This Love's Not for Sale (8 page)

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, let’s do this,” he said decisively, speaking more about his plan than about lunch.

A
t the restaurant, Lilliana was proving to be a hard nut to crack. Tucker kept trying to engage her in conversation by asking personal questions, but she kept redirecting the questions back to him. Lilliana was delectable in her Mediterranean blue scrubs with a floral print top, and Tucker was itching to get her out of them. Why couldn’t she just be easy, peasy, nice and sleazy like all the rest of his flings? And why the fuck did she have to be so damned adorable? 

“What are you t
hinking about?” Lilliana face brimmed with curiosity.

Tucker decided to be honest for a change. “Getting you out of those scrubs and burying m
y cock deep inside you for hours,” he responded frankly.

Lilliana’s eyes got big and she coughed on a mouthful of water. Once she got her voice back, she reprimanded him. “
You just proved that romance is truly dead. I don’t know if you’re aware, but you can be honest without being blunt.”

Tucker moved his shoulders in a shrug of
indifference. “Where’s the fun in that? Anyway, romance isn’t dead, it’s just overrated. There’s something to be said about being filthy and talking dirty. You should try it sometime. It’s quite liberating,” Tucker quirked an eyebrow at her.

Lilliana leaned toward Tucker, exhaling with
disapproval. “And you kiss your mother with that dirty talking mouth?”

A faint satisfied smile
flashed across Tucker’s mouth. “Occasionally. Try it, Lilly. Say: I like being fucked hard, Tucker. Say it.”

Lilliana shook her head
no
but the smile on her face gave away her liking to Tucker’s orneriness.

“I never figured you for a prude, Lilliana Norris.”

Lilliana looked offended. “I am not a prude!” she whisper yelled, sitting forward on the edge of her seat.

Amused with Lilliana’s reaction, Tucker continued to tease her
. “Then say it. Better yet, say: Fuck me in the ass, Tucker. I like it when you go deep.”

Tucker was bound and determined to embarrass Lilliana and get a rise out of her
, knowing full well she wouldn’t give in.

Lilliana narrowed he
r eyes and Tucker’s laughter had a sharp edge. “I fucking knew it. P-R-U-D-E,” he stressed.

Lilliana smiled sweetly
in return, leaned back in her seat comfortably and licked her lips. Tucker was confused by Lilliana’s reaction and suddenly worried about what he may have provoked the fiery brunette to do.

Closing her eyes,
Lilliana sighed softly and moaned out, “Oh, Tucker… fuck me in the ass. Give it to me deep. Don’t make me wait until later you dick-tease.”

Tucker’s eyes
enlarged and it was his turn to cough on his beverage. He scanned the room to see several pairs of bulged eyeballs staring at him and Lilliana.

“Take me now, Tucker!” she continued, groaning louder.

Tucker reached over the table and gripped her hand.

“Okay, okay!”
he howled, laughter bubbling out of him.

Lilliana immediately opened her eyes and sipped on her water, not showing an ounce of humiliation.

Tucker continued to laugh while he held his stomach.

“I didn’t say you had to go on about it,” he told her when he finally caught his breath.

“I thought I’d improvise a little. You’re right, it is liberating. Shall I have another go at it?” she batted her eyelashes.

“Fuck no! Tell me, though, do you really like being fucked in the ass?” he grinned.

Lilliana’s eyes narrowed again and she crossed her arms, “You’re pushing your luck. Now say it.”

“Say
what
?” Tucker asked.

“You, Lilliana
Norris, are no prude. Come on, say it.”

“I’ll do no such thing.”

“I did what you asked. Say it!” she exclaimed, irritated that Tucker wouldn’t retract his statement.

Tucker showed no signs of giving in.
“I won’t. Not until you really prove otherwise,” he winked.

Lilliana met his unwavering eyes without flinching.
“Whatever. Then I stand by my assertion that you’re a dick-tease.”

“I never tease, Lilly, and I always
follow through with my plans.”

If only Lilliana knew
just how true his statement was, she’d go running for high ground and never look back.

Tucker was wondering how to bring up the subject of her land
without being obvious. He tiptoed around the subject and then finally asked, “So what are your plans with Margo’s property?”

He called her Aunt by
name to make his question more personal and it worked wonders. Lilliana initially looked defensive, but when Tucker appeared nonchalant, she let her defenses down and Tucker inwardly sighed. His plan might just work after all.

“I’m not sure yet. The taxes are going to be exorb
itant. I’ve been thinking about maybe donating some of it for charity purposes, like an animal haven or something, just to cover the taxes.”

Tucker wanted to stand, slam his fist on the table and scream.
Charity? Fucking charity?
She was sitting on a motherfucking goldmine and she was considering
giving
her land away? Tucker clenched his jaw and kept his eyes downcast for fear that his disbelief and rage would be easily read on his face.

“I see,” he mumbled
softly.

“You think that’s a bad idea?”

Tucker looked up at Lilliana and her eyes were scanning his face earnestly. Tucker’s mind was in over-drive. There were so many ways he could play her. He could manipulate her into thinking anything he wanted; including that charity was completely illogical.

“I think charity is a viable option. You just need to rem
ember that once you’ve given any portion of your land away, it’s gone forever. No matter what good intentions you may have, a charity foundation can do whatever they want with the land and later sell it for profits.”

Lilliana looked distressed
. “I guess I never thought of that.”

“What kind of taxes are we talking about? Have you had your land appraised?”

“Yes, just last week.”

