Swept Away (10 page)

By the time he arrived, he had himself broiled into a seriously bad mood. He slammed his door as he got out of his car. First step he took, his foot sunk into a puddle. He was so distracted with his soggy shoe and the litany of colorful curses he was spewing, he didn’t notice Murray standing in his yard.

“Bad day, Tucker? I came to ask for a favor, but now, I’m not so sure.”

Tucker shook his head. It wasn’t Murray’s fault his niece was making his life miserable. “Hey, Murray. No, I’m fine. What did you need?”

“Hetty’s niece is getting married, and she’s bringing some of her girlfriends to the island for some sort of bridal stag party, or whatever in the hell women call it.” Murray swiped his forehead with a handkerchief. “Hetty promised them
The Big Cottage
would be move-in ready by tonight for the weekend. So, I have a list of things that need done and some groceries they asked for.” He pulled the list out of his pocket. “And she wants firewood in the pit in the backyard. I know it’s a Friday night, and you put in a full day already. Doggone Hetty.”

“It’s no problem. I don’t have anything planned.” Tucker grabbed the list.

“Thank you, son. Josie is over there putting on clean sheets and turning on the AC. She’ll go with you to the store. I already told her.”

“That’s not—”

“Oh shoot, she can go to the store. She’s been moping in that cottage for days. She needs to get out. If not, she’ll end up like Hetty. Can’t even get the damned woman to come out in the yard. I know this shindig was her way of getting out of going to the wedding. This all-inclusive- weekend-getaway is her gift to the bride. I told her to get her a damned crockpot. When she got the invite, I thought she might actually go. I mean she’s been doing great work with you in the house. Life was beginning to feel like it could be normal. But with the wedding a week away, she says no and comes up with this. Damned ridiculous. She won’t leave that house, much less the island.”

“Give her time. She seems happier every day. Josie—I’m not so sure about. I think it’s me she’s dodging.”

“That’s bullshit. She may be mad at me too. I told her I wanted the night visits to the cemetery stopped. I put up with it for years because I knew the girl didn’t have any sort of mom, but she’s an adult now. Time for her to quit consulting a dead woman with her troubles. She’s been hunkered down in her place since I said it. Did she tell you she talks to her guardian angel in the cemetery?”

Tucker tried to convince himself he was lucky she dumped him. Consulting angels in the cemetery? That had to be certifiable insanity. Logic offered him a high five, but his damned heart still ached. “No, she never mentioned that. She said she went there to pray.”

“Yeah, well…whatever she calls it, it ain’t normal. I want some damned normal in this place for a change.”

Tucker nodded. “Sounds like a good day to fish?”

Murray pulled off his straw hat and nodded. “Sure does. It’s good having you here, Tucker. Refreshing to have a sane man among the weird women.”

Murray thanked him and headed back to the garage. Tucker put his food and beer away and walked across the gravel drive to The Big Cottage. Nestled behind shrubs and fig trees, the two-story, four-bedroom place was the biggest rental on the lot, hence the name, The Big Cottage.  Tucker yelled for Josie from the wide open door. She came out of the downstairs bedroom looking harried and sweaty. “I can’t get the AC to come on. I tried to call Murray.”

“I’ll check it,” he said. She looked skeptical, making him all the more intent on getting it working. He went to the side of the cottage where the large grey unit sat idle in the sun. Pulling off the control panel, he changed the fuse.  Within seconds, it was humming and spinning.

When he went back inside, Josie was nowhere to be seen. He assumed she was the one opening and closing drawers in the downstairs bedroom.  Tucker went to the backyard, grabbed a hatchet from the shed, and started gathering fallen tree limbs from the woods around Murray’s property. He wasn’t sure how far Murray’s land went back, but he didn’t have to go far before he had enough to burn a campfire for the evening.

Josie came out on the porch and watched him as he finished. When he looked up, she blushed and said, “I’m done. Murray said they needed groceries too?”

“Yeah, but I can get them if you don’t want to go.”

“I, uh...” she stammered.

“I’ll make it easy on you. I don’t want you to go. I’d hate for you to have to spend more than ten minutes with me.” He walked past her into the house.

“Tucker, I…” She followed him, grabbed his arm and opened her mouth to speak, but stopped. A sound at the front door caught her attention.

