Tucker (The Family Simon) by Juliana Stone Page B

his cousins. He’d taken the bride for a spin around the room and then, of course, Aunt Virginia had claimed him. After that, he’d been surrounded by family and more than few women who were a tad too…overt in their advances.
    And all the time, Tucker watched her.
    Abby had taken a turn on the dance floor with Cooper and then Beau. She’d done a slow waltz with an old Southerner named Briscoe, who sported a waxed mustache that would have made Custard proud and wandering hands that well, wandered.
    Again, Tucker watched.
    They were separated, physically, and yet she felt the weight of his gaze, as if he was next to her. Kissing her. Touching her.
    “God,” she said softly, pressing a hand to the damp skin behind her neck.
    “Would you like some punch?” Aunt Virginia asked.
    “No,” Abby replied, cutting off the older woman. Alcohol would only make things worse. “I’m sorry, I just need to…I want…” She looked into the older woman’s eyes and blew out a hot breath. What to say?
    I want to have hot, sweaty sex with your nephew, but I don’t know if I should because it might ruin everything? But I’ve wanted him forever it seems and now…now I don’t know what to do about it?
    A slow smile crept over Virginia’s face, and she patted Abby’s hand. “I understand, honey. Trust me. Those Simon boys are hard to resist. Why my own husband damn near swept me off my feet the night I met him.” She cocked her head and smoothed her hair back as her gaze wandered the room. A dreamy expression settled in her eyes, and her voice was husky.
    “It was love at first sight, and I didn’t stand a chance. He took one look at me and decided he was going to have me and well,” she chuckled. “Have me he did. Right there. That night.”
    Abby didn’t know what to say to that, so she remained quiet.
    “So you and Tucker are…involved then?” Virginia’s eyes were sharp as she swung her gaze back to Abby.
    “I…well,” she attempted a smile. She so didn’t want to discuss Tucker with his aunt. A quick look to her right, and she saw his mother, Eden, headed their way. Two against one. Not fair.
    Suddenly it was all too much. It was too noisy. Too hot. There were too many bodies everywhere—too many damn Simons. And Christ, if Tucker kept looking at her the way he was right now, she was going to explode. She just might melt into an orgasmic puddle.
    She needed...she needed something familiar and safe. Something or rather someone who could steer her straight.
    “I’ve got to make a phone call. Please excuse me.”
    Abby didn’t wait for Aunt Virginia to answer. She spun on her four inch pumps and slid through the crowd, ducking to her left when she spied Cooper a few feet away. She wasn’t in the mood for him. Hell, she wasn’t in the mood for any of this right now.
    She threaded her way across the dance floor and headed for the terrace, not stopping until the cool air hit her and the shadows in the corners covered her. If she smoked, now would be the time for a cigarette. Instead, she rifled through her small clutch bag and whipped out her cell.
    Moments later, it rang and her roommate Lisa picked up immediately.
    “You slept with him.”
    Startled, Abby pressed the volume button, wincing as Lisa’s voice echoed into the night. Turning slightly she whispered into the phone.
    “No. Why the hell would you say that?”
    “You didn’t sleep with him?”
    “You sound surprised.”
    “I am.”
    Abby made a face.
    “So you didn’t sleep with him,” Lisa repeated.
    “Not yet.”
    “Ha! I knew it.”
    “No! I mean…” Abby leaned against one of the columns that supported an overhang strewn with fresh cut flowers and rubbed her forefinger against her temple.
    She sighed. “He wants to…um, sleep with me and we’ve had a great time here, and his family is amazing even his cousin Cooper, and I kissed him the other night, and I swear to God I had an orgasm from just that one kiss.”
    Her words came out