Free Tucker (The Family Simon) by Juliana Stone Page B

moonlight bathing the tables and chairs in an eerie mist. Florida in October wasn’t exactly an oven, but it was cooler than normal and his breath made puffs as he exhaled.
    Where the hell was she?
    He glanced around, a frown on his face. The smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves soothed him as he caught sight of Abby near two large palm trees, down on the beach.
    Her silhouette looked ghostly—the breeze still carried her hair, and she made no effort to tame the long strands so they drifted around her head in a slow, sensual dance. He made his way across the patio, his leather Armani’s sinking into the sand as he headed toward her. Tucker stopped a few feet from Abby and shoved his hands into his front pockets.
    “It’s so nice out here,” she said without looking back at him. “Peaceful.”
    “Are you cold?”
    “No.”
    Tucker took another step and he was beside Abby. He stared out into the darkness, watching the white frothy waves as they crested and came toward them, falling apart when they met the beach.
    “But sad somehow you know?” she continued softly. “As if there’re secrets out there that we’ll never know.”
    An ache formed in Tucker’s gut as he continued to look out over the water.
    Or maybe secrets he wasn’t ever meant to know.
    “Your family is lovely.”
    Abby turned to him and that fresh scent of hers drifted in the air. It infiltrated his body and chased away his bad thoughts.
    God, she smelled nice.
    “I don’t know if lovely is the word I’d use to describe them, but they’re mine and I can’t complain.” He paused. “They really like you.”
    “Even Cooper?” she said with a sly smile.
    Tucker laughed. “Especially, Cooper.” He leaned down, so that his mouth was next to her ear. “And Rick and Beau and hell, you managed to make an impression on Jack, and he’s been so damn preoccupied lately that that’s gotta win you some kind of prize.”
    “Prize?” Her voice was husky now. “Do I get to pick my prize?”
    For a moment there was nothing but the sound of waves buffeting the beach and the whistle of wind in the palm leaves overhead. Things faded away, the rolling waves gentled and the wind softened. It was as if the those few seconds hung in the air—frozen in time—leaving him only with water and sand and Abby.
    And a deep, dangerous undercurrent of sexual awareness that he couldn’t shake off, no matter how hard he tried.
    “In that dress, you can pretty much ask for anything.”
    She moved slightly so that she was facing him, her eyes downcast, her chest rose and fell rapidly—as if she was having trouble breathing. And dammit if Tucker didn’t have the same problem. The air was too heavy, it was filled with dark and lustful things.
    “Anything?” she repeated.
    She glanced up suddenly, and Tucker was lost in the shiny depths of her eyes. Had they always been so…so large and expressive? He might have groaned when she licked her lips.
    “Kiss me,” she said suddenly.
    Tucker gave himself a mental smackdown and cleared his throat as he desperately tried to get his shit together. He wanted to kiss her—he wanted to kiss her badly—but should they go there?
    “Abby.”
    “Now, Tucker.” Her hands reached up slowly and he felt the cool touch of her fingers along each side of his face. “I want you to kiss me now.”
    Her breath was like a whisper on his skin, and he closed his eyes as she gently tugged his face toward hers.
    “I don’t think this is a good idea,” he said hoarsely, his control thin, his arms snaking around her waist as he brought her flush to his body. God, she felt as good as she looked.
    “I didn’t ask you what you thought, Tucker.” Her hands sank into his hair and her mouth slid across his, a gentle swipe that was merely a tease. “I just want my prize.”
    There was one second when he could have pushed her away. One second when he could have saved them both from heading down a path that would change