The house was open-concept. The living, kitchen, and dining area was one large space. From their spot in the kitchen, they could see the front door as it swung open and a gaggle of women poured in with overnight bags and loud, happy voices.  Josie looked about as comfortable as a nun on a stripper pole.  Tucker stepped closer to her.

There were six women in various shapes and sizes. A tall blonde with short dark nails and blood red lipstick stepped forward and grabbed Tucker’s arms. “Oh, you guys got me some man candy. How sweet.”

Tucker pulled away with a laugh. “No ma’am. We’re the help. Just getting the place ready. Looks like you guys got here faster than Murray expected. I’m headed out for your groceries. Josie?” He turned to Josie. She took a step forward, but the blond blocked her progress.

“Oh no! You don’t have to do that alone. I’ll go with you,” the blonde said.

“Marcia!” A red-haired woman squealed with delight. “You little slut. Hitting on the help a week before the wedding?”

“Thanks for the offer, but I have Josie. Josie?”

“You don’t mind, do you, hon?” Marcia asked Josie.

Tucker expected her to step up and save him, but she shrugged and said, “Tucker's a big boy.”

Marcia grabbed Tucker’s arm and dragged him out of the cottage. “Shall I drive?” she asked.

“Fine by me,” Tucker agreed. And off they went to Ella’s for groceries and ample amounts of alcohol. Marcia couldn’t keep her hands off him as they shopped. She was pretty enough, but damn was she loud and forward. She was like a skinny, happy, and excessively horny Hetty.

Shopping done and delivered, Marcia asked him to build the fire. By the time that was done, the noise from the house was at a boisterous hum. The women had evidently picked up a few men from the local hotels while he and Marcia were shopping, so the place was in full party mode. Marcia met him at the fire and rubbed his back in slow, sensual circles. “Now, since you worked so hard, let me get you a drink.”

“No, but thanks. I still have work to do.”

“So, when you’re done, you’ll come back?”

“I’ll see.”

Marcia slapped his ass as he walked away. He was beginning to feel like a party favor. Heading back to his cottage, he was happy to see Josie sitting on her porch. He leaned against the column. “That’s quite the crowd over there. You going back?”

“No way,” she said.

“Aren’t they your cousins?”

“Huh? Oh, no. She’s Hetty’s niece. I’ve never met her before.”

A voice yelled from behind him, “Tucker! You said you had work to do. You don’t look so busy to me.” Marcia had changed into the shortest dress he’d seen in a long time. She was carrying her sandals as she walked across the grass. “I’m taking a walk on the beach; want to join me?”

“Maybe later. I need to talk to Josie about some stuff.”

“Okay. I’ll walk slow,” she said, wagging her shoes at him.

Once she was gone, Tucker banged his head against the column. “I swear, she’s relentless. I don’t know how to shake her.”

“Why shake her?” Josie asked, pulling her legs up and crossing them. “She seems like she’d be fun for you.”

Tucker took a step off the porch. “So, that’s it? You really don’t give a damn, do you?”

“I didn’t say that,” Josie said, her voice was quiet, shaky.

“But it wouldn’t bug you at all if I hooked up with the wedding tramp?”

“You’d probably be happier with her. She’s pretty…and vibrant.”

“What the hell, Josie? I swear to God, you are the most aggravating woman I have ever met. I thought we had a connection. I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out what’s going on, but I come up with nothing every single damn time. And you know what? I don’t need this shit. I don’t need the complication.” He took two steps toward the beach path and then turned back around. “I don’t need you screwing with my head or my life.”

Josie leaped from her seat with a small whimper and ran into her cottage. Tucker thought of following, his gut screamed for him to, but he didn’t. He turned and followed Marcia down the path.

He found her sitting at the top of the beach looking down over the water. “Hey,” he said. “Why aren’t you enjoying your party?”

Turning to him, she smiled. “I needed to call Gary, my fiancé. I didn’t want him to hear the party. He doesn’t trust me.”

Tucker sat beside her, laughing. “You don’t say.”

“Oh, my God,” she said, poking his ribs. “Don’t you judge me. Gary has screwed more women than I can count. I’ve only had two. Men, that is. Not women. Though there was the one time in college with my roommate's bi cousin, but I don’t know how you count that, so I guess, maybe three. Compared to the girls back there, I’m a saint. I don’t think one last fling is that horrible.”

Tucker wanted to ask her if she even loved the guy, but he suspected he knew that answer, and quite honestly, he didn’t care. If she wanted a fling, he could use the distraction.

