“Yep. What’s there to say really? I get it. We don’t need to hash out the particulars. It’ll all be over when you get here. Done. I’d much rather spend our time together naked.”
His cock stiffened. “What about lunch?” he teased.
“I’ll eat a late breakfast. Who needs food?”
“Don’t you want me to get a reservation at a nice restaurant? It’s our first date. Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to sleep with a man on the first date?” He loved this banter so much. He hoped they could keep it up for a lifetime because even though he didn’t want to scare the hell out of her by telling her that’s how long he intended to be with her, he knew. He’d known for weeks. Perhaps since the day she first walked into the room, cocked her hip out, and read him the riot act for being such a jackass reality television star. That seemed like a lifetime ago.
She giggled, a sound that also went to his cock. “I’ll take my chances. I have a good feeling about this guy. I think it’ll be okay if I sleep with him on the first date. I’m pretty sure he won’t think I’m some sort of floozy afterward.”
He smiled. “You sound like your dad.”
She shrugged. “I’ve spent a lot of time with my dad.”
Tuck slid his fingers into her hair and held her gaze again. “He’s a great man, and he has an amazing daughter.”
She flushed. “Thank you.”
“You really don’t want lunch?” He felt kind of stupid assuming she would sleep with him the moment he arrived.
She rolled her eyes. “No, stupid. No lunch. Come straight here. I’ll be waiting.”
He would have to get a hotel room starting Sunday night anyway. He would pick her up and take her there if that’s what she wanted. He sure wasn’t going to complain about getting her naked first chance he got. I love you, he thought as he continued to stare at her, memorizing her as if it would be months until he saw her again instead of thirty hours. “I have to go,” he whispered.
“I know.” She held him tighter, planting her face against his chest. “Hurry up and come back.”
“I’ll be here as fast as I can.” He kissed the top of her head and then let her go and hurried out the front door without looking back. If he’d stayed even one more minute, he was afraid he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself from saying fuck it and plastering her against the wall, letting his hands wander all over her sexy body before stripping her naked and tasting every inch of her for the first time. No one would ever have to know.
Except he would know.
And he was technically married.
Until Monday.
Then all bets were off.
His cock was hard as he slid into his car, and he set his forehead against the steering wheel to catch his breath. God. Jodi. Jodi Jodi Jodi. His life was in that bar, probably climbing up the stairs by now to take off those sexy jeans and climb into bed. If he had his way, tonight and tomorrow night would be the last nights she spent alone.
Chapter 18
“Where the hell have you been?” Katia was furious, of course. She started stomping around the apartment the moment he stepped inside.
Tuck wasn’t surprised. It would have been cool if she’d been in bed sleeping and never realized he’d been late, but there had been little to no chance of that happening. Katia was a night owl who immensely enjoyed tormenting Tuck the moment he arrived.
“There was an incident at the bar. I had to wait for the cops and give a statement.”
She glared at him. “You expect me to believe you?”
He shrugged, trying to act nonchalant while inside he felt anything but calm. “I could get the police report if you want.” If she wanted to needle him, he would pretend he didn’t give two shits.
Katia pouted as she changed her demeanor and approached him like a cat in heat. “Did you really have to call the cops?” Her voice was sultry now. She gave him whiplash.
“Yes.”
She set her hands on his chest above his crossed arms. “Was there a fight or something?”
“Or something,” he responded. There was no chance in hell he was going to give her and the entire world the details of his night.
“Did you stay and comfort that waitress? I bet she was scared if there was a bar fight?” She smoothed her hands up to his neck and lifted up on her tiptoes to kiss his lips.
He didn’t return the kiss. In fact, he was fed up with the charade. He grabbed her wrists and pried her off him. “There is no waitress, Katia. Stop it.” He wasn’t lying. Jodi was no waitress. Not that he cared. He wouldn’t give a single shit what Jodi did for a living. She was twice the woman Katia would ever be. The point was that since Katia kept referring to Jodi as a waitress every time she mentioned his job, he assumed her spies had nothing. Who did they think he was screwing around with? Roxie? Jacob? Liz?
It didn’t matter. Getting through this exchange in the living room so he could sequester himself in the bathroom for a while was all that mattered. This would be the last night he had to spend with Katia. Tomorrow night on the show, he would break things off with her. Monday, he would file for divorce. The moment he walked out of that courthouse, he would breathe free for the first time in over three months. Still technically married, of course, but at least after he filed, a huge weight would lift off his shoulders.
“Tucker,” Katia whined, “you never want to spend time with me.” Her bottom lip stuck out. Her annoying voice continued. “What am I supposed to think when
