Let It Be Me Read online

  Later that afternoon, I glance at the clock to see that I only have thirty minutes before my day is over and it will be time for me to go home. I groan at the thought. I don’t want to go home. I’d rather work but I do need to get the house clean and cook something before getting in my tub and relaxing until my fingers and toes turn to prunes. Rob is on his four nights, so I won’t see him until Monday and that is just fine with me, but I still need to have food waiting for him in the morning. I’ll hear about it later if I don’t. Leaning on my hand, I click through emails but stop when a knock sounds at my door.

  Looking up, I find Tucker entering, his arms full of files. He stops in front of my desk and looks at me with worried eyes.

  “Please tell me you can stay late tonight and help get these insurance forms in the computer.”

  I nod. “Sure, but why? Everything is done for the month, I finished the last of it yesterday morning.”

  He shakes his head, the frantic look in his eyes making me frazzled. “No, my dad had these under his desk, I can’t do it all myself. It’s over two hundred claims.”

  I take in a sharp breath. “There is no way.”

  He drops the files on my desk and runs his hand though his hair before looking at me. “Way. Tomorrow is the beginning of the month. It has to be done tonight. Please tell me you can stay tonight.”

  I look up and down all the files and slowly shake my head in surprise. I can’t believe this. Dr. McCloud is always on top of things, this is so unlike him. “Sure, but I can’t believe he let this happened.”

  “Neither can I, but I guess things were a little crazy with him retiring and all.”

  “Yeah,” I agree as I reach for a file and open it up. “Well, I guess I’ll get started.”

  “Cool, I’ll grab my laptop and we can get started.”

  I should point out that he could take half the files to his office and I’ll do the other half, but before I can even utter the words, he’s across the hall getting his laptop. He sits in the seat in front of my desk and opens his laptop before reaching for the first file. I watch him for a moment but quickly look away when he looks up, hoping he didn’t catch me staring at him.

  I try to engross myself in my work but it’s hard when this beautiful man is distracting me. Every time he makes a move, I notice. When he bites his lower lip, I’m watching and wish I could do the same. When he moves his hands through his hair, I’m tingling I want to touch him so bad, but I know I can’t and it’s starting to weigh on me.

  I know I need to distance myself from this man, but I don’t think I can. I mean, why do I even feel like this? I have never, not once, been attracted to another man until Tucker McCloud walked into the office. Never. I was so obsessed with Rob that I believed his lies, his abuse but now? Now I fucking hate him and I want to leave so bad but I don’t know how. I wish it was easy. I wish it was a simple break with the knowing that I’ll never see Rob again but it never will be.

  I want to be able to say I’m leaving and fuck you. I want to hit him back, and never see him again but I’m scared I never will and I hate that.

  “So does your family live in Colorado?”

  I look up to find Tucker still working, but I know he asked.

  I nod, even though he isn’t watching me. “Yeah, my mom and grandma do.”

  “Is your father not in your life?”

  “No, I never knew him.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah,” I say with a nod.

  “Do you have any siblings?”

  “Nope, only child,” I say and smile when I look up to see him looking at me. “I’m really boring.”

  A grin pulls at the side of his mouth. “I doubt that.”

  A smile is still on my face as I look back down and go back to work. Silence fills the room as we work but it’s a comfortable silence. One that I like. I’m almost halfway through when Tucker clears his throat.

  “I’m starving.”

  I nod. “Me too.”

  “We’ll, let’s order something.”

  “Okay.”

  I need to finish so I can go home and gets things done but I don’t want to. I want to stay here and eat and finish work. Everything else can wait. More than likely, I’m making a horrible mistake staying and spending more time with Tucker. I’ll pay for this later but I can’t stop myself and I don’t know that means. Am I stupid? Do I not care anymore? Have I finally had enough of Rob that I’m going to do what I want? I’m not sure but being with Tucker makes me smile, and I like the way the way that makes me feel, so I’m going to stay right here.

  “I don’t know what I would do without Blaine.”

  I look up from my file, a piece of pepperoni on my lips from the pizza that sits in front of me. We haven’t said anything for the last hour. We worked while we waited and then stuffed our faces once the pizza arrived, so it’s easy to say I’m confused. “Huh?”

  He laughs. “Sorry, I mean from earlier, you saying you have no siblings.”

  I smile. “Oh, okay, yeah, I always wanted a sibling but I had my mom and grandma. I was okay.”

  “That’s good. I bet they miss you and you miss them.”

  I nod as the tingling of tears hit my eyes. “Yeah, I never expected to leave but Rob wanted to come here. His family is here.”

  “Did you want to come here?”

  I shake my head. “Nope, but I had-” I stop myself and look away. I can’t believe I almost told him I had no choice. Clearing my throat, I say, “But I don’t mind it now.”

  I glance up and can tell that he knows that’s not what I was going to say but he doesn’t pry. Instead, he says, “That’s good. I’ve lived here my whole life.”

  “I don’t believe you,” I tease, “Everyone who grew up in this town dresses like a cowboy and you don’t.”

  He laughs and I smile as I look back at my computer. “Not everyone does, but I do, just not to work. I even wear Wranglers. I’m a country boy at heart.”

  I slap a hand over my mouth to stop the bite of pizza trying to force its way out through the laughter spilling from me. I have never seen him in anything but slacks and dress shoes. The vision of Dr. Tucker McCloud in tight Wranglers and boots has me gasping for breath. I picture him in his jeans and boots, shirtless, of course, sitting on a horse, and asking me if I want to take a ride. I would say yes, but I wouldn’t be talking about riding the horse.

  “Don’t you think so?”

  I blink before looking back over to Tucker. Shit, he’s talking to me.

  “Sorry what?” I ask.

  He smiles. “I was thinking we should have a casual Friday. Then I can wear my boots to show you I have real country roots.”

  “Yeah,” I say, even though I know that’s a bad idea. I’ll pass out when I set eyes on him. The nurses would go crazy, too and, more than likely, no work would get done. I laugh and he looks at me questionably.

  “What?” he ask, a smile pulling at his lips.

  “Nothing,” I say but then I can’t help it. “Just don’t expect work to get done on Fridays.”

  His brows go up in confusion. “Why?”

  I giggle. “Because all the girls will be checking you out in your jeans and boots.”

  He smiles and his cheeks flush crimson. “No, they won’t.”

  “Yes, they will. Everyone crushes on you.”

  He eyes meet mine and I know my face is bright red. I can’t believe I said that! He probably thinks I crush on him! I do, but he doesn’t need to know that.

  “Everyone?” he asked, wagging his brows at me.

  “You did not just wag your eyebrows at me.”

  That has us both laughing and I shake my head, reaching for my soda as my laughter subsides.

  “You know you like it,” he teases as I take a drink.

  I look over to find him smiling at me, his brows going up and down and with that, soda promptly shoots out of my nose. Tucker dissolves into a fit of laughter and one would think that soda coming out