“So, tell me, Tucker.” She ran her finger along the collar of his shirt, grazing his skin. “You as good as you look?”

Tucker grabbed her by the arms and pulled her close. “I’m better.”

Growling, she wrapped her arms around him, practically jamming her tongue down his throat. She tasted like cigarette smoke and beer. Just like Holly. Nothing like Josie. Not that Josie gave a damn about him. Hell, she’d been just as eager to get laid as Marcia was now. Maybe he was just lucky enough to find horny women who only wanted to use him. Why should he care? He would have loved this problem when he was sixteen. Women. They were all alike—horny and conniving.

You know damned good and well Josie didn’t use you.

The thought flowed through his head making him jerk away as if he’d suddenly realized he was kissing a snake. Josie was nothing like other women, and she hadn’t been looking for quick sex. She loved him that night; he felt it. He didn’t have a clue what the hell was wrong with her since then, but it wasn’t because she used him. He wished she was as easy to read as Marcia, who he guessed was planning to screw him to get even. Curious to see if his gut was anywhere near correct, Tucker asked, “Gary didn’t happen to cheat on you, did he?”

Marcia’s face fell. Her lipstick was smeared across her cheek and now, the onslaught of sudden tears made her mascara run. “He…he…found his ex online and took her to Bermuda during a business trip. God, I hate her. But I need him. If I dump him, I’ll lose everything. I can’t even confront him. I’m scared to death he’ll admit he loves her.” Burying her face on her hands, she cried, “Oh my God, I am so freaking pathetic.”

Tucker pulled her in and hugged her. “You’re not pathetic. Love sucks.”

Laughing, she wiped away a tear. “It does, doesn’t it?”

“Yep. Seems relationships are the quickest route to heartache.”

She nodded and rested her cheek on his chest.

Tucker rested his chin on the top of her head and sighed. “I know my life was much less complicated when all I had to worry about were hook-ups and one-nighters.” 

Walking back from the beach, he said good-bye to Marcia and headed to Josie’s. He decided he had nothing to lose; Josie owed him answers. Looking in her window, he could see her on the couch. He knocked on the door, but she ignored him. Her arms crossed over her chest, she looked pissed.  He banged on the door until it bowed. She continued to ignore him, putting her hands over her ears like a child. Furious, he rammed into the door, shoulder first. On the third try, the casing splintered and the door flew open.

Josie jumped from her spot on the couch and squealed. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“Who says I want to talk to you?” she yelled back.

Her eyes were puffy and her nose red. His walk to the beach with Marcia bugged her. He knew it. He pulled her close. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“Doing what?” Her eyes were narrowed and lips pressed into a petulant bow.

“I miss you, damn it. I don’t understand why you’re avoiding me.”

“I am not avoiding you,” she screamed at him as if he was yards away instead of inches.

“The hell you aren’t. That night, in the woods, you said it was what you wanted. You wanted me—“

“I don’t want to talk about it. I told you…it was a mistake.” Her eyes sparkled with tears and she tried to squirm out of his grip, but he wouldn’t let go.

“No, it wasn’t. If having sex with me that night was just something you regretted…something that
complicated
our friendship, you wouldn’t be so pissed off that I went with Marcia. You wouldn’t care if Marcia and I had—“

“Shut up.” She pounded on his chest. “Don’t you dare say it.”

“Say what? That Marcia wanted me to screw her right there on the beach?”

“I hate you. I hate you, Tucker Boone. I wish I’d never met you.”

“Do you? Do you hate me enough for me to walk out of here, go find the bride, and find out what tricks she can do with—“

A haymaker she threw with her left caught him completely off guard clipping his chin and making his jaw sing.

It took a minute for his brain to register what happened. She punched him.

Looking down at her, he could almost feel her eyes burn through him with her rage.

She loved him.

Taking another step toward her, he secured both her hands in his. “I love you, Josie. I love you, and I only want to be with you. No one else.”

A fat tear rolled down her cheek.

He lowered his head toward her. His words were soft. “You love me, Josie. I’m not just a complication, and it scares you. Admit it.”

“No,” she said.

“Then what?”

“I…I think we were better as friends.”

It felt like a stab to his heart, but he kept his cool. “Friends?”

“Yeah. Friends.”

A battle waged in his mind. Did he want to stay here and be her friend? Look at her every day and know they were over? Maybe she was scared and needed time…

Josie interrupted his thoughts with a question that made her voice quiver. “Did you, you know, with her, like you did with me?”

