Her Ex's Dad

Tucker stood from his chair and went around to pluck me from my seat. “I could have and never found her. Not at those stuffy social gatherings or balls or whatever mansion parties there were. I found the woman I wanted inside a Peterbuilt, going 75 miles an hour down the interstate. And I’m proud to say she chose me over a cardboard box.” He gave me a slow grin.

I stared at him. Looking into those amazing eyes again. I wanted to believe this… all of it. But I had to tell him. I just didn’t know how. He needed to know that he’s my ex’s dad… “There is one thing…” My voice fell away.

He looked into my eyes. “One thing?”

I nodded. “And you better set me down for this one.”

Looking confused, he set me back down on the marbled floor.

I let out a long breath. “And you’d better sit down to hear this.”

He blinked his eyes and stepped to his chair then sat.

“I need to tell you about my ex.”

He tilted his head at me. “Why? Did you marry him or something?”

“NO!” I almost shouted. The fact that it never got that far was an immense relief. Not that it would’ve been valid, considering he’d used a fake name. I shivered at the thought.

He looked surprised at my reaction. “Then why does it matter?”

I bit at my lip. “J-just let me try to explain, okay?”

He stared at me and then nodded.

Oh, god, Oh god. I know I am about to blow the best thing that ever happened to me. But isn’t that what I do well? I squared my shoulders. “David and I were together for six months. He seemed so straight and narrow. Always telling me I lived on the edge too much.”

“The edge?” Tucker questioned.

I nodded. “Yeah, the edge of poverty.” I laughed but not with any humor.

He still looked puzzled.

“So he set me straight. I worked two jobs and he helped me to start a savings.”

Tucker nodded.

“Well, about 4 months ago…” I shook my head. “I came home and my apartment door was torn off and the Super told me…” I took a breath and blurted it out, “That the police came and arrested him. For embezzlement and other white collar crimes. Fraud…” I lowered my head.

Tucker stood up and grabbed my arms. “None of that matters to me, Macy.”

I raised my gaze to his. “It will.”

“I don’t see how.”

“David Long wasn’t his real name. I found out his real name yesterday.”

Blinking his eyes, he then stilled. “No.”

I swallowed heavily and nodded. “Yes. David Long is Scott Midland. He had taken all my savings and I think he intended to skip town when they arrested him.”

Tucker sucked in a breath and took a step back.

I wrung my hands. “I tried to tell you but you said you didn’t want to talk about him.” Tears filled my eyes.

“But how can this be?”

“I thought the same thing! Of all the people in the world. I mean… I just cannot believe it. I couldn’t believe it! But it’s true.”

“So you are my son’s ex-girlfriend?

I nodded and then sat back down. There. I destroyed any chance we had. But I have never lied to anyone in my life and I wasn’t about to start now.

Tucker sat in his chair with his hands over his face.

I waited. He will have me driven back to my apartment and my disastrous life. Of course, he would.

He raised his head and dropped his hands. “So you just happened to be the one to give me the message from the buyers?”

I shrugged. “See? I mean how could that happen?” I leaned forward. “But I swear, I didn’t know anything. I didn’t know any of it.”

He gazed into my eyes. “I believe you.”

I let out a breath of relief.

“But that doesn’t matter,” he stated quietly.

Well, there it was. I was with his son the criminal and now I’d been with him. I get it. I nodded and stood up. “Yeah, I know. I mean you can’t accept…” My throat swelled up. “…I understand. So umm… can you call what was his name? Parker?”

His brows furrowed. “My driver?”

I nodded. “Yes, so he can take me home.”

Tucker stepped closer while looking even more upset. “You want to go home?”

I sighed. “Well, I probably should. Like you said… the fact that I didn’t know, doesn’t matter now.”

“No it doesn’t matter, but I don’t think you get it.”

“I do get it! I can’t expect you to—”

Tucker grabbed me up and tugged me close. “Listen, it had to be fate. It brought you to me. I don’t care how.”

I gasped. My heart felt like it stopped. “What?”

“You were always meant to be mine, doll. I mean if someone had to choose a woman made just for me in every way? They would have created you! I even got spooked when this all first went down that the buyers chose you as a weapon to get to me. But no one is that good. Not when you have qualities, I never knew I would want in a woman. I’m not letting you go anywhere.”