Chapter Twenty-nine
“Did you cancel the rest of my appointments?”
Tucker popped his head into his assistant’s office on his way back to his own. He’d just come out of a breakfast meeting and was itching to get the hell out of there. It was the last Friday in March, and he had places to go and one woman to see.
“I did. And I’ve transferred your ticket information to your phone.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Also, you’ve got company.”
He glanced at his office door and tried not to groan. “Who is it?”
“It’s uh…” Watching his assistant stumble over her words and blush like a freaking school girl told Tucker one thing. His visitor was a Simon.
“Which one?” he asked, trying not to laugh. She was one hundred percent professional with any of the high profile athletes who walked into the office. But when a Simon popped by? She was all kinds of flustered.
She cleared her throat. “It’s um, Beau and,” her blush intensified. “Jack.”
Ah. So her Simon crush was Jack. Interesting.
“Thanks. Why don’t you knock off early, and remember I won’t be in until Wednesday next week, so anything that’s pressing is gonna have to wait.”
Beau and Jack stood in front of his office window, gazing down at the busy streets below. They were talking, but the voices were so low Tucker couldn’t hear a thing. Both of them were dressed casual, though Beau was tanned, just back from a vacation in the Bahamas with Betty Jo.
“Nice surprise boys. I wasn’t expecting to see you.”
Both men turned around, and it was obvious that they hadn’t heard him come in.
“What’s up? You got a premiere or something I forgot about?” he asked Beau. His mind was turning, already chugging ahead.
He had plans. And as much as he loved his family, appreciated a visit from his brothers, Tucker wanted the hell out of the city.
“Nope,” Beau replied. “I flew in because I’ve got something to ask you and Jack here,” he poked their older brother. “Well, he’s got his own shit storm to deal with and was looking to get away.”
That got Tucker’s interest. “Shit 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 crap with his shirt unbuttoned, tie undone and accompanied by none other than Donovan James.”
No. Shit.
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 hell 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. God, Jack had done his damnedest 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 hello.”
“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 hell 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.