Tucker was in a hell of a lot of pain and pissed off. More pissed off than he had ever been. He was groggy and hazy from the painkillers they were giving him and from the anesthetic used during surgery.
“I want out of this place,” he told River, who was standing at the foot of his bed. “I’m going to find that kid who shot me and I’m going to take great satisfaction in hauling his ass to jail.”
That had been bullshit. He should have known the guy was going to protect his meth lab with everything he had in him, and in his rifle cabinet. Tucker had gone in cautious, but when he had seen the guy’s wife and three small kids sitting around the kitchen table, he had hesitated for a split second. He hadn’t wanted to scare them or have them caught in any cross fire.
Then boom. He’d been shot in the leg and went down while the kids screamed and the wife swore at her husband, calling him a “stupid motherfucker” and yelling, “You can’t kill a cop!”
Tucker got pissed off just thinking about it. He would kill anyone with his bare hands who tried to harm Elle or scare her and yet this prick had risked his entire family to save his drug operation. “Help me get this IV out.” He wanted to go back to work.
“Slow down, badass. You’re not going anywhere. You’ll be lucky if you’re back at work in six months. Your leg is hamburger meat, buddy.”
Tucker frowned. “That’s ridiculous. I’ll be back in a month.” Then a terrible thought occurred to him. “I’ll never get that promotion now. And if I move to Vegas, who is going to want to hire me until I get medical clearance?”
“You were shot four hours ago. Let’s just focus on right now.”
Tucker remembered something really important. “Oh, shit, you didn’t call Elle, did you?” She would be upset. He didn’t want her upset.
“Of course I called her. You’re supposed to be flying to Vegas soon, so I’m sure she was wondering where you are.”
Now he really was pissed off. “Damn it.” He was supposed to be helping Elle pick out furniture and domestic crap and rent a new apartment. He also remembered that they had argued about his promotion and the idea of staying in Starkey after all. Tucker eyed his IV and tried to peel the tape back but he was having trouble focusing and his fingers seemed to be refusing to cooperate. He needed to talk to his wife.
“Stop that.” River pushed his hand off his arm. “I’m going to call the nurse if you don’t quit. Now try not to be a dick, because your parents are here and they want to see you.”
“Did Elle get on the plane?” She better have.
“No. She’s on her way here.”
He didn’t want that. He didn’t want her to see him like this. In a hospital gown, wires attached to him. Tucker shook his head but it made him dizzy. “No. She needs to go to Vegas.”
“Tucker. You’re not thinking straight. It’s the drugs.”
It wasn’t the drugs. He wanted this marriage to work long-term. He needed Elle to be completely comfortable with where they lived, and if that was Vegas, that’s where he would go. “Don’t talk to me like I’m a simpleton. I know what I’m saying.”
“I’m going to get your mom. Don’t be a dick to her.”
“When am I ever a dick?” he complained. “Never. Ever. That’s the whole fucking problem with my life, River. I’m Mr. Practical. Mr. Loyal. Mr. Too Reserved, according to Kara. Hard to read.” He was rambling, his train of thought lost. But then he remembered what it was—that was his best asset. He was a nice fucking guy, what of it? He liked to take care of people. It was why he had joined the department.
“Dude. Kara was a bitch and a cheat. This isn’t about Kara.” River squeezed his foot. “Close your eyes and get some rest.”
Tucker thought that was a good idea. His leg was throbbing. His chest hurt. He felt concerned. From behind his closed eyelids he thought about Elle. When they were teenagers she had always been a risk taker. She was the one who liked to stick half her body out the window of his truck and catch the wind while they drove. She’d drop back down into her seat, while his heart rate was in high gear, sure she was going to get herself decapitated. Her cheeks would be flushed, dark hair tousled and wild. Back then, she had favored chokers around her neck and tight jeans with flare legs. He had thought she was the sexiest, most exotic thing he’d ever seen.
She’d taken him. Just got him. Stole him. Had him. Love taker, that’s what she was. She’d been doing it since she was sixteen.
In the distance he heard his mother’s voice and suddenly he was seventeen again, sneaking out his bedroom window to pick up Elle, who wanted to escape her parents’ fighting. He drifted into the woods, the smell of the lake in his nostrils, and the memory of her mischievous smile teasing at him, reminding him that she was his gypsy after all.
If his wild child wanted to go to the desert, he would go, because getting shot made him realize life was too goddamn short. If he wanted to be a hero, he could be one there just as easily and still have a happy wife.
Happy wife, happy life. He was all about that shit.
