Only His (Fool's Gold #6)(25)
“Try it. You might like it.”
His gaze was steady, his expression open. She wanted to walk over and kiss him again. She wanted to know how much more she could feel in his arms, figure out what else he could do to her body.
Except that would be beyond stupid. Job first, fantasies second, she told herself as she dropped into her chair and turned her attention to her computer. But instead of the report on the screen, what she saw was the fireworks she’d experienced and the black cloud of impending doom should she ever give in.
The problem wasn’t Tucker. The problem was her. She hadn’t been able to resist him ten years ago and back then he hadn’t even been trying. What was she supposed to do if he decided he wanted to do more than play?
The man was leaving in a year, she reminded herself. More important, he’d made it clear he wasn’t interested in ever settling down. For her, home was everything. He’d already broken her heart once. Did she really need a second lesson from the likes of Tucker Janack? Logically, he was a bad choice. She wondered how long she would have to keep telling herself that before she would start to believe.
CHAPTER SIX
AFTER A LONG WEEK at the construction site, Nevada was more than ready to spend a quiet evening not thinking about Tucker. Since “the kiss,” he’d been invading her thoughts way more than was reasonable. So, when her mother had invited her over for a family dinner, it had seemed to be the perfect escape.
She arrived around six, as requested, and met Dakota, Finn and Hannah coming from the opposite direction.
“Who’s my best girl?” Nevada asked, taking the baby from her sister and hugging her tight.
“Na-na-na,” Hannah squealed in delight as she waved her pudgy arms.
“Nevada. That’s right. Who’s a smart girl?” She swung Hannah in her arms, then grinned at her sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Hi, you two. How are things?”
“Great.” Finn put his arm around Dakota. “She’s growing, as you can see. Crawling everywhere. Starting to try to walk.”
He sounded happy and proud, Nevada thought, pleased her sister had found such a great guy.
Just a few months before, Finn had come to town to rescue his twin brothers from a reality show—True Love or Fool’s Gold. The “boys” had actually been twenty-one and more than capable of making their own decisions, but Finn hadn’t seen it that way.
Dakota had assumed she wouldn’t find a forever kind of love and had already contacted an adoption agency. While falling for Finn, she’d received word she’d been approved to adopt Hannah, then six months old. The situation had only gotten more complicated when Dakota became pregnant. It had been a busy few months.
Now Finn had relocated to Fool’s Gold, bought a local air cargo and tour company and they were planning a wedding.
“You two set the date yet?” Nevada asked as the three of them walked toward the front door.
Dakota looked at Finn, then back at Nevada. “No. We’re still talking.”
Finn pushed open the door and they stepped into bedlam.
The rest of the family was already there, along with a big golden retriever–Labrador mix named Fluffy, who did her best to greet everyone by knocking them off their feet and licking them into submission.
“We seem to be the last to arrive,” Nevada told Hannah as the baby looked around and laughed when she saw all the people she loved.
Ethan and his wife, Liz, had their three kids with them. Kent and his son, Reese, were attempting to corral an uncooperative Fluffy, while Montana, Nevada’s other triplet sister, offered advice. Her fiancé, Simon, stood quietly on the sidelines, as he always did. But these days he looked much happier and more relaxed. Tucker was chatting with Denise and—
Nevada stiffened as she visually backtracked. Tucker?
“You’re here!” Denise patted Tucker on the arm and hurried toward the door. “There you are, Hannah. Come to Nana, my darling girl.”
Hannah held out her arms as her grandmother approached, and the child went easily into Denise’s embrace. Nevada stepped back, not so much to get out of the way as to regroup.
“Finn, have you met Tucker?” Denise asked. “He’s an old friend of Ethan’s and now Nevada works for him. His company is the one building the resort and casino outside of town.”
The two men shook hands.
“What is he doing here?” Nevada asked her mother, whispering so the question wouldn’t be overheard.
“He’s alone in town. I thought he would enjoy a family meal.”
“You told Ethan I slept with Tucker so Ethan would beat him up.”
Her mother didn’t look the least bit guilty. “I had to do something. Now he’s been warned and we can move on.”
That was just like her mother, Nevada thought, telling herself she shouldn’t be surprised.
“What are you? A member of the Mafia? Did it occur to you I would find this awkward?” she asked.
“How could you? You work with him.”
Right. Because they didn’t have a personal relationship now—all kissing aside.
“Fine,” Nevada said with a sigh.
“I’m glad you’re all right with this, because I put you next to him at the table.”
Denise took Hannah into the kitchen. Nevada stood there, not sure if she should follow or duck upstairs and hide. Before she could decide, Tucker walked over with a glass of wine and handed it to her.