Always A Bridesmaid: A Whiskey Ridge Romance Read online

  “So how about we throw caution to the wind, play our roles really good in public and just have fun for the next two and a half weeks?”

  “And then?”

  “Then we go our separate ways, maybe text once in a while, and you buy me dinner if I ever get lost and end up in the godforsaken city.”

  “Deal.”

  “So let me get this straight. You and this handsome vet are going to keep pretending you’re engaged until you leave in a couple of weeks?” Eileen asked during their daily phone call.

  Samantha sighed. “Yeah.”

  “Was that a sign of irritation or of pleasure?”

  “Maybe a little of both…”

  “Boss, you seem different.”

  “How so?”

  “Well, for one thing, we’ve been on the phone for ten minutes and you haven’t asked me one work related question. But you have recounted every moment spent with Tucker since the last time we spoke.”

  She wanted to argue, but she couldn’t because that was totally true. In fact, she hadn’t thought a bit about work all day. Instead, she’d spent the day walking around the square in Whiskey Ridge with Tucker. They’d shared an ice cream, eaten sandwiches by the riverwalk and even had one of those old time pictures taken that looked like they were in the 1860’s.

  “Can I ask you one glaring question, Boss?”

  “What’s that?”

  “Correct me if I’m wrong, but won’t Clark know that this whole thing was a lie when you go back to Atlanta and leave Tucker in the dust?”

  Samantha didn’t like to think about that part of it. She was keenly aware that was a big problem in this whole setup, but neither she nor Tucker would address it. They just wanted to have fun together, but the thought of going home and letting Clark realize he was right all along made her stomach churn.

  “I don’t know yet. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”

  “Sweetie, that bridge is already on fire, and there isn’t enough water in all of Georgia to put it out.”

  “Your metaphors never make any sense. You know that, right?” Samantha asked with a laugh.

  “Whatever. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  “Wait! What about the file updates?”

  “Sam, enjoy your time. Fake fiancés don’t come along every day. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “How’s your steak?” Tucker asked as they sat at the kitchen table. Samantha seemed distracted tonight, which wasn’t like her. Lately, she’d been fun and spontaneous, but she didn’t act like that tonight.

  “It’s good. Cooked perfectly.” She smiled appreciatively and took another bite.

  “Are you okay?”

  She sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I’m fine. Just a lot on my mind.”

  “Such as?”

  “It’s nothing, really.”

  “Sam…”

  “Fine. I spoke to my assistant yesterday, and it got me thinking.”

  “About a case?”

  “No. About this whole situation. I think I should just come clean to Clark and get it over with.”

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “No.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Well, first of all, this whole lie has been so juvenile. I shouldn’t care what he thinks of me. His opinion about my life doesn’t matter.”

  “True.”

  “And second, there’s no good way out of this mess. When I leave to go back to Atlanta and you’re still here, he’s going to know.”

  “Not necessarily. We can say you went home to wrap up some cases.”

  “And then what, Tucker? Then we actually plan a fake wedding and have a fake ceremony and a couple of fake kids? We can buy some of those realistic looking baby dolls and push them around town in expensive strollers.”

  Tucker smiled. “Okay, but can we have three fake kids? I’ve always wanted three.”

  “Very funny.”

  “Why is this all dawning on you now, Sam?”

  “I told you. Because my assistant brought it up.”

  “And because you saw Clark the other day?”

  “That man just grates on my last nerve,” she said as she stood up to refill her glass of wine.

  “Hey, you’re the one who dated him.”

  Sam looked at Tucker, who was shrugging his shoulders like a little kid. “I know, right? What was I thinking.” She slid back into her chair and put her head in her hands. “Ugh.”

  “How about we don’t think that far ahead? Maybe Clark will leave on some unexpected business trip before you have to leave. Or maybe he turns up missing…”

  “Tucker!”

  “I’m just playing pretend…”

  “You’re a goofball. But this isn’t funny,” she whined as she pressed her forehead to the table.

  Tucker reached across and rubbed her shoulder. “Look, was this a dumb plan from the beginning? Yes. Has it been fun to aggravate your ex? Yes.”

  Samantha sat up and cocked her head. “And what does any of that have to do with this?”

  “Nothing. But, I’m a smart guy. I went to college for a long time.”

  “And I didn’t?”

  “Right. Anyway, we can figure this out together.”

  They stared at each other for a moment. Samantha loved looking at him, but she’d never tell him that. He had those rugged, chiseled features that women read about in romance novels. His hair was thick yet wispy in spots. And she loved how, after dinner, he literally got a five o’clock shadow that she wanted to run her fingers across…

  “I’ve got it!”

  “What?” she asked, leaning across the table.

  “Old Mister Downs is selling his legal practice. You can say that you’re in negotiations with him to take it over. That way, it makes sense that you have to go back to Atlanta, but you have ties up here. Then, the whole thing falls apart and you end up stuck in the city until you can open your own practice up here.”

  “Who’s old Mister Downs?”

