Tucker (The Family Simon 1)

“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 hell 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.