Page 130 of Pretty Little Scars

“Go over, love. Fuck, go over, and take me with you.”

The climax rocks through her, and there’s no holding back. I follow her, rocking into her as I come andcome, and when we’re finally calming down, my girl smooths her hands over my face and down my chest.

“I love you, Tucker Hendrix.”

Christ, it just destroys me every fucking time.

I kiss the fuck out of her, biting that lip, licking inside her mouth, and then with her hands wrapped around my wrists as I frame her face, I lean my forehead against hers.

“I love you too.”

“You’resure you want to do this?” Darby asks me as I pull onto the road that leads to her brother’s house.

“It’s just dinner,” I tell her, squeezing her hand. “Like, we’re not doing anything illegal, right?”

She laughs and then shrugs. “Of course not. But it’s my whole family, together at once, and it’s a lot. And my brother might interrogate you again, and my sisters will be nosy, and?—”

“I can handle it,” I assure her as I bring her hand to my lips and nibble on her knuckles. “You’ve spent alotof time with my family since you came to the ranch, and you’ve hardly seen yours. Plus, we’re a team now.”

I glance over to find her blinking at me, her beautiful face so sober. “Yeah, we’re a team. It’ll be fine. Holden probably won’t kill you.”

“Great.” I smirk and park next to another truck near the new farmhouse. It’s a gorgeous day out here, and I can see smoke billowing from the back of the house, likely from a grill. “Did you grow up out here?”

She doesn’t move to get out of the truck. “Not far from here. The old house has been destroyed. Holden had it burned after Dad died. So the property doesn’t really look the same anymore, and we don’t go over there. It’s a pasture now.”

She swallows hard and then looks over at me.

“But the ghosts are here, you know?”

“Then why are we here, baby?”

“Because my family’s here, and I have you with me, so that makes me feel better.”

My chest fills with her admission, and I lean over the center console to kiss her lips.

“We’ve got this,” I assure her, and she smiles with more confidence than I suspect she feels right now.

When we get out of the truck, we circle around the house, which hasamazingviews of the mountains, and see that everyone has gathered out back.

I’m used to big crowds when it comes to family dinners, and really, this isn’t all that crazy. Holden’s at the grill with Bridger. Charlie is chatting with Alex and Alex’s two husbands, and Dani’s holding a sleeping baby while Millie braids a little girl’s hair.

The little girl in question comes running over to us to say hello, the braid falling out as she bounces along.

“Aunt Darby!” She hugs Darby around the waist and then turns to me. “I’m Birdie.”

“Hi, I’m Tucker.” She smiles, and I think I just fell in love with her. She’s fucking adorable.

“We’re having burgers,” she announces and runs back to Millie, who has to start her braid over again.

“Hi, guys,” Darby says, and takes a minute to make sure I know everyone. Which I do, and then she holds onto my hand like she’s nervous as fuck.

“Breathe, Duchess,” I whisper in her ear, and she huffs out a breath. “Go talk to your sisters.”

“Oh, but?—”

“Go.” I kiss her temple, and then walk over to where Bridger and Holden are and shake my head when Bridger offers me a beer. “No thanks, I’m driving.”

“Good answer,” Holden says. “I take it you’re not here as her boss.”