Mama Didn't Raise No Fool (I Ain't Your Mama Collaboration) Page 5

  “Is your mom like you?” he asked.

  “Uh, yes. But much more polished.”

  He looked over at me. “You seem pretty perfect to me, polished or not.”

  My cheeks heated at his compliment. “So, anyway, there was only one chapter of girl scouts and the leader's daughter was a real bitch. She thought since her mom was the leader she could do whatever she wanted and no one could tell her different.”

  “Name?” he asked.

  “LeAnne. Her mother was Sue. Sue I could actually stand, it was her daughter I hated. We had a sleepover or campout once a month. I only went to two of them. The first one went off without a hitch. It was the second one where I met my timely demise from the girl scouts.”

  I looked over at Tucker and he was watching me intently. “I’m trying to guess what you are going to say, but I have a feeling I don’t have a clue what actually happened.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “You wouldn't guess this in a million years.”

  He motioned his fork in a circle. “Then get on with it, babe.”

  I sliced opened my potato and spooned in a bit of butter. “It was Saturday morning and I was waiting for my mom to pick me up. LeAnne had been annoying the whole time, but I just kept my distance from her. My best friend at the time and I were laying on the floor watching cartoons. LeAnne jumped on my back and started acting like she was riding a horse.”

  Tucker’s jaw dropped and his fork froze midair.

  “I tried to get her off, but she was stuck to me like damn glue. My friend tried to help, but it just seemed to piss LeAnne off more, and before I knew it LeAnne managed to bash my head into the floor. I swept my tongue across my front teeth and felt a huge gaping hole.”

  “She knocked your teeth out?”

  I nodded my head. “One tooth was chipped and the other one was completely gone.” I hung my head and fought back the urge to laugh. It was a ridiculous story when I told it out loud. “I managed to get her off my back and I wildly swung at her and my fist connected with her nose. Blood went everywhere and my mom and Sue walked into me holding my mouth and LeAnne gushing blood everywhere.”

  “And they kicked you out? To me it sounds like you were just defending yourself.”

  “That’s exactly what I was doing, but the fact that LeAnne’s mom was the troop leader did not help me. After I got my teeth fixed I was politely asked to not come back.”

  “And LeAnne got to stay?” he guessed.

  “She did, but she also had to have seven surgeries to get her nose fixed correctly,” I replied smugly.

  “Damn, babe. You messed her up that bad?”

  “She knocked out my front teeth, Tucker. What was I supposed to do?” Thank god they were still my baby teeth or I really would have messed up LeAnne.

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I wish I could have been there to see that.”

  “I’m sure my mother has pictures of me toothless and maybe even some of me in my uniform. Like I said, it was my mother’s dream for me to become a model girl scout.”

  “And you crushed her dreams with one right hook.”

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Yup, that is exactly what I did. My mom was delusional for thinking one second that I was girl scout material. My knees were always stained with mud and grass and I had frogs in my pockets more than I had money. I was a total tomboy.”

  “I can totally see that.”

  I glanced over at him. “I’m thinking that is a compliment but I’m really not too sure.”

  “More of an observation. I can tell you’re not much of girly girl.”

  He was right, though if it came down to it I could totally pull out my inner chick and rock the hell out of high heels and makeup. I just needed a good enough reason to do it. “True to a point.”

  He cut off a bite of his steak and chewed thoughtfully. “So now you got me wondering just what that means.”

  I sipped my wine and tapped my fingers on the glass. I could take this one of two ways. Blow it off and talk about something else, or possibly throw down the idea of getting dolled up for him. Tucker was a jerk when I first met him, but he was proving to me since then that he really wasn’t that way. “It means if I have something or someone to dress up for, I have no problem doing it.”

  “Is that so?” he hummed softly.

  I nodded my head and decided the ball was now in his court. I had no idea if he would pick it up or drop it.

  “So, if I asked you to go out with me Friday night, you’d get all dolled up for me?”

  “Depends on where you’re taking me.”

  “The Peak.”

  Whoa. That was definitely an occasion to get dressed up for. “So are you just hypothetically speaking or was that you actually asking me out?”

  “Is that you maybe saying yes?”

  I laughed and shook my head. “Ask me again and find out.”

  Tucker turned on his chair to face me. He grabbed my hand and tugged me to face him. “I know we started off on the wrong foot, Nova, but there is something about you that keeps me coming back for more. Something that makes me want to get to know the woman behind the threats of calling the police and sass.”

  “One time I threatened to call the police. You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Though I did have good reason to threaten it.

  “Come out to eat with me Friday and I’ll consider forgetting it.”

  I bite my bottom lip and looked down at his hand that was resting on my arm. “I suppose everyone needs at least a second chance, right?”

  “It’s only the polite thing to do,” he agreed.

  “And… I have been wondering what you would look like in something besides jeans and t-shirt.”

  “So you’ve been thinking about me?” he asked coyly.

  I rolled my eyes. It was more like I had been thinking about what he would look like with no clothes on, but I wasn’t about to go there. At least not yet. “Back to the date, Tucker.”

