we crept from the room and shut the door behind us. We tiptoed down the hallway but when Bryson reached his room he stood there, his hand resting on the doorknob. His eyes were soft in the dim light as he turned toward me. “Tucker, I just wanted to say... thank you. For tonight. It was exactly what I needed.”

I felt a warmth bloom in my chest at his words. “I'm glad you enjoyed it. I had a great time too.”

We stood there for a moment, the air thickening and a magnetic pull that made me want to close the distance between us. His eyes flickered to my lips, and for a heart-stopping second, I thought he might actually do it, might close the distance and kiss me.

Instead, he cleared his throat and took a small step back. “Well, goodnight then,” he said, his voice soft.

“Goodnight,” I whispered. I waited until he’d shut his door and then I slumped against the wall. Tucker, you are so screwed.