“Who? Marcia? Hell no.” He moved closer, his voice barely above a whisper. “And that night? What was between us wasn’t about sex. It wasn’t some physical attraction out of control. It was more. Do you understand that?”

She nodded. “But it was a mistake. We never should have done it.” He offered her a heavy shrug. “You mean a lot more to me than sex. I won’t lie and say I didn’t love doing it. That it probably ruined me for all other women, but if you regret it, then I suppose we’re friends.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

A tear trickled out of the corner of her eye. She quickly wiped it away. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

She gave him a hug. He held her, not wanting to let her go. It was like sweet torture, but at least she was right here, right now. He’d worry about tomorrow later. Josie was the first to pull away. “Will you stay? I could make you food?"

A small amount of relief washed over him. "I’m starving. I had a sandwich from Ella’s but stuck it on the fridge to get the cottage ready." 

"I can't compete with that. But I do have pancakes?"

"Sounds perfect."

Josie walked to the kitchen. Tucker followed her. As she worked, he leaned against the counter and watched. Tendrils of hair brushed against her slender neck. Her eyes were still puffy, and it tugged at his heart.

Flipping golden pancakes over in the skillet, she asked, "So, what happened with the wayward bride?"

Tucker crossed his arms over his chest as he debated how much to tell her. Should he tell her she kissed him? That he considered having sex with her…to prove Josie didn’t control him, and then admit that she did? That he stayed and talked with Marcia until she was cheered up and laughing? 

As she reached for a plate, she looked at him, brows drawn slightly as if she knew he was hiding something from her.  She buttered his pancakes and handed him the plate. Licking some butter off her finger, she asked again, “So? What happened?”

Tucker felt nervous discussing another woman with a girl who trusted him about as much as a mouse trusted a ravenous cat. 

"I told her it would be a mistake."

"I saw you two walking back. She didn’t seem like a girl who got rejected."

"You saw me coming and still made me kick down your door?"

"I asked my question first," Josie said, adding an eye roll. “I still can't believe you beat down my door. Kind of caveman-like."

"It was a cheap door anyhow."

"Evidently.” She laughed. “Now, back to the question. Why was she so happy you rejected her?"

"How do you know she tried anything?"

"Oh, my gosh, seriously? She may as well have mounted you in the house. In front of everyone."

"Okay, yes, she made a play. But I didn't reject her."

Josie's eyebrow popped up.

"No, I didn't have sex with her. I just explained to her she could ruin her marriage before it started, and if she was smart, she'd keep her nose clean for at least ten years or she wouldn't get any of Gary's big bucks." Tucker grinned. Marcia loved the idea of getting even with the man where it really mattered to him—his wallet. Maybe at some time during those ten years, they’d work it out and have a happy marriage. Or not.

"Oh, you didn't."

"I did."

"Poor Gary."

"I figure he's a douche. He cheated on her first."

“Somehow, I don’t feel any pity for her.” Josie frowned as she turned her attention to pouring him a glass of milk and making herself a cup of tea.

Tucker enjoyed her obvious jealousy. With a grin, he added, "She was mostly just pissed at the fiancé for cheating. That’s the only reason she hit on me. Wasn't my charm after all."

"Poor baby."

"I'm recovered, trust me." He grabbed his plate of food and dug in.

Josie fiddled with the handle of her mug for a minute, then took a deep breath and said, “In the future, if a tramp asks you to pole dance with her, I’d appreciate you saying no.”

Tucker’s laugh reverberated off the close walls.

“I’m not joking, Tucker.”

“Joke or not, it’s still funny as hell. I never wanted her in the first place. You practically threw me at her.”

“I did not.”

He poorly imitated her words, “
Tucker will go with you, won’t you, Tucker
?”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

She chewed on the side of her cheek. “I was mad. I don’t remember what I said.”

“Oh well, it’s over.” He took his plate to the sink and washed it and dried it.

"Can we watch a movie?” Josie asked the question like she wasn’t the one who pulled the rug out from under their relationship.

"I’d like that,” he said. “And I suppose I should warn you, I'm staying over. I'll take the couch."

"You're staying over?"

"Yeah, spending the night. I'm not sure if you noticed, but some jackass broke your door. I’m sorry about that." 

She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him. "It's all right. I'm a basket case; you're a crazy man. We'll be the best of friends"

Damn.  That hurt.