Bill jerked his attention to Jodi. “Hey, where are the other books? The ones with the purchases in them? You need to show them to Tuck also.”
“I will, Dad.”
“Well, go get them?”
“Now?”
“Yes. I think they’re downstairs in the office.”
Jodi sighed, but headed down the stairs anyway.
Bill rushed from the room, confusing Tuck once again. Two seconds later, he was back. He was also holding out a ring. A gorgeous solitaire with smaller diamonds surrounding it. It took Tuck’s breath away.
“This was Jodi’s mother’s. I kept it for her. She always loved it. I don’t think she even knows I still have it. I think she would want you to use it.” He set it in Tuck’s hand.
Tuck swallowed back emotion as he stared at the ring and then slid it into his front pocket. “Thank you, sir. I’m sure you’re right. It will mean a lot to her.”
Bill smiled, beyond pleased with himself. “Good. Then it’s settled. You’ll stay here, and I’ll go visit my brother for a while.”
“I know what you’re doing, Bill. Giving us space. And I appreciate it, but this is your home. I’ll find an apartment as soon as possible. I promise.”
Bill waved a dismissive hand through the air. “Take your time. It’ll be crowded around here for a while, but we’ll manage.”
Tuck nodded. There was no chance he was going to sleep with Jodi in the room next to Bill, but he didn’t say that. Maybe in the future, after they were married, after they got to a point when they didn’t need to have sex more than once every night. Maybe then. But not now. He’d find another apartment this week if it killed him.
Jodi returned, heaving a huge book. She dropped it down on the table. “I don’t know why you’re still trying to make Tuck feel needed. He’s not going anywhere.”
“Well, he should still see the books. Know what we do and how things run. Make changes if he sees a need.” Bill patted the back of the chair and then headed to his suitcase. He closed it, zipped it, and lifted it off the coffee table. “I think that’s everything. I have one of those Uber things coming to get me.”
Jodi giggled. “Dad… Lord.”
“What? I’m hip.”
“So very hip. Yes.” She hugged him tight. “I love you.”
“I love you too, honey.”
Later that night, Jodi stepped into her bedroom and hesitated, leaning on the door frame. She hadn’t stopped smiling for so many days her face hurt. Tuck was sitting on her bed, leaning against the headboard, typing on his laptop. He lifted his gaze and shot her a smile. “Give me just another minute. I’m almost done here.”
“Take your time. The view is amazing.” He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and watching him work in her bed with his bare chest and bulging muscles was like a dream.
She didn’t move until he finally shut the laptop and set it on the bedside table. “I wasn’t sure what side you wanted,” he stated, pointing at the mattress.
He’s in my bed. God, I love it. “The middle,” she teased.
“Well, then I’ll hold on to the edge. Which edge would you like me to have? The right or the left?” His smile warmed every inch of her body.
“Did you finalize the plans for your mother’s ashes?”
“Yes. We need to pick them up. I arranged a burial spot. We can have a little ceremony one day soon.”
“You’re sure you don’t want to do something bigger? Have people come? A visitation at the funeral home?” She was worried about his closure.
“Nope. It’s not what she wanted. She told me years ago she didn’t want people fussing over her after she died. It’s the only thing she ever mentioned, so I’ll heed her wishes. I’m good with it. I feel at peace.”
She nodded. “Okay.” He looked sincere. She just didn’t want him constantly worrying about the money. They could afford a ceremony if he preferred. He seemed done with it though.
He scanned her up and down. “You make me hard every time you put on my T-shirts, by the way. I don’t know why, but that’s so much sexier than thin pieces of lacey lingerie.”
She giggled as she approached and climbed up the center of the foot of the bed to crawl to him. When she reached him, she straddled his lap and set her hands on his shoulders. “Because it’s yours and it’s personal. I get aroused when I put your shirts on too. They smell like you. And they’re soft. I picture you wearing them, your muscles bulging out the sides.”
He slid his hands under the cotton material to run them up her body, skimming the edges of her breasts. Every time he did that, her breath hitched.
“You’re probably desensitized from watching all those bridesmaids strut around the set in almost nothing.”
“That was only two weeks three months ago. And I’m not desensitized when it’s you wearing them. The last two hundred negligees I saw did nothing for me. It’s all about the woman underneath.” He kissed her gently, making her squirm on his lap.
His erection was hard against her sex. She wanted him even though they’d had sex an hour ago and two other times since her dad left the apartment. It was Sunday night, the only night of the week they would be able to casually sit around relaxing and having sex like this. Starting tomorrow, the two of them had responsibilities. They would drop into bed exhausted at two in the morning most nights.
She was okay with that. Morning sex was good too.
“What are you thinking?” Tuck asked, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear.
“I was just picturing us sliding into a normal routine, wondering what it might look like.”
“It’s going to look like you naked under me all morning every day while I feed you breakfast and lunch in bed before