  “You already agreed to it. You have about twenty-four hours to wow me with your girliness.”

  I laughed and shook my head. “I don’t wow you now?” I was wearing my standard black leggings and t-shirt. What I wore whenever I was working... or well, doing anything. It was always either leggings or jeans.

  “Trust me, babe. You definitely wow me. If you didn’t I wouldn’t be here right now.”

  My eyes fell to my plate and I tried to tamper down the butterflies in my stomach. “That’s good to know,” I said softly.

  Tucker chuckled. “Things went from fun and playful to serious real quick there.”

  “It did, but I think… I think it’s good that it did. I mean, I really had no idea what the hell was going on here before you said that.”

  “And that is one of the things I like about you, Nova. You just say it when most people wouldn’t.”

  “Really?” I chuckled. “That is the one thing that drives my mother absolutely insane.”

  “Well, maybe with somethings it might be the best to keep inside,” he agreed.

  “Like the time I told my teacher in front of the whole freshman class that his breath stunk and I had some gum in my bag if he wanted it?”

  Tucker busted out laughing and I sat back to enjoy the low rumble and the joy in his eyes. Now that was a show.

  “You didn’t really do that, did you?”

  I shook my head. “Uh, um. What was the question?”

  His face sobered and he leaned over to place his hand on my arm. “Not paying attention?”

  Oh, I was. I was paying attention to every move he made and the low timber of his voice. I just didn’t know what he said. “I’m always paying attention. I just got distracted by…”

  A smug grin spread across his lips and he moved closer.

  Well, that was not going to help me pay closer attention to what he was saying. The closer Tucker got to me the more my brain focused on his beard and green eyes. “Is your beard as soft as it looks?” />
  “Are your lips as kissable as they look?” he countered.

  I blinked and shook my head slightly. “Did we really both just say that out loud?”

  “I was just following your lead, babe.”

  I leaned in toward him and it felt like I was falling down the rabbit hole. “This is quite the turn from a week ago.”

  “Babe, you met the hungry and tired Tucker last weekend. He really is an asshole.”

  “So that means I should keep you fed and make sure you get to bed early?”

  “Was that an invitation?”

  My mouth went dry and my jaw dropped. My brain short circuited and I couldn’t get a single word out.

  “Speechless?” Tucker leaned in and brushed my hair back from my face. “I’m gonna find out about those lips sooner than later,” he whispered. “Not tonight though.” His thumb brushed against my lips and I watched his eyes turn molten.

  His thumb brushed back and forth a few times and then he leaned out of my space. He turned back to his dinner as if he wasn’t affected at all by being that close to me.

  We made small talk about any and everything until I finally got my wits about me. After we finished eating, Tucker helped me clear the dishes and I remembered I had dessert in the freezer.

  “You like ice cream?”

  Tucker tossed the dish towel on the counter. “Does a drunk like beer?”

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” I laughed. I opened the freezer and reached in to grab the best dessert known to man. I grabbed two out of the box and managed to hide them behind my back. “Are you ready for the best thing you will ever put in your mouth?”

  “I can tell you right now the best thing I have ever had on my mouth is not behind your back right now.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Well, yeah.” Now I wasn’t sure I wanted to share my favorite dessert with him.

  “Show me what you got, Nova.”

  I quirked my eyebrows at him. “Are we talking about the same thing right now?”

  He moved closer and rested his hand on my hip.

  Touching me was not good for my senses. “Touching me isn’t fair. I can’t think when you do that.”

  “I really am going to like the fact you can’t seem to keep your thoughts to yourself,” he said lowly. “Show me what treat you have for me.”

  “If you keep talking like that it’s going to melt in my hand and neither of us are going to get it.”

  He reached around me and wrapped his fingers around my wrist. He pulled my arm from behind my back and we both looked down to see the two chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches.

  “They’re my favorite,” I said softly.

  “And you wanted to share your favorite with me.”

  I nodded my head and looked up. My eyes connected with his and he busted out laughing.

  “Stop it,” I whined. I couldn’t help but laugh too. “That was such a romantic moment and then you ruined it.”

  “You ruined it by hiding ice cream sandwiches behind your back,” he wheezed.

  I smacked him on the shoulder and pulled away from him. “You should feel lucky as hell that I’m sharing these with you. Normally you’d have to pry these out of my cold, dead hand.”

  He grabbed one and ripped it open with his teeth. “Then I feel completely honored, babe.” He took a bite and smiled. “You think beer would go with this?”

  I rolled my eyes and turned to flip the lights off. “You do have a bit of a frat boy left in you.”

  He wandered into the living room and plopped down on the couch. “I just like beer, babe.”

  I grabbed two beers from the fridge and set them down in front of him. “Well, seeing as you only have a thirty foot walk from my door to yours, you’re welcome to indulge.”

  “We watching one of those documentaries you mentioned last night?”

  I grabbed the remote off the coffee table and sat next to him. “No. I was testing you last night.”

  “Did I pass?”