Jolene was wearing a hat and sunglasses, as was Chance, but it took about three minutes for the hospital staff to figure out who they were. Elle was standing at the front desk, impatiently waiting for the information on where Tucker was, when the whispers and pointing started. It was too much for Elle. She saw cellphones coming out of nurses’ pockets, and the waiting room started to hum as people turned and whispered to one another.
Forcing herself to ignore the curiosity of the staff, she said again, “My husband. Jason Michael Tucker. He works for the Sheriff’s Department and he was shot. I want to see him. Now.”
Jolene rubbed the small of her back and murmured to her, “I’m sorry, sis. I didn’t think about the fact that people might recognize me and Chance. I should have had Shane bring you down, not me.”
“Shane sucks at being comforting. Avery seems to think he’s supersensitive and thoughtful, but with me he’s basically just uncomfortable. So it’s fine. Hopefully people will be respectful. I mean, it is a hospital.”
She realized Tucker’s parents were coming around the corner into the waiting room. It was the first time she had actually seen them since she and Tucker had gotten married. There was something about his mother that had always made her feel inadequate. His parents were older, emotionally conservative. Strict. She had always felt like the poor kid that she was with them, the weight of his mother’s disapproval weighing down on her. As a teen, it had made her defiant. Now she just felt sad that she couldn’t be super tight with them.
Maybe she wasn’t giving them enough credit though. Or herself. She was determined to get things off on the right foot with them, especially now when they were united in their concern for Tucker.
Waving, she waited for the receptionist’s response. “He’s in Room 204.”
“Thank you.”
“You’ll need an ID to pass through security.”
“Okay.” She braced herself and turned and faced Tucker’s parents, who had approached her and were greeting Jolene and Chance. “Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Tucker. I got here as fast as I could. How is Jason?” The perpetual use of his last name irritated his mother, so she bowed to her preference.
To her surprise Mrs. Tucker held open her arms for a hug. “He’s doing fine, just drugged up and exhausted. And please, Elle, call me Joanne.”
That brought tears to Elle’s eyes. “Sure, Joanne. I’m glad he’s doing okay. God, I was so worried.” She felt her shoulders sag as she accepted the embrace. Tucker’s mother smelled like rose water and it was comforting.
When Tucker’s mother let her go, his father gave her a hug as well. His dad was a big man, which was where Tucker had inherited the tall gene. His hug made her feel safe, like Tucker did. “Call me Bill.”
Lord, she’d forgotten he had the same freaking name as her own worthless father. She fought the urge to bristle. Instead she gave him a small smile, grateful they were both trying to make an effort with her.
“How are you feeling?” Joanne asked her. “How is the baby?”
Elle touched her belly. “Everything is going smoothly. Honestly, it’s been an easy pregnancy. Have you actually seen Jason? Can I go in to see him?”
“Of course. Do you want to go alone or take your sister?”
“I’ll just go alone.” She gave an apologetic look to Jolene and Chance. “Sorry, guys, do you mind?” She didn’t want to leave them to the stares in the waiting room, but they were used to it and she wanted to see her husband alone.
“Of course.” Jolene reached out and squeezed her hand. “We’ll be here when you get out.”
Elle took a deep breath and marched in the direction the Tuckers pointed her. Even though she was prepared to see Tucker in a hospital bed, she wasn’t prepared for all the equipment around him and the sight of him with his eyes closed, looking pale and wan. River was pacing back and forth, his arms crossed over his chest, like he was tired of sitting. “Hey,” she said softly, not wanting to disturb Tucker.
“Hi, Elle.” River rubbed his jaw and glanced at Tucker. “I’ll leave you alone with him, but fair warning. He’s in a foul mood.”
“Well, he just got shot,” she said, feeling the need to defend him. “I’m sure he’s in pain.”
“I think it’s the drugs too. Anyway, don’t be upset if he’s a dick.”
Encouraging.
As River left the room, Elle went over to the bed. Her heart squeezed seeing Tucker so vulnerable, in pain. Tears filled her eyes. What the hell would she have done if he’d been killed? She couldn’t even think about it. She bent down and ran her hand over his short hair. She kissed his forehead. He felt like he was burning up.
His eyes opened and he made a sound. “Hey.”
“Hey, babe.” She smiled at him, cupping both of his cheeks and giving him a kiss he didn’t return. “I heard your day went south.”
“I’ve had better.” He coughed a little and she pulled back, alarmed.
“Do you need some water?” His leg was covered by the sheet so she wasn’t seeing any bandages or wounds but he just looked beat to hell anyway.
He shook his head. “You’re supposed to be on a plane.”
