When Sparks Fly (73 page)

“So are you not talking?” My brother asked as he took another long drink of his bottle.

“Um, no I was just wondering how long you have been out here making a mess in my kitchen.” I said walking around the table to sit beside Tucker.

“I am honestly not for sure.” Tucker answered without even batting an eyelash.

I watched my brother and Aaron stuff their drunk faces. Tucker leaned over and quietly spoke in my ear. “As soon as you drifted off to sleep, I climbed out of bed and went in search of something to eat. I made a sandwich and just as I sat down they walked in the back door. Very drunk once again.” He laughed.

“Did they ask you anything?” I raised an eyebrow.

Kaleb took another bite, but stopped in mid chew. “Tucker, I have a question. No whispering you two.”

Oh good grief here we go. My brother had the balls to ask questions when he was drunk that he wouldn’t dare ask sober. “Shit!” I mumbled under my breath.

Tucker nodded. “Yes, Kaleb? Ask.”

“Did you fuck my sister yet?”

I started to choke on my own breath. Did my brother really just ask him if we had fucked? I felt my face flush seven shades of red. I heard Tucker take in a quick breath. I glanced out of the corner of my eyes and I could tell he didn’t know how to answer the question.

“Well have you? I mean seriously we have stayed out late for two nights. I figured you would have tapped her by now.”

I lost it. My temper just exploded. “Kaleb. You are the biggest asshole I have ever met. If I wanted to sleep with Tucker I don’t need your permission to do so. Second off, if Tucker and I had decided to sleep together it would be none of your damn business. So with that said, you need to fuck off!” I stood up from the chair and looked back at Tucker as I rounded the table “I am going back to bed. Tucker if you want to join me, well that is up to you.” I didn’t look back as I heard my brother whistle and mumble something about ‘way to go Tuck’.

I barely made it to the bedroom when I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Kennedy, hey don’t get mad.”

“I am not upset with you. Just my brother, who is a jack ass. I just don’t see why he has to be a total asshole all the time.” I turned to face Tucker. He didn’t speak, just pulled me into his strong arms and wrapped them tightly around me. I didn’t move as his strength seemed to spread over my body giving me my own strength back.

As the tears finally stopped, Tucker released me from his grasp. He sweetly wiped the remaining tears from my face with his thumb. “Come let’s go to bed.” He took my hand and led me to bed.

‡
Chapter Seven

I smiled before my eyes opened remembering how Tucker took my body over the edge more than once when we returned to bed last night. When I finally opened my eyes, in Tucker’s place I found a sweet sobering note. I picked the piece of paper up from his pillow and read it aloud.

My dear Kennedy,

I watched you sleep for the longest time. You are beautiful beyond words. I met up with Aaron in the barn this morning. I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I know your brother will feel pretty stupid this morning when he wakes from his drunken stupor. I hope to find you still in bed. :)

Tucker

I knew after last night I was totally smitten with the man. You didn’t have to tell me twice. I knew a piece of my heart would belong to him. I also knew in three days he would be gone. He would ride in the rodeo tonight and tomorrow night and Sunday morning he would leave. While it bothered me a bit, I knew going into this it would only last as long as he was in town. I knew it would never be a long term relationship. He proved to me I could love again and I would find someone to love me like I loved Nate.

I hugged his note and sighed as I knew I couldn’t wait for him to come back in from the barn. I was already running late. Lauren would probably beat me to the store this morning. I climbed from my warm comfy bed. As I stood the reality of how sore I truly was washed over my body. As I looked over my body, I smirked as I realized that Tucker left proof he had taken my body more than once. Never had anyone left a mark on my body. I tenderly walked to my closet. A hot shower and some pain meds would ease some of the soreness.

After grabbing clothes and taking a hot shower, I felt some relief. Dressing quickly, I grabbed something out of the fridge to eat. I stood at the counter sipping on a cup of coffee and eating some yogurt when I heard the back door open. Tucker and Aaron both laughing loudly about something.

As they rounded into the kitchen, both men stopped dead and looked up at me. Tucker gave me a half smile as an overwhelming stench of cow shit filled my kitchen making me nearly gag. “What the hell?”

“Old Bessie was being less than cooperative with us this morning. We are in need of a shower.” Aaron piped up.

I wrinkled my nose as I did a once over of both men. They weren’t kidding. They were both covered in shit. Both men had stripped down to boxers before coming into the house, but even with clothing off, it was clear they been playing in the barn.

“I have to go to work. Aaron I am taking your truck, please have Tucker bring you to the store to get it.” I smirked at them as I headed out the door.

