The Family Simon: Tucker Part 28

That got Tucker's interest. "s.h.i.t storm, huh? What did you do? Walk across Monique's white carpet with muddy shoes? Accidentally drown that sorry excuse that she calls a dog?"

Jack scowled. "Watch it. That sorry excuse of a dog belongs to me."

Tucker glanced over at Beau, but Beau was trying real hard not to laugh.

"I don't get it," Tucker said. He had a feeling this was gonna be good.

"Monique and Jack are no longer a couple." That was Beau and now Jack's scowl was reaching epic proportions.

"Okay," Tucker replied. "But I still don't get it."

"Apparently our brother here," Beau poked Jack again.

"Watch it, pretty boy," Jack warned.

Beau chuckled. "Our Jack here was caught leaving a night club in Miami."

Huh. Tucker's eyes were on Jack. His oldest brother wasn't exactly the club type.

"And?" Tucker asked.

"At three in the morning," Beau continued, his grin nearly as big as Jack's scowl. "Looking like c.r.a.p with his shirt unb.u.t.toned, tie undone and accompanied by none other than Donovan James."

No. s.h.i.t.

Jack shoved his hands into his front pockets. "Don't ask," was all he said.

"I can't help it," Tucker laughed. "I gotta ask."

"Don't," Jack bit out.

"Where the h.e.l.l does the dog figure into all of this?"

Jack stared at him, mouth half open, and then he shrugged. "That is a long story."

"I bet," Tucker replied. "Look I'd be all over the family drama, but guys, I'm heading out of town with Abby."

"Blackheath?" Jack asked.

Tucker nodded. "It's time."

For a few moments, all three brothers were quiet and then Beau spoke quietly. "I'm glad for you, Tuck. She's a lucky girl."

Something shifted between the three of them. Some understanding that things in the past, things now finished, were finally gone and buried. These guys had seen Tucker through a lot. G.o.d, Jack had done his d.a.m.nedest to facilitate a quick recovery of the wreckage.

The media frenzy and subsequent mania had died down, but not until a painful goodbye. All three members of Marley's team, including Marley, had been found. No one knew why they were so far from where they were supposed to be. Was it pilot error? Mechanical error?

Those were questions that would remain unanswered.

Beau slapped him on the shoulders. "So, the reason I'm here." He cleared his throat. "I'm getting married, and I want you up there with me."

"Married."

Beau nodded. "Yep."

"To who?" Tucker asked with a chuckle.

"Funny," Beau replied.

Tucker embraced his brother. "I'm there. When's the big day?"

"I wanted to tie the knot when we were in the Bahamas, but she's insisting it be a family thing, and since she's got a film to shoot and I'm producing another after that, looks like it will be a winter wedding. We're hoping before the end of the year."

"Sounds good," Tucker said. "I'm really happy for you bro. I'd go and have a drink to celebrate but-"

"Yeah, we know. Tell Abby I said h.e.l.lo."

"Will do." He glanced over to Jack. "So, Donovan James?"

"It's nothing. The papers will make a big deal out of nothing."

Tucker didn't say anything, but he recognized the look in his brother's eyes. He had a feeling Jack's life was about to get a whole lot complicated.

But he wasn't going to worry about it right now. Right now, he needed to see his woman in the worst way possible.

Blackheath. What the h.e.l.l was she going to say to that?

Tucker said his goodbyes, told his brothers to let themselves out of his office and less than five minutes later, he was outside hailing a taxi.

Guess he was going to find out.

Chapter Thirty.

Old Joe leaned over the bar. "Your boyfriend is here."

Abby glanced up and watched the s.e.xiest man she knew walk into the bar. Just like that, her heart took off, and she just took the time to watch him. He strode through the bar with the confidence of a man who was in charge. A man who knew where he was going and what he wanted.

A man who was used to being in the public eye and didn't give a c.r.a.p. Which, was something Abby was still getting used to. Or at least trying to get used to. But America sure as h.e.l.l loved the Simons and there was always one of them in the news.

She thought back to the piece that had just run on the TV a few minutes ago, and she was relieved because it looked like, at least for the time being, it was going to be Jack's turn.

Tucker had changed and was in jeans and leather.

"That's a good look for you," she said, voice a little husky when he bent over the bar and kissed her.

A few wolf whistles erupted around them, but she didn't care and neither did Tucker. He kissed her for so long that her insides turned to mush, and if they weren't in the middle of The Black Dog, she would have had him naked and inside. That's how intense her need was for this man.

"Guys," Mick said roughly. "This is a public bar. Can you save that s.h.i.t for later?"

Tucker slowly let her go and nodded to her brother. "You have her stuff?"

Wait. What?

She glanced at her brother, but Mick was handing over a large bag. Her bag. Her travel bag.

"Where did you get that?"

"I dropped it off last night," Tucker said.

"Okay," Abby replied, not understanding.

"You have her shifts covered?"

"What's going on?" she asked. But Mick was edging her out.

"Here's your jacket," he said, giving her a quick kiss before turning back to Tucker. "I've got it covered."

"Good."

"No," Abby said. "This isn't good. I don't like surprises. What the h.e.l.l is going on?"

"Come on, Miss Mathews."

"Where are we going?"

"I guess you'll find out when we get there." Tucker nodded to Mick. "Thanks for everything."

"You just take care of my sister."

"I plan on it."

"Mick?" she asked, taking a step toward the door.

"Just go, Abigail. Be happy."

Something in the tone of his voice brought her up, and she slipped out of Tucker's grasp, running back to her brother and hugging him fiercely. "I love you," she whispered.

"Ditto."

She turned around, and Tucker grabbed her hand, leading her outside, her bag thrown over his shoulder.

It reminded her of another time. That first time she'd gone away with him. And she let the warmth of those memories wash over her. They kept her company all the way to the airport where she finally found out their destination.

Florida.

Tucker was being way too mysterious, but she loved this side of him and didn't press the matter even though she was dying to know what all the secrecy was about. Her first thought was that they were visiting his parents, but then she was pretty sure they were still in Europe.

At one point, she opened her mouth to ask a question, and he pressed his lips to hers, kissing her senseless.

"That's sneaky," she said, out of breath.

"I know."

"This is killing me."

He grinned. "I know that too." And then he held her hand until they landed in Miami where a car was waiting for them.

"Not much longer," Tucker said as they settled in the back. "We're headed toward the Keys."

"That's not a lot of information, Mr. Simon."

"I know."

She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, deciding to just go with it and enjoy the fact that they were together.

Abby must have dozed off because Tucker shook her, and she came awake with a start.

"Hey," he said in her ear, dropping a kiss on her nose. "We're here."

It was late afternoon and the sun was low in the sky. Abby stretched and glanced out the window, but all she saw were overgrown trees.

"Where are we?"

Tucker tugged on her hand and after instructing the driver to wait, he opened the car door and waited for her to join him.

Something was up. Something big. She could see it in his eyes.

"Abby," he said quietly.

Tucker bent down and kissed her so sweetly, his mouth so gentle and so giving, that like the emotional baby she'd been lately, tears immediately sprang to her eyes.

"Hey," he said pulling away. "Don't cry."

Something about the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes pulled at all sorts of stuff inside her.

"I can't help it. What's going on, Tucker?"

They were leaning against the car, and she had no idea what the driver was thinking, but at the moment, she didn't care. She could have been standing there buck naked with a basket of bananas on her head, and she wouldn't have cared.

Something important was about to happen. She could feel it.