That caught her off guard. “So, what, you really thought I was going to just jump on a plane solo, with your empty seat next to me while you were in the hospital? I would never do that. Good Lord.”
“That’s not what I meant. But why would you blow a ticket? That was expensive.”
Elle took a deep breath and tried not to be hurt. He couldn’t be serious. It felt like he was pushing her away. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not going to. I’m worried about you. What did the doctor say?”
“I don’t know. A bunch of bullshit about me being lucky and how I can’t overdo it. I have to go to physical therapy and some shit like that.”
“What’s the doctor’s name? I’d like to talk to him.” That wasn’t exactly a detailed reporting.
“Doctor?” Tucker rolled his eyes. “I don’t know.”
She shook her head, understanding what River had meant. This was not the man she knew. But Tucker fell back asleep almost immediately and she sat down, ready to wait it out. At one point Jolene and Chance checked on her and brought her some water, but she was fine. She wanted to be there when Tucker woke up and she wanted to reassure herself repeatedly that he was truly okay. The doctor came in and spoke to her and explained that major arteries had been missed and that Tucker would be fine, he would just need rehab. There had been nerve damage and there would need to be a second surgery to finish the reconstruction on the shattered bone the bullet had struck.
When night fell and Tucker finally stirred again, he definitely seemed more lucid. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost nine. They’re going to kick me out soon.”
“Come here and give me a kiss.”
She could do that. She was absolutely freaking relieved to be able to do that. It was a quick kiss, but it reassured her.
“I’m sorry we missed our flight,” he said. “I had big plans that involved you and me naked in Vegas. It was going to be record-breaking sex.”
“It doesn’t matter.” She wondered if he even remembered what he had said before.
“I don’t know when I’m going to be able to go.”
“That’s fine. We can wait until after the baby is born then go on a babymoon. It’s the new thing—baby honeymoons. If I can’t work for Jess Bryant I’ll work for someone else in Nashville and then once you’re back on your feet I’ll quit. I decided I’ll just come up here until then. It will save us a ton of money if I just move into your house with you since you don’t have renters lined up yet anyway.”
“I don’t want you to do that. I don’t want you to give up a great job opportunity.”
Sometimes she loved that he was practical. Sometimes it was irritating as hell. “Money is not always the most important thing.”
“No, but your happiness is. You made it pretty clear yesterday how you feel about being here.”
The man was being surprisingly stubborn. “I’m not going to be happy in Vegas by myself, and I’m really not going to be happy leaving my injured husband to fend for himself.”
Tucker sighed. “Elle. I want you to go. I can’t be the reason you stayed.”
He was truly the sweetest man she’d ever known and for the first time ever she felt like she had more to give to him than he had to give to her. He spent so much time being strong and stoic that she never had the opportunity to show him how much she truly appreciated the man he was. “And I can’t be the girl that moved away from you twice. I can’t leave you.”
“You’re not leaving me,” Tucker said, his voice tired, but strong. “I was going to tell you today that I was passing on the promotion. It might be a moot point anyway, but I’ll go to Vegas with you and I’m quitting law enforcement.”
She was so stunned she stared at him, mouth agape. “What are you saying? This is insane, Tucker.”
“I should be able to travel by next week and I’m moving with you now, not later.”
Elle couldn’t hold the tears back. “Oh, baby, you don’t have to do that. Really, you don’t. I can move here.”
He tried to shift in the bed and grimaced in pain. “I’m not going to be the reason you’re stuck in a town you hate. I don’t want you to stay here out of guilt or obligation or pity. I know how you feel about this place.”
She wanted to throttle him in spite of his gunshot wound. “Jason Michael, you’re an idiot. I don’t want to stay out of obligation. You’re my husband. I want to stay because I love you.”
“And I love you too. That’s why I’m telling you to go. And I’ll go with you.”
She was so flabbergasted and pissed off she just stood there staring at him. “Well, here’s the thing. I’m not leaving. You earned that promotion and I want to support you. You’ve worked your ass off for this.”
“Well, that doesn’t even matter at this point. And you’re not staying so I don’t know where that leaves you.”
The nurse knocked on the door. “Hello? Visiting hours are over, Mrs. Tucker. Say good night to your husband.”
Fabulous. Wonderful. Now they couldn’t even finish this discussion. “This isn’t over,” she warned him as she leaned over to kiss him briefly.
He grabbed her wrist and held her still for a second. “Yes, it is,” he said, and there was such conviction in his voice she felt like his words referred to a whole lot more than just their conversation.
Elle shivered and left the room, completely and thoroughly unnerved.