some dim-witted, red-neck like you’d believe me to be. I have a formal education, too, or have you forgotten? My expertise just happens to be teeth, not land values and foreclosures.”
Tucker felt chastened by Lilliana’s reproof. Yes, his parents had instilled that value into him and he willingly chose to ignore it. If there was anything Tucker hated, it was his mistakes being blatantly pointed out to him.
***
Lilliana wondered if war of the verbal sparring would always be commonplace with Tucker, and if the threat of all out war would be just over the horizon when dealing with him. She sighed thinking about the Tucker from the week before, all alpha male and sexy as hell. He was so beautiful to look at, but he was without a doubt pure sex appeal and charm deceptively wrapped up in one big, muscular, pompous package.
Arriving at a moderate sized animal hospital and shelter, Tucker led her in and made introductions. Lilliana was impressed at how well-spoken and well-behaved Tucker could be under the right circumstances.
T he woman in charge, Aubrey, began chatting up Lilliana about the shelter and their plight to find land. She was older and looked to be about Margo’s age and had the same grey-hair as her Auntie had. Lilliana was touched at the joy in Aubrey’s words about the work that she obviously loved. It was infectious, not only for Lilliana but quite noticeably for Tucker as well as evidenced by the grin on his face.
Lilliana noted that Aubrey’s eyes moved to her neck several times. Lilliana looked at Tucker questioningly only to see a boyish, crooked grin spread across his face. She could only imagine what other kind of calling card he had left behind.
Heading out back of the large building that housed all sorts of animals from domestic to exotic, Lilliana was pleased to see a small stable with horses. She had grown up around them, but had never owned one herself. She remembered the days when Margo had several of them on her land and riding them endlessly during her summer vacations in Connecticut. God, how she missed those carefree days.
Without hesitation and showing no fear of the large beasts, Tucker moved up next to one and pet its long nose as if it was commonplace. As comfortable as Tucker appeared, it made Lilliana wonder if he, too, had grown up around them. He continued to stroke the horse and run his fingers through its mane as he conversed excitedly to Aubrey, and Lilliana became fixated with his casual sensual movements. Tucker really was a specimen to behold and she wouldn’t mind if were petting her as well and running his fingers through her hair.
T ucker glanced over at Lilliana and did a double-take when he caught her longingly gazing at him. He winked playfully and bit his lip, sending Lilliana’s hormones into overdrive. What a player, Lilliana thought.
Aubrey obviously felt the sparks pass between the two because she suggested they take a few of the horses for a short stroll and then made a hasty retreat inside the building, leaving them alone.
“Did you hear that, Lill y? They’re looking for land to house these beautiful creatures.”
Lil liana had been so engrossed in her naughty thoughts she hadn’t heard a word Tucker and Aubrey were saying.
“Mmm-hmm,” she answered , gliding her hand over the steed’s back.
“Do you like horses? You seem at ease w ith them.” Tucker asked.
“Yes, I grew up around them. How about you?”
“Yes, me, too. Before my parent’s lost their farm, we had several worker horses. I loved riding them when I was young,” he stated pensively as if thinking back.
“It’s hard to believe that Tucker McGrath real estate mogul and playboy extraordinaire is one and the same to the Tucker McGrath who grew up helping his father on a farm,” Lilliana declared as she walked around and poked Tucker in the ribs.
“Is it really that hard to believe?”
Batting her eyelashes animatedly, she quipped, “Maybe to the untrained
Tucker felt chastened by Lilliana’s reproof. Yes, his parents had instilled that value into him and he willingly chose to ignore it. If there was anything Tucker hated, it was his mistakes being blatantly pointed out to him.
***
Lilliana wondered if war of the verbal sparring would always be commonplace with Tucker, and if the threat of all out war would be just over the horizon when dealing with him. She sighed thinking about the Tucker from the week before, all alpha male and sexy as hell. He was so beautiful to look at, but he was without a doubt pure sex appeal and charm deceptively wrapped up in one big, muscular, pompous package.
Arriving at a moderate sized animal hospital and shelter, Tucker led her in and made introductions. Lilliana was impressed at how well-spoken and well-behaved Tucker could be under the right circumstances.
T he woman in charge, Aubrey, began chatting up Lilliana about the shelter and their plight to find land. She was older and looked to be about Margo’s age and had the same grey-hair as her Auntie had. Lilliana was touched at the joy in Aubrey’s words about the work that she obviously loved. It was infectious, not only for Lilliana but quite noticeably for Tucker as well as evidenced by the grin on his face.
Lilliana noted that Aubrey’s eyes moved to her neck several times. Lilliana looked at Tucker questioningly only to see a boyish, crooked grin spread across his face. She could only imagine what other kind of calling card he had left behind.
Heading out back of the large building that housed all sorts of animals from domestic to exotic, Lilliana was pleased to see a small stable with horses. She had grown up around them, but had never owned one herself. She remembered the days when Margo had several of them on her land and riding them endlessly during her summer vacations in Connecticut. God, how she missed those carefree days.
Without hesitation and showing no fear of the large beasts, Tucker moved up next to one and pet its long nose as if it was commonplace. As comfortable as Tucker appeared, it made Lilliana wonder if he, too, had grown up around them. He continued to stroke the horse and run his fingers through its mane as he conversed excitedly to Aubrey, and Lilliana became fixated with his casual sensual movements. Tucker really was a specimen to behold and she wouldn’t mind if were petting her as well and running his fingers through her hair.
T ucker glanced over at Lilliana and did a double-take when he caught her longingly gazing at him. He winked playfully and bit his lip, sending Lilliana’s hormones into overdrive. What a player, Lilliana thought.
Aubrey obviously felt the sparks pass between the two because she suggested they take a few of the horses for a short stroll and then made a hasty retreat inside the building, leaving them alone.
“Did you hear that, Lill y? They’re looking for land to house these beautiful creatures.”
Lil liana had been so engrossed in her naughty thoughts she hadn’t heard a word Tucker and Aubrey were saying.
“Mmm-hmm,” she answered , gliding her hand over the steed’s back.
“Do you like horses? You seem at ease w ith them.” Tucker asked.
“Yes, I grew up around them. How about you?”
“Yes, me, too. Before my parent’s lost their farm, we had several worker horses. I loved riding them when I was young,” he stated pensively as if thinking back.
“It’s hard to believe that Tucker McGrath real estate mogul and playboy extraordinaire is one and the same to the Tucker McGrath who grew up helping his father on a farm,” Lilliana declared as she walked around and poked Tucker in the ribs.
“Is it really that hard to believe?”
Batting her eyelashes animatedly, she quipped, “Maybe to the untrained
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