Fall From Grace(29)

“I just ruined my chances with you, didn’t I?” he whispered.

I turned my gaze from him and looked straight ahead at the expanse of the beautiful twinkling city laid out before me.  How could I explain anything to him?

“Look, Tucker, I just haven’t been with anyone for a long time, that’s all.  I’m rusty at this, and honestly, I kind of planned out my life without having any men involved in it,” I grimaced.

“What?  Why?”

“Let’s just say, I once had my heart ripped from my soul.  This isn’t easy for me,” I explained.

Tucker shook his head in understanding.  “Sorry, Grace.  I’ll be much better behaved next time,” he smiled.  “I’ll take you home, okay?”

Just like that, he pulled his little red jaguar out onto the street and sped towards the city.  To my surprise, he didn’t ask about my past or who broke my heart.  I was thankful for the reprieve, but couldn’t stop myself from thinking that he was selfish not to ask.  Tucker was all about himself.  He would be on his best behavior from now on, until he got what he wanted from me, whether it was just to sleep with me or make me the trophy wife to live in the house he planned to buy on Long Island, I didn’t know.  However, he was sneaky, and much more dangerous than someone like Shane, who would tell you straight out that what he wanted was nothing more than sex.

I’d go to dinner with him and that would be it, his chance was over.  I should have known after that first gut wrenching kiss; he wasn’t the one I’d been searching for.

Tucker purposely drove slowly.  Making small talk.  Weather, the band audition, and his law firm.  When he finally pulled up to my apartment, he kissed me quickly goodnight on my cheek and apologized again.

Conner and Lea were curled up on the couch when I walked in.  Shane and Ethan were sitting across from each other tossing a ball.

Shane straightened up when I walked in slamming the door behind me.

“Hey,” I nodded to the room.

Lea gave me a smile thick with implications, “Hey, yourself.  Where did you and Tucker go?”

I paused in the doorway, taking off my coat.  “He took me for a ride in his car.”  I looked at Lea, “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

She jumped up with concern in her eyes and followed me into my room.  I closed the door behind her and leaned up against it.

“Okay, what’s going on?”

“I’m going out to dinner with Tucker on Wednesday night,” I began.  Lea’s face burst into happy laughter and she clapped her hands together.

“Yea!  I knew one of these hotties would...”

“Lea, I’m going to need you to help me figure out something to tell him to get him off my back,” I cut her off.

Her smile faded and anger replaced it, “What did he do?”

I burst out laughing. “Nothing to me. Well, he literally tried to rip my pants off me,” I showed her my busted jeans and she laughed along with me.

“Lea, I’m sorry.  I know you wanted me to like him, so I tried to give him a chance.  He was awful.  He was like an octopus; his hands were all over me, telling me about how he thinks he found the perfect girl for his house in Long Island.  I tried, but he’s not the one for me.”

Lea crossed her arms across her chest.  “Nobody is the one for you, Grace.  And what I want is to get you laid. I’m not asking you to get married to anyone.”

I cringed.  “Well, the thought of Tucker kissing me again makes me want to wash my mouth out with rubbing alcohol.  Thank you very much.”