“What? Why?” I heard him mumble as I eased by them, hoping not to be contaminated with the smell. I grabbed Aaron’s keys off the hook and headed out the back door. With every single step, it reminded me where Tucker had been last night. I smiled wide. It had been a very long time since I wore a broad giddy grin.

*

Lauren was already in the store when I arrived. She didn’t ask any questions. She knew Tucker had stayed with me, or I had hoped he would. I tossed my bag on the counter and went about handling my morning duties. Most days were pretty simple. This week would be the exception. We would be busy as long as the Fair and Rodeo were in town.

I was busy with stocking some items we had run out of when the ring of the bell above the door sounded. I finished placing the last two packages and stood. I walked down the aisle and as I rounded the corner I spied Ms. Mable. I rolled my eyes. I loved the woman, but sometimes her ramblings were a little off.

“Morning Mable. How are you this morning?” I said wiping my hands off on my apron.

“I am doing well for an old woman. It seems you have a spring in your step today. It wouldn’t have to do with the Jackson boy would it?” She winked.

“Ms. Mable. I have no earthly idea what you are talking about.” I smiled back and raised my eyebrow.

“Just had a feeling when that handsome young man graced my doorstep that he would change your life. Maybe I am mistaken.” She said placing her hand on my shoulder.

I covered her hand with mine. “Ms. Mable. I appreciate the matchmaking, but I promise in time I will find someone.”

“I think you have. Just don’t let a good thing slip away.” She slipped her hand out from under mine and left the store without another word.

I shook my head. I had an idea she was talking about Tucker, but his life was not what I wanted. A life of traveling and not knowing where we were going was not my idea of life. In two years I would be thirty and what I wanted in life had been taken from me. I was so ready to be a mother at this point. I wanted a family. Sometimes when I think about my life with Nate, I wish we would have started our family earlier. I would give anything to have a mini version of him running around right now. I shrugged my shoulders and went back to work. The idea of family right now would not be in my foreseeable future.

*

The rest of the day flew by. Aaron and Tucker brought lunch when they came to pick up Aaron’s truck. Due to the soreness I felt between my legs, I had totally forgot about my elbow. I did manage to check on it. And overnight it seemed to heal up pretty well. I would have a wonderful two inch scar. I laughed since it would just match all the others I had.

As I closed up shop with Lauren, we made our way down Main Street since we still had two hours until the rodeo started. I hadn’t been near a rodeo since Nate’s death. Something about the bulls bothered me. I could handle the calves and the tamer cows, but the bulls Nate and I had, I let his parents take them after his death. Patriotic Rodeo was never put down even though some wanted him to be. I am sorry, but honestly, Nate should have known better than to climb into the pen with him until he was sedated.

I could hear the laughing and the sounds of the fair going on in the square. Lauren and I made our way through the crowds of people. I smiled as I was greeted by many townspeople. I spoke to a few ladies I hadn’t seen in months. But the smell of corndogs and funnel cakes drew me away from the crowds.

My yearly treat. Hardly ever did I eat fried foods, but I couldn’t resist a fair corndog or funnel cake. We stood in line for twenty minutes and I finally got my sweet treats. I felt like I inhaled the corndog, but I was starving. I followed Lauren as we weaved in and out of crowds towards the arena area. Before finding our seats, I decide I wanted to find Tucker. I had wished him luck earlier with a big kiss in front Aaron, which I’m pretty sure would have gotten back to Kaleb by now. I smiled. Serves the asshole right. As I made my way through the tents, I spied Tucker talking to a group of women. My heart started to drop into my stomach when he caught my eye. His eyes shined and a wide grin spread across his face. He nodded to the ladies and left the small circle of them and strolled towards me.

“Yum. You brought me my favorite.” He said kissing me sweetly on the lips. “Powdered sugar kiss.” He remarked before pulling a piece of funnel cake off the plate.

“Mine too.” I watched him stuff another large piece into his mouth. “You are going to make yourself sick.”

“Nah.” He shook his head. He turned around as someone hollered out his name. I looked past him to see a tall leggy blonde with her boobs half hanging out of her top walk over to him. She gave me a once over before she asked for an autograph. I bit my tongue because my daddy taught me better than to say something hateful.

“Well Tuck. I am going to find my seat.” I said as he finished signing her shirt. I smiled politely before reaching up to kiss him on the cheek. “See you after.” The snarly bitch looked at me as if I had intruded on her ‘time’. I didn’t care. I didn’t look back even after I heard her mumble under her breath. I heard Tucker say something, but I wasn’t sure what it was. I made my point; I no longer needed to stay. Every woman here tonight would know Tucker Jaxson was taken, even if it was just for few nights.