  “Oh, he’s this ancient man who did my real estate closing. He’s like a hundred and fifty years old and has hair growing out of his earlobes…”

  “Stop!” Sam said, putting up her hand. “Or my steak might land right back on this plate.”

  “Yuck. Let’s not do that. I watch dog’s throw up all the time, but people? No thank you.”

  “Can you please focus?” Sam asked with a giggle.

  “Sorry. I think I had too much of that wine. Is that city wine? I’m used to moonshine up in these parts.”

  “You are not!” Sam laughed so hard that she almost spilled her own glass of wine.

  “Maybe we need to work off this giddiness.”

  “And how shall we do that?”

  “Well, we shall dance, Miss Ryan,” he said, standing up and pulling her hand.

  “Tucker, there’s no music.”

  “We can fix that,” he said, removing his phone from his pocket. Within seconds, he was playing what seemed to be a station of love songs. Sam felt like a nervous schoolgirl about to go on her first date.

  “Are you sure we should do this?” she asked softly as he pulled her closer and danced her over to the window overlooking the river.

  “Dancing? It’s so scandalous,” he whispered against her ear.

  “Tucker, I thought we agreed…” she was quickly losing her ability to think critically. A mixture of attraction and wine had taken over her brain.

  “Relax, Sam. Just be here with me right now. After all, I’m your pretend fiancé.”

  She smiled as she looked up at him. “Fine.”

  He twirled her around and they swayed back and forth to the music. At first, it was funny and then the movements got slower. And then she realized he was holding her that way again. The way that made her want to curl up in a ball like a kitten.

  Being with Tucker just felt right, but the logic made no sense. She couldn’t just uproot her life to drool over a man she’d only just met. But sometimes
it felt like she’d known him forever. And every time he held her, it felt like she needed him more than her next breath.

  Maybe it was just puppy love, the kind you have in middle school when the cutest boy in the class smiles at you across the room. But this felt like way more than that.

  As they moved to the music, she realized how well their bodies fit together. She was considered on the taller side for a woman, but he still towered above her, allowing her to perfectly nuzzle her face just under his chin.

  Maybe it was the wine, but she felt like she was melting into him. Like if she danced much longer against his body, she might just disappear altogether. Still, she danced.

  “You know this is all going to be okay, right?” Tucker said, his lips partially pressed against the top of her head.

  “I guess so.”

  He tilted her chin up and met her eyes. “Look, Sam, I know we aren’t really engaged and this is all an act. But I care about you more than you know. I’m not going to let Clark get the better of you.”

  She smiled. “Thanks, Tucker. But you don’t have to protect me.”

  “I want to protect you,” he said softly. He leaned closer, but only kissed her forehead. She felt the absence of his lips on hers, but she understood. The more they gave in and kissed, the harder her leaving was going to be.

  “Can we just keep dancing?” she asked softly. Without missing a beat, Tucker pulled her closer and she melted into him once more, allowing herself the illusion that she was living the life she really dreamed of.

  Chapter 12

  “So, how’s Paris?” Samantha asked her sister. It had taken awhile to finally get a phone call from the new bride, a sign that the honeymoon was going well.

  “Magical. Seriously.”

  “I bet.”

  “And how’s Whiskey Ridge?” Katie asked with a giggle.

  “The same. Magical,” Sam responded, laughing. Although she really did feel like it was a pretty magical place lately.

  Spending all of her time with Tucker, at least when he wasn’t working, had become her new norm. She knew she was playing fast and loose with her heart at this point. There was no doubt that she had some strong feelings, and for some reason she’d just given up on trying to deny them. She was just enjoying the time they had together right now. Living in the moment had never been her strong suit.

  “And how’s Tucker and the whole fake engagement thing? Has anyone found out?”

  Samantha sighed. “Clark didn’t buy it at first…”

  “Clark? What’s he still doing there?”

  “Oh, that’s the lovely part. He’s staying here indefinitely. So he’s been watching us like a hawk and questioning my every move.”

  “What does Tucker think about all of this?”

  Sam smiled to herself. “He’s very protective, actually. He purposely calls Clark by the name Craig just to rile him up. And he passionately kisses me any time we see Clark coming. It’s hysterical.”

  Katie was silent. “Wait. What? He kisses you?”

  Sam swallowed hard and realized what she’d just said. “Well, yes. I mean, we’re supposed to be engaged.”

  “Sam, it’s me you’re talking to. You said he’s protective? What does that mean?”

  “I mean he doesn’t want Clark to get the upper hand with me.”

  “Sam, do you have feelings for Tucker?”

  “What do you mean?” She was trying to deflect, a tactic she often broke apart when witnesses tried to use it in the courtroom.

  “You know what I mean. Are you in love with Tucker?”

  Sam paused and thought for a moment. Was she in love? All she knew was that she’d never felt quite like this before, but that was probably just lust, right? Not love.

  “Sam? Are you still there?”

  “Yeah. I’m here,” she said softly.

  “You love him?”

  “I don’t know.” There, she’d said it out loud now. No taking it back.

