Page 27

Tucker

The hostess shows us to our table in the far corner at Dolce, leaving us with a menu and a smile.

Sam slides into the circular booth next to me.

She’s wearing a short skirt, her toned thigh brushing against my hand.

I need to touch her. I glide my hand up her thigh, and her skin pricks with tiny bumps.

She tips her head at a couple across the balcony from us. “We’re not alone, Tuck.”

From this vantage point, no one can see my hand beneath her skirt. After being apart for a week, I missed every part of her. But she’s right. I need to behave.

Removing my hand from her leg, I slide it across her neck. “Better?”

“Yes.” She smiles. “You can play with me later.”

The balcony overlooks the expanse of the Italian restaurant. Reserved for high-end customers and large parties, this part of the restaurant is less crowded by design. Sam leans forward, placing her hands on the table to peek at the wine bar below us, where couples drink as they wait.

The restaurant is dimly lit with candles to set the mood.

“My parents love this place,” I say. “They come here all the time.”

“What’s good?”

“Everything. My favorite is the chicken cacciatore. Do you like spicy food? I should know that.”

Sam smiles. “Yeah, I love spicy foods. My mom made tacos with tons of jalapenos when I was younger. I remember my tongue burning for an hour after the first time I ate them.”

“You never talk about your mom.”

She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear and turns away for a second before meeting my gaze. “I don’t like to dwell on the past.”

“But it’s your mom. I couldn’t imagine not having my mom around. You must miss her.”

“I was so young when she died. It’s hard to explain, but the longer she’s gone, the more I forget the little things. But occasionally, a specific memory comes to me, or I’ll smell her perfume and remember what it felt like when she would tuck me in for bed. It doesn’t happen that often, though.”

I feel awful. What do I even say?

Our waitress approaches the table with her hands behind her back, breaking up our conversation. Sam looks relieved. I am, too. I ordered the chicken for us.

A few minutes later, the waitress returns with our salads. She refills Sam’s wineglass and sets a beer in front of me, and then she leaves us to eat in peace.

Sam lifts the salad fork from the table, clutching it in her hand. “Do you think Jamie will find The Queen?”

“I gave him the e-mail address. He said he would give it a shot.”

“I’m so afraid she will out me if Jamie finds her. She’ll know it was me. Your friends like me, but they won’t if they know the truth.”

“If it comes to that, I will talk to them. I’ll make them see you didn’t have a choice.”

“There’s always a choice.”

I shove a forkful of lettuce into my mouth, speaking between bites. “No matter how this turns out, we’ll figure it out together.”

She cups my knee with her hand as she eats her salad. Just feeling her fingers through my pants creates a deep need inside me. My insides warm from her touch, and heat dances along my skin. I never thought I could feel this way about a woman.

“You think I’ll pass the class?”

She nods with her mouth full of food. “Showing up late didn’t help you, but you did so well on your last assignment that it all balances out.

You should end up with a B minus, maybe a B if you don’t slip too much.

” Sam sets her fork at the edge of her plate and looks at me.

“You know, I’m proud of you, Tuck. Initially, you wanted me to hand you a grade, but you put the work into the class. You deserve the grade you’ve earned.”

I wink. “That’s because I have an excellent teacher.”

“All I did was keep you on track and make you accountable. You did the rest of the work on your own.”

“Don’t let Preston know,” I joke. “Then he won’t have anything to nag me about.”

“You should never downplay your accomplishments. You should be proud of the progress you’ve made this semester.”

“My greatest achievement is scoring you.” I press my lips to hers, sucking on her bottom lip.

“Such a sweet talker,” she breathes.

“You know it, baby.”

I’m under the covers with Sam sliding my fingers into her soaking wet pussy when Jamie busts through the door. He stands at the entrance to my bedroom. His hair looks as if he’s been pulling at it.

“Ever heard of knocking?” I shout.

Sam pushes my hand away, pulling the covers up to her chin.

Jamie enters the dark room and thankfully doesn’t turn on the lights because Sam and I are both naked. It’s not like I care about me. Everyone in the house has seen my bare ass hundreds of times.

“I did it.” He looks like a lunatic, his eyes bugging out.

“We’re kind of in the middle of something here. What is your deal?”

“I found her.”

Sam and I sit up, our focus on Jamie. He sits at the edge of the bed, strumming his fingers on his knee.

“I didn’t get a name, but I got an address. A holding company owns it.”

“I don’t get it. A company owns the blog?”

Jamie shrugs. “I’m not sure yet. I have to check it out.”

“You need to get some sleep first. Dude, you look like shit. And maybe get a shower, too.” I wave my hand at the space between us. “You don’t smell so hot either.”

He laughs. “I’ve been working on this all day and night. I didn’t exactly have time for a shower.” Jamie leans forward, tugging at the ends of his hair as he rests his elbows on his thighs. “I finally found her.”

“What’s your deal with this girl?”

“I know her code. It’s beautiful. She’s a real architect. It feels familiar but brand new.”

“That stuff is over my head,” I admit.

“It’s like being an artist and appreciating the painter for each swipe of their brush. She’s a genius.”

“Sounds like you’re in love with her.”

“For all I know, she’s a man hiding behind a screen name.”

“She’s a woman,” Sam says, realizing she made a mistake. “Or so I heard.”

I told Jamie the e-mail address came from someone on campus.

He didn’t push too hard when I told him I couldn’t give away my source.

All he cared about was meeting his match.

He’s so obsessed with The Queen that his relationship with Shannon ends.

Maybe once he discovers the truth, he will go back to Shannon and grovel for a second chance.

“I hope so,” Jamie mutters.

Poor guy.

“Okay, now get out,” I joke.

Jamie nods. “I have to go find my girl.”

“Shower,” I remind him. “Girls don’t like guys who smell like barn animals.”

“Dick.” He laughs and then bends down to punch me in the arm. “Thanks for the tip, Tuck.”

“Anytime.” I wave him off. “Now, go.”

After Jamie closes the door, I’m all over Sam, exploring every inch of her. She molds her body to mine, hooking her leg around mine. I roll her onto her back, making room for myself between her legs.

“Tucker,” she groans as I thrust inside her.

I lean forward and rest my forehead against hers, taking my time as I slide in and out of her.

“I love you,” I confess, and she says it back, digging her nails into my shoulder.

Everything in my life is falling into place.

Sam.

The Frozen Four.

The identity of The Queen.

Soon, the NHL.

And all of it started with the girl of my dreams.