  I glanced over at him. “Yes. I wanted to see if you would freak out at the thought of not having control of the remote.”

  “Passed with flying colors.” He took a bite off his cookie and winked at me. “Which means I should be able to have control of the remote tonight.”

  “That’s not how that works. That’s not how any of this works.” I pointed the remote at the TV and was surprised to see the fourth Transformers movie on. I set the remote on the side table next to me and ripped open my ice cream.

  “So this is it?” he asked.

  I licked the sides of my sandwich and looked over at him. “You’re not good with this?”

  He watched me lap up the melting ice cream and his eyes turned electric. “I’m going to need you to stop doing that right now, Nova, or we’re not going to watch any TV.”

  I licked my lips. “That doesn’t sound so bad.” Two could play the coy game. It's about time he was rendered speechless.

  He turned his head to look at the tv and chomped down on his ice cream. “Twenty four hours. Twenty four hours,” he repeated.

  “Twenty four hours?” I asked. I nibbled on my ice cream and tucked my legs under me.

  “Twenty four hours until you find out about my beard and I get to kiss your lips.”

  And that was totally unfair. I thought I had him on the run and then he comes back with that. I grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch and drape it over my shoulders. “You don’t play fair, Tucker.”

  “Playing fair isn’t any fun, babe.”

  *

  Chapter Eleven

  Tucker

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Brad held up a twelve pack of beer. “Dude, game tonight.”

  I tried to shut the door in his face. “Watch the game at your house.”

  He stuck his foot out and held the door open. “I’m married. When I’m here I can pretend for a couple of hours I don’t have responsibilities.”

  “Pretty sure you walked down the aisle to those responsibilities. Get lost, Brad. I’ve got a date.”

  “No problem. I’ll keep an eye on your house while you’re gone.”

  I rolled my eyes and planted on a hand on Brad’s chest. I pushed his out and managed to shut the front door behind me. “Don’t need a fucking house sitter, Brad. Go home to your wife.”

  “She’s pregnant, Tucker.”

  I jabbed my key in to the lock and turned back to Brad to see all of the blood had drained from his face.

  “She’s pregnant and I have no idea what the hell to do.”

  I ran my fingers through my hair and looked over at Nova’s house.

  I was supposed to be at her door in five minutes. “Your wife is pregnant and you came over here. Why?”

  “She doesn’t know I’m over here. She asked me to run out and get dinner.”

  “Then why in the hell are you here, Brad?”

  “Because she’s pregnant!”

  I put my hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye. “Pretty sure you’re supposed to be happy, not running away to your friend’s house.”

  “I have absolutely no idea what to do with a baby.”

  “You’re got nine months to figure it out, brother, and you have one hell of a wife who isn’t going to leave you hanging.”

  Brad hung his head. “I didn’t think we were going to get pregnant so soon.”

  “Were you having sex, Brad?”

  “Well, uh, yeah.”

  “Were you wearing a fucking condom?”

  His head snapped up. “We’re married!”

  “Then get off my porch and go be with your wife you knocked up because you didn’t wear a condom because you’re married.”

  “A lot of help you are. I figured you would be the one person who would get why the hell I’m freaking out a bit here.”

  I turned him to face the stairs and gave him a slight push. “I get that you’re freaking out here, but maybe you should go home to your wife because I’m s
ure she’s just as freaked out as you are.”

  He looked at me over his shoulder. “You think so?”

  “I’m assuming this is as much of a surprise to her as it is to you. Try to think about Grace too, Brad.”

  “I am, it’s just.” He hung his head again. “I just don’t know what the hell to do.” He walked down the steps and pulled his keys out of his pocket.

  “Kids are a huge change, but I’ve also heard they’re pretty fucking amazing. Try focusing on that. Grab dinner, and go home to your pregnant wife. You know the one you claim to love more than your right nut?”

  “I do love Grace. And I love both my nuts equally.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Never doubted it, brother. I was the best man at your wedding after all.”

  He ran his fingers through his shaggy blond hair. “I’m such an idiot. I never should have left the house.”

  I clapped him on the shoulder. “You’re an idiot, but you at least know you are. Now go home so I can go get my date.”

  Brad nodded his head and he walked to his car.

  I was halfway across my yard when Brad called my name.

  “Yeah?” I hollered.

  “Where the hell are you going?”

  I hitched my thumb over my shoulder toward Nova’s house. “Gotta a date.”

  “With your neighbor? The one who yelled at you and threatened to call the police?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. “I wouldn’t say she yelled at me and she wasn’t in the wrong wanting to call the police.”

  “You gotta be shitting me. Wait until I tell Grace about this.” Brad shook his head and ducked into his car.

  Yeah, it was hard to believe that five days ago Nova and I barely knew each other and now I was walking over to her place to take her to one of the most expensive restaurants in town, but I fucking liked it.

  I fucking liked her.

  I jogged onto her porch and knocked on the door.

  Then I waited a good five minutes before the door finally opened.

  *

  Chapter Twelve

  Nova

  I couldn’t breathe.

  I was going to pass out before we even ordered an appetizer.