  “Does he love you too?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You haven’t told him?”

  “No. And I’m not going to.”

  “What? Why not?”

  “Because it’s ridiculous. First of all, I just met him! Two people cannot fall in love that quickly.”

  “Um, that is totally untrue. When I first met Rick, it was like a lightning bolt for both of us. By the third week, he started talking about marriage. When you know, you just know.”

  “We can’t be together, Katie. You know that.”

  “No. What I know is that you’re choosing not to allow yourself to experience real love, Sam.”

  “So what am I supposed to do? Pick up my whole life for a man I just met, move to a town that has one traffic light and start all over, leaving my successful career in the dust?”

  Katie sighed. “No, sis. You choose whether you want to pick up your life for you. Not for some guy. For you. What do you really want? The fast paced, non-stop city life of a busy attorney or the possibility of happily ever after?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Well, it sounds like you have a decision to make.”

  “I don’t even know how he feels about me, Katie.”

  “I think you do.”

  Tucker reeled the line back in and sighed. “Okay, let’s try this again. And this time, try not to throw it directly into the tree.”

  Sam giggled. “Maybe I was trying to catch a bird?”

  “If you want a bird, I can buy a pack of chicken from the grocery store. But if you want fresh fish with my super secret rosemary marinade, we’ve got to pull some big ones out of this river today.”

  They stood on the shore of one of his friend’s properties and cast their lines back in.

  “I talked to Katie yesterday.”

  “Oh yeah? How’s the honeymoon going so far?”

  “Great. I wouldn’t be surprised if I was back up here in about nine months waiting for my niece or nephew to be born.”

  Tucker smiled. “You think they’re going right for the family thing?”

  “Oh yes. Katie has always wanted a litter of kids.”

  Tucker leaned over and whispered, “I don’t think you’re supposed to call them a litter.”

  “Okay, a passel? A gaggle?”

  “So, do you want kids?”

  The question smacked her in the face. “What?”

  “You heard me, Sam. It’s incredibly quiet out here.”

  “I never really thought about it.”

  “Liar.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Every woman, and a lot of men, thinks about the question of having children.”

  “Fine. I have thought about it.”

  “And?”

  “I guess I can admit that yes, I’d like to have a kid or two.”

  “Why is that so hard to admit?” he asked as he reeled in another empty line and then tossed it back into the water.

  “I don’t know. I guess I’ve always been so focused on my career that admitting I wanted a family too seemed…”

  “Weak?”

  “Yes.”

  Tucker reeled his line in and turned toward her. “Wanting a family isn’t weak, Sam. It just means you realize you don’t have to do this life alone. It means that you want something bigger than what a paycheck can provide. Nothing wrong with that.” He turned and tossed his line again.

  “So, what about you? Still want kids?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Why are you so sure?”

  He smiled as he looked off into the distance. “Well, this for one thing.”

  “Fishing?”

  “Yeah. I can’t wait for the day I get to teach my son, or daughter, how to cast their line and reel in a big fish for dinner.” The grin on his face gave her shivers up her spine.

  “What if they’re no good at it?” she asked with a chuckle, throwing her line out yet again.

  “Well, I sure hope they’re better at it than their mother!” he
said laughing. Samantha froze in place.

  “What did you say?” She dropped her pole to her side, the line laying flat across the water.

  “I, uh… I mean, most women aren’t the best at fishing…. So…”

  “Tucker, were you referring to me?”

  He looked up at the sky as if he was asking for some kind of heavenly assistance or maybe an immediate transport out of the awkward situation.

  After a moment, he reeled his line in and put it on the ground before walking toward her. Sam had never been so nervous in her life, not even during her first court case.

  “Look, I spoke out of turn. I know you aren’t interested in me like that. And I know your life is in Atlanta, but…”

  “But?” she said. He took her pole from her and laid it on the ground, even though the line was still floating on the water.

  Tucker took her hands in his and looked at her. “I can’t play this game anymore.”

  “Game?”

  “I can pretend to be your fiance, Sam. But I can’t pretend I don’t wish it was true.”

  “What?” She was literally losing the ability to form words.

  “I know we just met. And I know this makes no sense whatsoever. But I can’t go on without telling you that I think I’m falling head over heels for you, Samantha Ryan.”

  “Tucker…”

  “And you don’t have to say you’re falling for me. I don’t expect that. I know you have obligations in Atlanta. I would never ask you to leave your life for my life up here. But I need you to know that I’m here. If you decide you want to pursue a future with me, I need you to know that I want that with every fiber of my being.”

  She stared at him, his words sinking in slower than they should have. What should she say? What did she want to say? What did she want in her life?

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  Tucker smiled, a sad expression on his face for a fleeting moment. “I think that says everything.” He released her hands and started to turn, and then Samantha did something she never expected to do. She grabbed his arm, turned him back around and kissed him like her life depended on it.

  When they finally broke apart for air, Tucker’s face was flushed and confused.

  “Wait. What did that mean?” he asked, a crooked grin playing on his face.