Shit, Edwards
was right. Lilliana was seriously considering keeping the land. Tucker hadn’t expected that answer and he was briefly at a loss for words.

“The appraiser
assessed it at just under three million dollars.”

Tucker snorted sarcastically. Apparently
whomever she had talked to must be in cahoots with another realtor and he suddenly felt protective of Lilliana. He may be trying to take advantage of her, but he sure as hell didn’t want anyone else trying to fuck her over.

“No, pet, that man is dead wrong. If your land
were raw, it would be worth three million dollars, but it’s not. Raw land means natural
property that has no sewers, electricity, streets, buildings, water or telephone service, etc. Your land is developed, albeit developed for farming purposes. Double that assessment and that’s something more in line to what it’s worth.”

Lilliana suddenly looked ill. “Oh, God, I’m g
oing to be sick,” she whimpered.

Lilliana
jumped up from the table and ran towards the restroom. Tucker stood in response, feeling unwell himself. Lilliana was so naïve. She really needed his help and advice. He cursed himself for his greediness. Here Lilliana was trying to do the right thing by considering charity and he was manipulating her, along with some other asshole. 

Tucker
stepped outside to get a breath of fresh air and dialed his parent’s phone number. He needed to hear their voices and be reminded where he came from.

“
Yep,” his mother answered.

“Ma,” Tucker whispered.

“Dad, it’s Tuck!” she yelled out of the mouthpiece. “Sweetie, it’s good to hear your voice. Is everything okay? You don’t sound well.”

His mother had an uncan
ny ability to read his emotions

“I’m fine. I just wanted to hear your voice. How’s pops?”

“The same, old and grumpy. Like you,” she laughed heartily.

“I am not grumpy,” he grumbled and then chuckled at the sound of his own cantankerous voice. He
really was turning out to be a crabby old cuss just like his father.

“So why
the call? Have you started seeing someone?” his mother asked wistfully.

“Of course not. I’m just working on a tough deal.”

“Oh? Something big?”

“Potentially.
If things work out, I could retire early with a deal like this. I’m just stressing about the… ” Tucker couldn’t think of how to word his deceitful plan. “… circumstances.”

“Well, Tuck, I know how competitive you can be, but remember,
it’s only money honey and retirement isn’t everything it’s cut out to be. Don’t make yourself sick over it, son. Just be honest and hard-working and everything will work out. I know you don’t want to hear this, but you win some, you lose some.”

No, Tucker didn’t want to hear the same old speech he’d heard his entire childhood.  His parent’s
only money honey
attitude is what got them into the predicament of losing their farm and without a pot to piss in if not for him. Tucker sighed irritably and shook his head wondering why the hell he had called.

“Dad says he loves you and to take care
and bring whoever it is you’re
not
seeing over so we can meet her. Oh, and call your brother. I think Mason is up to no good.”

Tucker couldn’t help but laugh at hi
s mom’s keen sense. After hanging up, Tucker lingered outside, enjoying the crisp fall air.  He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Lilliana looking irate and still green around the gills.

“I should get back to work. I’m not feeli
ng so hot and I’ve lost my appetite.”

“Is this because of what I said abou
t the assessment?”

Lilliana nodded
, turning her face away from him
.
“I have no idea what to do. People are calling me day and night, my lawn and porch have been littered with business cards, I can’t even eat lunch with you without being accosted by someone wanting my property and warning me about… and now I find out that the appraiser lied to me and I’ll never
ever
be able to afford the taxes… it’s too much. Margo never would have wanted me to go through this. She worked so hard to keep the land that she and my mother grew up on…” Lilliana let out the most pitiful sob and it tore at Tucker’s heart.

“Someone
approached you just now?” he asked, puffing his chest out protectively. “Listen, Lilly, everything will be okay. I promise,” Tucker whispered, pulling her into his arms.

Lillian
a abruptly jerked away. “No, it will not. You’re just like all the rest of those vultures after my land. You, with your devil’s smile and body built for sin. I know what you want from me: 112 acres and my panties in your trophy case. I’m not stupid, Tucker McGrath. You think you can win me over with your steamy verbosity and by pushing my buttons because you know I long for a man’s touch and authority, but I’ve been to this dog and pony show before, and I won’t be made a fool of again! My land isn’t for sale and neither am I!”

Lilliana’s harsh
unprompted words jarred Tucker’s cool exterior. Was he that easy to read? Had he lost his touch?  Lilliana stood glaring at Tucker, waiting for his response, but he had none to offer. She was right - he was just like the rest. No - he was
worse
. He wasn’t only trying to get her land, but inside her mind and body, knowing full well he was only using her to get his way. What could he do?

Just keep up with the lie at all costs.
This deal could set him up for the rest of his life and Tucker wasn’t about to let his feelings get in the way of that.

Lilliana turned away
and walked to his car when Tucker stood silently defenseless. Tucker wasn’t far behind her. When he entered, Lilliana was putting her seat-belt on and Tucker tried to assist her, but she batted his hands away.

“
I’ve got this,” she snapped.

The awkward silence in the car was deafening.
Tucker kept replaying Lilliana’s words over and over. What exactly had Lilliana been warned about and by whom? Frustrated with Lilliana’s ostracizing him, Tucker tried to prompt her.

“I don’t know what you were told about me and by whom, but I have a lot of enemies who would say just about anything. Including lies.”

“Good, honest people don’t make enemies, Tucker, and someone who has a lot of enemies usually has them for a reason. I, for one, am not going to end up like the rest of the people you’ve stepped on to get what you want.”