Tucker by Lori Wilde

Author:Lori Wilde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lori Wilde

Hands jammed in his pockets, shoulders bent against the wind, Tucker climbed the back stairs to July’s place. He walked in to find her standing in the middle of the kitchen, her face pale, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“July?” Concern for her stabbed him. “Are you all right, honey?”

Honey? Why had he said that?

She nodded.

“Your phone’s on the floor,” he said, moving across the kitchen to pick up her cell phone.

The look in her eyes bothered him. Instead of the usual trust and optimism shining in those emerald depths, he saw wariness.

“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

Her firm little body was packed into tight blue jeans and a thick red cable sweater with a white blouse underneath. Tiny hoop earrings danced at her ears, and a gold locket hung about her neck.

Tucker had a headlong urge to nibble those earrings right off those delicious ears. Letting his eyes shutter closed for a moment, he battled the erotic sensation. The phone rang in his hand, and his eyes flew open.

July’s mouth rounded, but she made no move to take the phone from him.

It rang again.

“You gonna answer that?” He held out the phone.

“Whose name is on the caller ID?”

“No name. Just a number.”

“Would you get it for me?” she whispered.

“Okay.” Bewildered at her behavior, Tucker answered her phone. “Hello?”

“Is July home?” a perky female voice asked.

“It’s for you.” Tucker handed the phone to July.

“Hi.” She talked for a few moments then rang off. “That was my friend Diane.”

Tucker arched an eyebrow and waited for her explanation. He didn’t like the look on her face, and her skin was still pale.

“They need someone to serve lunch at the homeless shelter.”

“Now?”

“With the weather, they’ve got an overflow crowd and not enough people to help prepare lunch. Would you like to come with me?”

He shifted his weight. He wanted to do whatever would bring the brightness back into her eyes and return the cheerful smile to her lips.

“I’ll do it.”

“We can walk—it’s only a mile—and that way we don’t have to worry about driving in the snow.”

“Okay.” He locked his gaze on hers, but she was unable to hold his stare.

“I better get my coat.” She drifted to the hall closet to get her down-filled coat.

After she was bundled up, he put on his Stetson and led the way outside.

The landing was slippery and thick with ice. Her feet skidded.

“Careful,” Tucker cautioned, reaching out a hand to steady her.

He kept his grip on her elbow as they inched down the stairway. When they arrived at the courtyard, July dropped his hand and moved away from him.

Their boots crunched in the ankle-deep snow. They rounded the corner and walked through the parking lot.

The world had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Cars sat like mute hulking creatures waiting patiently for spring. Overhead, the sky was heavy with gray clouds. Ice turned tree branches into glazed fingers that clicked eerily in the wind.

Their breath chugged out in white puffs as they traveled through the snow.

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